Retractable instruments comprising a one-piece valve door actuating assembly
First Claim
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1. An instrument comprising:
- an instrument body having an opening at one end;
a valve mounted within the instrument body, the valve having an opening at one end and a lid integrally molded with the valve, the lid being hingedly movable on the valve proximate the opening;
a snap ring operatively coupled to a reservoir holder within the instrument body, the snap ring being separated from the valve; and
at least two actuating arms molded to one of the lid and the snap ring, the actuating arms operatively connecting the lid to an instrument actuating device, the instrument actuating device providing force to protract and retract a writing tip through the valve opening by providing force to the actuating arms,wherein upon protraction, the actuating arms transmit forces from the instrument actuating device to the lid under compression and the lid is actuated substantially solely by the actuating arms.
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Abstract
An instrument includes an instrument body having an opening at one end. A valve is mounted within the instrument body, the valve having an opening at one end. A lid is integrally molded with the valve and hingedly movable with respect to the valve opening. An actuating arm is operatively connected to the lid, the actuating arm transmitting forces from an instrument movement mechanism to the valve door under both tension and compression. As a result, the lid is opened and closed substantially solely by the actuating arm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An instrument comprising:
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an instrument body having an opening at one end; a valve mounted within the instrument body, the valve having an opening at one end and a lid integrally molded with the valve, the lid being hingedly movable on the valve proximate the opening; a snap ring operatively coupled to a reservoir holder within the instrument body, the snap ring being separated from the valve; and at least two actuating arms molded to one of the lid and the snap ring, the actuating arms operatively connecting the lid to an instrument actuating device, the instrument actuating device providing force to protract and retract a writing tip through the valve opening by providing force to the actuating arms, wherein upon protraction, the actuating arms transmit forces from the instrument actuating device to the lid under compression and the lid is actuated substantially solely by the actuating arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A retractable writing instrument comprising;
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a writing member having a nib, the nib extending from an opening in a reservoir holder; a valve substantially surrounding the opening, the valve having an open end; a writing member movement mechanism that provides force to move the writing member from a retracted position in which the nib is disposed substantially within the valve to an extended position in which the nib extends outside of the valve through the open end; a lid integrally molded to the valve and hingedly movable with respect to the opening, the lid being movable from an open position in which the lid exposes the open end of the valve to a closed position in which the lid covers the open end of the valve; a snap ring operatively coupled to a reservoir holder within the instrument, the snap ring being spaced apart and separated from the valve; and an actuating arm molded to one of the lid and the snap ring, force is being transmitted from the writing instrument movement mechanism to a actuating arm and then the lid under compression during protraction of the nib, wherein the nib does not contact an inner surface of the lid during protraction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification