Abstract: A shower curtain closure for closing off a vertical side edge of the curtain against a wall of the shower stall comprises a length of extruded plastic tubing that can be cut to a preferred length, a tube support ring for suspending the tube on the curtain rod, and an elongate vertically oriented wall receptacle into which the tube matingly fits. The tube is passed through a sleeve along the side of the curtain and is suspended from the curtain support rod by a ring connected to the upper end of the tubing and passing over the shower curtain rod. The wall receptacle is made of extruded plastics material that can be cut to length and is adhesively mountable on a wall of the shower enclosure. The receptacle is provided with a channel shaped to releasably secure the shower curtain sleeve with the tube therein.

Abstract: A cell system has one or multiple burstable enclosures or closed cells which contain an active composition, such as a fluid or solid (including powdered) product, preferably a liquid product, which is released therefrom when the enclosures or closed cells are ruptured. Each enclosure or cell is provided with a flow control which controls the direction and flow of the composition outwardly of the enclosure or cell when the enclosure or cell is ruptured. The flow control is formed by a film covering one side of an enclosure or cell with the film having a cut-out portion forming a flow control window. The composition can be a face cleaning lotion or cream, a disinfectant, a household cleaning composition, a perfume, a polish or a medicament.

Abstract: A semi-enclosed applicator is provided for distributing a substance onto a target surface. The applicator has a first side, a second side, and an internal cavity between the first and second sides. The applicator further includes at least one opening, such that the internal cavity is externally accessible. The applicator further comprises: (a) a substantially non-absorbent material on one of the first and second sides; (b) a substantially absorbent material on the other of the first and second sides; and (c) a substantially fluid-impervious barrier layer within the internal cavity adjacent the nonabsorbent layer. A semi-enclosed applicator is also provided for distributing a substance onto a target surface. This applicator has a first side, a second side, and an internal cavity between the first and second sides.

Abstract: A device for applying a fluid, notably a writing pen or cosmetic pencil, includes a tubular shaft, a fluid container that is positioned therein, a tip, and a conducting system for the fluid. The container ensures constant pressure equalization with the atmosphere by having its front and rear ends each being fluidically connected to the atmosphere. At the rear end of the container a ventilation opening is positioned. The ventilation opening opens into the container interior containing the fluid and is sealed by a semi-permeable membrane.

Abstract: An ink regulating apparatus in a pen, injection molded from high-density plastic grains, comprised of three or more than three gradations retreating downward by control of density in the molding process with the lowest one tapered to slowly and gradually deliver the ink when inserted into a pen-holder to prevent ink leakage, warrant fluent writing and leaves no residual ink when the pen is discarded.

Abstract: A freehand writing instrument will hold a writing tip. The instrument can draw the writing tip across a writing surface in one or more strokes. The instrument has a case sized to be handheld and has a longitudinal axis extending between a distal and proximal end of the case. Also included is a motor mounted at the case. The writing instrument also has an arm mounted at the proximal end of the case. The arm is driven by the motor to move periodically about a predetermined center, reaching a maximum transverse displacement from the center. With the distal end of the case defined as a vertex, this maximum transverse displacement is sized to subtend a displacement angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The arm has a holder adapted to transversely hold the writing tip at an orientation displaced from parallel to the longitudinal axis no more than the displacement angle. The arm can produce a periodic pattern on the writing surface during the strokes.

Abstract: A penpoint tip and an applicator having the tip incorporated in it are disclosed, the applicator (1) is composed of a shaft (2), an inking core (3) and a cap (4). The inking core (3) has a penpoint tip (5), an ink reservoir (6), a connector (7) and a valve (8). The penpoint tip (5) constituting an ink applying member has six balls (10) arranged in a row in a distal end of the tip. Each ball (10) is exposed outwards in part out of a slit-shaped opening (16) of a tip body (12).

Abstract: An applicator includes a reservoir charged with fluid. The reservoir has a discharge-controlling mechanism at one end for applying the fluid. The fluid contains at least one organic solvent, such as mythylcyclohexane, and is charged with a scarcely volatile liquid substance, such as an alkylene oxide adduct of diglycerin, having no compatibility with the applying fluid. The scarcely volatile liquid substance forms a movable plug for an end part of the applying fluid in a contact state and the rear of the plug in the reservoir is released to the atmosphere. The applicator can include writing instruments including a felt tip pen and a ballpoint pen, a corrector, an applicator for adhesive and a dressing instrument.

Abstract: A dispensing valve cap mountable to a bottle is provided with a first valve part having a tubular portion having an air inlet and a fluid outlet spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the tubular portion to form a constant head valve for dispensing fluid from the bottle. A second valve part of the valve rotatably mounted to the first valve part includes a tubular portion for simultaneously closing both the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part when fluid dispensing is not desired. The second valve part further includes an air inlet, and a fluid outlet alignable with the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the tubular portion when fluid dispensing is desired. The dispensing valve cap controls fluid flow from the bottle. The bottle with the valve cap is useable with a dispenser assembly for mixing a concentrated fluid from the bottle with a dilutant. A tamper resistant lock prevents undesired rotation of the second valve part relative to the first valve part.

Abstract: A liquid marker system utilizes three primary components to permit marking of lines of various widths from a single nib. The three components are a porous nib, a transfer wick and a squeezable container. Operation relies on different squeeze pressures applied to the housing to produce different line widths from the single nib as the nib is moved across a marked surface. The porous wick provides a resistance to flow until the bottle is squeezed and then supplies a minimum of capillary flow to the nib. The user squeezes the container to overcome the resistance of the wick. No venting of the container interior is required because the wick and nib system allows the passage of air into the container when the container is returned to its unstressed (i.e., un-squeezed) condition.

Abstract: A writing instrument is provided including a gripping section arranged along a portion of the writing instrument normally used for gripping and a writing tip extending from the gripping section. The gripping section may be provided on a replaceable cartridge element which is inserted into a cartridge-receiving cavity in the writing instrument body. A soft, resiliently deformable gripping member is provided on the gripping section and is preferably tubular in shape. The gripping member includes a smooth surface which may include a slightly elevated or raised pattern. The elevated pattern may comprise a plurality of interconnected parts so as to form a continuous lattice or pattern such as hexagons. The pattern is preferably continuous over the entire smooth surface. The elevated pattern is resiliently compressible with respect to the smooth surface so that a user's fingers may deform the elevated pattern to provide additional traction during use.

Abstract: An applicator for dispensing a product comprises an exterior top surface, an exterior sidewall, and a base. The applicator has a chamber which constitutes a reservoir for holding the product to be dispensed. The reservoir has top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall. The applicator has an orifice for dispensing product, and the orifice connects the top surface to the top wall. The chamber has a disk capable of traveling through the chamber forcing product through the orifice as it travels through the chamber. The disk has a product contact surface that contacts a major portion of the top surface when the travel of the disk is complete so that product remaining in the chamber is minimized.

Abstract: A swiveling handle is attached to a square, rectangular, or oval curved base plate, with curvature selected to match the curvature of a vehicle tire sidewall. A pad containing the liquid or gel to be applied to a tire is attached to the underside of the curved base plate in order to contact the tire sidewall, so that one quick circular motion of the operator's hand applies the liquid or gel uniformly to the entire sidewall of the tire. A matching holder with a curved sponge or pad for resaturating the pad on the curved base plate may be included.

Abstract: A grip element for mounting over a free end of a gripped article includes a gripping surface and an engagement surface extending from the gripping surface. The engagement surface is configured and dimensioned for engagement by a pushing device such that the pushing device sufficiently engages the engagement surface to push the engagement surface without use of an additional pushing device. The grip element is further configured and dimensioned with respect to the article such that the pushing device moves the grip element substantially completely onto the article without requiring lubrication or separate expansion of the grip element. Various features which improve the assembly of the grip element or article may be provided separately or in combination. A method of assembling the grip element onto the article is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an appearing and disappearing core type writing instrument capable of appearing and disappearing a core based on a rotation operation.

Abstract: A toothbrush consists of a cylindrical brush handle forming a toothpaste receiver having toothpaste therein, a brush rod provided with brush bristles and a guide passage therein, a turning end cap formed with a threaded rod extending into the toothpaste receiver and a squeezing block threadingly engaging the threaded rod in the toothpaste receiver. When the end cap is turned, the squeezing block may be actuated to move forward or backward such that the toothpaste may be squeezed toward the brush rod to overflow over the brush bristles through the guide passage. By opening a seal lid of the turning end cap, a general toothpaste tube can be squeezed so that the toothpaste refills the toothpaste receiver during refilling.

Abstract: A sanitary washing device cleans a nozzle pipe thereof automatically. The sanitary washing device includes a changeover valve supplying a warm water to a nozzle pipe, a nozzle pipe selectively accommodated in a cylinder, and an ejecting outlet provided on the end portion of the nozzle pipe to spray warm water in order to wash a portion of the user sitting on a toilet bowl. The nozzle pipe is retracted in order to be accommodated in the cylinder again when the warm water supply through the changeover valve is stopped. A nozzle pipe washer is positioned to spray washing water onto the nozzle pipe. By controlling the changeover valve, a nozzle pipe washer ejecting outlet sprays the warm water onto the nozzle pipe in accordance with the movement of the nozzle pipe.

Abstract: A method for producing a substantially rod-shaped composite body (6) consists of a core (4) enveloped by at least one polymer, according to which the plasticized polymer (5) is extruded onto the core (4). At least one natural polymer is used and a sliding agent on the basis of native oils and/or waxes is added before or during extrusion. The method is used for the production of writing, drawing, cosmetic pencils.

Abstract: A pen has a marking device operative to mark a visible path onto a surface. The marking device is electronically controllable to change at least one of the attributes of the path. The attributes are constituted by the characteristics of the ink being deposited and can include the amount of ink deposited, the width of the line produced, and the color of the ink deposited. The pen also includes a user interface provided by one or more potentiometers or control buttons such that the user may modify the attributes. Additionally, the pen may include a display to indicate the selected attributes to the user and a sensing device for sensing coded data.

Abstract: A water efficient toilet includes a self pressurized tank connected to a water supply through conduits and includes a valve operatively connected to the conduits. The toilet assembly has a bowl with inner walls, the bowl having a lower reservoir connected to a trap way and an upper rim with a channel therein. The channel is provided with a plurality of openings and the lower reservoir of the bowl has through holes. The through holes of the lower reservoir and the channel of the upper rim of the bowl are connected to the valve by a first and second conduit. When flushing the toilet by opening the valve, a phased inflow of water in the toilet is induced. The phased inflow of water includes an initial and an intermediate inflow of water. The initial inflow of water passes into the first conduit and through the through holes of the lower reservoir to initiate the evacuation of the contents of the lower reservoir through the trap way into a drain pipe.