Patent Publication Number: US-6217242-B1

Title: Scented writing implement

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to writing implements such as pencils and in particular a writing implement impregnated with a scent, fragrance or aroma 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Pencils are typically constructed of a cylindrical wood casing surrounding a graphite core. The exterior of the wood casing may or may not be coated with a coating such as paint and/or lacquer. The wood casing is partially removed at one end to expose some of the core, such as graphite, for the purpose of writing, drawing or marking. The pencil may or may not have an eraser attachment affixed to one end of the pencil by a fastener such as a ferrule etc. Few modifications of the basic pencil to make it more interesting have been introduced over the years, and consequently there has been little to choose as between different models of pencil. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pencil having a novel feature, namely an impregnated scent, aroma or fragrance. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The invention therefore provides a pencil comprising a solid elongated body surrounding a core of marking material, wherein the elongated body is impregnated with a fragrance. The invention further provides a method of manufacturing a fragrant pencil comprising: 
     a) providing an uncoated pencil made from an absorbent material; 
     b) submerging the pencil in a bath of liquid fragrance for a period of time sufficient for such pencil to absorb said fragrance; 
     c) removing said pencil from said bath and allowing it to dry. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, which are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation:. 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a writing implement in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the implement shown in FIG. 1 in sharpened condition; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the writing implement shown in FIG. 2 provided with an eraser; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines A—A of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention having a circular cross-sectional shape; 
     FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along lines B—B of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along lines A—A of FIG.  5 ; 
    
    
     BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     A standard pencil  10  comprises a cylindrical core  12  of graphite or other marking material, and a solid, rigid cylindrical casing  13  surrounding core  12 . As further described below, the novelty of the present invention is that the casing  13  is impregnated with an aroma, scent or fragrance. Pencil  10  may include a coating  15  applied on the exterior of the casing  13 , and an eraser attachment  17  affixed to the casing  13  by a metal ferrule  16  in the conventional way. 
     As in conventional pencils, the casing  13  is typically a rigid cylinder of either hexagonal or circular cross-section shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively with a hollow cylindrical central core running continuously along the length of the casing  13  for accommodating the writing core  12 . Whereas in conventional pencils the casing  13  typically is made of wood, in the present invention the casing material is preferably compressed newsprint impregnated with fragrance. Pencils made from compressed newspaper bonded by resin are currently manufactured by Tree Smart, Inc. of Lake Oswego, Oreg., and it has been found that such pencils are suitable for impregnating with fragrance. The uncoated newspaper pencils are submerged into a bath of liquid fragrance such as strawberry, coffee, honey-nut, etc. and allowed to soak for approximately 30 minutes. Because they are made of absorbent paper, they absorb the liquid fragrance. Liquid dyes may be added to the liquid fragrances for the purpose of adding color to the casing. They are then allowed to dry for up to approximately 30 minutes. After drying, the pencil body is dry to the touch and leaves little or no residue on a person&#39;s hand, and can hold the fragrance for up to six months or more. The liquid fragrances are purchased from fragrance manufacturers and are non-toxic chemical formulations that are either water, alcohol or glycol soluble. 
     After the pencils have dried, an adhesive label or banner may be placed around the body of the pencil immediately below the eraser and ferrule with a trademark or logo of the manufacturer or that of a corporate sponsor. Alternatively, a layer and/or layers of paint and/or lacquer may be applied to the exterior of the casing  13  for the purpose of adding color to the writing implement and/or providing protection for the casing  13  and reducing the evaporation of fragrance. 
     Thus, while the pencil according to the invention will always emit some fragrance, when a portion of the casing  13  is removed during sharpening, a sharply increased amount of fragrance will be emitted. This will encourage the user to frequently sharpen the pencil to obtain the pleasant sensation of the fragrance. 
     Thus, according to the present invention, since the casing of the writing implement is impregnated with the fragrance, the casing may emit the fragrance for the enjoyment of the human operating the writing implement while maintaining the ability to write and/or draw and/or erase. 
     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.