WO2021096560A1 - See-through highlighter - Google Patents
See-through highlighter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2021096560A1 WO2021096560A1 PCT/US2020/032770 US2020032770W WO2021096560A1 WO 2021096560 A1 WO2021096560 A1 WO 2021096560A1 US 2020032770 W US2020032770 W US 2020032770W WO 2021096560 A1 WO2021096560 A1 WO 2021096560A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- nib
- housing
- ink
- writing instrument
- height
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
- B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
- B43K8/00—Pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls
- B43K8/003—Pen barrels
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
- B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
- B43K7/00—Ball-point pens
- B43K7/005—Pen barrels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
- B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
- B43K7/00—Ball-point pens
- B43K7/10—Arrangements for feeding ink to the ball points
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
- B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
- B43K8/00—Pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls
- B43K8/02—Pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls with writing-points comprising fibres, felt, or similar porous or capillary material
- B43K8/04—Arrangements for feeding ink to writing-points
- B43K8/06—Wick feed from within reservoir to writing-points
Definitions
- Highlighter is a type of writing instrument that is designed to be used over existing text.
- the inks of Highlighters are often made in bright fluorescent colors that would leave a transparent mark over the existing text, thus making the highlighted section more distinct so it can easily draw attention from readers.
- a highlighter would require a user to see a section of text before highlighting, which the view may be blocked by the hand holding the highlighter or the body of the highlighter itself
- the user may angle the grip or adjust the view so that they can see the text before highlighting, which can be inconvenient for the user. And without such adjustments would cause the section of text to not be accurately or straightly highlighted.
- An aspect of the present invention provides a writing instrument with a see-through area.
- the writing instrument comprises a housing having a hollow body and an opening, an ink reservoir disposed inside the housing for storing ink, a nib disposed at the opening for distributing ink on a writing surface, an ink feeder disposed inside the housing for transporting ink from the ink reservoir to the nib, the housing further comprise a cut-out section disposed behind the nib and on the nib’s longitudinal plane to provide a see-through area for a user.
- the writing instrument comprises a housing having a first portion with a hollow body, a second portion with a hollow body and an opening, an ink reservoir disposed inside the housing for storing ink, a nib disposed at the opening for distributing ink on a writing surface, an ink feeder disposed inside the housing for transporting ink from the ink reservoir to the nib, wherein the second portion of the housing substantially vertically extends away from the first portion to create a see-through area.
- the writing instrument comprises a housing having a hollow body and an opening, an ink reservoir disposed inside the housing for storing ink, a nib disposed at the opening for distributing ink on a writing surface, an ink feeder disposed inside the housing for transporting ink from the ink reservoir to the nib, the housing further comprise a transparent section made of clear transparent material, such as clear plastic with low light dispersion, disposed behind the nib and on the nib’s longitudinal plan, to provide a see-through area for a user.
- a transparent section made of clear transparent material, such as clear plastic with low light dispersion
- FIG. 1 A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to first example embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. IB is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the first example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- FIG. 2A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to second example embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the second example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- FIG. 3A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to third example embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the third example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- FIG. 4 A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to fourth example embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the fourth example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 may also be called by other names known in the art, such as “case”, “container”, “body”, “handle”, “tube” or “barrel”.
- the housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 may comprise a first end 13 and a second end 11.
- the second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 constructed to receive the nib 5, thus may have a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5.
- the opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can frictionally hold the nib 5.
- the opening 12 may be constructed to be off center or displaced away from the housing's central longitudinal axis 8, thus being positioned closer to one longitudinal side of the housing 3 rather than being conventionally positioned in the center or at the housing's central longitudinal axis 8.
- the housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood, and the like.
- the housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
- the housing 3 comprises a cut-out section 15 disposed behind the nib 5 and on the nib’s longitudinal plane 9, for providing a see-through area 30.
- the cut-out section 15, can also be referred to as “open region”, and may be disposed closely behind the nib 5.
- the cut-out section 15 may have a width at least 0.5 cm and may have a length at least 1 cm. Alternatively, the cutout section 15 may have a width at least equal to the width of the nib 5 or the diameter of the opening 12.
- the section of the housing 3 located between the nib 5 and before the cut-out section 15 may be constructed as small as possible to decrease blockage of the view of text being highlighted.
- the shape and dimensions of the housing 3 and the cut-out section 15 can be varied as appreciated by one skilled in the art.
- the see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting.
- the housing 3 may comprises a cut-out section 15 made by molding plastic into a desired shape without requiring a cutting process.
- a “cut-ouf ’ may be defined by an exposed nonstructural area, located in between a housing of a writing instrument, that allow a user to see through the housing.
- the housing 3 of the highlighter 1 may be divided into three portions.
- the nib 5 may be extending through the opening 12 in the third portion 3P, the nib 5 may comprise a chisel edge and may have a height from the base plane 18 of higher or entirely above the second height 2H of the second portion 2P.
- the second length 2L of the second portion 2P may be longer than the third length 3L of the third portion 3P.
- the second portion 2P may have a width of less than a width of the first portion IP.
- the ink reservoir 4, for storing ink may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3.
- the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester.
- the porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube.
- the ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
- the nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface.
- the nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt. Although a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible ink tube.
- the ink feeder 6 can be a portion of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5.
- the ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made of an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alteratively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic or a combination of both.
- the ink feeder 6 is constructed to conform to the internal space of the housing 3, thus the ink feeder 6 may comprise a portion of its body angles or curves away from the nib’s longitudinal plane 9 avoiding the cut-out section
- the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit.
- the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
- the term “Ink feeder” can refer to a portion of a nib, or a portion of an ink reservoir, or a separate unit, or a combination of different units, or a combination of different materials, that provides transportation of ink from an ink reservoir to a nib. And when the nib, the ink feeder, and the ink reservoir are constructed into one single unit, any section of the unit disposed inside the housing, can be referred to as an “ink feeder”.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out.
- the cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design.
- the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative.
- the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- the cut-out section (not labeled) allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
- a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 may comprise a first end 13 and a second end 11.
- the second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 constructed to receive the nib 5, thus may have a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5.
- the opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can fiictionally hold the nib 5.
- the opening 12 may be constructed to be off center or displaced away from the housing's central longitudinal axis 8, thus being positioned closer to one longitudinal side of the housing 3 rather than being conventionally positioned in the center or at the housing's central longitudinal axis 8.
- the housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood and the like.
- the housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
- the housing 3 comprises a see-through section 16, made of clear transparent material such as clear plastic, disposed thereto the body of the housing 3.
- the see-through section 16 may comprise flat surfaces, can be referred to as “face”, that may be parallel on both sides of the housing 3.
- the surfaces of the see-through section 16 may be coplanar with the surface of the housing 3.
- the see-through section 16 may be disposed on the nib’s longitudinal plane 9, closely behind the nib 5, for providing a see-through area 30.
- the see-through section 16 may have a width of at least 0.5 cm. Alteratively, the see-through section 16 may have a width greater than or equal to the width of the nib 5, or the diameter of the opening 12.
- the see-through section 16 may have a length at least 1 cm.
- the see-through section 16 may be in any shapes and dimensions, and can have a hollow or solid body, and can be an integral or separate part as appreciated by one skilled in the art.
- the see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting
- the ink reservoir 4, for storing ink may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3.
- the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester.
- the porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube.
- the ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
- the nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface.
- the nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt. Although a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible plastic ink tube.
- the ink feeder 6 can be a portion of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5.
- the ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made of an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alteratively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic or a combination of both.
- the ink feeder 6 may be disposed outside the see-through area 16 of the housing 3, thus the ink feeder 6 may comprise a portion of its body angles or curves away from the nib’s longitudinal plane 9 avoiding the see-through section 16
- the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit.
- the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out.
- the cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design.
- the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative.
- the highlighter 1 may further comprise a nib guide 35 disposed on the housing 3.
- the nib guide 35 may be a color strip and may have the same color as the ink of the highlighter 1, printed on the housing 3.
- the nib guide 35 may be disposed behind the nib 5, on the nib’s longitudinal plane 9, before the see-through section 16, thus resembling the highlighting path of the nib 5.
- the nib guide 35 may have a width less than, equals to, or greater than the width of the nib 5.
- the nib guide 35 may allow a user to use it as a guidance for the highlighting path when the highlighter 1 is operative.
- the nib guide 35 may be made in different variation such as an indent or bump on the housing’s surface, or any other preferred masking as appreciated by one skilled in the art, for the purpose of providing guidance of the highlighting path of the nib 5 in the blockage area of the housing 3.
- the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- the see-through section (not labeled) allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
- a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 comprises a first portion 24 and a second portion 22.
- the first portion 24 may define a housing’s central longitudinal 8.
- the housing 3 may comprise a first end 13 and a second end 11.
- the second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 disposed thereto the second portion 22.
- the opening 12 may be constructed to receive the nib 5, thus having a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5.
- the opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can frictionally hold the nib 5.
- the first portion 24, having a substantial straight body, is designed to be a handle of the highlighter 1.
- the second portion 22 may substantially vertically extend from the first portion 24 to create a see-through area 30.
- the second portion 22 may extend from the first portion 24 such that the nib 5 and/or the opening 12, disposed thereto the second portion 22, is higher than or entirely above the first portion 24 when measured from a base plane 18.
- the second portion 22 may extend from the first portion 24 such that it forms an angle around 25 to 70 degrees with the base plane 18.
- the second portion 22 may have a width of less than a width of the first portion 24.
- the see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting.
- the second portion 22 may be constructed to extendedly curves away from the first portion 24.
- the housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood and the like.
- the housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
- an embodiment of the invention may comprise a housing that allows a user to adjust (e.g., to bend, curve, angle, etc.) a portion of the housing to displace the nib from its original position or from the handle’s longitudinal plane to create a see-through area.
- a user may adjust (e.g., to bend, curve, angle, etc.) a portion of the housing to displace the nib from its original position or from the handle’s longitudinal plane to create a see-through area.
- the ink reservoir 4, for storing ink may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3.
- the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester.
- the porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube.
- the ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
- the nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface.
- the nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt.
- the nib 5 may extend from the opening 12 higher than the second portion 22 or the opening 12 when measured from the base plane 18.
- nib 5 may extend from the opening such that the chisel edge part of the nib 5 is entirely above the second portion 22 when measured from the base plane 18. This may decrease the blockage area from the housing 3 and may provide better see-through area 30 behind the nib 5.
- a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible plastic ink tube.
- a housing of a highlighter may comprise a second portion having a height above a base plane of equal or less than a first portion (a single elongated straight housing unit).
- a nib may extend from an opening in the second portion higher than the second portion, or higher than the overall height of the housing, when measured from the base plane. The nib opening may be disposed on the upper surface of the housing.
- the ink feeder 6 can be a portion of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5.
- the ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made of an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alteratively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic or a combination of both.
- the ink feeder 6 is constructed to conform to the internal space of the housing 3, thus the ink feeder 6 may comprise a portion of its body angled or curved corresponding to the angled or curved body of the housing 3.
- the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit.
- the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out.
- the cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design.
- the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative.
- the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- the angled body of the highlighter 1 allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
- a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6.
- the housing 3 may comprise a first end 13 and a second end 11.
- the second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 constructed to receive the nib 5, thus may have a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5.
- the opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can frictionally hold the nib 5 and may be disposed at the housing's central longitudinal axis 8.
- the housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood and the like.
- the housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
- the housing 3 comprises a transparent section 17 disposed thereto.
- the transparent section 17 can be made of clear transparent material, preferably material with low light dispersion such as clear transparent plastic with abbe value at least 30, for providing a see- through area 30.
- the transparent section 17 may comprise flat surfaces, can be referred to as “face”, that may be parallel on both sides of the housing 3.
- the surfaces of the transparent section 17 may be coplanar with the surface of the housing 3.
- the transparent section 17 may be disposed closely behind the nib 5 and on the nib’s longitudinal plane (not shown).
- the transparent section 17 may have a length at least 1 cm. and may have a width at least 0.5 cm. Alternatively, the transparent section 17 may have a width greater than or equal to the width of the nib 5, or the diameter of the opening 12.
- the transparent section 17 is hollow and having paralleled clear flat faces that are laterally coplanar with the surface of the housing 3.
- the transparent section 17 is disposed along the length of the ink feeder 6 and having a width greater than the width of the ink feeder 6.
- the transparent section 17 may be in any shapes, dimensions, and can have a hollow or solid body as appreciated by one skilled in the art.
- the see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting.
- the ink reservoir 4, for storing ink may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3.
- the ink reservoir 4 may be disposed closer to the first end 13, outside the transparent section 17.
- the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester.
- the porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube.
- the ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
- the nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface.
- the nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt. Although a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible plastic ink tube.
- the ink feeder 6 can be a part of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5.
- the ink feeder 6 is disposed on the housing's central longitudinal axis 8, having a straight body connected to the ink reservoir 4.
- the ink feeder 6 may be constructed to have an elongated narrow body having a width smaller than the width of the nib 5.
- the ink feeder 6 may be constructed to have a width less than a height of a common font size and type such as 12 points Arial, Calibri, Time News Roman etc. when printed on paper.
- the ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made from an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alternatively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic, or a combination of both.
- the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit.
- the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
- the highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out.
- the cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design.
- the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative.
- the highlighter 1 may further comprise a nib guide (not shown) as disclosed in the second example embodiment.
- the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper.
- the transparent section (not labeled) allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
- the nibs, ink feeders and ink reservoirs shown in the drawings serve to explain the concept of the invention, thus their shapes and dimensions illustrated shall not be construed as a strict requirement of the invention.
- shape and dimensions of a nib, an ink feeder and an ink reservoir may be varied based on different factors such as type of porous material used, distance between the nib and the ink reservoir, predefined rate of ink flow, substance used for the ink, etc.
- the nib, ink feeder and ink reservoir may be designed based on knowledge well known in the art, such as the principle of “capillary action”. Although the highlighters are used to explain the invention, it’s obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of being implemented in different types of writing instruments, such as permanent marker, dry erase marker, ball point pen, etc.
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- Pens And Brushes (AREA)
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a highlighter comprises a housing having a hollow body and an opening, an ink reservoir disposed inside the housing for storing ink, a nib disposed at the opening for distributing ink on a writing surface, an ink feeder disposed inside the housing for transporting ink from the ink reservoir to the nib. The housing further comprise a cut-out section disposed behind the nib and on the nib's longitudinal plane to provide a see-through area for a user. The see-through area allows the user to see a portion of text before highlighting.
Description
SEE-THROUGH HIGHLIGHTER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Highlighter is a type of writing instrument that is designed to be used over existing text. The process of applying highlighter over an existing section of text known as “Highlighting”. The inks of Highlighters are often made in bright fluorescent colors that would leave a transparent mark over the existing text, thus making the highlighted section more distinct so it can easily draw attention from readers.
Ideally, using a highlighter would require a user to see a section of text before highlighting, which the view may be blocked by the hand holding the highlighter or the body of the highlighter itself In order to overcome this, the user may angle the grip or adjust the view so that they can see the text before highlighting, which can be inconvenient for the user. And without such adjustments would cause the section of text to not be accurately or straightly highlighted.
The current prior art of highlighters that encompasses a feature to solve this issue is Uni™ Promark View highlighter and Sharpie™ Clear View Highlighter. Both highlighters have the same feature that is to have a portion of a nib made of a clear transparent material to provide a see-through area for a user. This feature provides a very small see-through area and would not be effective when highlighting a large section of text.
Thus, what is needed is a new highlighter that is designed to overcome the shortcomings of all existing versions of highlighters, that would allow a user to be able to easily see an area of text before highlighting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention provides a writing instrument with a see-through area. The writing instrument comprises a housing having a hollow body and an opening, an ink reservoir disposed inside the housing for storing ink, a nib disposed at the opening for distributing ink on a writing surface, an ink feeder disposed inside the housing for transporting ink from the ink reservoir to the nib, the housing further comprise a cut-out section disposed behind the nib and on the nib’s longitudinal plane to provide a see-through area for a user.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a different embodiment of a writing instrument with a see-through area. The writing instrument comprises a housing having a first portion with a hollow body, a second portion with a hollow body and an opening, an ink reservoir disposed inside the housing for storing ink, a nib disposed at the opening for distributing ink on a writing surface, an ink feeder disposed inside the housing for transporting ink from the ink reservoir to the nib, wherein the second portion of the housing substantially vertically extends away from the first portion to create a see-through area.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a different embodiment of a writing instrument with a see-through area. The writing instrument comprises a housing having a hollow body and an opening, an ink reservoir disposed inside the housing for storing ink, a nib disposed at the opening for distributing ink on a writing surface, an ink feeder disposed inside the housing for transporting ink from the ink reservoir to the nib, the housing further comprise a transparent section made of clear transparent material, such as clear plastic with low light dispersion, disposed behind the nib and on the nib’s longitudinal plan, to provide a see-through area for a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to first example embodiment of the invention.
FIG. IB is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the first example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
FIG. 2A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to second example embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the second example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
FIG. 3A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to third example embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the third example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
FIG. 4 A is an exploded view of a highlighter according to fourth example embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a highlighter, according to the fourth example embodiment, being used to highlight a line of text on paper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, there are shown and described several example embodiments of the invention. It should be realized the disclosed invention is capable of other different embodiments and their details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. In some example embodiments, well-known process, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The example embodiments of invention will be described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which will be used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
First example embodiment of the invention
Referring to FIG. 1 A, a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6. The housing 3 may also be called by other names known in the art, such as “case”, “container”, “body”, “handle”, “tube” or “barrel”. The housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6.
The housing 3 may comprise a first end 13 and a second end 11. The second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 constructed to receive the nib 5, thus may have a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5. The opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can frictionally hold the nib 5. The opening 12 may be constructed to be off center or displaced away from the housing's central longitudinal axis 8, thus being positioned closer to one longitudinal side of the housing 3 rather than being conventionally positioned in the center or at the housing's central longitudinal axis 8. The housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood, and the like.
The housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
The housing 3 comprises a cut-out section 15 disposed behind the nib 5 and on the nib’s longitudinal plane 9, for providing a see-through area 30. The cut-out section 15, can also be referred to as “open region”, and may be disposed closely behind the nib 5. The cut-out section 15 may have a width at least 0.5 cm and may have a length at least 1 cm. Alternatively, the cutout section 15 may have a width at least equal to the width of the nib 5 or the diameter of the opening 12. The section of the housing 3 located between the nib 5 and before the cut-out section 15 may be constructed as small as possible to decrease blockage of the view of text being highlighted. The shape and dimensions of the housing 3 and the cut-out section 15 can be varied as appreciated by one skilled in the art. The see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting.
It should be understood that the term “cut-out” is used to explain the invention, thus should not be regarded as a manufacturing process. The housing 3 may comprises a cut-out section 15 made by molding plastic into a desired shape without requiring a cutting process. Alternatively, a “cut-ouf ’ may be defined by an exposed nonstructural area, located in between a housing of a writing instrument, that allow a user to see through the housing.
In one example method for constructing a cut-out section for a writing instrument, the housing 3 of the highlighter 1 may be divided into three portions. A first portion 1 P with a first length from the first end 13, having a first height 1H above a base plane 18. A second portion 2P with a second length 2L proceeding from the first portion IP away from the first end 13. The second portion 2P having a second height 2H above the base plane 18 of less than the first height 1H of the first portion IP. A third portion 3P with a third length 3L proceeding from the second portion 2P away from the first end 13 to the second end 11. The third portion 3P having a third height 3H above the base plane 18 of greater than the second height 2H of the second portion 2P. Further, the nib 5 may be extending through the opening 12 in the third portion 3P, the nib 5 may comprise a chisel edge and may have a height from the base plane 18 of higher or entirely above the second height 2H of the second portion 2P. The second length 2L of the second portion 2P may be longer than the third length 3L of the third portion 3P. The second portion 2P may have a width of less than a width of the first portion IP.
The ink reservoir 4, for storing ink, may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3. The ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester. The porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. The ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
The nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface. The nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt. Although a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible ink tube.
The ink feeder 6 can be a portion of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5. The ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made of an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alteratively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic or a combination of both. The ink feeder 6 is constructed to conform to the internal space of the housing 3, thus the ink feeder 6 may comprise a portion of its body angles or curves away from the nib’s longitudinal plane 9 avoiding the cut-out section
15.
One skilled in the art would appreciate that the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit. Alternatively, the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
As used herein, the term “Ink feeder” can refer to a portion of a nib, or a portion of an ink reservoir, or a separate unit, or a combination of different units, or a combination of different materials, that provides transportation of ink from an ink reservoir to a nib. And when the nib, the ink feeder, and the ink reservoir are constructed into one single unit, any section of the unit disposed inside the housing, can be referred to as an “ink feeder”.
The highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
The highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out. The cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design. Also, the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative.
Referring to FIG. IB, the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper. The cut-out section (not labeled) allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
Second example embodiment of the invention
Referring to FIG. 2A, a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6. The housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6. The housing 3 may comprise a first end 13 and a second end 11. The second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 constructed to receive the nib 5, thus may have a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5. The opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can fiictionally hold the nib 5. The opening 12 may be constructed to be off center or displaced away from the housing's central longitudinal axis 8, thus being positioned closer to one longitudinal side of the housing 3 rather than being conventionally positioned in the center or at the housing's central longitudinal axis 8. The housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood and the like.
The housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
The housing 3 comprises a see-through section 16, made of clear transparent material such as clear plastic, disposed thereto the body of the housing 3. The see-through section 16 may comprise flat surfaces, can be referred to as “face”, that may be parallel on both sides of the housing 3. The surfaces of the see-through section 16 may be coplanar with the surface of the housing 3. The see-through section 16 may be disposed on the nib’s longitudinal plane 9, closely behind the nib 5, for providing a see-through area 30. The see-through section 16 may have a width of at least 0.5 cm. Alteratively, the see-through section 16 may have a width greater than or equal to the width of the nib 5, or the diameter of the opening 12. The see-through section 16 may have a length at least 1 cm. The see-through section 16 may be in any shapes and dimensions, and can have a hollow or solid body, and can be an integral or separate part as appreciated by one skilled in the art. The see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting
The ink reservoir 4, for storing ink, may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3. The ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester. The porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. The ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
The nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface. The nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt. Although a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible plastic ink tube.
The ink feeder 6 can be a portion of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5. The ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made of an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alteratively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic or a combination of both. The ink feeder 6 may be disposed outside the see-through area 16 of the housing 3, thus the ink feeder 6 may comprise a portion of its body angles or curves away from the nib’s longitudinal plane 9 avoiding the see-through section 16
One skilled in the art would appreciate that the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit. Alternatively, the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
The highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
The highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out. The cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design. Also, the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative.
The highlighter 1 may further comprise a nib guide 35 disposed on the housing 3. The nib guide 35 may be a color strip and may have the same color as the ink of the highlighter 1, printed on the housing 3. The nib guide 35 may be disposed behind the nib 5, on the nib’s longitudinal plane 9, before the see-through section 16, thus resembling the highlighting path of the nib 5.
The nib guide 35 may have a width less than, equals to, or greater than the width of the nib 5.
The nib guide 35 may allow a user to use it as a guidance for the highlighting path when the highlighter 1 is operative. The nib guide 35 may be made in different variation such as an indent or bump on the housing’s surface, or any other preferred masking as appreciated by one skilled in the art, for the purpose of providing guidance of the highlighting path of the nib 5 in the blockage area of the housing 3.
Referring to FIG. 2B, the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper. The see-through section (not labeled) allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
Third example embodiment of the invention
Referring to FIG. 3A, a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6. The housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6. The housing 3 comprises a first portion 24 and a second portion 22. For this specific embodiment, the first portion 24 may define a housing’s central longitudinal 8. The housing 3 may comprise a first end 13 and a second end 11. The second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 disposed thereto the second portion 22. The opening 12 may be constructed to receive the nib 5, thus having a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5. The opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can frictionally hold the nib 5. The first portion 24, having a substantial straight body, is designed to be a handle of the highlighter 1. The second portion 22 may substantially vertically extend from the first portion 24 to create a see-through area 30. The second portion 22 may extend from the first portion 24 such that the nib 5 and/or the opening 12, disposed thereto the second portion 22, is higher than or entirely above the first portion 24 when measured from a base plane 18. Alternatively, the second portion 22 may extend from the first portion 24 such that it forms an angle around 25 to 70 degrees with the base plane 18. The second portion 22 may have a width of less than a width of the first portion 24. The see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting. Alteratively, the second portion 22 may be
constructed to extendedly curves away from the first portion 24. The housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood and the like.
The housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention may comprise a housing that allows a user to adjust (e.g., to bend, curve, angle, etc.) a portion of the housing to displace the nib from its original position or from the handle’s longitudinal plane to create a see-through area. However, such the configurations are known to the inventor and are obvious to one skilled in the art, thus any embodiments that are capable of displacing the nib, either temporarily or permanently, from the handle’s longitudinal plane or from the nib’s original position, to create a see-through area, will be covered by this disclosure.
The ink reservoir 4, for storing ink, may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3. The ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester. The porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. The ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
The nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface. The nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt. The nib 5 may extend from the opening 12 higher than the second portion 22 or the opening 12 when measured from the base plane 18. Alternatively, nib 5 may extend from the opening such that the chisel edge part of the nib 5 is entirely above the second portion 22 when measured from the base plane 18. This may decrease the blockage area from the housing 3 and may provide better see-through area 30 behind the nib 5. Although a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible plastic ink tube.
It should be understood that, according to the third example embodiment, having the second portion 22 extending at an angle, or extending away from the base plane 18 higher than the first portion 24 is optional. In an alterative embodiment, a housing of a highlighter may comprise a second portion having a height above a base plane of equal or less than a first portion (a single elongated straight housing unit). And a nib may extend from an opening in the second
portion higher than the second portion, or higher than the overall height of the housing, when measured from the base plane. The nib opening may be disposed on the upper surface of the housing.
The ink feeder 6 can be a portion of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5. The ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made of an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alteratively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic or a combination of both. The ink feeder 6 is constructed to conform to the internal space of the housing 3, thus the ink feeder 6 may comprise a portion of its body angled or curved corresponding to the angled or curved body of the housing 3.
One skilled in the art would appreciate that the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit. Alternatively, the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
The highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
The highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out. The cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design. Also, the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative.
Referring to FIG. 3B, the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper. The angled body of the highlighter 1 allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
Fourth example embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 4A, a highlighter 1 comprises a housing 3, an ink reservoir 4, a nib 5 and an ink feeder 6. The housing 3 may have an elongated shape with a hollow body adapted to house the ink reservoir 4, the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6. The housing 3 may comprise a first end
13 and a second end 11. The second end 11 may comprise an opening 12 constructed to receive the nib 5, thus may have a bore diameter corresponding to the size and shape of the nib 5. The opening 12 may be conventionally constructed such that it can frictionally hold the nib 5 and may be disposed at the housing's central longitudinal axis 8. The housing 3 may be made from material well known in the art such as plastic, metal, wood and the like.
The housing 3 may be constructed into one single unit by well-known methods such as plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the housing 3 can be constructed from various parts that can be reassembled by using snap-fit design to form a housing unit. It should be understood that any of these methods is not a limitation of the invention.
The housing 3 comprises a transparent section 17 disposed thereto. The transparent section 17 can be made of clear transparent material, preferably material with low light dispersion such as clear transparent plastic with abbe value at least 30, for providing a see- through area 30. The transparent section 17 may comprise flat surfaces, can be referred to as “face”, that may be parallel on both sides of the housing 3. The surfaces of the transparent section 17 may be coplanar with the surface of the housing 3. The transparent section 17 may be disposed closely behind the nib 5 and on the nib’s longitudinal plane (not shown). The transparent section 17 may have a length at least 1 cm. and may have a width at least 0.5 cm. Alternatively, the transparent section 17 may have a width greater than or equal to the width of the nib 5, or the diameter of the opening 12.
According to this specific example embodiment, the transparent section 17 is hollow and having paralleled clear flat faces that are laterally coplanar with the surface of the housing 3. The transparent section 17 is disposed along the length of the ink feeder 6 and having a width greater than the width of the ink feeder 6. The transparent section 17 may be in any shapes, dimensions, and can have a hollow or solid body as appreciated by one skilled in the art. The see-through area 30 allows a user to see a portion of text before highlighting.
The ink reservoir 4, for storing ink, may have a size and shape that would fit inside the housing 3. The ink reservoir 4 may be disposed closer to the first end 13, outside the transparent section 17. The ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material well known in the art such as polyester. The porous material used for the ink reservoir 4 may be conventionally wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. The ink reservoir 4 may also be made by using a compartment made of plastic for storing ink.
The nib 5 is disposed at the opening 12 for distributing ink on a writing surface. The nib 5 may have an elongated shape with a chisel tip and may be conventionally made by using absorbent or porous material such as polyester, pressed fibers or felt. Although a felt type nib is illustrated, it is clear that the present invention may utilize a ball-point nib connected to a flexible plastic ink tube.
The ink feeder 6 can be a part of the nib 5, disposed inside the housing 3, connected to the ink reservoir 4 for transporting ink from the ink reservoir 4 to the nib 5. According to this embodiment, the ink feeder 6 is disposed on the housing's central longitudinal axis 8, having a straight body connected to the ink reservoir 4. The ink feeder 6 may be constructed to have an elongated narrow body having a width smaller than the width of the nib 5. Alteratively, the ink feeder 6 may be constructed to have a width less than a height of a common font size and type such as 12 points Arial, Calibri, Time News Roman etc. when printed on paper. The ink feeder 6 can be conventionally made from an absorbent or porous material and may be wrapped by an ink-proof material such as film or tube. Alternatively, the ink feeder 6 can be constructed by using an elongated tube made of plastic, or a combination of both.
One skilled in the art would appreciate that the ink feeders 6 can be constructed as a part of the nib 5, or as a part of the ink reservoir 4, or can be constructed as a separate unit, or the ink reservoir 4 and the nib 5 and the ink feeder 6 can be constructed into one single unit. Alternatively, the ink feeder 6 can be made of two or more different materials, or the highlighter 1 may comprise more than one ink feeder units that may be made from different materials.
The highlighter 1 may comprise protruding members or structures (not labeled) disposed inside the housing 3 to help retain the ink reservoir 4 and the ink feeder 6 in place.
The highlighter 1 may comprise a cap 7 to prevent the ink from drying out. The cap 7 may be conventionally constructed to be removably received by the housing 3 at the second end 11 by using conventional methods such as snap-fit design. Also, the first end 13 of the housing 3 may be conventionally constructed to removably receive the cap 7 when the highlighter 1 is operative. The highlighter 1 may further comprise a nib guide (not shown) as disclosed in the second example embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 4B, the highlighter 1 is used to highlight a line of text on paper. The transparent section (not labeled) allows a user to see a portion of the text in the see-through area (not labeled).
The nibs, ink feeders and ink reservoirs shown in the drawings serve to explain the concept of the invention, thus their shapes and dimensions illustrated shall not be construed as a strict requirement of the invention. One skilled in the art would appreciated that shape and dimensions of a nib, an ink feeder and an ink reservoir may be varied based on different factors such as type of porous material used, distance between the nib and the ink reservoir, predefined rate of ink flow, substance used for the ink, etc. The nib, ink feeder and ink reservoir may be designed based on knowledge well known in the art, such as the principle of “capillary action”. Although the highlighters are used to explain the invention, it’s obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of being implemented in different types of writing instruments, such as permanent marker, dry erase marker, ball point pen, etc.
The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodiments only. Modifications of the device will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make and use the device. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the device, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “a”, “an” or “the” mean “at least one” and should not be limited to “only one”. Unless explicitly indicated to the contrary. Thus, for example, reference to “an element” includes embodiments having two or more such elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Claims
1. A writing instrument, comprising: a housing having an overall length from a first end to a second end and a base plane, the housing comprising: a first portion with a first length from the first end having a first height above the base plane; a second portion with a second length proceeding from the first portion away from the first end, the second portion having a second height above the base plane of less than the first height; a third portion with a third length proceeding from the second portion away from the first end to the second end, the third portion having a third height above the base plane of greater than the second height; a nib of porous material with a chisel edge, the nib extending through an opening in the direction of the length of the housing, wherein the chisel edge is entirely above the second height of the second portion; an ink reservoir inside the housing for storing and providing ink to the nib; and an ink feeder connecting the ink reservoir and the nib.
2. The writing instrument of claim 1, further comprising a nib guide marked or printed laterally behind the nib in the third portion of the housing,
3. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the opening for the nib is disposed at an upper extremity in the third portion of the housing.
4. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the housing having a width of less than a width of the first portion.
5. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the nib is entirely above a median longitudinal axis.
6. The writing instrument of claim 4, wherein the second length is at least one centimeter and the third height is at least half a centimeter greater than the second height.
7. The writing instrument of claim 6, wherein the nib having a height above the base plane of less than the first height of the first portion.
8. The writing instrument of claim 7, wherein the nib is entirely above a median longitudinal axis.
9. A writing instrument, comprising: a housing having an overall length from a first end to a second end and a base plane, the housing comprising: a first portion with a first length from the first end having a first height above the base plane; a second portion with a second length of at least one centimeter proceeding from the first portion away from the first end, the second portion having a second height above the base plane of less than the first height; a third portion with a third length proceeding from the second portion away from the first end to the second end, the third portion having a third height above the base plane at least half a centimeter greater than the second height; a nib extending through an opening in the third portion in the direction of the length of the housing, the nib having a height above the base plane of greater than the second height of the second portion; an ink reservoir inside the housing for storing and providing ink to the nib; and an ink feeder connecting the ink reservoir and the nib.
10. The writing instrument of claim 9, further comprising a transparent structure such that a user may see text through the transparent structure, the transparent structure is disposed between the first portion and the third portion of the housing.
11. The writing instrument of claim 9, further comprising a nib guide marked or printed laterally behind the nib in the third portion of the housing,
12. The writing instrument of claim 9, wherein the opening for the nib is disposed at an upper extremity in the third portion of the housing.
13. The writing instrument of claim 9, wherein the nib comprises porous material and a chisel edge.
14. The writing instrument of claim 13, wherein the chisel edge is entirely above the second height of the second portion.
15. The writing instrument of claim 14, wherein the second portion of the housing having a width of less than a width of the first portion.
16. The writing instrument of claim 15, wherein the opening for the nib is disposed at an upper extremity in the third portion of the housing.
17. The writing instrument of claim 16, wherein the nib having the height above the base plane of less than the first height of the first portion.
18. The writing instrument of claim 17, wherein the chisel edge of the nib is entirely above a median longitudinal axis.
19. A highlighter, comprising: a housing having an overall length from a first end to a second end and a base plane, the housing comprising: a first portion with a first length from the first end, having a first height above the base plane; a second portion with a second length proceeding from the first portion away from the first end to the second end, the second portion extending at an angle from the first portion to an end, the second portion having a second height above the base plane of greater than the first height of the first portion; a nib of porous material extending through an opening in the second portion, the nib having a chisel edge; an ink reservoir inside the housing for storing and providing ink to the nib; and an ink feeder connecting the ink reservoir and the nib;
20. The writing instrument of claim 19, wherein the nib having a height above the base plane of greater than the second height of the second portion.
21. The writing instrument of claim 20, wherein the second portion of the housing having a width of less than a width of the first portion.
22. The writing instrument of claim 20, wherein the ink reservoir having a width of greater than a width of the ink feeder, the ink reservoir is disposed inside the first portion of the housing.
23. A writing instrument, comprising: a housing having an overall length from a first end to a second end and a base plane, the housing comprising: a first portion with a first length from the first end having a first height above the base plane; a second portion with a second length proceeding from the first portion away from the first end to the second end, the second portion having a second height above the base plane; a nib of porous material with a chisel edge extending through an opening in the second portion, the nib having a height above the base plane of greater than the first and second heights of the first and second portions; an ink reservoir inside the housing for storing and providing ink to the nib; and an ink feeder connecting the ink reservoir and the nib.
24. The writing instrument of claim 23, wherein the chisel edge of the nib is entirely above the second height of the second portion.
25. The writing instrument of claim 23, wherein the first portion of the housing having a substantial straight body.
26. A writing instrument, comprising: a housing having an overall length from a first end to a second end and an outer surface: a nib of porous material extending through a nib opening of the housing; an ink reservoir inside the housing for storing and providing ink to the nib; an ink feeder connecting the ink reservoir and the nib; and
a see-through section of clear transparent body having substantially paralleled flat faces, the see-through section having a width of at least half a centimeter and a length of more than one centimeter disposed behind the nib.
27. The writing instrument of claim 26, wherein the ink feeder is disposed outside the see- through section of the housing.
28. The writing instrument of claim 26, wherein a portion of the ink feeder is disposed within the see-through section of the housing.
29. The writing instrument of claim 28, wherein the ink feeder having a width of less than a width of the nib.
30. The writing instrument of claim 29, wherein the see-through section and a portion of the outer surface of the housing are substantial coplanar.
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US16/686,076 US10723166B1 (en) | 2019-11-15 | 2019-11-15 | See-through highlighter |
US16/686,076 | 2019-11-15 | ||
US202016802611A | 2020-02-27 | 2020-02-27 | |
US16/802,611 | 2020-02-27 |
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PCT/US2020/032770 WO2021096560A1 (en) | 2019-11-15 | 2020-05-14 | See-through highlighter |
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US20120207533A1 (en) * | 2011-02-16 | 2012-08-16 | Yu-Chia Liu | Marker pen with a bending assembly |
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