Actuator structure for ball-point pens and other writing instruments

Claim 1

In a ball-point pen or other writing instrument having an actuator mechanism by means of which a writing cartridge, movably arranged inside a body shell of said writing instrument, can be shifted longitudinally upwardly from a writing position to a retracted position, and vice versa, in said writing instrument, an exterior actuator structure comprising in combination: an actuator member arranged longitudinally above the body shell of the writing instrument and engaging the upper extremity of the latter so as to be guided for axial movement relative thereto; and cooperating guide portions of substantially equal outer contour on the lower extremity of the actuator member and on the upper extremity of the main shell; and wherein a first one of the two guide portions is tubular in cross section and has in its wall a series of axially extending parallel guide slots, which are angularly spaced on its circumference and open towards the other guide portion, thereby defining between them a first set of axially extending guide teeth; and the second one of the two guide portions has a series of axially extending parallel recesses matching said first guide teeth for cooperation therewith in turn, defining between them a second set of axially extending guide teeth fitting into the guide slots of the first guide portion.