Patent Publication Number: US-2023133997-A1

Title: Marker pen with replaceable marker cartridge

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of each of co-pending U.S. provisional application No. 63/006,310, filed on Apr. 7, 2020 and United States design patent application No. 29/738,597, filed on Jun. 18, 2020, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein generally relate to marker pens and, more particularly but not exclusively, to making marker pen bodies with replaceable marker cartridges. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Marker pens are widely used in personal, business, and academic settings throughout the world. While these marker pens are useful tools, their single-use nature causes over 500 million markers to be disposed of every year. The disposable nature of marker pens is reinforced by their low quality, short life, and poor performance. A single disposable marker weighs 30% more than a plastic water bottle and decomposes at a much lower rate. The net result is over 17 million pounds of plastic dumped into overburdened landfills. 
     Several attempts have been made to establish a refillable marker. A common design is to include a liquid ink reservoir which continually supplies the nib with ink as the user writes. While this design allows the marker body to be reused by refilling the reservoir, it requires the user to handle vials of liquid ink. This can lead to ink spills and stains which cause some users to shy away from this option. Another common design is to allow the user to re-saturate depleted ink sponges with a liquid ink to extend the life of the marker. However, this method takes a significant amount of time which is unacceptable when it would be much easier to throw out the marker and grab a new one. 
     Another challenge with a disposable marker is the short life span of the fiber tip, referred to as a nib. One of the contributing factors to the disposable nature of the marker is the inability to replace the nib once it has lost its form. In current designs, nib replacement is often impossible without destroying the pen. Of the markers that do afford nib replacement, the process is messy, difficult, and inconvenient. 
     A need exists, therefore, for improved marker housing and replaceable marker cartridges. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This summary is not intended to identify or exclude key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     According to one aspect, embodiments relate to a marker pen body. The marker pen body includes a marker pen body front; and a marker pen body rear configured to removably mate with the marker pen body front, the mated marker pen body front and the marker pen body rear forming a cavity having an interior mating means configured to removably mate with a cartridge and prevent rotation of the cartridge in the cavity. 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body further includes a cap configured to removably connect to the marker pen body front. 
     In some embodiments, the cap is configured to snap-fit onto the marker pen body front. 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear is configured to removably mate with the marker pen body front using a screw thread. 
     In some embodiments, the interior mating means comprises at least two parallel ribs. 
     In some embodiments, the at least two ribs and extend along more than half of the length of the marker pen body front. 
     In some embodiments, the interior mating means comprises at least four parallel ribs extending along the length of the marker pen body front. 
     In some embodiments, the interior mating means comprises at least one indent in the interior of the marker pen body rear. 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body front has a female mating means configured to removably mate with a male mating means of the marker pen body rear. 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear comprises a male mating means configured to removably mate with a cap. 
     In another aspect, embodiments relate to a marker cartridge. The marker cartridge includes a nib; a marker cartridge housing comprising an exterior mating means configured to removably mate with a cavity of a marker pen body, such that removably mating the exterior mating means and the cavity is configured to prevent rotation of the marker cartridge housing in the cavity; and a sponge configured to contact the nib inside the marker cartridge housing and transfer ink to the nib. 
     In some embodiments, the marker cartridge housing is configured to restrict air flow to the sponge and the nib. 
     In some embodiments, the exterior mating means comprises at least two slots extending along the length of the marker cartridge housing. 
     In some embodiments, the exterior mating means comprises at least four slots extending along the length of the marker cartridge housing. 
     In some embodiments, the nib is a dry erase nib. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the nib or the sponge comprises a silicon polymer. 
     In some embodiments, the marker cartridge housing comprises a plastic polymer. 
     In some embodiments, the nib is configured to be removably mated to the marker cartridge housing and the sponge. 
     In yet another aspect, embodiments relate to a marker pen kit. The marker pen kit includes a marker pen body front; a marker pen body rear configured to removably mate with the marker pen body front, the mated marker pen body front and the marker pen body rear forming a cavity having an interior mating means; and a marker cartridge including a nib; a marker cartridge housing comprising an exterior mating means configured to removably mate with the interior mating means, such that removably mating the interior mating means and the exterior mating means is configured to prevent rotation of the marker cartridge housing in the cavity; and a sponge configured to contact the nib inside the marker cartridge housing and transfer ink to the nib. 
     In some embodiments, the exterior mating means comprises at least two slots extending along the length of the marker cartridge housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a marker pen with a replaceable marker cartridge in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an exploded view of a marker pen body and a replaceable marker cartridge in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a marker pen body with a cap in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a marker cartridge in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a cross-section of a marker pen body and a replaceable marker cartridge in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a cross-section of an exploded view of a marker pen body in accordance with one embodiment; and 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a marker cartridge loaded in a marker pen body in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show specific exemplary embodiments. However, the concepts of the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided as part of a thorough and complete disclosure, to fully convey the scope of the concepts, techniques, and implementations of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Embodiments may be practiced as methods, systems, or devices. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one example implementation or technique in accordance with the present disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     In addition, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, and not limiting, of the scope of the concepts discussed herein. 
     The embodiments described herein address the shortcomings of existing marker pens. The result is a marker pen configured to be refilled by a user. The marker pen comprises an exterior marker structure, referred to as a marker pen body, and a replaceable marker cartridge. The marker pen body comprises a marker pen body front and a marker pen body rear. In some embodiments, the marker pen body also comprises a cap configured to attach to the marker pen body front and cover an installed cartridge to prevent the cartridge from drying. The marker pen body front, the marker pen body rear, and the optional cap are configured to be separable by a user. 
     In some embodiments, the marker cartridge also comprises a plurality of components. The cartridge may comprise a marker cartridge housing, a writing nib, and a sponge configured to hold marker ink. In some embodiments, the components may be removably mated to each other and separable by a user. In some embodiments, the components may be permanently affixed to each other, such that a user cannot easily reversibly disassemble the cartridge. 
     In some embodiments, the marker cartridge and the marker pen body may have mating features that facilitate the replacement and installation of a new replaceable marker cartridge, while preventing the installation of incompatible marker cartridges into the marker pen body. 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body may be in a kit with at least one marker cartridge. In some embodiments, the marker pen body may be included in a kit with a plurality of marker cartridges. In some embodiments, a plurality of marker cartridges may be sold as a kit. In some embodiments, the plurality of marker cartridges comprises different ink colors. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a marker pen  100  with a replaceable marker cartridge in accordance with one embodiment. The marker pen  100  comprises a marker pen body  105 , having a marker pen body front  110  and a marker pen body rear  115 . In some embodiments, the marker pen  100  has a writing nib  120 . The writing nib  120  may be soft and configured to use on dry erase surfaces. The writing nib may include ink encapsulated in a replaceable marker cartridge within the marker pen body  105 . In some embodiments, the writing nib  120  may be a dry erase nib having a silicon polymer as ink. The marker pen body  105  may be configured such that, when the marker cartridge is installed within the marker pen body  105 , only the writing nib  120  of the marker cartridge may be visible to the user. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an exploded view of a marker pen body and a replaceable marker cartridge in accordance with one embodiment. In some embodiments, the marker pen body comprises a marker pen body front  210  and a marker pen body rear  215  configured to removably mate with the marker pen body front  210 . The marker pen body may also comprise a cap  225  configured to removably mate with the marker pen body front  210 . The cap  225  may also be configured to removably mate with the end  230  of the marker pen body rear  215  opposite to the end  235  configured to removably mate with the marker pen body front  210 . For example, the cap  225  may be configured to reversibly snap fit onto at least one of the marker pen body front  210  or marker pen body rear  215 . In some embodiments, the cap  225  may be configured to encapsulate the writing nib  220  of the marker cartridge  240  to restrict airflow to the writing nib  220  and prevent the writing nib  220  from drying out due to air exposure. 
     In some embodiments, the replaceable marker cartridge  240  may comprise a writing nib  220 , a marker cartridge housing  245 , and a sponge  250 . In some embodiments, the sponge  250  is configured to fit inside the marker cartridge housing  245  and contact the writing nib  220 . When in contact with the writing nib  220 , the sponge  250  may be configured to transfer ink into the writing nib  220  in some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, when the marker pen body front  210  removably mates with the marker pen body rear  215 , the mated marker pen body forms a cavity. The replaceable marker cartridge  240 , comprising the marker cartridge housing  245 , the writing nib  220 , and the sponge  250 , may be configured to fit primarily within the cavity. In some embodiments, the sponge  250  may be configured to fit entirely within the cavity and entirely within the marker cartridge housing  245 . The writing nib  220  of the marker cartridge  240  may be configured to protrude beyond the marker cartridge housing  245  and beyond the cavity, such that a user can hold the marker pen body and write with the ink in the writing nib  220 . When the marker cartridge  240  is dry or no longer writes properly, a user may uncouple the marker pen body front  210  from the marker pen body rear  215 , remove the marker cartridge  240 , and replace the marker cartridge  240 . 
     In some embodiments, the marker cartridge housing  245  may include concave features  255  configured to mate with convex features on the inside of the marker pen body. In some embodiments, mating the concave features  255  with the convex features may prevent rotation of the marker cartridge  240  within the marker pen body. In other embodiments, the marker cartridge housing  245  may include convex features (not shown) configured to mate with concave features on the inside of the marker pen body (not shown) so as to prevent rotation of the marker cartridge  240  within the marker pen body. 
     In some embodiment, the marker cartridge housing  245  may comprise a recyclable polymer. In some embodiments, the marker cartridge housing  245  may comprise a plastic polymer. In some embodiments, the sponge  250  and writing nib  220  may be removed from the marker cartridge housing  245  to facilitate recycling of the marker cartridge housing  245 . In some embodiments, the sponge  250 , writing nib  220 , and the marker cartridge housing  245  are all recyclable. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a marker pen body  360  with a cap  325  in accordance with one embodiment. In some embodiments, the cap  325  may be configured to seal off the writing nib from the external environment to prevent the writing nib from drying out. In some embodiments, the seal between the cap  325  and the marker pen body front  310  may be airtight. In some embodiments, the seal between the cap  325  and the marker pen body front  310  may be watertight. In some embodiments, the marker pen body  360  may comprise a recyclable polymer. In some embodiments, the marker pen body  360  may comprise a plastic polymer. In some embodiments, the marker pen body  360  may comprise the same material as the marker cartridge housing. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a marker cartridge  440  in accordance with one embodiment. In some embodiments, the marker cartridge may have an exterior mating means  455  configured to removably mate with the marker pen body. In some embodiments, the exterior mating means  455  may be convex features, concave features, or a combination of convex and concave features. In some embodiments, the exterior mating means  455  may include only concave features. In some embodiments, the exterior mating means  455  may be female rib-like extensions. In some embodiments, these may be parallel slots. In some embodiments, the marker cartridge housing  445  may comprise a plurality of exterior mating means  455 . The marker cartridge housing  445  may comprise at least two concave features, at least four concave features, at least six concave features, or at least eight concave features as the exterior mating means  455  in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the exterior mating means  455  may be identical features and may run parallel along the length of the marker cartridge housing  445 . In some embodiments, the exterior mating means  455  may have different lengths. The exterior mating means  455  may extend along at least the front part of the marker cartridge housing  445 . In some embodiments, the exterior mating means  455  are compatible with mating means of the marker pen body, such that the mating means prevents the use of incompatible cartridges. In some embodiments, the exterior mating means  455  may comprise indentation slots, such that the mating means  455  are grooves in the marker cartridge housing  445  extending a depth equal to the depth of the mating means of the marker body pen (not shown). In some embodiments, the mating means  455  may comprise at least one cavity extending through the marker cartridge housing  445 . 
     In some embodiments, the marker cartridge  440  may comprise a feature  470  which allows the writing nib  420  to be sealed off from the external environment, preventing the writing nib  420  from drying out by restricting airflow to the sponge and writing nib  220 . In some embodiments, the feature may only seal part of the writing nib  420  within the marker cartridge housing  445 . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a cross-section  500  of a marker pen body  560  and a replaceable marker cartridge  540  in accordance with one embodiment. In some embodiments, the marker pen body  560  and the replaceable marker cartridge  540  are configured to removably mate. In some embodiments, the replaceable marker cartridge  540  is configured to snap into the marker pen body  560 . When the writing nib  520  of the replaceable marker pen cartridge  540  fails to write, a user may remove the replaceable marker cartridge  540  and install a new replaceable marker cartridge  540  within the marker pen body  560  in some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, to remove the replaceable marker cartridge  540 , a user may unscrew or otherwise uncouple the marker pen body rear  515  from the marker pen body front  510 . The user may then pull the replaceable marker cartridge  540  from the marker pen body front  510 , separating the replaceable marker cartridge  540  from the marker pen body front  510 . After replacing the replaceable marker cartridge  540 , the user may then screw or otherwise couple the marker pen body rear  515  to the marker pen body front  510 , containing the replaceable marker cartridge in the cavity of the marker pen body  560 . 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear  515  may have at least one indent  575  configured to reversibly mate with the replaceable marker cartridge  540 . 
     In some embodiments, the writing nib  520  fits within the sponge  550  of the replaceable marker cartridge  540 . In some embodiments, the contact between the sponge  550  and the writing nib  520  allows the writing nib  520  to draw ink from the sponge  550  and direct the ink from the base of the writing nib  520  to the tip of the writing nib  520 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a cross-section of an exploded view of a marker pen body  660  in accordance with one embodiment. The marker pen body  660  may include at least one mating means  680  configured to removably mate with the marker cartridge. In some embodiments, the marker pen body  660  may comprise a plurality of interior mating means  680  within the cavity  690 . In some embodiments, the mating means  680  may comprise male, rib-like extensions  680  running parallel along the inside of the marker pen body front  610 . In some embodiments, the mating means  680  may comprise female male, rib-like extensions running parallel along the inside of the marker pen body front. In some embodiments, the marker pen body front  610  may comprise at least two convex features, at least four convex features, at least six convex features, or at least eight convex features as the interior mating means  680  in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the interior mating means  680  may be identical features and may run parallel along the length of the marker pen body front  610 . In some embodiments, the interior mating means  680  may have different lengths. In some embodiments, all interior mating  680  means may extend along more than half of the length of the marker pen body front  610 . In some embodiments, the mating means  680  may include parallel and perpendicular segments (not shown), requiring the marker cartridge to be rotated as it is loaded into the marker pen body  660 . 
     In some embodiments, the mating means  680  may be compatible with exterior mating means of the marker cartridge, such that the mating means  680  prevents the use of incompatible cartridges. For example, if the marker cartridge comprises two female rib-like extensions as mating means, the marker pen body front  610  may comprise two male rib-like extensions configured to fit the female rib-like extensions as mating means  680 . In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear  615  may comprise a mating means instead of or in addition to the mating means  680  of the marker pen body front  610 . 
     In some embodiments, the cap  625  may comprise a concave feature  695  inside the cap. When the user desires to seal off the writing nib of the marker cartridge from the external environment to prevent the writing nib from drying out, the cap  625  may be placed over the writing nib and may create a seal with the concave feature  695  and the marker pen body front  610  prevent the writing nib from drying out. 
     In some embodiments, the cap  625  may comprise a convex feature  697  inside the cap  625 . When the user desires to seal off the writing nib of the marker cartridge from the external environment to prevent the writing nib from drying out, the cap  625  may be placed over the writing nib, reversibly mating the convex feature  697  inside the cap  625  with a concave feature  699  on the exterior of the marker pen body front  610 . The reversible mating of the cap  625  and the marker pen body front  610  may create a seal prevent the writing nib from drying out. 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear  615  may comprise a male mating means  687  configured to removably mate with the cap  625 . When a user is writing with the marker pen, the user may couple the cap  625  to the marker pen body rear  615  at the male mating means  687 . 
     In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear  615  may have a male mating means  677  configured to couple with the marker pen body front  610 . In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear  615  may have a female mating means configured to couple with the marker pen body front  610 . In some embodiments, the marker pen body front  610  may reversibly couple to the marker pen body rear  615  with a screw thread. In some embodiments, the marker pen body rear  615  may have a screw top  677  configured to screw into the female screw mating means  678  of the marker pen body front  610 . In some embodiments, the marker pen body front  610  may have a screw top configured to screw into the female screw mating means of the marker pen body rear  615 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a marker cartridge  740  loaded in a marker pen body  760  in accordance with one embodiment. In some embodiments, the mating means within the cavity of the marker pen body  760  are configured to removably mate with the mating means  755  of the marker cartridge  740  and prevent rotation of the marker cartridge  740  after being secured in the marker pen body  760 . In some embodiments, when the marker cartridge  740  is loaded into the marker pen body  760 , at least part of the writing nib  720  is configured to protrude from the marker pen body front  710 . 
     The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations, the methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also, technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure or claims. 
     Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of example configurations (including implementations). However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details. This description provides example configurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of the configurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing described techniques. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. 
     Having described several example configurations, various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of various implementations or techniques of the present disclosure. Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered. 
     Having been provided with the description and illustration of the present application, one skilled in the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments falling within the general inventive concept discussed in this application that do not depart from the scope of the following claims.