JPH06282963A - Needle for erasable marker device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To form a pointer for erasable marker system by detachably fitting a 1st foil layer to a 2nd layer so as to visually distinguish it. CONSTITUTION: An instrument 20 is fitted through an adhesive layer 32 onto the back of a video cassette. The dull point of the pointer is used for impressing local pressure inside a display area. A cursor 26 is generally positioned next to the terminal part of a window 22 so as to provide a maximum area for generating display. When any picture element is to be erased, the engage means of the pointer is engaged with the upper member of the cursor 26 and a linear edge part is accepted at a gap. The pointer is used for dragging the cursor 26 over the area of the picture element. When the cursor 26 crosses the window, a lower bar 28 is taken up so as to separate paper foil 33 from a wax surface layer 35 and a contact point to generate a visible image is removed. An upper member 27 and a gap are made existent so that the display of the instrument can accept the linear edge part of the pointer at the next time of erasure. Thus, the pointer for erasable marker system can be formed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to, but is not limited to, a needle for an erasable marker system for use with or in connection with a video cassette. With the current popularity of home video recording, mainly for changes over time in television broadcasts, for a given videocassette to be used to record one particular program, after that program is seen, the other It is common for the same cassette to be reused to record a program. This poses a problem for those who wish to store an easily readable record of the program content recorded on each cassette in that video cassette. Therefore, there is a need for a marker device usable with a video cassette that can be easily erased and rewritten when the video cassette is reused.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art US Pat. No. 4,763,929 (1988)
(Issued Aug. 16, 2014) discloses an erasable device for a video or other cassette consisting of a long housing attached to the back of the cassette by a pressure sensitive adhesive. The label housing has a window through which the foil device is visible. Foil device is acetate foil, transparent paper or strip under acetate foil,
It consists of the bottom wax foil. The transparent paper is releasably fixed or fixed to the wax foil under a writing pressure applied to the acetate foil. In order to erase the writing, it is necessary to separate the transparent paper and wax foil. For this purpose, a cursor is provided on the device with a lower part intermediate the paper and the wax foil and an upper part movable in the window of the label housing. A special feature disclosed in this patent specification is the cursor described as being finger actuatable.

A problem with the device described and illustrated in US Pat. No. 4,763,929 is that it is relatively easy to slide the cursor within the device because the cursor is provided to be finger-movable. As a result, unnecessary movement of the cursor within the device is likely to occur, thereby erasing the display marked on the device. Further, the patent does not contemplate the use of any particular tool that produces localized compression to releasably secure the transparency to the wax foil. Alternatively, the tip of a ballpoint pen may be used for this purpose. However, the pen tends to mark the outer surface of the marker device, and such marking is not erased by the cursor's routine action.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an erasable marker system needle and an erasable marker system including the needle that alleviates the problems of the prior art.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention,
The first foil layer may be releasably attached to the second layer at any desired point, with the points of attachment therebetween being visually distinguishable and constituting an indication, wherein the needle has a blunt at one end thereof. A shaft and an engagement means laterally arranged with respect to the axis of the shaft, wherein the engagement means is such that, in use, a cursor is moved along the first layer over the first layer. A needle is provided for marking the type of device that can cooperate with the cursor.

Desirably, the engagement means comprises a linear edge and the device is preferably capable of engaging the cursor with the cursor. In one embodiment, the engagement means comprises a protrusion extending from the shaft or from a recessed region along the shaft, the protrusion being one arranged to move the cursor along the first layer. Or more lateral edge members. The protrusion may have a single linear lateral edge member or may have two or more lateral edge members arranged in a generally linear array.

Desirably, the protrusion includes a first surface extending laterally with respect to the axis of the shaft and a second surface angled to tilt away from the blunt point. The protrusion is located at the opposite end of the shaft with respect to the obtuse point. The present invention also provides a marker system consisting of: a) a needle as described above; b) a marker device suitable for attachment to a videocassette or the like, the marker device comprising: i) a length therein; A layered frame member having holes, ii) an adhesive layer adapted to be fixed to the frame member on one side and to the surface of a videocassette on the other side, and iii) a first foil layer at a desired point A device of the type which may be releasably attached to the second layer, the attachment points therebetween being visually distinguishable, constituting the indicia and located between the frame member and the adhering layer to form the indicia of the hole. Iv) disengageable between the opposite ends of the hole, the upper part received in the hole and the point of attachment, thereby eliminating the indicia of the first and second And a cursor consisting of a lower part located between layers, The stage is in use,
The cursor may cooperate with the top portion of the cursor to move the cursor along the first layer.

The frame member may have a stop member formed at opposite ends of the aperture adapted to engage the lower portion of the cursor to limit sliding of the cursor. The cursor is arranged such that when the lower part engages the stop member, there is a gap between the upper part of the cursor and the end of the hole, the device comprising engaging means for allowing the gap to engage the cursor. Can be accommodated. In one embodiment, the cursor has one or more recesses and the device may house engagement means to allow the recesses to engage the cursor.

Although the present invention is described below with respect to use in connection with a video cassette, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to video cassette applications. The marker system of the invention may be used with any of the following: audio tapes, filing systems (eg in paper files, file shelves, or desk drawers), telephones or other communication media (eg notepads or Personal items (such as personal organizers), retail items (eg to inform consumers), photographs (eg attached to a camera case or strap to facilitate recording exposure details), menus (eg daily dishes) , A computer (eg, on or near a keyboard or visual display unit), a briefcase and bag and a display board (eg,
At offices, hotels, factories and schools). If the marker device of the system of the invention is used to display a large area, the entire display may consist of a plurality of smaller individual units constructed according to the invention and arranged in a desired manner. When used with videocassettes, the marker device is generally elongated in shape; for other applications, such as erasable bag labels, different forms of credit card size may be used, for example.

Desirably, the two strips have strong, transparent protective strips formed thereon, such as acetate (eg, "Cellophane") or polyethylene terephthalate or other polyester material. In the system of the present invention, the generation of local pressure due to the dull point of the needle results in the adhesion of the first layer (eg, a transparent strip of paper) to the second layer, which is generally a dark waxy surface, and thus the pressure is reduced. Change the viewing angle appearance of the device at the point of application. Thus, it is possible to write an indication on the device to give an indication of the program content contained in a given cassette.

The cursor is preferably positioned so that it is received tightly in the device to prevent the cursor from being moved by finger pressing alone. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary movement of the cursor and accidental deletion of the display. When the program contents are erased and the cassette is re-recorded, the needle engagement means are used to engage the cursor and the needle is used to move the cursor along the length of the device, thus the first And separating the second layer, erasing the display carried on the device.

[0012]

For a better understanding of the present invention, an exemplary description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings to show how the invention may be implemented. Referring to the drawings, a needle 1 comprises a shaft 2 having a square cross section. The shaft 2 has an obtuse point 3 at one end and an engaging means indicated at 4 at the other end.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the engagement means 4 is formed by a flange 5 extending from a recess 6 in the shaft 2. The flange 5 extends to the same width as the rest of the shaft 2 and has four sides. Each face comprises a linear edge 7 which is transverse to the axis of the shaft 2 and a bevel 8 which slopes towards the end of the shaft 2. Another embodiment is shown in the figure. Here, the engagement means 4'is formed by a protrusion 9 extending from a recess 6'on one surface of the shaft 2. The protrusion 9 comprises a linear edge 7 ". The end of the shaft 2 is chamfered as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

Yet another embodiment is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the engagement means 4 ″ is formed by two protrusions 10 a, 10 b extending from the shaft 2.
10b has respective linear edges 7a ", 7b". The end of the shaft 2 is chamfered as in the embodiment shown in FIG. It is the needle 1 that the engagement means can be provided in various shapes.
As can be seen from the above description. In this respect, the engagement means may be arranged to project from more than one or just one face of the shaft 2. Also, the engagement means may project from the shaft to extend beyond the shaft, or it may project from a recess in the shaft. Moreover, only one or more protrusions may be provided.

Referring to FIG. 4, marking device 20 comprises a molded plastic frame 21 having a large hole or window 22 therein. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower surface of the frame 21 has a recess 23 surrounding the window 22 and stop members 24 and 25 projecting from the recess 23 at each end of the window 22. The cursor 26 is recessed so that the cursor 26 slides between the stop members 24 and 25.
Accepted by. It should be noted that the cursor 26 is received sufficiently tightly in the recess 23 to prevent it from moving with only finger pressure.

The cursor 26 is shown in more detail in FIG. 6, where it can be seen that the cursor 26 is in the form of an envelope having upper and lower members 27 and 28 which define a hole 29, respectively. Over most of the cursor 26, the lower member 28 is such that the lower member 28 is a stop member 24, 25 (FIG. 4)
The upper member 2 that allows a gap 30 to be formed between the upper member 27 and the frame 21 when abutting either of the
It has a width greater than 7. The portion 27a of the upper member 27 to be received in the window 22 is thicker than the remaining portions 27b and 27c of the upper member 27 to be received in the recess 23, so that the portion 27a is substantially above the upper surface of the frame member 21 (FIG. 8). Get flush. As shown in FIG. 7, the cursor 26 comprises a single piece of plastic material, for example. The upper member 27 is folded along the folding lines 31a and 31b, and the cursor 26
Consists of two parts joined at their respective ends to form

Referring to FIG. 8, an adhesion layer 32, which may be covered with the separation protection strip, is provided on the lower surface of the frame 21. Adhesion layer 32 may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesion. The elongated strip formed of transparent paper material is housed in the frame 21 such that the first foil layer in the form of foil 33 penetrates the hole 29 of the cursor 26. On the first foil layer 33 is a further elongated strip 34 which is a transparent acetate or Mylar foil.

The adhesive layer 32 in the frame 21 carries a second layer 35, which is a wax layer. The paper foil 33 has a wax layer 35 so as to define a display area in which a display is generated.
Collaborate with. The application of localized pressure at the desired point in the display area by the blunt point 3 of the needle 1 causes the paper foil 33 to adhere to the surface of the wax layer 35 at that point. These points represent image elements or displays, visible from the rest of the display area where there is no adhesion between the paper foil 33 and the wax layer 35.

During use, the device 20 is attached to the back of the video cassette by an adhesive layer 32. The blunt point 3 of the needle 1 is used to apply a local pressure within the display area to produce a display as described above. Such a display displays, for example, the contents recorded on the video cassette. Cursor 26 is generally located next to the edge of window 22 (as shown in FIG. 4) to provide the maximum area in which the display can occur.

When the picture element is to be erased, the engagement means 4 of the needle 1 are engaged with the upper member 27 of the cursor 26 and the linear edge 7 is received in the gap 30. The needle 1 can then be used to pull the cursor 26 over the area of the picture element.
As the cursor 26 crosses the window, the lower bar 28 of the cursor 26 lifts the paper foil 33 away from the wax surface layer 35, thus eliminating contact points that produce a visible image.

The lower member 28 of the cursor 26 is the stop member 2
The cursor 26 is prevented from being further moved by the needle 1 when it abuts one of 4,25. In this configuration, there is a gap 30 between the top member 27 and the frame 1 to receive the linear edge 7 of the hand when the display of the device is to be erased next. In another embodiment (see FIG. 9), cursor 2
6 "has recesses 36a, 36b adapted to receive the protrusions 10a, 10b of the engagement means 4". In use,
The needle protrusions 10a, 10b engage recesses 36a, 36b so that the cursor 26 can be moved by the needle 1. In this embodiment, there need not be a gap 30 between the top member 27 and the ends of the window 22.

It is noted that the slope of the engagement means 4 prevents the cursor 26 from being pushed by the needle 1. The slope 8 slides the needle against the cursor 26, which causes the cursor 2
A sufficient pressing force to move 6 cannot be applied. Thus, the needle 1 can simply be used to pull the cursor over the device 20. This is because the pulling needle 1 and the upper member 27
Lifts away from the layers 33, 34, 35 and thus the needle 1
And the upper member 27 has the advantage of not marking the device 20. Conversely, when the cursor 26 is pushed past the device 20, unnecessary marking occurs.

Although described above as a separate device intended to be mounted on the back of a video cassette, it will be appreciated that device 20 may be integrally formed with the cassette itself. In these environments, the device has the same features just described, except that there is no need for the adhesion layer 32. The device 20 as shown (for use with a video cassette) is approximately 14.4c.
m (55/8 inch) long, 2 cm (3/4 inch) wide,
Conveniently, it is 0.1 cm (1/16 inch) thick and cursor 2 is conveniently about 1.3 cm (1/2 inch) wide.

It will also be appreciated that the apparatus according to the present invention may be used to display information other than that which is associated with the program content recorded on the video cassette and may be attached to objects other than the video cassette as described above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a needle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of another form of the engaging means of the needle of FIG.

3 is a partial perspective view of another alternative form of the needle engaging means of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a marker device according to the present invention.

5 is a plan view of the underside of the frame member of the apparatus of FIG.

6 is a perspective view of a cursor of the device of FIG.

7 is a plan view of the cursor of FIG. 6 in an unassembled state.

8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG.

9 is a perspective view of another example of the cursor shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Needle 2 Shaft 3 Blunt Point 4, 4 ', 4 "Engaging Means 5 Flange 6, 6' Recesses 7, 7", 7a ", 7b" Linear Edges 8 Slopes 9, 10a, 10b Projection 20 Marking Device 21 Molded plastic frame 22 Windows 23, 36a, 36b Recesses 24, 25 Stop member 26 Cursor 27 Upper member 28 Lower member 29 Hole 30 Gap 32 Adhesive layer 33 Paper foil 35 Wax layer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Maurice Miller Herzliya Pitsachi 46684 Shevet Menace 18

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A first foil layer may be releasably attached to a second layer at any desired point, the points of attachment therebetween being visually distinguishable and constituting an indicia, wherein the needle is at one end thereof. A blunt point in the shaft and an engagement means laterally arranged with respect to the axis of the shaft, the engagement means, in use, directs a cursor over the first layer to the first layer. A needle for marking a device of the type that can cooperate with a cursor to be moved along. 2. The needle according to claim 1, wherein said engagement means comprises a linear edge, said device being capable of engaging said edge with said cursor. 3. The engagement means comprises a protrusion extending from the shaft or from a recessed area along the shaft, the protrusion being arranged to move the cursor along the first layer. The needle of claim 1 having one or more lateral edge members. 4. The needle of claim 3 wherein the protrusion has a single linear lateral edge member. 5. The needle of claim 3, wherein the protrusion has two or more lateral edge members arranged in a generally linear array. 6. The protrusion includes a first surface extending laterally with respect to the axis of the shaft and a second surface angled to tilt away from the blunt point. Four
Or the needle according to item 5. 7. The needle according to claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the protrusion is located at an end of the shaft opposite to the blunt point. 8. The needle according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the protrusion extends from a recessed area of the shaft such that the linear edge portion is substantially flush with the shaft. 9. The needle according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion is in the form of a chamfered annular flange extending from the recessed area along the shaft. 10. A marker comprising a) a needle according to any one of claims 1 to 9; b) a marker device suitable for attachment to a video cassette or the like, the marker device being i) there A layered frame member having slots, ii) an adhesive layer adapted to be fixed to the frame member on one side and to the surface of a videocassette on the other side, and iii) the first foil layer is at the desired point Of a type that is releasably attached to the second layer, the attachment points therebetween being visually distinguishable, forming the indicia and located between the frame member and the adhering layer to form the indicia of the hole. A device, and iv) a top portion, slidable between opposite ends of the hole, received in the hole and disengaging the point of attachment, thereby eliminating the indicia. A lower portion located between the layers and a cursor, the engaging means comprising: A marker system that can cooperate with the upper portion of the cursor to move the cursor along the layer of the first. 11. The marker of claim 10, wherein the frame member has a stop member formed at opposite ends of the hole adapted to engage the lower portion of the cursor to limit sliding of the cursor. system. 12. The cursor is arranged such that when the lower portion engages the stop member, there is a gap between the upper portion of the cursor and the end of the hole, and the device allows the gap to engage the cursor. 12. The marker system of claim 11, wherein the marker system is capable of accommodating the engaging means. 13. A marker according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the cursor has one or more recesses and the device can accommodate engagement means to allow the recesses to engage the cursor. system. 14. The first layer comprises a transparent paper foil; the second layer comprises a wax foil or a wax layer.
The marker system according to claim 1. 15. A marker system according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the first layer has a protective strip that is strong and transparent beyond it.