Roller-ball paint marker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017136804-A1
Application number	US-201615352285-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 15, 2016
Priority date	Nov 16, 2015
Publication date	May 18, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a roller ball marking instrument for use with paint, a method for assembling the roller ball marking instrument, and a system for delivering paint. The body of the marking instrument includes a reservoir for storing paint. The body is coupled to a fibrous roller ball via a retaining ring. The roller balls sits within a partially-enclosed cavity in the center of the retaining ring. A least part of the roller ball protrudes through an opening in the retaining ring. Paint in the reservoir moves first through an opening at one end of the body and then through an open center of the retaining ring. The paint is transferred to the roller ball. The roller ball rotates freely within the cavity of the retaining ring and transfers the paint to a writing surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A roller-ball marking instrument for use with a paint comprising:
a body containing a first end and a second end; a reservoir enclosed by the body, said reservoir filled with the paint; a retaining ring coupled to the first end of the body; and a spherical roller ball configured to transfer the paint in the reservoir to a writing surface, wherein the spherical roller ball comprises a fibrous material and is freely rotatable within a hollow center of the retaining ring.

2 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a plastic, compressible material.

3 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 2 , wherein the spherical roller ball becomes saturated with the paint based on a compression of the body comprising the plastic, compressible material.

4 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve on the second end of the body to allow air to be drawn into the reservoir.

5 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is refillable.

6 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 1 , wherein the paint is a chalk paint.

7 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring is coupled to the first end of the body through a screw mechanism.

8 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring comprises a first portion that is coupled to the first end of the body and second portion that is coupled to the first portion.

9 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the retaining ring and the second portion of the retaining ring form a partially enclosed cavity in which the roller ball is contained.

10 . The roller-ball marking instrument of claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the retaining ring includes an opening through which at least a portion of the roller ball protrudes.

11 . A method for assembling a roller-ball marking instrument, wherein the method comprises:
providing a housing with a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the housing is open and wherein the housing contains a reservoir; filling the reservoir of the housing with an amount of paint; coupling a first retaining ring to the housing, the first retaining ring having a body end and a roller-ball end and the body end of the first retaining ring being coupled to the first end of the housing, wherein the roller-ball end of the first retaining ring has a concave surface, forming an inverted dome-shaped center; positioning a fibrous, spherical roller ball in the inverted dome-shaped center of the first retaining ring; and coupling a second retaining ring to the first retaining ring at the roller-ball end of the first retaining ring, wherein the second retaining ring is configured to form an open-ended chamber with the first retaining ring and wherein at least a portion of the fibrous, spherical roller ball protrudes through a hollow center of the second retaining ring.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the amount of paint comprises a chalk paint.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the housing is made of a compressible plastic.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the roller ball is configured to rotate freely within the open-ended chamber formed by the first retaining ring and the second retaining ring.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first retaining ring is coupled to the housing via a screw mechanism.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second retaining ring is coupled to the first retaining ring via a screw mechanism.

17 . A system for paint delivery, the system comprising:
a paint reservoir that includes a reservoir body for storing an amount of paint; a fibrous, spherical roller ball adjacent to the paint reservoir for applying the amount of paint to a writing surface; and a retaining ring for coupling the roller ball to the paint reservoir, the retaining ring comprising a first end, a second end, and a center cavity holding the roller ball, wherein:
the first end is adjacent to the reservoir;
the second end contains an opening through which a portion of the roller ball protrudes; and
the roller ball is freely rotatable within the center cavity of the retaining ring.

18 . The paint-delivery system of claim 17 , wherein the reservoir body comprises a compressible plastic material.

19 . The paint-delivery system of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the amount of paint stored in the reservoir body moves through an opening in the first end of the retaining ring and saturates at least a portion of the roller ball.

20 . The paint-delivery system of claim 19 , wherein paint is transferred to a writing surface when the at least a portion of the roller ball that is saturated in paint contacts the writing surface through the opening of the second end of the retaining ring.

Assignees

• Crayola Llc

Inventors

• Orem Christopher P
• Amabile Robert N
• Bedoya Victor
• Howell Jordan
• Laguatan Jr Roseld V
• Mcbride Jr John D
• Melville Douglas
• Vadaketh Leena

Classifications

• B05C17/025 Primary

  with self-contained reservoir {or container for liquid or other fluent material, located inside the coating roller} · CPC title

• A45D34/04

  Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball · CPC title

• A45D40/261

  using a ball, a roller or the like · CPC title

• B43K8/03

  Ink reservoirs; Ink cartridges · CPC title

• B43K1/084

  Ball beds · CPC title