Coating implements with material supply – Including ball – roller or endless-belt tool – Ball
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-03-06
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Including ball, roller or endless-belt tool
Ball
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196745
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a writing instrument. More specifically, the present invention relates to a refill for a writing instrument, namely an adaptable refill having a plurality of interchangeable components. The components are arrangeable in various configurations to fit any one of a plurality of writing instruments. In addition, the present invention provides a method for refilling any one of a plurality of writing instruments using the adaptable refill.
It is, of course, generally known to provide a writing instrument, such as a pen, for use in transcribing information or the like. Many types of pens exist such as ballpoint, roller ball, pressurized ballpoints, gel ink and the like. Typically, pens are constructed such that when ink from the pen is depleted, a refill within the body of the pen may be removed and replaced with a substitute refill. However, pens and their refills are produced by many different manufacturers. Typically, a specific pen requires a specific refill. Therefore, only the refill which is manufactured by the specific pen manufacturer fits the pen for which the refill is intended.
As a result, consumer confusion often exists when purchasing refills to determine which refill fits in the pen that the consumer originally purchased. Often, a consumer is not carrying the pen requiring the refill when purchase of a refill becomes necessary. The manufacturer of the refill may, therefore, not be known by the consumer, and often, the incorrect refill is purchased.
A need, therefore, exists for an adaptable refill that may be implemented in various types of writing instruments regardless of their manufacturers. In addition, a need exists for a collection of writing instruments, such as pens, capable of incorporating the adaptable refill as well as a method for refilling a writing instrument without regard to its manufacturer using the adaptable refill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a writing instrument having an adaptable refill. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adaptable refill having a plurality of interchangeable components. The components are arrangeable in various configurations to fit all types of writing instruments regardless of their manufacturers. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for refilling any one of a plurality of available writing instruments.
To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, an adaptable refill is provided. The adaptable refill has a body having a first end and a second end defining a length having an interior wherein the first end has a marking tip. A plurality of components is provided wherein at least one of the plurality of components is attachable at the first end of the body and at least another one of the plurality of components is attachable at the second end of the body wherein the plurality of components are independently attachable to the body.
In an embodiment, a plurality of components is independently attachable at the first end of the body.
In an embodiment, a plurality of components is independently attachable at a second end of the body.
In an embodiment, ink is provided in the interior of the body.
In an embodiment, a reduced diameter section is integrally formed with at least one of the plurality of components attachable to the second end of the body.
In an embodiment, a groove is formed in one of the plurality of components attachable to the first end of the body.
In an embodiment, the plurality of components is five wherein each of the plurality of components is independently attachable to the first end or the second end of the body.
In an embodiment, at least two of the plurality of components are attachable at either one of the first end or the second end of the body.
In an embodiment, each of the plurality of components is distinctly colored.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a collection of writing instruments is provided. The collection has a body having a length defined between the first end and a second end wherein the body has an interior wherein the interior of the body is distinct from another interior of a body produced by another manufacturer. Adaptable refill has a writing end and an opposite end. The refill is insertable into the interior of the body wherein the refill includes a plurality of components independently attachable to the refill to incorporate into any one of the interiors of the bodies.
In an embodiment, a plurality of components is independently attachable to the writing end of the adaptable refill.
In an embodiment, a plurality of components is independently attached to the opposite end of the adaptable refill.
In an embodiment, each of the plurality of components is distinctly colored.
In an embodiment, two of the plurality of components are attachable at either one of the first end or the second end of the body.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for refilling any one of a plurality of available writing instruments. The method comprises the steps of: providing a body having a length defined between a first end and a second end; providing a plurality of components; and attaching at least one of the plurality of components independently to at least one of the first end or the second end of the body wherein attachment is dependent upon the writing instrument for which the refill is intended.
In an embodiment, color coding is provided for each one of the plurality of components.
In an embodiment, at least two of the plurality of components are attached to either one of the first end or the second end.
In an embodiment, a groove is provided in at least one of the plurality of components.
In an embodiment, the first end of the body has a tip capable of producing a mark.
In an embodiment, at least one of the plurality of components is attachable to both the first end and the second end of the body.
It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to provide a writing instrument, an adaptable refill therefor and a method for refilling that may be implemented in various types of writing instruments.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument, an adaptable refill therefor and a method for refilling that allows removal of the refill from the writing instrument and incorporated in another writing instrument.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument, an adaptable refill therefor and a method for refilling that simply adapts between various writing instruments regardless of their manufacturers.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide an adaptable refill for a writing instrument and a method for refilling that incorporates a minimum number of parts easily assembled regardless of the manufacturer of the writing instrument for which the refill is intended for use.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.
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patent: 5615964 (1997-04-01), Smith
patent: 5880764 (1999-03-01), Barinaga
Eversharp Pen Company
Le Huyen
Patents +TMS, P.C.
Recla Henry J.
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