AN IMPROVED INKSTAND
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wilkins, Commercial Clerk, 18, Essex Street,
St. Peter's, Islington, Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
INKSTAND."
Sealed the 31st January-1861, and dated the 11th August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wilkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th August 1860.
I, JOHN WILKINS, Commercial Clerk, of No. 18, *Essex Street, St. Peter's,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED INKSTAND," to be as follows:-
The bottom (a), section A, is a, vessel made of glass or any other suitable
materials, which contains the ink or other fluids. Upon the neck of this
vessel is placed a flexible hinge, as shown by section C. The top.or neck of
this flexible hinge is turned inwards and downwards, as shown by section D.
In the inverted neck of the flexible hinge is inserted the cup (6), section A,
and upon the inverted neck of the flexible hinge is placed a cup or reservoir (c),
section A, and to the end of this cup or reservoir is attached a flexible
perforated tube (d) section A. The flexible hinge is placed on the neck of the
vessel (a), and a split metal washer or collar placed round it.
washer is placed a ring or a collar, in which are four or more
Over this split
holes, as shown
by (f, f) section A, and also by side view of Drawing of the elevating ink

page_text: stand E. It is used thus:-Pour the ink or liquid into the vessel (a, a,) then
place the flexible hinge over and round the neck of vessel, adjust the split
washer round the flexible collar and over it press the metal ring or collar,
which then forms an air-tight joint, press downwards the cup (6), when the
flexible hinge will be reversed, as shown by b, c, d, section B. By this motion
the fluid ascends into the cup (c), and is retained there as long as required;
and in raising the cup (6) to its former position, as shown in section A, the
fluid descends into the vessel (a), and is réserved for future use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Wilkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th February 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILKINS, Commercial Clerk, 18, Essex Street, Saint Peter's, Islington,
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Wilkins, Her special licence that I, the said John
Wilkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said John Wilkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands; and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN.
IMPROVED INKSTAND," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Wilkins, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Wilkins, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and Drawings:-

page_text: My Invention has for its object the preservation of ink from dust and
evaporation, a large and permanent supply of ink in the reservoir, a facility of
producing a supply of ink for a day's use, in a way simple and permanent, by
the construction of a flexible hinge of vulcanized india-rubber, so that a supply
of ink is forced upwards into a small reservoir or tube; and when required the
ink is forced back again into the reservoir, and reserved for further use for
any period. A ball valve is introduced in the small reservoir or tube, which
ascends and descends with the ink; and when the ink is not in use, the ball
lies over the aperture through which the ink passes and repasses, and thereby
entirely excludes the atmosphere from the ink in the reservoir, thus protecting
and keeping it in a permanent and fluid condition.
But in order that my said Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, may be fully understood, I now proceed to describe it by the
Drawings annexed.
Figure 1 represents a complete section of the inkstand when not in use;
Fig. 2, a section of it when in use, with the ink forced up into the tube or
small reservoir, and there stationed as long as required; Fig. 3, an elevation
of the inkstand when not in use; Fig. 4, a section of the flexible hinge of
vulcanized india-rubber, or any other suitable flexible material; Fig. 5, à
section of the flexible hinge, with the neck turned inwards and downwards;
Fig. 6, a plan of the top of the neck of hinge; and Fig. 7, a plan of the
bottom of flexible hinge. The part at A, A, shews a section of the reservoir,
made of glass or any other suitable material; B, B, a section of the conical
tube; made of gutta percha or any other suitable material; C, a section of the
small reservoir or tube to contain the ink when in use; D, a section of flexible
tube, attached to the end of the small reservoir C; E, a section of the split
metal washer; F, a section of a collar, made of metal or any other suitable
material; G, a section of the flexible hinge; H, a section of ball valve. The
conical tube B, B, is firmly fastened into the neck of the flexible hinge G*;
over this neck is firmly pressed the tube or small reservoir C; the flexible
hinge is then drawn backwards round the top edge of the conical tube B, B;
the tube is then passed into the reservoir and pressed down tightly upon the
top of the neck of the stand; the outer rim of the flexible hinge is then
turned back, when it falls round the neck of the stand or reservoir, the flexible
hinge being adjusted in its place will form a perfect air chamber, so that
when the top conical tube is lifted up, the ink will pass into the stand or
reservoir, and when it is pressed down, the ink will return into the tube or
small reservoir, and remain there for any period. By this arrangement, a
large supply of ink is reserved, and the ink is protected from dust and the

page_text: atmosphere; but in order to accomplish this,,perfectly, I now place a ball-
valye H in the tube:C, which ascends and, descends with the ink; and when
the ink is not in use, and the conical tube is lifted- up; the ball lies over the
small aperture, through which the ink, passes.
Having thus described the object of my Invention, and how the same is to
be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details, as herein described, as the proportions of parts may be varied,
the design for stand of any configuration, and it may be used either with
.
flexible tube attached to the small end of reservoir, or with a ball placed
in it, or with the tube and ball at the same time; also a metal ring or collar
with one or more holes in the top of it, 'may be placed round the neck, or only
a ring may be used'; also it may be made either with or without a lid to cover
the opening of the conical tube; I would further have it.understood that I do
not claim originality in raising ink and depressing it again, or in having a
supply of ink in the reservoir; this. I am aware has been already done in
various ways; but what I do claim is the,application of a flexible binge,
circular or any other shape, placed on the upper part or top of reservoir or
stand, so that when pressed downwards it shall retain its position downwards,
thereby causing the ink to ascend, and when it is lifted up it shall retain its
position upwards, thereby causing the ink to descend into the reservoir, the
cup, tube, or small reservoir which holds the supply of ink for use, being
placed either in the centre of the flexible hinge, or in any part of the large
stand or reservoir that holds the ink in reserve.
.In witness whereof, I, the said John Wilkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN WILKINS. (L.s.)