Chalk box with improved one-way valve
AssigneeApex Brands, Inc.
InventorCecil Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A chalk port for retaining chalk within a chalk reservoir of a chalk box may include an interface portion configured to interface with a housing of the chalk box to retain the chalk port in contact with the chalk box, a tapered portion extending away from the interface portion in an axial direction, and a slit assembly disposed at the tapered portion. The tapered portion may have a diameter that reduces as distance from the interface portion increases. The tapered portion may include a plurality of projections separated from each other by slits of the slit assembly. The projections may have a rest position configured to bias the slit assembly closed. Ribs may be formed to extend between the interface portion and the projections to bias the projections to the rest position.
Claims20
A chalk port that permits refilling into a chalk reservoir of a chalk box and inhibit chalk leakage from the cha reservoir, the chalk port comprising:
- an interface portion configured to interface with a housing of the chalk box to retain the chalk port in contact with the chalk box;
- a tapered portion extending away from the interface portion in an axial direction, the tapered portion having a diameter that reduces as distance from the interface portion increases;
- and
- a slit assembly disposed at the tapered portion,
- wherein the tapered portion comprises a plurality of projections separated from each other by slits of the slit assembly,
- wherein the projections have a rest position configured to bias the slit assembly closed, and
- wherein ribs are formed to extend between the interface portion and the projections to bias the projections to the rest position.
A chalk port for retaining chalk within a chalk reservoir of a chalk box, the chalk port comprising:
- an interface portion configured to interface with a housing of the chalk box to retain the chalk port in contact with the chalk box;
- a tapered portion extending away from interface portion in an axial direction, the tapered portion having a diameter that reduces as distance from the interface portion increases, and
- a slit assembly disposed at the tapered portion,
- wherein the tapered portion comprises a plurality of projections separated from each other by slits of the slit assembly,
- wherein the projections have a rest position configured to bias the slit assembly closed, and
- wherein the ribs are formed to extend between the interface portion and the projections to bias the projections to the rest position,
- wherein the slit assembly comprises a first slit extending in a first radial direction and a second slit extending in a second radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first radial direction,
- wherein the first and second slits meet at respective centers thereof at an axis of the chalk port, and wherein the first and second slits separate from each other,
- wherein the projections extend toward the interface portion forming recesses on a side of the tapered portion facing away from the interface portion, and
- wherein the recesses are bounded by retaining walls.
A chalk box comprising:
- a housing having an aperture;
- a reel assembly enclosed within the housing;
- a string having a first end operably coupled to an end hook and configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and having a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly;
- a chalk reservoir in which the string is retained or through which the string passes prior to extending out of the aperture;
- and
- a chalk port that permits chalk refilling into the chalk reservoir and inhibits chalk leakage from the chalk reservoir, the chalk port comprising:
- an interface portion configured to interface with the housing of the chalk box to retain the chalk port in contact with the chalk box;
- a tapered portion extending away from the interface portion in an axial direction, the tapered portion having a diameter that reduces as distance from the interface portion increases;
- and
- a slit assembly disposed at the tapered portion,
- wherein the tapered portion comprises a plurality of projections separated from each other by slits of the slit assembly,
- wherein the projections have a rest position configured to bias the slit assembly closed, and
- wherein ribs are formed to extend between the interface portion and the projections to bias the projections to the rest position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.