Device for dispensing chemiluminescent solution

Abstract

Devices have a flexible housing with an inside chamber having a closed and open end. A first chemiluminescent fluid is disposed in a breakable container in the chamber, and a second chemiluminescent fluid is in the chamber. A tip assembly is attached to the housing and includes a nib movably disposed in the body, and a filter element may be positioned within the body to prevent passage of broken particles from the container to the nib tip. A resilient element is used to impose an outward biasing force on the nib. A porous material is disposed over an outer surface of the nib tip and securely held in place. The device is activated for use by bending the housing to break the container causing the first and second chemiluminescent fluids to mix and react, providing a chemiluminescent solution that flows to the tip assembly for dispensing onto a desired surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marking device comprising:
 a housing having an inside chamber;   a first chemiluminescent fluid disposed within the inside chamber;   a second chemiluminescent fluid disposed within the inside chamber and separated from the first chemiluminescent fluid until desired use; and   a body attached to the housing that includes a nib disposed therein, wherein the nib includes a tip that extends from the body and wherein a portion of the nib is in communication with a chemiluminescent solution when the marker is placed into use by combining the first and second chemiluminescent fluids together such that the nib tip dispenses the solution from the marking device onto a desired surface.   
     
     
         2 . The marking device as recited in  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second chemiluminescent fluid is disposed within a breakable container separated from the other of the first or second chemiluminescent fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The marking device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first chemiluminescent fluid is an activator and the second chemiluminescent fluid is an oxalate solution. 
     
     
         4 . The marking device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the activator is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         5 . The marking device as recited in  claim 4  wherein the activator includes a surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The marking device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the nib includes a porous material disposed over an outer surface of the nib end extending from the body. 
     
     
         7 . The marking device as recited in  claim 1  comprising a filter element interposed between the nib and the first or second chemiluminescent fluids. 
     
     
         8 . A marking device comprising:
 a housing having an inside chamber and formed from an elastically deformable material;   a first chemiluminescent fluid disposed within a breakable container, wherein the breakable container is disposed within the inside chamber;   a second chemiluminescent fluid disposed within the inside chamber; and   a body connected with the housing and including a nib disposed therein, the nib including a tip that extends outwardly from the body;   wherein a chemiluminescent solution is formed by deforming the housing to cause the breakable container to break to cause the first and second chemiluminescent fluids to mix and form a chemiluminescent solution, and wherein the chemiluminescent solution is dispensed from the body by the tip.   
     
     
         9 . The marking device as recited in  claim 8  wherein one of the first or second chemiluminescent fluid is an oxalate solution, and the other of the first or second chemiluminescent fluid is an activator solution. 
     
     
         10 . The marking device as recited in  claim 9  wherein the activator solution is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         11 . The marking device as recited in  claim 8  comprising a porous material disposed over the nib tip. 
     
     
         12 . The marking device as recited in  claim 8  comprising a biasing element for urging the nib tip outwardly from the body and enabling movably displacement of the nib relative to the body. 
     
     
         13 . The marking device as recited in  claim 8  comprising a filter element positioned between the nib and the first and second chemiluminescent fluids for preventing the passage of any container particles to the nib tip. 
     
     
         14 . A method for dispensing a chemiluminescent solution from a marking device onto a surface comprising the steps of:
 causing first and second chemiluminescent fluids to combine within a housing of the marking device to a form a chemiluminescent solution that is fluid flow communication with a body attached to the housing;   causing a nib that is disposed within the body and that includes a nib tip extending outwardly from the body to be wetted by the chemiluminescent solution to cause the chemiluminescent solution to travel to the nib tip; and   dispensing the chemiluminescent solution onto a surface by contacting the nib tip with the surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the housing is formed from a deformable material and the step of causing the first and second chemiluminescent fluids to combine comprises causing the housing to deform, wherein one of the first or second chemiluminescent fluids is disposed in a breakable container, and wherein causing the housing to deform causes the container to break. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the marking device includes a filter element interposed between the first and second chemiluminescent fluids and the nib to prevent passage of any particles from the broken container to travel to the tip. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the nib is movably disposed within the body and wherein the step of causing the nib tip to be wetted comprises pressing the nib tip inwardly into the body. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the nib tip is biased in an outward position from the body by a resilient member that permits inward movement of the nib. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein one of the first or second chemiluminescent fluid is an oxalate solution, and the other of the first or second chemiluminescent fluid is an activator solution. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the activator solution is an aqueous solution.