Patent Abstract:
A crayon with a plurality of longitudinally extending color zones. The crayon has generally planar exterior side surfaces on the tip and shank forming vertices therebetween. A color zone bridges a vertex providing the same color of marking material on opposite sides of a respective vertex.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to crayons and, more particularly, to crayons having at least three generally planar exterior surfaces and transverse cross-sections containing multiple zones of color, and associated packaging.  
         [0002]     There are many examples of writing implements that allow for multiple marking elements, each with a different color, to be housed in the same implement. Examples include pencils with a different colored point at each end, pens containing multiple ink cartridges containing different colored inks whose points can be extended and used at will, and crayons having a transverse circular cross-section with multiple colors radiating outwardly from and running along a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, where the colors are generally transversely equally disposed through the cross section.  
         [0003]     Circular crayons containing multiple color zones, however, do not allow for easy, discreet use of the individual colors. As the number of colors in the crayon increases, the exposed surface area of each color decreases. Attempting to press the correct part of the small, curved surface of a round crayon at the correct angle to a surface may be difficult, particularly for young children. Typically, the result of using a round crayon having multiple colors running along a centrally disposed longitudinal axis is an unintentional and unwanted mix of colors, especially when manufacture of these types of crayons result in non-uniform color disbursement through the color zones of the crayon.  
         [0004]     Crayons with cylindrical shanks also have the problem of being difficult to handle, and not readily or reliably indexable. Other shapes have been used that are more ergonomic, such as shapes having a triangular or hexagonal transverse cross-section. A further benefit of some of these non-cylindrical instruments that they do not roll as easily. There are some non-cylindrical writing implements that contain multiple colors, including crayons.  
         [0005]     When dealing with crayons or other writing implements having transverse cross-sections of shapes other than circles, for example, triangles, rectangles, and so forth, containing multiple colors, the color zones interface along the lines bisecting vertices between interior surfaces. For example, when looking at a transverse cross-section of a triangular crayon containing three colors, the individual colors form isosceles triangles, with the vertex of the obtuse angle of each color meeting in the center of the cross-section. The three vertices of the transverse cross-section of the crayon will each be bisected by the interface of two color zones. Thus, it can be extremely difficult to use an individual color in a configuration such as this, because each vertex, as well as the point of the crayon, is composed of multiple colors.  
         [0006]     Crayons with a round transverse cross-section are also an inefficiently packaged product. When placing cylindrical objects into a container with a rectangular transverse cross-section, there is a large amount of interstitial space. Even placing crayons with a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle into a container with a rectangular transverse cross-section creates interstitial space, though less than with cylindrical crayons. Also, stacking packages with rectangular transverse cross-sections can result in unstable stacks. Just as bricks are staggered when a building is constructed (bricking), so should rectangular packages of crayons. In some locations where the stacking of packages is utilized, such as in a store selling the packages of crayons, not bricking the packages could result in fallen stacks. Bricking takes quite a bit of time for planning and execution; it is slow; and it is thus costly.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, a need remains for an improved design for crayons or other writing instruments, such as chalk, containing multiple colors, and improved packaging that can efficiently contain the crayons without being unstable when stacked.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0008]     The invention involves the provision of an elongate crayon having a wax-like core and a paper-like reinforcing outer cover (where wax-like includes wax and paper-like includes paper) with a transverse cross-section having at least three side surfaces, such as an equilateral triangle, a rectangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon, preferably having side surfaces of equal lengths and vertices of equal angles between adjacent side surfaces. The longitudinal side surfaces of the shank are generally planar. Further, for regular shapes, the crayon can contain the same number of colors as the transverse cross-section has vertices, such that each color zone forms a polygon in the form of a quadrilateral kite, a shape having two pairs of sides with each pair having of generally equal length (in the case of a transverse cross-sectional square, the kite formed by each color zone would, in fact, be a square). For example, when dealing with a crayon with an equilaterally triangular transverse cross-section, the two exposed surfaces of each kite would generally be of equal transverse length, and the two interface surfaces of each kite would generally be the same transverse length.  
         [0009]     In the transverse cross-section, each color zone would have four vertices. For a triangular cross-sectional crayon, the central 120° angle of a color zone would be formed at the center of the cross-section by the connection of two color zone interfaces. Two opposing angles in the color zone are 90°, each of which is formed by bisecting adjacent faces of the cross-section with the color zone interfaces. The two adjacent outer surfaces connect to form the final 60° angle of the kite. Since each of these kites is a separate zone of color, and since each of these kites has a vertex formed at the intersection of two adjacent outer surfaces, each color can be easily and advantageously used on its own by marking with the distal end of the shank or with the tapered portion adjacent the shank, without accidentally encroaching on adjacent color zones, and may be readily indexed for use. The crayon may also be used to blend colors by using the point to mark. Other cross-sectional shapes are similarly constructed, but will yield different included angles.  
         [0010]     Also, the present invention relates to the associated packaging for crayons having transverse cross-sections of a triangle. This type of packaging would waste nearly zero space, as the interstitial space would be greatly reduced to nearly nothing. Such packaging would be elongate as the crayons themselves are elongate, and could have transverse cross-sectional shapes of equilateral triangles, regular trapezoids, regular parallelograms, regular hexagons, and so forth. For example, with packaging having a transverse cross-sectional shape of an equilateral triangle, crayons would be longitudinally inserted into the packaging chamber, and could be packaged in numbers N i  of: 
 
 N   1 =1,  N   2 =4,  N   3 =9,  N   4 =16, . . . , where  N   i   =N   i−1 +[(2× i )−1], where  i= 1 . . . ∞
 
 which numbers of crayons allow for the packages to have transverse cross-sections of equilateral triangles. Packing crayons in these numbers in an overall shape having a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle, where the crayons to be packaged have a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle, advantageously reduces the interstitial space and allows for easier and more stable stacking of the packages, as long as the packages are stacked in the same manner as the crayons are packaged. 
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a crayon having a triangular transverse cross-section.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an end elevational view of the crayon shown in  FIG. 1 , as viewed from the right hand end of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the crayon shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view of a crayon with a transverse cross-section of a square.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a transverse cross-sectional view of a crayon with a transverse cross-section of a regular pentagon.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a transverse cross-sectional view of a crayon with a transverse cross-section of a regular hexagon.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing packaging associated with triangular transverse cross-sectional crayons.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a transverse cross-sectional view of boxes having rectangular transverse cross-sections, which contain crayons having circular transverse cross-sections, taken through the shanks of the crayons.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a transverse cross-sectional view of boxes having rectangular transverse cross-sections, which contain crayons having equilateral triangular transverse cross-sections, taken through the shanks of the crayons.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a transverse cross-sectional view of a larger box having a rectangular transverse cross-section, which contains crayons having equilateral triangular transverse cross-sections, taken through the shanks of the crayons.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a transverse cross-sectional view of packaging with a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle, taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     According to the embodiment(s) of the present structures, various views are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11  and like reference numerals are used throughout to refer to like or similar parts or construction for the various views and Figures.  
         [0024]     One embodiment of the present invention comprises multicolored elongate crayons  10  with transverse cross-sectional shapes having at least three generally planar sides wherein the color zones  31  ( FIG. 3 ),  41  ( FIG. 4 ),  51  ( FIG. 5 ), and  61  ( FIG. 6 ) meet at interfaces  36  positioned at approximately 90° angles to each of the external surfaces  32 (A-C) ( FIG. 3 ),  42 (A-D) ( FIG. 4 ),  52 (A-E) ( FIG. 5 ), and  62 (A-F) ( FIG. 6 ) of the transverse cross-section as opposed to at the vertices  35 (A-C) ( FIG. 3 ),  45 (A-D) ( FIG. 4 ),  55 (A-E) ( FIG. 5 ), and  65 (A-F) ( FIG. 6 ) of the transverse cross-section. Similarly shaped packaging  70  for crayons  10  can be provided which are shown in  FIGS. 7 and 11  as having transverse cross-sections of equilateral triangles.  
         [0025]     The details of the invention and various embodiments can be better understood by referring to the Figures of the drawings. Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , one embodiment includes an elongate crayon  10 , with a shank  11  having a distal end  14  and a proximal end  13 , and a wax-like, non-liquid core encompassed in a paper-like outer cover  17 . The crayon  10  further has an end portion tip  12  axially extending from the proximal end  13  of the shank  11 , tapering from the proximal end  15  of the tip  12  to the distal end  16  of the tip  12  adapted for engaging and marking a writing surface. The tip  12  tapers inwardly toward the central axis of the crayon  10  from the end  15  to the end  16 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the tapering end portion  12  is shown as having a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle, where all three major external surfaces  21 A-C of the end portion  12  are, before use, generally planar and the same size and shape having vertices  25 A-C between the outer surfaces  21 A-C. However, the converging end portion  12  can have a transverse cross-section of other shapes than that shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , depending on the transverse shape of the shank  11 . The shank  11  includes at least three major generally planar longitudinal outer surfaces which are shown as surfaces  32 A-C joined at vertices  35 A-C for a triangular crayon.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , such crayons further have transverse cross-sections of preferably regular shapes wherein all external side surfaces are of generally equal width and length and all vertices  35 ,  45 ,  55 ,  65 , e.g.,  35 A-C, are of generally equal angles; and where all surfaces for a crayon  10  are equidistantly spaced from a centrally disposed longitudinal axis. Such crayons also have a plurality of separate color zones  31 ,  41 ,  51 ,  61 , e.g.  31 A-C, equal to the number of vertices in the transverse cross-section of the crayon  10  at the shank  11 .  
         [0027]     The crayon  10  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) has a triangular transverse cross-section containing three color zones  31 A-C, each of which form the shape of a polygon with at least four sides (quadrilateral) or kite such that the central 120° angle B of each color zone  31 , for example color zone  31 C, would be formed at the center of the cross-section by the interface  36  between two color zones  31 . Preferably, the color zones  31  A-C are similarly sized and shaped in transverse cross section. Two opposite angles A in a color zone  31 , e.g. color zone  31 C are 90°, each of which would be formed by bisecting adjacent outer surfaces  32 B,  32 C of the cross-section with the color zone interfaces  36 . Preferably, the interfaces  36  are generally planar. The two adjacent outer surfaces  32 B,  32 C are illustrated as connected at the vertex  35 C to form the final 60° angle C of the kite shaped color zone  31 C. The vertices  35 A, B also have an angle C of 60°. The vertices  35 A-C are formed at the corners between the surfaces  32 A-C.  
         [0028]     The crayon  40  ( FIG. 4 ) has a rectangular and preferably square transverse cross-section containing four color zones  41 A-D, each of which form the shape of a polygon with at least four sides (quadrilateral) or kite (which, in the illustrated form, is also a square) such that the central 90° angles D of a color zone  41 , for example color zone  41 A, would be formed at the center of the rectangle by the interface  36  between two color zones. Two angles E in each color zone, e.g., color zone  41 A are 90°, each of which would be formed by bisecting adjacent outer surfaces  42 A,  42 B of the cross-section with the color zone interfaces  36 . The two adjacent outer surfaces  42 A,  42 B are illustrated as connected at the vertex  45 A to form the final 90° angle F of the illustrated kite shaped rectangle and preferably the other color zones  41 B-D are similarly constructed to square color zone  41 A. The other color zones  41 B-D are similarly constructed by the surfaces  42 A-D and vertices  45 B, C, D. The color zones  41 A-D are preferably similarly sized and shaped in transverse cross section.  
         [0029]     The crayon  50  ( FIG. 5 ) has a regular pentagonal transverse cross-section containing five color zones  51 A-E, each of which form the shape of a polygon of at least four sides (quadrilateral) or kite such that the central 72° angle G of a color zone  51 , for example color zone  51 A, would be formed at the center of the pentagon by the adjoining interfaces  36  of three color zones  51 E, A, B. Two opposite angles H in the color zone  51 A are 90°, each of which would be formed by bisecting adjacent outer surfaces  52 A,  52 E of the cross-section with the color zone interfaces  36 . The two adjacent outer surfaces  52 A,  52 E are illustrated as connected at vertex  55 A to form the final 108° angle I of the kite shaped color zone  51 A. The other color zones  51 B-E are similarly constructed with the surfaces  52 A-E and vertices  55 B-E. The color zones  51 A-E are preferably similarly sized and shaped in transverse cross section.  
         [0030]     The crayon  60  ( FIG. 6 ) has a regular hexagonal transverse cross-section containing six color zones  61 A-F, each of which form the shape of a quadrilateral or kite such that the central 60° angle J of a color zone  61 , for example color zone  61 A, would be formed at the center of the hexagon by two adjoining interfaces  36  between color zones. Two angles K in the color zone  61 A would be 90°, each of which would be formed by bisecting adjacent outer surfaces  62 A,  62 B of the cross-section with the color zone interfaces  36 . The two adjacent outer surfaces  62 A,  62 B are illustrated as connected at vertex  65 A to form the final 120° angle L of the kite shaped color zone  61 A. The other color zones  61 B-F are similarly constructed with the surfaces  62 A-F and vertices  65 B-F. The color zones  61 A-F are preferably similarly sized and shaped in transverse cross section.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the package  70  associated with the crayons  10  above is an elongate container, similar in longitudinal length to the above described crayons and with a triangular transverse cross-section for use with the triangular cross-section crayon. Such container includes longitudinal panels  71  and end closures  72 ,  73  with end closure  73  being constructed for selectively closing one end  74  of the package  70  and bottom end closure  72  normally closing the other end of the package  70 . The panels  71  and end closures  72 ,  73  define a storage compartment. The closure  73  is shown as a hinged flap that is triangular in shape and is attached along a hinge edge  75  of the closure  73  to one edge of the open end  74  of the container  70 , such that said closure  73  can be folded to cover and close the open end  74  of the container. In addition, in order to secure the closure  73  in the closed position, a secondary generally rectangular flap  76  is attached at one of it&#39;s edges to one of the two free edges of the closure  73  such that when the closure  73  is folded into the closed position, the secondary rectangular flap  76  folds down into the open end  74  of the container selectively holding the closure  73  closed.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIGS. 8-11 , transverse cross-sectional views of various packages having different transverse cross-sections and containing crayons  10  are shown. Packing densities in the storage compartment in the container, defined as the area of the transverse cross-sectional area of the crayons at their shank divided by the total inside area of the transverse cross-section of the package, are much more efficient for crayons, packaged in numbers of four or more, having transverse triangular cross-sections than those with transverse circular cross-sections. In order to most efficiently fit a single cylindrical crayon  81  into a box  80 I with a rectangular transverse cross-section, that cross-section should have sides  82  equal to the diameter of the circular transverse cross-section of the shank of crayon  81 . This most efficient manner of packing a cylindrical crayon  81  into a box  80 I with a rectangular transverse cross-section results in a packing density of 0.785, and thus 78.5% of the rectangular transverse cross-section of the package  80 I is occupied by the cross-section of the crayon  81 . Similarly, when efficiently packaging two or more cylindrical crayons  83  into a box  80 II with a rectangular transverse cross-section, the width  84  of the box  80 II should equal the diameter of the circular transverse cross-section of the crayons  83  multiplied by the number of columns of crayons  83  to be packaged, and the height  85  of the box  80 II should equal the diameter of the circular transverse cross-section of the crayons  83  multiplied by the number of rows of crayons  83  to be packaged. Therefore, because each cylindrical crayon  83  is packaged in the same amount of space as is the individually packaged cylindrical crayon  81  above, the packing density will always be 0.785, and thus 78.5% of any box with a rectangular cross-section will be occupied by the transverse cross-section of cylindrical crayons when the crayons are packaged most efficiently.  
         [0033]     However, when packaged most efficiently, the packing density of crayons with transverse cross-sections of equilateral triangles is not always the same. Referring to  FIG. 9 , when a single crayon  91  with a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle is most efficiently packaged in a box  90 I with a rectangular transverse cross-section, half of the package&#39;s transverse cross-section is interstitial space  92 . However, when two crayons  93  with transverse cross-sections of equilateral triangles are most efficiently packaged in a box  90 II with a rectangular transverse cross-section, a third crayon  94  with a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle can be packaged in the interstitial space between the original two crayons  93 . In this case, only one quarter of the package&#39;s transverse cross-section is interstitial space  95 . When three crayons  96  with transverse cross-sections of equilateral triangles are most efficiently packaged in a box  90 III with a rectangular transverse cross-section, a fourth and fifth crayon  97  with transverse cross-sections of equilateral triangles can be packaged in the interstitial space between the original three crayons  96 . In this case, about 83.3% of the package&#39;s transverse cross-section is occupied, and only one-sixth of the package is interstitial space  98 . Similarly, referring to  FIG. 10 , when packaging ninety two crayons with transverse cross-sections of equilateral triangles in four rows of twenty three crayons, the packing density rises to about 0.96, and thus 96% of the transverse cross-section of the rectangular box  100  is occupied and only about 4% is interstitial space  104 . Therefore, as more crayons with equilaterally triangular transverse cross-sections are packaged in such a way as to allow extra equilaterally triangular transverse cross-sectional crayons  103  to be inserted into the interstitial space between crayons  102 , the packing density rises and the space in the package is more efficiently used. The packing density is preferably at least about 0.9 and more preferably about 1.0. Indeed, as can be seen in  FIG. 11 , when crayons of equilaterally triangular transverse cross-sections  111  are packaged in an elongate package with an equilaterally triangular transverse cross-section, such as is seen in  FIG. 7 , there is nearly no interstitial space in the package  110 . It follows that when crayons of generally rectangular transverse cross-section are packaged in an elongate package with a similarly generally rectangular transverse cross-section, there is similarly nearly no interstitial space.  
         [0034]     The various multicolored transverse cross-sectionally shaped crayons and the packaging containers associated therewith shown above illustrate a novel crayon and associated packaging. A user of a multicolored crayon may color using any of the plurality of vertices  25 A-C ( FIG. 2 ),  35 A-C ( FIG. 3 ),  45 A-D ( FIG. 4 ),  55 A-E ( FIG. 5 ),  65 A-F ( FIG. 6 ) on the crayon without accidentally using unwanted colors. A crayon may be used to provide blended colors by marking with the end  16  of tip  12 . In this regard, the tip or point  12  will provide a rainbow effect of the multiple colors. Marking with distinct, separate colors may be done by applying any of the vertices between adjacent outer surfaces at either the tip  12  or the shank  11  at or between the proximal end  13  or distal end  14  of the shank. Marking with each vertice individually provides a separate distinct color thereby effectively giving the user a plurality of single color crayons in one writing instrument. This can be extremely advantageous to a restaurant owner/operator, for example, because the restaurant owner would be able to enjoy a cost savings on their expenditures for crayons by giving away only one of the multicolored crayons, as compared to a package of three or more crayons each with a different color.  
         [0035]     While the vertices  25 ,  35 ,  45 ,  55 ,  65  are shown as sharp points, it is recognized and anticipated that they can be initially curved or flat which might be considered to be a fifth surface for the polygon but still form a vertex wherein the cross-sectional shapes are still as described above. Also, a user of the packaged polygonal crayons, as described above, may make use of most all available space inside the package and may stack the packages more efficiently and effectively. In this regard, it is recognized that various forms of the subject various multicolored or single color transverse cross-sectionally shaped crayons and the triangular or other polygonal packaging container, e.g., rectangular, associated with a triangularly or rectangularly transverse cross-sectional crayon could be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Still further, triangularly or rectangularly shaped packaging containers pack nicely into bulk containers or boxes and, in the case of triangular containers, such containers themselves can interlock with each other and improve the packing volume efficiencies as explained above.  
         [0036]     Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 2