EP0452281A1 — A ballpoint pen with a retractable writing tip

USPTO Abstract

The pen includes a hollow, substantially cylindrical barrel (4), a cap (6) mounted coaxially on the end of the barrel (4) opposite that associated with the writing tip (2) and slidable thereon, resilient means (8) interposed between the barrel (4) and the cap (6) and a snap-mechanism (25) located in the barrel (4) for causing the writing tip (2) to project from the barrel (4) or to be retracted therein as a result of the sliding of the cap (6) relative to the barrel (4). The cap (6) comprises a sleeve (10) and a top portion (12) having a head (14) with a projecting central pin (16) which fits in the sleeve (10), the sleeve (10) and the pin (16) being fixed together by engagement means (18, 20), the free end (22) of the pin (16) having an annular projection (24) which is intended to abut a corresponding surface (21) of the barrel (4) so as to hold the free end (22) in the barrel (4) and acting as an actuator for the snap-mechanism (25).