IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1882. Communicated
to him from abroad by Charles W Livermore of Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America
"
[a com-
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & C° Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS
munication to him from abroad by Charles W Livermore of Providence, Rhode
Island, United States of America]
0
This invention relates to that class of fountain-pens, having an ink-chamber or
reservoir within the handle, a tapering or conical writing point longitudinally
perforated by a narrow ink passage connected with the reservoir, and a needlo or
stylus located within the perforation or ink-passage, and arranged to protrude
slightly from the writing point and yield to longitudinal pressure.
Pens of this class are usually constructed of two unequal parts, the upper tubular
portion containing the reservoir, sometimes called the reservoir-section or handle,
and the lower section tapering towards the end called the point-section. The latter
is united to the upper section by a screw-connection or other convenient means.
The upper section is provided with an air-tube usually centrally located, extending
practically the entire length of the upper section and frequently into the point-
section.
The ink-chamber is closed against the ingress of air at the top, preventing any
direct contact of the external air with the top of the ink-column, the air being
admitted to the upper part of the air-tube and being conducted by such tube to
the bottom or lower part of the ink-column, where an opening is provided into
the ink-chamber.
When the ink-chamber is full of ink, no air can escape from the air-tube into
such chamber, but as the ink is drawn out in the process of writing, a vacuum is
formed at the top of the ink-chamber, inducing bubbles of air to rise, from time to
time, from the bottom of the air-tube and occupy the space left by the decreasing
column of ink; but as the air, in passing from the interior of the air-tube to the
top of the ink-column meets some resistance from the body of ink; there is less
atmospheric pressure upon the top of the ink column, than there would be if the
top of the ink chamber communicated directly with the external air, and the effect
is to retard the flow of ink from the point.

page_text: Such is the general construction and operation of fountain-pens to which the
said improvements apply.
The object of this invention is to simplify the internal arrangement of the
needle, rendering the construction of the pen less expensive and at the same time
making it more efficient than those heretofore mado.
According to the said invention the handle is the larger part of the instrument
and the point section, is united thereto by a screw connection. The air-tube is
fitted air-tight in a plug at the top of the tubular handle. This plug closes the
top of the ink-chamber air-tight. An air-aperture admits air to the air-tube,
which may be closed or opened to the passage of air by a screw-cap surrounding
the said aperture, and having a seat upon a shoulder on the side of the plug; when,
the cap is screwed down upon its seat air is prevented from passing to the air-tube;
when slightly raised air flows in as it is required by the consumption of ink. A
removable cap is applied to the writing point when the pen is not in use, fitting
snugly thereon and preventing the accidental escape of ink when the pen is not in
use. This cap can be transferred to another position while writing.
The needle passes through a fine hole in the tapering point and extends slightly
beyond the point. There is a slight annular space around the needle in the
tapering point sufficient to allow of the flow of ink in writing. The said
needle is connected with a rod which-extends upward within the air-tube by which
it is guided and steadied. This rod, and the needle with it, have a free longitudinal
play within certain limits.
A collar is placed upon the said rod or tho needle, and when the pen is vertical
rests against the interior sloping sides of the point section, the length of the needle
being adjusted with reference to this collar-rest so that it will protrude slightly
from the writing-point-as-above-described. This collar is constructed with ink-
passages, or it may be perforated or otherwise made so as to let the ink pass-to-the-
point. By means of this collar, the rod and needle have a longitudinal plug
between the lower rest against the interior sides of the point section and the foot
of the air-tube.
Lateral bearings are provided at or near the foot of the air tube to keep it
central, in order that this tube may guide the rod, and needle centrally so that the
latter may not bind in the needle hole.
Additional lateral guides are sometimes provided to keep the said rod central.
This collar is for the purpose merely of governing the forward protusion of the
needle, and to prevent the needle from falling back too far when the point of the
pen is raised.
In writing, the point of the needle first strikes the paper and recedes till the end
of the point section also rests on the paper; on lifting the pen the needle falls and
thus a longitudinal play of the needle is maintained assisting the flow of ink and
aiding in keeping the passage clear.