AUTO-RETRACTABLE PEN WITH AN ADJUSTABLE CUSHION EFFECT

STYLO AUTORETRACTABLE A EFFET TAMPON REGLABLE

English Abstract

An auto-retractable pen comprises a pen and a cap. The pen comprises a hollow case, a middle screw piece, an ink cartridge, a mechanical spring and a mobile magnetic element. The cap comprises a cap body and a stationary permanent magnet. The pen is capable of attaching to the cap by the magnetic attraction force in a single-hand operation when a user places the mobile magnetic element of the pen in proximity to the stationary permanent magnet of the cap. The writing tip of the pen retracts into the hollow case of the pen when an upward magnetic attraction force becomes greater than a downward mechanical expansion force. The middle screw piece is capable of adjusting the strength of the cushion effect by the mechanical spring according to Hooke's Law. This invention relates to retractable pens, and the principal use of the invention is for operating a pen with a single hand.

French Abstract

Un stylo autorétractable comprend un stylo et un capuchon. Le stylo comprend un boîtier creux, une pièce à vis intermédiaire, une cartouche dencre, un ressort mécanique et un élément magnétique mobile. Le capuchon comprend un corps de capuchon et un aimant permanent fixe. Le stylo peut fixer le capuchon à laide dune force dattraction magnétique dans une opération à une main quand un utilisateur place lélément magnétique mobile du stylo à proximité de laimant permanent fixe du capuchon. La pointe décriture du stylo se rétracte dans le boîtier creux du stylo quand une force dattraction magnétique vers le haut devient supérieure à la force dexpansion mécanique vers le bas. La pièce à vis intermédiaire peut régler la force de leffet tampon du ressort mécanique selon la loi de Hooke. La présente invention concerne des stylos rétractables et la principale utilisation de linvention vise le fonctionnement dun stylo à laide dune seule main.

Claims

Claims
.cndot. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An auto-retractable pen comprising:
a pen comprising:
a hollow case having a closed end, a middle portion
and an open conical end, the middle portion of the
hollow case having a female thread;
a middle screw piece having a bottom end, the middle
screw piece having a male thread, the middle screw
piece screwably mounted on the middle portion of the
hollow case;
an ink cartridge having a top end, a fat portion and
a writing tip, the ink cartridge slidably mounted
inside the hollow case, the writing tip of the ink
cartridge being capable of penetrating through the
open conical end of the hollow case;
a mechanical spring for downwardly biasing the ink
cartridge, the mechanical spring concentrically
mounted around the ink cartridge between the bottom
end of the middle screw piece and the fat portion of
the ink cartridge; and
a mobile magnetic element securely attached to the
top end of the ink cartridge; and
a cap comprising:
a cap body having a top end and a bottom end; and
a stationary permanent magnet for providing a
magnetic attraction force, the stationary permanent
magnet securely attached to the bottom end of the
cap body;
the pen being capable of attaching to the cap by the
magnetic attraction force in a single-hand operation
when a user places the mobile magnetic element of the
pen in proximity to the stationary permanent magnet of
the cap, the writing tip of the ink cartridge of the pen
retracting into the hollow case of the pen when an
upward magnetic attraction force between the mobile
magnetic element of the pen and the stationary permanent
magnet of the cap becomes greater than a downward
mechanical expansion force by the mechanical spring of
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the pen, the downward mechanical expansion force by the
mechanical spring of the pen providing a cushion effect
to the writing tip of the ink cartridge of the pen, the
middle screw piece being capable of adjusting the
strength of the cushion effect by the mechanical spring
according to Hooke's Law.
2. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, further
comprising:
a loop-shaped cord securely attached to the top end of
the cap body of the cap.
3. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
hollow case of the pen is cylindrical.
4. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
mobile magnetic element of the pen is disc-shaped.
5. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
mobile magnetic element of the pen is ring-shaped.
6. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
mobile magnetic element of the pen is made of a rare-earth
permanent magnet.
7. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
mobile magnetic element of the pen is made of a ferromagnetic
material.
8. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
cap body of the cap is cylindrical.
9. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
stationary permanent magnet of the cap is disc-shaped.
10. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
stationary permanent magnet of the cap is ring-shaped.
11. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
stationary permanent magnet of the cap is made of a rare-
earth permanent magnet.
12. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
ink cartridge of the pen is a ball-point pen.
13. The auto-retractable pen as defined in claim 1, in which the
ink cartridge of the pen is a gel-ink pen.
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Description

CA 02481605 2012-11-13
Description
Title
= Auto-Retractable Pen with an Adjustable Cushion Effect
Technical Field
= This invention relates to retractable pens, more particularly
to an auto-retractable pen.
Background Art
= There are many instances where it would be desirable to be
able to provide a retractable pen with a mechanism to allow a
user to magnetically attach a pen to a cap in a single-hand
operation, and to simultaneously retract the writing tip.
= A number of patents disclose retractable pens.
= U.S. Patent 6 394 677 discloses "Hanging pen and cord
thereof". This prior art pen has a pen cap, and a penholder.
The pen cap has a blocking cover with a loop cord for
carrying and an opening at the other end. The penholder
provides a center stick therein with a writing head of the
center stick extending outwardly from a conical part at an
end of the penholder. A magnetic ring is fixed in the pen
cap. The conical part is made of magnet inducing material.
The pen cap engages the penholder by way of the magnetic ring
attracting the conical part when the conical part is inserted
into the pen cap from the open end.
= This prior art does not provide a retractable pen with a
mechanism to allow a user to magnetically attach a pen to a
cap in a single-hand operation. In addition, prior art
retractable pens do not simultaneously retract the writing
tip when the pen is attached to the cap. Moreover, prior art
retractable pens do not provide a cushion effect to the
writing tip.
= Canadian Application 2 429 153 discloses "Auto-Retractable
Pen Mechanism with a Cushion Effect". However, this prior art
provides a cushion effect that is not adjustable by the user.
Description of the Invention
= It is a primary object of the invention to provide an auto-
retractable pen in which a pen magnetically attaches to a cap
in a single-hand operation by the user.
= It is another object of the invention to provide an auto-
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CA 02481605 2012-11-13
retractable pen which simultaneously retracts the writing tip
when the pen is attached to the cap.
= It is another object of the invention to provide an auto-
retractable pen in which the pen stays upside up and downside
down when attached to the cap.
= It is another object of the invention to provide an auto-
retractable pen which has a cushion effect.
= It is another object of the invention to provide an auto-
retractable pen which has a loop-shaped cord to be worn by
the user around his/her neck.
= It is another object of the invention to provide an auto-
retractable pen in which the cushion effect of the pen is
adjustable.
= An auto-retractable pen comprises a pen and a cap. The pen
comprises a hollow case, a middle screw piece, an ink
cartridge, a mechanical spring and a mobile magnetic element.
The cap comprises a cap body and a stationary permanent
magnet. The pen is capable of attaching to the cap by the
magnetic attraction force in a single-hand operation when a
user places the mobile magnetic element of the pen in
proximity to the stationary permanent magnet of the cap. The
writing tip of the pen retracts into the hollow case of the
pen when an upward magnetic attraction force becomes greater
than a downward mechanical expansion force. The middle screw
piece is capable of adjusting the strength of the cushion
effect by the mechanical spring according to Hooke's Law.
Brief Description of the Figures in the Drawings
= In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 marked "Prior Art" is a sectional view of a
conventional auto-retractable wearable pen in a detached
position;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of one embodiment of an
auto-retractable wearable pen in a detached position
according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the invention of Figure
2 in an attached position;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of one embodiment of an
auto-retractable wearable pen in a detached position
according to the invention; and
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the invention of Figure
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CA 02481605 2012-11-13
4 in an attached position.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
= A conventional auto-retractable wearable pen shown in Figure
1 marked "Prior Art" in a detached extended position
comprises a pen and a cap.
= The pen comprises a hollow case 1-1, an ink cartridge 1-2, a
mechanical spring 1-3 for downwardly biasing the ink
cartridge 1-2, and a mobile magnetic element 1-4.
= The hollow case 1-1 of the pen has a closed end, a narrow
middle portion and an open conical end.
= The ink cartridge 1-2 of the pen has a top end, a fat portion
and a writing tip. The ink cartridge 1-2 is slidably mounted
inside the hollow case 1-1. The writing tip of the ink
cartridge 1-2 is capable of penetrating through the open
conical end of the hollow case 1-1.
= The mechanical spring 1-3 of the pen is concentrically
mounted around the ink cartridge 1-2 between the narrow
middle portion of the hollow case 1-1 and the fat portion of
the ink cartridge 1-2.
= The mobile magnetic element 1-4 of the pen is securely
attached to the top end of the ink cartridge 1-2.
= The cap comprises a cap body 2-1 and a stationary permanent
magnet 2-2 for providing a magnetic attraction force.
= The cap body 2-1 of the cap has a top end and a bottom end.
= The stationary permanent magnet 2-4 of the cap is securely
attached to the bottom end of the cap body 2-1.
= The pen is capable of attaching to the cap by the magnetic
attraction force in a single-hand operation when a user
places the mobile magnetic element 1-4 of the pen in
proximity to the stationary permanent magnet 2-4 of the cap.
The writing tip of the ink cartridge 1-2 of the pen retracts
into the hollow case 1-1 of the pen when an upward magnetic
attraction force between the mobile magnetic element 1-4 of
the pen and the stationary permanent magnet 2-4 of the cap
becomes greater than a downward mechanical expansion force by
the mechanical spring 1-3 of the pen.
= The downward mechanical expansion force by the mechanical
spring 1-3 of the pen provides a cushion effect to the
writing tip of the ink cartridge 1-2 of the pen.
= This prior art has a cushion effect that is not variable but
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CA 02481605 2012-11-13
constant because both the upper position of the mechanical
spring 1-3 and the lower position of the mechanical spring 1-
3 are fixed.
= In one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 in a
detached extended position and in Figure 3 in an attached
retracted position, an auto-retractable pen comprises a pen
and a cap.
= The pen comprises a hollow case 3-1, a middle screw piece 3-
6, an ink cartridge 3-2, a mechanical spring 3-3 for
downwardly biasing the ink cartridge 3-2 and a mobile
magnetic element 3-4.
= The hollow case 3-1 of the pen has a closed end, a middle
portion and an open conical end. The middle portion of the
hollow case 3-1 has a female thread.
= The middle screw piece 3-6 has a bottom end. The middle screw
piece 3-6 has a male thread. The middle screw piece 3-6 is
screwably mounted on the middle portion of the hollow case 3-
1.
= The ink cartridge 3-2 of the pen has a top end, a fat portion
and a writing tip. The ink cartridge 3-2 is slidably mounted
inside the hollow case 3-1. The writing tip of the ink
cartridge 3-2 is capable of penetrating through the open
conical end of the hollow case 3-1.
= The mechanical spring 3-3 of the pen is concentrically
mounted around the ink cartridge 3-2 between the bottom end
of the middle screw piece 3-6 and the fat portion of the ink
cartridge 3-2.
= The mobile magnetic element 3-4 of the pen is securely
attached to the top end of the ink cartridge 3-2.
= The cap comprises a cap body 4-1 and a stationary permanent
magnet 4-4 for providing a magnetic attraction force.
= The cap body 4-1 of the cap has a top end and a bottom end.
= The stationary permanent magnet 4-4 of the cap is securely
attached to the bottom end of the cap body 4-1.
= The pen is capable of attaching to the cap by the magnetic
attraction force in a single-hand operation when a user
places the mobile magnetic element 3-4 of the pen in
proximity to the stationary permanent magnet 4-4 of the cap.
= The writing tip of the ink cartridge 3-2 of the pen retracts
into the hollow case 3-1 of the pen when an upward magnetic
attraction force between the mobile magnetic element 3-4 of
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CA 02481605 2012-11-13
the pen and the stationary permanent magnet 4-4 of the cap
becomes greater than a downward mechanical expansion force by
the mechanical spring 3-3 of the pen.
= The downward mechanical expansion force by the mechanical
spring 3-3 of the pen provides a cushion effect to the
writing tip of the ink cartridge 3-2 of the pen.
= The middle screw piece 3-6 is capable of adjusting the
strength of the cushion effect by the mechanical spring 3-3
according to Hooke's Law, which states that the power of any
springy body is in the same proportion with the extension.
= Figure 4 shows the auto-retractable pen in a detached
extended position, and Figure 5 shows the auto-retractable
pen in an attached retracted position. The strength of the
cushion effect is adjusted to be firmer than that shown in
Figure 2 and Figure 3, respectively, by screwing the middle
screw piece 3-6 downward.
= The auto-retractable pen may further comprise a loop-shaped
cord 4-2 securely attached to the top end of the cap body 4-1
of the cap.
= The hollow case 3-1 of the pen may be cylindrical.
= The mobile magnetic element 3-4 of the pen may be disc-shaped
or ring-shaped.
= The mobile magnetic element 3-4 of the pen may be made of a
rare-earth permanent magnet. Alternatively, the mobile
magnetic element 3-4 of the pen may be made of a
ferromagnetic material.
= The cap body 4-1 of the cap may be cylindrical.
= The stationary permanent magnet 4-4 of the cap may be disc-
shaped or ring-shaped.
= The stationary permanent magnet 4-4 of the cap may be made of
a rare-earth permanent magnet.
= The ink cartridge 3-2 of the pen may be a ball-point pen, or
a gel-ink pen.
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Representative Drawing