Patent Publication Number: US-6217245-B1

Title: Writing instrument having a glitter embedded barrel and method of making same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention deals with the field of decorative writing instruments and methods for making uniquely decorative surfaces on the barrels thereof. Generally it is advisable that a decoratively coated writing instrument be also functional in that it is capable of easily being gripped and used in the normal manner as any other writing instrument. Many decorative barrel implements or coatings do not provide a functional surface. The present invention is unique in that pencils make with this process provide a very decorative iridescent frosted type appearance and texture while at the same time being completely functional and easily grasped and in fact enhancing the gripping characteristics of the barrel when a user utilizes the writing instrument in the normal manner. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Prior art designs and methods have been disclosed in design and utility patents disclosing various types of coatings on pencil barrels as shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 37,855 patented Feb. 27, 1906 to E. Faber on a “Pencil”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 37,869 patented Mar. 6, 1906 to E. Faber on a “Pencil”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 37,870 patented Mar. 6, 1906 to E. Faber on a “Pencil”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 87,523 patented Aug. 9, 1932 to D. Kahn and assigned to David Kahn, Inc. on a “Fountain Pen”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 92,212 patented May 8, 1934 to C. R. Sheaffer and assigned to W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company on a “Fountain Pen Or Similar Article”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 156,633 patented Dec. 27, 1969 to H. Krause on a “Writing Implement”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,669 patented Jun. 20, 1989 to C. Hughes et al and assigned to Color Quest Inc. on “Water Soluble Coloring Compositions Containing Sparkle Components”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,242 patented Aug. 22, 1989 to C. Hughes et al and assigned to Color Quest Inc. on “Water Soluble Coloring Compositions Containing Sparkle Components”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,013 patented Feb. 5, 1991 to C. Hejmanowski on a “Glitter Crayon”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,952 patented Nov. 16, 1993 to M. Craig and assigned to Binney &amp; Smith Inc. on a “Solid Marking Composition Containing Glitter”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,267 patented Nov. 23, 1993 to P. Wang on a “Utensil With Glittering Handle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,954 patented Jan. 24, 1995 to M. Craig and assigned to Binney &amp; Smith, Inc. on a “Solid Marking Composition Containing Glitter”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,615 patented Jul. 11, 1995 to C. Correll on a “Hand-Held Fitness Device For Promoting Exercise”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,532 patented Dec. 10, 1996 to S. Tucker on a “Glitter Toy”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,143 patented Sep. 23, 1997 to P. Wu and assigned to Dyna Chain Industrial Co. Ltd. and Sara Rose International Inc. on an “Eating Utensil With Handle Providing A Visual Amusing Effect”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,622 patented Apr. 7, 1998 to N. Melnick et al and assigned to Pentech International Inc. on a “Writing Instrument with A Compressible Friction Coating And Method Of Making”. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a unique method of the manufacturing of a writing instrument where the instrument ultimately has a glitter coated barrel with a unique frosted appearance. Initially the instrument is provided with a main body preferably defining a wooden barrel extending therearound with a writing tip at one end. The wooden barrel preferably has a diameter of approximately 6.9 millimeters in order to be less than the standard size of such writing instruments by an amount equal to the thickness of the base colorant coat and the layer of adhesive material with deposited glitter after curing in order to provide a final barrel diameter approximately equal to the standard size. In this manner the writing instrument can be handled in the conventional manner and is not overly large in diameter and also allows use with conventional pencil sharpeners which are designed to sharpen pencils of approximately 7.75-7.8 millimeters in diameter. 
     Initially the wooden barrel has a base coat applied thereto of a colorant which preferably is a lacquer paint. This base colorant is preferably relatively dark and is certainly darker than the final overall desired color such that subsequent coats and including the adhesive will mask a portion of the color. It is necessary that the base colorant be significantly darker than this final desired color. 
     The layer of adhesive is then applied thereon by brushing or spraying over the base coat of colorants onto the barrel of the writing instrument. This adhesive material preferably comprises a polyvinyl acrylic glue composition which includes materials useful as adhesives for both wood and plastics. Prior to curing of this adhesive layer a glitter is deposited thereon preferably in an electrostatic manner. Such glitter deposition is called electro flocking and is achieved by placing a voltage differential between the dispensed glitter and the pencil itself which tends to attract the glitter into contact with the uncured adhesive layer on the pencil or writing instrument to achieve complete coating thereof preferably of the thickness of approximately one particle. 
     This glitter so deposited preferably is partially translucent to allow portions of the base colorant to be visible therethrough. The glitter preferably will be of a mylar material and preferably be iridescent. This iridescent mylar glitter provides a frosted appearance of the writing instrument coating when finally cured. A cover coat or fourth coat of preferably translucent or transparent material can be applied over the glitter-coated barrel to enhance adherence. This cover coat can be made with a clear adhesive material or can be a conventional clear lacquer or enamel paint material. Such cover coat is extremely thin and does not significantly affect the dimensions of the barrel. 
     Preferably the individual glitter particles are of a size approximately 0.08 millimeters but in any case less than 0.1 millimeters. This mylar glitter is preferably at least partially transparent to an extent to allow approximately 35% of the intensity of the base colorant to be visible therethrough after curing of the layer of adhesive in which it is embedded. 
     The adhesive material is then cured preferably by heating within an oven to affix the glitter and the adhesive material together with respect to the colorant coated barrel of the writing instrument with the base paint layer and the cured glitter covered adhesive layer being of approximately 0.425 to 0.45 millimeters in thickness. In this manner the final writing instrument diameter after curing of the adhesive will be approximately 7.75 to 7.8 millimeters since the base barrel is 6.9 millimeters in diameter. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the glitter coating is iridescent. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the glitter coating the writing instrument is formed of mylar. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein a base colorant is painted with a lacquer paint beneath the glitter and the glitter adhesive layer to facilitate partial viewing thereof through the partially translucent glitter. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein an initial writing instrument barrel of 6.9 millimeters becomes a final barrel of 7.75-7.8 millimeters after applying of the first layer of base colorant, the second layer adhesive and the third layer of glitter thereto and curing. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein sharpening with a conventionally sized pencil sharpener is possible. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the glitter is firmly adhered to the adhesive. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein use with wooden pencil barrels as well as plastic pencil barrels is possible. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the adhesive layer is completely covered by a layer of glitter one particle thick due to electrostatic depositing of the glitter upon the adhesive layer. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the adhesive layer is completely covered by a layer of glitter one particle thick due to electro flocking of the glitter upon the adhesive layer. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the apparatus for making of the writing instrument is inexpensive. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the apparatus is easily maintained. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the apparatus has very few moving parts. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein the apparatus uses relatively inexpensive materials to create a unique frosted appearance. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a glitter coated barrel wherein final coloration is controlled by variations in intensity and color choice of the base colorant of lacquer paint. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portions herein, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of a writing instrument made according to the method of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional illustration of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 1 depicting the multiple layers of colorant, adhesive and glitter placed upon a wooden pencil writing instrument; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the method for making of the writing instrument of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the surface area of the embodiment of the writing instrument shown in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a unique method for making of a unique writing instrument  10 . Such writing instrument includes a conventional main body  12  with a barrel  14  preferably formed of wood. The main body  12  and/or barrel  14  may also be formed from extruded plastic. A writing tip  16  is positioned extending outwardly from the main body  12  to facilitate marking therewith. 
     The barrel  14  is preferably cylindrically shaped but can be of any shape and includes a first layer  20  of base colorant  22  placed thereon. This base colorant is preferably a paint and more preferably is a paint having a lacquer base. The choice of base color is important because it will partially show through the subsequently deposited layers and has a major impact on the final overall color of the external frosted appearance of the glitter embedded pen of this invention. 
     Once the base colorant  22  has dried or cured a second layer  24  of adhesive material  26  can be applied thereonto. This second layer  24  can be sprayed or brushed as necessary and will usually extend over the entire surface of the barrel  14  which was coated with the base colorant  22  of the first layer  20 . The adhesive material  26  of the second layer  24  preferably comprises a resin based or plastic glue which is used for securing both wood and plastic materials together. As such, the adhesive material  26  can be used for both wood and plastic barrels. Such glue useful in this manner include polyvinyl acrylic adhesive material  26 . 
     The adhesive material  26  needs to be cured. However, prior to curing thereof a third layer of glitter  30  is preferably deposited thereon. Movement of the glitter into contact with the adhesive layer  26  can be difficult sometimes and needs to be done smoothly in order to assure the overall even frosted appearance of the finally formed pencil coating. For this reason the glitter  30  is preferably electrostatically applied to the external surface of the adhesive second layer  24 . Such electrostatic flocking is normally performed by placing an electrical potential difference between the writing instrument  10  to be coated and the glitter particles  30  themselves. Such electrostatic deposition is often called electro flocking. In this process often a voltage as high as 10,000 volts is applied to the writing instrument  10  and main body  12  to attract glitter thereto. It is preferable that this glitter be attracted to the adhesive material  26  of the second layer  24  because the glitter needs to cover the entire surface thereof to a depth of preferably one particle. In this manner the full frosted appearance will be achieved while at the same time translucency will be maximized. 
     A fourth or cover coat  42  can then be applied over the glitter-coated barrel  14  to enhance adherence of glitter  30 . The cover coat  42  is of a translucent material or, preferably, a transparent material to allow the coloration of the base colorant  22  and the glitter  30  to shown prominently therethrough. Also this cover coat  42  will be relatively thin such that the overall diameter of the barrel  14  is not significantly increased. Preferably this cover coat  42  is of a clear adhesive material or of a conventional clear coat enamel or lacquer paint material. 
     It is preferable that the glitter  30  be made of a mylar material and preferably an iridescent mylar and also needs to be at least partially translucent in order to be able to allow viewing of the base colorant  22  therebelow. In the preferred configuration the glitter  30  in the third layer  28  and the adhesive  26  and the second layer  24  will have the effect of obsruring approximately 65% of the intensity of the base colorant  22 . In this manner a soft or pastel color will appear through the frosted appearance of the mylar glitter which has been shown to be an extremely attractive and desirable surface configuration. 
     Once the glitter particles  30  are positioned as desired the writing instrument  12  is heated in order to cure the adhesive material  26 . This heating is often performed within an oven  32 . The writing tip  16  is shown as a pencil lead  40  in FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 also shows the relative dimensions between the thicknesses of the first, second and third layer. Reference numeral  34  is the thickness of the first layer  20  of base colorant  22 . Reference numeral  36  is the thickness of the second layer  24  of adhesive material  26 . Reference numeral  38  refers to the thickness of the second layer  24  and third layer  28  added together. Thickness  38  added to thickness  34  is preferably approximately 0.425-0.45 millimeters. The basic initial size of the barrel  14  of the writing instruments  10  is 6.9 millimeters. Thus, if you add 6.9 millimeters to the thickness of all three coats applied twice through a diameter, the final dimension is achieved of 7.75-7.80 millimeters in diameter for the final product. 
     This final size is important since most pencil sharpeners are designed to sharpen pencils of this size. If a standard barrel such as a wooden barrel of the pencil were utilized and these three coatings were applied, the pencil would be too large for sharpening in such pencil sharpeners which is a distinct inconvenience in use thereof. Also it would be of a size larger than the normal diameter of a pencil and would have an uncomfortable feeling for most users. For this reason the initial size of the barrel  14  is reduced such that the final triple coated surface will be the conventional pencil diameter size. This process combined with the iridescent mylar glitter adhered in the unique manner with a base colorant provides an overall appearance and functionality which simultaneously will be both pleasing and utilitarian. 
     While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, it will be apparent, that many changes may be made in the form, arrangement and positioning of the various elements of the combination. In consideration thereof it should be understood that preferred embodiments of this invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.