Melt blown fiber structures for use in high strength wicks

Abstract

A high strength wick is presented that comprises a self-sustaining fibrous element. This element is formed of a multiplicity of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact to define a porous matrix. The fibers are melt blown bicomponent fibers comprising a core of nylon 6,6 and a sheath of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate. The sheath polymer is selected and adapted for solvent resistance.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . A high strength wick comprising: 
 a self-sustaining fibrous element formed of a multiplicity of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact to define a porous matrix, said fibers being melt blown bicomponent fibers comprising a core of nylon 6,6 and a sheath of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate, said polymer being selected and adapted for solvent resistance.    
     
     
         25 . A high strength wick according to  claim 24  wherein the polymer of said sheath is polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         26 . A writing or marking instrument comprising: 
 a barrel having a barrel interior;    a reservoir disposed in the barrel interior for holding and controllably releasing a quantity of ink; and    a nib formed from a high strength wick according to  claim 24 , the nib being adapted for transferring ink from said reservoir to a writing surface.    
     
     
         27 . A roller ball pen comprising 
 a barrel having a barrel interior;    a reservoir disposed in the barrel interior for holding and controllably releasing a quantity of ink    a roller ball tip including a roller ball at its terminus; and    a high strength wick according to  claim 24  extending from the roller ball tip into contact with the reservoir.