Abstract:
In a combination coating film transfer tool and ball-point pen, the transfer tool comprises a case, and a replacement cassette comprising supply and take-up reels and a transfer head. The cassette fits tightly, but removably, in the case, with the tip of the transfer head projecting from the case. The cassette is replaced from time to time, but the case can be reused. Consequently waste of plastic is reduced, and the replacement units can be manufactured less expensively.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to coating film transfer tools for transferring a coating film for correction, an adhesive, a decorative coating film, etc., to a receiving surface. It relates particularly to a transfer tool made integral with a writing implement.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the past, various products have been developed which incorporate a coating film transfer tool integrated with a writing implement such as a ball-point pen. Moreover, in some cases, the coating film transfer tool is replaceable. For example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 25056/1998 discloses a coating film transfer tool integrated with a writing implement, as shown in FIG. 5. This coating film transfer tool, which is integral with a writing implement  60 , comprises a case  61 , divided into two parts, and a transfer head  64 , which presses against a receiving surface. A transfer tape T in the transfer head, has a transferable agent, such as an adhesive or a correcting agent, laminated on its surface. The transfer head transfers the transferable agent to a receiving surface. The case  61  comprises two case elements,  61 A and  61 B. Each case element is assembled by engaging two plate-shaped members. The case elements  61 A and  61 B are removably coupled by a joint member  66  having recesses which receive end portions of the case elements in facing relationship to each other. The case element  61 A functions as a coating film transfer tool, and the case element  61 B functions as a pen, having a pen point  68  and a removable cap  69  covering the point.  
           [0003]    Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 181288/1998 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 181985/1998 disclose another coating film transfer tool  70  integrated with a writing implement, as shown in FIG. 6. This tool  70  comprises a pen section  72 , which is integrated through a tubular coupling  71  with a coating film transfer tool  73 . A projection provided on the coating film transfer tool  73  is engaged with a hole formed in the coupling  71  and thus, the coating film transfer tool  73  is removably connected with the coupling  71 .  
           [0004]    In these conventional instruments, the writing implement, typically a ball-point pen, has a relatively long life, whereas the coating film transfer tool has a relatively short life. Consequently the coating film transfer tool must be replaced frequently. Although only the coating film supply in the transfer tool is exhausted, the entire transfer tool, including its outer case, is disposed of at the time of replacement. The disposal of the outer case, which is usually made of plastics, is a waste of resources. Moreover, when the plastic is burnt in the disposal process, harmful gas is generated, causing environmental pollution.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In the combination coating film transfer tool and writing implement in accordance with the invention the coating film transfer tool comprises a case and a replacement cassette. The replacement cassette comprises a supply reel of transfer tape comprising a base material tape coated with a coating film, a transfer head having a tip portion for pressing and transferring the coating film onto a receiving surface, and a take-up reel. The base material tape extends from the supply reel, and past the transfer head to the take-up reel, so that the base material tape can be wound onto the take-up reel as the coating film is transferred onto a receiving surface. The replacement cassette is disposed in the case, with at least the tip portion of the transfer head projecting from the case, and the replacement cassette is removable from the case so that only the cassette needs to be replaced, and the case can be re-used.  
           [0006]    Means are preferably provided on the inner surface of the case, for engagement with the replacement cassette, to prevent rotation of the replacement cassette relative to the case. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement means is a D-shaped element, and the replacement cassette has a cut-out section complementary to the D-shaped element.  
           [0007]    One or more protectors are preferably provided on the replacement cassette for preventing a user&#39;s finger from directly touching the transfer tape.  
           [0008]    According to the invention, since a coating film transfer tool of a coating film transfer tool made integral with a writing implement is a replacement cassette type, further utilization of plastic resources and reduction of waste plastic are possible as compared with a conventional method of disposing of the whole coating film transfer tool.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a coating film transfer tool integrated with a writing instrument, according to the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a replacement cassette;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a replacement cassette placed in the main body section of a case;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4( a ) is a top plan view of the replacement cassette;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4( b ) is a right side view of the-replacement cassette;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4( c ) is a bottom plan view of the replacement cassette;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4( d ) is an end view of the replacement cassette, as seen in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4( a );  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional coating film transfer tool integrated with a writing implement; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of another conventional coating film transfer tool integrated with a writing implement. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    As shown in FIG. 1, the combined coating film transfer tool and writing implement  10  in accordance with the invention comprises a writing section  20 , and a coating film transfer tool  30  engaged with the writing section  20  by threads. The coating film transfer tool  30  comprises a case  40  and a replacement cassette  50 , which is placed in the case  40 , removably but tightly. The replacement cassette  50  comprises a tape supply reel  52  from which a transfer tape is unwound. The transfer tape comprises a base material coated with a coating film. The cassette also comprises a transfer head  54  for pressing and transferring the coating film onto a receiving surface, and a take-up reel  56 , onto which the base material tape is wound after the coating film is transferred.  
         [0019]    With the above-described structure, the amount of waste plastic is reduced, since the case  40  may be reused, and only the cassette  50  needs to be replaced when the transfer tape of is used up.  
         [0020]    The case  40  comprises a main body  42 , and a cap  44  which is removable from the main body. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, to connect the coating film transfer tool  30  to the writing section  20 , a female threaded section  32  of the coating film transfer tool  30  is engaged with a male threaded section  22  of the writing section  20 . However, any of a wide variety of other connection schemes may be adopted to connect the two main components. For example, frictional fitting, engagement through an intermediate member, or press fitting, may be used.  
         [0021]    As shown in FIG. 2, the replacement cassette  50  comprises a cassette case  58  having two spindles  52   a  and  56   a . A transfer head  54  protrudes outwardly from an end of the case, and has a pressing transfer section  54   a  at its tip. The cassette also includes a tape supply reel  52  and a take-up reel  56 , which are rotatable on the spindles  52   a  and  56   a  respectively. The tape supply reel comprises a transfer tape T, comprising a tape base material coated with a coating film, wound on spindle  52   a . The base material is wound onto the spindle  56   a  as the take-up reel  56 .  
         [0022]    As in the case of a conventional transfer tool, as the transfer tape T is unreeled from the supply reel  52 , the coating film is transferred to a receiving surface, and only the base material tape is reeled onto the take-up reel  56 . In the replacement cassette  50  of FIG. 2, the supply reel  52  and the take-up reel  56  are linked by an endless rubber belt B, so that the supply reel  52  and the take-up reel  56  rotate cooperatively.  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 3, the replacement cassette  50  fits tightly in the main body  42  of case  40 . A D-shaped element  46 , provided in the inner surface of the case is engaged with the replacement cassette  50 . The replacement cassette has a shape complementary to that of the D-shaped element, so that the cassette is prevented from rotating and from being inserted upside-down. Thus, the external shape of the replacement cassette  50  is the same as the internal shape of the interior space of the case. Of course element  46  is not limited to a D shape, and can be any shape that prevents the replacement cassette  50   a  from rotating and being inserted in the wrong direction.  
         [0024]    As shown in FIGS.  4 ( a )- 4 ( d ), the cassette case  58  of the replacement cassette  50  need not be entirely covered, and preferably has an open structure, being composed only of those members which are necessary for adequate strength. Thus, the amount of plastic material in the replacement cassette can be substantially less than the amount of plastic material in a conventional replaceable transfer tool unit. Where the cassette has an open structure, one or more protectors  58   a  are provided on the cassette case  58  to prevent the user&#39;s fingers from contacting and sticking to the coating film when the cassette is handled in the process of replacement.  
         [0025]    As shown in FIG. 4( d ), a flat part  59  is provided on the outer surface of the-replacement cassette  50 . This flat part is complementary to the flat interior wall formed by the D-shaped element  46  in the main body  42  of the case  40 . This flat part  59  allows the replacement cassette to fit non-rotatably in the case  40  when the replacement cassette  50  is placed in the case. The gap between the replacement cassette  50  and the inner surface of the case  40  is preferably made as small as possible.  
         [0026]    According to the invention, the replacement cassette reduces the waste of plastic compared with the conventional integrated transfer tool-writing implement, in which the entire coating film transfer tool is replaced. As a result, a significant cost reduction may realized. In addition, the replacement cassette can be prevented from rotating and from being inserted in the wrong direction, by providing an engaging means which is engageable with a replacement cassette in the inner surface of the case. The replacement cassette can be prevented from rotating, and from being inserted in the wrong direction by providing a D shaped element in the case, and giving the replacement cassette a shape complementary to the D-shaped element. Furthermore, by providing a protector on a replacement cassette, the user&#39;s fingers can be prevented from directly touching the transfer tape when a cassette is replaced.