Patent Application
20200101786
The present disclosure relates to writing instruments, and, more specifically, to dry-erase markers (e.g., whiteboard markers).
Whiteboards are surfaces for temporary writing and dry erasing of markings made by whiteboard markers. Whiteboards can also be referred to as marker boards, dry-erase boards, wipe boards, dry-wipe boards, pen-boards, and/or grease boards. Dry-erase markers are configured to deposit non-permanent ink on whiteboards. The non-permanent ink requires correct properties (e.g., viscosity, chemical reactivity, etc.) to adhere to the whiteboard while not permanently binding to, or being absorbed by, the whiteboard.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a dry-erase marker comprising a cylindrical housing configured to store an ink, a conic housing coupled to the cylindrical housing on a first end and having a socket on a second end, and a spherical marker head contained in the socket of the conic housing. The spherical marker head comprising a polymeric material. The spherical marker head further comprising a plurality of circular depressions distributed about a surface of the spherical marker head. The conic housing being configured to transfer the ink from the cylindrical housing to the spherical marker head, and the spherical marker head being configured to transfer the ink to a dry-erase board by rotating in the socket.
Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a dry-erase marker comprising a cylindrical housing configured to store an ink, a conic housing coupled to the cylindrical housing on a first end and having a socket on a second end, and a spherical marker head contained in the socket of the conic housing. The spherical marker head comprising a polymeric material. The spherical marker head further comprising a plurality of microfibers distributed about a surface of the spherical marker head. The conic housing being configured to transfer the ink from the cylindrical housing to the spherical marker head, and the spherical marker head being configured to transfer the ink to a dry-erase board by rotating in the socket.
Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a dry-erase marker comprising a cylindrical housing configured to store an ink, a conic housing coupled to the cylindrical housing on a first end and having a socket on a second end, and a spherical marker head contained in the socket of the conic housing. The spherical marker head comprising a polymeric material. The spherical marker head further comprising a plurality of continuous grooves distributed about a surface of the spherical marker head. The conic housing being configured to transfer the ink from the cylindrical housing to the spherical marker head, and the spherical marker head being configured to transfer the ink to a dry-erase board by rotating in the socket.
The present Summary is not intended to illustrate each aspect of, every implementation of, and/or every embodiment of the present disclosure.
The drawings included in the present application are incorporated into, and form part of, the specification. They illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, along with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. The drawings are only illustrative of certain embodiments and do not limit the disclosure.
While the present disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward writing instruments, and, more specifically, to dry-erase markers (e.g., whiteboard markers). Although the below discussion focuses on dry-erase markers, aspects of the present disclosure are also applicable to other writing instruments such as, but not limited to, pens, permanent markers, semi-permanent markers, paint markers, or other writing instruments configured to deposit a liquid ink or paint on a writing medium.
Whiteboards are useful in planning, teaching, brainstorming, and organizing in educational, business, sports, personal, and other settings. Some whiteboards contain a melamine-infused paper attached to a backing board (e.g., particle board, medium density fiberboard (MDF), etc.). Some whiteboards comprise painted steel panels, aluminum panels, or porcelain steel panels. The paint can include a colored base coat and a clear performance coating that can be applied and air cured, electron-beam cured, ultra-violet (UV) cured, chemically cured, heat cured, or cured by a different mechanism. Advantageously, magnets can be used on whiteboards having a steel backing panel. Some whiteboards use tempered glass with a colored backing. Some whiteboards use polypropylene (PP) film or another polymeric film having appropriate surface characteristics for dry-erasing.
Dry-erase markers (also referred to as whiteboard markers herein) can be used on whiteboards for making temporary markings. Dry-erase markers can include dyes, pigments, and/or additives mixed with a solvent or other liquid media to produce an ink.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward an improved dry-erase marker. First, some embodiments of the present disclosure result in a dry-erase marker able to write at various angles because of the customized surface topology of the marker head (e.g., depressions, microfibers, grooves, etc.) and/or the pressurized ink reservoir. Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure result in a dry-erase marker with improved usability.
Second, some embodiments of the present disclosure result in a dry-erase marker depositing a more consistent layer of ink because of the customized surface topology of the marker head (e.g., depressions, microfibers, and/or grooves). Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure result in a dry-erase marker that consistently transfers ink from the dry-erase marker to a whiteboard, resulting in improved markings made by the dry-erase marker.
Third, some embodiments of the present disclosure result in a dry-erase marker producing improved marking characteristics as a result of customized characteristics of the ink (e.g., shear-thickening, shear-thinning, and/or other non-Newtonian characteristics) together with the customized surface topology of the marker head. For example, some embodiments of the present disclosure can use a shear-thinning (e.g., dilatant) ink stored in the reservoir. A dilatant ink may be in a gel-like form while stored in the reservoir (e.g., because of low-shear stress applied to the ink in the reservoir), while the dilatant ink may subsequently thin into a liquid form appropriate for depositing on a whiteboard surface when a shear-stress is applied to the dilatant ink. Advantageously, the marker head can apply shear stress to the dilatant ink as a result of rotating (e.g., the interface between the rotating marker head and the ink reservoir) and/or as a result of the customized surface topology of the marker head.
The aforementioned advantages are example advantages, and embodiments of the present disclosure exist that can contain all, some, or none of the aforementioned advantages while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Referring now to the Figures,
For example, the socket 106 can include a spherical depression on an upper portion of socket 106 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the marker head 108 and configured to receive the marker head 108 in the spherical depression of the socket 106. In such embodiments, the socket 106 can also include a cylindrical lip on a lower portion of socket 106 and having a diameter less than the diameter of the marker head 108 and configured to hold the marker head 108 in the socket 106. In some embodiments, the height of socket 106 is greater than a radius of marker head 108 such that the socket 106 encompasses a majority of the marker head 108. In these embodiments, the portion of marker head 108 extending past the socket 106 can have a height less than the radius of the marker head 108.
In some embodiments, socket 106 can be made of a material more flexible than marker head 108 so that marker head 108 can be press-fit into socket 106. In some embodiments, socket 106 can be fabricated by additive manufacturing (e.g., three-dimensional printing) around an already existing marker head 108. In some embodiments, the socket 106 includes magnetized elements with controlled polarity that assist in keeping marker head 108 in socket 106.
In some embodiments, dry-erase marker 100 includes a plunger 110 configured to pressurize ink in the reservoir 114. Plunger 110 can include a gravity-based mechanism, a ratchet-based mechanism, or a different mechanism capable of adequately pressurizing the reservoir 114.
In embodiments including a gravity-based mechanism, the plunger 110 can be fabricated from a material of appropriate density to sufficiently pressurize the reservoir 114 as a result of the weight of plunger 110. In such embodiments, plunger 110 can be made from a metal or an alloy of two or more metals such as, but not limited to, steel, tungsten, carbide, nickel, copper, iron, etc. In some embodiments, the plunger 110 can be fabricated from a composite having a polymeric matrix material (e.g., a thermoplastic) and a dense particulate reinforcement material (e.g., a metal) capable of increasing the weight of the plunger 110 at a reduced cost relative to an all-metal plunger 110. In some embodiments, plunger 110 and the reservoir 114 of the cylindrical housing 102 and conic housing 104 are coated with an inert material configured to reduce reactivity between the ink stored in reservoir 114 and any of the components contacting the ink.
In embodiments where plunger 110 uses a ratchet-based technique to pressurize the reservoir 114, the plunger 110 can be associated with buttons, springs, clamps, and/or chucks capable of converting a temporary force (e.g., a user pushing a button on the dry-erase marker 100) into a permanent translation of plunger 110 toward the marker head 108.
Although not explicitly shown, plunger 110 can include a seal capable of isolating the ink in reservoir 114 from the atmosphere. The seal can be, but is not limited to, a mechanical gasket (e.g., an o-ring, a packing, a toric joint, etc.) stretch-fit into a groove in the plunger 110 (not shown) or over-molded onto the plunger 110 as a part of fabrication.
Although not explicitly shown, plunger 110 can also include a weep hole (e.g., a small-diameter hole extending through the thickness of the plunger 110 along a longitudinal axis 112) for evacuating air from the reservoir 114 while inserting the plunger 110 into the reservoir 114. In embodiments including a weep hole, the weep hole can be temporarily or permanently sealed after inserting the plunger 110 in to the reservoir 114 of the cylindrical housing 102.
Marker head 108 is configured to receive ink from conic housing 104 and transfer the ink to a whiteboard by rotating in socket 106 while dry-erase marker 100 translates during writing. Marker head 108 includes beneficial materials and surface characteristics discussed in more detail hereinafter with respect to
Although dry-erase marker 100 is shown having symmetrical properties about a longitudinal axis 112, other embodiments include alternative configurations of components of dry-erase marker 100 that are not necessarily symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 112. Furthermore, embodiments exist with alternative geometries (e.g., rectangular) than the primarily cylindrical and/or annular geometries shown.
Interconnections between cylindrical housing 102, conic housing 104, and socket 106 are shown for representative purposes and other similar or dissimilar interconnections are possible. For example, two or more of cylindrical housing 102, conic housing 104, and socket 106 can be interconnected by bonding (e.g., adhesive bonding, over-molding, etc.), by mechanical fastening (e.g., threaded together, push-fit together, mechanically interlocked, etc.), or a different interconnection technique. Furthermore, in some embodiments, two or more of cylindrical housing 102, conic housing 104, and socket 106 can be of unitary construction such that they are fabricated together simultaneously (e.g., by three-dimensional printing, molding, etc.).
The dimensions, angles, orientations, configurations, and other interrelationships shown in
Referring now to
Marker head 200A can be made from one or more polymeric materials (e.g., thermoplastic, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoset, and/or elastomeric materials) as described in further detail hereinafter.
Referring now to
Advantageously, embodiments including magnet 204B can exhibit improved usability when marking on a whiteboard having a steel backing panel because the magnetic marker head 200B can cause the dry-erase marker to be magnetically attracted to the whiteboard with a steel backing panel. In so doing, dry-erase markers having a magnetic marker head 200B can reduce mis-markings and/or improve the consistency of the deposited ink by having a constant force applied to the whiteboard as a result of the magnetic marker head 200B.
Referring now to
Each of the marker heads 200A-200C can include, at least in part, a polymeric material. Polymeric materials can include thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers, thermosets, and elastomers. Any of the polymeric materials can be reinforced by particulate reinforcements, short-fiber reinforcements, and/or long-fiber reinforcements. The reinforcements can include, but are not limited to, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, ceramic fibers, ceramic particulates, metallic fibers, and/or metallic particulates. Some reinforcement geometries can be characterized by an aspect ratio comprising a length of the reinforcement divided by a diameter of the reinforcement. For example, reinforcements can comprise particulates (e.g., aspect ratio less than 20), short fibers (e.g., aspect ratio between 20 and 200), long fibers (e.g., aspect ratio greater than 200), or different geometries. Furthermore, reinforcements can be characterized by a reinforcement volume fraction and/or a reinforcement weight fraction. Reinforcement volume fractions can be in the range of less than 30%, between 10%-70%, between 30%-50%, between 35%-45%, or greater than 60% according to various embodiments. Reinforcement weight fractions can be in the range of less than 30%, between 30%-90%, between 50%-70%, between 55%-65%, or greater than 70%, according to various embodiments.
A non-exhaustive list of thermoplastics includes, but is not limited to, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) (also referred to as acrylic), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamides (e.g., Nylon), polylactic acid (PLA), polybenzimidazole (PBI), polycarbonate (PC), polyether sulfone (PES), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene (PE) (including ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE)), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
A non-exhaustive list of thermoplastic elastomers includes, but is not limited to, styrenic block copolymers (TPS or TPE-s), thermoplastic polyolefinelastomers (TPO, or TPE-o), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV or TPE-v), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), thermoplastic copolyesters (TPC or TPE-E), and thermoplastic polyamides (TPA or TPE-A).
A non-exhaustive list of thermosets includes, but is not limited to, polyesters, polyurethanes, phenolics, melamines, epoxies, benzoxazines, polyimides, bismaleimides, cyanate esters, silicones, and vinyl esters.
A non-exhaustive list of elastomers includes, but is not limited to, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, chloroprene, styrene-butadiene, hydrogenated nitrile rubbers (HBR), ethylene propylene rubbers (EPM), epichlorohydrin rubbers (ECO), silicone rubbers, fluorosilicone rubbers (FVMQ), fluoroelastomers (FKM), perfluoroelastomers (FFKM), polyether block amides (PEBA), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
Each of the marker heads 200A-200C can be fabricated by various methods such as, but not limited to, molding (e.g., compression molding, transfer molding, injection molding, over-molding, insert molding, rotational molding, etc.), additive manufacturing (e.g., three-dimensional printing, layer-by-layer deposition, fused deposition modeling (FDM), fused filament deposition, selective laser sintering, direct metal laser sintering, electron beam melting, stereolithography, and/or photopolymerization), or a different fabrication technique or combination of fabrication techniques.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Dimpled surface topology 300A can include a plurality of depressions 304A on a portion of a surface of a marker head 302A of a dry-erase marker. The plurality of depressions 304A can be spherical, elliptical, conical, cylindrical, square, rectangular, or a different geometry. In some embodiments, the plurality of depressions 304A are associated with a depth 308A less than one millimeter, and, in some embodiments, a depth 308A less than 0.1 millimeters. In some embodiments, the plurality of depressions 304A are associated with a diameter 306A of less than five millimeters, three millimeters, or one millimeter. In some embodiments, the plurality of depressions 304A can be geometrically characterized by a ratio of a diameter 306A of a depression to a depth 308A of a depression. In such cases, the ratio can be greater than a threshold (e.g., two, five, ten, twenty, etc.).
Depressions 304A can be fabricated concurrently with the fabrication of the marker head (e.g., during molding, where the depressions are formed by corresponding protrusions on a mold), or subsequently added. Subsequently added depressions can be formed by machining the depressions, by re-heating (e.g., above a glass transition temperature of the polymeric material) and imprinting the depressions, by impinging the depressions (e.g., sandblasting with a controlled grain size), or a different post-fabrication technique.
Referring now to
Microfiber surface topology 300B can include a plurality of microfibers 310B situated on a portion of a surface of a marker head 302B of a dry-erase marker. The plurality of microfibers 310B can be associated with various lengths, widths, spacings, and materials. For example, in some embodiments, respective microfibers of the plurality of microfibers 310B are less than one millimeter in length and less than 20 micrometers in diameter. In some embodiments, the plurality of microfibers 310B are characterized by an aspect ratio (e.g., length of a microfiber divided by a diameter of the microfiber), where the aspect ratio is greater than 10, greater than 20, or between 10-20. In some embodiments, respective microfibers of the plurality of microfibers 310B are spaced at an interval of less than 0.1 millimeters apart. In some embodiments, the plurality of microfibers 310B are natural fibers (e.g., jute fibers, hemp fibers, etc.), while in other embodiments the plurality of microfibers 310B are synthetic fibers (e.g., nylon fibers, acrylic fibers, olefin fibers, polyester fibers, aramid fibers, etc.). Microfibers 310B can be fabricated onto a marker head concurrently with molding or subsequently attached (e.g., adhesively bonded) post-molding.
Referring now to
Grooved surface topology 300C can include a plurality of grooves 312C etched into a portion of a surface of a marker head 302C of a dry-erase marker. The plurality of grooves 312C can be continuous grooves and/or discontinuous grooves having variable widths, depths, and/or cross-sectional geometries and arranged in various patterns to transfer ink from a reservoir of a dry-erase marker to a whiteboard at a desired consistency. In some embodiments, the grooves 312C have a depth of less than 0.5 millimeters, less than 0.1 millimeters, or a different dimension. In some embodiments, grooves 312C can have a width of less than 0.5 millimeters, less than 0.1 millimeters, or a different dimension. In some embodiments, a continuous groove of the plurality of grooves 312C can have a diameter less than a diameter of the marker head (e.g., continuous grooves need not be associated with a cross-sectional plane intersecting a center of the marker head).
Although rectangular grooves are illustrated in
Grooves 312C can be fabricated concurrently with molding of the marker head or subsequently etched by, for example, a machining process, a laser etching process, a re-heating (e.g., above a glass transition temperature) and imprinting process, or a different fabrication technique.
Each of the surface topologies 300A-300C illustrated in
Referring now to
In operation 402, the marker head can be fabricated (e.g., marker head 108 of
In operation 404, the marker body can be fabricated (e.g., cylindrical housing 102, conic housing 104, and socket 106 of
In operation 406, the plunger can be fabricated (e.g., plunger 110 of
In operation 408, the marker head, plunger, and marker body can be affixed to one another. The marker head can be affixed to the socket of the marker body by, for example, push-fitting the marker head into the socket. The plunger can be affixed to the marker body by, for example, push-fitting the plunger into the reservoir of the marker body. In some embodiments, prior to affixing the plunger to the marker body, the marker body is filled with an ink. In embodiments where the marker body is filled with ink, the plunger can include a weep hole to allow air to escape from the reservoir during insertion of the plunger into the marker body. The weep hole can subsequently be sealed.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the various embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In the previous detailed description of example embodiments of the various embodiments, reference was made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific example embodiments in which the various embodiments can be practiced. These embodiments were described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, but other embodiments can be used and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes can be made without departing from the scope of the various embodiments. In the previous description, numerous specific details were set forth to provide a thorough understanding the various embodiments. But, the various embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure embodiments.
Different instances of the word “embodiment” as used within this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but they can. Furthermore, different instances of numbers or numeric ranges discussed herein are provided for the purpose of example, and they are not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is anticipated that alterations and modification thereof will become apparent to the skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.
