Non-spill chalk line and measured refill cartridge

A chalk refill container for dispensing a measured quantity of chalk into a chalk line device, the chalk line device having a chalk refill opening with a width and a length, the width and length define a perimeter, the chalk line device also includes tracks for coupling to the chalk refill container, the tracks extend along the length of the opening, the chalk refill container comprising:

• a) a container housing for storing chalk, said container housing having an opening of a rectangular shape, the opening defines a perimeter, the perimeter of the container opening is substantially the same as the perimeter of the chalk line device;
• b) chalk within the container housing;
• c) means for coupling said container housing to the chalk line device with the container disposed substantially external to the chalk line device and with the perimeter of the housing aligned with the perimeter of the container, said coupling means includes a pair of flanges extending along a length of said opening;
• and
• d) a removable cover releasably secured to the container housing and sealing said container opening;
• whereby the chalk refill container is coupled to a chalk line device by mating engagement of the flanges with the tracks.

A chalk dispensing system comprising:

• a) a chalk refill container including:
• i) a chalk refill container housing for storing a measured quantity of chalk, said housing defining a refill container opening;
• ii) chalk within the container housing;
• iii) a flange extending along said refill container opening;
• iv) a removable cover secured to said container housing and sealing said refill container opening;
• b) a chalk line device including:
• i) a chalk line device body defining an opening;
• ii) a chalk line disposed within the chalk line device body;
• iii) first and second rails on opposing sides of said device body opening, said rails including an engagement portion configured to slidably engage said flange;
• iv) a door engaged with said engagement portion, said door being movable between a closed position in which said door seals said chalk line device body opening and an open position in which said chalk line device body opening is exposed;
• c) whereby chalk is dispensed from said chalk refill container into chalk line device body by exposing said refill container opening by removing said removable cover, coupling said flange with said engagement portion, and inverting said chalk refill container wherein said door is opened by the chalk refill container as the chalk refill container slides into engagement with said engagement portion, further wherein said chalk refill container is disengaged from said chalk line device by said door as said door is urged into said closed position.

A chalk line device, the chalk line device adapted to receive chalk from a chalk refill container, the chalk line device comprising:

• a) a body having a length, a width and a refill opening, the refill opening has a length and a width, the refill opening length extends approximately one half of the length of the body, and the refill opening width extends across substantially the entire width of the body;
• b) a chalk line disposed within said body;
• c) means for coupling said chalk line device to the chalk refill container in a sealed manner,
• whereby chalk in the chalk refill container is emptied into the chalk line device generally without spillage through coupling of said coupling means to the chalk refill container.