Ball Patents (Class 401/209)
  • Publication number: 20030007826
    Abstract: A method of treating or preventing tinea pedis, commonly known as Athlete's Foot, includes applying a polymerizable monomer adhesive composition to an area of skin afflicted with or susceptible to tinea pedis, optionally with at least one of an additional anti-fungal agent or a foot care additive, and allowing the polymerizable monomer composition to polymerize to form a polymer film over the area of skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: CLOSURE MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ibraheem Badejo, Daniel L. Hedgpeth, Upvan Narang, William S. C. Nicholson, Andres Rivera, Mary Jo S. Rivera, Anthony Sherbondy, Gabriel N. Szabo
  • Patent number: 6494634
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sakura Color Products Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyasu Inoue, Masahiro Yasunaga
  • Publication number: 20020182160
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for applying a coating of stain-free oil to hair involving the use of a roller-ball applicator. Also disclosed are the use of a roller-ball applicator in a method of applying a coating of stain-free oil to hair and the use of a roller-ball applicator as a substitute for a brush and bowl in the application of a stain-free oil to hair. The stain-free oil is preferably a vegetable oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel Joseph Galvin
  • Patent number: 6488431
    Abstract: A capsule for controllably metering products held in bottles comprising a ball element for controllably delivering the product on a delivery surface, the ball element housed inside a holding body provided with a cover which can be opened for exposing the top portion of the ball element, as well as with a threaded portion engaging with a corresponding threaded portion provided on the neck of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Giovanni Bocola
  • Patent number: 6478498
    Abstract: To provide a ball for a ball-point pen and to provide a ball-point pen with the use of it which are superior in abrasion resistance and lubricating ability and can be manufactured easily. A ball 2 for a ball-point pen is made of a material of stainless steel whose surface is formed with a nitrosulphurized layer, or a ball 2 for a ball-point pen is made of a material of aluminum chrome molybdenum steel whose surface is formed with a nitrosulphurized layer. A ball-point pen utilizing such a ball has superior writing qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshito Miyasaka, Hitoshi Karasawa
  • Publication number: 20020154938
    Abstract: A spring 5 for pressing a ball 23 forward is disposed with in a tip body 2 and a holder 3. The spring 5 includes a straight part 6 and a coil part 7. The straight part 6 is inserted into the tip body 2, and the coil part 7 is disposed within the holder 3. Protrusion 4 is provided on the inner surface of the holder 3. The coil part 7 climbs over the protrusion 4 and its engagement and stopping are set up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: THE PILOT INK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20020146274
    Abstract: An ectosealed toiletry dispensers which is applicable to toiletries, roll-on antiperspirants in particular, that are applied to the human axilla. A cap, an applicator such as a roll-on ball and a resilient sealing ring that seals between a shoulder of the container and an annular lip of the cap to provide an ectoseal. The sealing ring has sufficient durometer to conform to mold flashings as well as other molding irregularities. Securing the cap to the body with the ectoseal sandwiched between the container and the cap allows one to create a fluid tight seal that is maintainable under high pressure differential conditions to prevent liquid or air from escaping from the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Keith Roberts
  • Publication number: 20020146960
    Abstract: A portable, hand-held light display that has a handle or barrel, a transparent enclosure mounted on the handle and a light display mounted for rotation on the handle, visible through the transparent enclosure, the light display having a first rotating support, at least one light support rotatably mounted on the first rotating support, and lamps mounted on the light support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Jerrald D. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6450719
    Abstract: A suspension of a pigment in a grease is used as a ballpoint penink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Brian Edward Causton, Philip W. Ambler, Philip James Martin
  • Patent number: 6443648
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen has an ink reservoir tube which stores ink, a point assembly disposed in the front of the ink reservoir tube, and a ball bearing held at the front end of the point assembly. The ball bearing is a shape memory alloy, preferably a TiNi intermetallic compound or a TiNi based alloy. The ball bearing solves the problem of ink failing to flow when the ballpoint pen is dropped on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Chung Ping Chao
  • Patent number: 6422776
    Abstract: A ball-point pen comprising: a. an ink reservoir, b. a penpoint tip, c. a writing ball rotationally disposed in and partially exposed from the penpoint tip, d. an ink feed bore in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, e. a ball chamber holding the writing ball and formed in fluid communication with the ink feed bore, f. an annular seat formed in the chamber so as to support the writing ball, and g. radial grooves formed in the annular seat, characterized in that each of the radial grooves is of a width of more than 0.2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sakura Color Products Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6409408
    Abstract: Provided is a free ink type writing instrument having an ink tank part for storing an ink, in which an amount of the ink can visually be observed. The free ink type writing instrument is characterized by that the whole or a part of an internal surface part in contact with the ink in the ink tank part has a smaller critical surface tension than a surface tension of the ink, and a contact angle between the ink and the whole or a part of the internal surface part in contact with the ink in the ink tank part is 30° or more at a temperature of 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Koyama
  • Patent number: 6390710
    Abstract: Provided is an aqueous gel ink-filled ball point pen having less blobbing and capable of drawing stable lines having vivid color and no uneven written intensity. The aqueous gel ink-filled ball point pen has a ball of a diameter of 0.6 to 2.0 mm at a tip point with an aqueous gel ink containing a pigment whose specific gravity is 2 or more and having a viscosity ratio (a value of (viscosity at 10 rpm)/(viscosity at 50 rpm) measured by means of an E type rotational viscometer) of 3.0 to 5.0, and an ink lay down value according to JIS Standard S6053 which is controlled to 220 to 800 mg/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20020044818
    Abstract: Container for storing and applying a liquid deodorant, of the type comprising: a tubular body (10) provided with an end mouth (11), which retains a free rotating ball (20) projecting partially outwardly from the tubular body (10); and a cap (30) having an end wall (31), which is provided in order to define a surface for seating the container in an inverted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: FILTRONA BRASILEIRA INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO LTDA.
    Inventor: Renato Miranda
  • Patent number: 6344498
    Abstract: A water-based, erasable marking composition comprising 1-86% by weight water, 0.3-38% by weight pigment, 13-45% by weight polyurethane, and 0-85% by weight glycerin. The present invention also includes an application instrument comprising an outer body having a first end, an applicator at the first end of the outer body, a reservoir included within the outer body and in fluid communication with the applicator, and a water-based, erasable marking composition within the reservoir. The water-based, erasable marking composition comprises the composition of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Binney & Smith, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith J. Allison, Richard J. Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20020012565
    Abstract: Known packages for topically applying flowable cosmetic composition and especially antiperspirant or deodorant compositions include roll-ons in which the applicator for the composition is presented to the skin along the longitudinal axis of the container, with its distributing head pointing along that same axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Jorge Sirna, Daniel Omar Gonzalez, Antonio Leon De La Barra Romero, Roger Anthony Baines, Nicholas David Pattison, Benjamin Phalan Oates
  • Patent number: 6341914
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen tip 1 and also a ballpoint pen 7 or 8 using the same. A ballpoint pen tip 1, according to the invention, rotatably holds a ball 5 at its front end portion. The ball 5 is held by a plurality of inwardly projecting portions 3 (as a ball receiving seat) and a front end edge portion 4. The projecting portion 3 are formed by inwardly pressing and deforming a neighborhood of a front end portion of a metallic pipe body 2. The front end edge portion 4 is formed by inwardly pressing and deforming the front end portion of the pipe body 2. In the ballpoint pen tip according to the present invention, a relation of A/T>5.8 is satisfied, where A is an outer diameter of the ball 5 and T is a thickness of the pipe body 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Abe, Masahisa Maki
  • Patent number: 6328496
    Abstract: A marking instrument, such as a pen, is disclosed. The marking instrument includes a marking tip carried at the end of a tubular member for conducting marking fluid to the marking tip. The marking tip includes a tubular rear end section of circular cross-section. The tubular member is elliptical in cross-section and is attached to the tubular rear end section of the marking tip at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. The elliptical shape of the tubular member allows for a circular profile opening when the tubular member is cut at an angle to join the tubular rear end section of the marking tip. Because the complementary profiles are circular in shape at the connection plane, it is not necessary to rotationally orient the components when bringing them together to be joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Alan Robert Hill, Clive Barnes, Charles Christopher Packham, Mark Arthur Seddon
  • Publication number: 20010046408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ballpoint pen tip 1 and also a ballpoint pen 7 or 8 using the same. A ballpoint pen tip 1, according to the invention, rotatably holds a ball 5 at its front end portion. The ball 5 is held by a plurality of inwardly projecting portions 3 (as a ball receiving seat) and a front end edge portion 4. The projecting portion 3 are formed by inwardly pressing and deforming a neighborhood of a front end portion of a metallic pipe body 2. The front end edge portion 4 is formed by inwardly pressing and deforming the front end portion of the pipe body 2. In the ballpoint pen tip according to the present invention, a relation of A/T >5.8 is satisfied, where A is an outer diameter of the ball 5 and T is a thickness of the pipe body 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Abe, Masahisa Maki
  • Patent number: 6305865
    Abstract: A retractable ballpoint pen is free from leakage of ink from its tip and ink back-flow attributable to shocks produced by retractable operation, and is capable of satisfactory writing performance. The retractable ballpoint pen has a ballpoint pen refill (3) having a ballpoint pen tip (7) disposed in a forward end of an ink-accommodating tube (8), a ball (9) held for free rotation in a forward end part of the ballpoint pen tip (7). The retractable ballpoint pen is provided with a retracting mechanism (5, 6) for projecting a forward end of the ballpoint pen tip (7) and retracting the same through an open forward end (2a) of a barrel (2). A water-based ink (15) contained in the ink-accommodating tube (8) contains a thixotropic agent and has a viscosity at a rate of shear of 1.9 sec−1 at 20° C. in the range of 900 to 2500 mPa·s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yoshii, Kazuhiko Sasaki, Takashi Ohno
  • Publication number: 20010031172
    Abstract: The present invention's purpose is to provide a high quality chip for a ball-pointed pen in which air bubbles are not left in the centrifugal separating processing when the refill is manufactured. There is provided a chip for a ball-pointed pen in which a transfer ball held in a ball house at the extremity end in a holder is biased from a rear part by a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is received at its rear end by a plurality of small projections integrally arranged in a circumferential direction at an inner circumferential surface of the metallic holder, thereby when deaeration is performed in the centrifugal separating processing at the manufacturing stage of refill, some air bubbles within the holder are passed between the plurality of small projections and moved smoothly in a rearward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: ZEBRA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Uichi Abe
  • Patent number: 6302609
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen refill has an ink-accommodating tube (1) containing an ink (6) having a thixotropic property and a greaselike ink follower (7) capable of moving together with the ink (6) as the ink (6) is consumed so as to be contiguous with the rear end of the ink (6) to prevent the reverse flow of the ink (6). The ink-accommodating tube (1) has a small diameter portion (3) formed at a front side and a large diameter portion (2) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the small diameter portion (3) and extending rearward from the small diameter portion (3). A ballpoint pen tip (5) rotatably holding a ball (4) is inserted in the small diameter portion (3) of the ink-accommodating tube (1). A regulating member (15) has a column (15a) which is press-fitted in the small diameter portion (3). The column (15a) of the regulating member (15) has an inclined end surface (14) at its front end inclined at a predetermined angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis (O) of the ink-accommodating tube (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot
    Inventors: Minoru Machida, Kazuhiko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6299376
    Abstract: A ball-point pen comprising: a. a penpoint tip, b. a writing ball rotationally held in the penpoint tip and c. an ink reservoir whose distal end is connected to the penpoint tip, wherein the writing all is formed of a sintered inorganic material having a surface layer comprising fine holes that have a median diameter of from about 1 to about 20 &mgr;m, and the ink reservoir is filled with an aqueous ink containing a glass flake pigment and having a viscosity of about 4,000 to about 30,000 mPa·S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sakura Color Products Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6220774
    Abstract: A ballpoint tip for a ballpoint liquid container, such as a ballpoint refill, includes a tubular body member, a ball held for rotation in a tip part of the tubular body member, and a coil spring extended in the tubular body member to press the ball against the inner surface of the tip part of the tubular body member. The coil spring is formed by coiling a spring wire, a forward end part of the spring wire is extended linearly to form a straight forward end part, and a back end part of the spring wire is coiled in end coils of an outside diameter greater than that of the effective coils of the coil spring to form a large base end. The coil spring is extended with the base end thereof held in the caulked back end part of the tubular body member and the straight forward end part extended through a liquid passage and in contact with the ball. The coil spring can be strained by applying a pressure thereto through the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Kotobuki & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6217241
    Abstract: A multiplex writing implement has a multiple number of ball-point pen elements in the barrel cylinder thereof, in which an ink reservoir thereof is filled with a water based ink having so-called thixotropy, which is a characteristic which lowers the viscosity of ink as the tip ball rolls, allowing outflow of ink, or a low-viscosity oil based ink and which are configured so that their writing tips can selectively move in and out through the front end opening of a mouthpiece of the barrel cylinder, and is constructed such that at least the front part of the barrel cylinder is formed of a transparent resin molding and the mouthpiece which is opaque and tapered toward the front end is attached to the front of the barrel cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6213665
    Abstract: A hand held dosing and dispensing device for the pretreatment of fabrics is provided. The dosing and dispensing device has a hollow container for storing a liquid. The hollow container has at least one container wall and an inlet. The inlet includes an opening and an inlet wall which extends into the hollow container from the container wall of the hollow container. The inlet wall substantially encircles the opening of the inlet to prevent liquid discharge through the inlet during pretreatment of a fabric. A discharge is attached to the hollow container for dispensing the liquid therethrough for the pretreatment of fabrics. In addition, the opening can include a plurality of flexible and resilient tabs extending radially toward the center of the opening. The tabs are adapted to engage at least a portion of a bottle to secure the dosing and dispensing device to the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Christophe Nicolas Degoix, Terence Graham Curtis
  • Patent number: 6190077
    Abstract: An applicator for applying liquid media has an applicator head (10) attached to a stem (1). The applicator head (10) includes a spherical applicator freely rotatable on an axle (6) which extends at right angles to the stem (1) that is of a length that an operator can hold the stem (1), and rest the surface of the applicator (10) on the ground. The applicator (10) has a porous resilient envelope (11) which surrounds a sleeve (7) located on the axle (6), a reservoir in the stem (1) charges the porous envelope (11) with liquid media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Green Management Limited
    Inventors: Richard John Newson, Rex Warren Moore, John Philip Fahey
  • Patent number: 6168336
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen in which ink is freely received in the shaft of the ballpoint pen or is received in a cartridge includes a supply wick, a compensating body and a writing tip with a ball, wherein the ball is fastened and rotatably mounted in a tube, and wherein the tube has a continuous ink duct. The ink duct of the ballpoint pen is constructed as a free throughbore and does not have any additional core bodies or ink conductors, and the supply wick extends axially completely through the compensating body in the area of the compensating chambers formed in the compensating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: J. S. Staedtler GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Horst Thost, Horst Kolb
  • Patent number: 6161977
    Abstract: A point assembly has a multiple number of channels on its inside for establishing commutation of ink to the pen point, and the extradius of these channels is set approximately equal to or greater than the radius of the ball. Further, the point assembly has a sealing face having a curvature R which is approximately equal to that of the ball, and has a ball seat, on the rear side of the ball, having a curvature R being approximately equal to that of the ball. The surface roughness of these elements is set 5 .mu.m or below. Further, this point assembly can be formed in an open V-shaped tapered configuration. Alternatively, the point assembly can be configured in combination with a spring provided therein which continuously urges the ball forwards or in combiation with an anti-backward leakage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6155736
    Abstract: A device for dispensing particulate material includes a dispenser housing having an interior divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, a roller member rotatably mounted at least partially within the upper portion of the dispenser housing interior and structure for supporting the particulate material spaced below the roller member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Evans Enterprises
    Inventors: Jonathan Taylor Evans, Barbara Reid Evans
  • Patent number: 6149335
    Abstract: A seal that attaches to a pen cap, a sealable pen refill system and a method of using the same are provided. The seal fits over an end of the pen refill cap. The pen refill cap and the seal then fit over a tip of the pen refill compartment acting as a seal to elements such as air and moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Paul A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6132126
    Abstract: A ball-applicator device for applying a cosmetic substance to the skin of a user, has a squeeze container in the form of an upright bottle which is molded of resilient plastic substance. The bottle or container has a relatively broad bottom surface by means of which it can be placed upright on a supporting surface, and has a tubular side wall construction which is adapted to be gripped by and held in the hand for manipulation and squeezing. The side wall construction can have generally the configuration of a pistol grip of mostly cylindrical cross section, being circular at its top. An externally threaded applicator head is disposed on the circular top of the side wall construction of the bottle. The applicator head has a reduced-diameter rim portion constituting an inwardly facing socket, in which a ball applicator member is held captive and exposed to the exterior for engagement with the skin of the user for the purpose of transferring cosmetic substance thereto from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Charles Chang
    Inventors: Robert J. Sheffler, Charles Chang
  • Patent number: 6095708
    Abstract: A new refillable deodorant dispenser for reducing costs associated with deodorants and antiperspirants. The inventive device includes a generally cylindrical container that holds liquid deodorant therein and has an open upper end and a lower end. A roller ball is rotatably disposed in the container and protrudes from the upper end of the container. A cap portion has a closed upper end and an open lower end. The lower end of the cap portion is removably coupled to the upper end of the container. In one embodiment, the container has a collar portion that is removably coupled to a body portion. The roller ball is rotatably disposed in the collar portion. In another embodiment, a bottom lid is removably coupled to an open lower end of the container. In a third embodiment, the deodorant is a solid stick with a threaded channel in it disposed on a base portion with a threaded aperture extending through it. A lower cap portion is removably coupled to a lower end of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Gary V. Butaud
  • Patent number: 6086445
    Abstract: The invention provides exemplary writing devices and methods for their use. The writing devices comprise a plurality of segments which are removably coupled to each other. At least some of the segments include a writing mechanism. In this way, the segments may be coupled together in a wide variety of arrangements, with at least one of the writing mechanisms being available for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Tangle, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Zawitz
  • Patent number: 6082920
    Abstract: A ball-point pen having a point assembly, in which the inside and outside diameters of a press formed portion (3) for preventing a ball (1) from slipping out, a sealing face (8), the projected amount of the ball, the diameter of a ball seat (16), the longitudinal backlash and the like are formed in optimized dimensions, sealing face (8) is configured so as to have a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of ball (1), and ball seat (16) having a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of ball (1) is formed in the rear of ball (1), while a multiple number of channels (4) for leading ink (13) to the pen point are provided inside the point assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6076987
    Abstract: The present invention provides the ballpoint pen that precludes the possibility of the pipe portion bending at the joint thereof can be provided even if the outer diameter D is small. In the ballpoint pen having a ballpoint pen tip at a front end thereof, the ballpoint pen tip rotatably accommodating a ball at a front end of a pipe made of metal, an outwardly projecting pipe portion having a uniform thickness throughout the length thereof is arranged at a front end of the ballpoint pen tip, and if a length of the pipe portion is L, an outer diameter of the pipe portion is D, a relational expression "L/D.ltoreq.4.0" is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekine, Takehiko Yokosuka, Masashi Andoh, Yoshiaki Okawara
  • Patent number: 6075070
    Abstract: A marking instrument includes a non-erasable ink including a colorant and a solvent having a water content of about 0-15% by weight and a viscosity of about 15 to 4,500 cps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Nan-Jae Lin, Andrew R. Klassman, Roy Nicoll, Charles Christopher Packham, Vliet Hulse, John Thompson
  • Patent number: 6065892
    Abstract: A retractable marking device is provided having a casing in which a coil is tightly wound from which the marking device may be extended for use thereof. A housing may further be provided such that the casing is placed within the housing and the housing is attached to a device on which the marking device is most commonly implemented. The marking device may be a pen, pencil or other writing instrument or may also be, for example, a blunt-ended instrument for use as a pointing-type device. The tightly wound coil maintains the marking device in a retracted position so that the marking device is readily available for use. In addition, the marking device is replaceable with a substitute marking device or replaceable following depletion of, for example, ink contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Eversharp Pen Co
    Inventor: Paul A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6062759
    Abstract: A writing instrument having an elongated barrel comprised of an outer portion and an inner portion, rotatable relative one to the other. The point or writing tip is fixed to the barrel inner portion, disposed at an angle to, and may be offset from, the centerline of the barrel outer portion. The barrel inner portion is caused to rotate and move axially relative to the barrel outer portion by pressure on the writing instrument, or weights attached to the barrel inner portion, to bring the point into desired alignment during the writing process. Further pressure on the point or writing tip causes the barrel inner portion to move to a rearwardmost position at which rotation of the point or writing tip is impeded by a gripping structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: William P. Dowst, Edward J. Mangan, Roy Nicoll
  • Patent number: 6062758
    Abstract: An ink writing implement having a writing tip, an ink reservoir and a housing component enclosing the ink reservoir, includes a molded, ink delivery unit having a plurality of disc-shaped walls, a plurality of ring-shaped pressure compensation chambers, a flat area, an ink feed channel formed by the flat area, and a parting plane extending through the flat area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Rotring International GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Petra Maurer, Bernd Bastiansen
  • Patent number: 6056463
    Abstract: There are provided an aqueous ballpoint pen refill which can produce tasteful writings or drawings with a plurality of colors and which gives an attractive impression, since the inks in the ink reservoir constitute an interesting pattern and also a process for producing the same. A plurality of aqueous inks Ia and Ib with different colors are charged into an ink reservoir having a point tip at the front end to form a vertical or horizontal layered structure or a spiral structure; the aqueous inks containing pigments as coloring agents respectively and each having a viscosity of 45 mPa.multidot.S or more; the specific gravity difference of the inks being not more than 0.05. Injection needles connected respectively to front ends of a plurality of ink tanks are inserted to the transparent ink reservoir, and the plurality of inks with different colors are injected while the injection needles are drawn out of the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: The Sailor Pen Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Akane Nishio, Koji Matsuo, Shinko Mukoda, Koichi Murakawa
  • Patent number: 6042290
    Abstract: A writing tool provided with a valve construction in which a rotary body embraced in a ball house at the extreme end of a tip is urged forward by means of a coiled spring inserted into the tip to be partly projected, in which state the rotary body comes in contact with an inwardly directed extreme end edge to prevent ink or an applying liquid from flowing out, and when in use, the rotary body partly projecting from the extreme end of the tip presses a paper surface to retreat (immerse) the rotary body against the force of the coiled spring to transfer the ink or the applying liquid onto the paper, wherein the coiled spring is formed to be shorter than the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Zebra Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishikawa, Matsuhei Toyama, Morio Akiyama
  • Patent number: 6039493
    Abstract: A ball point pen has a hollow nib member (2) attached to the end of a cylindrical body (1) enclosing a ink reservoir (3), the forward end of the nib member being spaced from the axis (B) of the body and having a tip element (4) welded thereto so that the writing ball (6) incorporated in the tip is located on the same side of the axis (B) as the forward end of the nib member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Mark Arthur Seddon, Clive Barnes
  • Patent number: 6010264
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying various topical solutions, the ends of which are able to either spray, roll or sponge on (or a combination of the aforementioned) various topical solutions applied to a living body. The sprayer enables the user to spray on various liquid products. The roller ball enables the user to apply topical solutions with a massage effect. The sponge or sponges enable the user to apply a wide range of solutions while achieving a cleansing effect. The present invention greatly improves upon the functionality and appearance of the product known as Reach-It of DES 285,172 and utility U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,106.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Tom Freeman
    Inventors: Richard Scuderi, Thomas J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 5993098
    Abstract: Provided is an aqueous gel ink-filled ball point pen having less blobbing and capable of drawing stable lines having vivid color and no uneven written intensity. The aqueous gel ink-filled ball point pen has a ball of a diameter of 0.3 to 2.0 mm at a tip point with an aqueous gel ink having a viscosity ratio (a value of (viscosity at 10 rpm)/(viscosity at 50 rpm) measured by means of an E type rotational viscometer) of 1.1 to 4.0 and controlled an ink lay down value according to JIS Standard S6053 to 50 to 200 mg/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Osada
  • Patent number: 5988921
    Abstract: A pen for left handed persons includes a writing tip having a cone including a bend proximate the socket for the ballpoint to form an angle in the cone. The pen resembles a standard tubular shaped body into which a tubular shaped ink cartridge, connected to the writing tip, is removably inserted. The tip protrudes from one end of the body but is dimensioned so that it does not interfere with placement of a standard pen cap thereon. The tip of the pen includes a tubular shank adapted to fit into an integral sleeve located at the writing end of the body. A second embodiment bends the body of the pen to achieve the desired angle, enabling the use of a standard removable pen tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Michael S. Medhin
  • Patent number: 5984559
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen refill which can be applied to a retractable ballpoint pen is provided. An ink 2 endowed with a thixotropic property and an ink follower 3 at the rear of this ink are contained within an ink tube 1 comprising a tip holder member 9 and an ink member 10. A ball 6 is held in a front end aperture 9a thereof. A ballpoint pen tip 4 having an inner reshaped surface 4f of a front end rim 4b that is formed into a spherical surface in the shape of the ball is fitted therein. A coil spring 7 that always presses the ball onto the inner reshaped surface is provided with a movable member 8 between the spring and ball. A stopper 5 provided with a ventilation means is fitted into a rear end of the ink tube. A partition portion 9g having an ink-flow passageway for restricting the amount of ink that flows and a rear end surface 9c is formed in an engagement portion 9d of the tip holder member 9 that is fitted in the ink member 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot
    Inventors: Toshikazu Shiobara, Kazuhiko Sasaki, Teruaki Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 5961239
    Abstract: In a barrel cylinder for a writing instrument, a writing element support hole portion or support projection is formed in a deep portion of a distal end port of the barrel cylinder where a writing element extends, the writing element support hole portion or support projection having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the writing element, and an enlarged port portion having an inner diameter larger than the writing element support hole portion or support projection and a gate mark appearing at a location of an inner surface thereof is formed at an inlet port portion of the distal end port of the barrel cylinder which is on the outer side of the writing element support hole portion or support projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Nishioka, Takeshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5951188
    Abstract: A pen containing an emulsion ink is provided. The emulsion ink is formed by mixing an ink precursor and processing the ink precursor in a homogenizer to form an emulsion ink. The ink precursor includes a pigment, water, a film forming polymer, an oil and, preferably, a pH dependent thickener and a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Rachel M. Loftin
  • Patent number: 5938362
    Abstract: In a writing implement for ink, having a nib and having a shaft (3) a lamination system for holding or emitting ink is arranged, which lamination system has an ink feed channel (18) which runs in a longitudinally extending lamination carrier (10). Protruding from the lamination carrier (10) is a group of transversely arranged and mutually spaced laminations (24), between which laminations (24) there is a capillary gap (20) between the side of the lamination carrier (10) having the open side of the ink feed channel (18) and the inner wall (22) of the shaft (3). In a first region (34) which is located in the region of the open side of the ink feed channel (18), the laminations (24) each extend up to the inner wall (22) of the shaft (3). In a second region (36), which faces away from the first region (34) and extends over at least 80% of the circumference of the laminations (24), a distance, which prevents a capillary effect, from the inner wall (22) of the shaft (3), is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Rotring International GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernd Bastiansen