Patent GB-176604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to self-filling fountain or reservoir pens
IPC: B43K5/00
Filed: 1921-01-28
Abstract: 176,604. O'Hanlon, F. T. Jan. 28, 1921. Reservoir pens.-In a reservoir pen of the type which is filled by the reciprocation of an external cap or sleeve, a passage is formed from the reservoir 9, Fig. 4, to a chamber 3 in the rear end of the barrel, the passage being normally closed by an arm 4<b> of a lever 4 of vulcanite or the like. The lever 4 is pivoted on a pin 5 in the chamber 3 and is provided with a depending arm 4<a> which enters a passage 6 in a push member 7, slidably mounted in a hole 8 in the pen body and normally held projecting slightly therefrom by the springiness of the lever arm 4<a>. Passages 14 extend from the chamber 3 to the exterior of the screw-threaded shank of the barrel and are normally closed by a screw cap 11 containing a spring 13 tending to hold the lever arm 4b down over the end of the passage 10. To fill the pen, the cap is unscrewed to uncover the passages 14, and the nib-covering cap 2 is slid on to the rear end of the barrel, thus pushing in the member 7 and lifting the arm 4b to uncover the passage 10 and establish communication between the reservoir 9 and the interior of the cap. The rear end of the barrel and the cap 11 are tapered to facilitate the passage of air between the reservoir and the interior of the cap. The nib is inserted in ink and the cap drawn off. When the cap passes the member 7 the lever arm 4<b>. under the influence of the spring 13 reseats itself over the end of the passage 10. The interior of the cap or the exterior of the barrel is provided with a shoulder to limit the movement of the cap to the extent required to fill the pen. When the cap is pushed on to the end of the barrel during writing, the springiness of the arm 4<a> allows the member 7 to be pushed inwardly. Modications are described in which the spring 13 is replaced by a tension spring secured to the underside of the arm 4<b> and to the wall of the chamber 3; by a coiled or plate spring acting between the wall of the chamber and the inner end of the member 7; or by the arm 4a being extended and anchored at the bottom and acted on in the middle by the member 7. The strength and flexibility of the lever 4 may be increased by the insertion of a piece of spring steel or the like as a core, and the lever may be detachably mounted on the pin 5 or the pin may be removable from the pen body. Two passages 10 may be provided and the lever arm 4<b> correspondingly modified. In the form shown in Fig. 16, a non-rotatable slide valve 21 is provided, pressed outwards to cover the passage 10 by a spring 19 and held in this position by an extension 11<b> of the cap 11. A spring 20 is provided between the member 7 and the valve, and is of greater strength than the spring 19 to overcome the resistance of the latter when the cap 2 is pushed on for filling purposes. In a further modification, the valve is mushroom-shaped and is locked in position by an extension of the cap 11 to cover the passages 14, two springs 19, 20 being provided as before. The member 7 may be anchored in the opening 8 by a wire spring provided with an extension which engages the sides of the opening, but which may be removed therefrom to enable the member to be withdrawn. When placed over the nib end of the pen, the cap may be vented by slots in the barrel, or the cap may be provided with holes adapted to be covered by the finger during filling. Metal springs may be replaced by springs or blocks of rubber or like elastic substance, or may be covered with an acid-resisting substance.