Dry-ease marker eraser having a flexible tubular sleeve with internal ribs

• US 6,347,898 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2001
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Julia M. Rhodes
• Original Assignee: Julia Rhodes
• Inventors: Mercade, Jorge, Rhodes, Julia
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/905,745
• Time in Patent Office: 220 Days
• Field of Search: 401/52, 401/195, 401/88, 401/98, 154/24--28, 154/31, D19/53
• US Class Current: 401/52
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/02 with rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: B43L 19/00 Erasers, rubbers, or erasing devices; Holders therefor rubbers or erasing knives combined with writing implements B43K29/02, B43K29/18

Abstract

A dry-erase marker eraser is comprised of a springy tubular sleeve with a closed end and an open end. An erasing pad is attached to the closed end of the sleeve. Longitudinal gripping ribs are arranged around an interior wall of the sleeve adjacent the open end. Longitudinal stop ribs are arranged around the interior wall of the sleeve adjacent the closed end. The open end of the sleeve is adapted to fit around a butt end of a marker. The sleeve and gripping ribs are sized to engage markers between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter. When the sleeve is positioned around a marker of the minimum diameter, the gripping ribs are closest from each other and the open end of the sleeve has a circular shape. When the sleeve is positioned around a marker of the maximum diameter, the gripping ribs are spread apart and the sleeve is reduced in curvature between the gripping ribs to a polygonal shape.

Claims

1. A dry-erase marker eraser, comprising:

a tubular sleeve made of a springy material and having a closed end, an open end for being positioned around a butt end of a dry-erase marker and an interior wall which is tapered from said open end to said closed end to facilitate molding;

an erasing pad attached to an exterior of said closed end of said sleeve for erasing dry-erase marks;

longitudinal gripping ribs arranged around said interior wall of said sleeve adjacent said open end for gripping said butt end of said marker, said gripping ribs being spreadable apart and said sleeve is reducible in curvature between said gripping ribs to a generally polygonal shape for being attached around markers of different diameters; and

longitudinal stop ribs arranged around said interior wall of said sleeve adjacent said closed end for spacing said butt end of said marker from said closed end and preventing suction from developing between said sleeve and said butt end of said marker.

2. The dry-erase marker eraser of claim 1, wherein said tubular sleeve is comprised of a corrugated sleeve, and said longitudinal gripping ribs are comprised of corrugations in said corrugated sleeve.

3. The dry-erase marker eraser of claim 1, wherein said spring material is comprised of polypropylene.

4. The dry-erase marker eraser of claim 1, wherein said erasing pad is comprised of felt.

5. The dry-erase marker eraser of claim 1, further including a ring concentrically attached to said sleeve adjacent said closed end overlapping a base of said erasing pad to prevent said erasing pad from being dislodged accidentally.

6. A dry-erase marker eraser, comprising:

a tubular sleeve made of a springy material and having a closed end, an open end for being positioned around a butt end of a dry-erase marker, and an interior wall which is tapered from said open end to said closed end to facilitate molding;

an erasing pad attached to an exterior of said closed end of said sleeve for erasing dry-erase marks;

a ring concentrically attached to said sleeve adjacent said closed end overlapping a base of said erasing pad to prevent said erasing pad from being dislodged accidentally;

longitudinal gripping ribs arranged around said interior wall of said sleeve adjacent said open end for gripping said butt end of said marker, said gripping ribs being spreadable apart and said sleeve is reducible in curvature between said gripping ribs to a generally polygonal shape for being attached around markers of different diameters; and

longitudinal stop ribs arranged around said interior wall of said sleeve adjacent said closed end for spacing said butt end of said marker from said closed end and preventing suction from developing between said sleeve and said butt end of said marker, said stop ribs being offset radially from said gripping ribs to facilitate molding.

7. The dry-erase marker eraser of claim 6, wherein said tubular sleeve is comprised of a corrugated sleeve, and said longitudinal gripping ribs are comprised of corrugations in said corrugated sleeve.

8. The dry-erase marker eraser of claim 6, wherein said spring material is comprised of polypropylene.

9. The dry-erase marker eraser of claim 6, wherein said erasing pad is comprised of felt.