Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a case which surrounds a fixing device and has an opening portion, a cover provided on the case so as to open and close the opening portion, a cover-fixing shaft which is provided on the cover so as to be detachable to the case, a knob which is movably provided on the cover-fixing shaft, an elastic member which is provided on the cover-fixing shaft and applies force to the knob in a direction away from the cover, and a stopper which prevents movement of the knob against force of the elastic member.

Abstract: A writing instrument has a metal writing point formed by a bundle of fine metal wires, which at one end portion of the bundle are laterally compressed and held adjacent to each other with capillary passages between them. A substantially hemispherical tip is formed at the end surface of the end portion and a substantial part of the remainder of the bundle has a longitudinally extending hollow space at the center thereof. A long permeable ink feeding core is inserted into a hollow space for feeding ink to the passages in the tip and the bundle is encased in a cylinder which may be incorporated in a pen having an ink cartridge from which ink is supplied to the core. The compressed wires are durable and can be provided with a smooth hemispherical surface which moves smoothly over the paper. The passages and the core ensure a steady supply of ink. The writing point also enables sufficient pressure to be applied when writing for making copies with carbon or copy paper.

Abstract: A writing instrument with a ballpoint pen comprising a metallic fine rod having a plurality of capillary holes for flowing ink from one end thereof through the other end in the interior thereof, a short cylindrical portion extending from one end thereof, and an annular narrowed portion on the peripheral edge of the front end of the short cylindrical portion;a hard ball rotatably fitted to and held inside the annular narrowed portion and the short cylindrical portion and being in contact with one end of the metallic fine rod inside the short cylindrical portion;and means for introducing aqueous ink connected to the other end of the metallic fine rod.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vent element having vent pores extending therethrough in parallel with the axial direction for use in die casting, rubber and plastic molding, metering and supplying of fluids, a ball-point pen and others. The method comprises winding one or more wire rods consisting of metal, ceramics or a compound material thereof having a melting point higher than that of a core rod in the form of a single or plural layer spirally around the core rod to form a secondary wire rod, heating the secondary wire rod or a bundle of a plurality of the secondary wire rods to a temperature which exceeds the melting point of the core rod but does not melt the wire rod so as to melt the core rod, whereby the melt is infiltrated into the interspaces between the wire rods and/or the windings of the wire rod to form one pore at every position where the core rod was.