Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a writing implement and an operating mechanism for the same. The writing implement has an extensible and retractable writing cartridge carried within a body of the writing implement. The operating mechanism includes an carrier for selectively extending a tip of the writing cartridge from the body. A release button is operable from each side of the body for releasing the carrier from a locked condition in which the writing cartridge is retained in the extended position and a release condition permitting retraction of the writing cartridge into the body. The operating mechanism includes a carrier with a recess to slidably receive the release button and a yoke spring to urge the release button to a centered position. In the locked position, a base of a first tab on the carrier is urged in subjacent abutment with a second tab on the release button.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel-state content discharging applicator and, more particularly, to a gel-state content, discharging applicator wherein a pressurization button is formed on the lower end of a container such that, when the pressurization button is pressed, an inner container is pressurized, thereby pressurizing an inner container cap, which is coupled to the inner container, and a pump, which is coupled to the inner container cap; as a result, the gel-state content is discharged through a valve of the pump and through a discharge member such that a predetermined mount of gel-state content is always discharged easily; in addition, formation of the pressurization button on the lower end of the container guarantees that, when the container according to the present invention is used for tooth-related products among medications and sanitary aids, the content can be easily applied even to molar parts.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a visual indicator of depletion. In one aspect, the oral care implement comprises a body having a reservoir containing a composition including an oral care fluid and an indicator fluid, the oral care fluid being a different color than the indicator fluid and immiscible with respect to the indicator fluid; a delivery member formed of a capillary material; and the oral care fluid and the indicator fluid arranged within the reservoir so that upon the oral care fluid within the reservoir being substantially depleted, the indicator fluid is delivered to a visible portion of the delivery member by capillary action.

Abstract: A water based ink composition for a ballpoint pen containing ?-carrageenan in addition to a dye, water and a water-soluble organic solvent. When used in the ball point pen, the ink composition satisfies an ink drooling prevention and a drying resistance which are mutually incompatible functions and is excellent in writing performance regardless of containing a dye as a coloring agent. The ink composition (c) is used, for example, by accommodating a refill (12) whose ink accommodating tube (18) is filled with the ink composition and which is further loaded with an ink backflow-preventing member (20) in the ballpoint pen (10) whose writing edge is retracted and extruded from a front end opening of a barrel (21).

Abstract: A fluid applicator includes a tubular container having a top open end and a bottom open end, a floating stopper mounted in the tubular container for sealing the bottom open end of the tubular container, a fluid filled in between the top open end and bottom open end of the tubular container, and a plug for closing the top open end of the tubular container. When the plug is opened from the top open end of the tubular container for allow the atmospheric pressure to enter the tubular container, the floating stopper is forced to adhere to the peripheral wall of the tubular container for allowing the fluid to flow out of the fluid container. When the plug seals the top open end of the tubular container, the atmospheric pressure is prohibited from entering the tubular container, and the floating stopper stops the bottom open end of the tubular container again.

Abstract: An oil-based ink composition for writing instruments is provided that is capable of improving storage stability of an ink, while maintaining a leveling property even when a soluble gelling agent is used. The oil-based ink composition for writing instruments comprises a colorant, a resin, an organic solvent and a gelling agent, wherein said organic solvent(s) is (are) hydrocarbons solvent(s), and in particular, at least one species of the solvent selected from the group of aliphatic hydrocarbons solvent(s), alicyclic hydrocarbons solvent(s), aromatic hydrocarbons solvent(s), and halogenetad hydrocarbons solvent(s), said gelling agent(s) comprises (comprise) soluble gelling agent(s) soluble to the above organic solvent(s) and insoluble gelling agent(s) insoluble to the above organic solvent(s), and the above insoluble gelling agent(s) is (are) urea-modified thixotropic agent(s).

Abstract: An oral care implement includes a handle, a head mounted to one end of the handle that includes a first face having plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom and a second face, a store of dentifrice retained at the head, and a film matrix retained at the head containing at least one rapidly releasable agent. A soft tissue cleaner can be included on the second face. The at least one rapidly releasable agent can be provided to the first and/or second faces during use from the film matrix. In addition, dentifrice can be provided to the first and/or second faces during use from the store of dentifrice. The at least one rapidly releasable agent can include, for example, a flavoring agent, a dentifrice, or a therapeutic agent. The toothbrush can be small in size and lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.

Abstract: A coating tool that includes an ink containment tube, an oily ink and a backflow inhibiting material. The ink is in contact with the inhibiting material. The ink containment tube has a boundary which is in contact with the oily ink and the backflow inhibiting material. The boundary contains polyvinyl alcohol and fluorine-based surfactants, the oily ink contains a colorant, a resin, an organic solvent, and a gelling agent, and the backflow inhibiting material consists of base material components and a gelling agent which contains polyacrylic acid, the polyacrylic acid being present in an amount of 0.1 to 3 wt % with respect to the total amount of said backflow inhibiting material.

Abstract: A water-based ink composition for ballpoint pen, which comprises at least a colorant, water, a shear-thinning tackifier and a thickening inhibitor, wherein a ratio (x) of a viscosity after evaporation of 40 wt % of water from the total ink amount to an initial ink viscosity (as measured by EMD viscometer at 1 rpm and 20° C.) is 2 or less; and a ballpoint pen comprising the same.

Abstract: A follower for a nonaqueous ballpoint pen, comprising at least one poly-?-olefin which is a synthetic oil having a viscosity of 200 mPa·s or more at 40° C., wherein the total amount of poly-?-olefins is 80 mass % or more of all components, the viscosity at 40° C. is from 1,000 to 30,000 mPa·s, and the shear-thinning index at a shear rate of 1 to 10/s is 0.95 or more. A follower for a nonaqueous ballpoint pen can be used also for a nonaqueous ballpoint pen using a solvent having a high vapor pressure and causes no problem even when the follower is mounted in an ink reservoir tube with strong tube resistance having an inner diameter of 2.8 mm or less.

Abstract: An ink follower which has stable followability regardless of a pen body specification, a flow rate for writing and a writing speed and does not cause back leaking of the ink originating in shortage in the ink follower in the middle of writing and scattering of the ink follower by impact applied to the pen body and which does not flow out from the ink reservoir in storing the pen body at a high temperature and provides a stable flow rate for writing. An ink follower is also provided which prevents the ink from volatilizing by shutting off the ink from the outside air (volatilization preventing property) and which prevents the ink from leaking in writing with the pen turned upward. The ink follower, for example, contains a non-volatile or slightly volatile organic solvent and a non-styrene base thermoplastic elastomer which is soluble or swollen in the organic solvent and showing viscoelasticity which is predominant in elastic response.

Abstract: An ink follower for a ballpoint pen using a water-based ink in which a value of the test for oil separation (60° C., 24 hours) according to JIS K 2220-5.7-1993 is 0.5 to 12% and which has a viscoelasticity predominant in an elastic response or a value of tan ? of 0.1 to 1.5 at a temperature of 25° C. and in the full frequency range of an angular frequency of 0.1 to 630 rad/sec, and it contains as a base oil, a non-water-soluble organic solvent having a viscosity of 5 Pas·sec or less at a temperature of 25° C. and a shearing speed of 1 to 400 sec?1. Polybutene, mineral oil and silicone oil can be used as the base oil.

Abstract: In order to provide an ink reservoir for a writing instrument which has satisfactory permeation resistance and moisture-absorption resistance against permeation of a solvent and absorption of moisture and which is excellent in a storing property of the ink with the passage of time, an ink reservoir for a writing instrument in which an ink for a writing instrument is stored is constituted of at least one selected from the group consisting of a cyclic olefin resin, a fluorine base resin and a high molecular weight olefin resin or the ink reservoir for a writing instrument described above is constituted of a laminated structure which is formed by extrusion molding of two or more kinds of thermoplastic resins.

Abstract: An ink-storing member for a writing instrument which can inhibit deterioration in the ink caused by permeation of oxygen and nitrogen contained in air, inhibit leaking of the ink and generation of bubbles, enhance discharge stability of the ink, improve fragrance retention of a perfume-containing ink, prevent inferior writing brought about by reduction in an internal pressure of an ink-storing vessel in a pressure type writing instrument and prevent deterioration in the ink due to vaporization of moisture of a water-based ink and deterioration in the ink caused y moisture absorption in an oil-based ink. Such ink-storing member includes, for example, an ink-storing member for a writing instrument which is constituted of a multilayer structure having an organic high molecular compound layer constituted of an organic high molecular compound an inorganic compound layer constituted of an inorganic compound.

Abstract: An applicator comprising: a reservoir for holding therein an application liquid; a valve assembly disposed in a distal region of the reservoir; a tip disposed in front of the valve assembly; the valve assembly comprising: a valve chamber having a forward opening; a valve body held in the chamber and movable fore and aft; and a biasing member for urging the valve body to be pressed against a circular rim around the opening so as to close it, the valve body having a distal portion in contact with a rear end of the tip, wherein the application liquid stored in the reservoir has a viscosity of 100 mPa·s or less, and the applicator further comprises a follower disposed in the reservoir and in rear of a column of the liquid so as to control flow rate of the liquid flowing out through the opening of the valve chamber, with the follower serving also as a back-flow inhibitor for the application liquid, and wherein a viscous material forming the follower shows the value of at highest ‘2’ as the ratio of viscosity at

Abstract: An oily ink for writing instruments comprising

Abstract: An applicator has a tubular body containing a liquid to be dispensed. A non-return device is movably disposed in the tubular body rearwardly of and in contact with the liquid for preventing backflow of the liquid. A manually-displaceable piston member is displaceable in the tubular body in a forward direction for pressurizing air admitted into a chamber located in front of the piston member, and a normally closed valve communicates with the chamber and is openable by the force of the pressurized air to apply the pressurized air to the non-return device to urge the non-return device forwardly to thereby pressurize the liquid. A resilient member normally urges the piston member rearwardly to a rear stop position. An air passage communicates the chamber with the exterior of the applicator when the piston member is in the rear stop position, and the air passage is blocked by the piston member during displacement of the piston member in the forward direction.

Abstract: A writing instrument has an ink containment tube and a pen tip equipped at one end of the ink containment tube with an oily ink contained in the ink containment tube. The oily ink shows pseudo-plasticity fluidity and comprises a colorant, a resin, an organic solvent and a gelling agent.

Abstract: An oily ink for writing instruments comprising

Abstract: An applicator comprising: a reservoir for holding therein an application liquid; a valve assembly disposed in a distal region of the reservoir; a tip disposed in front of the valve assembly; the valve assembly comprising: a valve chamber having a forward opening; a valve body held in the chamber and movable fore and aft; and a biasing member for urging the valve body to be pressed against a circular rim around the opening so as to close it, the valve body having a distal portion in contact with a rear end of the tip, wherein the application liquid stored in the reservoir has a viscosity of 100 mPa·s or less, and the applicator further comprises a follower disposed in the reservoir and in rear of a column of the liquid so as to control flow rate of the liquid flowing out through the opening of the valve chamber, with the follower serving also as a back-flow inhibitor for the application liquid, and wherein a viscous material forming the follower shows the value of at highest ‘2’ as

Abstract: An ink follower composition for oil-based ballpoint pens, comprising at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of a sparingly volatile organic solvent and a non-volatile organic solvent, a gelling agent comprising inorganic fine particles, and from 10 to 60% by weight of a resin soluble in the organic solvent used.

Abstract: A non-erasable liquid ink for a marking instrument including a colorant and a solvent and having a water content of about 0-15% by weight and a viscosity of about 15 to 4,500 cps. Also disclosed is a marking instrument filled with an ink of such a viscosity or lower in its reservoir.

Abstract: An ink follower for a writing tool arranged in close contact with an ink surface of a terminal portion of an ink reservoir opposite to a writing tip portion comprises a swollen gel formed from an oil-absorbable resin, a base oil of polybutene, and an alkyl-modified silicone oil compatible with the polybutene. The ink follower exhibits improved impact resistance without causing insufficient ink following and oil separation.

Abstract: An ink follower composition for oil-based ballpoint pens, comprising at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of a sparingly volatile organic solvent and a non-volatile organic solvent, a gelling agent comprising inorganic fine particles, and from 10 to 60% by weight of a resin soluble in the organic solvent used.

Abstract: An ink follower for a writing tool comprises a swollen gel formed from an oil-absorbable resin and a base oil, i.e., a hardly volatile liquid and/or a nonvolatile liquid. The ink follower is arranged in contact with the ink surface of a writing tool such as a pen. A writing tool using the ink follower has excellent impact resistance without causing insufficient following and oil separation with the passage of time and with no occurrence of inconvenience in writing.

Abstract: A follower piston for a ball-point pen, the piston including an element in the form of a stable gel whose hardness measured by cone penetration lies in the range 100×10−1 mm to 400×10−1 mm, and a method for manufacturing the element in situ.

Abstract: An oily ink for writing instruments comprising e. colorant, f. resin, g. an organic solvent and h. a gelling agent, wherein the said gelling agent comprises a soluble gelling agent with the solubility of from about 0.1 to about 20% by weight at a temperature of 20° C. to the said organic solvent, and the viscosity of the ink is not less than 700 mPa·s when the rate of shear is 0.1 (1/s) and not greater than 500 mPa·s when the rate of shear is 100 (1/s).

Abstract: An ink pen refill consists of a single writing point connected to an elongated barrel in which gel ink is stored in distinctly colored layers. At the proximal end of the barrel, just behind the most proximal color band of ink, a quantity of grease is inserted in the barrel to seal the ink within the barrel. In manufacturing the ink pen refill, after installing the elongated barrel on the proximal end of the writing point, a quantity of gel ink of a first particular color is inserted within the barrel just proximal of the writing point using a filling pipe. When the desired quantity of ink has been so inserted, the elongated barrel with the writing point is placed in a centrifuge and is centrifuged to remove any air bubbles contained within the ink. Next, the next color of gel ink is dispensed into the barrel just proximal of the first layer of ink. The entire refill is again centrifuged to remove any bubbles from the newest layer of ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink follower for an aqueous ballpoint pen having an ink reservoir for directly preserving an ink, and this ink follower comprises at least a gel-like material having a predominantly viscous response and comprising a less volatile solvent having a viscosity of 5 Pa.multidot.sec or less and a hydrophobic thickening agent, and a solid piece having a specific gravity of 0.80 to 1.10. In addition, the present invention provides a ballpoint pen using this ink follower.The ink follower of the present invention is characterized by using the gel-like material having a high flowability and the solid piece for dispersing and absorbing impact. This ink follower has a strong drop impact resistance, in contrast to a conventional gel-like ink control plug. The aqueous ballpoint pen using this ink follower does not lose its function, even when it is dropped from a shelf at a height of 1.5 m.

Abstract: A marking instrument includes a non-erasable ink including a colorant and a solvent having a water content of about 0-15% by weight and a viscosity of about 15 to 4,500 cps.

Abstract: A refill is provided that is packaged in a recyclable assembly of recyclable plastic and recyclable paper or cardboard. The refill is further constructed from recyclable plastic and uses soy resins for the ink. On a barrel of the ink refill is a graduated scale indicative of the amount of writeout of ink remaining in the pen. In addition, a follower, such as a floating ball or chemical chaser, clearly identifies the level of ink remaining in the refill. The assembly may further include a scale corresponding to the scale on the refill and may further include information relating to the recyclability utilization of the assembly and refill.

Abstract: A ballpoint pen for use with ink having thixotropic (shear viscosity decreasing properties) and a joint for regulating the flow of the ink to the pen's tip through an entrance in the tip. The joint includes a valve chamber which is disposed in an approximately middle portion of the joint with respect to the axial direction thereof for holding a ball therein with play and has a ball seat in the rear part thereof, a cavity in front of the valve chamber and a conduit communicating with an ink reservoir.

Abstract: A dentifrice dispensing toothbrush is described which utilizes a compressible elastic button to pump a controlled quantity of dentifrice material from a replaceable cartridge to the brush head. The toothbrush locks itself to prevent further pumping of dentifrice material when its replaceable cartridge is nearly empty. The self locking mechanism eliminates the formation of voids in the dentifrice material and consequent pump failure when the spent cartridge is replaced. In one embodiment, a cover is provided which protects the brush head, bristles, pumping mechanism and other parts of the toothbrush. The cover also seals the conduit which supplies dentifrice material to the brush head to prevent it from becoming clogged with dried dentifrice material during periods of non use and to prevent accidental compression of the button.

Abstract: A marker including a cylindrical ink reservoir formed in a body, a slide plug inserted into the ink reservoir, a pen element slidably installed at the end of the body in the axial direction, and an elastic sealing member for pressuring ink and sending it to the pen element. For writing, ink is supplied to the pen element by the elastic sealing member and adequate ink is constantly contained in the pen element.

Abstract: A reservoir pen includes a valve operated by the pen nib (4) to allow ink to pass to the nib, the ink flow rate being controlled by a flow restricting device (8) located between a primary ink reservoir chamber (2) enclosed within the pen barrel (1) and a secondary ink reservoir chamber (6) of much smaller capacity from which an ink channel (10) leads to the valve. The device (8) is a length of an extruded rod of microporous plastics. The nib is pressed towards the feed bar (3) by one spring element (21) and the valve member (12) which cooperates with a seat defined by the feed bar is urged to its closed position by another spring element (28). The rear end of the primary ink chamber (2) is closed by a grease plug comprising a mass of grease and a skeletal reinforcing frame.

Abstract: A filling toothbrush having a hollow handle providing a supply space for toothpaste. A toothpaste dischage aperture is provided on the outer end of the handle beneath the bristles. A conduit inside the handle connects the aperture to the supply space at the inner end of the handle where a pump forces toothpaste through the conduit. The supply space has a cross-section increasing toward the pump in two stages provided by a first cylinder and a second cylinder within the handle. A piston within said first cylinder moves downwardly to push toothpaste toward the pump at the inner end of the handle. The second cylinder has a piston in the form of a ring having a width sufficient to span the difference in diameters of the first and second cylinders. An inwardly projecting flange on the ring piston is engaged by the first piston as it moves toward the pump and the two pistons then move in unison to expel toothpaste from the second cylinder.

Abstract: A liquid container comprising a main member, a cylinder and a container body. The main member has a barrel, a head fitted in an upper portion of the barrel, a discharge section provided at an upper end of the head, a passage cylinder communicating with the discharge section and extended downwardly into the upper portion of the barrel, a cylindrical piston formed at a lower end of the passage cylinder, and a resilient discharge valve in the passage cylinder. The cylinder is movably inserted into the barrel to be elevationally movably engaged with an outer surface of the lower portion of the passage cylinder and to be resiliently urged downwardly. The cylinder has a suction valve at a its lower end thereof. The container body is movably inserted into the barrel.

Abstract: A dispenser for viscous material, such as shoe polish, comprising a substantially cylindrical reservoir having near one reservoir end a filling discharge passage terminating in a distribution channel extending through a porous applicator. At least a part of the dispenser wall is deformable for pressing the filling out of the reservoir through the filling discharge passage into the distribution channel. The dispenser is characterized in that at the other end of the reservoir (16,24), there is provided a follower piston (6,28) which, while confining the filling at the discharge end of the reservoir, under the influence of a force exerted axially on the piston body (6,24), is movable stepwise in the direction of the filling discharge passage (9,29). The dispenser is further provided with pumping means operative upon deformation of the deformable portion (3,34) of the dispenser wall (2,25), which portion is resilient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toilet implement in which a shaft is rotated with respect to a piston member provided between the shaft and a liquid supply means whereby a cylinder is moved up and down to supply a liquid from a container body within a lower portion of the shaft into the liquid supply means. A leakage of liquid caused by the inadvertent advancement of a bottom of the container body which has been a disadvantage encountered in conventional toilet implements can be prevented.

Abstract: A container type toilet implement has a container, and a bottom cover provided liquidtightly and elevationally movable at the lower portion of the container, the bottom cover having air escape grooves. A cylinder is erected upward from a neck of the container. A suction is mounted in the lower portion of the cylinder. A piston is engaged at the lower portion thereof with the upper inside of the cylinder and disposed slidably telescopically in the cylinder. A spring member is disposed between the cylinder and the piston for urging the cylinder downwardly. An exhaust valve member has two elastic plates extending downwardly at a predetermined interval from an upper end cylindrical portion formed in the piston, the elastic plate having opposed bent parts in a ring shape substantially at the intermediate thereof. A rod valve is disposed below the exhaust valve member, and an exhaust valve body is formed at the lower portion of the elastic plate of the exhaust valve member.

Abstract: A tool for applying a liquid to a predetermined portion is disclosed. The tool has a main ink reservoir and a sub-ink reservoir. The sub-ink reservoir communicates with a pen body. The main ink reservoir communicates with the sub-ink reservoir through a valve mechanism. When ink inside the sub-ink reservoir is depleted upon writing, and a pressure inside the sub-ink reservoir is reduced, the valve mechanism is opened.

Abstract: In a writing instrument including an ink reservoir and an air hole, the air hole is spanned by a barrier formed as a porous non-absorbent ink repellent membrane of substantially uniform pore size. The barrier is non-porously sealed, for example by direct heating or ultrasonic welding, along its entire periphery to the wall of the air hole, the barrier allowing air to pass freely therethrough in both directions, but preventing escape of ink therethrough and therearound. The barrier is preferably formed of polytetrafluoroethylene with a pore radius of not more than 10 .mu.m and a thickness of not more than 200 .mu.m. The ink for use in the writing instrument preferably has a surface tension of not less than 30 mN m.sup.-1, a viscosity of not more than 10 cp and a wetting angle with the barrier of not less than 100.degree..

Abstract: A dentifrice dispensing toothbrush is described which stores dentifrice material in its handle and deposits a controlled quantity of the stored material directly onto the top of the brush surface. The toothbrush comprises (1) a housing which includes a handle, (2) a reservoir situated within the housing for storing dentifrice material, (3) a brush having bristles which are attached to and supported by a brush head member, and (4) a pump which causes a controlled quantity of dentifrice material to be pumped from the reservoir through a channel and a movable applicator and thereafter, to be deposited onto the brush surface. The applicator can be positioned in either a depositing or non-depositing relationship with the brush surface. No dentifrice can be pumped from the reservoir when the applicator is in a non-depositing relationship with the brush surface thus preventing the accidental discharge of dentifrice.

Abstract: A dispenser for pasty compositions (M) having a housing (1) in which there is arranged a piston (2) which is displaceable only in the emptying direction. An outer actuating handle is provided on a wall (10) of the head piece (K). The wall can be pressed in the direction towards the piston, the head piece having a dispenser outlet opening (7) which lies at the outer end (9") of a tube (9) whose end section (9') forms an inner open mouth end the end section over its entire length protruding inwards beyond the wall into the pasty composition. In order to obtain a structural shape which is simple to manufacture and a self-regulation of the delivery which is free of loss the actuating handle is formed as a dome-shaped cap (6) and is seated on a collar (12) which lies concentric to the tube (9) and which collar protrudes outwardly beyond the wall (10). A removable closure lid has a stopper which extends into the dispenser outlet opening.

Abstract: A dentifrice dispensing toothbrush is described which stores dentifrice material in its handle and deposits a controlled portion of the stored material directly onto the top of the brush surface. The toothbrush comprises (1) a housing which includes a handle, (2) a reservoir situated within the housing for storing dentifrice material, (3) a brush having bristles which are attached to and supported by a head member, (4) an applicator which is attached to the housing and which is used to deposit portions of the material directly onto the top of the brush surface, (5) a valve which controls the flow of dentifrice material from the reservoir to the applicator and (6) a pumping means for applying pressure to the stored dentifrice material so as to cause it to flow from the reservoir to the applicator. The dentrifrice material is stored either directly in the reservoir or in a removable cartridge which is inserted in the reservoir.

Abstract: A brush for applying liquid or emulsion material such as toothpaste, hair-dye, cleaning material, etc., has a handle, a rod having bristles, sponge, etc. at its head and a pumping mechanism accommodated in the handle. The rod is slidably held, at its rear end, by the main body of the handle. When the rod is pushed rearward and thereafter released, the pumping mechanism is operated so as to such the material from a container forming a part of the handle and feed the sucked material to the head of the rod.

Abstract: A make-up brush comprises a tapered hollow body made of a porous material restorable in shape when deformed, having a surface for oozing a make-up liquid, a make-up liquid guiding core covered by the hollow body and tightly inserted through a head seat fixed to one end of a liquid cylinder, a head cylinder through which the tapered hollow body extends, the head cylinder being secured to one end of a shaft cylinder to fix the tapered hollow body thereat, and a viscous substance filled in the liquid cylinder after the make-up liquid is filled in the liquid cylinder on a side of the head seat, thereby causing the make-up liquid to smoothly flow out of the make-up brush.

Abstract: A writing instrument cartridge contains a loose fitting ball follower disposed within the cartridge between an end of a column of paste like ink exhibiting a yield value, and compressed gas contained in a sealed end of the cartridge. The ball follower is adapted to help peel the ink from the tube walls without contact and to prevent the gas from channeling through the ink and escaping from the cartridge past a ball point or nib during writing.