1. Technical Field
This application discloses writing implements such as ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils, having a body made of recycled newspaper, and methods of making the body out of recycled newspaper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Creation of useful articles from recycled materials is desirable because it helps reduce pollution and waste. Also, reusing newspaper helps reduce the amount of trees that are cut down.
Writing instruments made from recycled materials are known, such as pencils and pens invented by the current applicant, including the pens and pencils described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,217,242 and 7,524,123, incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
However, neither applicant's prior patent application, nor the prior art, described the methods described herein for making a body of a writing instrument out of recycled newspaper.
Technical difficulties, such as how to create an elongated, hollow barrel or tube out of recycled newspaper of sufficient hardness for a writing instrument prevented the quick, efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of pens and mechanical pencils with a recycled newspaper barrel or tube.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.
The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.
A method of making a writing instrument body is provided where the writing instrument's body is made of recycled newspaper. In embodiments, the method includes one or more of the following:
(a) Securing an elongated cylinder between two rolling wheels. In embodiments, the elongated cylinder is made of a material, or has an outer surface coating of a material, that has non-stick or slick properties that substantially resists sticking to, for example, newspaper or the newspaper and binding agent that dries on the surface of the elongated cylinder. In an embodiment, the elongated cylinder is a hollow Teflon rod or is a hollow rod with a Teflon coating. In embodiments, at least one of the rolling wheels is coupled to a motor, such by a belt system secured to at least one of the wheels, such that the wheel rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, thereby also rotating the cylinder between the two rolling wheels.
(b) Securing a leading edge of a sheet of recycled newspaper to the cylinder. In embodiments, the leading edge of the newspaper is tacked to the cylinder on either end of the leading edge of the newspaper with securing pins. In embodiments, the securing pins have a non-stick surface or material on an outer surface of the securing pins that substantially resists sticking to, for example, newspaper or the newspaper and binding agent that dries on the surface of the elongated cylinder. In an embodiment, the securing pins are made from a Teflon material or have a Teflon coating.
(c) Rolling the cylinder in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion with one or more of the rolling wheels so that the newspaper sheet rolls up onto itself forming a roll of newspaper on the cylinder.
(d) Applying a binding agent to a surface of the newspaper as it rolls onto the cylinder. In embodiments, the binding agent can be binding paste, wallpaper paste, liquid bond glue, or a spray-on binding agent.
(e) Forming a barrel or tube from the newspaper and binding agent combination, where the barrel or tube forms along the cylinder as the newspaper with binding agent continues to roll up on the cylinder.
(f) Continuing to roll newspaper and binding agent on the cylinder until it forms a newspaper barrel of a desired thickness. In embodiments, a desired thickness of the newspaper barrel is about 10 millimeters in diameter.
(g) Removing the cylinder from the rolling wheels with the newspaper barrel on the cylinder once the newspaper barrel reaches the desired thickness.
(h) Placing the cylinder with the newspaper barrel on it into a heating apparatus, such as an oven, and heating the newspaper barrel until it is of a desired hardness. In embodiments, the newspaper barrel is heated until the binding agent substantially dries, which typically is when the newspaper barrel is of a sufficient hardness. In embodiments, opposing free ends of the cylinder are placed on hooks or portions of a rack, or the entire cylinder is placed on a rack, where the newspaper barrel dries while on the cylinder. In embodiments, the newspaper barrel dries in the oven for approximately four hours with the oven set at a temperature of approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit, plus/minus 20 degrees.
(i) Removing the cylinder from the oven and removing the newspaper barrel from the cylinder. In an embodiment, because the cylinder has an outer surface with a non-stick or a slick material that substantially does not stick to newspaper or the newspaper barrel. For example in one embodiment the cylinder is made of Teflon or has an outer surface coating of Teflon. It is therefore relatively easy to remove the dried newspaper barrel from the cylinder.
(j) Cutting opposing ends of the newspaper barrel so that each end of the newspaper barrel has a finished cut. In embodiments, the finished cut newspaper barrel is approximately 160 millimeters long.
(k) In embodiments, writing implement elements are attached to the newspaper barrel. For example, an ink container and writing tip may be secured to a first end of the newspaper barrel such that the ink container extends within the newspaper barrel and the writing tip extends outside the newspaper barrel. In other embodiments, writing elements for a felt tip pen, ball point pen, or mechanical pencil are secured to the newspaper barrel using known techniques for forming a writing device with a barrel or tube.
(l) In embodiments, one or more decorative elements is applied to the to the newspaper barrel. For example, the newspaper barrel may be painted, decorated, stamped, shaped, embossed, or scented. Also, an adhesive label or banner may be wrapped around or placed on the barrel.
(m) In embodiments, a bottom plug is placed in a second end of the newspaper barrel, i.e., the end opposite where a writing tip extends outside the newspaper barrel, and a top cap is placed on the first end over the writing tip.
In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the elongated cylinder 82 is a Teflon rod, which in embodiments is a hollow Teflon rod. Use of a Teflon rod as the elongated cylinder 82 facilitates the removal of the newspaper barrel 80 from the Teflon rod due to the smoothness and slick properties of Teflon. In other embodiments, other natural and synthetic materials may be used for or to coat the elongated cylinder 82, which may be picked in consideration of the properties needed for rolling a newspaper barrel 80 around the elongated cylinder 82, heating the elongated cylinder 82 and newspaper barrel 80 combination in order to dry the newspaper barrel 80, and removing the elongated cylinder 82 from the middle hollow portion of the newspaper barrel 80. In embodiments, a variety of non-stick coatings, non-stick materials, or stick resistant or slick materials may be used on the cylinder 82 or be part of the materials comprising the outer surface of the cylinder 82. For example, in embodiments, the elongated cylinder 82 is either made out of or has an outer surface coating of a material that substantially does not stick to newspaper, the newspaper barrel 80, or the newspaper and binding agent combination. In an embodiment, that non-stick coating or non-stick material is Teflon.
In embodiments, the cylinder 82 is approximately 5 millimeters in diameter and 160 millimeters in length. The size of the cylinder may vary depending on the size (including length and width) of the barrel 80 that is desired. For example, if a barrel 80 is desired to be approximately 130 millimeters long with an interior hollow portion of approximately 5 millimeters, (corresponding to a total outer barrel 80 diameter of approximately 10 millimeters) then the cylinder can be approximately 5 millimeters in diameter and 160 millimeters in length. The diameter of the cylinder 82 will roughly correspond to the diameter of the inner hollow interior of the barrel 80 because in embodiments the barrel 80 is formed by wrapping the newspaper sheets 88 around the cylinder 82. The length of the cylinder 82 should be longer than the length of the barrel 80 so that the cylinder 82 may be coupled to the rolling wheels 84 on either end of the cylinder 82 without interfering with the wrapping of the newspaper sheets 88 around the cylinder 82. Also, the cylinder 82 should have its outer ends free of newspaper sheets 82 so that the ends of the cylinder 82 may rest on a drying rack when the barrel 80 is drying.
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
After the leading edge 98 of the newspaper 88 is secured lengthwise to the elongated cylinder 82, the cylinder 82 is rotated about its longitudinal axis X-X in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion with one or more of the rolling wheels 84 so that the newspaper sheet 88 rolls up onto itself forming a newspaper barrel 80 on the cylinder 82.
As the cylinder 82 is rotated about its longitudinal axis X-X in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion, a binding agent 90 is applied to a surface 100 of the newspaper 88 as it rolls onto the cylinder 82. In embodiments, the binding agent 90 is sprayed onto the newspaper 88 by a spraying apparatus 102. The binding agent 90 can be any assortment of materials or substances, such as binding paste, wallpaper paste, and liquid bond glue. The material or substance chosen to be the binding agent 90 preferably comes in a liquid or semi-liquid form with relatively weak binding properties. The binding agent 90 is used to bind adjoining surfaces of the newspaper 88 as it rolls onto itself and eventually the binding agent 90 is dried so that it hardens the rolled up newspaper 88 forming the newspaper barrel 80.
As shown in
In embodiments, a desired thickness of the newspaper barrel 80 is about 10 millimeters in diameter, with an inner hollow interior of approximately 5 millimeters and a thickness of the barrel 80 being approximately 2½ millimeters. In these embodiments, the total diameter of the barrel 80 is approximately four times the thickness of the barrel 80. Other thicknesses and dimensions of the barrel 80 are appropriate depending on the type of writing instrument being made with the barrel 80. For example, a large marker may use a larger or longer barrel 80 and a fine point pen may use a smaller or shorter barrel 80. The described methods may be used for any desired thickness, diameter or length of the barrel 80. The cylinder 82 would have to be adjusted to accommodate the desired thickness of the barrel 80 and the diameter of the barrel may be controlled by the diameter of the cylinder 82 and the amount of newspaper 88 wrapper around the cylinder 82.
After the newspaper barrel 80 has reached a desired thickness, the cylinder 82 with the newspaper barrel 80 on it is removed from the rolling wheels 84. When the cylinder 82 is removed from the rolling wheels 84, the securing pins 96 are also removed and no longer hold the newspaper sheet 88 to the cylinder 82 because the securing pins 96 are attached to the rolling wheels 84.
Referring to
In embodiments, the newspaper barrel 80 is heated until the binding agent 90 substantially dries. Typically, the newspaper barrel 80 is initially placed in the heating apparatus 102 soon after the newspaper barrel 80 had been rolled on the cylinder 82, so the binding agent 90 is still substantially wet. As the newspaper barrel 80 dries within the heating apparatus 102, the binding agent 90 also dries, thereby hardening the newspaper sheets and binding agent combination, causing the newspaper to bind to itself, and creating a hardened newspaper barrel 80. In embodiments, the newspaper barrel 80 reaches a desired hardness after drying in the heating apparatus 102 for approximately four hours with the heating apparatus 102 set at a temperature of approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit, plus/minus 20 degrees. Temperatures and drying time may vary depending on the materials of the barrel 80 and cylinder 82 and binding agent 90 used. The heating apparatus 102 and rack 104 may also effect the temperature and drying time required to create a barrel 80 of sufficient hardness for use as the body of a writing implement. In embodiments, sufficient hardness is reached once the binding agent 90 is substantially dried. In embodiments, the goal is to dry the newspaper barrel 80 so that it reaches a hardness sufficient to be used as a barrel for a writing implement like a pen or mechanical pencil. After the newspaper barrel 80 is sufficiently dried and hardened, the cylinder 82 with the newspaper barrel 80 on it is removed from the oven 102.
Referring to
Referring to
After the dried newspaper barrel 80 has received its finished cuts, the barrel 80 is ready to be used as part of a writing implement. For example, the newspaper barrel 80 may be used in the writing implements described in reference to
In general, with reference to
In embodiments, one or more decorative elements is applied to the newspaper barrel 80. For example, the newspaper barrel may be painted, lacquered, decorated, stamped, shaped, embossed, or scented. Also, an adhesive label or banner may be wrapped around or placed on the barrel 80. In order to provide a fragrance to the mechanical writing implement, as further described below, barrel 80 can be impregnated or coated with an aroma, scent or fragrance. Barrel 80 is preferably made of recycled newspaper that is absorbent for impregnating with fragrance. The barrel 80 can be submerged into a bath of liquid fragrance such as strawberry, coffee, honey-nut, etc. and allowed to soak for approximately 30 minutes. Alternatively, the barrel 80 can be painted with fragrance. Due to the absorbency of the newspaper of the barrel 80, it absorbs the liquid fragrance through its interior and exterior surfaces. The barrel 80 is then allowed to dry for up to approximately 30 minutes, and the writing implement mechanisms are attached as described above. Other decorative elements may also be added to the barrel 80, such as paint, stickers, other decorative features, or labels such as a trademark or logo.
With reference to
With reference to
Secured to one end of the newspaper barrel 15 is a conical nose piece 18. The nose piece 18 is co-axially secured to the newspaper barrel 15 by gluing to the end 24 of the newspaper barrel 15 or press-fitting a circular rim 21 (
While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, including but not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,217,242 and 7,524,123 are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.
These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.