Bic Corporation

Craig M. Stevens

Marc W. Lovejoy

Gordon Perry

Roger F. Lockshier

Roger F Lockshier

Barry W Chadwick

Michael Kent

Gordon Randall Perry

Arthur R Hamilton, Jr

Craig M Stevens

Phillip A Johnson

Marc W Lovejoy

Andrew M Candelora

Charles McCaffrey

James Whitaker, Jr

Gary R Ashe

Alexander Rhodes Smith

Arthur R Hamilton

A grip element having a soft, compressible and deformable outer layer supported by an underlying support structure sufficiently rigid to maintain a receiving channel of the grip element in an open configuration. The support structure facilitates manipulation of the grip element and assembly of the grip element onto a hand-held article without having the outer layer collapse on itself as would occur without the support structure as a result of the soft, deformable nature of the outer layer. The grip element may be formed separately from the hand-held article on which it is to be assembled, and then positioned thereon such that the hand-held article is sold with the grip element pre-assembled thereon. If desired, the grip element may be provided separate from the hand-held article, the outer layer providing a readily compressible and deformable soft cushioning surface and the support structure facilitating insertion of the outer layer over at least a portion of a hand-held article. The outer layer and support structure may be co-molded such that the materials thereof are permanently and directly bonded together. If desired, a pattern may be formed on the outer layer, such as grooves, dimples, ribs, bumps, a lattice pattern, or a honeycomb pattern.

Grip element

Grip element and method of manufacture thereof

A writing instrument is provided including a gripping section arranged along a portion of the writing instrument normally used for gripping and a writing tip extending from the gripping section. The gripping section may be provided on a replaceable cartridge element which is inserted into a cartridge-receiving cavity in the writing instrument body. A soft, resiliently deformable gripping member is provided on the gripping section and is preferably tubular in shape. The gripping member includes a smooth surface which may include a slightly elevated or raised pattern. The elevated pattern may comprise a plurality of interconnected parts so as to form a continuous lattice or pattern such as hexagons. The pattern is preferably continuous over the entire smooth surface. The elevated pattern is resiliently compressible with respect to the smooth surface so that a user's fingers may deform the elevated pattern to provide additional traction during use.

Writing instrument with finger gripping device

Writing instrument cap

A writing instrument is provided including a cartridge carrying a writing or highlighting medium, and a writing tip exposed at one end of the cartridge. The cartridge includes a reduced cross-section which forms an annular recessed and tapered cavity. A gripping member is received in the cavity and is preferably tubular in shape and is tapered to follow the tapered contour of the cartridge. The gripping member includes a smooth surface which may include a slightly elevated or raised pattern. The elevated pattern may comprise a plurality of interconnected parts so as to form a continuous lattice or pattern such as hexagons. The pattern is preferably continuous over the entire smooth surface. The elevated pattern is resiliently compressible with respect to the smooth surface so that a user's fingers may deform the elevated pattern to provide additional traction during use. The writing instrument may also include a vented cap.

Writing instrument

The present invention is related to a durable foam tipped applicator that can absorb and retain fluids easily. The foam material used to make the applicator tip may be used in both water-based and solvent-based fluids. A wiper insert may be used to remove excess liquid from the applicator during removal from a reservoir of fluid. A lip at the mouth of the wiper insert can redirect excess fluid into the reservoir.

Foam applicator with wiper insert

Growing community of inventors

Monroe, CT, United States of America

Roger F Lockshier