IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO INKSTANDS
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
aud Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO INKSTANDS communicated to him
from abroad by John Andrew Wiedersheim, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America
s
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, 'Lake and Co Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
INKSTANDS"
communicated to me from abroad by John Andrew Wiedersheim of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
This Invention relates to Improvements in Inkstands and consists partly in
adapting an inkstand cover to be opened by the weight or pressure of the hand of
the writer, and providing it with means for holding it permanently open.
It also partly consists of a binder which straddles side pieces of the device and
interlocks with the base; thus firmly holding the separable parts in position.
It also partly consists of certain details of construction as hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1, is a top view or plan of an inkstand embodying this invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line x, x, figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section thereof on the line y, y, figure 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A indicates an inkstand or ink-well, and B a base on which the said ink well is
placed. Rising from the base on opposite sides are lugs B', which form the
bearings for a lever C whose front end is connected by a resting piece a, and its
rear end is forked, so as to straddle the sides of the ink-well, the said lever being
below the top of the inkstand,
D indicates the cover of the ink-well which is pivoted to the pieces E rising
from the sides of the base B, and has its rear part provided with forwardly.
projecting arms b, which are engaged by the inner end of the lever C..

page_text: The journal of the cover has lateral play, and one end thereof is formed with a
horizontal lug F. In the adjacent side piece is a notch F', so arranged that by
moving the cover when raised towards the said side piece, the lug enters the notch
and thus serves to hold the cover in an elevated position, whereby the inkstand is
in condition to be used without the necessity of operating the lever C.
The bottoms of the side pieces E are formed with curved lifts & which enter
openings in the base B, the two pieces being fitted to the said base, independantly
of each other and connected by a cross piece or binder G whose ends are vertically
slotted, so as to straddle the side pieces, the latter being provided with notches so
as to form a penrack.
On the inner face of each side piece is a lug H which overhangs the lever C,
above its fulcrum pieces or lugs B¹, the object whereof is to prevent the rising and
vertical displacement of the said lever. The binder G is continued below the base
and there formed with an opening or eye e, for the reception of a key or wedge H¹,
which being tightened, firmly connects the binder with the base, thus retaining in
place the side pieces and preventing separation and displacement of the detachable
parts of the device.
The operation of the improved inkstand is as follows, that is to say:-the side
pieces E are connected to the base B by fitting the lips d in the openings in the
said base. The lever C is then rested on the lugs B and the cover D placed in
position, so that the arms b engage with the lever C. The pivots or gudgeons of
the cover are fitted in their bearings in the side pieces E, and the 'binder G is
connected with the said side pieces and the base, the device thus being set up; but
the order of setting up or fitting together may be varied from that stated.
The front end of the lever C being weighted or longer than the rear end, causes
the latter to remain in contact with the arms b, and the cover to be lowered on the
ink-well, and thus the front end of the lever C is held elevated.
When the inkwell is to be opened the writer, grasping the pen-holder as usual,
lays his hand on the rest a of the lever, thus depressing it and causing the cover
to rise, whereby the pen may be dipped into the ink-well, after which the hand is
removed from the rest and the parts immediately returned to their normal position,
the cover closing and the rest rising, so as to be in position for the next operation
of opening the ink-well.
每 To the back of the cover is secured 'a pad K of india-rubber or felt so located
that when the cover is raised the said pad strikes the binder and prevents noise
occasioned by the blow of the cover against the binder, which limits the rising
and rear motions of the said cover.
1. It is evident that the parts may be readily separated by removing the binder.
As the lever rests loosely on the lugs B₁ as its fulcrum, the overhanging lugs H
prevent accidental displacement of the lever in an upward direction, and should the
lever begin to shift, it is checked by serrations a' on the upper edges of the forked
pieces of the lever, said serrations engaging with the lugs H.
As the lever and cover return to their normal positions by gravity, the closing
action of the cover and proper rest of the same on the ink-well is accomplished
without the use of springs which are liable to be corroded by ink.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign Correspondant, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I Claim
First. An inkstand and the base in combination with a lever C, a cover D
with which the said lever engages, and means whereby the cover may be held
permanently open, substantially as, and for the purpose, Set forth.
'
Second. The rising and falling cover having lateral motions, and provided with
means for locking it in an, elevated position, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Third. In an inkstand, a pivoted cover adapted to be moved laterally in its
bearings and formed with a lug or lip, in combination with a frame or side piece
having a notch or shoulder with which the said lug or lip may be interlocked, and

page_text: a pivoted lever engaging with the cover whereby the said cover may be opened by
pressure on the said lever or held open without action of the lever, substantially as
stated.
Fourth. The inkstand, the cover, and the operating lever of the latter in com-
bination with lugs overhanging the said lever, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Fifth. The base and removable side pieces in combination with a binder continued
below the said base, having an eye at the bottom, and a securing wedge or key,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. The rising and falling cover of the inkstand provided with a pad adapted
to strike the binder which stops the rearward motion of the said cover, substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. An inkstand consisting of an ink-well, a rising, falling, and laterally
moving cover, an operating lever therefor, a base and side pieces, the said cover
having a lug F, and one or both of the side pieces being formed with a notch F"¹
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of May in the year of Our Lord, one thousand, eight
hundred and eighty three.
Y H. LAKE (L.S.)
HENRY