Patent ID: 6322269
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: B43K

Abstract:
A free ink marking instrument for dispensing a fluid including a housing having an interior defined by a wall and a reservoir for storing the fluid disposed in the housing, comprising:a feeder for conveying fluid to a marking tip from the reservoir;a passage of reduced capillarity relative to the feeder surrounding the feeder for conveying at least one of fluid and air to the reservoir during an increasing pressure differential between air in the reservoir and the atmosphere;a porous buffer disposed between the wall of the housing and the passage and configured for storing ink during periods of a decreasing pressure differential between air in the reservoir and the atmosphere; anda divider tube separating the buffer and the passage along a majority of the length of the buffer;whereby the fluid and air may enter the feeder through a minor surrounding portion of the buffer during the period of the increasing pressure differential.