Reel-to-reel chalk line system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10583687-B2
Application number	US-201815859685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 1, 2018
Priority date	Jul 25, 2017
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a reel-to-reel chalk line comprising a first housing comprising a first impregnated chalk line reel, a first rotatable crank mechanism connected to the first reel, and a first chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing the passage of a continuous impregnated chalk line. The apparatus further comprises an opposed second housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second reel, and a second chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing passage of the continuous impregnated chalk line. The continuous impregnated chalk line is reeled about the first and second reels as the respective crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward. The chalk may include a variety of substances including reactive powders, liquids, dyes, glass, minerals, plastics, ceramics, metals, and fibers. The continuous chalk line may comprise interconnected impregnated chalk lines joined by mechanical or chemical means forming the continuous impregnated chalk line.

First claim

We claim:

1. A reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus, comprising
a first chalk box housing comprising a first rotatable reel, a first crank mechanism connected to the first rotatable reel, a continuous impregnated chalk line wound around the first rotatable reel, and a first chalk bin comprising openings for allowing the passage of the continuous impregnated chalk line;
a second chalk box housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second rotatable reel, the continuous impregnated chalk line wound around the second rotatable reel, and a second chalk bin comprising openings for allowing passage of the continuous impregnated chalk line, and
the continuous impregnated chalk line being wound and unwound about the first and second rotatable reels as the first and second crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward.

2. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the continuous impregnated chalk line comprises a visual indicator positioned along the chalk line.

3. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the continuous impregnated chalk line comprises a slidable visual indicator.

4. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective crank mechanisms comprise internal gears and an external crank arm connected to the respective rotatable reels.

5. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective crank mechanisms comprise a battery powered motor for actuating the respective rotatable reels.

6. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective crank mechanisms comprises a rechargeable battery powered motor for actuating the respective rotatable reels.

7. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective chalk bins comprise a chalk substance suitable for impregnating the continuous chalk line as it passes through the chalk bin.

8. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of clam 1 , wherein the respective chalk bins comprise a chalk substance comprising a reactive mineral powder, paste, liquid, dye, metal, ceramic, glass, plastic, and or a fiber, or combinations thereof.

9. The reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable reel and the second rotatable reel each have the capacity to reel in substantially the entire length of the continuous impregnated chalk line.

10. A method for a reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus, comprising:
providing a first chalk box housing comprising a first rotatable reel, a first crank mechanism connected to the first rotatable reel, a continuous impregnated chalk line wound around the first rotatable reel, and a first chalk bin comprising openings for allowing the passage of the continuous impregnated chalk line;
providing a second chalk box housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second rotatable reel, the continuous impregnated chalk line wound around the second rotatable reel, and a second chalk bin comprising openings for allowing passage of the continuous impregnated chalk line, and
providing the continuous impregnated chalk line being wound and unwound about the first and second rotatable reels as the first and second crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward.

11. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the respective chalk box housings, rotatable reels, crank mechanisms, and chalk bins are identical.

12. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the respective chalk box housings, rotatable reels, crank mechanisms, and chalk bins are not identical.

13. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the continuous impregnated chalk line comprises an attached impregnated chalk line forming the continuous impregnated chalk line.

14. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the continuous impregnated chalk line comprises an attachment to an impregnated chalk line by means of knots, braids, brackets, pins, nails, sticks, barbs, wires, hooks, springs, clasps, and or adhesives, or a combination thereof.

15. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the first rotatable reel and the second rotatable reel each have the capacity to reel substantially the entire length of the continuous impregnated chalk line.

16. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the first and second rotatable reels each have a different capacity to reel the continuous impregnated chalk line.

17. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the respective chalk bins comprise a sealable opening for refilling the respective chalk bins with the chalk substances.

18. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the respective chalk bins comprise a chalk substance comprising a reactive mineral powder, liquid, paste, dye, metal, ceramic, glass, plastic, and or a fiber, or combinations thereof.

19. The method for the reel-to-reel chalk line apparatus of claim 10 , providing the continuous impregnated chalk line comprises a visual indicator positioned along the chalk line.

Assignees

• Fox Daniel S
• Smedley Wayne
• Fox Joe

Inventors

• Fox Daniel S
• Smedley Wayne
• Fox Joe

Classifications

• B25H7/04

  Devices, e.g. scribers, for marking (centre punches B25D5/00 {; cord line chalkers B44D3/38}) · CPC title

• B44D3/38 Primary

  Cord line chalkers · CPC title

• B65H2701/357

  Marking strings, e.g. pre-inked lines · CPC title