Abstract:
Marking tool systems are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward a marking tool system that includes a plurality of marking tools. At least some of the marking tools can individually include a unique, customizable marking tool graphic on its respective outer surface. The marking tool system can further include a housing configured to carry the marking tools. The housing can include an opening at a front portion of the housing that is configured to display the marking tool graphics.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present technology relates generally to marking tools and associated systems. Some embodiments, for example, are directed to writing utensils and associated systems, as well as methods of use and manufacture. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Certain occasions, such as first day of school, graduation, marriage, birthdays, teams, dinner party, weekly poker night, etc. bring together one or more persons. Often times in such settings it is desirable to commemorate the event, both to enhance the experience and also to create memories. Likewise, groups of people can hold a special meaning(s) to an individual. As such, many individuals can benefit from having a symbolic representation of that group or occasion. Also, marking tools have been used for centuries as therapeutic devices. For example, “play therapy” is one effective method of psychotherapy for children. In play therapy, children express their experiences and feelings through play, which can include drawing and/or coloring. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Many aspects of the present technology can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, Furthermore, components can be shown as transparent in certain views for clarity of illustration only and not to indicate that the illustrated component is necessarily transparent. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on illustrating clearly the principles of the present technology. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a marking tool system configured in accordance with the present technology. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a method for creating a marking tool system on a website, the method and website configured in accordance with the present technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]    The present technology is directed to marking tools and associated systems and methods. Some embodiments of the present technology, for example, are directed to writing tools and associated systems and methods, Specific details of several embodiments of the technology are described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Additionally, some embodiments of the technology can have different configurations, components, or procedures than those described herein. For example, although the present technology is illustrated and explained with respect to a writing utensil, marking tools not commonly used to write with (such as a paintbrush) are also within the scope of the present technology. A person of ordinary skill in the art, therefore, will accordingly understand that the technology can have other embodiments with additional elements, or the technology can have other embodiments without several of the features shown and described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a marking tool system  100  configured in accordance with the present technology. The marking tool system  100  can include a housing  102  configured to carry one or more marking tools  104 . As used herein, a “marking tool” refers to any instrument configured to change the appearance of an object. For example, a marking tool can be a pencil, pen, marker, crayon, spray bottle, scissors, paint brush and the like. 
         [0008]    The housing  102  can have a flap  112  at a top portion that is moveable between open and closed positions. The housing  102  can also have an opening  110  at a front portion. The opening  110  can be configured to display one or more graphics  106  carried by the marking tools  104  when positioned within the housing  102 . One or more portions of the housing can also include additional graphics. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a front portion of the housing  102  can have one or more member graphics  114  that are aligned with or correspond to a marking tool  106  on display through the opening  110 . The member graphics  114  can include any person, animal, place, symbol, or object customized by the user (discussed in greater detail below). A front portion of the housing  102  can also include a. label graphic  108 . The label graphic  108  can communicate the significance of the collection of members (e.g., “Kelly&#39;s Family”, etc.), communicate a message (e.g., Happy Graduation!, etc.), and/or display any person, animal, place, object and/or symbol desired by the user. In other embodiments, the member graphics  114  and/or label graphic(s)  108  can be positioned anywhere on the exterior or interior of the housing. Although the housing  102  shown in  FIG. 1  has a rectangular shape, the housing  102  can have other shapes, sizes and/or configurations. The housing  102  can he made of cardboard, plastic, metal and other suitable materials. 
         [0009]    Each marking tool  104  can have one or more graphics  104  displayed on at least a portion of the exterior of the respective marking tool  104 , For example, in some embodiments the graphic  106  can be directly integrated with the marking tool  104  (e.g., etched, printed, painted, etc, on or within the exterior material of the marking tool  104 ). In a particular embodiment, the graphic  106  can be printed on a separate material that is permanently affixed to the marking tool  104  (e.g., a wrap), in yet other embodiments, the marking tool  104  can include a fixation element (e.g., Velcro, snap-fit pin, button, adhesive, etc.) that removably attaches to a complementary fixation element that is coupled to the graphic  106 . As such, a user can remove the graphic  106  at will and/or trade graphics between marking tools  104 . 
         [0010]    The graphic  106  can include any person, animal, symbol, place and/or object. In some embodiments, the graphic  106  can be selected from (discussed in more detail below) a list of pre-generated options on a website or other selection means, which includes cartoon representations, as well as linear depictions, graphic illustrations, photographs or other means of depicting a person, animal, symbol, place and or object. In a particular embodiment, the user can upload his or her own graphic and/or photograph to be used as the graphic  106 , the graphic  114 , graphic  108 , as well as/or on the marking tool  104 . The graphics  106  can be related by group of people (e.g., family, friends, sports team, workplace, etc.), experience (e.g., graduation, wedding, engagement, new baby, etc.) and/or any unifying characteristic meaningful to the user. 
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a method carried out by a website configured. in accordance with the present technology. The website can be configured to facilitate the customization and/or personalization of the marking tools and/or marking tool system by a user. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a user can be prompted (by the website) to enter the number of members. The number of members can correspond to the number of marking tools desired for placement within the housing  102 . In some embodiments, one or more marking tools can be purchased and/or designed for use and/or delivery separate from the housing  102 . Next, a user can be prompted to identify each member. The identity of each member, for example, can eventually be displayed on a front portion of the housing  102  as the member graphic  114  ( FIG. 1 ). The user can pick from a list of names provided by the website, such as “mom”, “dad”, “brother”, “sister”, “grandma”, “aunt”, “dog”, “friend”, etc. Instead of or in addition to the pre-populated list on the website, the user can be prompted to enter his or her own text and/or graphic. Once the members are identified, the user can be prompted to select various characteristics for each member (e.g., tall, short, long hair, short hair, brown eyes, blue eyes, glasses, mustache, type of animal, etc.). Next, the user can be prompted to enter or select a text or graphic for the label graphic  108  ( FIG. 1 ). Additionally, a user can be prompted to select the specific order of marking tools  104  within the housing  102  such that the display of graphics  106  through the opening  110  has a particular theme or look (e.g., for a graduation, the graduate would be positioned at the middle of the marking tools  104 , for a family, the marking tools  104  can be arranged in age order, etc.) The theme or look can be selected by the user to fit the interest and desire of the user. 
         [0012]    Once all of the details have been finalized, the website can display a preview of the marking tool system  100 , and prompt the user to confirm his or her satisfaction with the appearance of the marking tool system  100 . Should the user find the preview acceptable, the website can then prompt the user to either make another marking tool and/or marking tool system, to generate a card or other related product that incorporates the marking tool and/or marking tool system or proceed to billing, shipping, and payment. Finally, once the user has submitted a payment through the website, the website can display a receipt for the user and/or email a receipt to the user. 
         [0013]    It should be noted that the present technology can be configured to include more or less than the stages illustrated in  FIG. 2  and can be in any order (not just the order shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0014]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.