Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SELECTABLY COMBINABLE MULTICOLOR MODULAR MARKER AND KIT
Filing Historv
This application continues from provisional application number
60/539,191 filed on January 27, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to the field of
devices for delivering pigment material onto receiving surfaces of
other objects. More specifically the present invention relates to
a modular marker removably interconnectable to other such modular
marker in selectable numbers and combinations to produce adjacent
and parallel elongate markings on a receiving surface of different
colors similar to a rainbow, and to a kit including several such
modular markers containing different pigment materials producing
different colored bands in the composite marking.
Each modular marker includes a marker housing in the form of
a circular tube having a housing proximal end and having a housing
distal end through which pigment material is delivered onto a
receiving surface. A tubular cover cap is provided having a cap
closed end and a cap open end for fitting over the housing distal
end. The housing of each marker has laterally protruding marker
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interconnection arms preferably having a flat shape in the
configuration of flanges for engaging an adjacent such marker so
that markers are interconnectable and can only be interconnected
along a collective straight line. Each interconnection arm
(hereinafter "arm" ) is flexible and resilient and has a curve along
its length to fit around the curvature of and resiliently engage an
adjacent marker housing. First and seGond arm sets, each including
two arms protrude from the marker housing in directly opposing
directions, so that two spaced apart arm engaging pairs
interconnect adjacent markers in mutually parallel relation,
preventing the markers from pivoting relative to each other out of
parallel. For purposes of this application, the term "arm set"
refers to two arms protruding from one side of the marker housing,
while the term "arm pair" refers to the arms working in unison to
interconnect two markers.
A key feature of each arm set is that the two arms making up
the set are staggered in that they are spaced apart from each other
along the length of the housing from which they protrude, so that
each arm set includes an arm set upper arm and an arm set lower
arm. The upper and lower arms of a given arm set combine with the
lower and upper arms of an adjacent arm set of another marker to
produce an upper arm pair and a lower arm pair spaced
longitudinally from the upper arm pair. Each arm set contributes
one upper arm to the upper arm pair, and one lower arm to the lower
arm pair. The upper and lower arms of each arm set, in addition to
being staggered longitudinally, extend from the marker housing at
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circumferentially spread apart angular positions. The staggered
arm construction permits either arm set on one marker to
interconnect with either arm set on another such marker, as long as
the marker distal ends aro pointing in the same direction. As a
result, there is no need to study which way a given marker housing
has to be oriented to connect to another such adjacent marker. A
pigment material sealing elastomer ring resiliently fits around and
into a reduced diameter segment of a nib holder at the housing
distal end retaining a marking nib. The elastomer ring protrudes
L0 radially beyond the lateral extent of the nib, and the cover cap
open end is sized to slide snugly, sealingly and engagingly over
the elastomer ring so that ink cannot leak in the marker when it is
not in use. The elastomer ring is also resiliently deformable to
an extent that when marker cover caps are removed and one marker is
interconnected with another and the marker elastomer rings are
immediately adjacent and abutting each other, the rings compress
sufficiently that the nibs of the markers can laterally abut each
other to produce composite parallel marks of different colors which
are contiguous. As a result, the elastomeric ring provides its
ZO sealing function without interfering with the interconnection
function of the interconnection arms placing the nib distal ends
adjacent to each other.
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2. Description of the Prior Art:
There are several areas of prior art relating to the present
invention. One such area is that of modular multi-color markers,
another is that of nib material for such markers, and yet another
is that of wick material for multi-color painting brushes. And a
final area is that of painting kits for multi-color marking.
Modular Markers:
An example of prior art modular marking pens using flanges to
grip adjacent pens is that of Faber-Castell, AU-A-52038}90, which
shows a marker fitted with a cap, the cap having two parallel
axially extending flanges spaced for more than the thickness of the
pen shaft, in order to grip another identical pen. C7ne cannot draw
multi-color lines, either with spaces of contiguous, with these
markers due to the flangular cap only being able to fit onto the
nib end of the marker. Therefore, the marker bodies only grip one
another when they are capped closed.
pther prior art, especially from appiicantrs previous U.s.
Patent 6,554,517 B2, proposes different embodiments of modular
markers each having means of connecting by way of male and female
parts. The male side of one marker must be fitted by a button, a
sliding, or a holder means, intc, a corresponding female side of
another marker. FIGURE 1:is a prior art of applicant.
This means is the most commonly seen one for connecting
markers together, but there has not been proposed a means of
connection that overcomes the need for a male and female part on
opposite sides of markers, and that obviates the need for people to
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look carefully at the markers, determine which sides fit together
and perhaps have to turn one of the markers around in order to mate
them correctly.
Prior art shown in FIGURE 2 is by applicant from 2003, and
discloses a modular marker with a long cap, the cap having a
diameter large enough for the nib to be inserted without touching
the insides of the cap, while the nib width is required to be as
wide as or slightly wider than the widest diameter of the marker
body in order for the nibs to touch when the markers are connected.
Such a long cap is one method of capping the proposed marker.
However, it requires a long rod to be inserted in the mould to form
the void in the cap which is difficult to prevent from moving as
the plastic is being injected, thus resulting in slightly
asymmetrical caps. A means, therefore, is proposed in this
invention that permits a shorter cap to be used.
Prior art from applicant in 2003 also discloses a nib of
generic material, widened at the nib to be able to touch the
adjacent nib of a connected marker. Until recently, it was not
known what the best material for the nib would be.
Nibs :
seen in the prior art for fixed position multicolor markers
have been nibs of longitudinally aligned fiber, porous plastic, and
synthetic needle-punched fiber. Each material has similar
advantages: they are rigid for insertion into marker bodies, their
tips can be formed to a precise shape, and they are suitable for
various water-based inks typically desired in multicolor markers.
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However, the rigidity and high density of each marker becomes an
undesired factor when used with markers from previous applicant
U.S. Patent 6,554,517 that discloses modular multi-color markers
and markers with variable nibs.
The longitudinally aligned fiber nibs and porous plastic nibs
that are currently being manufactured are more rigid than needle-
punched fiber, and are being used in multi-color marking pens with
fixed position nibs. For example in prior art from Jakks Pacific,
Inc's R.O.C. (Rainbow of Color) WriterTM which discloses a multi-
color marker that draws three colored lines simultaneously, the
porous plastic nibs are in fixed position with small gaps between
them to keep the ink from blending and muddy. The full width of
their tips do not always fully contact the paper enough to lay down
lines of the intended width because the manufacturing or assembling
of the product is not completely perfect. Thus, the nibs tend to
be slightly angled to each other, aligned unevenly perpendicular tc,
the intended lines or are extending unequal distances from the
marker body. Even though this unevenness of the nibs may be so
small that it is difficult to detect with the naked eye, it results
in uneven lines with broad gaps between them. Also, upon normal
usage, the outermost nibs wear away faster than the centermost nib,
resulting in only two lines being able to be drawn at one time. zf
the nibs were soft enough, one could apply a moderate amount of
pressure and have all of the nibs fully contact paper, but because
the nibs are rigid plastic one would have to apply an extraordinary
amount of pressure which would make it impossible to write, draw or
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paint normally.
Another prior art from Sun Star, Japan, discloses a two-color
marker with two longitudinally aligned fiber nibs side by side. As
the nibs leave the marker body they slightly angle away from each
other to keep the nibs from touching at their tips thus preventing
ink from mingling. Again, the nib's rigidity is used to keep the
nibs separate, thus producing gapped lines.
Thus far applicant has been using higher density die-cut
synthetic needed nonwoven or needle-punched material specifically
engineered for low viscosity fluid for applicant's nibs. It is
sanded in the factory to either a smooth, chisel or beveled tip.
These nibs provide the shape, rigidity and fluid flow rate needed
for the modular multi-color markers. However, applicant has found
that due to the many variables in molding the plastic parts of
multi-color markers, slight imperfections in the manufacture of the
nibs, and the markers" final assembly, the nibs rarely lined up
perfectly for contiguous lines. Applicant needed to improve the
nibs to provide a"fuzzy logic" factor which could hide these
imprecisions or variables.
Brushes:
as relates to brushes for painting contiguous multi-colored
strokes, well known brushes are made of hair and bristles, whether
synthetic or natural, sponge, and wool felt. Other materials that
have been considered and tested are felted wool blend product and
leather.
A most recent prior art is from popular artist, Donna
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Dewberry, using "sponge painters" and Fold Art7"` One StrokeTM
brushes. However, her work utilizes Fold ArtTm acrylic paints which
are high viscosity and would not easily flow through the other
types of material for brushes. Another example is Dee Gruenig's
product, called Posh and one high density sponge 23mm thick by 40mm
wide and,by 76mm long. This sponge is the only one known in the
prior art to be used with low viscosity ink, Other foam and sponge
painting devices are low density and are typically used for high
viscosity paints such as acrylics and so are very soft and tend to
release too much low viscosity ink or paint when pressed onto paper
with the same amount of pressure one normally uses to apply acrylic
paint, or when strokes are applied slowly. Gruenig's sponge is
similar to wedge-shaped sponges for applying make-up, but higher
density. They are able to hold and release low viscosity ink and
paint well on its surface, but do not have a natural wicking
ability to absorb fluid into its pores. Therefore, ink or paint
must continually be carefully applied to its surface. It also has
a rubbery, high friction surface that squeaks when there is not
enough fluid to lubricate it when stroked on paper. This sponge,
as well as low density ones and foam brushes are not very durable
as they tend to tear easily.
Another example is from street artists who paint people's
names in multi-colored strokes by touching a wide tip brush onto
several, different colors of paint or ink. Some call themselves
"leather-brush artists" while others state that they use other
materials such as felted fiber shoe inserts, sponges and foam.
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However, it is apparent from testing that all of these materials
have serious drawbacks. Leather does not have interconnected
capillary passageways extending therethrough for the absorption and
dispersion of paint. Felted fiber shoe inserts usually are not as
compressed or tightly needled as hat felt, resulting in easily
fraying edges. They are typically designed to be rough for non-
slippage, cushioning for shock absorption, able to wick moisture
and permit air flow for preventing athlete's foot, and/or thick for
insulation in winter footwear. Therefore, it typically does not
l0 have the proper characteristics for taking up and dispersing ink or
paint, which have viscosity and surface tension near that of water.
Although the best prior art material we found for multi-color
painting is wool felt for hats, it has never been manufactured in
a convenient form specifically for painting. Therefore, applicant.
~5 has had to go through the inconvenient process of purchasing
finished hats, which cost at least ten times more than the same
amount of sheet felt, cut rectangles from the least curved parts,
normally the rim, perhaps wash it to eliminate any dark coloring
which will affect the color of the paint applicant uses and sand
!Q the tip to a chisel shape.
There are several reasons why wool felt has not been
commercially developed as a water-based paint or ink brush. The
first is that wool is hydrophobic and does not wick water-based
paint or ink well unless treated with a surfactant, second, recent
!5 environmental regulations have made the process of producing wool
felt nibs more costly; third, wool is being replaced by the less
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expensive, more versatile variety of synthetic fibers. Marker pens
with wool felt nibs are generally used with solvent based ink for
specialized applications where cost and the inhaling of evaporating
solvents are not a concern. One such application is the marking'of
cardboard containers in an industrial shipping and receiving
facility.
Quickly replacing solvent-based ink markers, recent broad-
nibbed markers, called paint markers, have been developed using low
density synthetic needle-punched material and water-based pigmented
permanent ink. The nibs may be up to 8mm thick and 50mm wide.
However, these markers have been designed to apply only one color
of ink or paint at a time. Their nibs are too soft for multi-color
marking because the low density fiber structure means larger voids,
where different colors of ink quickly intermingle and the nib
becomes "muddy'f.
Thus, it is obvious from the prior art that there remains a
need for brush products for painting multi-colored strokes that are
made of synthetic needle-punched material engineered for marking
pen nibs.
Painting Kits:
Not only has applicant not seen any brush.es for multi-colored
painting made of synthetic needle-punched nib material but
furthermore, applicant sees the need for them to be assembled in a
kit along with the right inks in a convenient, spill-proof
dispensing system for the use of amateur artists and craftspeople
desiring to learn the art of rainbow name painting. The
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aforementioned kits from Dee Gruenig and Donna Dewberry, plus
Szelkely's Water Color Painting Apparatus (Szelkely U.S.
5,318,171), disclose kits for painting multi-colored lines or
markings. However, they use foam sponge material for the paint
applicators. Also, the means of dispensing ink in these prior art
kits is unsuitable or tedious for the purpose of quick, accurate,
multiple applications of paint to the brush for prolific painting.
The drawback of Gruenig's paint dispensing system is that a user
requires two hands - one to hold the sponge and the other to
squeeze a minute amount of paint from the bottle onto the desired
area of the sponge. One requires fine control over the squeezing
of the bottle to dispense the right amount. Dewberry's kit does
not pertain to applicant's method of watercolor painting because it
utilizes thick, viscous paint, which is simply dispensed freely
onto a waterproof surface. The paint has an adherent quality and
does not spill or slide off the surface easily. Szelkely's
painting apparatus is now being marketed as the "Rainbow Art Kit"
and uses hard, dry blocks or paint secured in a tray or stand. The
method of wetting to soften and loosen the paints is too time-
consuming to be seriously considered for applicant's painting
purposes.
Artists who do traditional rainbow name art use a system
consisting of sponges situated in a container of paint with one end
of the sponge protruding above the opening of the jar to dispense
paint. The artist would be able to dab a specific section of the
tip of his brush onto the sponge to wick up some paint. This
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system works well for adult professional artists, but is not easily
obtainable, due to cost restraints and availability, to the general
public market.
The best system would be similar to a fat, upside down marking
pen. it would have a bottle-like enclosure for holding paint,
which is narrow at the top (neck) for preventing excessive
evaporation of ink. When the solvent and/or water in the paint
evaporates, the paint becomes too viscous for the wicking action,
and clogs the brushes' pores. Protruding from the neck and
extending down all the way to the bottom of the bottle would be a
wick for dispensing paint or ink. The wick needs to be stiff
enough to not flop over when dabbed with a brush. It also needs to
protrude far enough that the user's brush does not touch any other
part of the bottle dispenser while dabbing. The wick would
completely fill the neck orifice/opening except for a minute gap or
hole to permit a sufficient airflow into the bottle as paint/ink is
being drawn out. This would prevent spillage of paint/ink. A cap
would cover the wick and orifice airtight and leak-tight.
These features are very important for professional and non-
professional artists alike, and yet no system has existed prior to
this 9,nvention. There are several reasons for this: for one, the
very fine particle-size, highly pigmented paint that is
traditionally used for this system is expensive and difficult to
obtain, being used mostly by only a few people for this specific
application and for high quality airbru.sh work. The best paint,
however, is actually watercolor ink or dye which is used in marking
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pens, and which is not sold except as part of marking pens, and the
quantities of ink in them are not sufficient to make it worth the
trouble to cut open a marker and extaract the ink. Other inks and
dyes available in larger quantities to the general public market
are found in bingo dabbers, are for calligraphy and fountain pens,
and food coloring. However, these inks and dyes are too diluted
for the bright colors needed for rainbow name art. There is a
need, then, for a readily available end cost effective system which
combines the right type of colora.ng fluid, whether ink, paint or
dye, with the right type of dispensing container.
A second reason that a kit such as this has not been invented
is because small, fluid-tight containers of the right size, with
small neck openings and with a cap that will cover the wick but not
push it down into the opening are difficult to find. Most caps
cover the opening f lush, thereby pushing the wick down into the
neck until it is flush with the opening. The user then has the job
of pulling the wick out of the opening, which typically means
getting tweezers, fingers or other pointed gripping object, dirty.
This type of container must be specially ordered in quantities and
the neck modified to fit the wick, or must be specially designed
and manufactured. The wick must also be specially sized to fit the
container.
Tt is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
selectably combinable multicolor modular marker and kit in which
the markers are connectable to other such modular markers in
selectable numbers and combinations to produce adjacent, parallel
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and contiguous elongate markings of different colors similar to a
rainbow on a receiving surface.
It a.s another object of the present invention to provide such
a marker and kit in which the markers each have diametrically
opposing sets of arms for removably interconnecting the markers
permitting either arm set of one marker to interconnect with either
arm set of another such marker so that there is no need to
determine which arm set on one marker wzll connect with which arm
set on another marker.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
such a marker and kit in which the arms constrain the markers to
interconnect along a straight line.
it is finally an object of the present invention to provide
such a marker and kit which utilizes the child-safe and convenient
ink-dispensing features of a marker, with or without the
interconnecting arms, supplied with the soft, engineered material
for marker nibs separate and outside from the marker, for use in
the traditional method of rainbow name painting for which this
present invention is made.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention accomplishes the above-stated
objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair
reading and interpretation of the entire specification.
A modular marker kit is provided for delivering pigment onto
a receiving surface, including a first modular marker and a second
modular marker, each module marker including a tubular housing
having a housing proximal end and a housing distal end, a quantity
of pigment material contained within the housing, and first and
LO second arm sets of interconnection arms connected to and protruding
laterally from the housing in opposing directions for engaging an
adjacent such marker, the arms forming each arm set being staggered
in that they are spaced apart from each other along the length of
the housing from which they protrude, each arm set including an
upper arm and a lower arm; so that spaced apart upper and lower arm
pairs interconnect the first and second markers, preventing the
first and second markers from pivoting relative to each other when
interconnected, and so that the upper arm of one arm set on the
first marker combines with the upper arm of an adjacent arm set of
the second marker, and so that each arm set contributes one arm to
the upper arm pair and one arm to the lower arm pair.
A modular marker for delivering pigment onto a receiving
surface, including a tubular housing having a housing proximal end
and a housing distal end; a quantity of pigment material contained
within the housing; and arm set of interconnection arms connected
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to and protruding laterally from the housing in opposing directions
for engaging an adjacent such marker, the arms forming the arm set
being staggered and spaced apart along the length of the housing,
the arm set including an upper arm and a lower arm; so that spaced
apart upper and lower arm pairs interconnect each pair of adjacent
markers, preventing interconnected markers from pivoting relative
to each other, and so that upper arm of the arm set combines with
an upper arm of an adjacent arm set of another marker, and so that
each arm set contributes one arm to the upper arm pair and one arm
LO to the lower arm pair.
A modular marker kit is further provided for delivering
pigment onto a receiving surface, including a first modular marker
and a second modular marker, each modular marker including a
tubular housing having a housing proximal end and a housing distal
end, a quantity of pigment material contained within the housing,
a pigment depositing nib protruding from the housing distal end and
in fluid communication with the quantity of pigment material,
modular marker interconnection structure protruding laterally from
the modular marker for laterally interconnecting with another
marker; where the pigment depositing nibs are formed of deformable
and resilient material which is sufficiently soft that the nibs of
the first and second markers are readily compressible distally
against a receiving surface to expand the nibs laterally so that
the nibs contact each other.
A modular marker yet further provided for delivering pigment
onto a receiving surface, including a tubular housing having a
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housing proximal end and a housing distal end; a quantity of
pigment material contained within the housing; and first and second
arm sets of interconnection arms connected to and protruding
laterally from the housing in opposing directions for engaging an
adjacent such marker, the arms forming each arm set being staggered
and spaced apart along the length of the housing, each arm set
including an upper arm and a].ower arm; so that spaced apart upper
and lower arm pairs interconnect each pair of adjacent markers,
preventing interconnected markers from pivoting relative to each
LO other, and so that each lateral arm set contributes one arm to the
upper arm pair and one arm to the lower arm pair.
The interconnection arms preferably are flexible and
resilient. Each interconnection arm preferably has a curve along
its length to fit around and resiliently engage an adjacent the
marker housing. The upper and lower interconnection arms of each
lateral arm set, in addition to being staggered longitudinally,
extend from the marker housing at qircumferentially SpaGed apart
angles. The quantity of pigment material preferably is ink
retained within a cylindrical ink reservoir, and where the housing
proximal end is open so that the ink reservoir can be inserted and
removed from the housing for replacement through the housing
proximal end, and where a housing plug is removably and engagingly
fitted into the housing proximal end to sealingly close the housing
proximal end.
The modular marker preferably additionally includes a pigment
delivery structure for delivering the pigment material from the
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housing onto a receiving surface. The pigment delivery structure
preferably includes a marking nib in fluid communication with the
ink reservoir. The modular marker preferably additionally includes
a tubular nib holder having a holder proximal end connected to the
housing distal end and having a holder distal end and containing an
axial holder passageway opening through the holder distal end as a
nib exposing slot in the holder distal, end permitting the nib to
protrude both distally and laterally from the nib holder, and where
the nib has a broad flat nib distal end and a tapered nib proximal
end and the nib is mounted within the tubular nib holder and the
nib proximal end protrudes proximally beyond the nib holder
proximal end to receiving ink from the ink reservoir within the
housing. The modular marker preferably additionally includes a
cover cap having a cover cap open end, and an elastomer ring
resiliently fit around the nib holder, so that the elastomeric ring
protrudes radially beyond the lateral extent of the nib holder, and
where the cover cap open end is sized to fit snugly, sealingly and
engagingly over the elastomeric ring preventing ink from leaking
out of the marker housing. The elastomeric ring preferably is
resiliently deformable to an extent that when the marker cover cap
is removed from the marker housing and one marker is interconnected
with another marker, and the marker elastomer rings are
consequently immediately adjacent and abutting each other, the
elastomeric rings compress sufficiently that the nib distal ends of
the markers substantially laterally abut each other to produce
composite parallel.marks on a receiving surface of different colors
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which are contiguous.
A paznting kit preferably includes several brushes; several
containers of different colors of paint; and a brush and container
retaining tray.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, advantages, and features of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following discussion taken in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a prior art modular marker.
FIGURE 2 is a side view of a prior art modular marker with a
long cap to accommodate the wide nib and seal at the widest point
of the marker body.
FIGURES 3 is a perspective view of a prior art high density
painting sponge.
FIGURE 4 is a perspective side view of the preferred
embodiment of the present modular marker with the cover removed,
showing the interconnection arms and exposed nib.
FIGURE 5 is an exploded side view of the present marker of
FIGURE 4, showing the housing plug, ink reservoir, elastomeric
ring, nib holder and nib.
FIGURE 5A is a broken away cross-sectional side view of the
distal end of the modular marker of FIGURE 4.
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FIGURE 5B is an exploded view of the elements shown in FIGURE
5A.
FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the marker of
FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 7 is a broken away perspective view of the housing
proximal ends of two present modular markers showing how the
interconnection arms interconnect the two markers, interconnection
being accomplished by the arm second set of the marker on the left
and the arm first set of the marker on the right.
FIGURE 7A is a view as in FIGURE 7 showing the marker on the
right rotated to present the arm second set for interconnection
with the marker on the left.
FIGURE 7B is a view as in FIGURE 7 showing the marker on the
left rotated to present the arm first set for interconnection with
the marker on the right.
FIGURE 7C is a view as in FIGURE 7B showing the modular
markers interconnected.
FIGURE 8 is a broken away side view of the distal ends of
three present adjacent modular markers where the elastomeric rings
ao are not compressed against each other.
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FIGURE 9 is a view as in FIGURE 8 with the markers laterally
pressed together so that the abutting elastomeric rings are
compress to bring the nibs 3.nto lateral contact with each other.
FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the distal end of
a marker, showing detail of the nib, nib holder and cap.
FIGURE IOA is a v,iew as in FIGURE 10 with the marker rotated
90 degrees about its longitudinal axis.
FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the present marker with the
cover cap secured over the housing distal end.
.0 FIGURE 12 is a broken away side view of a nib distal end cut
from fibrous nib material with entangled, compressed fibers.
FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of two of the nibs of FIGURE
12 aligned adjacently and then pressed against and drawn over a
receiving surface such as paper.
L5 FIGURE 14 is a view of a nib as in FIGURE 12 before being
brushed.
FIGURE 14A is a view as in FIGURE 14 of a nib after being
brushed with its tip fibers loosened and aligned.
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FIGURE 15 a.s a perspective view of two of the nibs of FIGURE
14A aligned adjacently and then pressed against and drawn over a
receiving surface such as paper.
FIGURE 16 is a side view of a synthetic needle-punched fiber
brush without the handle, being gripped by user fingers.
FIGURE 17 is a perspective side view of a needle-punched fiber
brush with a handle.
FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of a paint/ink dispenser with
a wick, orifice reducer, and a dispenser cap.
LO FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a painting kit including a
tray apparatus with four brushes, four ink dispensers and a tray.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTIfJN OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like
characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the
various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.
First Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIGURES 1-19, a modular marker 10 and modular
marker kit 100 including several modular markers 10 are discJ.osed.
Each modular marker 10 is removably interconnectable to another
such modular marker 10 along a straight line in selectable numbers
and combinations.
Each modular marker 10 includes a marker housing 20 in the
form of a circular tube having a housing proximal end 22 and having
a housing distal end 24 into which pigment material P is delivered.
A tubular cover cap 26 is provided having a cap closed end 26a and
a cap open end 26b for fitting over the housing distal end 24. The
housing 20 of each marker 10 has laterally protruding marker
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interconnection arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 for engaging an adjacent
such marker 10 so that markers 10 are interconnectable and can be
only be interconnected along a collective straight line. Each
interconnection arm 32-38 (hereinafter "arm") is flexible and
resilient and has a curve C along its length to fit around the
curvature of and resiliently engage an adjacent marker housing 10.
First and second arm sets I and Ti, each including two arms 32 and
34, or 36 and 38, protrude from the marker housing 20 in directly
opposing directions, so that two spaced apart arm engaging pairs A
and B interconnect adjacent markers 10 in mutually parallel
relation, preventing the markers 10 from pivoting relative to each
other out of parallel. For purposes of this application, the term
"arm set" I or II refers to two arms 32 and 34 or 36 and 38
protruding from one side of the marker housing 20, while the term
"arm pair" A or B refers to the arms working in unison to
interconnect two markers 10.
A key feature of each arm set I and 11 is that the two arms 32
and 34 or 36 and 38 making up the set are staggered in that they
are spaced apart from each other along the length of the housing 20
from which they protrude, so that each arm set I and II includes an
arm set upper arm 32 or 36 and an arm set lower arm 34 or 38. The
upper and lower arms 32 and 34 or 36 and 38 of a given arm set I
and II. combine with the lower and upper arms 34 and 32 or 38 and 36
of an adjacent arm set I or II of another marker 10 to produce an
upper arm pair A and a lower arm pair B, spaced longitudinally from
the upper arm pair A. Each arm set I and II contributes one given
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upper arm 32 or 36 to the upper arm pair A and one lower arm to the
lower arm pair B interconnecting two markers 10. The upper and
lower arms of each arm set I and II, in addition to being staggered
longitudinally, extend from the marker housing 20 at
circumferentially spread apart angular positions. The upper arms
32 and 36 of the two arm sets I and II preferably are diametrically
opposite each other, and the lower arms 34 and 38 of the two arm
sets I and 11 preferably are diametrically opposite each other, so
that the upper and lower positions of the arms of one arm set I or
LO II on one marker 10 are reversed from upper and lower positions of
the arms of the arm set I or II of an adjacent marker 10. The
staggered arm construction permits either arm set I or II on one
marker 10 to interconnect with either arm set I or II on another
such marker 10, whether the marker distal ends 24 are pointing in
the same direction or in opposite directions. As a result, there
is no need to study which way a given marker housing 20 has to be
oriented to connect to another such marker housing 20.
The pigment material P of each marker 10 preferably is ink
retained within a cylindrical ink reservoir 50, which in turn is
retained within the marker housing 20. The housing proximal end 22
is open so that the ink reservoir 50 can be inserted and removed
from the housing 20 for replacement, and a housing plug 62 is
removably and engagingly fitted into the housing proximal end 22 to
sealingly close the housing proximal end 22 and thus retain the ink
reservoir 50 without any leakage. Pigment delivery means 70 are
provided for delivering the pigment material P from the housing 20
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onto a receiving surface RS. These pigment delivery means 70
preferably include a marking nib 80 in fluid communication with the
ink reservoir 50. The nib 80 is of uniform thickness and tapers
proximally, having a broad, flat nib distal end 82 which is
laterally wider than the nib holder 90 but not as wide as the
elastomeric ring 12 and has a tapered nib proximal end 84. The nib
80 is mounted within a tubular nib holder 90 containing an axial
holder passageway 96 opening distally as a nib exposing slot 96a in
the holder distal end 92 permitting the nib 80 to protrude both
LO distally and laterally from the nib holder 90. The nib proximal
end 84 protrudes proximally beyond the nib holder proximal end 94
to enter the ink reservoir 50 within the housing 20. The
passageway 96 within the nib holder 90 is wider at the holder
proximal end 94 and sized to fit snugly over the housing distal end
24. An elastomeric ring 12 resiliently fits around and into a
reduced diameter segment 98 of the nib holder 90. This widens the
nib holder 90 so that it protrudes radially beyond the lateral
extent of the nib 80, and the cover cap open end 26b is able to
slide over the nib and is sized to slide snugly, sealingly and
engagingly over the elastomeric ring 12 so that air cannot leak
into the housing 20 and dry out the ink and ink cannot 1eak out of
the marker 10 when the marker 10 is not in use. The elastomeric
ring 12 is also resiliently deformable to an extent that when
marker 10 cover caps 26 are removed and one marker 10 is
interconnected with another marker 10 and the marker elastomeric
rings 12 are consequently immediately adjacent and abutting each
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other, the rings compress sufficxently that the nibs 80 of the
markers 10 laterally abut each other to produce composite parallel
marks M of different colors which are contiguous. As a result, the
elastomeric ring 12 provides its sealing function without
interfering with the interconnection function of the
interconnection arms 32-38 placing the nib distal ends 82 adjacent
to each other.
The nib material itself inventively differs from those of
previous marking pens. Most multi-color marking pen manufacturers
LO have used high density or lower porosity nibs with precise tips,
such as longitudinally aligned fiber and porous plastic, versus the
"fuzziness" of die cut needled non-woven material nibs, to ensure
that the nibs do not become muddied by toUching the adjacent nibs.
If two or more nibs are continuously touching for one hour or
longer, their inks can mingle to an extent that the entire nibs and
even the ink reservoirs can be muddied. Therefore, they are
careful to use nibs without fraying fibers that would result in ink
mingling. The result is shown in FIGURE 12 in the form of such a
nib, of synthetic needle-punched material, with finely entangled,
compacted fibers, and without transverse fibers protruding. When
two of the nibs shown in FIGURE 12 are used in multicolor modular
markers, such as those of a prior invention of applicant disclosed
in U.S. Patent Number 6,554,517, they typically produce uneven
lines with gaps as shown in FIGURE 13, The synthetic material may
be polyester only or a polyester blend.
To ensure that there are no gaps or uneven lines, the present
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nib as shown in FIGURE 14 that is of the same material as that of
FIGURE 13 but of lower density, that is less compacted, more
porous, softer, more flexible, and with fibers slightly frayed and
protruding for "fuzziness". As a result, the present nib combines
the advantages of previous harder die cut nibs with those of a
flat, natural hair paint brush. A nib bqdy formed of this material
has the advantage of being able to hold ink/paint in its pores
without dripping when not in use, and can easily distribute
ink/paint transversely to adjacent nibs because of its protruding
1.0 multi-directional fibers. It is even more advantageous if, at the
same time, the nib tip has had its fibers loosened and aligned
mostly parallel to the nib axis by rubbing, brushing or sanding the
nib, so that the nib material resembles a hair or bristle brush,
giving it a soft, brush-like flexibility. See FIGURE 14A. Methods
used to achieve a brush-like tip may be rotary wire-brushing with
a wheel-shaped brush, or sanding with medium grit sandpaper such as
100 garnet.
The benefits of such a nib as shown in FIGURES 14 and 14A are
illustrated in FIGURE 16, which shows two of the nibs put together
as would occur for interconnected multicolor modular markers. The
nibs are then pressed against a receiving surface such as paper and
the fibers protruding transversely from each nib cross over to the
adjacent nib, enabling the inks of each modular marker to
intermingle or blend. The fibers also help to bridge any gaps
between the nibs. Another benefit is that the softness and
flexibility of the nib material permits the nib to be pressed
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further down onto the paper with less pressure, thus helping to
overcome any misalignment that could prevent the nibs from creating
a contiguous line. Misalignment is to be expected during normal
use due to a number of factors: a nib may become bent, pushed too
far into the nib holder, or slightly pulled out of the nib holder,
nibs being manufactured to different lengths or used at different
rates causing slightly different lengths, or slight flexing or
rotation of the marker body during manufacture, for example.
FIGURE 16 shows the same wick material as shown in FIGURE 14,
LO but made into a basic painting brush 110. It is a simple
rectangular shape with enough length for the user fingers to grip
to manipulate the brush 110 without having to squeeze too hard and
without dropping the brush 110. It need not be "fuzzy" as in
FIGURE 14A, since different colors are applied onto adjacent parts
of the same brush tip, where slight blending occurs until the brush
110 is used and the ink flows longitudinally toward the paper or
other receiving surface RS medium. This nib-brush 110 works better
than any sponge product, being already engineered to prime
porosity, density and flow rate for wicking and laying down water-
based inks/paints. The brush 110 may be cut into varying shapes
and sizes, even with slits, or uneven edges for texturing effects.
Further advancements are shown in FIGURE 17 which shows a
brush handle 120 fixed onto a brush 110 of the same synthetic
needle-punched wick material as shown in FIGURE 16. The handle 120
may be natural or synthetic material. Examples are wood, bamboo,
sheet metal, metal tubing, molded plastic and acrylic sheet. The
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handle 120 may be fixed onto the brush 120 by means of glue, hot
glue, stapling, sewing, pressure fitting and taping, or by other
means.
FIGURE 18 shows elements of an ink P dispensing means
including an ink/paint vessel such as a plastic squeeze bottle, a
wick 220 extending from the bottom of the vessel 210 through an
opening 216 in the vessel 210 top and protrudes outwardly a few
millimeters to dispense the paint or ink P thereof, a means for
reducing the size of the vessel opening 216 to fa.t the shape of the
LO wick 220, the colored fluid such as ink P and a container cap 212,
thus preventing ink P spillage and excess ink P evaporation. Other
contemplated vessels 210 include an eye dropper or a nasal spray
bottle, or a jar or vial, made of glass or a type of plastic. The
"no-spill" means as shown in FIGURE 19 is preferably provided in
L5 the form of a plug 214 which seals the vessel opening 216 around
the wick 220 to prevent ink or paint from flowing around the wick
220 and leaking when the vessel 210 is accidentally tipped onto its
side, or shaken while uncapped. Other means may be provided in the
shape or of the body of the vessel 210, or a plug, or a seal, or in
20 the configuration of the cap 212 or in the configuration of a wick
220. Cap 212 is provided to cover and seal the vessel 210 when not
in use.
The vessel 210 with wick 220 shown in FIGURE 19 is useful in
multi-color painting because, to apply ink P onto a specific part
25 of the brush 218 one simply has to touch that part of the brush 218
tip onto the wick 220 until sufficient ink P is absorbed.
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FIGURE 19 shows a possible configuration for a painting kit
300. The kit 300 shown includes four brushes 310, four containers
320 of different colored. of paint or ink P and a tray 340 to
conveniently organize everything. Additionally, other items with
the kit 300 may be provided such as paper towel samples for
blotting, a container for holding water, a number of sheets of
paper and an instruction book. The kit 300 shown does limit the
configuration possibilities.
The kit 300 may contain as few as one brush 310 and two colors
of ink/paint P, or as many as desired. It may contain the ink
vessel 210 shown in FIGURE 18 or other type not shown.
The brush 310 shown with the kit 300 may comprise the simple
brush 310 shown in FIGURE 16, or it may contain the type of brush
310 shown in FIGURE 17, or a combination thereof.
k5 The water container may be a separate container or molded into
the tray 340 if made of molded plastic. The containers 320 of
ink/paint P may be situated in the tray 340 in pre-formed molded
indentations or holes, or removably adhered with VELCROTM stickers.
The tray 340 may be of molded plastic, vacuum formed plastic,
cardboard, laminated cardstock weight paper or other common
materials that are used in packaging. The tray 340 holds the
brushes 310, supporting the handle portion.
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated
and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications
which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not
intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and
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such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the
teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall
within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.
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PARTS I.,iS'I'
10. Modular marker C. Curve in arms
12. Elastomeric ring A. and B. Arm pairs
20. Housing I. an.d II. Arm sets
22. I-Iousing proximal end M. Marks
24. Housing distal end RS. Receiving surface
26. Cover cap
26a. Cap closed end
26b. Cap open end
32, 34, 36 and 38. Interconnection arms
50. ink reservoir
62. Housing plug
70. Pigment delivery means
80. Marking nib
82. Nib distal end
84. Nib proximal end
90. Tubular nib holder
92. Holder distal end
94. Holder proximal end
96. Holder passageway
96a. Nib exposing slot
98. Reduced diameter segment
100. Modular marker kit
110. Brush (basic painting brush)
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Parts List Continued
120. Brush handle
210. Vessel (bottle) with wick
212. Vessel cap
214. Plug around wick in vessel
216. Vessel opening
218. Brush
220. Wick
300. Tray kit
310. Brushes
320. Four containers in tray
340. Tray