US 12,030,339 B2
Passive variable friction pen
David Duffy, Zurich (CH); and Bernadette Elliott-Bowman, Leatherhead Kent (GB)
Assigned to SOCIÉTÉ BIC, Clichy (FR)
Appl. No. 17/999,801
Filed by SOCIÉTÉ BIC, Clichy (FR)
PCT Filed May 25, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/063874
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/239718, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20315284 (EP), filed on May 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234392 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B43K 7/12 (2006.01); B43K 1/08 (2006.01); B43K 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B43K 7/00 (2013.01) [B43K 1/082 (2013.01); B43K 1/084 (2013.01); B43K 1/086 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A writing instrument configured to apply a writing material or liquid to a surface, comprising a socket, and a ball arranged in the socket,
characterized by at least one first component which is arranged to come into contact with the ball, wherein the at least one first component comprises a first material having surface properties such that the friction coefficient between the ball and the at least one first component decreases when the force acting from the ball on the at least one first component increases at least within a certain range of forces.