Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ignition device. The ignition device comprises a flame producing assembly comprising a wand, a receiving portion configured to receive the flame producing assembly, wherein the receiving portion is configured to adapt between a receiving position and an ignition position. Further, the ignition device comprises a trigger mechanism configured to ignite the flame producing assembly when actuated. The ignition device further comprises a movable pin, wherein the movable pin is configured to move from a first position to a second position when a flame producing assembly comprising a wand is inserted into the receiving portion and the receiving portion is moved to the ignition position. The movable pin is further configured to block actuation of the trigger mechanism when in the first position, and configured to allow actuation of the trigger mechanism when in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for preparing an aqueous gel ink with fixed color comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a gel-based matrix of aqueous ink; (ii) preparing an aqueous suspension of silver nanoparticles with a fixed color by mixing silver salts with: —water, —a mixture of at least an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of citrate, —an oxidizing agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide H2O2, —and polyvinylpyrrolidone; (iii) adding under agitation the aqueous suspension of silver nanoparticles obtained in step (ii) to the gel-based matrix of aqueous ink obtained in step (i), to obtain an aqueous gel ink with fixed color with silver nanoparticles dispersed therein.

Abstract: The invention relates a process for preparing an aqueous gel ink with fixed color comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a gel-based matrix of aqueous ink; (ii) preparing an aqueous suspension of gold or silver nanoparticles with a fixed color; (iii) adding the aqueous suspension of gold or silver nanoparticles obtained in step (ii) to the gel-based matrix of aqueous ink obtained in step (i).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a writing instrument comprising a lead, wherein the lead comprises at least about 0.5 wt.-% ZrO2, relative to the total weight of the lead, in particular wherein the lead comprises less than about 0.5 wt.-%, more specifically less than about 0.2 wt.-% and in particular substantially no or no TiO2.

Abstract: There is a process for preparing in situ an aqueous gel ink with fixed color having the following steps: (i) preparing a gel-based matrix of aqueous ink comprising 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid as reducing agent, and (ii) adding a solution of metallic salts to the gel-based matrix of aqueous ink prepared in step (i), to obtain an aqueous gel ink with fixed color with metallic nanoparticles dispersed therein. There is also an aqueous gel ink with fixed color obtained according to the process of the disclosure, comprising 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid and metallic nanoparticles. There is also a writing instrument comprising an aqueous gel ink with fixed color according to the disclosure.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for preparing in situ an aqueous gel ink with variable color comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a gel-based matrix of aqueous ink comprising 0.005 to 0.1 mol·L?1 of ester(s) of retinol represented by formula (I), and (ii) adding a solution of 0.002 to 0.05 mol·L?1 silver salts (Ag+) to the gel-based matrix of aqueous ink prepared in step (i), to obtain an aqueous gel ink with variable color with silver nanoparticles dispersed therein. The present invention also relates to an aqueous gel ink with variable color obtained according to the process of the invention, comprising said ester of retinol represented by formula (I) and silver nanoparticles. The invention finally concerns a writing instrument comprising an aqueous gel ink with variable color according to the invention.

Abstract: A flame producing assembly includes a pocket lighter, an extended wand, a rigid support, and a helical spring. The pocket lighter extends along a longitudinal axis and defines a length. The pocket lighter includes a piezoelectric ignition device operable to produce an electric charge. The extended wand is electrically coupled to the piezoelectric ignition device. The rigid support is disposed inside the extended wand and includes a longitudinal inner opening. The helical spring extends along the longitudinal inner opening and protrudes beyond a free end of the rigid support. The free end is opposite a connecting end that is proximate to the pocket lighter.

Abstract: A thermochromic pigment composition including: (A) at least one electron-donor organic dye compound, (B) at least one electron-acceptor compound, and (C) at least one compound responding to the following formula (I), in which: R1 is H or a phenyl group, —R2 is H or a phenyl group, and -n=1-8. The thermochromic pigment composition includes thermochromic pigment microcapsules ink compositions including such thermochromic pigment microcapsules, and writing instruments including such ink compositions.

Abstract: Novel reaction media for electron donating and electron accepting components in colour-change compositions are described. The compound is of formula (I): wherein R1, and R2 are selected from a linear or branched alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkoxy group, aryl group and an alkylene aryl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms; X1 and X2 are selected from —OC(O)-, —CO2- and O; R3, R4 and R5 are selected from hydrogen and an linear or branched alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, alkenyl group, alkoxy group, aryl and alkylene aryl group; R6 is selected from hydrogen, R3, —X1R1 and aryl and halogen; Y1 Y2 Y3 and Y4 are selected from hydrogen, R3, —OR3 and halogen; a is 0 to 4; b is 0 or 1; x and y are independently is 0 or 1 provided that where x and y are 0, a is 0 and b is 1 and R6 is —CO2R1; and wherein when a is 0 and b is 1 and R5 or R6 is phenyl, R6 and R5 respectively are not hydrogen or C1-7 alkyl.

Abstract: A writing instrument comprising a self-healing seal component to prevent drying out of the writing instrument and an elastomeric support to protect the self-healing seal component.

Abstract: A thermochromic pigment composition including compounds of formula (I): in which: X represents CHR2, O, OCO or CH?CH; Y represents O, COO, or OCOO; R1 represents H or (CH2)pCH3; R2 represents phenyl or H; m=12-18; n=0-14; p=12-18; and on the condition that, if n=0, X represents CHR2 or CH?CH. The thermochromic pigment compositions having compounds of formula (I), include thermochromic pigment microcapsules. The thermochromic pigment capsules are useable for thermochromic pigment compositions in ink which may be used writing instruments.

Abstract: A handle for razor is made of polylactic acid (PLA) and another bioplastic polymer such as polybutylene adipate terephtalate (PBAT), bio-polyethylene (bio-PE), and polybutylene succinate (PBS), combined with mineral fillers selected from the group of calcium carbonate and shells of shellfish, such as oyster shells or scallop shells.

Abstract: A handle for razor is made of polylactic acid (PLA) and another bioplastic polymer such as polybutylene adipate terephtalate (PBAT), bio-polyethylene (bio-PE), and polybutylene succinate (PBS), combined with mineral fillers selected from the group of calcium carbonate and shells of shellfish, such as oyster shells or scallop shells.

Abstract: A cartridge for a razor comprises at least one blade and a first blade support configured to attach the at least one blade to the cartridge. The first blade support includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, a first optical feature provided on one or more of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion. The first optical feature is selected from one or more of a color, a coating, a texture, a perforation, a transparency of the blade support, a light emitting source, a protrusion and a sticker.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns non-aqueous gel writing ink including a solvent, a coloring agent and a gelling agent, in which the gelling agent is a mixture of silica particles and of a fatty acid amide wax. It also concerns the process of preparation of the non-aqueous gel writing ink and the use of a mixture of silica particles and of a fatty acid amide wax, as a gelling agent in a non-aqueous gel writing ink. It finally concerns a writing instrument containing the ink according to the present disclosure.

Abstract: A process for preparing in situ an aqueous gel ink with fixed color comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a gel-based matrix of aqueous ink comprising ester(s) of retinol represented by formula (I), and (ii) adding a solution of gold salts (Au3+) to the gel-based matrix of aqueous ink prepared in step (i), to obtain an aqueous gel ink with fixed color with gold nanoparticles dispersed therein. An aqueous gel ink with fixed color obtained according to the process of the invention, comprising the ester of retinol represented by formula (I) and gold nanoparticles. A writing instrument comprising an aqueous gel ink with fixed color.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for designing a user-specific writing skill game is provided. The computer-implemented method comprises tracking a handwriting performance and generating a digital representation of the handwriting performance. The handwriting performance is performed by a user with a writing instrument. The method further comprises identifying user-specific handwriting skills which require improvement based on the digital representation of the handwriting performance. Then a writing skill game is designed. The writing skill game is designed to include one or more game tasks to be performed by the user. The one or more game tasks require the user to apply the user-specific handwriting skills which are to be improved.