Ergonomic and versatile writing instrument

• US 9,610,797 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe BIC
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Boisdevesys, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, Mark A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abebe, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US14/024,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20140072359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 401 6, 401117, 401198, 401 88
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/008 Holders comprising finger grips B43K23/004, B43K23/012 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/023 with a deformable barrel
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/06 operated by turning means

Abstract

A writing instrument has a front body with an ergonomic grasping segment asymmetrical relative to a first longitudinal plane, and a rear body asymmetrical relative to a second longitudinal plane. The rear body is capable of rotating relative to the front body about a longitudinal axis corresponding to a line of intersection between the first longitudinal plane and the second longitudinal plane, between a position adapted to gripping with a right hand and a position adapted to gripping with a left hand. The present invention also relates to a method of using this writing instrument.

Claims

1. A writing instrument comprising:

a front body with an ergonomic grasping segment asymmetrical relative to a first longitudinal plane, and

a rear body asymmetrical relative to a second longitudinal plane, and capable of rotating relative to the ergonomic grasping segment of the front body about a longitudinal axis of rotation, between a position adapted to gripping with a right hand and a position adapted to gripping with a left hand, wherein the longitudinal axis of rotation is a line of intersection between the first longitudinal plane and the second longitudinal plane.

2. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ergonomic grasping segment has, on one side of said first longitudinal plane, a rib oriented longitudinally, and radially projecting relative to a grasping surface of said segment.

3. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rib is projecting by at least 2 mm relative to the grasping surface of said segment.

4. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ergonomic grasping segment has a stop flange for fingers in the direction of a front end of the front body.

5. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ergonomic grasping segment has a supple grasping surface.

6. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 5, wherein said supple grasping surface is overmoulded on the ergonomic grasping segment.

7. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said writing instrument also comprises:

a writing point, and a retraction and extension mechanism of the writing point, actionable by relative rotation of the front and rear bodies, and configured such that the writing point is retracted in the front body when the rear body and the front body are in an intermediate position between the position adapted to gripping with the right hand and the position adapted to gripping with the left hand, and projecting beyond a front end of the front body when the rear body and the front body are in the position adapted to gripping with the right hand or in the position adapted to gripping with the left hand.

8. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said retraction and extension mechanism comprises a cam surface secured in rotation with one of said front and rear bodies, and an element secured in rotation with the other of said front and rear bodies and in contact with said cam surface, the cam surface or the said element in contact with the cam surface being capable of moving inside the writing instrument along the said longitudinal axis and being secured to the writing point at least in translation along the longitudinal axis.

9. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tubular piece for axial joining of the front body with the rear body via elastic snap-fit.

10. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tubular piece has radial shoulders opposite corresponding shoulders of the front and rear bodies for axial retaining of said tubular piece relative to said front and rear bodies.

11. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tubular piece is received inside the writing instrument.

13. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tubular piece has a longitudinal slot.

16. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ergonomic grasping segment is held between the tips of the thumb and at least one of the index finger or middle finger of one same hand, and the rear body is rotated relative to the front body towards the position adapted to gripping with a right hand or towards the position adapted to gripping with a left hand depending on the hand used, so as to ensure the supporting of the rear body in the grasping angle between the index finger and the thumb.

12. A writing instrument comprising:

a front body with an ergonomic grasping segment asymmetrical relative to a first longitudinal plane,

a rear body asymmetrical relative to a second longitudinal plane, and capable of rotating relative to the front body about a longitudinal axis corresponding to a line of intersection between the first longitudinal plane and the second longitudinal plane, between a position adapted to gripping with a right hand and a position adapted to gripping with a left hand, and

a tubular piece for axial joining of the front body with the rear body via elastic snap-fit,

wherein said tubular piece is secured in rotation with one of said front and rear bodies and has two rotational stops relative to the other of said front and rear bodies.

14. A writing instrument comprising:

a front body with an ergonomic grasping segment asymmetrical relative to a first longitudinal plane,

a rear body asymmetrical relative to a second longitudinal plane, and capable of rotating relative to the front body about a longitudinal axis corresponding to a line of intersection between the first longitudinal plane and the second longitudinal plane, between a position adapted to gripping with a right hand and a position adapted to gripping with a left hand, and

a tubular piece for axial joining of the front body with the rear body via elastic snap-fit wherein said tubular piece has a longitudinal slot, and wherein said tubular piece, in said longitudinal slot, receives a rib secured to one of said front or rear bodies with which it is secured in rotation.

15. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rib is press-fitted into the longitudinal slot.