Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for
applying writing, drawing, printing, or painting
fluids etc. to a surface, whereby the device
comprises a fluid container, a respective writing,
drawing, printing or painting applicating tip
etc., an air inlet tube that connects the interior
of the fluid container to the surrounding
atmosphere, and a capillary fluid reservoir.
Devices of the aforementioned kind are known
in many variations and are employed in many
private and commercial sectors, for example, as
markers or painting utensils etc.
All of these devices have one common
disadvantage: the fluid container can only hold
a limited supply of writing fluid. ~hen
attempting to increase the capacity of the fluid
contalner for the respective writing fluid in the
aforementioned known devices by increasing the
size of the fluid container itself, this would
result ln the leakage of the writing fluid rom
the container via the applicating tip because of
the weight of the f~luid itself, when the device is
a vertical position usually necessary for writing.
This approach is therefore not applicable.
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When attempting to prevent leakage of fluid
from larger liquid containers by directly filling
the liquid container, completely or partially,
with a capillary reservoir means it is possible to
control leakage for such larger fluid containers,
but this embodiment has the unacceptable
disadvantage that during the writing process a
great portion of the fluid will remain in the
capillary reservoir means thereby being
inaccessible for the writing, drawing, painting or
printing process. The result would again be a
device with an accessible fluid volume that is to
small.
It is therefore an obJect of the present
invention to provide a device of the
aforementioned kind with which, in principal, no
limitation of the filling amount of the fluid is
known, which is easy to operate and to handle,
: which may be used for various applications of
fluids~ and which is also easy to manufacture. :
Brief Description of the Drawings
This obJect, and other objects and advantages
of the present invention, will appear more clearly
from the following specification in con~unction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side
view of a device of the
present invention with a
bottle-shaped fluid
container in its filling
position;
Fig. la is a plan view of the inner
sur~ace of the bottom o~ a
bottle-shaped fluid
container according to Fig.
l;
Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1
in its writing position,
whereby constructive details
have been omitted in order
to facilitate the drawlng;
Fig. 3 is a device according to the~
representation of Fig. 1,
be~ng equipped with a
collapsible hose disposed
inside the fluid container ~; ;
which receives the fluid and
~; having a valve means at the
capillary fluid reservoir)
Fig. 4 shows a different embodiment
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of the device with respect
to tha embodiments of Fig. 1
to 3 having a ring-shaped
capillary fluid reservoir;
Fig. 5 is a device according the
representation of Fig. 4,
having a ring-shaped
capillary fluid reservoir
which contacts, on the ons
hand, the inner wall of the
fluid container and, on the
other hand, is limited on
its inner side by a tube;
Fig. 5a shows the device of Fig. 5
in a horizontal filling
position;
Fig. Sb shows the device of Flg. 5
in a vertical operating
position;
Pig. 6 shows a further embodiment
in the form of a fountain
pen having a variable fluid
c o n t ai n e r~ v o l u m e,
respectively a fluid
container of an adjustabla
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volume which may be filled
with fluid by a manually
actuatable plunger;
Fig. 7 is a device having the
capillary fluid reservoir
and the applicating tip
formed as an integral part;
and
Fig. 8 shows a device having a
collapsible hose as the
fluid container. :~
Summary of the Invention
The device of the present invention is
primarily characterized by the capillary fluid
res0rvoir being arranged within a fluid convey~ng
connection between the fluLd that is contained in
the fluid containar and the applicating tlp,
whereby the fluid convaying connection is
interrupted when the applicating tip is pointed in
~20 a downward direction.
~The advantage of the device of the present
:~ : invention is that, in principal, the conveying of
the 1uid to the applLcating tip is independent of
the volume of the fluid container and thus from
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the momentary fluid volume. When the devics is
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used ~or writing, drawing, printing or painting,
i.e~, when the applicating tip is directed
downward toward the surface, the filling process
of the capillary fluid reservoir is interrupted.
The fluid reservoir is only filled when the device
is in a horizontal position or is essentially
positioned such that the applicating tip is
pointing upward, i.e., in a vertical respectively
in an upwardly directed position, which may be
simply achieved with a short movement of the
device into one of the described positions.
The capillary fluid reservoir is dimensioned
such that, depending on the embodiment of the
device, writing, painting, printing, or drawing
procedures may be carried out uninterruptad by
supplying a sufficient amount of fluid until the
respective procedure is terminated by the user of
the device.
Preferably, the capillary fluid reservoir
serves as the fluid conveying connection. It is
advantageous that the applicating tip and the
capillary fluid reservoir are embodiad as an
integral part thus forming an inexpensive unit
which may be produced in a simple manner.
According to a prefsrred embodiment o~ tha
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present invention a flow reduction means is
provided between the capillary fluid reservoir and
the applicating tip. The flow reduction means is
provided in order to adjust a predetermined fluid
flow per time unit in the manner of a reducing
valve which is of special importance when, after
the filling process of the capillary reservoir,
the fluid contained therein is at a maximum
filling level.
Advantageously, the capillary fluid reservoir
is enclosed by a tube, which, on the one hand,
provides mechanical stability to the fluid
reservoir and, on the other hand, prevents an
interaction of the fluid inside the capillary
flu1d reservoir with the air-filled interior of
the fluid container.
To assure that during the filling process
essentially the entire fluid volume inside the
fluid container is introduced into the capillary
fluid reservoir, the fluid conveying connectlon
extends preferably into the vicinity of the bottom
; of the flu1d container, optionally via a capillary
connection to the outer wall of the device.
In principle, the device is not limited to a
fixed outer or inner geometry, i.e., it may be
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embodied in any desired shape, for example, in the
form of a bottle, a ballpoint pen, a fountain pen
etc, Also, the cross sectional shape of the
device may be chosen as desired. Advantageously,
the capillary fluid reservoir has a ring-shaped or
a tube-shaped cross section whereby the boundaries
of the fluid reservoir are formed by a tube. This
embodiment is easy to manufacture and may be
providad in small spaces. The aforementioned tube
may enclose the fluid res0rvoir or may be disposed
inwardly from -the fluid reservoir whereby
especially an embodiment is preferable in which
the capillary fluid reservoir having a ring-shaped
cross section is in direct contact with the fluid
container and its inner wall is limited by the
tube.
According to a further advantageous
embodiment of the inventive device the fluid
container is provided in the form of a volume-
adjustable fillable container. This is achieved
in the form of a conventional fountain pen with a
suctlon plunger. The filling of the device may
also be achieved by providing a simple filling
opening into which the fluid is introduced either
by conventional cartridges or by refilling from an
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external fluid reservoir in a known manner.
For certain embodiments of the device it may
be advantageous that the end of the capillary
fluid reservoir that is facing the bottom of the
fluid container is provided with a valve means
that is in an open position when the device is in
an essentially vertical position with tha
applicating tip pointing in an upward direction~
This embodiment is especially advantageous when
the fluid container, in a further advantageous
embodiment of the device, is provided in the form
of a collapsible hose. Without the provision of
such a valve means for a fluid container in the
form of a collapsible hose, in which naturally the
volume of air within the fluid container is
limited to a minimum, fluid would be constantly
flowing into the capillary fluid reservoir, evsn
when the device is in its writing position. This
is safely prevented by the valvs means.
20 ~ It may also be advantageous that the fluid is
not directly re¢aived in the fluid container which
is provided in the form of a collapsible hose, but
to introduce the fluid into a collapsible hose
which is dlsposed in the interior of the fluid
container. Thereby a device is provided which
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maintains its outer unchangeable shape. This is
advantagesus for the safe handling of the device,
whereby, due to the collapsible hose in the
interior, the advantages of such a hose are still
fully provided.
Finally, it is also advantageous that the air
inlet tube is equipped with a space that is filled
with a capillary means. The capillary means
receives fluid that is introduced into the air
inlet tube, for example, due to the expansion of
the air volume inside the device caused by
warming, by shaking or dropping the device,
without a droplet leaving the air inlet opening
that is connected to the surrounding atmosphere.
Description of Preferred Embodiments
The present invention will now be described
in detail with the aid of several specific
embodiments utilizing figures 1 through 7.
The device 10 (see Fig. 1) comprises
essentially a fluid container 11 which, in the
embodiment representad in Fig. 1, is bottle-
shaped. From the bottle neck an application or
~ writing tip 12 extends which is attached to the
; ~ bottle neck in any suitable fashion. The end of
~ the writing tip 12 that is facing the bottle
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interior is connected to a capillary fluid
reservoir 15 such that a fluid conveying
connection 16, as represented schematically by the
arrow in Fig. 1, from the interior 25 of the fluid
container 11 to the tip 12 for conveying fluid 17
contained in the capillary fluid reservoir 15 is
provided. The capillary fluid reservoir 15
extends in essentially linear form from the bottom
18 to the writing tip 12.
An air inlet tube 13 connects the atmosphere
14 to the interior 25 of the fluid container 11.
The air inlet tube 13 serves to displace the fluid
17 inside the fluid container 11, which is
released during the application or writing
procedure, with air.
The capillary fluid reservoir 15 is enclosed
- by a tube 22 which, on the one hand~ provides a
mechanical stabilizing function for the capillary
fluid reservoir 15 and, on the other hand,
ZO prevents the interaction between the air in the
interior 25 and the fluid 17 contained in the
capillary fluid ~reservoir 15 as well as the
: :introduction of fluid 17 into the capillary fluid
reservolr 15 when the tip 12 is in a downward
position. : :
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The end 19 of the capillary fluid reservoir
15 that is facing the bottom 18 of the fluid
container 11 is open for the introduction of fluid
17 that is contained in the fluid container 11.
Fig. 1 shows the position of the device 10 in
which the tip 12, in an essentially vertical
position of the device 10 respectively the fluid
container 11 r is pointing in an upward direction
and the capillary fluid reservoir 15 is filled
with fluid 17 that is contained in the fluid
container 11. In this position the capillary
fluid reservoir 15 will be filled to a maximum
level with liquid 17. The position represented in
Fig. 1 may, for example, be achieved when the
device is placed onto a surface whereby, in -this
inactive position, the capillary fluid reservoir
15 will always be filled. Fig. 2 is a schematic
representation of the active or writing position
whereby it can be seen that in this position tha
fluid 17 may not enter the capillary fluid
:~ ~ reservoir 15. In this position tha device 10 may
be used until tha entire fluid 17 that is
contained in the oapillary fluid reservoir 15 is
used up, which, when the volume of the capillary
: ~ fluid reservoir 15:is suitably selected, ensures
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an uninterrupted writing procedure
It is understood, that in this connection for
reasons of simplifying matters only a writing
procedure is addressed. The writing procedure to
be carried out with the device 10 encompasses also
drawing, printing or painting procedures etc.,
whereby for these different purposes the tip 12
must be chosen accordingly.
The relatively simple embodiment of the
device 10 provides a high efficiency of the device
10 and, on the other hand, assures that the device
10 may be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive
manner so that the device 10 may be supplied as a
mass-produced article to a wide circle of buyers
and users.
In the embodiment represented in Fig. 3 the
fluid 17 is received in a collapsible hose 24 that
is disposed in the interior 25 of the fluid
container 11 so that thereby the entire interior
25 is filled with liquid 17. At the end 19 of the
capillary fluid reservoir 15 a valve means 20 is
disposed which assures that the fluid 17 may only
enter the capillary fluid reservoir 15 from the
fluid container 11 respectlvely the 1nter1or of
the hose 24;when the filllng position according to
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Figs. 1 or 3 is assumed, but not when the writing
position of the device 10 according to Fig. 2 is
assumed. The valve means 20 may be actuated
either by gravity or by an actuating memb~r 28
which extends from the fluid container 11 and
which, against the force of a return spring that
is located inside the valve means, is actuatable
e~ther manually or by placing it on a surface. It
is noted that it is also possible to provide the
fluid container 11 itself in the form of a
collapsible hose 24 (Fig. 8). In Fig. la the
inner bottom of the fluid container is shown. The
capillaries 29 represented therein allow the
filling of the capillary fluid reservoir 15 when
the fluid container 11 is in a horizontal position
and when the filling level of fluid 17 is low.
The embodiment according to Fig. 4 shows a
manual writing device that is commonly used ~or
writing or drawing. Accordingly, the diamet~r of
the fluid container 11 is adjus-ted to dimensions
that are commonly used for handwriting or drawing
devices. The device represented in Fig. 4 dif~ers
from embodiments of the device 10 according to
Figures 1 through 3 in that it is provided with a
capillary fluid reservoir 15 that is not embodied
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with a full cross-section but is provided in the
form of a ring. A tube with walls 23 is inserted
into the fluid container 11. The distance between
the tube respectively the tube walls 23 and the
inner surface of the fluid container 11 is
selected such that in the space between the tube
and the fluid container 11 the capillary fluid
reservoir 15 is formed. Between the capillary
fluid reservoir 15 and the tip 12 a flow reduction
means 21 is arranged that, in the fashion of a
reducing valve, provides a predetarmined amount of
fluid 17 per time unit independent of the filling
lavel of the capillary fluid reservoir 15.
Thereby outer influences such as warming of the
surrounding atmosphere, changes in pressure and so
on are eliminated. Thus a continuous flow of
fluid 17 is ensured and continuously provided.
The embodiment according to Fig. 5 differs
~ from Flg. 4 in that essentially two inventive
devices are arranged in series. When the device
accordlng to Fig. 5 rests in a horizontal position
(Fig. 5a), writing fluid flows through a first
annular space 150 (a first capillary resevoir)
into the space before the flow reduction means 21
so that this space functions as a pre-resevoir.
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A second capillary means 151 serves to fill the
actual capillary resevoir 15 with fluid 17. In
Fig. 5b the inventive device is shown in its
operating position, whereby the flow of fluid 17
into the resevoir 15 is interrup-ted.
The embodiment of the inventive device 10 as
represented in Fig. 6 is fundamentally identical
to the embodiments of the Figures 4 and 5. The
device is in the form of a common fountain pen
whereby the fluid container 11 is provided in tha
form of a volume-adjustable container which may ba
filled by a manually actuatable filling plunger.
The tip 12 of the device 10 according to Fig. 6 is
not provided in the ~orm of a tubular tip but as
a pen point which is known from commonly used
fountain pens.
All three embodiments shown in the Figures 4
to 6 have an alr inlet tube 13 that is provided
with a spaoe 27 whlch is filled with a capillary
means 26. The space 27 respectively tha capillary
means 26 therein serve to intsrcept fluid 17 which
may enter, due to shaking or fast movements or
warming of the devlce 10, the end o the air inlet
tuba 13 that exten~ds into the interior 25. Ths
space 27. respectively the capillary means 26
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disposed therein, thus prevents the fluid 17 frombeing released from the opening of the air inlet
tube 13 that is open to the atmosphere 14.
The embodiment according to Fig. 7 is
characterized by having-the applicating tip 1~ and
the fluid reservoir 15 formed as one integral
part. ~he other components and functions thereof
are essentially identical to the respec-tive parts
and their functions in the aforementioned
embodiments.
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