WO2008017873A1

WO2008017873A1 - Felt-tip marking pens

Info

Publication number: WO2008017873A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/003070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Marchant; Peter Mckie; Michael John Donovan; Roy Martin Gibbs
Original assignee: Letraset International Ltd; Letraset Ltd
Current assignee: Letraset International Ltd; Letraset Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-10
Filing date: 2007-08-10
Publication date: 2008-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-10
Also published as: GB2440731A; GB0615900D0

Abstract

An improved felt-tip marker is described where the user is able to disassemble and re-assemble the marker easily, for example to change nib width or to replace a used ink reservoir with a fresh one. Preferably the reservoir is a simple ink saturated cylinder of material (5) which may be slid into a transparent housing (1 ) which constitutes the barrel of the marker, with each end of the housing comprising formations (2, 3) enabling a nib unit to be fixed thereon, e.g. using a snap fit or bayonet type connection.

Description

FELT-TlP MARKING PENS

This invention relates to felt-tip marking pens and, in particular, to marking pens of the type used by artists and particularly graphic artists to produce a wide variety of coloured artwork.

The basic construction of marker pens of this type is a barrel containing an ink reservoir, an end piece containing a felt nib and a closure cap to prevent drying out when the marker is not in use. Conventionally for commercial sale, such markers are produced in a very wide variety of colours or tints with the exterior of each generally being labelled to show the colour inside. For practical purposes, most artists require a collection of at least a dozen such markers and, over a period of time, many users build up a collection of several dozen.

A practical problem which arises, in those circumstances, is that they are of different ages and accordingly different degrees of effectiveness as some at any given time will be relatively new while others will be on the point of running dry. Previous designs have been ill-adapted for refilling with fresh ink. A separate problem which arises is that of nib wear, particularly in the case of relatively narrow nibs which conventionally start off fairly pointed, rapidly wear to a small radius rounded end and then, as use is continued, wear to a larger radius rounded end, which renders their use for fine line work more difficult or ultimately impossible.

In addition to using a variety of colours, graphic artists like to be able to use a selection of nib widths or, for example, a brush type applicator nib, while ensuring colour consistency by feeding ink to the nib from the same reservoir. So-called double-ended markers have been developed and commercialised with, for example, fat and thin nibs at opposite ends of a marker barrel each projecting into a common reservoir of marker ink.

There is a substantial patent literature directed to marking implements of this type. In particular, double-ended markers are disclosed inter alia in EP-A- 1504925, US-A-3684389, US-A-4509875, US-A-5651627 and US-A- 5890830. This last specification includes a comprehensive listing of prior art single-ended and double-ended markers.

US-A-5890830 describes a marker instrument which can be double-ended and which has exchangeable nibs and end caps. However, this specification although directed to disclosing a "universal marking instrument apparatus", seeks to solve the problems associated with the manufacture of such markers rather than addressing the problems identified above which arise during the use of such markers. The teaching of US-A-5890830 is directed to being able to construct a variety of different markers from a selection of different components so that, as expressed in the abstract, "numerous different configurations and marker apparatus can be manufactured utilising the same basic configuration for the barrel or nib holder, nib and cap used therewith".

An overall problem with the construction disclosed in that US specification, and with analogous products, is that once the product has for any reason become unsatisfactory, the entire unit tends to be thrown away and replaced with a new one. This is not ideal from the point of view of conservation or customer perception.

According to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided a felt- tip marker implement comprising a barrel for receiving an ink reservoir, an ink reservoir located in the barrel, at least one nib unit consisting of a nib housing with a felt nib_. set therein, the nib housing and barrel being provided with mutually engaging connection means enabling a nib housing to be fitted on to either end of the barrel, the arrangement being such that, when fitted, the felt nib contacts the ink reservoir located in the barrel and has a portion projecting from the end of the nib housing, and at least one closure cap adapted to snap fit over the end of the nib housing remote from the, barrel and, when so fitted, to provide an enclosure around the end of the felt nib which projects from the nib housing to prevent drying out, and wherein the ends of the barrel have identically configured connection means.

Preferably the barrel is formed of transparent material and the ink reservoir therein consists of an absorbent mass of ink-retaining material in the form of an elongate cylinder. The cylindrical surface of the cylinder of ink-retaining material may be covered by an ink-impermeable membrane, the ends of the cylinder being not covered when the marker is in use, though they may be covered immediately after manufacture by a removable seal or cover film. The absorbent mass is preferably a synthetic fibre felt of known type.

Because the barrel is transparent, the user can see the colour of the ink reservoir, and separate external labelling to show the colour is not required. If the ink-permeable membrane is transparent or translucent, the colour of the ink within may be discerned, but because the appearance of ink is darker than the mark ink makes on white paper when the marker is used, the membrane may be opaque and coloured on its exterior to match the colour of the mark made when the marker.is used. The nib housing and barrel may be connected together in_. snap-fit fashion, or, for example via a bayonet type connection, where the exterior of each end of the barrel contains preferably two angled grooves running from the end of the barrel for a short distance axially and then turning to run not quite circumferentially, while the nib housing has a skirt on the inside of which are preferably two beads adapted to be fitted into the grooves on the barrel, whereby the nib housing and barrel may be telescoped together and then twisted one relative to the other to form a secure connection. The advantage of using a bayonet connection is that the risk of pulling the nib unit off the barrel when pulling the cap off the nib unit is diminished, while at the same time the nib unit is very easily manually removed from the barrel or replaced on it, e.g.. to change from one nib to another, or to replace the ink reservoir. The dimensions and design of the ends of the barrel and the portion of the nib unit which fits on to it should naturally be designed so that, when so fitted, the connection is vapour tight so that there is no risk of the marker drying out. If necessary, a small quantity of sealant may be located between the two components to enhance sealing.

The end cap is preferably a snap fit over the end of the nib unit remote from the barrel, most conveniently by providing a circumferential bead on the inside of the cap near its end and a corresponding bead or groove, over which or into which the bead on the cap can fit, in the housing of the nib unit. If the connection between the nib unit and the barrel is also a snap fit, the amount of force to separate the cap from the nib unit should be materially less than that needed to separate the nib unit from the barrel.

The feit nib located within the nib housing is preferably a wide capillary felt nib which is tapered from the end which will be used to apply ink to artwork towards a chisel point which is adapted to penetrate into the ink reservoir when the nib unit and barrel are assembled together. Preferably the arrangement is such that the nib is a press fit in the nib housing so that, by grasping and pulling, the nib may be removed from the housing and replaced with a fresh one which is simply pushed back into the housing until it locates firmly therein. Because of capillary action, the new nib so inserted rapidly fills with ink from the reservoir.

When the marker implement has two nib units, one fitted to each end of the barrel, the second one may have an intermediate size nib, or, for example, a brush nib.

As disclosed in US-A-5651627, it is known to provide an additional fine nib housing which is adapted to fit over an existing nib housing in such a way that, by capillary action, ink then flows from a pre-existing broader ήib to a finer nib. This approach may be adopted in the case of markers according to the present invention which may accordingly comprise a further nib unit adapted to be a snap fit over a nib unit attached to the barrel in a fashion analogous to the cap, and which itself has engagement means whereby the same cap may be fitted over the end of the further nib unit.

Since each end of the barrel has the ability to receive a nib unit, by using both ends of the barrel and a further nib unit, a "three-nib" marker of the kind disclosed in US-A-5651627 may easily be produced. The two nib units fitted on to the end of the barrel may have different width or different type nibs, and the extra nib housing fitted on to one or other of them may have a much narrower "fine" nib set therein.

A major advantage of markers in accordance with the present invention is the ability of the user to purchase replacement components rather than having, each time a marker has run out, to buy a whole new one. Thus, for example, in terms of the major consumable, the ink, freshly-filled ink reservoirs may be produced inexpensively and with a relative minimum of packaging, enough to keep the ink sealed until it is desired to replace the reservoir in an existing marker. Alternatively, the replacement reservoirs may be supplied with a replacement barrel, ink drying being prevented by a removable ink-impermeable cap on each end of the barrel.

In the first case, where only the reservoir is sold as a refill, it may be packaged in a sealed transparent plastics sachet or the like which can be simply opened with a pair of scissors to enable the tubular reservoir to be extracted and substituted for the old reservoir, which can be accessed by removing one of the nib units from one end of the barrel and pulling or shaking it out. If, for any reason, the dry reservoir is stuck, both ends of the barrel may be exposed and the ink reservoir simply pushed out of the barrel, using a suitable implement such as a pencil, and disposed of.

Likewise as far as nibs are concerned,. users may purchase packets of nibs which may be simply used to replace worn ones. The worn nib is simply pulled axially from its nib housing and a new one inserted. Such new nibs may be provided in a variety of shapes and styles, preferably for convenience a set of relatively broader nibs for use in the nib housing which fits on to the end of the barrel and, separately, a variety of relatively narrower nibs, each of which may be press-fitted into a further nib housing as described above.

Indeed, as will be apparent, the modular nature of the markers in accordance with the present invention essentially enables a user to construct markers to their own specifications. By purchasing a number of markers and a variety of different nibs, and a number of identically coloured refill reservoirs, the user can quickly and easily construct for themselves a set of several markers, all of which will mark with the identical colour, but where the ends of the markers provide, for example, five or more different nib configurations.

The approach to constructing a felt-tip marker set out above enables further possibilities to be envisioned in which, for example, a. nib or applicator unit . may be conceived with sockets into which two, or even more, barrels may be fitted. For example, an elongate felt nib may be provided in a housing having a plurality of sockets into which barrels may be fitted, with the elongate nib having a portion extending into each reservoir as each barrel is fitted into the socket. Working in this way, it is possible to produce very easily a marker which, for example, may draw a 2 cm wide stripe of even colour. Of course, if two or more barrels with different coloured ink reservoirs are used, a mixed effect may be achieved.

Although, as indicated above, the modular component nature of markers according to the present invention enables double-ended markers with an option to have a fine tip as well, i.e. three-nib arrangements (or even more), it is also possible to use the marker with one end of the barrel only carrying a nib unit, the other end being simply sealed with a closure cap. Some may prefer to personalise their marker collection this way.

The present invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which show diagrammatically a marker unit in accordance with the invention. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a barrel;

Figure 2 an axial section of a nib housing adapted to fit on to the end of the barrel;

Figure 3 an axial section of an end cap; and

Figure 4 an axial section of a narrower tip nib housing;

Figure 5 an axial section of a further nib unit.

Referring to the drawings, the barrel shown in Figure 1 consists of a single . moulding of transparent plastics material, for example a transparent cyclic olefin copolymer such as that sold under the trade mark TOPAZ₁ denoted 1. At each end the external diameter of the barrel is narrowed, from a shoulder 2, and a groove 3 is formed on the exterior cylindrical surface of the narrowed end. The or each groove 3 is open at the end of the marker and runs along in the direction of the barrel a little way and then to one side constituting part of a bayonet fitting.

Located within the barrel 1 is a reservoir 5 consisting of a cylindrical block of absorbent material of polyester fibre, the cylindrical surface of which is surrounded by a transparent plastics foil of extruded polypropylene and the ends of which are simply not covered. In other words, as seen in Figure 1 , the surfaces 6 present a flat circular ink saturated surface.

Referring now to Figure 2, this shows a nib unit consisting of a moulded plastics housing 10 into which is set a felt nib 11. The nib 11 is of relatively conventional shape having a^' so-called chisel end 12 which is used to apply ink to the desired surface, for example paper, and an opposite tapered pointed end 13 which is adapted to penetrate into the surface 6, i.e. to make the nib come into intimate contact with the reservoir 5 so that ink may flow under capillary action through the nib from the end 13 inserted into the reservoir up to the writing or marking end 12.

As can be easily seen from Figure 2, if the nib 11 is gripped and firmly pulled to the left while holding housing 10, it will simply come out and a fresh nib may be inserted.

The right-hand end of the moulded housing 10 as shown in Figure 2 is adapted to fit over one end of the barrel shown in Figure 1. As can be seen, the interior of the generally cylindrical skirt forming part of housing 10 has two beads or pips 15, each of which is sized to fit into groove 3. The internal dimensions of the skirt portion of the housing 10 and the external dimensions of the ends of the barrel are closely toleranced to ensure that there is a satisfactory fit between the two so that, when the housing is assembled on to the barrel, the connection between them is vapour tight.

Referring to Figure 3, this shows an end cap which is adapted to fit over the left-hand portion of the housing 10 shown in Figure 2. It has a cylindrical inner portion 20 which has a chamfered edge circular end 21 which is designed to. be a snug fit against the end of housing 10 shown in Figure 2; The chamfer 21 abuts housing 10 substantially at the position identified as 22.

This means that when the cap is assembled on to the housing 10, cylindrical portion 20-forms a sealed chamber around the end of the nib 11 , so stopping it drying out. The fitting between the cap shown in Figure 3 and the housing shown in Figure 2 is achieved by way of an internal circular rib 24 inside the cap which clicks over an external bead 25 which runs around housing 10. Again, the dimensioning of the housing 10 and the cap is chosen so that there is a satisfactory snap fit, sufficiently firm to hold the two together when desired, but enabling the cap to be removed without difficulty when the marker is required for use.

The end of the cap has a recess in it into which a disc of printed paper 26 may be put, the disc being held in place by a snap-in transparent cover 25. The disc may reproduce the colour of the ink in the reservoir, so allowing selection on a colour basis if a collection of such markers is stored in a holder with the markers vertically aligned and adjacent one another with only the top ends showing. The disc may also bear a printed number or other reference to the colour in question to permit easy re-ordering of reservoirs of the same colour ink.

Figure 4 shows a narrow nib unit which is designed to be used in conjunction with an already mounted nib unit when the user wants to draw a narrower line. It consists basically of a narrow nib 30 set in a housing 31. To ensure thθ flow of ink to the narrow nib 30, internally of the housing there is a resilient capillary transfer plug 32 of spongy material into which one end of^' nib 30 extends and which may be contacted, when the unit shown in Figure 4 is fitted on to the nib unit shown in Figure 2, by the end of nib 11.

The right-hand portion of the housing 31 is configured with a bead 34 corresponding to bead 24 in the cap while the left-hand portion of housing 31 in Figure 4 has a raised rib 35 corresponding to rib 25 on the housing 10 shown in Figure 2. Accordingly, the unit shown in Figure 4 may simply be interposed between the nib unit of Figure 2 and the cap unit of Figure 3 when desired. Not shown in Figure 4 are vent holes in the wall of the tapering portion of housing 31. These are provided to prevent any reduction in pressure in that part of the housing as the marker is used, which would have the effect of causing the ink flow to the end of nib 30 to vary.

As with the nib shown in Figure 2, nib 30 may simply be pulled out from the left-hand end of the housing 31 and replaced with a fresh one if it becomes worn.

Figure 5 shows a nib housing analogous to that shown^' in Figure 2, but with a brush nib in it. This brush size nib denoted 40 is a press fit into a housing denoted 41 which is of identical construction to housing 10 shown in Figure 2. Housing 41 may be fitted to the opposite end of barrel 1 from housing 10. It may be capped with an end cap identical to that shown in Figure 3. Markers with a felt nib one end and an identical colour brush nib the other are widely used by graphic artists wishing to obtain a more informal effect than is easily obtainable with a wide tip felt marker, as by varying the pressure on the marker when using a brush nib, the stroke width may.be varied. .

The marker illustrated with a bayonet connection between nib unit and barrel is more expensive to engineer and manufacture than a simple snapp fit connection, which may, in design and manufacturing terms, be preferred.

Claims

CLAIlVlS

1. A felt-tip marker implement comprising a barrel for receiving an ink reservoir, an ink reservoir located in the barrel, at least one nib unit consisting of a nib housing with a felt nib set therein, the nib housing and barrel being provided with mutually engaging connection means enabling a nib housing to be fitted to the barrel, the arrangement being such that, when fitted, the felt nib contacts the ink reservoir located in the barrel and has a portion projecting from the end of the nib housing, and at least one closure cap adapted to snap fit over the end of the nib housing remote from the barrel and, when so fitted, to provide an enclosure around the end of the felt nib which projects from the nib housing to prevent drying out, and wherein the ends of the barrel have identically configured connection means.

2. A felt-tip marker implement according to Claim 1 wherein the barrel is formed of transparent material and the ink reservoir therein consists of an absorbent mass of ink-retaining material in the form of an elongate cylinder.

3. A felt-tip marker implement according to Claim 2 wherein the cylindrical surface of the cylinder of ink-retaining material is covered by an ink- impermeable membrane, and the ends of the cylinder are not covered when the marker is in use.

4. A felt-tip marker implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the nib housing and barrel are connectable together via a snap fit connection.

5. A felt-tip marker implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the nib housing and barrel are connectable together via a bayonet type connection, the exterior of each end of the barrel containing two angled grooves running from the end of the barrel for a short distance axially and then turning to run not quite circumferentially, while the nib housing has a skirt on the inside of which are two beads adapted to be fitted into the grooves on the barrel, whereby the nib housing and barrel may be telescoped together and then twisted one relative to the other to form a secure connection.^"

6. A felt-tip marker implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the end cap is a snap fit over the end of the nib unit remote from the barrel, the inside of the cap having a circumferential bead near its end and a corresponding bead or groove, over which or into which the bead on the cap can fit, being provided in the housing of the nib unit.

7. A felt-tip marker implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the felt nib located within the nib housing is a wide capillary felt nib which is tapered from the end which will be used to apply ink to artwork towards a chisel point which is adapted to penetrate into the ink reservoir -. when the nib unit and barrel are assembled together.

8. A felt-tip marker implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 and including a second nib housing adapted to fit over the first nib housing in such a way that, when so fitted, ink flows by capillary action from the nib in the first housing to that in the second nib housing, the nib in the second nib housing being narrower than the nib in the first nib housing.

9. A felt-tip marker implement according to any one of the preceding Claims and including a nib housing having a plurality of sockets into which two or more barrels may be fitted.