| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a limited-use writing instrument (301), for helping to control infectious cross-contamination from writing instruments in a clinical environment. The invention provides an assembly (120) for a limited-use writing implement (301). The assembly comprises a nib (104), a reservoir (124) connected to the nib (104), a reservoir receptacle (146) into which the reservoir is inserted, and a quantity of ink (126) held by the reservoir. The reservoir includes an opening (142) leading to said quantity of ink in communication with the nib so that in use during writing ink (126) may flow from the reservoir (124) to the nib (104). The assembly comprises means for forming a seal (80, 82, 90, 140, 150) to prevent ambient air (158) from flowing into the reservoir (124) through said opening (142) to replace the volume (138) of ink used in writing with the nib in order to create a partial vacuum (134) in the reservoir (124) and so limit the quantity of ink (126) which will flow to the nib (104) in writing. |
