Seal assembly for retractable instrument
First Claim
1. A seal assembly for a retractable instrument having an applicator element, the seal assembly comprising:
- a base;
at least two fingers attached to the base; and
a movable sleeve partially surrounding the base;
wherein, when the retractable instrument is in a retracted position, the movable sleeve constrains the fingers such that the fingers are in a fully closed state and seal the applicator element, and protraction of the base relative to the movable sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the applicator element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seal assembly for a retractable instrument having an applicator element is disclosed, the seal assembly comprising a base, at least two fingers attached to the base, and a sleeve surrounding the base. When the retractable instrument is in a retracted position, the sleeve constrains the fingers such that the fingers are in a fully closed state and seal the applicator element. Protraction of the base relative to the sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the applicator element. Thus, the seal assembly opens to expose an applicator element such that the applicator element is in an application position; however, none of the elements of the seal assembly contacts the applicator element to transfer fluid from the applicator element, thereby eliminating potential degradation of the seal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A seal assembly for a retractable instrument having an applicator element, the seal assembly comprising:
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a base; at least two fingers attached to the base; and a movable sleeve partially surrounding the base; wherein, when the retractable instrument is in a retracted position, the movable sleeve constrains the fingers such that the fingers are in a fully closed state and seal the applicator element, and protraction of the base relative to the movable sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the applicator element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A retractable writing instrument comprising:
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a body and a nose disposed at a first end of the body; an internal writing assembly disposed within the body and including a nib; and a seal assembly coupled to the internal writing assembly, the seal assembly comprising a base, at least two fingers attached to the base, and a movable sleeve partially surrounding the base;
wherein, when the retractable writing instrument is in a retracted position, the movable sleeve constrains the fingers, such that the fingers are in a fully closed state and seal the nib, and protraction of the base relative to the movable sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the nib. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A retractable instrument comprising:
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a body and a nose disposed at a first end of the body; an internal assembly disposed within the body and including an applicator element; and a seal assembly coupled to the internal assembly, the seal assembly comprising a base, at least two fingers attached to the base, and a movable sleeve partially surrounding the base; wherein, when the retractable instrument is in a retracted position, the movable sleeve constrains the fingers such that the fingers are in a fully closed state and seal the applicator element, and protraction of the base relative to the movable sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the applicator element.
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19. A seal assembly for a retractable instrument having an applicator element, the seal assembly comprising:
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a base; at least two fingers attached to the base; and a sleeve partially surrounding the base; wherein, when the retractable instrument is in a retracted position, the sleeve constrains the fingers such that the fingers are in a fully closed state and seal the applicator element, and protraction of the base relative to the sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the applicator element, and wherein protraction of the base and fingers continues until a stop of a nose of the instrument engages a stop of the sleeve, thereby constraining the protraction of the base and fingers and allowing the applicator element to completely protract out of the retractable instrument and into an application position.
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20. A retractable writing instrument comprising:
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a body and a nose disposed at a first end of the body; an internal writing assembly disposed within the body and including a nib; and a seal assembly coupled to the internal writing assembly, the seal assembly comprising a base, at least two fingers attached to the base, and a sleeve partially surrounding the base; wherein, when the retractable writing instrument is in a retracted position, the sleeve constrains the fingers, such that the fingers are in a fully closed state and seal the nib, and protraction of the base relative to the sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the nib, and wherein protraction of the base and fingers continues until a forward stop of the nose engages a forward stop of the sleeve, thereby constraining the protraction of the base and fingers and allowing the nib to completely protract out of the body and into a writing position.
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Specification