US-12623482-B2 - Replaceable cartridge for a writing instrument and method thereof

US12623482B2US 12623482 B2US12623482 B2US 12623482B2US-12623482-B2

Abstract

A replaceable cartridge including a body extending between a first end and a second end along an axis (A-A), a reservoir defined within the body, the reservoir configured to store a writing material, a barrier included at the second end of the body, the barrier configured to transition from a first state in which the barrier is capable of containing the writing material within the reservoir to a second state in which the barrier is no longer capable of containing the writing material in the reservoir, and a plunger extending between the first end and the second end of the body, the plunger configured to move axially between a first position and a second, causing the barrier to transition from the first state to the second state.

Inventors

ETIENNE MICHENAUD
Claude PEDREZ

Assignees

SOCIéTé BIC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221103
Priority Date: 20211117

Claims (19)

1 . A replaceable cartridge configured for use in a writing instrument, the replaceable cartridge comprising: a body extending between a first end and a second end along an axis; a reservoir defined within at least a portion of the body, the reservoir configured to store a writing material; a barrier included at the second end of the body, the barrier configured to transition from a first state in which the barrier is capable of containing the writing material within the reservoir to a second state in which the barrier is no longer capable of containing the writing material within the reservoir; and a plunger extending between the first end and the second end of the body, the plunger configured to move axially between a first position and a second position; wherein movement of the plunger from the first position to the second position causes the barrier to transition from the first state to the second state, wherein the plunger includes an edge configured to break the barrier, wherein the edge of the plunger is offset from a central axis of the plunger and located at an outermost portion of the plunger, wherein the body includes a first stop and a second stop, wherein the plunger includes a first shoulder and a second shoulder, and wherein the first shoulder is configured to contact the first stop and the second shoulder is configured to contact the second stop when the plunger moves from the first position to the second position.
2 . The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger includes the edge configured to interrupt the barrier when the plunger moves toward the second position, wherein the interruption of the barrier by the edge of the plunger includes breakage of the barrier.
3 . The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger includes a pushable element configured to be pressed by a user.
4 . The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger is formed in one piece.
5 . The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first opening defined at the first end of the body and a second opening defined at the second end of the body, wherein at least a portion of the plunger projects out of the first opening of the body when the plunger is in the first position, and wherein at least a portion of the plunger projects out of the second opening of the body when the plunger is in the second position.
6 . The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the reservoir is defined within the plunger.
7 . The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier is comprised of a membrane configured to be broken by the plunger.
8 . The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes a coupling member configured to engage and disengage the writing instrument.
9 . A method for refilling a writing instrument with a writing material, the method comprising: providing the replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 ; coupling the replaceable cartridge to the writing instrument; and pressing the plunger to move the plunger from the first position to the second position.
10 . A writing instrument comprising: a writing tip; a housing; a coupling member configured to engage and disengage the replaceable cartridge; and the replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 ; wherein engagement of the replaceable cartridge with the writing instrument allows a user to refill the writing instrument with the writing material.
11 . The writing instrument according to claim 10 , comprising a chamber configured to receive the writing material from the replaceable cartridge.
12 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first stop is axially spaced from the second stop, wherein the first stop includes a seal, wherein the seal is on a surface of the first stop.
13 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the edge, the first shoulder, and the second shoulder are enclosed by the first end and the second end of the body.
14 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder and the second shoulder are configured to abut the body when the plunger is in the second position.
15 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a void extending from the first end to the second end configurable to allow the plunger to be received in the body.
16 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder is axially spaced from the second shoulder.
17 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder is axially spaced from the second shoulder, wherein the first shoulder includes a protrusion configured to contact the first stop.
18 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder is axially spaced from the second shoulder, wherein the second shoulder includes a protrusion configured to contact the second stop.
19 . The replaceable cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder is axially spaced from the second shoulder, wherein the first shoulder includes a first protrusion configured to contact the first stop, wherein the second shoulder includes a second protrusion configured to contact the second stop, wherein the first shoulder is configured to be received within a first void defined by the body, wherein the second shoulder is configured to be received within a second void defined by the body and axially spaced from the first void.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2022/080730, filed Nov. 3, 2022, now published as WO 2023/088692 A1, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 21306601.2, filed on Nov. 17, 2021, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD This application claims benefit from European patent application EP 21306601.2 filed on 17 Nov. 2021 its content being incorporated herein by reference. The present disclosure relates generally to the field of writing instruments. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a replaceable cartridge configured for use in a writing instrument. BACKGROUND A traditional writing instrument may include a tubular housing, a cartridge configured to store a fluid-based writing medium, such as ink, and a writing tip configured to transfer the writing medium to a surface. In a free ink writing instrument, the writing medium may freely circulate fluidly within the cartridge of the writing instrument. Additionally, the writing medium may circulate in real-time due to forces acting on the writing instrument, such as gravity. In particular, the writing medium may circulate when the writing instrument is handled and/or manipulated by a user. In a free ink writing instrument, to formulate the writing medium, the free ink writing instrument may require injection of a writing material, such as concentrated ink, from the cartridge into a separate chamber of the writing instrument to mix with an additional fluid, such as water, such that the writing medium is ready for use. Downstream from the chamber, the writing medium, once mixed from the writing material and the additional fluid, may be fed to the writing tip. To extend the lifetime of a writing instrument, the writing instrument may be configured to be refilled with the writing medium. However, in the case of a free ink writing instrument, refilling the writing instrument with the writing material may create a messy situation for a user attempting to refill the writing instrument. As such, a refill for the writing instrument may come in the form of a separate cartridge that is configured to be opened by the writing instrument. Accordingly, the writing instrument may include a dedicated device in the housing of the writing instrument, which is configured to open the cartridge such that the writing material can be transferred from the cartridge to the chamber of the writing instrument. The cartridge opening device included by the writing instrument is typically not easily removable from the writing instrument and/or not easily replaceable. Accordingly, damage and/or wear and tear to the cartridge opening device included by the writing instrument results in the cartridge opening device and, thus, the writing instrument, becoming less efficient and/or entirely non-functional. It is desirable to provide a replaceable cartridge that is configured for use in a writing instrument, which includes structures and/or relationships configured to open the cartridge in a self-contained manner so as to be replaceable with the cartridge, to improve refilling of the writing instrument in a hassle-free and convenient manner. SUMMARY According to aspects of the present disclosure, a replaceable cartridge configured for use in a writing instrument is provided. The replaceable cartridge comprises a body extending between a first end and a second end along an axis, a reservoir defined within at least a portion of the body, the reservoir being configured to store a writing material, a barrier included at the second end of the body, the barrier being configured to transition from a first state in which the barrier is capable of containing the writing material within the reservoir to a second state in which the barrier is no longer capable of containing the writing material within the reservoir, and a plunger extending between the first end and the second end of the body, the plunger being configured to move axially between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the plunger from the first position to the second position causes the barrier to transition from the first state to the second state. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the plunger may include an edge being configured to interrupt the barrier when the plunger moves toward the second position. According to aspects of the present disclosure, interruption of the barrier by the edge of the plunger may include breakage of the barrier. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the plunger may include a pushable element being configured to be pressed by a user. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the plunger is formed in one piece. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the body may include a first opening defined at the first end of the body and a second opening defined at the second end of the body. According to aspe