MX2007008030A - Colouring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Colouring apparatus comprises a first marker pen (1) having a housing (3) including an absorbent nib (5) containing a liquid or dye of a first colour, and a second marker pen (1) having a housing including (3) an absorbent nib (5) containing a liquid or dye of a second colour. The housings (3) of the marker pens (1) are dimensioned and shaped to engage opposing end portions of a tubular docking member (2) with their absorbent nibs (5) spaced one from the other. Means (14, 15, 16) are provided to enable relative movement to take place between the pens (1) while in position withinthe docking member (2) thereby causing the absorbent nibs (5) selectively to make contact with one another within the docking member (2) and to be released from such contact.

Description

APPARATUS FOR COLORING This invention relates to an apparatus for coloring. More specifically, the invention relates to a coloring apparatus for use with marker pens. Typically, the marking pens comprise a tubular housing having a felt-like fiber tip which is connected, by a liquid-wicking wick, to an internal chamber containing a fluid indicator such as a water-based ink containing a color dye (hereinafter referred to as a "dye" or "color dye" to facilitate understanding). When the marker pen is used, the fiber tip is filled with indicator fluid, which is moved through the wick from the chamber by capillary action to the tip. Such pens are well known and are used, among other things, to mark text and produce color effects on paper or similar materials. Generally, a marker pen is dedicated to producing a single color. If two or more colors are required, the same number of individual pens is usually required. Marker pens having more than one point have been proposed, the purpose of which is to produce two or more lines of color side by side with a stroke of a pen or a single line of a selected color. Such a marker pen is disclosed in O 94/0997, O 01/15912, US-A-5203638, US-A-3887287, UK-A-2277253. Marker pens are also known in the sense that a finer tip can coat a larger tip to allow a single pen to produce lines of different widths. Such pens are described in EP-A-630326, US-A-5813787 and US-A-5651627. The Applicant's previous application, PCT / GB2004 / 000859 discloses a marker pen having a case that includes a fluid absorption tip containing a liquid or dye of a first color, the interior of the case being adapted to receive at least one portion of a marker pen having a fluid absorption tip containing a liquid or dye of a second color, which, when the marker pen is inserted into the open end of the case, makes contact with the tip of the marker to allow the donation of the second color produces a change of color in a single line or the succession of such lines using the same marker pen. An object of the present invention is to provide an alternate apparatus capable of allowing a marking pen to consistently produce a line or succession of lines with a uniform and consistent color change from one color to another color. In a first aspect, an apparatus for transporting a liquid or dye from one marker pen to another is provided, the apparatus comprises a tubular coupling member having an end shaped and sized to engage an end portion including a tip of a first marker pen and the other end shaped and sized to be coupled with an end portion that includes the tip of a second marker pen, the coupling member is of such length that, when the end portions of the first and second member pens are engaged within the respective ends of the coupling member, the tips of the marker pen are separated from each other, and means for allowing a relative movement between the pens while they are in place within the coupling member for First, reduce the distance between the pens and cause the tips of the pen to come in contact, thus allowing the liquid or dye pass between them, and secondly to return the feathers to their initial positions and cause the tips of the pen to be released from contact with each other. The liquid may comprise a clear liquid such as water and the dye may comprise an indicator such as a water-based ink containing colored dyes, disperse pigments or other means for coloring. Alternatively, the color dye may be oil-based. The tips of the marker pen can be produced from a fibrous material, such as felt. Alternately, one or each tip can be produced from a relatively inflexible material; A preferred material is one marketed under the POREX brand. This is a porous fluid that retains the substance that maintains its shape when applied to a surface in the form of a marker on paper, card stock or similar material. However, other materials that have similar physical properties can be used. In a second aspect, the invention provides a coloring apparatus comprising a first marker pen having a housing that includes an absorbent tip containing a liquid or dye of a first color, and a second marker pen having a housing that includes a an absorbent tip containing a liquid or dye of a second color, the housings of the first and second marker pens are sized and shaped to couple opposite end portions of a tubular coupling member with their absorbent tips spaced apart from each other, and to allow a relative movement between the tips while they are in place within the coupling member, thereby causing the absorbent tips to contact one another selectively within the coupling member and to be released from such contact. Preferably, the coupling member has at each open end a cap sized to receive the absorbent tip and an attached end piece of a marker pen with the inner walls of the cap in contact with the outer surfaces of the pen end part. received marker, and a tubular housing positioned between the two caps in which the absorbent tips project when the marker pens are held within the caps, the overall length of the coupling member is such that the absorbent tips are initially separated one from the another within the boundaries of the housing, but are selectively placed in contact with one another through the operation of the support means. In one embodiment, each lid comprises two lid sections separated by a peripheral groove which is situated in a normal plane or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lid, the lid sections are joined by at least one leg located and separated from the margins. of an opening formed in a side wall of the lid, the opening is located in a plane that is generally parallel or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lid, the arrangement is such that the movement of a lid section relative to the connecting cap section has the effect of reducing the height of the cap, thus allowing the marker pen held within that cap to project into the housing by a distance substantially equal to the depth of the peripheral groove.

H.H In a third aspect, the invention provides a prolonged cylindrical extended open end coupling member for receiving marker pens from the coloring apparatus, the coupling member includes at each of its open ends a cover dimensioned to receive the absorbent tip and the part of attached end of a marker pen, and a tubular housing placed between the two covers in which, when used, the absorbent tips are projected when the marker pens are kept inside the covers, each cover comprises two cover sections separated by a slot that is located in a normal plane or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lid and that extends around a main part of the periphery of the lid by which the lid sections are joined to one another by one or more pieces of separate separate covers within the limits of the slot, the arrangement is such that the movement of a cover section c in relation to its attached lid section has the effect of reducing the height of the lid, thus allowing a marker pen held within that lid to project into the housing by a distance substantially equal to the depth of the peripheral groove. The inner walls of the lid are preferably shaped to complement that of the end piece of a received marker pen to prevent or at least inhibit relative rotation between the end piece and the lid during operation of the support means. In this way, the inner walls of the lid can include flat surfaces that complement the flat surfaces formed on the outer walls of the marker end piece. Alternatively, the inner walls of the cap may include longitudinal notches or projections that complement the projections or notches formed respectively within or on the outer walls of the marker end piece. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a marker pen having a generally tubular extended housing having a collar from which an absorbent tip projects, the marker pen collar includes one or more longitudinally extending surfaces that complement similar surfaces found inside the cover sections of the coupling member described in the preceding eight paragraphs. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an assembly coloring apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a marker pen that is part of the coloring apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a coupling member forming part of the coloring apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken through the coupling member illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 5 is an enlarged scale end view of the illustrated coupling member; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the illustrated coupling member and a marker pen about to be assembled. Figure 1 illustrates a coloring apparatus according to the invention, which comprises two marker pens 1 whose ends project into the open ends of a tubular coupling member 2. A marking pen is illustrated in Figure 2. Each marker pen 1 comprises a generally tubular elongated housing 3 having a collar 4 projecting a felt-like fiber absorbent tip 5 connected by a liquid wicking wick (not shown) ) to an internal chamber (not shown) containing a fluid indicator such as a water based ink containing a color dye (hereinafter referred to as a dye or color dye to facilitate understanding). As shown in Figure 2, the collar 4 is formed with flat surfaces 6 that extend along the collar. The tips 5 of marker pens can be produced from a fibrous material, such as felt. Alternatively, one or each tip can be produced from a relatively inflexible material; A preferred material is one marketed under the POREX brand. This is a porous fluid retention substance that maintains its shape when applied to a surface in the form of a marker on paper, card stock or similar material. However, other materials that have similar physical properties can be used. A removable cap 7 is provided to seal the absorbent tip 5 when the pen is not used. As will be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the coupling member 2 comprises a tubular open ended member having end caps 8 spaced apart by a tubular housing 9. The shape and internal dimensions of each end cap 8 complement the shape and dimensions of the collar 4 of the marker pen 1. Thus, the internal dimensions of each cover 8 of the coupling member 2 are slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the collar 4, to allow each collar 4, which is used, to fit relatively securely on the end cap 8 respective. As will be seen from Figure 3, each cover 8 comprises internal and external sections 11, 12 separated respectively by a peripheral groove 14 and joined by four longitudinally projecting legs 15 (of which only one is shown for each cover) placed generally equidistantly around the circumference of the lid. As shown, each slot 14 is located in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the lid. However, this plane can be inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lid. The legs, as illustrated, extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cover, but can be inclined thereto. Also, the shape of each leg may be different from the one illustrated. Each leg 15 is located within an opening 16 extending longitudinally. The dimensions of the slots 14, the openings 16 and the legs are selected to allow the opposite edges of each slot 14 to move towards each other and to engage in the rotation of one lid section relative to the other lid section. The rotation of one lid section relative to the other is allowed by the presence of the slot 14, the opening 16 and the relatively thin legs 15. This rotation effectively reduces the height of the lid. As will be seen more clearly from Figure 4, the assembly of the caps 8 and the tubular housing 9 are located within a tubular case 10. Each cover 8 has an internal tubular side wall formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending internal surfaces 17 (see Figure 5) and an annular floor 15. The marker pens 1 are shown in Figure 4 with their collars 4 and their absorbent tips 5 placed within the caps 8 of the coupling member 2. When placed like this, the flat surfaces 6 of each collar are spliced and mated with the inner flat surfaces 17 of the respective cover 8. This intercoupling avoids the relative rotation between the marker pens 1 and the coupling member 2. The outer edge 21 of each cap acts as a splice surface that engages the end face 19 of each marker 1 to control the degree to which the caps can penetrate the coupling member. As will be seen from Figure 4, in their fixed positions, the tips 5 of the boom extend towards the tubular housing 9, but are spaced apart by a relatively short distance. The tip retention sleeve 22 of each pen projects with the tip of the pen towards the respective open end of the tubular housing. To bring the tips closer to each other, one or both markers 1 are rotated or twisted by hand to a limited degree so as to perform the rotation of the or each cover section 11 relative to the or each section 12 of lid to reduce the effective height of one or each lid and allow the tips to make contact with each other. After a few seconds, the marker or markers are released to cause the cover sections to return to their original positions and the marker tips to separate. The limited movement described between the tips can be achieved by means other than those described. In this way, a slot 14, the legs 15 and the openings 16 can be placed inside the wall of the tubular housing 9 instead of the covers 8. Also, one that each cover can be connected to the tubular housing 9 in such a way that the movement Limited relative of one or each cover relative to the housing in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 9 is possible. In this way, the covers may not be integrated with the housing 9, but are capable of a sliding movement towards and away from the housing. In this arrangement, the required relative movement can be achieved by applying pressure with the finger at the end of one or both marker pens held within the caps. A spring may be provided between the splice ends of each cover 8 and the housing 9 to cause the caps to return to their initial positions once the pressure with the finger is removed.

In the use of the illustrated apparatus, the marker pens 1 containing different dyes are inserted into the open ends of the caps 8 as shown in Figure 6. As described above, in this position the tips of each marking pen 1 it projects towards the tubular housing 9, but they are separated one from the other. One or both caps are then rotated to cause the tips to contact one another for a few seconds and then release to separate the tips. I-Typically, the contact time is about 5 seconds. This contact between the tips allows a transfer of color dye from one tip to the other tip * To help this transfer, it is preferable that the coupling member be held with a marker pen higher than the other. The coupling member 2 acts to channel the dye between the tips and prevent spillage of the color dye towards the exterior of the apparatus. The need to physically twist or twist one or both marker pens to achieve the required contact between the marker tips ensures that a dye transfer only occurs in a relatively short but controlled period of time. Also by careful selection of the dimensions of the slots 4, of the legs 15 and of the openings 16, the contact pressure between the tips can be minimized. In the use of the described apparatus, an effective and consistent color change is made. Once a marker pen that has donated fluid is removed from the coupling member, it can be used to produce a single or a series of lines that initially show a first color (the color donated from the other marker pen) that changes gradually and consistently to show a second color (the original color of that pen). The line between these two extremes gradually changes color as the length of the line or lines progresses. Of course, I know you can make a number of color changes simply by a proper selection of the original and donated colors. In this way, the donated liquid can be, for example, water. In this arrangement, the produced line will essentially comprise a line that is transparent at first, but that changes color gradually as the line progresses. It will be appreciated that the foregoing is only one example of the marker pens according to the invention, and that various modifications to it can easily be made without departing from the actual scope of the disclosed invention. 1

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for transporting a liquid or dye from one marker pen to another, the apparatus comprises a tubular coupling member having an end shaped and sized to be spliced with an end portion including the tip of a first marker pen and the another end shaped and sized to be joined with an end portion that includes the tip of a second marker pen, the coupling member is of such length that, when the end portions of the first and second member pens are butted with the respective ends of the coupling member, the tips of the marker pens are separated from one another, and means to allow a relative movement between the pens while they are in place within the coupling member to first reduce the distance between the pens and cause that the tips of the pen come in contact to allow the liquid or dye to pass between them, and in accordance Place to return the feathers to their initial positions and cause the tips of the pen to be released from contact with each other.
2. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises a transparent liquid.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the dye comprises an indicator, a water-based ink containing a colored dye or a disperse pigment.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tips of the marker pen are produced from a fibrous material.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one or each point is produced from a relatively inflexible material.
6. 6. Coloring apparatus comprising a first marker pen having a housing that includes an absorbent tip containing a liquid or dye of a first color, and a second marker pen having a housing that includes an absorbent tip that contains a liquid or dyeing a second color, the housings of the first and second marker pens are sized and shaped to splice opposite end portions of a tubular coupling member with their absorbent tips spaced apart from one another, and means to allow relative movement between the pens while in place within the coupling member, thereby causing the absorbent tips to selectively contact one another within the coupling member and to be released from such contact.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling member has at each open end a lid sized to receive the absorbent tip and the attached end piece of a marker pen with the inner walls of the lid in contact with the outer surfaces of the end piece of the marker pen received, and a tubular housing positioned between the two caps on which the absorbent tips project when the marker pens are held within the caps, the overall length of the coupling member is such that the absorbent tips initially separate from each other within the boundaries of the housing, but are selectively placed in contact with one another through the operation of the support means.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each lid comprises two lid sections separated by a peripheral groove which is located in a plane normal or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lid, the lid sections are joined by means of less a leg located and separated from the margins of an opening formed in a side wall of the lid, the opening is located in a plane that is generally parallel or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lid, the arrangement is such that the movement of a lid section relative to the attached lid section has the effect of reducing the height of the lid, thus enabling a marker pen held within that cover to project towards the housing by a distance substantially equal to the depth of the peripheral groove.
9. 9. A generally cylindrical extended open end coupling member for receiving marking pens from the coloring apparatus, the coupling member includes at each of its open ends a cover sized to receive the absorbent tip and the attached end piece of a pen marker, and a tubular housing positioned between the two covers in which, when used, the absorbent tips are projected when the marker pens are kept inside the covers, each cover comprises two cover sections separated by a slot that is placed in a plane normal or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lid and extending around a main part of the periphery of the lid by which the lid sections are joined to one another by one or more separate lid pieces separated within the limits of the slot, the arrangement is such that the movement of a cover section relative to its lid section attached It has the effect of reducing the height of the lid, thus allowing a marker pen held within that cap to project into the housing by a distance substantially equal to the depth of the peripheral groove. \
10. 10. A coupling member as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inner walls of the lid are dimensioned to complement that of the end piece of a received marker pen to prevent or at least inhibit relative rotation between the Extreme piece and lid during the operation of the support means.
11. 11. A coupling member as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner walls of the lid includes planar surfaces that complement the flat surfaces formed on the outer walls of the end piece of the marker.
12. 12. A coupling member as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner walls of the cap include longitudinal notches or projections that complement the projections or notches formed respectively within or on the outer walls of the marker end piece.
13. 13. A marking pen having a generally tubular, extended housing having a collar from which an absorbent tip projects, the collar of the marking pen includes one or more longitudinally extending surfaces that complement similar surfaces found within the sections. cover of the coupling member described in the previous eight paragraphs.
14. 14. Apparatus for coloring substantially as described herein and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.