Abstract: Various writing instrument parts are assembled to an insert that is inserted into a hollow body of the writing instrument to complete the assembly of parts. The insert has a glide stop and a spaced cartridge guide, and a compression spring pushes against the cartridge guide and a glide removably secured to the inner end of the cartridge. A clip is hinged to the insert by a snap-on socket fitting over a hinge bar. A biasing spring fits within a clip pocket and an insert pocket to prevent unseating the snap-on hinge. The clip pocket is formed by inwardly extending walls that telescope with the insert pocket to prevent twisting off the clip. The insert is held in the hollow body by a locking projection that fits within a hole in the wall of the hollow body member.

Abstract: A flat, multi-element writing instrument is described in which each writing element is attached to a glide element, a portion of which projects through a longitudinal slot in one face of the instrument's body for manual actuation. The longitudinal slots are located adjacent the side edges of a clip overlying one of the flat faces of the instrument's body. The glide elements include portions which underlie the clip and are received in respective channels formed in the undersurface of the clip, to interlockwith catches formed in these channels and hold their associated writing members in an extended, writing position. A cam within the writing instrument is positioned to have portions in the path of travel of each glide element so that, when one glide element is at least partially moved towards a writing position, the cam automatically pivots to move out of its path of travel and into the path of travel of another glide element to prevent its associated writing element from being extended.