Crayon manipulation devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10471622-B2
Application number	US-201715618916-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2017
Priority date	Jun 9, 2016
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

Devices, kits, and methods for manipulating crayons to make various crayon configurations are provided. Embodiments of the invention include a crayon slicer, a crayon shaver, a crayon holder, a crayon notcher, a crayon shaving kit, and a crayon rubbing kit. The multiple embodiments of the invention have various features that allow for a crayon to be easily and safely manipulated by a user in multiple ways. Further, additional embodiments provide additional features, which allow the user to make various crayon configurations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A crayon notching mechanism comprising:
a base notcher assembly having at least one spring connector, at least one base notcher channel, and a crayon compartment, the crayon compartment configured to receive a crayon body; and
a top notcher assembly corresponding to the base notcher assembly, said top notcher assembly comprising at least one cylindrical connector and at least one notcher, the at least one notcher having a blade, an inner arcuate surface having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, and a rib, wherein the rib comprises at least a first surface protruding from the vertical portion and a second surface protruding from the horizontal portion, such that the first surface is positioned perpendicular to the second surface;
wherein the base notcher assembly and top notcher assembly are configured to couple based on the at least one spring connector and the at least one cylindrical connector,
wherein the crayon notching mechanism is moveable between an upward position and a downward position and the top notcher assembly travels a threshold distance between the upward position and the downward position such that the at least one notcher contacts at least a portion of the crayon body,
wherein the threshold distance is sufficient to create a notch in the crayon body.

2. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a front, a back, a top, and a bottom that collectively form a shape of the crayon notching mechanism.

3. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the crayon compartment extends in a horizontal direction through the base notcher between the front and the back of the crayon notching mechanism.

4. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the at least one base notcher channel comprises an opening positioned proximate the top of the crayon notching mechanism and configured for receiving the at least one notcher, and wherein the at least one base notcher channel extends in a vertical direction away from the opening toward the bottom of the crayon notching mechanism and intersects with a portion of the crayon compartment.

5. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the at least one notcher extends into the base notcher channel, and wherein, at the upward position, the blade of the at least one notcher is positioned above the crayon compartment and at the downward position, the blade of the at least one notcher is positioned below the crayon compartment.

6. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 5 , wherein, upon movement from the upward position to the downward position, the at least one crayon notcher is configured to create one or more notches in the crayon body received by the crayon compartment.

7. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the base notcher assembly comprises one or more front base notcher channels proximate the front of the crayon notching mechanism, one or more back base notcher channels proximate the back of the crayon notching mechanism, and one or more middle base notcher channels positioned between the one or more front base notcher channels and the one or more back base notcher channels.

8. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the top notcher assembly comprises one or more front notchers proximate the front of the crayon notching mechanism, one or more back notchers proximate the back of the crayon notching mechanism, and one or more middle notchers positioned between the one or more front notcher channels and the one or more back notcher channels.

9. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 8 , wherein, upon movement from the upward position to the downward position, the one or more front, middle, and back notchers are each configured to make a corresponding notch in the crayon body received by the crayon compartment.

10. A crayon notching mechanism comprising:
a base notcher assembly having at least one spring connector, at least one base notcher channel, a base, and a crayon compartment, the crayon compartment configured to receive a crayon body; and
a top notcher assembly corresponding to the base notcher assembly, said top notcher assembly comprising at least one cylindrical connector and at least one notcher, the at least one notcher having a blade, an inner surface, and a rib, wherein the rib comprises at least a first surface protruding from a vertical portion of the inner surface, and a second surface protruding from a horizontal portion of the inner surface, such that the first surface is positioned perpendicular to the second surface;
wherein the base notcher assembly and top notcher assembly are configured to couple based on the at least one spring connector and the at least one cylindrical connector,
wherein the crayon notching mechanism is moveable between an upward position and a downward position and the top notcher assembly travels a threshold distance between the upward position and the downward position such that the at least one notcher contacts at least a portion of the crayon body,
wherein the threshold distance is sufficient to create a notch in the crayon body.

11. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 10 , further comprising a front, a back, a top, and a bottom that collectively form a shape of the crayon notching mechanism.

12. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the crayon notching mechanism is a shape selected from the following:
a) a cube;
b) a cuboid;
c) a half-cylinder; or
d) a cylindroid.

13. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the base notcher assembly comprises a first spring connector, a second spring connector, a third spring connector, and a fourth spring connector.

14. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first and second spring connectors are positioned proximate the front of the crayon notching mechanism, and wherein the third and fourth spring connectors are positioned proximate the back of the crayon notching mechanism.

15. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the base notcher assembly further comprises a base notcher surface presented on an upper side of the base, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth spring connectors extend perpendicularly from the base notcher surface.

16. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 15 , wherein each of the first second, third, and fourth spring connectors are positioned above the base and proximate a different corner of the base.

17. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the top notcher assembly comprises a first cylindrical connector, a second cylindrical connector, a third cylindrical connector, and a fourth cylindrical connector, and wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth cylindrical connectors are in vertical alignment with one of the first, second, third, or fourth spring connectors of the base notcher assembly.

18. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the at least one base notcher channel comprises an opening positioned proximate the top of the crayon notching mechanism and configured for receiving the at least one notcher, and wherein the at least one base notcher channel extends in a vertical direction away from the opening, toward the bottom of the crayon notching mechanism, and intersects with a portion of the crayon compartment.

19. The crayon notching mechanism of claim 18 , wherein the at least one notcher extends into the base notcher channel, and wherein, at the upward position, the blade of the at least one notcher is positioned above the crayon compartment and at the downwa

Assignees

• Crayola Llc

Inventors

• Volzer David
• Monzo Anthony

Classifications

• B43K19/00

  Non-propelling pencils; Styles; Crayons; Chalks (batik pencils, cord-line chalkers B44D3/00; writing-core compositions for pencils, crayon compositions, chalk compositions C09D13/00) · CPC title

• B43L23/00

  Sharpeners for pencils or leads (grinding or cutting tools in general B24; B26; combined with writing implements B43K29/06) · CPC title

• B26D2007/013

  the work being tubes, rods or logs · CPC title

• B26D7/01

  Means for holding or positioning work · CPC title

• B26F1/12 Primary

  to notch margins of work · CPC title