Abstract: The present invention concerns a washable aqueous ink composition comprising: a) at least one alkali metal salt of citrate, b) at least one cyclodextrin or derivative thereof, c) at least one dye. It also concerns a writing instrument comprising it and the use of the association of a) at least one alkali metal salt of citrate and b) at least one cyclodextrin or derivative thereof, to improve the washability and/or vividness of the shades of a washable aqueous ink composition.

Abstract: A marker nib for applying ink to a surface may comprise an applicator having a writing tip configured to contact the surface to apply ink thereto, and a transporter configured to transport ink received from a reservoir to the applicator, the applicator being configured to increase its ink flow rate at the writing tip when pressure is applied thereto.

Abstract: A tip for a handheld writing instrument-includes a brass alloy comprising the following composition: Cu in an amount of from about 52 wt.-% to about 62 wt.-%, Sn in an amount of from about 0.1 wt.-% to about 1.0 wt.-%, Fe in an amount of from about 0.1 wt.-% to about 1.0 wt.-%, Si in an amount of from about 0.05 wt.-% to about 0.5 wt.-%, Ni in an amount of from about 0.05 wt.-% to about 0.5 wt.-%, Pb if present, in an amount of less than about 0.05 wt.-%, optionally other elements in a total amount of less than about 3 wt.-% (impurities), and Zn as balance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer-based extendable lead or refill for writing, drawing and/or painting tools comprising a binder comprising a mixture of polylactide with at least one polymer having a flexural modulus inferior to the flexural modulus of polylactide and at least one filler. It also relates to writing, drawing and/or painting tool, advantageously a pencil, comprising lead or a refill according to the invention and to the use of a binder comprising a mixture of polylactide with at least one polymer having a flexural modulus inferior to the flexural modulus of polylactide according to the invention to improve the vividness of polymer-based extrudable lead or refill for writing, drawing and/or painting tools.

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.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a washable aqueous ink composition comprising: a) at least one salt of monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid with from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, 5b) at least one salt of polyacrylic acid, c) at least one dye.

Abstract: There is a compound represented by the following formula (I): in which R1 and R2, identical or different, represent a C2-C30 alkyl group, a C2-C30 alkenyl group, a C2-C30 alkynyl group, or a C2-C30 alkoxy group, the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or alkoxy groups being optionally substituted with at least one hydroxy, halogen, amino, C1-C8 alkyl, or C1-C8 alkoxy group, as a temperature change regulating agent in a thermochromic ink composition. There also are thermochromic pigment microcapsules having a compound of formula (I) according to the disclosure, to ink compositions having such thermochromic pigment microcapsules, and to writing instruments comprising such ink compositions.

Abstract: A writing instrument, in particular a pen, comprises a housing comprising a front barrel and a rear barrel, the front barrel having a front opening, two or more cartridges for storing colorants or inks, each cartridge having a writing tip, at least one actuator for selectively moving one of the cartridges within the housing so that the writing tip of a selected cartridge extends through the front opening of the front barrel, and a cartridge guide member which is designed to guide the movement of the cartridges within the housing. The front barrel and the cartridge guide member are designed to be removed from the rear barrel for replacing one or more of the cartridges. In particular, the front barrel and the cartridge guide member may be removed from the rear barrel while the cartridge guide member may remain mounted to the front member at the same time.

Abstract: A stylus for a touchscreen may comprise a barrel extending in a longitudinal direction, the barrel comprising a first end comprising an opening and a second end, the first end and the second end being, in the longitudinal direction, opposite to one another, and a first part and a second part, the first part including the first end and the second part including the second end, a first electronic tip received at least in part in the barrel and configured to have at least an in-use configuration in which the first electronic tip protrudes from the first part of the barrel through the opening, and an energy harvesting device comprising at least two of an energy harvesting element, a transducer, or an energy storage device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to writing instruments which are charged with a water-based ink composition comprising trimethylolpropane. The present disclosure also relates to a solid ink composition which may be used to refill the rechargeable writing instrument. The solid ink composition itself is a concentrate of the water-based ink composition and can be diluted by the user with e.g. water to produce the aforementioned water-based ink composition. The present disclosure further relates to methods of producing the solid ink composition and the water-based ink composition as well as to various uses thereof.

Abstract: A lighter comprises a housing having a nozzle, wherein the housing is adapted to receive a gas and/or fuel reservoir device. The lighter comprises a connecting device, wherein the connecting device is configured to couple the gas and/or fuel reservoir device to the nozzle. The connecting device is adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the lighter.

Abstract: There is a process for preparing in situ an aqueous gel ink with variable color having the following steps: (i) preparing a gel-based matrix of aqueous ink comprising a reducing agent, (ii) adding a solution of metallic salts, (iii) adding iron powder to obtain an aqueous gel ink with variable color, wherein the steps (ii) and (iii) can be interchanged. There also is an aqueous gel ink with variable color obtained according to the process of the disclosure, having a reducing agent, metallic nanoparticles and iron powder. There further is a writing instrument having an aqueous gel ink with variable color according to the disclosure.

Abstract: 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 an N-Acyl-aminophenol, wherein the hydroxyl group is preferably in meta or para position on the benzenic group, and (ii) adding a solution of silver salts to the gel-based matrix of aqueous ink prepared in step (i), to obtain an aqueous gel ink with variable color with silver nanoparticles disposed therein. An aqueous gel ink with variable color obtained according to process for preparing, comprising an N-Acyl-aminophenol, wherein the hydroxyl group is preferably in meta or para position on the benzenic group and silver nanoparticles. A writing instrument comprising an aqueous gel ink with variable color.

Abstract: A writing instrument between a first end and a second end including a writing element configured to transition between a non-writing state and a writing state, a first housing member oriented about at least a portion of the writing element and extending between the first end and the second end of the writing instrument, and an actuator configured to be moved between a first position and a second position, wherein the writing element is configured to transition from the non-writing state toward the writing state when the actuator moves from the first position toward the second position, and the writing element is configured to transition from the writing state to the non-writing state when the actuator moves from the second position toward the first position.

Abstract: A razor cartridge includes a skin-contacting surface configured to contact a user's skin surface during a shaving operation. The skin-contacting surface includes a variable friction resistance element having a frictional resistance which is dependent on a motion direction of the razor cartridge over the user's skin surface.

Abstract: A metallic ball pen tip for a writing instrument comprising a feeding passage extending in an axial direction, the feeding passage reaching in a recess configured to receive a ball, the recess being defined by a cylindrical wall and a ball seat, wherein the ball seat comprises a plurality of feeding grooves and wherein the ball seat is textured, the texture comprising a plurality of blind holes having a depth equal to or smaller than 50 ?m, preferably equal to or smaller than 10 ?m, more preferably equal to or smaller than 5 ?m, more preferably equal to or smaller than 1 ?m, the blind holes having a total surface equal to or greater than 20% of the ball seat, preferably 60% and equal to or smaller than 90% of the ball seat, preferably 85%. A method of manufacturing a metallic ball pen tip.

Abstract: A multifunction writing instrument comprising a body extending along an axial direction and receiving at least two retractable writing elements, each retractable writing element comprising a writing tip, a reservoir and a button, each retractable writing element being movable between a writing position in which the writing tip extends from the body and a retracted position in which the writing tip is retracted within the body, each retractable writing element being connected to an electronic unit in order to detect which retractable writing element is in the writing position.

Abstract: There is an erasing tool having a polyetheramine for erasing a thermochromic ink composition capable of undergoing a color change that cannot be reversed by application of a temperature change. There also is a writing instrument having a thermochromic ink composition and an erasing tool. Finally, there is a method for irreversibly erasing a written line made with a thermochromic ink composition and erased with an erasing tool.

Abstract: A refillable free ink writing instrument including a body having a rear end, a front end and an ink reservoir disposed between the rear end and the front end, a writing tip mounted on the front end and a plug mounted on the rear end, wherein the plug is configured to close an opening in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, the plug being configured to be removable from the rear end to refill the ink reservoir with water and concentrated ink refill.