AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING PEN."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Théophile Prioux, Mechanical Engineer, of 82, Boulevard
Sebastopol, Paris, in the Republic of France, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED SELF-INKING PEN."
aled the 26th November 1878, and dated the 8th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Théophile Prioux at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1878.
THEOPHILE PRIOUX, Mechanical Engineer, of 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in
the Republic of France. "AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING PEN."
This pen has a continuous and self-acting ink supply, and being wholly metallic has
all the solidity requisite. It consists of a cylindrical metal tube constituting the ink
reservoir; within this is a small pump with piston and rod connected, and to the
lower end of the pump is an air chamber or bell for taking in the air necessary for
the proper functions of the pen; the inferior end of the principal tube, cylinder, or
reservoir is screw threaded inside to receive a cylindrical capacity, terminating in
a spoon-shaped device.
A small tube runs from the pump to near the end of the spoon-shaped piece,
and to this end of the tube the pen is connected by aid of a catch or clasp. This
tube forms the ink feeder to the pen. A spiral spring is placed round this tube to
insure the exact and regular action of the piston. When the reservoir is supplied
with ink all that is requisite is to press the pen perpendicularly on the paper, this
causes the pump to act and with it the supply valve or piston, which instantly
causes a flow of ink to the pen sufficient to write a certain number of lines, and
when this is used the same operation is repeated. In this manner the ink is kept
prisoner, as it were, in the cylindrical holder or reservoir, and cannot possibly
escape unless the point of the pen is pressed in the manner described.

page_text: After each pressure of the nib of the pen the spiral spring wound round the
the feed tube, and reaching to the head of the spoon-shaped cylinder, returns the
pen to its normal position.
When not in use a cap is placed over the pen end of the holder, and whilst using
the pen this cap is removed and fits on the head of the holder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Théophile Prioux in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
December 1878.
THEOPHILE PRIOUX, Mechanical Engineer, of 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in
the Republic of France. "AN IMPROVED SELF-INKING PEN."
The object of the present Invention is to supply the pen with ink in a self-acting
manner.
The penholder and ink-supplying device is shown by the accompanying
Drawings, of which Fig. 1 represents the holder complete, Fig. 2 being an enlarged
view shown in section, illustrating the several parts comprising it; and Fig. 3
shows the mechanism detached..
This pen has a continuous and self-acting ink supply, and being wholly metallic
has all the solidity requisite. It consists of a cylindrical metal tube A constituting
the ink reservoir; within this is a small pump B, with piston C and rod D, and at
the lower end of the pump is an air chamber or bell E for taking in the air
necessary for the proper functions of the pen; the lower end of the principal tube,
cylinder, or reservoir A is screw threaded inside to receive a cylindrical capacity,
terminating in a spoon-shaped device F.
A small tube G runs from the pump to near the end of the spoon-shaped piece F,
and to this end of the pen by aid of a catch or claw the pen is connected. This
tube G forms the ink feeder to the pen. A spiral spring H is placed round a
tube J, within which is the tube G to insure the exact and regular action of the
piston.
When the reservoir A is supplied with ink all that is requisite is to press the
pen perpendicularly; this causes the pump B to act, and with it the supply valve
or piston C, which instantly causes a flow of ink to the pen sufficient to write a
certain number of lines, and when this is used the same operation is repeated. In.
this manner the ink is kept prisoner, as it were, in the cylindrical holder or
reservoir A, and cannot possibly escape unless the point of the pen is pressed in the
manner described.
After each pressure on the nib of the pen the spiral spring H wound round the
tube J, and reaching to the head of the spoon-shaped cylinder F returns the pen
to its normal position..
When not in use a cap I is placed over the pen end of the. holder, and whilst
using the pen, this cap is removed and fits on the head of the holder, as shown in
Fig. 1.

page_text: I claim as my Invention the piston C, rod D, and pump B, in conjunction with
the feed tube G, spring H, air bell E, and spoon-shaped device, the whole combined
in the manner herein specified, and as illustrated by the accompanying Drawings,
as and for the purposes precisely as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Théophile Prioux, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THEOPHILE PRIOUX (LS.)