Marking instruments and methods of manufacturing marking instruments

1. A handheld marking instrument, comprising:

a substantially flat body comprising:

a substantially flat top wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is in contact, when in use, with a part of a user's hand,

a substantially flat bottom wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is in contact, when in use, with another part of the user's hand, and

an intermediate layer between the inner surface of the top wall and the inner surface of the bottom wall, and in contact with the inner surfaces, the substantially flat body further comprising at least one edge between the top wall and the bottom wall;

a chamber in the intermediate layer, wherein the chamber extends through the intermediate layer from the inner surface of the top wall to the inner surface of the bottom wall of the substantially flat body, and wherein the chamber is configured to contain a marking substance within the substantially flat body;

a marking device configured to deliver the marking substance to a desired surface during marking, wherein the marking device is in communication with the chamber to access the marking substance, and wherein the marking device is located at least partially within the edge of the substantially flat body; and

at least one vent in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein the vent provides at least for equalization of pressure between the chamber and ambient air wherein the vent is open or semi-permeable and is located at a distance from the marking device.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat body is selected from a group consisting of a rectangular shape, a square shape, a circular shape, an oval shape, a polygonal shape, and a theme-based shape.

3. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises at least one support structure configured to resist deformation of the chamber.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the substantially flat body is coin-shaped and wherein the marking device is exposable at the edge of the coin-shaped body.

5. The instrument of claim 4 , further comprising a pointing device located at the edge of the coin-shaped body at a distance from the marking device.

6. The instrument of claim 5 , further comprising a capping mechanism rotatably mounted to the coin-shaped body to move between an active position exposing the marking device and an inactive position covering the marking device.

7. The instrument of claim 4 , further comprising a capping mechanism rotatably mounted to the coin-shaped body to move between an active position exposing the marking device and an inactive position covering the marking device.

8. A method of manufacturing a handheld marking instrument, comprising:

providing a flat housing part comprising:

a top portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the top portion faces in use a part of a user's hand,

a bottom portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the bottom portion faces in use another part of the user's hand, and

an intermediate portion between the inner surface of the top portion and the inner surface of the bottom portion, and in contact with the inner surfaces;

forming a first chamber in the intermediate portion wherein the first chamber extends through the intermediate portion so that the first chamber extends through the intermediate portion from the inner surface of the top portion to the inner surface of the bottom portion, the first chamber within the housing configured to receive and contain a marking substance; and

fitting a first marking device to a location of the housing to place the first marking device in communication with the first chamber.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising laminating a top portion to the housing.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a vent in communication with the first chamber.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising filling a marking substance into the first chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising centrifuging the housing to direct the marking substance towards the first marking device.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one segment of the handheld marking instrument is formed by injection molding.

14. A handheld marking instrument, comprising:

a substantially flat body comprising:

a substantially flat top portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface faces in use a part of a user's hand,

a substantially flat bottom portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface faces in use another part of a user's hand, and

an intermediate portion between the inner surface of the top portion and the inner surface of the bottom portion and in contact with the inner surfaces, the substantially flat body further comprising at least one edge between the outer surface of the top portion and the outer surface of the bottom portion;

at least one chamber extending through the intermediate portion wherein the chamber extends through the intermediate portion from the inner surface of the top portion to the inner surface of the bottom portion of the substantially flat body, and wherein the chamber is configured to contain a marking substance within the substantially flat body; and

a marking device configured to deliver the marking substance to a desired surface during marking, wherein the marking device is in communication with the chamber to access the marking substance, and wherein the marking device is located at least partially within the edge of the substantially flat body.