Abstract:
A marker for marking an electrical wire or conductor for identification comprises a shaft, a reservoir, and an applicator. The reservoir may comprise a first end and a second end. The first end of the applicator may be inserted to the reservoir. The reservoir may be capable of charging the applicator with marking liquid. The second end of the applicator may have a flat tip edge with an indentation to accommodate a wide range of different conductor sizes.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/390418 filed on Oct. 6, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to an electrical wire identification marker, and more specifically relates to an electrical wire identification marker that colors an electrical conductor to signify what they are being used for during interpretation of schematics of a wiring system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In one aspect of the present invention, a marker comprises a shaft; a reservoir inside the shaft; and an applicator having a first end and a second end, the first end inserted to the reservoir wherein the reservoir is disposed of charging the applicator device with marking liquid, and the second end having a flat tip edge with an indentation. 
         [0004]    In another aspect of the present invention, a marker comprises a first housing having a reservoir inside the first housing; and a second housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to connect to the first housing, the second end has a flat tip edge with an indentation. 
         [0005]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  with an applicator arm cap placed on applicator arm; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  with an applicator arm cap placed on applicator arm cap holder; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an application area of a felt applicator arm; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a projected view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a marker for coloring electrical conductors to signify what they are used as for interpretation of schematics of a wiring system. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the marker  10  may be a pen configured and designed to allow quick and easy wire identification by coating or color-coding the conductor sheath with various ink colors and types of pens. 
         [0017]    The marker  10  may comprise a housing  18  (also referred to as a reservoir chamber or a shaft,) and an applicator  12 . The housing  18  may have a clip holder  34  and an applicator arm cap holder  36  at one end  44  of the housing  18 . A felt reservoir  32  may be disposed inside the housing  18 . The felt reservoir  32  may be designed to hold marking liquid, such as colored ink  14 . The colored ink may be formulated to be dried quickly for fast use. There may be a plastic reservoir containment cover  30  outside of the felt reservoir  32 . The plastic reservoir containment cover  30  may securely contain the felt reservoir  32  and colored ink  14  inside felt reservoir  32 . 
         [0018]    A communicator nib  24  may be housed within and between an applicator arm  22  of the applicator  12  and the housing  18 . The applicator arm  22  may house a felt applicator nib  26  which communicates with the communicator nib  24 . The communicator nib  24  may be configured to carry fluid, such as ink  14  from the felt reservoir  32  to the felt applicator nib  26 . 
         [0019]    The felt applicator nib  26  may include an indentation  60 , such as, a semi-circular or half-moon shaped edge. 
         [0020]    The applicator arm  22  may include flat tip edges  52  disposed at both sides of a housed application nib indentation  28 . The flat tip edges  52  may also define the ends of a semi-circular shaped, open-faced edge indentation  38  disposed to expose the felt applicator nib  26 . There may be a plurality of applicator arm cap snap teeth  40  which may be adapted to be snapped on by the ribs  42  of the applicator arm cap  20  . 
         [0021]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the applicator arm  22  may have a bend  62  in an angle ranging from 0 to 90 degrees, typically from 22 to 60 degrees. The felt applicator nib  26  and the communicator nib  24  may be housed beyond the bend  62  inside the applicator arm  22  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
         [0022]    The reservoir chamber  18 , the applicator arm  22 , and applicator arm cap  20  may comprise various polymer type materials that encase the felt applicator nib  26 , the communicator nib  24 , and felt reservoir  32  to provide air tightness and durable protection. 
         [0023]    The communication nib  24  may extend out on one end  50  and slide into the felt reservoir  32  inside the marker to provide access and fluid communication of the colored ink  14  from the felt reservoir  32  to the second end  48  of the applicator arm  22  where the ink  14  may be applied to conductors and types of conductor sheath. 
         [0024]    The felt applicator nib  26 , the communicator nib  24 , and the felt reservoir  32  may be made of porous compressed or non-compressed material such as felt, nylon, or polyester, wool, other similar material, to ensure proper fluidity of the colored ink  14  and durability of nib  26  for repetitive use and enough flexibility for good ink coverage on the uneven surface of the conductor sheath 
         [0025]    The applicator arm cap  20  may be square on a first end and an indentation  64  on a second end with ribs  42  which are parallel to the first end providing facilitated gripping by hands. The applicator arm cap  20  may snap on and off from applicator arm  22 . This may protect the exposed part of the felt applicator arm  22  from damage and being dried out. 
         [0026]    The applicator arm cap  20  may be snapped on to the reservoir chamber  18  which may form the applicator arm cap holder  36  when the marker  10  is in use as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    In operation, the applicator arm  22  and reservoir chamber  18  may snap and may be sealed airtight together. In one exemplary use, the marker  10  may be laid firmly onto the surface of a conductor sheath so that the nib indentation  26  is exposed through the applicator arm  22  indentation  38  for indexed engagement of the applicator  12  to the surface of the underlying conductor sheath. The user may swab the sheath with the applicator  12  of the marker  10  until the conductor sheath has desired ink coverage and a desired length of wire colored. 
         [0028]    In an exemplary embodiment, the colored ink  14  or paint may be made of various types of materials to give differing colors to each marker and to be considered permanent. rub and water resistant, which may include the use of ink and paint comprising materials, such as propanol, butanol, diacetone alcohol, cresol, or xylene, for example. 
         [0029]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.