What are the holes in biros for?

Answer 1

so when you eat them you don't choke.

Answer 2

yes they are for if swallowed children can not choke,

it is also to allow air in to allow the ink out

Biro makes its mark on its 60 year anniversary

10 June 1943

The patent for the world's first practical ball-point pen was filed 60 years ago on 10 June 1943 by Laszlo Jozsef Biro.

Hungarian journalist Biro visited a newspaper printing press and noticed that the ink they used dried quickly and didn't smudge. However, the ink was thick and wouldn't flow from the nib of fountain pens, which were notorious for blotting, so Laszlo Jozsef Biro investigated a different way to use the ink.

Laszlo Jozsef Biro invented a new kind of pen, which uses a freely moving ball as a nib which rotates when in use. As pressure is applied, ink flows from a capillary constriction along grooves behind the ball. The design meant that the pen would not leak and it did not need frequent refills.

A British government official, Henry Martin decided that air crews would find the pens useful when they were doing navigational work as they wouldn't leak at high altitudes, unlike conventional fountain pens with liquid ink. Spotting the practical uses of the pen, Martin bought the British licensing rights soon after the patent was filed.

In 1953 Baron Bic introduced the 'throwaway' ballpoint in European markets. Parker's Jotter pen came out in 1954. Both were huge successes.

Biro's patent for the successfully commercialised ball point pen (GB564172) and its earlier prototype (GB498997) can be viewed in the patent database gb.espacenet.com

Answer 3

The hole in a biro is to allow the ink to flow down the inner tube. If the hole wasn't there when you tried to use the pen a vacuum would be created in the outer tube which would prevent the ink flowing.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

The holes you ask about are put there by the order of the Department / Ministry of Defence (US & UK respectively)so that you can turn them into adornments ...stringing thread / string etc through them and make necklaces, earring and miniskirts etc. for bartering ~

whilst and, as a crafty n sneaky alternative.....

....they can be used for evade and escape (breathing underwater!) or turned into weaponry for the defence of ....whatever. The 'holes' are to get you off to a flying start ....whilst as an alternative also (whay will they think of next!), they stop the temperature inside the tube from building while you write (clever eh!), so that the tube doesn't get all misty and stops it from losing its beauty ~ and the ink from bubbling up out of the tube and into the outer tube ...if n you follow!

Sash.

Answer 5

let air pressure equalize in the pen. The ink flows down but needs air to replace the loss else there will build up a tiny vacuum in the ink cartridge and prevent the ink from flowing.
Similar you fill a drinking straw with water and put your finger over the top of the straw hole the water will not flow out of it.

Answer 6

spent biros are excellent to make the hulls of model catamarans - the holes are the anchor points for the matchstick masts.

Answer 7

Its so that if you swallow it you can still breath - especially for children with smaller airways. They have holes in the tops as well for the same reason.

Answer 8

Nothing to do with ink flow - it's in case they're accidentally swallowed. You can still breath through them

Answer 9

To give you something to focus on when your mind goes blank.

or to let the air in to help the ink run to the nib (stops it drying up)

one of those - you decide........

Answer 10

It`s a health and safety measure to stop you using the casing as a peashooter.

Answer 11

So you can stick a sharp implement in there and puncture the ink tube! Well that's what it was for at our school! lol