How a Simple Felt-Tip Marker Works
A 1953 design for a handheld marking tool that uses a porous tip to deliver ink from an internal reservoir.
Original patent title: “Marking device”
A 1953 design for a handheld marking tool that uses a porous tip to deliver ink from an internal reservoir. Granted to Individual in 1955 with 13 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The device functions as a primitive felt-tip marker. It consists of a hollow body that acts as an ink reservoir, containing a fibrous material saturated with marking fluid. A porous tip is held in contact with this reservoir, allowing ink to flow through the fibers via capillary action onto a surface. The design ensures a steady, controlled release of ink for writing or drawing.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover markers using pressurized ink delivery systems.
- Does not cover pens that use ball-point rolling mechanisms.
- Does not cover electronic or digital marking devices.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the use of a porous, fibrous wick that maintains consistent ink flow through capillary action without needing a complex pumping mechanism.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Permanent markers
Highlighters
Dry-erase markers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents the early evolution of the modern felt-tip marker, a tool that replaced messy inkwells and fountain pens in many commercial and artistic applications. It helped standardize the portable, disposable marking technology used in offices and schools globally.
Filed
April 22, 1953
Granted
July 19, 1955
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major stationery manufacturers like Newell Brands (Sharpie) and Pilot Corporation continue to refine the material science of the porous tips and ink formulations based on these fundamental principles.
Market impact
This design helped transition the market away from traditional dip pens and toward the convenience of self-contained, portable marking instruments. It laid the foundation for the multi-billion dollar global marker and highlighter industry.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The device functions as a primitive felt-tip marker. It consists of a hollow body that acts as an ink reservoir, containing a fibrous material saturated with marking fluid. A porous tip is held in contact with this reservoir, allowing ink to flow through the fibers via capillary action onto a surface. The design ensures a steady, controlled release of ink for writing or drawing.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the use of a porous, fibrous wick that maintains consistent ink flow through capillary action without needing a complex pumping mechanism.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover markers using pressurized ink delivery systems.
- Does not cover pens that use ball-point rolling mechanisms.
- Does not cover electronic or digital marking devices.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
23/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$4K – $14K
Midpoint $9K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Rosenthal, S. N. (1955). How a Simple Felt-Tip Marker Works (U.S. Patent No. 2,713,176). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2713176/magic-marker-permanent-marker-rosenthal
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Simple Felt-Tip Marker Works cover?
A 1953 design for a handheld marking tool that uses a porous tip to deliver ink from an internal reservoir.
Who owns patent US 2713176?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1955.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2713176 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 13 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents the early evolution of the modern felt-tip marker, a tool that replaced messy inkwells and fountain pens in many commercial and artistic applications. It helped standardize the portable, disposable marking technology used in offices and schools globally.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover markers using pressurized ink delivery systems.
Same assignee
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