A pencil for applying a coloring and/or cosmetic substance, having a pigment core composed of the substance that is to be applied and a one-piece injection-molded casing encompassing the pigment core that is composed of a thermoplastic material that consists of a mix of a first plastic phase and a second plastic phase, wherein the casing, respectively viewed in the radial direction, has an outer enrichment zone with a higher concentration of the first plastic phase than in the middle region and the casing, respectively viewed in the radial direction, has an inner enrichment zone with a higher concentration of the first plastic phase than in the middle region.

There is a lead casing for pencil for writing, drawing, marking, plotting, and/or coloring made of a composition having, by weight relative to the total weight of the lead casing for pencil: a) from 50 to 95% of a mixture of polylactic acid and polybutylene adipate terephthalate in a weight ratio polylactic acid/polybutylene adipate terephthalate ranging from 60/40 to 90/10, and b) from 5 to 40% of mineral fillers chosen in the group consisting of shellfish shells, more specifically oyster shells, and even more specifically milled oyster shells. There is also a pencil including the lead casing for the pencil of the disclosure, for writing, drawing, marking, plotting, and/or coloring as well as a method for manufacturing such a pencil.

There is a lead casing for pencil for writing, drawing, marking, plotting, and/or coloring made of a composition having, by weight relative to the total weight of the lead casing for pencil: a) from 50 to 95% of a mixture of polylactic acid and polybutylene adipate terephthalate in a weight ratio polylactic acid/polybutylene adipate terephthalate ranging from 60/40 to 90/10, and b) from 5 to 40% of mineral fillers chosen in the group consisting of shellfish shells, more specifically oyster shells, and even more specifically milled oyster shells. There is also a pencil including the lead casing for the pencil of the disclosure, for writing, drawing, marking, plotting, and/or coloring as well as a method for manufacturing such a pencil.

A writing or coloring pencil has three layers obtained by co-extrusion, including an unexpanded polymer-based lead, an unexpanded intermediate protective layer surrounding the lead and comprising an ethylene (C1-C4 alkyl) acrylate copolymer, alone or as a blend with a styrene polymer, and an expanded styrene polymer-based synthetic wood material surrounding the intermediate protective layer.

A writing or coloring pencil has three layers obtained by co-extrusion, including an unexpanded polymer-based lead, an unexpanded intermediate protective layer surrounding the lead and comprising an ethylene (C1-C4 alkyl) acrylate copolymer, alone or as a blend with a styrene polymer, and an expanded styrene polymer-based synthetic wood material surrounding the intermediate protective layer.

In a method for lacquering pencils by the push-through method, a respective pencil is guided through a lacquering chamber in order to apply a lacquer coat. After exiting the lacquering chamber, successive pencils butt against one another and are held against one another at their end sides such at a plurality of pencils form a stable strand which is guided, subsequent to the lacquering chamber, through a drying section, with the result that a respective pencil is held in a hovering manner on leaving the lacquering chamber. It is hereby in particular also made possible to use UV-curing lacquers, with the overall result that a very short total lacquering time for lacquering pencils, in particular cosmetic pencils, is achieved.

In a method for lacquering pencils by the push-through method, a respective pencil is guided through a lacquering chamber in order to apply a lacquer coat. After exiting the lacquering chamber, successive pencils butt against one another and are held against one another at their end sides such at a plurality of pencils form a stable strand which is guided, subsequent to the lacquering chamber, through a drying section, with the result that a respective pencil is held in a hovering manner on leaving the lacquering chamber. It is hereby in particular also made possible to use UV-curing lacquers, with the overall result that a very short total lacquering time for lacquering pencils, in particular cosmetic pencils, is achieved.

A writing utensil adapted for promoting the development of a tripod writing grip includes an elongate body having a substantially polygonal cross section, and having three faces extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, and a boss member extending from an intermediate portion of the elongate body, the boss member being adapted for impeding a user's fingers from sliding along a longitudinal axis of the elongate body.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to an automated crayon-molding device comprising a crayon-receiving member, an automated heating element, a crayon-melting chamber that is heated to a melting temperature by the automated heating element, and at least one mold. The crayon-receiving member receives the crayon at one end and has a closure mechanism at another held, preventing the crayon from entering in the crayon-melting chamber until it reaches a melting temperature. Once the inside of the crayon-melting chamber, the crayon melts and drips into a mold configured to receive melted wax. Embodiments of the invention also include a method for assembling an automated crayon-molding device and a system for molding crayons that includes a crayon-receiving member, an automated heating element, a crayon-melting chamber, a drawer positioned underneath the crayon-melting chamber, and at least one mold.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to an automated crayon-molding device comprising a crayon-receiving member, an automated heating element, a crayon-melting chamber that is heated to a melting temperature by the automated heating element, and at least one mold. The crayon-receiving member receives the crayon at one end and has a closure mechanism at another held, preventing the crayon from entering in the crayon-melting chamber until it reaches a melting temperature. Once the inside of the crayon-melting chamber, the crayon melts and drips into a mold configured to receive melted wax. Embodiments of the invention also include a method for assembling an automated crayon-molding device and a system for molding crayons that includes a crayon-receiving member, an automated heating element, a crayon-melting chamber, a drawer positioned underneath the crayon-melting chamber, and at least one mold.