Coating implements with material supply – Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-03-13
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor
Combined
C401S195000, C401S243000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200046
ABSTRACT:
CHEWABLE DEVICE
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to dental and dental hygiene products, tension relievers, writing instruments, and writing instrument attachments such as caps, sleeves, sheaths, grippers, holders, and erasers.
2. Background of the Invention
Writing instruments are used universally and can take the form of ink pens, ball point pens, felt-tip pens, pencils, mechanical pencils, highlighters, and markers, to name a few. Many people suffer from the habit of chewing on the end of a writing instrument or chewing on a writing instrument attachment such as a cap, sheath, eraser, grip, or other accessory. Chewing on a writing instrument or writing instrument attachment can cause damage to the writing instrument, rendering it nonfunctional or causing the leakage of ink or chemicals onto clothes, skin, personal articles, or in the oral cavity; and can cause damage such as chipping, abrasion, and scratching to the teeth, gums, and oral cavity of chewers. Continued chewing on a standard pen cap breaks the pen cap, allowing moisture to enter the interior of the cap, eventually ruining the cap and the pen, and introduces broken sharp edges into the oral cavity and allows ingestion of plastic or other toxic material. Chewing on a lead or graphite based pencil or on ink or chemical containing pens can lead to toxic poisoning of the chewer. Chewing on the end of a writing instrument or writing instrument attachment also frays and damages the ends of writing instruments or writing instrument attachments so as to render it unattractive to the chewer and others. People also suffer from bad dental hygiene.
Existing erasers, grips, sleeves, caps, and other accessories or attachments placeable on the end of a writing instrument are themselves destroyed and damaged by the chewing action, rendering their utility void and the protection of the teeth, gums, oral cavity, clothing, skin, and personal articles nonexistent. Existing articles also fray and damage in a manner unattractive to the chewer and others.
Existing writing instruments are made of materials which are damaged by chewing and immersion in moist environments, such as in an oral cavity. Chewing on and dampening existing writing instruments destroys or hampers the functioning of the writing instruments. Further, the material of which existing writing instruments are made provides little or no protection to the teeth, gums, oral cavity, clothing, skin, and personal articles of individuals who chew on writing instruments.
Edible writing accessories have been made to encourage children to use writing instruments, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,596, a writing accessory, U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,997, a pop-eye pen and candy holder, and U.S. Design Pat. No. 353,157, a combined writing instrument and confection. However, edible writing accessories are not durable, being quickly consumed. They further do not provide any dental hygiene benefit. Moreover, edible writing accessories are not designed for, and do not provide, protection to teeth, gums, and the oral cavity. Edible instruments are not designed for and do not provide protection to the writing instrument itself, clothing, or external skin from the chewing action by human teeth. Like erasers, sheaths, sleeves, grips, caps, and other writing instrument attachments or accessories, edible ends are quickly chewed through, compromised, or consumed rendering the protective and hygienic utility void. Moreover, U.S. Design Pat. No. 353,157 discloses a metallic ridge in or next to the chewing region which would be destructive to lips, tongue, and teeth if chewed upon or inserted into an oral cavity.
Protective caps for pens exist, such as U.S. Design Pat. No. 307,920, a protective end cap for a ball point pen, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,672, a short pen having a relatively long cap. These disclosures but make no reference to chewing activity, or insertion into an oral cavity, or indicate any protection of teeth, gums, tongue, lips, clothing, or protection from ingestion of toxic materials, or suggest any combination with chewable articles to effect such protection.
Numerous chewable articles exist, such as U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,352, a therapeutic pet toy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,014, a chewable toy for an animal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,386, a mouth splint, U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,416, a device for cleaning teeth and massaging gums, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,324, a sports mouthguard with shim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,731, a pacifier having a shield with chewing beads, U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,223, a childs teething device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,638, a tension reliever, U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,815, a chewable tooth cleaning device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,911, a bite block, U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,114, a dental care device and brush body suitable therefor. These disclosures make no reference to writing instruments or chewable articles in connection with writing instruments, and makes no suggestion of combining writing instruments with chewable articles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A chewable sheath attachable to a writing instrument or integral with a writing instrument or writing means provides an object of oral focus for people who chew on the ends of writing instruments. A chewable sheath designed to provide dental hygiene in use acts as a supplement to daily dental hygiene care, improving the circumstances of peoples lives. A chewable sheath provides protection from puncturing the writing instrument or causing a leak of the writing instrument serving to protect individuals from damage to clothes, skin, personal articles or the oral cavity, and to protect individuals from toxic poisoning. A chewable sheath provides protection from chipping, abrasion, scratching, scarring, contusion, and puncture to the teeth, gums, tongue, and oral cavity of the chewer. A chewable sheath provides protection from unattractive fraying and damage to the ends of a writing instrument or a writing instrument attachment.
Heretofore, a chewable sheath with the foregoing properties have not been available.
The present invention overcomes the above-noted problems by providing a chewable sheath, also referenced herein as a chewable device, attachable to a writing instrument and comprising a shell with one or a plurality of layers of resilient material of various relative degrees of hardness, the shell can have an open end and a closed end. The chewable sheath can be placed on either the writing end or the non-writing end of a writing instrument. Further disclosed is a chewable sheath containing a writing means comprising a shell with one or a plurality of layers of resilient material having a writing end and a chewing end, and a writing means disposed within said resilient material and extending outwardly from the writing end.
It is an object of the present invention to prevent damage to writing instruments from the chewing activity of individuals who chew on writing instruments and writing instrument attachments. It is further object of the present invention to prevent damage to the teeth, gums, tongue, lips, and oral cavity of individuals who chew on writing instruments and writing instrument attachments. It is also an object of the present invention to prevent damage to, or toxic poisoning to, the oral cavity, gums, tongue, or internal organs of individuals who chew on writing instruments and writing instrument attachments. It is an object of the present invention to prevent ink stains on the skin on the face, hands, or on clothing or articles of property as a result of chewing on writing instruments and writing instrument attachments. It is an object of the present invention to provide supplemental dental hygiene to individuals who chew on writing instruments and writing instrument attachments. It is a further object of the present invention to provide protection against unsightly and unattractive fraying or damage to the writing instrument or writing instrument attachment. It is also an object to provide tension relief to the chewer. It is an object to enhance the quality and aroma of the chewers' breath as perceived by third persons. It
Rylander Kurt M.
Walczak David J.
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