| CPC B43K 24/082 (2013.01) [B43K 24/023 (2013.01); B43K 24/04 (2013.01); B43K 24/088 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
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1. A writing instrument, comprising:
a housing extending along an axis and between a base at a rear end of the writing instrument and a curved front end at a front end of the writing instrument, the housing comprising a pair of spaced apart beams that extend between and connect to the base and the curved front end, a platform extending between and interconnecting the pair of spaced apart beams at a location between the rear end and curved front end;
a cartridge extending between the rear end and the front end, a nib configured to extend from the front end of the cartridge, the cartridge configured to be disposed inside the housing, so the front end of the cartridge is extendable through an opening of the curved front end of the housing, and so an outer tubular surface of the cartridge extends through an opening in the platform, the cartridge further comprising a pair of arms that extend from opposite sides of the cartridge and generally perpendicular to a central axis of the cartridge;
a pair of leaves coupled to the rear end of the housing and extending to the front end proximate the curved front end of the housing so that the pair of leaves extend along a majority of a length of the writing instrument, each of the leaves extending between the pair of spaced apart beams and comprising a pair of spaced apart pawls with an angled edge that tapers toward the front end, the pair of spaced apart pawls configured to slidingly engage the pair of arms, a portion of each leaf configured to flex toward the axis relative to the rear end of the leaf; and
an overgrip sleeve extending over the pair of spaced apart beams and pair of leaves from the base of the housing to the curved front end of the housing,
wherein flexing the pair of leaves toward the axis of the housing causes the pawls of the pair of leaves to engage the pair of arms to move the cartridge in a first direction relative to the curved front end so that the nib protrudes from the curved front end, and wherein releasing the pair of leaves causes the cartridge to move in a second direction opposite the first direction to retract the nib so that it does not protrude from the curved front end.
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