A writing instrument with an illuminable clip

The present invention . relates to the field of writing instruments. More specifically, it relates to a writing instrument comprising an elongated barrel having an internal cavity, a refill with a writing point, the refill being housed in the cavity, operating means able to cause the ejection from and the retraction into the cavity of the writing point of the refill, a clip secured to the outer surface of the upper portion of the barrel, and a light source associated with the clip and connected to an electrical power circuit.

The object of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument in which the switch-on and switch-off operations of the light source are facilitated and which is, at the same time, simple and economical to manufacture.

Such an object is achieved by a writing instrument of the type described above and characterized in that the abovementioned operating means are able to simultaneously cause the ejection/retraction of the writing point, and the opening/closure of the abovementi \oned electrical circuit .

The writing instrument of the invention exhibits the advantage of not requiring the user to carry out any additional operation to switch the light source on, other than those conventionally needed to eject the writing point from the barrel . Specifically, the closure of the electrical circuit taking place simultaneously with the ejection of the writing point automatically causes the light source to switch on. The same applies in principle for the writing point retraction operation which causes the electrical circuit to open and the light source to switch off. However, for reasons of saving electrical energy, provision can be made for the

power circuit to have a control device able to interrupt it, and thereby automatically switch the light source off, after a pre-established time period, independently of the fact that the writing point remains in the ejected state. Advantageously, such a switch-off action can be gradual with a fading effect of the light generated by the light source.

The writing instrument of the invention is particularly suitable to be used as a promotional pen exhibiting promotional messages and/or logos on the clip. Indeed, the user's attention is immediately drawn to these promotional messages and/or logos following the switch-on of the light source, which takes place automatically following/ each ejection action of the writing point.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawing in which: the sole figure is a side elevation and longitudinal cross-section view of a writing instrument according to the invention.

A writing instrument, such as a pen, comprises an elongated barrel 10 having an internal cavity 12, a refill 14 with a writing point 16, the refill 14 being housed in the cavity 12 under the action of a. return spring 18, a clip 20 secured to the outer surface of the upper portion of the barrel 10, and a light source 22 associated with the clip 20 and connected to an electrical power circuit .

The barrel 10 is formed by an upper part 24 and by a lower part 26 extending along a longitudinal axis 28. The top end of the lower part 26 has a recessed cylindrical protuberance 30 which enters the lower portion of the upper part 24. The

surfaces of the protuberance 30 and of the lower portion of the part 24 that face each other have a series of circumferential projections 32 which function as means of restraint axially, allowing a relative rotation of the parts 24, 26 about the longitudinal axis 28.

In the internal cavity 12 of the upper part 24 there is present a transverse wall 34 which has an opening 36 and bears on its upper face a conductive washer 38 forming part of the electrical power circuit. ₄

The pen also comprises operating means able to selectively cause the ejection and the retraction of the writing point 16 of the refill 14 with respect to the cavity 12, as well as the opening and closure of the electrical circuit . Such means comprise a catch 40 and a switch member for the circuit. The catch 40 is shaped like an inverted cup on the top of the refill 14 and has an end wall 42 with a central hole 44 from which there protrudes a hollow sleeve 46 housed in the opening 36 of the transverse wall 34, and a side wall 48 rotationally secured and axially movable with respect to the lower part 26 of the barrel 10. Furthermore, two teeth 50 protrude from the side wall 48, which teeth 50 are diametrically opposite and capable of interfering with cammed surfaces 52 projecting inwardly from the upper part 24 of the barrel 10. The switch member comprises a rod 54 which is fitted in the hollow sleeve 46 of the catch 40 and bears on its top a conductive plate 56.

The light source 22 is an LED lamp housed in a cavity 58 made in the upper portion of the clip 20. The latter is formed by a support frame 60 and by a covering 62.

The electrical power circuit for the light source 22 comprises the washer 38 from which there branches off a

conductor 64 to which the light source 22 is connected, and an electrical current generator, such as a set of batteries • 66 housed in. a compartment made in the upper part 24 and having a negative pole 68 and a positive pole 70. The negative pole 68 is connected to a conductive shaft 72 inserted in the upper end of a conductive helical spring 74 which has a lower end which wraps, around a conductive pin 76 that protrudes from the plate 56. Another conductive shaft 78 is connected to the positive pole. 70 of the batteries 66, placing them in contact with the conductor 64 on which there is placed an electronic control device 80. The latter is able to open the electrical circuit after a pre-established time period has elapsed from its closure .caused by the contact between the plate 56 and the washer 38.

The top of the upper part 24 is closed by a screw-on cap 82 in which there is housed a helical spring 84 which urges the shaft 78 against the positive pole 70 of the batteries 66.

By making the lower part 26 of the barrel 10 rotate with respect to the upper part 24, the catch 40 is made to rotate, the teeth 50 of which, interacting in a conventional manner with the cammed internal surfaces 52 of the upper part 24, cause the lowering of the catch 40 and of the refill 14 associated with it with the ejection of the writing point 16 from the barrel 10. Together with the catch 40 the switch member secured to it is also lowered,- such that conductive plate 56 comes into contact with the washer 38, closing the electrical power circuit and causing the LED light source 22 to switch on. The clip 20 is thus lit, highlighting promotional messages and/or logos with which it is decorated.

To save the batteries 66, the control device 80 commands the opening of the electrical circuit after a pre-established time period has elapsed from the closure caused by the

contact between the plate 56 and the washer 38. Advantageously, the control device 80 is able to generate a gradually decreasing electrical voltage following the opening of the electrical circuit, such that the light generated by the light source 22 gradually dims until it is extinguished, with a fading effect which is markedly captivating.

If instead the control device 80 is not present, the opening of the circuit and the resulting switch-off of the LED would be brought about by rotating in the opposite direction the lower part 26 of the barrel 10 with respect to the upper part 24, which happens when the user wishes to retract the writing point 16 of the refill 14 into the barrel 10. Specifically, following this operation, the catch 40* is pushed upwards due to the action of the return spring 18 of the refill 14, resulting in the plate 56 rising and its contact with the washer 38 breaking .

In any case, switching the light source 22 on or off does not require the user to carry out operations in addition to those normally needed to cause the writing point 16 to eject from and respectively retract into the barrel 10.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and forms of embodiment may be varied widely with respect to those described purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, which scope is defined in the appended claims.