Devices, kits, and methods for making a carved crayon are provided. In one aspect, a crayon carving device includes a base, a pantograph armature coupled to the base, a crayon positioner, and at least one guide template parallel to the crayon positioner. The pantograph armature includes a motorized drive shaft with a drill tip for carving an outside surface of a crayon body, as well as a guide tip for tracing along a guide template that directs where the drill tip carves. In some embodiments, the guide template includes a stationary bridge support and a plurality of removable carving bucks that insert into one of multiple openings on the bridge support. The surface features of each of the carving bucks may be traced by the guide tip to generate a corresponding carving on the surface of a crayon body.

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.

A method for releasing impurities from a calcium-based mineral is described. The method comprises reacting a calcium-based mineral containing impurities with an aqueous solution of one or more ionic salts at a temperature of approximately 85 C. or above, wherein at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises sulphate and at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises ammonium, and wherein the concentration of the solution is approximately 25% or higher mass fraction, such that double salt crystals are formed and impurities are released. The method further comprises separating the double salt crystals from the impurities. Various products of the process are also described.

A method for releasing impurities from a calcium-based mineral is described. The method comprises reacting a calcium-based mineral containing impurities with an aqueous solution of one or more ionic salts at a temperature of approximately 85 C. or above, wherein at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises sulphate and at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises ammonium, and wherein the concentration of the solution is approximately 25% or higher mass fraction, such that double salt crystals are formed and impurities are released. The method further comprises separating the double salt crystals from the impurities. Various products of the process are also described.

A writing, drawing, marking and/or painting utensil or cosmetics implement or input device for contact-sensitive surfaces, wherein the utensil/implement/device includes at least one shank element made of plastics material or a plastics-containing wood substitute. The at least one shank element has a surface, or in that the at least one shank element has a surface which is sheathed in a material layer having a cover surface. The surface of the shank element or the cover surface of the material layer is in the form of a haptic and/or non-slip layer. The haptic and/or non-slip layer has a structure formed in one piece with the shank element and/or the material layer. The structure is formed by corrugation.

A writing, drawing, marking and/or painting utensil or cosmetics implement or input device for contact-sensitive surfaces, wherein the utensil/implement/device includes at least one shank element made of plastics material or a plastics-containing wood substitute. The at least one shank element has a surface, or in that the at least one shank element has a surface which is sheathed in a material layer having a cover surface. The surface of the shank element or the cover surface of the material layer is in the form of a haptic and/or non-slip layer. The haptic and/or non-slip layer has a structure formed in one piece with the shank element and/or the material layer. The structure is formed by corrugation.

The present invention provides a writing or coloring pencil comprising the following three layers obtained by co-extrusion: an unexpanded polymer-based lead; an unexpanded intermediate protective layer surrounding the lead and comprising an ethylene (C.sub.1-C.sub.4 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.

The present invention provides a writing or coloring pencil comprising the following three layers obtained by co-extrusion: an unexpanded polymer-based lead; an unexpanded intermediate protective layer surrounding the lead and comprising an ethylene (C.sub.1-C.sub.4 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 reagent-loaded pencil, method of preparing a reagent-loaded pencil, and a system that uses reagent-loaded pencils are disclosed. The reagent-loaded pencil or pencils include a matrix of at least a soluble carrier, a hardening substance, and a reagent. The pencils also include a sheath disposed around at least a portion of the matrix. The soluble carrier may include poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether. The hardening substance may leave a visible mark when abraded against a writing surface. One example of such a substance includes graphite. The sheath may be the outside of a wooden pencil or a mechanical pencil. A system that uses reagent-loaded pencils or compressed matrices may include a computer-controlled plotter that holds and plots with at least one of the reagent-loaded pencils or matrices.

A reagent-loaded pencil, method of preparing a reagent-loaded pencil, and a system that uses reagent-loaded pencils are disclosed. The reagent-loaded pencil or pencils include a matrix of at least a soluble carrier, a hardening substance, and a reagent. The pencils also include a sheath disposed around at least a portion of the matrix. The soluble carrier may include poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether. The hardening substance may leave a visible mark when abraded against a writing surface. One example of such a substance includes graphite. The sheath may be the outside of a wooden pencil or a mechanical pencil. A system that uses reagent-loaded pencils or compressed matrices may include a computer-controlled plotter that holds and plots with at least one of the reagent-loaded pencils or matrices.