# 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.

- **Patent:** US 2713176
- **Original title:** Marking device
- **Owner:** Individual
- **Granted:** 1955
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 13
- **Field:** mechanical, consumer_electronics

## What it does

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Real-world examples

1. Permanent markers
2. Highlighters
3. Dry-erase markers

## Why it matters

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.

## 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.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2713176/magic-marker-permanent-marker-rosenthal

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US2713176

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [Early Device for Tracking Objects with a Pen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3055113/etch-a-sketch) — This 1962 patent describes an early system for tracing the path of an object using a pen-like stylus that records its movement on a surface.
- [How Lewis Waterman's Original Fountain Pen Design Worked](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/293545/fountain-pen-waterman) — This 1884 patent describes an early fountain pen designed by Lewis E. Waterman, which aimed to solve common ink-flow problems, making writing smoother and cleaner.
- [How a Spring-Loaded Pocket Dispenser Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2620061/pez-dispenser) — A 1949 mechanical design for a pocket-sized container that uses a spring to push items like pills or candies to the top for easy access.
- [How Laszlo Biro Invented the Modern Ballpoint Pen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2390636/ballpoint-pen-biro) — This 1945 patent describes the original ballpoint pen mechanism that uses a rotating sphere to distribute thick, quick-drying ink onto paper.
- [How the First Aerosol Spray Can Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2331117/aerosol-spray-can-goodhue) — A 1941 invention by Lyle Goodhue and William Sullivan that created the modern aerosol spray can by using a liquefied gas to propel liquid contents.