Patent GB-899475-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to fountain pens
IPC: B43K5/18
Filed: 1958-09-18
Abstract: 899,475. Reservoir pens. RODENHAUSER, E. Sept. 18, 1958 [Sept. 21, 1957], No. 29870/58. Class 146(3) A two-part fountain pen feedbar comprises a first part having an end portion telescopically engaged by the second part and extending to the ink-reservoir end of the bar, the second part, the end portion and the remaining portion of the first part having each a separate compensating pocket formed by capillary grooves connected by passages. As shown the feed bar has a front portion 1 formed with a reduced rearward extension 1a and a tubular rear portion 2 which is a friction fit on the extension 1a and which has a collar 9 to engage in a groove 10 on the portion 1. A compensating pocket 3 is formed by capillary cells 6 extending round the sides and underface of the portion 1, these cells communicating with overflow grooves 13 situated adjacent to ink ducts 7 formed in the upper side of the feed bar. A compensating pocket 4 is formed in the portion 2 by capillary cells 6 extending circumferentially thereof and which are interconnected by a spiral groove 30. These cells are intercepted by the ink ducts 7 which are continued in this portion after passing through an annular groove 17 therein. A pocket 5 is formed on the extension 1a by capillary cells 6 disposed circumferentially thereon. An air passage 20 extends through the feed bar portion 1 from a location between the ink ducts 7 and beneath a hole in the nib to a transverse passage 22 which connects it to longitudinal ducts 23 intercepting the cells 6 on opposite sides of the extension 1a. Back channels 27 extend from a position adjacent the nib along the underface of the portion I, intercepting the cells 6 of the pocket 3 and open into the annular groove 17 when the. two portions of the feed bar are assembled. When the feed bar is mounted in a pen the compensating pocket 4 and the annular channel 17 are completely enclosed by the nib and a socket which holds the nib and feed bar together or by the barrel of the pen. In use surplus ink fed along the ducts 7 from the reservoir overflows into the cells 6 of the pocket 4, or, if it reaches the forward ends of the ducts, into the overflow grooves 13 and thence into the cells 6 of the pocket 3. Any excess remaining at the nib end of the bar is picked up by the back channels 27 and fed back, together with any ink from the cells 6 of the pocket 3 to the annular groove 17 and thence into the ducts 7 again. Ink stored in the pocket 4 is fed back directly therefrom into the ducts 7. Ink may be forced into the air ducts 23, 22, 20 by the expansion of air in the reservoir and such ink is stored in the cells 6 of the pocket 5. Such ink is sucked back into the reservoir following the creation of a partial vacuum therein, e.g. owing to further consumption of the ink. In a modification the underface of the first part is contoured to form an extension of the profile of the forward end of the fountain pen barrel for the purpose of increasing the capacity of the compensating pocket therein, by allowing for an increase in depth of the capillary cells thereof. In a further modification the pocket 5 is composed of longitudinal slots which completely traverse the reduced portion 1a.