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EP-4735265-A1 - PEN

EP4735265A1EP 4735265 A1EP4735265 A1EP 4735265A1EP-4735265-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pen with a writing refill comprising a writing tip, a housing at least partially accommodating the writing refill, and a socket for an electrical connection. According to the invention, it is provided that the housing has two parts which can be adjusted relative to one another, wherein in a first position of the two parts relative to one another, the socket is concealed and wherein in a second position of the two parts relative to one another, the socket is accessible.

Inventors

  • KÄMPF, Karl-Peter

Assignees

  • Stabilo International GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (11)

  1. 1. Pen with a writing refill (4) comprising a writing tip (41), a housing at least partially accommodating the writing refill, and a socket (82) for an electrical connection, characterized in that the housing has two parts which can be adjusted relative to one another, wherein in a first position of the two parts relative to one another, the socket (82) is concealed by a cover and wherein in a second position of the two parts relative to one another, the socket (82) is accessible.
  2. 2. Pen according to claim 1 , characterized in that one of the two parts comprises an opening (24) for the socket (82) and the other part is coupled, in particular rotationally coupled, to the socket (82) and/or to a cover (31 , 53) for the opening (24).
  3. 3. Pen according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the two parts of the housing are a shaft tube (2) and an end piece (3).
  4. 4. Pen according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two positions differ from one another in the rotational position of the two parts relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the pen.
  5. 5. Pen according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the two parts has an outer contour in cross-section that deviates from a circular shape.
  6. 6. Pen according to claim 5, characterized in that the deviation of the outer contour from the circular shape traces back to a clip (31).
  7. 7. Pen according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a clip (31) and/or a shield (53) serve(s) to conceal the socket (82).
  8. 8. Pen according to claim 7, characterized in that the clip (31) is rotationally coupled to one of the two parts of the housing and the socket (82) is rotationally coupled to the other part.
  9. 9. Pen according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the shield (53) is rotationally coupled to one of the two parts of the housing and the socket (82) is rotationally coupled to the other part of the housing.
  10. 10. Pen according to any one of claims 7 through 9, characterized by a tray (5) accommodating a battery (50) which comprises the shield (53).
  11. 11 . Pen according to any one of claims 7 through 9, characterized by an end piece (3) comprising a clip (31), which comprises the shield (53).

Description

PEN The invention relates to a pen with a writing refill comprising a writing tip, a housing at least partially accommodating the writing refill, and a socket for an electrical connection. Pens of the type mentioned above are known. In the pens known to date, a rigid-flex circuit board is used to create a flexible and thin connection between individual components of the pen, in particular between a sensor system and the evaluation electronics of the pen. Rigid-flex circuit boards are, however, considerably more expensive to manufacture than rigid circuit boards, which is why a rigid circuit board is preferred. This does however mean that it is no longer possible to accommodate electronic components both in front of and behind the battery if you want to make do with a single circuit board. In order to not shift the center of gravity of the pen too far back, it also makes sense to position the battery in front of the electronics in the shaft of the pen. This does however make it difficult or even impossible to install a sensor system that allows the pen to be switched on and off by removing or attaching a pen cap. The aim is, nonetheless, to achieve an intuitive way of switching on and off. One way of achieving this is to install a ballpoint pen mechanism. In order to be able to measure the pressure of the writing tip on the paper, the relevant force must be transmitted along the length of the pen to the electronics. For this purpose, the battery can be housed in a (cylindrical) tray that guides the tip pressure from the writing refill around the battery to the sensor mounted behind the battery. The electronics themselves and all sensors are then located behind the battery and, in particular, in the pusher of the ballpoint pen mechanism. In this configuration of the pen, when the pen is adjusted from its rest position to its working position, the electronics are shifted relative to the shaft together with the battery and the writing refill, which makes it more difficult to integrate into the pen the aforementioned socket for an electrical connection, for example, for charging the battery. In order to be compatible with the usual connections for cell phones, a USB-C connection can, for example, be selected for charging. However, other types of connection such as a coaxial plug or simple charging contacts that are, for example, aligned with the contact element of the charging device via magnets are also conceivable. The term "socket" is hereinafter used without restriction of generality when this charging connection is meant. This connection should, however, be covered during operation in order to make it more difficult or even prevent the ingress of dirt and/or splashed water. The invention is based on the task of further developing the aforementioned type of pen in such a way that the socket used for the electrical connection is protected against deposits of dirt and/or against the ingress of splashed water. In other words, the task consists in protecting a charging socket in such a way that, when the pen is in operation or at rest, there is no external difference to a conventional pen. Only when the desire to charge the pen arises should it be possible to enable access to the previously concealed and protected charging socket opening by the simplest possible action. The opening of the socket should preferably be inside the contour of the pen housing. According to the invention, the task set for the aforementioned type of pen is solved in that the housing comprises two parts which can be adjusted relative to one another, wherein in a first position of the two parts relative to one another, the socket is concealed by a cover and wherein in a second position of the two parts relative to one another, the socket is accessible. In the first position, a clip attached to the end of the pen should moreover cover the housing opening, by means of which the charging socket can be made accessible. The solution according to the invention makes it possible to reveal the socket only when it is needed for charging the battery or for other purposes, which is to say, when a corresponding plug is to be inserted. This corresponds to the second position of the two parts of the housing. In all other cases, which is to say, when the socket is not in use, the two parts of the housing can be moved to the first position, whereby the socket is covered and thus protected from dirt deposits and/or splashed water. In so doing, it can be provided according to the invention that one of the two parts comprises an opening for the socket and the other part is coupled, in particular rotationally coupled, to the socket and/or to a cover for the opening. This configuration is particularly easy to realize. According to the invention, it is preferred that the two parts of the housing are a shaft tube and an end piece. In this case, for example, the pen only needs to be held onto on the shaft tube. By adjusting the end piece in relation to the s