Specific Ball-retainer Patents (Class 401/216)
  • Patent number: 6971814
    Abstract: The ball point comprises a body having a front surface and a housing emerging in an opening in the front surface and communicating with a passage supplying a fluid. A ball can rotate freely in the housing. The body front surface has a peripheral portion parallel to the median plane of the opening and a flared portion adjacent to the opening periphery which forms at the point of contact of the ball with the opening periphery an acute angle (alpha) with the emerging part of the plane tangent to the ball at the contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Societe Bic
    Inventors: Alain Rosenzweig, Kurt Rath, André Dehaudt
  • Patent number: 6887008
    Abstract: There is provided a ballpoint pen tip that minimizes thin spots such as impact thin spots even if upward writing or an impact causes entry of air, allows rapid return to normal writing, and minimizes manufacturing costs. A writing ball and a check ball included in the ballpoint pen tip are placed close to each other with a slight clearance therebetween to leave an inner space with a slight capacity. Thus, even if air enters from a caulking portion, the volume of the air stored inside is slight, and an air pool can be rapidly eliminated. Further, both the writing ball and the check ball can be provided in a front end of the ballpoint pen tip, and assembly operations can be easily performed without inverting the ballpoint pen tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Toru Kitao, Hiroyuki Muto
  • Publication number: 20040258458
    Abstract: A description is given of a ballpoint pen (1) nib (2) housing the ball (3) and having a stem (6), at least one part of which is inserted coaxially into a hole (5) in the lower end (4f) of a hollow barrel (4) forming part of the said ballpoint pen (1). On the outer surface of the said at least one part of the said stem are formed one or more flutes (7i) that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (Z-Z) of the, stem (6) for a length (L) equal to or greater than the axial length (H) of the said hole (5) in such a way that the opposite ends (D, E) of the abovementioned flutes (7i) are outside of it and on opposite sides with respect to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Renzo Gradi
  • Publication number: 20040213629
    Abstract: An ballpoint pen has: a tip body made of metal having an front edge part and a plurality of inward protrusions; a ball rotatably embraced between the front edge part and the inward protrusions; and a rod part urging the ball forwardly and bringing the ball into close contact with the inner surface of the front edge part, wherein ink outflow gaps are formed each between the adjacent inward protrusions, the rod part is inserted into the central part of the ink outflow gaps, the diameter of a virtual inscribed circle of the central part of the ink outflow gaps is larger than the outside diameter of the rod part, and a minimum dimension of each the ink outflow gap is smaller than the outside diameter of the rod part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: THE PILOT INK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Ando, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20040131414
    Abstract: An applicator includes a handle member, a retainer secured to the handle member, an applicator ball rotably mounted in the retainer, and at least one elastically-deformable link element connecting the retainer to the handle member so that the retainer is moveable relative to the member. The handle member may be configured to be capable of closing a receptacle in a leaktight manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: L'OREAL
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Delage
  • Patent number: 6755587
    Abstract: A direct-feed ballpoint writing implement includes a barrel internally provided with an ink tank, a grooved member placed in a front part of the barrel and provided with a groove for guiding air and ink, an ink feed member pressed in the grooved member, a barrel tip fixedly joined to a front end part of the grooved member, a ball holder inserted in the barrel tip and put on a front end part of the ink feed member, and a ball held in a front end part of the ball holder. A compression spring may be extended at least between the ink feed member and the ball in the ball holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Kotobuki & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20040081507
    Abstract: There is provided a ballpoint pen tip that minimizes thin spots such as impact thin spots even if upward writing or an impact causes entry of air, allows rapid return to normal writing, and minimizes manufacturing costs. A writing ball and a check ball included in the ballpoint pen tip are placed close to each other with a slight clearance therebetween to leave an inner space with a slight capacity. Thus, even if air enters from a caulking portion, the volume of the air stored inside is slight, and an air pool can be rapidly eliminated. Further, both the writing ball and the check ball can be provided in a front end of the ballpoint pen tip, and assembly operations can be easily performed without inverting the ballpoint pen tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Toru Kitao, Hiroyuki Muto
  • Patent number: 6602011
    Abstract: A spring (5) for pressing a ball (23) forward is disposed within a tip body (2) and a holder (3). The spring (5) includes a straight part (6) and a coil part (7). The straight part (6) is inserted into the tip body (2), and the coil part (7) is disposed within the holder (3). A protrusion (4) is provided on the inner surface of the holder (3). The coil part (7) climbs over the protrusion (4) and its engagement and stopping are set up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030118391
    Abstract: A writing implement 1 includes a sensor 11 and control circuitry 13 so that when the writing implement is brought into close proximity with the input screen of an electronic device, the input screen being of the type that requires an input stylus, the writing tip 3 of the writing implement 1 is prevented from delivering ink to the input screen. This may be achieved by retracting the writing tip within the body of the writing implement, or by extending a stylus tip 20 beyond the writing tip 3 by the means of preventing ink being delivered to the input screen include a mechanism to disengage a ink reservoir 5 from the writing tip 3 of the writing implement 1 and, in the case of a ball-point pen type writing tip 3, having means such as electromagnets 26 arranged to prevent rotation of an ink delivery ball 22 on actuation of the electromagnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Guy de Warrenne Bruce Adams
  • Patent number: 6494634
    Abstract: A penpoint tip and an applicator having the tip incorporated in it are disclosed, the applicator (1) is composed of a shaft (2), an inking core (3) and a cap (4). The inking core (3) has a penpoint tip (5), an ink reservoir (6), a connector (7) and a valve (8). The penpoint tip (5) constituting an ink applying member has six balls (10) arranged in a row in a distal end of the tip. Each ball (10) is exposed outwards in part out of a slit-shaped opening (16) of a tip body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sakura Color Products Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyasu Inoue, Masahiro Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 6488431
    Abstract: A capsule for controllably metering products held in bottles comprising a ball element for controllably delivering the product on a delivery surface, the ball element housed inside a holding body provided with a cover which can be opened for exposing the top portion of the ball element, as well as with a threaded portion engaging with a corresponding threaded portion provided on the neck of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Giovanni Bocola
  • Patent number: 6422776
    Abstract: A ball-point pen comprising: a. an ink reservoir, b. a penpoint tip, c. a writing ball rotationally disposed in and partially exposed from the penpoint tip, d. an ink feed bore in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, e. a ball chamber holding the writing ball and formed in fluid communication with the ink feed bore, f. an annular seat formed in the chamber so as to support the writing ball, and g. radial grooves formed in the annular seat, characterized in that each of the radial grooves is of a width of more than 0.2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sakura Color Products Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6357948
    Abstract: An ink transmitting system for a liquid-based writing tool comprises an ink storage whose upper end includes a mounting portion having a female screw with a relatively small radius, an opening formed through a central surface of a lower surface of the storage, an ink transfer body insertedly sealed through the mounting portion and the opening, a male screw formed on a mid periphery of the body and engaged on the female screw, balls rollingly provided within the ink transfer body in a linear alignment to continuously transfer the ink, an ink transfer roller rollingly provided between two balls adjacent to the ball support to surface-abut on the two balls, a base support insertedly disposed in another end of the ink transfer body, an elastic member supporting the base support, and an elastic support suppressing the elastic member, the elastic support sealingly connected to the other end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventors: Jin H. Jung, Chang H. Jung
  • Patent number: 6341914
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen tip 1 and also a ballpoint pen 7 or 8 using the same. A ballpoint pen tip 1, according to the invention, rotatably holds a ball 5 at its front end portion. The ball 5 is held by a plurality of inwardly projecting portions 3 (as a ball receiving seat) and a front end edge portion 4. The projecting portion 3 are formed by inwardly pressing and deforming a neighborhood of a front end portion of a metallic pipe body 2. The front end edge portion 4 is formed by inwardly pressing and deforming the front end portion of the pipe body 2. In the ballpoint pen tip according to the present invention, a relation of A/T>5.8 is satisfied, where A is an outer diameter of the ball 5 and T is a thickness of the pipe body 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Abe, Masahisa Maki
  • Patent number: 6340261
    Abstract: A ball-point pen is so configured that an elastic body is installed in a state that it cannot be pulled out such that it can push a ball at the point at all times directly or indirectly via a movable member, satisfying a relation 20·W<P<75·W between a projection area W (mm2) of a diameter of a writing ball and a pushing force P (g) of an elastic body. Moreover, the effect can be increased by restricting a return load and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6328496
    Abstract: A marking instrument, such as a pen, is disclosed. The marking instrument includes a marking tip carried at the end of a tubular member for conducting marking fluid to the marking tip. The marking tip includes a tubular rear end section of circular cross-section. The tubular member is elliptical in cross-section and is attached to the tubular rear end section of the marking tip at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. The elliptical shape of the tubular member allows for a circular profile opening when the tubular member is cut at an angle to join the tubular rear end section of the marking tip. Because the complementary profiles are circular in shape at the connection plane, it is not necessary to rotationally orient the components when bringing them together to be joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Alan Robert Hill, Clive Barnes, Charles Christopher Packham, Mark Arthur Seddon
  • Publication number: 20010046408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ballpoint pen tip 1 and also a ballpoint pen 7 or 8 using the same. A ballpoint pen tip 1, according to the invention, rotatably holds a ball 5 at its front end portion. The ball 5 is held by a plurality of inwardly projecting portions 3 (as a ball receiving seat) and a front end edge portion 4. The projecting portion 3 are formed by inwardly pressing and deforming a neighborhood of a front end portion of a metallic pipe body 2. The front end edge portion 4 is formed by inwardly pressing and deforming the front end portion of the pipe body 2. In the ballpoint pen tip according to the present invention, a relation of A/T >5.8 is satisfied, where A is an outer diameter of the ball 5 and T is a thickness of the pipe body 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Abe, Masahisa Maki
  • Patent number: 6302609
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen refill has an ink-accommodating tube (1) containing an ink (6) having a thixotropic property and a greaselike ink follower (7) capable of moving together with the ink (6) as the ink (6) is consumed so as to be contiguous with the rear end of the ink (6) to prevent the reverse flow of the ink (6). The ink-accommodating tube (1) has a small diameter portion (3) formed at a front side and a large diameter portion (2) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the small diameter portion (3) and extending rearward from the small diameter portion (3). A ballpoint pen tip (5) rotatably holding a ball (4) is inserted in the small diameter portion (3) of the ink-accommodating tube (1). A regulating member (15) has a column (15a) which is press-fitted in the small diameter portion (3). The column (15a) of the regulating member (15) has an inclined end surface (14) at its front end inclined at a predetermined angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis (O) of the ink-accommodating tube (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot
    Inventors: Minoru Machida, Kazuhiko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6299375
    Abstract: The present invention's purpose is to provide a high quality chip for a ball-pointed pen in which air bubbles are not left in the centrifugal separating processing when the refill is manufactured. There is provided a chip for a ball-pointed pen in which a transfer ball held in a ball house at the extremity end in a holder is biased from a rear part by a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is received at its rear end by a plurality of small projections integrally arranged in a circumferential direction at an inner circumferential surface of the metallic holder, thereby when deaeration is performed in the centrifugal separating processing at the manufacturing stage of refill, some air bubbles within the holder are passed between the plurality of small projections and moved smoothly in a rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Zebra Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Uichi Abe
  • Patent number: 6283662
    Abstract: An applicator that makes it unlikely for an ink, particularly water-based or alcohol solvent ink, to become blurred and assures smooth writing, including an ink reservoir accommodating an ink, a penpoint tip for ink application, and a valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism has an axially movable valve body, a valve seat situated on the side of the ink reservoir with respect to the valve body, and a valve support situated on the side of the tip with respect to the valve body; the valve support can anchor the valve body and has an interstice between it and the valve body through which the ink passes; when the tip is disposed upward, the valve body contacts the valve seat to prevent backflow of ink from the tip toward the ink reservoir; and when the tip is disposed downward, the valve body contacts the valve support, allowing the ink to flow through the interstice toward the tip; characterized in that a portion of the valve body that contacts the valve support is formed spherical, and the projected area of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Sakura Color Products Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyasu Inoue, Tatsuya Ozu, Yasunori Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6193429
    Abstract: A tip mechanism for a knock type ballpoint pen with an ink container includes a tip body having an inner ink-guide hole and top and bottom end portions. The top end portion of the tip body is fitted within the ink container. A ball receptor is formed at the bottom end portion of the tip body. A ball is disposed in the ball receptor to be rotated. The ball is partially exposed to the outside. An elastic member is inserted into the ink-guide hole of the tip body. The elastic member has a ball pressing part for pressing the ball toward the outside. The ball pressing part is formed with a curved shape. The curved shape of the ball pressing part is processed by bending the ball pressing part at a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Dong-A Pencil Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 6168336
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen in which ink is freely received in the shaft of the ballpoint pen or is received in a cartridge includes a supply wick, a compensating body and a writing tip with a ball, wherein the ball is fastened and rotatably mounted in a tube, and wherein the tube has a continuous ink duct. The ink duct of the ballpoint pen is constructed as a free throughbore and does not have any additional core bodies or ink conductors, and the supply wick extends axially completely through the compensating body in the area of the compensating chambers formed in the compensating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: J. S. Staedtler GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Horst Thost, Horst Kolb
  • Patent number: 6161977
    Abstract: A point assembly has a multiple number of channels on its inside for establishing commutation of ink to the pen point, and the extradius of these channels is set approximately equal to or greater than the radius of the ball. Further, the point assembly has a sealing face having a curvature R which is approximately equal to that of the ball, and has a ball seat, on the rear side of the ball, having a curvature R being approximately equal to that of the ball. The surface roughness of these elements is set 5 .mu.m or below. Further, this point assembly can be formed in an open V-shaped tapered configuration. Alternatively, the point assembly can be configured in combination with a spring provided therein which continuously urges the ball forwards or in combiation with an anti-backward leakage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6155736
    Abstract: A device for dispensing particulate material includes a dispenser housing having an interior divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, a roller member rotatably mounted at least partially within the upper portion of the dispenser housing interior and structure for supporting the particulate material spaced below the roller member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Evans Enterprises
    Inventors: Jonathan Taylor Evans, Barbara Reid Evans
  • Patent number: 6082920
    Abstract: A ball-point pen having a point assembly, in which the inside and outside diameters of a press formed portion (3) for preventing a ball (1) from slipping out, a sealing face (8), the projected amount of the ball, the diameter of a ball seat (16), the longitudinal backlash and the like are formed in optimized dimensions, sealing face (8) is configured so as to have a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of ball (1), and ball seat (16) having a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of ball (1) is formed in the rear of ball (1), while a multiple number of channels (4) for leading ink (13) to the pen point are provided inside the point assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6076987
    Abstract: The present invention provides the ballpoint pen that precludes the possibility of the pipe portion bending at the joint thereof can be provided even if the outer diameter D is small. In the ballpoint pen having a ballpoint pen tip at a front end thereof, the ballpoint pen tip rotatably accommodating a ball at a front end of a pipe made of metal, an outwardly projecting pipe portion having a uniform thickness throughout the length thereof is arranged at a front end of the ballpoint pen tip, and if a length of the pipe portion is L, an outer diameter of the pipe portion is D, a relational expression "L/D.ltoreq.4.0" is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekine, Takehiko Yokosuka, Masashi Andoh, Yoshiaki Okawara
  • Patent number: 6062759
    Abstract: A writing instrument having an elongated barrel comprised of an outer portion and an inner portion, rotatable relative one to the other. The point or writing tip is fixed to the barrel inner portion, disposed at an angle to, and may be offset from, the centerline of the barrel outer portion. The barrel inner portion is caused to rotate and move axially relative to the barrel outer portion by pressure on the writing instrument, or weights attached to the barrel inner portion, to bring the point into desired alignment during the writing process. Further pressure on the point or writing tip causes the barrel inner portion to move to a rearwardmost position at which rotation of the point or writing tip is impeded by a gripping structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: William P. Dowst, Edward J. Mangan, Roy Nicoll
  • Patent number: 6039493
    Abstract: A ball point pen has a hollow nib member (2) attached to the end of a cylindrical body (1) enclosing a ink reservoir (3), the forward end of the nib member being spaced from the axis (B) of the body and having a tip element (4) welded thereto so that the writing ball (6) incorporated in the tip is located on the same side of the axis (B) as the forward end of the nib member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Mark Arthur Seddon, Clive Barnes
  • Patent number: 5993098
    Abstract: Provided is an aqueous gel ink-filled ball point pen having less blobbing and capable of drawing stable lines having vivid color and no uneven written intensity. The aqueous gel ink-filled ball point pen has a ball of a diameter of 0.3 to 2.0 mm at a tip point with an aqueous gel ink having a viscosity ratio (a value of (viscosity at 10 rpm)/(viscosity at 50 rpm) measured by means of an E type rotational viscometer) of 1.1 to 4.0 and controlled an ink lay down value according to JIS Standard S6053 to 50 to 200 mg/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Osada
  • Patent number: 5988921
    Abstract: A pen for left handed persons includes a writing tip having a cone including a bend proximate the socket for the ballpoint to form an angle in the cone. The pen resembles a standard tubular shaped body into which a tubular shaped ink cartridge, connected to the writing tip, is removably inserted. The tip protrudes from one end of the body but is dimensioned so that it does not interfere with placement of a standard pen cap thereon. The tip of the pen includes a tubular shank adapted to fit into an integral sleeve located at the writing end of the body. A second embodiment bends the body of the pen to achieve the desired angle, enabling the use of a standard removable pen tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Michael S. Medhin
  • Patent number: 5984559
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen refill which can be applied to a retractable ballpoint pen is provided. An ink 2 endowed with a thixotropic property and an ink follower 3 at the rear of this ink are contained within an ink tube 1 comprising a tip holder member 9 and an ink member 10. A ball 6 is held in a front end aperture 9a thereof. A ballpoint pen tip 4 having an inner reshaped surface 4f of a front end rim 4b that is formed into a spherical surface in the shape of the ball is fitted therein. A coil spring 7 that always presses the ball onto the inner reshaped surface is provided with a movable member 8 between the spring and ball. A stopper 5 provided with a ventilation means is fitted into a rear end of the ink tube. A partition portion 9g having an ink-flow passageway for restricting the amount of ink that flows and a rear end surface 9c is formed in an engagement portion 9d of the tip holder member 9 that is fitted in the ink member 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot
    Inventors: Toshikazu Shiobara, Kazuhiko Sasaki, Teruaki Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 5961239
    Abstract: In a barrel cylinder for a writing instrument, a writing element support hole portion or support projection is formed in a deep portion of a distal end port of the barrel cylinder where a writing element extends, the writing element support hole portion or support projection having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the writing element, and an enlarged port portion having an inner diameter larger than the writing element support hole portion or support projection and a gate mark appearing at a location of an inner surface thereof is formed at an inlet port portion of the distal end port of the barrel cylinder which is on the outer side of the writing element support hole portion or support projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Nishioka, Takeshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5937866
    Abstract: A hair dye applicator has a container having a variety of interchangeable components through which hair dye is discharged onto the hair. A first interchangeable component has a roller ball and is ideal for use when distribution of hair dye along a part at the root of the hair is desired. A second interchangeable component has a plurality of flexible brushes, and is ideal for distribution of hair dye throughout the hair and along the hair shafts. A third interchangeable component has a plurality of rigid combs, and is ideal for overall distribution of hair dye in coarse or thick hair. Both second and third interchangeable components contain a moveable disc which allows a user to control the rate of discharge of hair dye from the hair dye applicator. The hair dye applicator of the present invention has a lid that may be utilized to prevent spillage and to slow oxidation of unused hair dye which may be needed throughout the hair coloring process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Laila Magharehi
  • Patent number: 5929135
    Abstract: This invention provides a ball-point pen suited to low-viscosity aqueous ink. This ball-point pen includes a ball-point pen refill in which an ink reservoir communicates with a tip for holding a tip ball via a joint, wherein the ink reservoir is filled with water type ball-point pen ink containing at least one type of a solvent selected from the group consisting of ethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, propyleneglycol, and glycerin in an amount of 5 to 40 wt % of the total ink amount, a crosslinking acrylic acid polymer in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0 wt % of the total ink amount, a pigment in an amount of 5 to 10 wt % of the total ink amount, and the balance primarily consisting of water, and the tip has a spring which in a normal state urges and brings the tip ball into intimate contact with the inner edge of a ball holding portion at the front end of the tip and releases the intimate contact when writing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Wasai, Kazuhiko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5915872
    Abstract: A correction pen has a joining mechanism for joining together a front end portion (11) of a barrel (1), and a coupling portion (22) of a head member (2). The joining mechanism is constructed so that an inner cylindrical portion (22b) is pressed in a first coupling section (11a), an annular bead (2a) formed on an outer cylindrical portion (22a) squeezes a second coupling section (11b), and a bead (2c) formed on a step (22c) is pressed against the front end surface (1a) of the first coupling section when an annular ridge (1b) formed on the second coupling section (11b) is fitted in an annular groove (2b) formed in the outer cylindrical portion (22a). A ball holding tube (7) is provided with a ball housing bore (7b) and a connecting bore (7d) formed so that a low step is formed between the ball housing bore and the connecting bore. The edge of the tip of the ball holding tube is rounded. A head member is provided with a spring support portion (2f) for supporting a coil spring (8), provided with slots (2g).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot
    Inventors: Minoru Machida, Norio Moriyama, Michiaki Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 5904432
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen tip including a metallic pipe having a plurality of inwardly projecting portions at a neighborhood of a front end portion of the pipe at regular intervals, and a front end edge portion at a front end of the pipe, and a ball rotatably held between the front end edge portion and the plurality of inwardly projecting portions, wherein the pipe satisfies a relation of A/T.ltoreq.5.8 where A is an outer diameter of the ball and T is a thickness 10 of the pipe, and also the relation of B/T.ltoreq.2.3 where B is a diameter of a virtual inscribing circle contacting a top of the plurality of inwardly projecting portions and T is the same as above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Ando, Nobuo Sekine, Masahiro Kondo, Hideaki Asami, Nobuo Matsubara
  • Patent number: 5899625
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen tip including a metallic pipe having a plurality of inwardly projecting portions at a neighborhood of a front end portion of the pipe at regular intervals, and a front end edge portion at a front end of the pipe, and a ball rotatably held between the front end edge portion and the plurality of inwardly projecting portions, wherein the pipe satisfies a relation of A/T.ltoreq.5.8 where A is an outer diameter of the ball and T is a thickness 10 of the pipe, and also the relation of B/T.ltoreq.2.3 where B is a diameter of a virtual inscribing circle contacting a top of the plurality of inwardly projecting portions and T is the same as above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Ando, Nobuo Sekine, Masahiro Kondo, Hideaki Asami, Nobuo Matsubara
  • Patent number: 5893674
    Abstract: A writing instrument having an elongated barrel comprised of an outer portion and an inner portion, rotatable relative one to the other. The point or writing tip is fixed to the barrel inner portion, disposed at an angle to, and may be offset from, the centerline of the barrel outer portion. The barrel inner portion is caused to rotate relative to the barrel outer portion by pressure on the writing instrument or weights attached to the barrel inner portion to bring the point into desired alignment during the writing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: William P. Dowst
  • Patent number: 5876142
    Abstract: Press forming for preventing the ball from slipping out from the pen tip of a ball-point pen is carried out twice creating a sealing face brim having a width S and a curvature R substantially equal to that of the ball, inside the front part of the pen tip. Provided in the rear of the ball is a ball seat, and channels and longitudinal backlash which allow the ink to flow to the pen point are provided. Further, the front part of the point assembly may be formed with an open V-shaped tapered portion. A spring which constantly urges the ball forward may be provided inside the point assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5709492
    Abstract: A liquid applicator using a roller which is effectively prevented from being disengaged from the housing thereof. The liquid applicator provides very smooth flow of ink from the initial touch of drawing without generating a scratchy effect. The improved liquid applicator introduces a roller in place of a conventional ball of a ball pen. The roller is a hollow structure. A roller-storing portion is defined by a surface having stepped tapered portions. The liquid applicator incorporates a relay core. The relay core comes into contact with the roller in the roller-storing portion to press the roller in the direction of an aperture on the roller-storing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Sakura Color Products Corp.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yasunaga, Shigeyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 5690442
    Abstract: This invention provides a metal tip for a ball-point pen, having an ink guide hole (2) formed at the center of the bottom surface of a ball holding portion (1) and radial grooves (3) arranged around the ink guide hole. The ink guide hole has a diameter 30 to 55% the diameter of a ball and a length 1.2 to 2 times the diameter of the ink guide hole. A cleaning tool, used for removing a flash which is formed during formation of the radial grooves (3) by cutting (broaching) and which projects into the ink guide hole (2), is set to have a diameter 70 to 97% the diameter of the ink guide hole, so that only a base portion of the projecting flash is left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Sato, Toshiaki Takayanagi, Toru Kitao, Masao Hashi
  • Patent number: 5609432
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen contains an aqueous ink composition into which ink is directly filled. The pen is free from ink dripping and has improved writing performance. The aqueous ink composition is directly filled into an ink reservoir tube equipped with a ballpoint pen tip. The aqueous ink composition includes (a) an aqueous medium, (b) a pigment and (c) a carboxyl group-containing crosslinked hydrophilic polymer. The hydrophilic polymer swells and disperses in a gel state in the form of particles having a particle diameter of 0.5 to 10 .mu.m. The polymer is crosslinked with a crosslinkable monomer having at least two polymerizable unsaturated groups in an amount of 0.5 mol % or more based on the total of a carboxyl group-containing monomer and a copolymerizable monoethylenic monomer used together, if desired. The ink reservoir tube tip has a clearance between a ball and a ball receiver in the range of 10 to 40 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot
    Inventors: Takeyuki Yamamoto, Yasuyuki Sugimoto, Itaru Wakagi, Shinichi Murakata, Yasuzo Murata
  • Patent number: 5588765
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to enable investigators of medical and insurance fraud to quickly and reliably determine whether a plurality of signatures affixed to a series of documents were made with the same pen and/or at the same time. According to a first embodiment, a series of indentations are formed around the periphery of the rim at the forward end of a conventional ballpoint pen. The indentations produce radially inward extending projections which are aligned with the rolling ball of the pen to induce scratches or micro-striations in the ink lines applied to the paper from the ball. By analyzing the scratch patterns of different signatures applied by the same maker to different documents, an indication can be provided whether the signatures were all made with the same pen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Signa Scan, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5553957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved product dispensers for various spreadable products, including fluids, suspensions, lotions, creams, emulsions, and gels. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser is in the form of an improved roll-on type applicator with an enlarged application/distribution surface in the form of a dome with an aperture for exposing a portion of the rotating element. As product is expressed from the gap between the element and dome, it follows the surface of the element into contact with the desired surface and is thereby applied to this surface. Excess product not applied to the desired surface by the element either follows the element surface through the gap between the element and the dome back into the container or is sheared from the element surface by the edge of the aperture in the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Arthur H. Dornbusch, Dianna C. Kenneally, JoAnn L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5520473
    Abstract: A ball point pen includes a tubular member with a hollow interior placeable in fluid communication with an ink supply, a socket formed at one end of the member having a seat and a cylindrical wall extending from the seat and a rim structure disposed at the end of the cylindrical wall opposite the seat, a spherical ball disposed in the socket, rotatably engagable with the seat and captured by the rim structure, the diameter of the ball being at least three percent smaller than the diameter of the seat at the intersection of the seat and the cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Lawrence H. Durham
  • Patent number: 5336009
    Abstract: A non-absorbent ink guide is provided which allows a ballpoint pen to replaceably use different ink cartridges of different concentration. The ink guide has channels of different pitches for guiding the ink to the tip thereof and for returning flow of the ink after the tip has been saturated with the ink, a buffer portion to reduce the hydrodynamic pressure and flowing speed of the ink, and a collar to define the distance of the tip to the steel ball of the ballbearing of the ballpoint pen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Jean Young
  • Patent number: 5251991
    Abstract: A roll-point pen in which a roll having an ellipsoidal portion is held rotatably, around the longer axis thereof as a center, to a tip of a pen holder having an ink reservoir. A plurality of ridges are formed, each being oblique to the longer axis of the ellipsoidal portion, so that a rotational force is provided to the roll due to friction between it and the surface of a paper sheet when the roll is drawn in the direction of the longer axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Inventor: Yoshihito Akutsu
  • Patent number: 5172994
    Abstract: A ball point member for use in a ball point pen wherein a plurality of circumferential grooves are formed on one side only of the outer surface of the tubular body of the point member near the point ball. The point member is bent about a center of bending displaced from the axis of the tubular body in a direction whereby the grooved surface is on the compression side of the bend and the non-grooved surface is on the tension side of the bend while maintaining a compressive force throughout the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Brown
  • Patent number: 5154525
    Abstract: An applicator for toilet water or the like which has an internal capillary structure for delivering liquid from a liquid storage cavity to a dispensing ball. The capillary structure includes a multiplicity of chambers penetrated by a narrow groove for transporting liquid by capilliary action and a wider groove for carrying air to the liquid storage cavity to maintain equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: International Hashi, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideaki Matsuo
  • Patent number: RE38440
    Abstract: A writing instrument having an elongated barrel comprised of an outer portion and an inner portion, rotatable relative one to the other. The point or writing tip is fixed to the barrel inner portion, disposed at an angle to, and may be offset from, the centerline of the barrel outer portion. The barrel inner portion is caused to rotate and move axially relative to the barrel outer portion by pressure on the writing instrument, or weights attached to the barrel inner portion, to bring the point into desired alignment during the writing process. Further pressure on the point or writing tip causes the barrel inner portion to move to a rearwardmost position at which rotation of the point or writing tip is impeded by a gripping structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Berol Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Dowst, Edward J. Mangan, Roy Nicoll