US3469927A - Miniaturized telescopic marking instrument - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1969 J, AVERSA MINIATURIZED TELESCOPIC MARKING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 6, 1967 United States Patent 3,469,927 MINIATURIZED TELESCOPIC MARKING INSTRUMENT Joseph Aversa, Scarsdale, N.Y. (270 Lafayette St., New York, N.Y. 10012) Filed Nov. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 680,803 Int. Cl. B43k 23/00; H01q 1/10; E21d 15/14 U.S. Cl. 401-95 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A miniaturized telescopic marking instrument in which smooth frictional movement between adjacent telescoping segments is provided by a one piece split sleeve of simplified construction.

Background of the invention Presently known miniaturized marking instruments consist of a series of short tubular segments telescopically fitted together to form a body portion and a marking tip which may be a pen or pencil brush or belt body. The body portion can be retracted to occupy a minimum amount of space or extended to provide a comfortable writing instrument. In both the retracted and extended position it is important that the segments remain in their adjusted position and that there is no play or movement therebetween. In addition, it is highly desirable that the sliding motion of the segments be, free, smooth, free from chatter yet firm enough to hold the elements in their adjusted position.

Prior art devices have attempted to control the movement between the tubular segments comprising the body portion of miniaturized marking instruments by various structures. However, these devices have been either expensive to manufacture or complicated, requiring much labor to assemble. Thus in United States Patent No. 3,174,461 issued Mar. 23, 1965, the tubular elements are themselves of an inside and outside diameter such that a smooth telescopic action can be achieved. Such a structure requires close manufacturing tolerances and eventually causes wear on the outer surface of the smaller elements. If the tubular members are plated the result of wear would destroy the ornamental appearance of the instrument.

Still another prior art device, hereinafter more fully described, employs a plurality of shims disposed at one end of the tubular member and held therein by inwardly extending ears. This construction is difiicult to assemble and fragile.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a telescopic marking instrument which is simplified in structure while meeting all the requirements of such devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a telescopic marking instrument which lends itself to automated assembly techniques.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive telescopic marking instrument.

Summary of the invention In one preferred form the present invention consists of a body portion of short tubular members of decreasing outside diameters such that they fit together telescopically. A one piece thin split ring element is slipped over the inner end of each of the sliding tubular members and secured thereto by crimping. The opposite or free end of the tubular member is spun inwardly to prevent the split ring from being pulled out of the overlying tubular member. A marking tip is carried at the end of the smallest tubular member.

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Description of the drawing In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a complete embodiment of a miniaturized telescopic marking instrument in the retracted position,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 in the extended position,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the marking instrument shown in FIGURE 2 somewhat enlarged and partially cut away to show the interior structure thereof,

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view somewhat enlarged taken on line 4-4 in FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end view of one of the tubular telescopic members showing the construction thereof,

FIGURE 6 is a somewhat exploded view of a portion of a prior art device.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIG- URES 1 and 2, 10 indicates a miniaturized telescopic marking instrument such as a pencil, consisting of a body portion formed of telescopically interfitted tubular members 11, 12, 13. The tubular members 11, 12, 13 are of a size such that they fit loosely one within the other and do not require a high degree of close manufacturing tolerances. Each of the tubular members 11, 12, 13 are preferably made of metal, but may also be made of some suitable plastic material.

The top most tubular member 11 is adapted to receive at one end thereof a small cap 14 which serves to secure a clip member 15 to the pencil body. The opposite end of the tubular member 11 is inwardly spun as indicated at 21 thereby bringing the inside diameter of the tubular member 11 at this point closer to the outside diameter of the tubular member 12 which is slideably fitted therein. The portion of the tubular member 12 which is carried within the tubular member 11 is provided at its upper end with a split ring member 16 best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The split ring member 16 is preferably made of brass or similar resilient metal and is of a thickness which will substantially compensate for the difference in diameters between the inside of the tubular member 11 and the outside of the tubular member 13.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the split ring 16 is secured to the tubular member 12 by means of a punch whereby two ears 17, 18 are struck from the split ring 16 and folded inwardly against the inner surface tubular member 12 through openings 19, 20 punched therethrough. In this manner, the split ring member 16 is secured to the tubular member 12 while at the same time free to expand outwardly from the tubular member 12 and bear against the internal surface of the top tubular member 11 against which it rides. The split ring member 16 is preferably of a length of the order of A; to /5 of the total length of the tubular member 12 to which it is attached so that a good bearing surface is provided which will prevent the tubular member 12 from wobbling within the member 11.

As will be observed from FIGURE 3 when the mem ber 12 is pulled out during the extension of the pencil, the split ring member 16 eventually abuts against the inwardly spun portion 21 of the top tubular member 11, thereby preventing the tubular section 12 to which it is attached from being pulled out of the pencil body.

The tubular section 12 is similarly spun in at its end opposite the split ring as indicated at 21a and for a similar purpose to that described in conjunction with the first tubular section 11. The third tubular section 13 is also provided with a split ring 22 of the same construction as that of the split ring 16 and for the same purpose. The

two split rings 16, 22, serve to provide a smooth and adjustable telescopic operation between the tubular elements 11, 12, 13, despite the fact that these elements do not fit over one another with close tolerances.

The split ring members 16 provide a more continuous bearing surface on the inside of the tubes into which they are received than that of the prior art device shown in FIGURE 6. The prior art device consists of an elongated arcuate member 23 having a normally disposed ear 24 secured thereto. The ear is received within a slot 25 cut near the top of the tubular member 26. A second arcuate member (not shown) is usually inserted from the opposite side of the tubular member 26 and the said tubular member is inserted Within the overlying tubular section while the arcuate members 23 are held in a compressed position by the person assembling the device. It will be apparent that if the pencil is extended sharply the cars 24 of the prior art structure can be sheared off and the entire device will become inoperative. In addition, the rior art device must be assembled by hand at considerble expense while the split ring structure of the present device can be applied automatically using normal punch press and feed procedures.

A small pencil element 27 is carried in the free end of the lower most tubular member 13 and is of a construction well known in the pencil art.

While the above description has been directed toward a telescopic pencil, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a ball point pen, crayon, brush, felt body or other marking instrument may be substituted for the pencil 27 without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as neW and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A miniaturized telescopic marking instrument comprising a plurality of telescopically loosely interfitting tubular members forming a body portion, a split ring of thin resilient material secured in an area between the free edges thereof around one end of at least one of the tubular members and disposed between said tubular member and an overlying tubular member to provide a smooth frictional contact therebetween, a cap on one end of the outermost tubular member and a writing tip carried by the innermost tubular member at the end of the writing instrument opposite the cap.

2. A marking instrument according to claim 1 in which each of the ring receiving tubular members are provided with spaced openings at one end thereof and the split ring has tabs struck therefrom and extending through the said openings to secure the rings to the tubular member,

3. A marking instrument according to claim 2 in which the split rings are of a length of the order of A; to /s of the total length of the tubular member to which it is secured.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,344,425 3/1944 Snyder 343-901 2,941,822 6/1960 Moecker 285298 3,174,461 3/1965 Pornpa 401209 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 287--58; 343901

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