Coating implements with material supply – Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-25
2004-04-20
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor
Combined
C401S096000, C604S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06722803
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of European Patent Application, Serial No. EP 02 019 333.0, filed Aug. 29, 2002, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a pencil having an envelope and a writing element received in the envelope.
Normally, a pencil of this type is used to apply color on paper or other flat materials. Other uses of such pencils involve, however, situations in which the writing element, e.g. lead, comes into direct contact with the human skin. Such a pencil may in turn be used, e.g., in a kajal stick or lipstick, for application of color onto the skin, or as a care product for lips, or even for application of a cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparation. When the pencil is intended for direct contact with the skin, particular consideration should be taken as far as skin compatibility is concerned. To prevent undesired skin irritation, care should be taken in the selection of the chemical composition of the writing element of the pencil. In addition, it should be taken into account that the pencil tip remains in a clean, hygienic condition, when contacting the skin.
Contamination of the pencil tip that needs to be cleaned involves macroscopic contamination through granular, smearing or liquid material, such as, e.g., dust, skin particles or hair. When pencils are involved for use in proximity of wounds, cleaning of the pencil tip from invisible, especially microbial contamination is of particular importance. Contamination of this type relates, e.g., to an attack of the pencil tip by bacteria, viruses, mites or fungi. Since the medical or pharmaceutical field requires compliance with a very stringent hygienic standard, disposable materials, such as gloves, syringes, applicators, and the like, are normally used for administration of drugs or for carrying out therapeutic procedures, or materials are employed, such as suitable metals or plastics, which can be cleaned rapidly and thoroughly. In these areas, the use of pencils, in particular soft-core pencils, is generally not considered an option, even though their usage would be desirable in view of their easily handling.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved pencil which obviates prior art shortcomings and which is constructed for use in the medical or pharmaceutical field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a pencil includes a writing element; an envelope arranged in surrounding relationship to the writing element and defining with the writing element a pencil tip, and a cleansing material combined with the envelope for effecting a spontaneous cleaning of the pencil tip.
To ensure clarity, it is necessary to establish the definition of several important terms and expressions that will be used throughout this disclosure. The term “envelope” relates to all pencil components which are disposed permanently or temporarily in immediate adjacent relationship to the writing element, such as a barrel arranged in surrounding coaxial relationship to the writing element, or an optional cap placed over the end of the pencil for protection. The term “cleansing material” refers to any cleansing agent that is capable to eliminate macroscopic and/or microbial contamination. The terms “self-cleaning” or “automatic cleaning” or “spontaneous cleaning” are used interchangeably and are meant to refer to a cleaning action, with or without requirement for the application of external influence, to prevent the adherence of dirt or contamination as a result of the use of the cleansing material. In other words, contamination is prevented from occurring in the first place, or the contamination is eliminated as a consequence of the effect of the cleansing material, when the pencil is used, e.g. during sharpening, without necessitating a separate cleaning process of the pencil tip.
The present invention resolves prior art problems by providing the pencil with a self-cleaning action by integrating the cleaning material in the pencil. Thus, the need for a separate cleaning agent, which has to be stored separately, is eliminated. A pencil according to the present invention is thus useable for a wide variety of applications, and may be handled also by unskilled personnel without risk. Use of the novel and inventive pencil is not only possible in a clean environment as encountered in hospitals but even when exposed to unhygienic circumstances, e.g. during travel.
According to another feature of the present invention, the cleansing material is a passively cleaning substance. A passively cleaning substance involves an agent that exhibits repellency to contaminants. There are many such materials at the disposal of an artisan, which primarily repel macroscopic contamination. Examples include the use of a so-called anti-stick surface, as widely used, for example, in conjunction with kitchen utensils, and involves the provision of a smooth, tense surface structure, a chemical inertness and thus a very low friction coefficient, to thereby prevent macroscopic contaminants from adhering to the surface. A particular useful material is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is chemically and biologically inert as well as hydrophobic and is commercially available under the name Teflon. Suitably, the envelope of the writing element may be lined with a PTFE coating, or the envelope may be made entirely of PTFE, and may be made of a composite material which contains PTFE.
According to another feature of the present invention, the envelope may have a non-wetting surface at least in an area of the pencil tip to thereby realize a repulsion of macroscopic contamination. The “non-wetting” effect of a surface is often referred to a “lotus effect” and manifests itself by the characteristic that liquids, such as water, will not adhere to the surface but rather trickle down. The lotus effect is realized by a surface which has a microscopic fine texture, e.g. in form of small naps. Thus, water as well as other contaminations contact the surface only in an area of the nap ends, i.e. only in a very small area and thus are unable to stick to the surface.
The provision of an anti-stick surface as well as a non-wetting surface prevents a deposit of macroscopic contamination. A macroscopically clean surface is, however, also suitably to inhibit a deposit of a microbial contamination, because germs can neither adhere nor grow on a clean surface. The provision of a passive cleaning action is also advantageous because no toxic or irritating agent is released so long as the pencil is used as intended. Thus, the pencil is highly compatible, especially when handled by allergic people.
According to another feature of the present invention, the cleansing material may have an actively cleaning effect, in addition or as an alternative to the passive cleaning action. An active cleaning effect relates primarily to microbial contamination and refers to a chemical agent that is toxic to or decomposes germs or fungi. An example of an active cleaning action of the writing element involves the manufacture of the envelope with a plastic that by itself has antimicrobial properties. Plastics of this type may include a polymer containing a disinfectant. Examples of suitable polymers with antimicrobial effect include those commercially available under the trademarks SAM-Polymers® or AMINA® and distributed by Creavis GmbH, Germany.
Depending of the particular application at hand, in particular on the active ingredient contained in the writing element as well as on the utilized cleansing material, there are many ways to integrate the cleansing material in the envelope. For example, in situations when the cleansing material has undesired side effects, it may be suitable to add the cleansing material as a permanent component to the envelope either in the form of a coating applied to the envelope, or spread throughout the entire envelope. In this way, contaminants are
Feiereisen Henry M.
KUM Limited
Walczak David J.
LandOfFree
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