Coating implements with material supply – With means to attach or conform to body of user
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2001-02-13
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
With means to attach or conform to body of user
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186685
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to manufacturing a marking instrument housing.
Housings for marking instruments, such as pens and pencils, vary in design, construction and material. Pen housings, for example, can include one or more components and are often formed from a polymeric material. One common component of a pen housing is generally referred to as a barrel and typically includes a chamber for storing an ink composition.
One challenge in designing pen housings is preventing leakage of the ink composition stored within the housing. The ink composition is often maintained in the pen housing by forming a watertight seal between components of the housing. Watertight seals between two polymeric components can be formed using a variety of methods including, e.g., press fitting the components together, inserting O-rings or gaskets, applying a sealant, or ultrasonically welding a joint between the two components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention features a housing for use in marking instruments such as pens and pencils.
The invention features a marking instrument that includes: a) a first body, b) a second body coupled to the first body, c) an elastomeric sealing member integrally bonded to the first body, where the elastomeric sealing member forms a watertight seal with the second body, and d) a marking medium disposed within the instrument. The instrument having an opening for allowing the marking medium to exit the instrument. Examples of marking media include ink, graphite, and correction fluid. In one embodiment, the marking media includes titanium dioxide.
In another embodiment, the instrument further includes an elastomeric gripping member integrally bonded to the first body. The gripping member may be in fluid communication with the sealing member. In other embodiments, the gripping member and the sealing member include substantially the same elastomeric material.
In another embodiment, the first body includes a polymer, e.g., polypropylene.
In one embodiment, the sealing member includes an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer, styrene-butadienestyrene copolymer, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymer and combinations thereof.
In other embodiments, the first body includes a polymeric base and an elastomeric gripping member integrally bonded to the polymeric base. In some embodiments, the first body and the second body are cylindrical. In one embodiment, the first body includes a polymeric base that includes a channel in fluid communication with the sealing member.
In another aspect, the invention features a method of using a marking instrument as described above that includes marking a substrate (e.g., paper) with the marking instrument.
In other aspects, the invention features a method for manufacturing an annular elastomeric sealing member, where the method includes applying an elastomeric composition to the surface of a cylindrical polymeric base that includes a) a channel, and b) an annular groove in fluid communication with the channel, such that the elastomeric composition flows from the channel to the annular groove to form an annular elastomeric member and the elastomeric member is integrally bonded to the polymeric base.
In another aspect, the invention features an article that includes a cylindrical body, and an annular elastomeric sealing member integrally bonded to the body, the sealing member being capable of forming a watertight seal with a second cylindrical body.
In other aspects, the invention features an article that includes a first body, a second body coupled to the first body, and an elastomeric sealing member integrally bonded to the first body, where the elastomeric sealing member forms a watertight seal with the second body.
The invention enables the substantially simultaneous creation and application of an annular elastomeric sealing member, e.g., an O-ring, to a component of a marking instrument housing such that the sealing member is integrally bonded to the component. In addition, the annular sealing member can be applied to the housing component substantially simultaneously with the application of an elastomeric gripping member (i.e., a part of the marking instrument housing that is gripped by the fingers when the marking instrument is used, e.g., as a writing instrument). The invention thus facilitates mass production by eliminating additional process steps such as, e.g., ultrasonic welding, applying an O-ring, or applying a sealant composition, after manufacture of the housing.
The invention also provides a housing that is quickly and easily assembled, which provides further benefits to the mass production of assembled housings and marking instruments that include the housings.
The housing also provides a good watertight seal that is capable of preventing leakage of ink compositions contained therein.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, and from the claims.
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deVore Peter
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Recla Henry J.
The Gillette Company
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