Improvements in Inkpots.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug.,
1898
Improvements in Inkpots.
A communication by WENTZEL HAGELSTAM, of Helsingfors, Finland, in the
Empire of Russia, Bookseller.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The novelty of the present invention consists in an apparatus having a similar
action to a bellows or piston pump being arranged in the neck of the ink bottle.
By means of packing or washers an air-tight connection is formed against
the walls of the pot. When the pen is dipped into the inkpot or rather into the
glass funnel of the same such a pressure is exerted on the ink by means of the
above mentioned apparatus that the said ink rises suddenly in the funnel, thus
inking the pen, and immediately afterwards as rapidly descending. The descent
commences as soon as the pressure of the pen ceases or the inner movable part
of the apparatus has risen. The ink is well protected from the action of the
outer air and the penholder and the fingers of the writer cannot become smeared.
The improved inkpot is shown in the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 being a vertical section of the inkpot which is provided with a glass
bell a or cover protecting the apparatus from dust;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the inkpot without the bell;
Figure 3 shows a side view of the part c immovably arranged in the neck of
the reservoir b;
Figure 4 is a plan view of same;
Figure 5 is a side view of the movable part d.
Figure 6 is a plan view of same;
Figures 7 and 8 are side view and plan of the glass funnel e.
1
Figures 9 and 10 are side view and plan of, a spiral spring f, the object of
which is to support the movable part d.
As may be seen from Figure 4 the part c has a bottom which has in the centre
a large hole and smaller holes all round. The part d is movable up and down
in the larger hole, whilst the smaller holes have for their object to afford
communication of the air in the chamber under part 'd, with the air in the ink
reservoir, in order that any pressure exerted by means of the part d on the air
beneath the same can be communicated to the ink of the reservoir. As shown in
Figures 4 and 5 the part d in the interior is composed of a tube, the lower mouth'
of which is closed with a cork plug and in which the funnel e is airtightly
inserted. The spring f is arranged between the parts c and d. The part dis
provided with a projection 9 which restricts or limits the movement produced
by the spring f, the projection g resting in fact against the bottom of the part c.
In order to allow of the various parts of the apparatus being taken apart and
out together, the said bottom is provided with a recess / corresponding to the

page_text: projection g. The part c may be provided with a screw thread in order that the
position of the same may be regulated according to the consumption of ink.
Ink is preferably poured in through the funnel e but the whole apparatus can
be taken out of the pot, which however is usually too inconvenient.
When in use, a slight pressure on the spring causes plenty of pure ink to rise
into the funnel, whilst a permanent pressure only yields a little ink. The
apparatus must be so, adjusted that the under part of the funnel is immersed
only a few millimetres in the ink and the ink must not remain standing in the
funnel.
The whole mechanism may be made of various materials such as brass, nickel-
plated iron or the like, but it is advisable in order to prevent the apparatus being
attacked by the acids contained in the ink to make the reservoir, and the parts c,
and e of glass.
The funnel may be so modified as to replace the part d. The neck of the
reservoir is made cylindrical. The spiral spring may also be arranged outside
the reservoir neck.
Of course I reserve exclusively the right of carrying out these modifications,
and also of making the parts of any suitable material."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:—
1. An inkpot of suitable form with or without a glass bell or cover, said inkpot
being provided with a device by means of which when the pen is dipped into
the funnel and the latter presses on the air contained in the ink reservoir pressure
is exerted on the said air which causes the ink to suddenly rise into the funnel,
said ink then equally rapidly sinking back to its former level which takes place
even during the pressure in such a way that a slight pressure of the pen in the
funnel yields plenty of pure ink whilst the inkpot is in use and a permanent
pressure only yields a little ink substantially as hereinbefore described."
2. In an inkpot such as described, a modification of the parts shown in
Figures 3-6 consisting in one or both being omitted and the glass funnel so
altered as to act as the movable part of the apparatus, the neck of the reservoir
being also made cylindrical so that the omitted parts are dispensed with or
replaced, whilst the spiral spring is arranged outside the neck of the reservoir,
substantially as hereinbefore described.