Chalk liner with cleaning tool

Abstract

The chalk liner includes (a) an elongated storage barrel for receiving powdered chalk; (b) a marking tip attached to one end of the storage barrel and in communication with the interior of the storage barrel for receiving the powdered chalk therefrom, the marking tip having a marking wheel rotatably mounted on the marking tip and projecting outwardly therefrom; and (c) a cleaning tool attached to the other end of the storage barrel.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 340,983 of the same title, filed May 12, 2022, the priority of which is hereby claimed and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention is directed to a chalk liner for marking fabric during the construction of garments, the device being of the type having an elongated storage barrel for housing a chalk reservoir of powdered chalk for supplying to a marking tip having a marking wheel, the improvement including a cleaning tool attached to the storage barrel distal to the marking tip for removing the chalk from the fabric. [Background technology]

[0003] Chalk marking tools are known in the art. U.S. Patent No. 10,926,575 discloses a three-way marker for sewing that includes a shell, a retaining sleeve, a compression spring, a control tab, a reversible disc holder, and a cap. See also U.S. Design Patent No. D918,297. Also of note is Clover's White Chaco Liner Model 4712 liner, a "pen-type" liner, as found on Amazon.com in Clover White Chaco Liner, 1 Count (Pack of 1), Arts, Crafts, and Sewing, (downloaded February 23, 2022).

[0004] Chalk liners are widely used, but have the disadvantage that they can leave a fairly persistent chalk residue on fabrics if not removed promptly, and have traditionally required additional tools such as brushes, sponges, felt, etc. The additional tools can be difficult to keep track of on a busy work surface, and may not be as effective as desired, as chalk dust has an affinity for fibers and is often difficult to remove, especially if not removed promptly. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The chalk liner includes (a) an elongated storage barrel for receiving powdered chalk; (b) a marking tip attached to one end of the storage barrel and in communication with the interior of the storage barrel for receiving the powdered chalk therefrom, the marking tip having a marking wheel rotatably mounted on the marking tip and projecting outwardly therefrom; and (c) a cleaning tool, most preferably in the form of a brush assembly attached to the other end of the storage barrel having a plurality of brush bristles for removing chalk from a marked surface.

[0006] Further details and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which: FIG. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chalk liner of the present invention fully assembled with a cleaning tool, including a cap covering the marking tip. [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chalk liner of the present invention with a cleaning tool with the cap removed to show the marking tip and marking holes. [Figure 1B] FIG. 13 is a close-up perspective view of the assembled marking tip showing the marking wheel protruding from the gap. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the chalk liner with cleaning tool of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a brush assembly of a chalk liner with a cleaning tool according to the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the brush assembly of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the brush assembly of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the brush assembly of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing tube of the chalk liner of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the housing barrel of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the chalk liner tip member of FIG. 1. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the upper dispensing tip member of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the upper dispensing tip member of FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a front view of the end of the upper dispensing tip member of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower dispensing tip member of the chalk liner of FIG. 1. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a side view of the lower dispensing tip member of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the lower dispensing tip member of FIG. 13. [Figure 16] FIG. 14 is a front end view of the lower dispensing tip member of FIG. 13. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the copper adjustment spring of the choke liner of FIG. 1. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the adjustment spring of FIG. 17. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the serrated marking wheel of the chalk liner of FIG. 1. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a plan view of the marking wheel of FIG. 19. [Figure 21] FIG. 20 is an end elevational view of the marking wheel of FIG. 19. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the cap of the chalk liner of FIG. 1. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a plan view of the cap of FIG. 22. [Figure 24] FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the cap of FIG. 22. [Diagram 25] FIG. 23 is an end elevational view of the cap of FIG. 22. [Figure 26]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chalk liner cleaner assembly having a cleaner with a rubber cleaning pad molded into a plurality of projections in accordance with the present invention; [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet another cleaning tool assembly of a chalk liner having a cleaning tool in the form of a cleaning pad in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a chalk liner 10 having a cleaning tool, the chalk liner including a cleaning tool in the form of a brush assembly 12, a receiving barrel 14 for receiving powdered chalk, a dispensing tip 16 formed by an upper dispensing tip member 16(a) and a lower dispensing tip member 61(b), an adjustment spring 18, a serrated marking wheel 20, and a cap 22.

[0010] Figure 1 shows the chalk liner 10 with cleaning implement in assembled form. Figure 1A shows the chalk liner with the cap 22 removed, while Figure 2 shows the various parts disassembled. It will be appreciated that the cap 22 fits over the dispensing tip 16. The brush assembly 12 fits within the barrel 14 to seal the opening 24 of the barrel.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, members 16(a), 16(b) are assembled together to grip spring 18 and hold wheel 20. Note that serrated marking wheel 20 protrudes slightly through gap 26 between assembled dispensing tips 16, but is free to rotate, restricted by adjustment spring 18, to prevent extensive leakage of powdered chalk within reservoir 14 when a chalk liner is not in use. That is, wheel 20 substantially seals gap 26, and powdered chalk is dispensed as wheel 20 rotates. In a preferred embodiment, spring 18 engages a plurality of teeth 32 on wheel 20 to adjust rotation.

[0012] The barrel 14 with the brush assembly 12 is secured to the tip 16 by threads 28 on the barrel 14 and threads 30 on the dispensing tip 16. Thus, the tip can be unscrewed to refill the barrel.

[0013] When marking fabric or clothing, the fabric is marked by applying chalk powder with a chalk liner. For this purpose, the chalk liner is held vertically above the fabric with a marking wheel 20, which applies pressure to the liner and moves it in the desired direction. A spring 18 regulates the rotation of the wheel and the dispensing of the chalk to prevent over-dispensing.

[0014] Once marking is no longer required, the remaining chalk is brushed off the fabric, preferably quickly so as not to cause staining. Thus, a cleaning tool is provided which is attached to the chalk liner and is conveniently provided without being left behind.

[0015] In various embodiments, the brush assembly 12 may be made from polypropylene with either polyester or nylon bristles.

[0016] The bristles of the brush attached to the chalk liner suitably extend from the base member of the brush assembly by a length of about 5 mm to 15 mm, preferably a distance of 7.5 mm to 12.5 mm or 8 mm to 11.5 mm from the base member 34 to provide the desired functionality. The bristles are similar to those used in toothbrushes and are arranged in bundles also similar to toothbrushes. The bristles can be made from thermoplastic nylon or polyester and are of suitable stiffness (initial stiffness modulus). Typical characteristics are: [Table 1] [Table 2] The initial stiffness may be determined according to ASTM-D3379 or an equivalent test method and may suitably be about 2410-4830 MPa (350-700 kpsi) at 25°C and 50% relative humidity. Individual bristles may have a fiber diameter of about 0.075 to about 0.6 mm, while bristle bundles may have bundle diameters ranging from 1 to about 3 mm, depending on the fiber selected. See Monahan Filaments product brochure (downloaded 20 Feb 2022). Typically, the bundle diameter at the base of the bundle is substantially narrower than the bundle diameter at the top, and for present purposes, the bundle diameter at the bottom of the bundle adjacent the base of the brush assembly is used. See FIG. 4.

[0017] The barrel is preferably made from clear polystyrene so that the chalk dust inside can be easily observed. The cap 22 is made from polypropylene while the dispensing tip 16 is made from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) for dimensional stability. The spring 18 and wheel 20 are preferably made from copper, although other metals may be used if desired.

[0018] Further details of the various components are provided below in conjunction with Figures 3-25.

[0019] 3-6, the brush assembly 12 includes a base member 34 sized to fit into the opening 24 of the barrel 14 with a cylindrical projection 36. A plurality of bristle tufts 38 are attached to the base member 34, which also has a transition skirt 40 having a truncated conical shape to eliminate corners and for a more ergonomic design. The skirt is generally circular at its base and has a diameter D of about 10 mm. The base member 34 has a length 42 of about 8-3 / 4 mm, while the bristle tufts protrude from the base member a distance 44 of about 9-1 / 2 mm, resulting in an overall length of the assembly 12 of about 18-1 / 4 mm.

[0020] The individual fibers of the hair bundle have the above properties.

[0021] 7 and 8, there is shown the barrel 14 having the opening 24 and threads 28. The barrel has an overall length 46 of approximately 95 mm, and a diameter 48 near the threaded end of approximately 13-1 / 2 mm. The barrel also has a slight indentation 50 around its midsection 52 where the diameter tapers slightly by 1.5 mm or less, which provides a user with a perception of a more comfortable gripping surface.

[0022] 9-12, upper dispensing tip member 16(a) is shown. Member 16(a) has a length 54 of about 38 mm, a height 56 ​​of about 7 mm, and a width 60 of about 13-1 / 2 mm. Also provided are threads 30 and a number of mating features 58 for securing member 16(a) to 16(b). Also provided are recesses 62 for mounting wheel 20, i.e., for receiving mounting hub 84 of wheel 20, and mounting post 64 for mounting adjustment spring 18. Note that member 16(a) has a "duckbill" profile 66, as seen in FIG. 10, to transition to the dispensing tip of the device, as shown.

[0023] Lower member 16(b) is shown in Figures 13-16. It can be seen that member 16(b) is similar to member 16(a) and has a length 54, height 56, width 60, threads 30, mating features 58, recesses 62, mounting posts 64, and profile 66 that substantially match those of member 16(a).

[0024] 17 and 18 show a copper adjustment spring 18 having a thickness of about 1 mm, a length 68 of just over 24 mm, and a width 70 of about 3 mm. The spring 18 is a single piece with mounting lugs 72 for attaching the spring to the post 64 of the dispensing tip, and a spring end 74 in the shape of a bow tie. When the device is fully assembled, the outer edge 76 of the spring 18 engages the teeth of the marking wheel 20 to adjust the rotation of the wheel as the chalk liner is dragged across the fabric surface, applying pressure to the fabric.

[0025] Figures 19-21 show a sawtooth marking wheel 20. The wheel 20 is circular with a diameter 80 of 8 mm having a plurality of teeth 32 around its circumference for engaging the spring 18. The teeth 32 project outwardly a distance 82 of about 0.55 mm, preferably about 0.35 mm to about 0.8 mm. The wheel 20 is also provided with a mounting hub 84 that rotatably mounts the wheel 20 in the recess 62 of the dispensing tip when the device is assembled.

[0026] When assembled, the teeth of wheel 20 protrude from dispensing gap 26, as seen in Figures 1A and 1B, in the preferred embodiment, preferably a distance of about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.

[0027] 22-25 show the cap 22 in greater detail. The cap 22 has a length 88 of approximately 43 mm, a width 90 of approximately 19-1 / 2 mm, and a height 92 of approximately 17 mm such that the cap 22 frictionally engages and is removably coupled to the tip 16 of the chalk liner 10. The cap 22 has a duckbill shape at 94 and is shaped to mate with the tip 16 without undue clearance, and a tab 96 is provided to facilitate installation and removal of the cap 22 from the chalk liner. The width 90 is slightly wider than the height 92 due to the presence of the tab 96, but the end 98 is otherwise rounded, as shown in FIG. 25. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the marking tip end of the chalk liner is larger in cross section than the brush assembly at its opposite end. It is desirable for the cap 22 to fit securely over both ends of the chalk liner so that it is not misplaced when the chalk liner is in use, and for this purpose, two pairs of longitudinal grooves 100, 102 and 104, 106 are provided extending axially from the opening at 98 toward the distal end of the cap over a distance 108 that is about 20%-50% of the length 88, and preferably about 25%-35% of the length 88. The grooves 100 and 102, and the grooves 104 and 106 are separated from each other by an arc 110 that is less than 90°, and the grooves 100 and 104, and the grooves 102 and 106 are separated by an arc 112 that is greater than 90°. The multiple grooves allow the cap opening at 98 to vary in diameter so that it may be operatively secured to either a marking tip or a brush assembly despite differences in cross section. That is, the groove structure flexes to a larger cross section when attached to the marking tip and to a smaller cross section when removed so that the cap can fit securely onto the cleaner end of the chalk liner.

[0028] Although the chalk liner of the present invention has been described above in connection with a brush assembly for removing chalk dust from fabrics, comprising a plurality of bristles similar to toothbrush bristles, it will be appreciated that other chalk removal or cleaning implements may be provided at the end of the device distal from the marking tip. For example, a molded plastic or rubber cleaning implement having a plurality of elongated outward projections would be suitable, and for the present purposes such structures will be referred to as a plurality of brush bristles. Other molded cleaning implements can have a variety of configurations, with or without outward projections, such as those shown in Figures 26 and 27.

[0029] 26, a cleaning tool assembly 212 for attachment to the storage barrel 14 includes a base member 234 sized to fit into the opening 24 of the barrel 14 with a cylindrical projection 236. A rubber pad 235 having a plurality of molded projections 238 is attached to the base member 234, which also has a transition skirt 240 having a truncated conical shape.

[0030] Alternatively, the cleaning tool may comprise an absorbent cleaning pad of felt, cloth such as terry cloth, sponge material (all of which may be wetted if desired). In some cases, simply a soft plastic or rubber pad made of rubber or a polymeric elastomer may be used. Referring to FIG. 27, a cleaning tool assembly 312 for attachment to a storage barrel 14 includes a base member 334 sized to fit into the opening 24 of the barrel 14 with a cylindrical projection 336. A cleaning pad 335 having a relatively smooth, slightly arched surface is attached to the base member 334 which also has a transition skirt 340 having a truncated conical shape. The pad 335 may be slightly arched if desired and is made of the materials mentioned above, i.e., felt, cloth such as terry cloth, sponge material (all of which may be wetted if desired), or a soft plastic or rubber pad made of natural or synthetic rubber or a polymeric elastomer.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described in detail, modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications should also be considered as part of the present invention. In view of the foregoing discussion discussed above in conjunction with the foregoing description, including the detailed description and background art, the relevant knowledge in the art, and references, as well as the appendix hereto (all of which are incorporated herein by reference), further description is deemed unnecessary. In addition, it should be understood from the foregoing discussion that some of the aspects and various embodiments of the present invention can be combined or substituted in whole or in part. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the invention.

Claims

1. (a) an elongated receiving tube for receiving powdered chalk; (b) a marking tip mounted at one end of the barrel and in communication with the interior of the barrel for receiving powdered chalk therefrom, the marking tip having a marking wheel rotatably mounted on the marking tip and projecting outwardly therefrom; (c) a cleaning tool attached to the other end of the housing tube; and A chalk liner equipped with

2. The chalk liner of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning implement is selected from a brush assembly, a cleaning pad assembly with or without cleaning pad protrusions, or a combination thereof.

3. The chalk liner of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning implement comprises a cleaning pad made of felt, cloth, a sponge material or a soft polymeric material.

4. 10. The chalk liner of claim 1, wherein the cleaning implement comprises a brush assembly having a base member having a plurality of brush bristles attached thereto for removing chalk from a marked surface.

5. The chalk liner of claim 4 , wherein the brush bristles are arranged in a plurality of bristle bundles.

6. The chalk liner of claim 5 comprising 2 to 4 bristle bundles.

7. 7. The chalk liner of claim 6 comprising three bristles.

8. The chalk liner of claim 5, wherein the bristle bundles have a bundle diameter of between 1 mm and 3 mm.

9. The chalk liner of claim 8, wherein the bristle bundles have a bundle diameter of between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

10. The chalk liner of claim 4 , wherein the bristles protrude outwardly from the base member a distance of about 5 mm to 15 mm.

11. The chalk liner of claim 10, wherein the bristles project outwardly from the base member a distance of about 7.5 mm to 12.5 mm.

12. 5. The chalk liner of claim 4, wherein the bristles have an initial stiffness modulus of from 2410 MPa to about 4830 MPa (350 kpsi to about 700 kpsi).

13. The chalk liner of claim 12, wherein the bristles of the brush assembly have a fiber diameter of about 0.075 mm to 0.6 mm.

14. The chalk liner of claim 4 , wherein the base member of the brush assembly includes a cylindrical mounting projection.

15. The chalk liner of claim 14 , wherein the base member of the brush assembly includes a transition portion adjacent the housing barrel having a truncated cone shape.

16. The chalk liner of claim 1 , wherein the marking tip defines a gap through which the rotatable marking wheel protrudes.

17. 17. The chalk liner of claim 16, wherein the rotatable marking wheel protrudes through the gap a distance of about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm.

18. 2. The chalk liner of claim 1, wherein the tip defines an interior cylindrical recess and the marking wheel has an annular hub mounted in the cylindrical recess.

19. The chalk liner of claim 1 , wherein the marking tip is removably attached to the receiving tube.

20. The chalk liner of claim 1 , wherein the containment tube is generally cylindrical and has a recess around a middle portion thereof.

21. The chalk liner of claim 1 , wherein the marking tip includes an adjustment spring for adjusting rotation of the marking wheel.

22. 2. The chalk liner of claim 1, wherein the marking wheel is sawtoothed and has teeth that project outwardly from the marking tip a distance of about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.

23. 10. The chalk liner of claim 1, wherein the marking tip has a duckbill shaped profile and further comprising a cap having a duckbill shaped profile configured to fit over the marking tip.

24. 10. The chalk liner of claim 1, wherein the chalk liner has a cap having an opening, the cap having a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves extending from the opening in the cap toward an end of the cap distal to the opening, whereby the opening in the cap is an expandable, variable cross-section opening.

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