Jason C Cantu, 471441 N Keating Ave, Chicago, IL 60651

2003015, Aug 21, 2003

Feb 19, 2002

10/078836

Jason Cantu - Downers Grove IL, US
Bret Marschand - Oak Park IL, US

B43K005/02

401/232000, 401/222000

A mechanism for a writing implement prevents back flow of writing fluid from a writing tip back to a fluid reservoir of the implement. The mechanism has a valve chamber with a proximal end and a distal end. The mechanism also has a valve seat disposed at the distal end of the valve chamber. A first fluid passage in the writing implement defines a first opening into the valve chamber at the valve seat. The first fluid passage is in fluid communication with both the fluid reservoir and the valve chamber. A valve body has a body diameter and is loosely held within the valve chamber. The valve body prevents fluid back flow from the valve chamber to the first fluid passage when borne against the valve seat. A second fluid passage in the writing implement is in fluid communication with both the writing tip and the valve chamber. The second fluid passage has a second opening disposed at the proximal end of the valve chamber. The second fluid passage has a generally oblong cross section that is sized relative to the valve body diameter so as to prevent the valve body from fully entering the second fluid passage and yet permit fluid flow to the writing tip when the valve body is borne against the entry of the second fluid passage.

2005004, Feb 24, 2005

Aug 18, 2004

10/920777

Amar Patel - Arlington Heights IL, US
Jeffrey Hautzinger - Arlington Heights IL, US
Marc Colavitti - Lombard IL, US
Bret Marschand - Glendale Heights IL, US
Jason Cantu - Downers Grove IL, US
John Thompson - Medfield MA, US

SANFORD L.P. - Freeport IL

A47L013/26
B43K005/14

401037000, 401116000

A marking instrument includes a body formed with a first end and a second end and sealed at the second end to define a fluid reservoir. The marking instrument includes a tip assembly positioned at the first end having a rigid nib with a fluid path formed longitudinally therethrough. The rigid nib has a first end forming a first spreader surface and a second end adjacent to the fluid reservoir and cooperates with a shiftable valve positioned within the fluid path. The shiftable valve includes a valve actuator having a contact surface position substantially adjacent to the first spreader surface. The tip assembly may further include an adjustable nib having a second spreader surface adapted to be positioned adjacent the first spreader surface to form a composite spreader surface.