VALVE DOOR HAVING A FORCE DIRECTING COMPONENT AND RETRACTABLE INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING SAME

• US 20090245919A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanford LP (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sanford LP (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Vanderhoof, Russ, Rennecker, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/108
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2034/002 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2040/0006 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2040/201 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/051 Airtight containers
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/055 Piston or plunger for supplying the liquid to the applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/041 using a roller, a disc or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/20 Pencil-like cosmetics; Simple holders for handling stick-shaped cosmetics or shaving soap while in use
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/261 using a ball, a roller or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 8/028 Movable closure or gate

Abstract

A valve door for a seal cylinder comprises a lid having first and second surfaces and a connecting means connecting the lid with an actuating mechanism, the connecting means distributes forces from the actuating mechanism across a portion of the first lid surface in order to bias the lid to a closed position. A force directing member is attached to the first lid surface, the force directing member being adapted to distribute force from the connecting means over a portion of the lid surface, thereby maintaining a positive seal and reducing lid deflection.

Claims

1. A valve door for an instrument comprising:

a lid having first and second surfaces;

a connecting means for connecting the lid with an actuating mechanism, the connecting means adapted to transmit force from the actuating mechanism to the first lid surface; and

a force directing member attached to the first lid surface, the force directing member preventing the connecting means from contacting the first lid surface over at least a portion of the first lid surface and distributing force from the connecting means across a portion of the first lid surface.

2. The valve door of claim 1 wherein the lid has a circular perimeter.

3. The valve door of claim 1 wherein the force directing member is attached to the first lid surface with an adhesive or a fastener, or is integrally molded with the lid.

4. The valve door of claim 1 wherein the force directing member comprises two ribs, the two ribs being spaced apart from one another and elevating the connecting means above a portion of the first lid surface.

5. The valve door of claim 4 wherein each rib includes a gusset.

6. The valve door of claim 4 wherein a bridge connects the two ribs.

7. The valve door of claim 6 wherein the bridge includes a retention feature for positioning the transfer member across the bridge.

8. The valve door of claim 7 wherein the upper surface of each of the ribs is elevationally disposed between the retention feature and the lid.

9. The valve door of claim 4 wherein the two ribs are oriented substantially perpendicular to the connecting means.

10. The valve door of claim 4 wherein each rib includes a channel for positioning the connecting means across the first lid surface.

11. The valve door of claim 1 further comprising a hinge adapted to attach the lid to a seal cylinder.

12. The valve door of claim 1 wherein the force directing member is disposed such that it prevents the connecting means from contacting the first lid surface over at least a portion of the first lid surface.

13. The valve door of claim 1 wherein the connecting means is a string.

14. The valve door of claim 1 wherein the instrument is a highlighter, a marker, a felt-tipped pen, a ball point pen, a paint brush applicator, a correction fluid applicator, a make-up applicator, a perfume applicator, a thermometer, a pH detector, a knife, or a fluid sampling device

15. A retractable writing instrument comprising;

a writing member having a nib;

a seal cylinder substantially surrounding the writing member, the seal cylinder having an open end;

a movement mechanism that moves the writing member from a retracted position in which the nib is disposed within the seal cylinder to an extended position in which the nib is extended outside of the seal cylinder through the open end;

a lid hingedly attached to the seal cylinder at the open end, the lid being movable from an open position in which the lid exposes the open end of the seal cylinder to a closed position in which the lid covers the open end of the seal cylinder, the lid including a force directing member disposed on a lid surface opposite the open end of the seal cylinder, the force directing member preventing the connecting means from contacting the first lid surface over at least a portion of the first lid surface; and

a connecting means attached to the movement mechanism and the lid, the connecting means contacting the force directing member.

16. The retractable writing instrument of claim 15 wherein the force directing member comprises two ribs.

17. The retractable writing instrument of claim 16 wherein each rib comprises a gusset.

18. The retractable writing instrument of claim 16 wherein a bridge connects the two ribs.

19. The retractable writing instrument of claim 15 comprising a valve seal ring disposed on the open end of the seal cylinder.

20. The retractable writing instrument of claim 19 wherein the valve seal ring is integrally formed with the seal cylinder in a single shot molding process.

21. A retractable writing instrument comprising:

a writing member having a nib, the writing member being disposed in a writing instrument body;

a seal cylinder disposed within the writing instrument body, the seal cylinder surrounding a portion of the writing member including the nib, the seal cylinder having an open end;

a lid for selectively sealing the open end of the seal cylinder;

a moving mechanism disposed between the writing instrument body and the writing member, the moving mechanism adapted to move the writing member between a retracted position in which the nib is disposed within the seal cylinder and an extended position in which the nib protrudes outside of the seal cylinder through the open end of the seal cylinder; and

a connecting means connecting the lid to the moving mechanism, the connecting means distributing a portion of a force generated by the moving mechanism across one side of the lid, thereby biasing the lid to a closed position in which the lid seals the open end of the seal cylinder,

wherein the lid includes a pair of ribs positioned between the lid and the connecting means, thereby elevating a portion of the connecting means above a lid surface distal to the seal cylinder, the pair of ribs distributing force from the connecting means across a portion of the lid surface distal to the seal cylinder, thus reducing lid deflection when the lid is in the closed position and thereby reducing ink evaporation.