Sandwriter Tool

Abstract

A tool for writing with flowable sand includes a tube of flexible plastic that may be filled with a mixture of sand and water (the consistency, controlled by the user, sufficient to allow the sand to flow, such as when making a drip castle at the beach). A writing tip is attached to one end of the tube, where the user provides sufficient pressure to the tube so that the flowable sand exits through a properly-sized aperture formed in the writing tip. An end cap may be attached to the opposing end of the tube. Either the writing tip or end cap are removable (or both are removable) to allow for re-filling of the tube with flowable sand.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an over-sized, pencil-like toy that may be filled with wet sand and used to “write” a design or message.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During trips to the beach, children (and adults) spend a significant amount of time playing in the sand—making sandcastles, digging holes, and the like. One kind of structure made with the sand is often called a “drip castle”, where a sufficient amount of ocean water is mixed with the sand so that the sand essentially “flows”, and you are able to allow the flowing sand to drip into mounds that represent castles. Using this flowable sand in other ways would be of interest to those spending a day at the shore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an over-sized, pencil-like toy that may be filled with flowable sand and used to “write” a design or message. Referred to hereinafter as a “sandwriter tool”, the apparatus of the present invention includes a tube of a relatively flexible plastic of dimensions appropriate for holding a desired amount of flowable sand (about eight ounces, for example). A writing tip attached to the tube has an aperture of a size sufficient for allowing the flowable sand to exit when a slight pressure from the user is applied to the flexible tube.

In some embodiments, an amount of food coloring may be added to the flowable sand within the tube, changing the color of the flowable sand that exits the writing tip. A set of such sandwriter tools may be used with a number of different food colors to provide for a variety of different colors of flowable sand.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a tool for dispensing flowable sand comprising a tube for filling with flowable sand (the tube having opposing first and second end terminations), an end cap attached to the first end termination of the tube, and a writing tip attaching to the second end termination of the tube. The writing tip is formed to include an aperture of a diameter d sized to permit flowable sand to exit therethrough upon the application of minimal hand pressure to the tube. The tube is preferably formed of a flexible plastic material.

Other and further embodiments and aspects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals represent like parts in several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a sandwriter tool formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a tool formed in accordance with the present invention, in this embodiment used a closed-end tube with a removable writing tip;

FIG. 3 shows a specific configuration of an end cap, formed to include a ring for attaching the end cap to the tube;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative to the embodiment of FIG. 3, particularly configured as a snap-on arrangement;

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another configuration for attaching an end cap to the tube of the inventive sandwriter tool; and

FIG. 6 shows the use of a plurality of sandwriter tools, each filled with a different color of flowable sand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a tool that may be used with “flowable sand” to provide a new type of entertainment for beach-goers. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary sandwriter tool 10 formed in accordance with the present invention. In this particular embodiment, sandwriter tool 10 includes a cylindrical tube 12 of a relatively flexible plastic material and a writing tip 14 coupled to tube 12. In use, tube 12 is filled with flowable sand, and an individual holds tool 10 like a pencil, and “writes” in the sand (or on any other acceptable surface), where the application of (slight) pressure to tube 12 allows for the flowable sand to exit through an aperture 16 formed in tip 14.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, aperture 16 is appropriately sized such that the flowable sand is discharged with only slight pressure applied to tube 12. That is, aperture 16 is not so small (i.e., a diameter d of less than about ⅛″) so that it is difficult to squeeze any flowable sand out of tool 10, or so large (i.e., d greater than ½″) so that the flowable sand leaks out of tool 10 without the application of any pressure. That is, aperture 16 preferably exhibits a diameter within the range of about ⅛″ to ½″. It is to be understood that the parameters associated with aperture 16 are also associated with the actual sand/water mixture (where perhaps more water is needed to be mixed with the sand in order to create a proper “flowable” consistency).

Advantageously, food dye may be added to the flowable sand within tube 12 to create flowable sand of a given color. Indeed, a set of such sandwriter tools may be created where each tool holds flowable sand that is dyed to be a different color. In one case, the food dye may be mixed with the flowable sand prior to adding the sand to tube 12. In embodiments described below where tube 12 has an end cap, the flowable sand may first be poured into tube 12, the color added and the end cap put in place. Shaking the tube will then disperse the color throughout the sand.

The specific embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration where tip 14 is formed as part of (and thus integral with) tube 12. In this embodiment, tube 12 is formed to include a threaded end termination 18, with an end cap 20 similarly threaded to mate with end termination 18 so as to provide an enclosure for tube 12. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, end cap 20 is removable so that the individual may re-fill tube 12 with flowable sand, as needed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this case tube 12 is formed as a “closed-end” tube 12A. A near-end termination 22 of tube 12 is formed to include a plurality of threads 24 in this embodiment. As shown, tip 14 is removable in this embodiment, and includes a threaded termination 26 that mates with threads 24 to affix tip 14 to tube 12A. In this embodiment, therefore, the individual fills tube 12 from this near-end, and places tip 14 in place once tube 12 has been filled with flowable sand.

It is to be understood that in either embodiment the threaded sections may be replaced by a “snap-on” type of fixture that allows for the various piece parts to be joined together in a removable fashion.

FIG. 3 illustrates one particular configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 1, where a ring element 30 is formed as part of end cap 20. Ring portion 32 of element 30 is formed to have a diameter D such that it can be placed over threaded end termination 18 of tube 12, and then pushed down to “lock” in place over a notch 34 formed around the outer periphery of tube 12. A tether portion 36 of ring element 30 is used to attach end cap 20 to ring portion 32. In this configuration, therefore, end cap 20 may be removed from tube 12 without being misplaced or lost. A similar configuration with a ring element 40 may be used with a “snap-on” type of attachment arrangement, as shown in FIG. 4, where ring element 40 includes a ring portion 42 that snaps into place within a notch 44 formed around the outer periphery of tube 12. A tether portion 46 is attached between ring element 40 and end cap 20.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative configuration for attaching end cap 20 to tube 12 for a snap-on cap configuration. In this case, a tether 50 is attached between the outer surface of tube 12 and an outer portion of end cap 20. In particular, a first end termination 52 of tether 50 is affixed to the outer surface of tube 12 and a second, opposing, end termination 54 of tether is affixed to an outer edge location of end cap 20.

FIG. 6 shows the use of a plurality of sandwriter tools 10, each filled with a different color of flowable sand (also showing a number of containers for holding refills of the different-colored flowable sand. It is clear from this illustration that sandwriter tool 10 is able to be used as a common writing implement, allowing for a variety of different shapes, patterns, and the like to be written in the sand (or, in general, “written” on any appropriate surface—a paper towel, a tray, or any other kind of arts & crafts type of table).

It is to be understood that while the above-described embodiments are exemplary of the sandwriter tool of the present invention, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the tool itself may be made of one or more different materials, typically plastics (such as a low density polyethylene (LDPE), that provide the desired degree of flexibility for the tube portion (to allow for the tube to be squeezed), with perhaps a harder plastic (high density polyethylene, HDPE) for the tip and end cap.

Indeed, while presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same, it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A tool for dispensing flowable sand comprising a tube for filling with flowable sand, the tube having opposing first and second end terminations;an end cap attached to the first end termination of the tube; anda writing tip attaching to the second end termination of the tube, wherein the writing tip is formed to include an aperture of a diameter d sized to permit flowable sand to exit therethrough upon the application of minimal hand pressure to the tube.

2. The tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the end cap is permanently affixed to the first end termination of the tube.

3. The tool as defined in claim 2 wherein the writing tip is removably attached to the second end termination of the tube.

4. The tool as defined in claim 3 wherein the writing tip is attached to the second end termination of the tube using a screw-on configuration.

5. The tool as defined in claim 3 wherein the writing tip is attached to the second end termination of the tube using a snap-on configuration.

6. The tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the writing tip is permanently affixed to the second end termination of the tube.

7. The tool as defined in claim 6 wherein the end cap is removably attached to the first end termination of the tube.

8. The toll as defined in claim 7 the end cap is attached to the first end termination of the tube using a screw-on configuration.

9. The tool as defined in claim 6 wherein the end cap is attached to the first end termination of the tube using a snap-on configuration.

10. The tool as defined in claim 6 wherein the end cap further comprises a ring element including a ring portion for fitting over an outer surface of the tube; anda tether disposed between the ring portion and the end cap for maintaining attachment therebetween.

11. The tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the tube comprises a flexible plastic material.

12. The tool as defined in claim 11 wherein the tube comprises a low density polyethylene (LDPE) material.

13. The tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the writing tip comprises a hard plastic material.

14. The tool as defined in claim 13 wherein the writing tip comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE) material.

15. The tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the aperture of the writing tip has a diameter in the range of ⅛″ to ½″.