Tipp-Ex
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Tipp-Ex is a brand of correction fluid and other related products that is popular throughout Europe. It was also the name of the German company (Tipp-Ex GmbH & Co. KG) that produced the products in the Tipp-Ex line. While Tipp-Ex is a trademark name for correction products, in some countries it has become a genericised trademark[1]: to tippex or to tippex out means to erase, either generally or with correction fluid.
History
Tipp-Ex correction paper was invented by Wolfgang Dabisch from Eltville, West Germany, who filed a patent in 1958[2] on Colored film for the correction of typing errors (German: Tippfehler). He subsequently founded a company of the same name. Shortly after that a Tipp-Ex Sales & Distribution company (Tipp-Ex Vertrieb GmbH & Co. KG) was founded in Frankfurt by Otto Carls. This company still exists under the name of Tipp-Ex GmbH & Co. KG close to Frankfurt. Tipp-Ex became a registered trademark with the German patent office in 1987.[3]
Earlier, in 1951, Bette Nesmith Graham invented the first correction fluid in her kitchen and began marketing the product in 1956 as Mistake Out[citation needed], later called Liquid Paper. Tipp-Ex GmbH only started to produce white correction fluid in 1965 under the brand Tipp-Ex, but also as C-fluid.
The name "Tipp-Ex" is based on "tippen", the German word for "to type", and "ex", Latin for "out of" or "from".
As a result of the invention of Tipp-Ex, it became possible to erase a typographical error made on a typewriter. The typewriter would be backspaced to the letter that was to be changed, the correction paper would be placed behind the ribbon, and the mistyped letter would be re-typed. The system only worked if the typewriter repositioned the re-typed letter in exactly the same place as originally typed, which could be problematic if returning to a previous line.
Demand for this correction paper grew very quickly and brought interest from German and international distributors.
In 1992 Tipp-Ex introduced its first correction tape, followed in 1995 by the successful Pocket Mouse which worked as a best seller. In 1998, the correction pen was launched. The range was extended to erasers, and in 2000, the new foam applicator was adapted to all the correction fluid bottles.[citation needed]
In 1997, Société Bic acquired Tipp-Ex.[4]
Usage
The Tipp-Ex correction fluid is a white liquid. It is used for painting over mistakes in a piece of writing. A brush (which was later replaced by a foam applicator) is attached to the cap, so when the bottle is closed, the brush is immersed in the Tipp-Ex. When unscrewed, the brush is covered in liquid Tipp-Ex which is then painted over the mistake. However, it is still possible to see that Tipp-Ex has been used, and also the original content if the paper is held up to a light.
If the contents of a Tipp-Ex bottle have been exposed to too much air (for example, if the cap has been unscrewed too long or if the bottle is half-full and there is air filling the space), the Tipp-Ex becomes thicker, and sometimes even solidifies. To help prevent this, Tipp-Ex released a product called "Tipp-Ex thinner", a few drops of which are mixed with the contents of a bottle of partially dried Tipp-Ex to thin it. This extends the lifetime of a Tipp-Ex bottle.[citation needed]
One must write with a ball point pen on top of Tipp-ex, as a liquid ink pen will smudge. Gel ink will require a few seconds to fully dry, but can be used if no ball point pen is available.[citation needed]
Toxicology
The organic solvent 1,1,1-trichloroethane was originally used as a thinner in the product. This solvent is readily absorbed by the lungs via inhalation. It passes readily through the blood–brain barrier and may be lethal following acute exposure.[5] 1,1,1-trichloroethane is also an 'ozone depleter', being one of the substances responsible for causing damage to the Earth's ozone layer.[6] For both reasons, it has not been added to Tipp-Ex since 2000, and it has been replaced by aliphatic hydrocarbons.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Has Tipp-Ex become a generic trademark?, Oct 26, 2020
- ^ "Farbfolie zur Korrektur von Tippfehlern". Free Patents Online.
- ^ "DPMAregister Marken - Registerauskunft". Deutsches Patent und Merkenamt (in German).
- ^ Le groupe Bic achète l'allemand Tipp-Ex, Les Echos, January 1997
- ^ "Monograph For UKPID 1,1,1-trichloroethane". National Poisons Information Service (London Centre). 1 December 1995. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011.
- ^ "Environment Agency 1,1,1-trichloroethane". Environment Agency. 4 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009.
- ^ "Safety Data Sheet for Tipp-Ex" (PDF). The Consortium. June 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2011.
