Abstract:
A stacked marker is formed by stacking individual stackable markers where each stackable marker is a fully functional marker and each stackable marker can be selected for use and then reassembled to store the restackable marker. Each stackable marker is originally assembled as an otherwise ordinary marker, but with a temporary utility cap, which, upon being inserted into a rear receptacle in another marker, is left therein to form the permanent cap for other markers. When fully assembled, the stacked marker becomes a multi-unit final assembly that affords one the use of a plurality of different types of markers that are snapped together during non-use and taken apart to select individual markers during use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of design patent application Ser. No. 29/168,667 filed Oct. 4, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     The present invention relates to writing implements and, more particularly, to a marker-style writing and drawing implement that is constructed of plural stackable and individually usable marker parts. 
     The instant inventors are aware of a pencil product with stackable parts and comprising a single outer barrel and individual, miniature round bodies, each supporting a sharpened pencil tip, which are stackable above one another, so that when a particular pencil tip becomes dull, it is removed from the writing end of the barrel and forcibly inserted through the rear opening of the barrel to push out another sharpened pencil tip. Conventional wisdom does not disfavor the stacking of pencil or even pen parts, inasmuch as the writing end of these parts are not subject to drying, if exposed to the environment over prolonged periods. 
     In marked contrast, marker products have constantly wetted felt or fabric tips, which must be quickly and hermetically sealed when the product is not in use, in order to avoid the drying up of the product, or rendering the product inoperable. Therefore, it has been deemed counterintuitive to provide stackable marker products, because they would require producing the individual components of a stackable marker with temporary caps that prevent drying until the products have been stacked together, after which the temporary caps would have to be thrown away. This results in the production of extra parts, unnecessary manufacturing steps and, therefore, an extra cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide stackable markers that provide the capability of assembling multiple color markers in a single, hand-held marker product. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a stackable marker product that can be easily and inexpensively produced. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a stackable marker that provides good sealing between the stackable markers, so as to prevent unnecessary evaporation of highlighter or ink formulations. 
     The foregoing and other objects of the invention are realized with a stackable marker or a kit of individual marker products that can be stacked together to create a single utilitarian, hand-held marker that enables providing individual marker components, in different colors or different types of nibs or different types of writing characteristics. 
     More specifically, the invention is preferably directed to a stackable marker, a plural number of which can be combined to form a composite stacked marker. Each stackable marker component has a barrel with a first longitudinal opening and a second longitudinal opening and an interior space therebetween. The second longitudinal opening is sealed from the interior space by an interior wall with the space between the interior wall and the second longitudinal opening defining a receptacle for a cap of another stackable marker. 
     A marker filler is provided in the interior space on the other side of the interior wall and a marker nib penetrates through the first opening and is coupled to the filler and is held at the first opening by a nib retainer, with a portion of the nib protruding outwardly. 
     A utility nib cap is initially affixed to the barrel of each stackable marker during the manufacture or assembly thereof. That utility nib cap seals the protruding end of the nib to the barrel, protecting the nib against drying. The utility nib cap is so shaped and constructed, that when the stackable markers are thereafter intercoupled with one another, the insertion thereof into the receptacle of another stackable marker causes the utility nib to remain fixed in the other utility marker to subsequently form the cap for any stackable marker that is thereafter inserted therein. 
     The utility nib cap is so constructed and shaped, that the frictional holding force on the outer surface thereof, with the interior surface of the receptacle, causes it to be held therein, while the frictional force between the interior surface of the utility nib cap with the nib end of another marker is of lesser magnitude. Thereby, the composite stacked marker holds together firmly. But the stackable markers can nonetheless be pulled apart and reassembled as often as is desired or necessary. 
     The individual markers can have different marker formulations or be of different colors or of different characteristics. For example, a marker formulation that is capable of erasing other marks that are made with other types of markers can be provided. 
    
    
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 a ,  1   b ,  1   c  and  1   d , perspectively and respectively illustrate a stackable marker containing single, double, triple, and quadruple stacked markers. 
     FIG. 2 perspectively shows individual stackable marker components that are shown in exploded view, prior to their being assembled into a single, double, etc., stacked marker. 
     FIG. 2 a  shows a single one of the stackable submarkers illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 a  and FIG. 3 b  are an exploded view of a single, stackable marker part with a cap and clip therefor. 
     FIG. 3 c  shows a cap portion for the stackable marker, partially cut away to show interior details. 
     FIG. 4 shows a preassembled single stackable marker and 
     FIG. 4 a  shows a view of FIG. 4 in the direction of lines  4   a — 4   a  thereof. 
     FIG. 5 a  shows a stackable marker with a holding loop. 
     FIG. 5 b  shows a single stacked marker with a holding loop in combination with a key ring. 
     FIG. 6 shows a kit holding numerous stackable marker parts, which can be used by an end user to create one or more composite stacked markers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 a  shows a single stacked marker  10  comprising an oval-shaped barrel  12  with a nib end cap  14  and a clip  16  affixed to the free end thereof. The clip  16  can be marked with commercial insignia, such as, for example, the name of a company, e.g., Dri Mark, as illustrated. 
     FIG. 1 b  shows a double stacked marker  10   b  with individual stacked barrels  12   a  and  12   b  with a single cap  14  and clip  16 . In similar fashion, FIG. 1 c  shows a triple stacked marker  10   c , with barrels  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , nibcap  14  and clip  16 . In the same vein, the stackable marker  10   d  of FIG. 1 d  includes individual markers  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d.    
     Preferably, each of the individual markers dispenses a marker fluid of a color different from the other colors. Optionally, one of the markers is provided as an erasing marker that is able to erase the markings applied by the other stackable markers. As shown, the stackable markers of the invention can be provided with any number of such individual markers, for example, two, three, etc., including as many as ten or more. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4 a , the outer barrel body  18 , of each individual marker has an oval cross-sectional shape. The opposed sides of the oval-shaped barrel body may be ridged, as indicated at  19 , to provide comfort, better handling in use, as well as stylistic effects. 
     FIG. 2 shows the individual marker components  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  that make up the composite stack marker  10   c  shown in FIG. 1 c . Each of these components, for example, the marker component  12   a , consists of an otherwise conventional marker with a barrel  18 , a marker nib  24  that is capped and held in proper position partially extending out of the barrel  18  by a nib retainer  20 . The nib retainer  20 , or outer barrel surface of each marker may be colored or marked to identify the color or characteristic of the marker fluid within. 
     Most significantly, each of the stackable individual markers  12   a  and  12   b  is initially produced with its nib  24  enclosed by a utility cap  22 , which keeps the exposed nib fully sealed against the elements so it would not dry and have a long shelf life, permitting much later assembly into the actual composite stacked marker. The utility cap  22  seals the individual barrel unit at assembly, providing a filled sub-assembly that can be stored for future use in multi-unit final assemblies. 
     The shape and surface of the utility cap  22  enable it to snap into the bottom openable end  18   b  (FIG. 3 b ) of an adjacent stackable barrel sub-assembly and, once inserted, to remain fixed in the barrel. This initial act transforms the bottom of each barrel into the cap of another individual marker. In other words, once the sub-assembly marker products  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  shown in FIG. 2 have been assembled with one another, their individual utility caps become lodged in the otherwise open end  18   b  of adjacent barrels  18  of another sub-assembly. The utility cap  22 , once inserted, remains in the barrel of the adjacent sub-assembly or within the cap  14  (FIG. 2,  3   a  or  3   b ), providing the assembly feature along with the sealing component for the cap to another barrel. 
     Since the utility cap  22  and stackable barrel sub-assemblies  18  can be stored individually by color, final multi-unit stackable markers, e.g.,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d , can be assembled with the exact colors requested by a customer, without the need to custom fill each assembly. Picking the necessary parts and final “snap-together” assemblies is all that is required to fill orders, greatly reducing the time required and the costs involved. This feature also reduces the inventory necessary to provide customer color choices. 
     Since the utility cap  22  also creates the assembly feature for the outer cap  14 , this outer cap  14  can also be customized by color and style and assembled with the other stackable barrels at final assembly. 
     The utility cap  22  simplifies assembly because it becomes an integral part of the sub-assembly and does not require the removal and discarding of any temporary sealing caps used only for storage purposes. 
     As further illustrated in FIG. 6, the invention can also be provided in the form of a kit  60  of parts comprising a plurality of marker sub-assemblies  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  in a large number, for example,  12  or  20  or even  30 , with one or more caps  14  and in various colors and including several barrel plugs- 18   c  (FIG. 3 a ), such as to enable an end user to actually construct several stackable markers according to their own choice of color combinations and number of stackable markers and arrangements to suit individual needs. The kit  60  of the aforementioned parts is provided in a plastic bag  61 , illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     With further reference to FIG. 3 b , each barrel  18  comprises an internally located marker filler  36  that is suffused with marker fluid of a particular color or characteristics (for example, eraser fluid), which is further provided with a central opening  36   a  that receives the free end of the nib  24  that emerges within the barrel  18  through the nib retainer  20 . This occurs when the nib retainer is fully inserted through the nib retainer, as illustrated in FIG. 2 a . The interior of the barrel  18  is sealed by a diaphragm wall  18   a , as shown in FIG. 3 b , such that when the barrel is assembled with the nib retainer  20 , the nib  24 , filler  36  and the utility cap  22  is attached as shown in any of the marker sub-assemblies in FIG. 2, the filler  36  and the nib  24  are protected against evaporation, clogging and drying up, enabling a long shelf life. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3 c , the cap  14  of FIG. 3 b  is shown with the interior thereof partially exposed to show axially extending ribs  14   a  disposed along the right and left peripheral sides thereof, as well as circumferentially extending rings  14   b  and a constricted opening  14   c . The ribs  14   a  and  14   b  are arranged to mate with and orient the insertion of the utility cap  22 , such that the grooves  23  located on the central body  22   b  (FIG. 3 a ) thereof, mate with one another with the circumferential rings  14   b  providing strong frictional hold on the utility cap. Additional frictional hold is obtained by the narrowed diameter tip  22   c  of the utility cap  22  engaging tightly the receiving hole  14   c  in the cap  14 , so that once the utility cap  22  is inserted, it will not come out as the barrel  18  is disengaged from the cap. A similar arrangement of longitudinally as well as circumferentially extending rings or ribs is provided in the bottom opening  18   b  of the barrel. 
     The utility cap  22  may be fabricated of low density polyethylene and the circumferential skirt-like collar  22   a  thereof locks tightly onto the nib retainer to provide effective sealing when the barrel  18  with its nib  24  is pushed into the utility cap  22 . With reference to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , the stackable markers of the present invention can be provided such that the caps  14  include a holding loop  30  with or without an additional key ring  32  as shown. Moreover, the cap  14  is provided with side ridges  19   a , as well as additional longitudinally extending ridges  19   b  that provide both stylistic effect and better gripping during use. 
     As described above, and as is clearly evident from FIGS. 1 b ,  1   c  and  1   d , the utility cap is designed such that once it is inserted, it is substantially entirely received within the barrel in which it has been inserted and will not again be used as a marker cap accessible to the user. When a plurality of barrels are stacked together, for example, the marker barrels  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d , they are either in abutting or almost abutting position, creating a smooth composite marker product in which the utility cap is essentially not visible, as shown in the drawings. 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.