Writing utensil

Claim 2

In a writing utensil, a combination comprising a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist; a moistening receptacle adapted to contain a liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side, a cover on said open side and provided with a hole, a tubular insert received in said hole and having a larger-diameter axially outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smaller-diameter axially inner tubular portion located within said axially outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate said hole and said inner open end towards but short of the latter, and a terminal insert partly received in said inner open end in abutment with said axially inner tubular portion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of said receptacle so that, when said writing tip is received in said tubular portion, the writing tip will remain moist; and cooperating sealing surfaces on said barrel rearwardly of said writing tip and in said tubular insert at said region, said sealing surfaces engaging one another when said writing instrument is inserted into said tubular insert so as to seal the interior of said receptacle against the ambient atmosphere.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, said outer tubular portion having an exterior shoulder for engagement with said cover, said receptacle having a bottom wall opposite said cover, and said terminal insert having an abutment for engagement with said outer tubular portion at said open end, whereby the spacing of said terminal insert from said bottom wall is predetermined.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminal insert is cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces, has abutment portions on at least one of said surfaces to prevent tight contact between them and an upper axial end face formed with capillary grooves, and wherein said capillaries are also capillary grooves formed in said surfaces and communicating with said capillary grooves in said axial end face.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said portions are of identical configuration.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrel has a cylindrical front section provided with said tip; said inner tubular portion having an outer passage dimensioned to receive said front secTion, and said outer tubular portion having a center passage dimensioned to receive a part of said barrel adjacent said front section.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle is of metallic material.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle has side walls which are at least slightly flexible, and wherein said cover is received with a snap-action in said open side.

Claim 9

In a writing utensil, a combination comprising a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist; and a moistening receptacle adapted to contain a liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side, a cover on said open side and provided with a hole, a tubular insert received in said hole and having a larger-diameter outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smaller-diameter inner tubular portion located within said outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate said hole and said inner open end towards but short of the latter, and a terminal insert partly received in said inner open end in abutment with said inner tubular portion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of said receptacle so that, when said writing tip is received in said tubular portion, the writing tip will remain moist, said terminal insert being cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces, having abutment portions on at least one of said surfaces to prevent tight contact between them and an upper axial end face formed with capillary grooves, and wherein said capillaries are also capillary grooves formed in said surfaces and communicating with said capillary grooves in said axial end face.

Claim 10

In a writing utensil, a combination comprising a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist; and a moistening receptacle adapted to contain a liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side, a cover on said open side and provided with a hole, a tubular insert received in said hole and having a larger-diameter outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smaller-diameter inner tubular portion located within said outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate said hole and said inner open end towards but short of the latter, and a terminal insert partly received in said inner open end in abutment with said inner tubular portion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of said receptacle so that, when said writing tip is received in said tubular portion, the writing tip will remain moist, said terminal insert being cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces, having abutment portions on at least one of said surfaces to prevent tight contact between them and an upper axial end face formed with capillary grooves, and wherein said capillaries are also capillary grooves formed in said surfaces and communicating with said capillary grooves in said axial end face.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said portions are of identical configuration.