Year: 1888

page_text: I, WILLIAM WASHINGTON STEWART, residing at No. 15 Monroe Place, in the City
of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of New York, one of the United
States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to fountain penholders of that class having a hermetically
closed ink reservoir in the handle communicating with the pen through a duct or
passage. The ink descends to the pen through said duct, its place being taken by air
which enters the holder at its lower end, adjacent to the pen. The object of my
invention is to afford improved means for controlling the flow of ink to the pen and
the entrance of air to the holder, in order to control the action of the air bubbles
and prevent their sealing or choking the duct, and for keeping the pen clean and
bright.
To these ends I construct the penholder with a vent-duct, leading from the air space
in tho ink reservoir, extending down through the nozzle of the holder, and opening
to the air beneath the pen, and with a capillary conduit for ink opening from said duct
to the underside of the pen. Capillary interstices are formed against the underside
of the pen to hold a reserve of ink and keep the latter under capillary control. From
these capillary interstices a capillary conduit extends up into the holder and com-
municates with the ink therein.
My invention is also characterized by the arrangement in the air-duct of what I
term an "irritant" of polished metal or other non-absorbent material, which is looped
at intervals in order to form partial pockets for catching the air bubbles and confining
them until they grow so large as to escape therefrom, whereupon they are subdivided
by the irritant, which maintains an uninterrupted line of liquid throughout the length
of the duct. I also place in the air duct one or more capillary partitions which serve
to subdivide the ink and air without materially obstructing the flow. These partitions
may consist of spiral rolls or scrolls, tubes, flat plates, or transverse pins, and may be
made of any suitable material, as quill, hard rubber, or metal. I also loop the
irritant through or around one or more of the partitions.
By preference I form the ink duct in a tubular feed bar or plug inserted in the
uozzle of the holder and removable therefrom; and I form the capillary conduit by a

page_text: narrow slit along the upper sido of this bar, or of a separate tube therein, extending
from the pen up into the reservoir. When a separate tube is employed it is made
adjustable in the feed bar, and its capillary slit forms a continuation of that in the
bar, thereby constituting an uninterrupted capillary ink conduit.
My invention also aims to improve the means for holding or confining the pen in
the nozzle of the holder, in order to facilitate its insertion, removal and adjustment.
To this end I provide a ring or band preferably of hard rubber or metal which slips
over the removable plug or feed bar and the pen, and which when the pen is adjusted
to the proper position on the bar, confines it tightly in place thereon and holds it
thereto while the bar is being inserted in the nozzle.
The accompanying drawings show several different constructions of pens embodying
my invention.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal mid-section of the preferred construction of holder.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the feed-bar or plug thereof removed.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the feed-bar.
Fig. 4 shows the irritant and capillary partitions removed.
Fig. 5 is a transverso section cut on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shows the pen fastening ring removed in two views drawn on double the
scale of the preceding figures.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the scroll like capillary partition; and
Fig. 8 is a similar view of the tubular capillary partition around which the irritant
is looped.
Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the holder on the line 9-9 in Fig. 1.
The remaining views illustrate other constructions, which will be described
subsequently.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, let A designate the hollow holder or
reservoir handle, B the tubular nozzle at the lower end thereof, C the pen or pen-nib,
D the reservoir or ink hollow in the holder A, and E the feed bar or plug. These
parts are in general of the usual construction.
The feed bar E fits tightly within the throat or bore of the nozzle B and its.upper
end enters within the holder. Along its upper side, and extending from within the
holder near its upper end downwardly to or nearly to its lower end, is formed a capillary
slit a which constitutes a duct or capillary conduit down which the ink may flow to
the pen. I prefer to form in the upper side of the feed bar where it comes against the
under side of the pen, an angular notch or recess b. This constitutes a capillary
interstice or <
grip," its purpose being to hold a quantity of ink against the pen in
readiness to be drawn upon for shading or heavy strokes where a sudden and consider-
able flow of ink is required.
The feed-bar E is hollow or tubular, its bore c, which extends from its upper end
down to a point underneath the pen, constituting the duct for ink or air. This duct
communicates with the ink reservoir either through the upper end of the bar, if that
end be open, as shown, or through the capillary slit a, or small perforations d d.
These latter may be used or not as desired. If the upper end of the feed bar be left
open they may be omitted. In any case it is only essential that the bore c should
have some communication, more or less free, with the ink reservoir. The lower end
of the duct c communicates with the under side of the pen C through the medium of
the capillary slit a and the capillary grip (either or both). The lower end of the
feed-bar (which is preferably contracted as shown), is formed with a minute bore c¹
extending through it to its lower end, and forming a downward continuation of the
bore c.
Thus the bore or duct c c¹ affords a direct communication or vent between the
upper part of the holder and the outer air beneath the pen. As the ink gradually
flows out to supply the pen air ascends through the bore c to take its place, thus
maintaining the equilibrium of pressure within the reservoir. It is essential however,
that the passage or flow of both ink and air shall be restricted or governod, in order
to prevent too free an entrance of air to the holder, and too full a downflow of ink,
which would result in the dropping out of ink from the holder under the influence of
gravitation. It is furthermore essential that the air in its passage shall be so sub-

page_text: divided and controlled that it cannot form in bubbles or sacs which shall act as stoppers
to fill the passage and oppose the flow of ink. The air in order to be thus controlled
must be not only subdivided but also moistened or saturated with liquid, reducing it
more or less to the condition of froth.
In order to effect the proper control and subdivision of the air, I insert in the duct c
what I term a looped "irritant" F, and one or more obstructing or capillary partitions G,
filling or partially filling the duct.
The irritant F may consist of any slender, somewhat flexible, and glazed, polished,
or non-absorbent material. I prefer the use of a fine polished gold wire, although I
find that bristles, horse hair and other analogous substances answer the purpose well.
I carry the irritant F through the duct c, forming in it one or more loops ff, (seo
Fig. 4) which preferably fill, or nearly fill the duct. The lower end of the irritant
should extend down into or through the bore e' being thus brought into close proximity
to the pen; or it may extend into the slit a and impinge directly upon the pen, so as
to be agitated by the movement thereof in writing. The upper end of the irritant
may terminate in the duct c or may extend beyond into the ink reservoir.
The polished or glazed surface of the irritant attracts to it the liquid component of
the ink and thus maintains what I term a "liquid line," which, according to my
present invention is looped back upon itself at intervals. This liquid line acts to
moisten or lubricate the air bubbles as they pass up the duct. The air enters beneath
the pen through the slit a, or small bore c¹, and passes into the duct c in the form of
minute bubbles or froth, which, collecting in the lower portion of the duct, resolves
itself into larger bubbles which are slowly drawn upward into the holder by the
suction therein occasioned by the outflow of ink to the pen. The ascending bubbles
are caught by the loops ff in the irritant, and their too rapid rise into the reservoir
is thus prevented. The openings in the loops and the spaces between the loops become
filled with bubbles, which, by attracting smaller bubbles to them tend continually to
expand. If this tendency were not resisted large bubbles would be formed which
would occupy the entire area of the duct and would expand against the walls thereof,
and, being enclosed in tenacious films, would offer serious obstruction to the downward
flow of fluid. This result is prevented by the looping of the irritant, since the bubbles
are imprisoned in the loops and intervening spaces, and when they expand beyond
the area of the loops or spaces they subdivide themselves against the irritant,
which acts to cut or shear them, either dividing them into two smaller bubbles, or
cutting off a portion of the air, which, forming a smaller bubble, passes up along the
irritant to the next loop or space above, where it may coalesco with another bubble
and thereby cause a repetition of the same action. Thus by its own movement due to
the suction in the holder the air is perfectly controlled in its ascent and is kept
sufficiently subdivided to prevent its acting as a plug or stopper to close the duct, and
at the same time the ascending air is utilized to obstruct to some extent the downflow
of ink through the duct in order that such flow may not be too great in volume or too
rapid. The ink passes down chiefly along the inner wall of the duct, which, being
made preferably of hard rubber, a somewhat absorbent material-becomes soaked with
the ink and consequently affords a surface well adapted to attract and promote the
flow of liquid. The ink also flows down in a minute stream through the capillary
slit a, which affords a continuously open channel not liable to be obstructed by
bubbles.
The motion of the pon in use will to some extent vibrate or agitate the irritant,
since the latter is, or should be, arranged very freely within the duct, and should be of
very elastic or flexible material. This vibration facilitates the upward movement of
the bubbles of air, while at the same time it favors the coalescing of adjoining bubbles,
so that while a continuous action is maintained there is no tendency to bring down
the ink too freely so that it shall roll out of the pen in drops, as is the case with
defective holders. In this pen a most perfect balance of opposing forces is maintained,
resulting in a tow of ink which adapts itself with the utmost nicety to the demands
made upon it in the use of the pen.
The looped irritant" provided by my present invention is not to be confounded

page_text: with a spiral coil of wire inserted within the ink-chamber, (as has been heretofore
applied), since with such a coil there is no successive cutting of the bubbles as they
ascend, nor any means of preventing them from filling and plugging up the ink-duct.
-In-my looped irritant the loops stand approximately in a longitudinal plane, whereas
in a spiral coil they stand approximately in a transverse plane. Nor should an
"irritant" be confounded with a wire which is covered with throad or other absorbent
fabric, as it is essential to the proper action of an irritant that it should have a glazed
or polished and impermeable surface, its function being the opposite of that of an
absorbent substance such as wicking or permeable threads. Nor should my looped
irritant which is located in the duct itself, be confounded with a straight irritant
inserted in a capillary slit (corresponding to the slit a) for the purpose of attracting
fluid and preventing the stoppage of the slit by the deposit of solid matter from the
ink therein.
"
1 further obstruct the duct by the insertion in it of one or more capillary partitions,
two of which are shown in Fig. 1, lettered respectively G and G. The capillary
partition G, which is shown detached in Eig. 7, consists of a spiral roll or quill, by.
preference, or of thin polished sheet metal, or of thin polished hard rubber. The
convolutions of this roll or scroll are slightly out of contact, leaving a continuous
capillary space between them. The irritant passes, preferably, through the centre of
the roll. The roll or scroll becomes saturated with liquid, or, if of impermeable
material, it attracts the liquid to it, and the air in ascending through its capillary
interstices is nocessarily subdivided into fine froth. The thorough moistening or
saturation of the air is thus ensured, a condition which is practically advantageous
since it tends to prevent the after formation of the air into tough coherent bubbles
o'r sacs.
",
The capillary partition G³, which may be arranged either above or below the
partition G, consists simply of a short cylindrical tube of quill, hard rubber, polished
metal or other material, which is fitted firmly within the bore c. The irritant is coiled
or looped around one side of this partition or tube, as shown at . The outer portion
of this loop may enter the slit a or not. The doubled irritant thus passes through
the center of the tube G', so contracting the opening or passage through it that it
becomes, when filled with the minute bubbles of air, in effect a capillary passage. The:
tube G¹ serves to facilitate the coalescing of the minute bubbles or froth into larger.
bubbles, which are thence started on their upward course along the irritant. It also
serves as a partition to cut off the capillary slit a from the bore or duct c.
'
The feed-bar E is cylindrical exteriorly and fits closely in the throat of the nozzle B..
The nozzle below its throat is enlarged at g so that it is out of contact with the
feed-bar, and lower down at h, it is still further enlarged so that it is out of contact
with the pen. Thus the lower portion of the nozzle constitutes the "tubular extension
or jacket" claimed in my patent No. 698 dated February 17, 1881, for preventing
evaporation of ink and protecting the fingers from being soiled.
The pen C is placed in position on the feed-bar before the latter is inserted in the.
nozzle, and over the pen is slipped a ring or band H, shown detached in Fig. 6.
This ring should fit so tightly over the pen and bar as to serve to hold them firmly
together while they are being inserted in the nozzle. It is preferably screw-threaded
on its exterior. to fit a screw thread cut in the interior of the enlarged portion h of the
nozzle. Upon the insertion of the pen and feed-bar into the nozzle they are rotated
in order to screw the ring H into these threads, thereby holding it firmly in position.
The adjustment of the pen C to the desired position on the feed-bar nay thus be
accurately effected before their insertion in the holder, and when inserted the is
clamped firmly in position. The screwing in of the ring H closes the cavity in the
nozzle behind it formed by the enlargement E therein, thereby converting that portion
into a chamber i, which is in communication with the capillary slit a. The ring H
has notches in its inner side which come against the surface of the peu and serve
to establish communication between this chamber i and the enclosed space h beneath.
Thus any ink which may work over upon the outside of the pen, and which shall
enter the space will be..drawn.up.into the chamber.i by suction when the holder
pen

page_text: is inverted. Otherwise this ink would remain at the lower end of the holder where
it might pass into the usual cap (not shown in these figures) which covers the pen
point when the holder is carried in the pocket, and work out through the joint thereof
to the exterior of the holder.
It is not essential that the ring H be screw threaded; or, if screw-threaded, the
threads may be cut upon its interior instead of its exterior, so that it may screw on to
threads cut on the exterior of the feed-bar. This construction is shown in Fig. 17,
which is a longitudinal section of a feed-bar and pen, removed from the holder. In this
construction the top of the feed-bar should be recessed or cut away to a depth equal to the
thickness of the pen. The feed-bar may be made somewhat conical in its threaded portion
so that as the ring H is screwed up it will be tightened upon the bar to any desired extent.
In the upper part of the holder or ink reservoir is an adjustable capillary partition J
preferably of hard rubber or quill. This partition is somewhat curved and is of such
width that its edges bear tightly against the sides of the reservoir, so that when
pushed in it retains itself in place frictionally. It may be adjusted higher or lower
in the holder and may be turned to the upper or lower side thereof if desired.
curve of this partition is such that between its convex side and the wall of the
reservoir is formed a capillary space or pocket I, (Fig. 9) which will attract to it a
portion of the ink so that the level of ink on the side of the partition forming this
pocket will be higher than on the opposite side thereof. This partition will thus servo
to retain the ink in the holder under capillary attraction and will keep it from moving
too freely under the influence of gravitation or during the movement of the holder
while in use.
Two or more partitions J may be used, arranged at different positions
in the holder, as shown in Fig. 1. By a suitable arrangement of these partitions the
flow of ink may be rendered more or less free as may be desired.
The
I will now proceed to describe the constructions illustrated in Figs. 10 to 16
inclusive.
In Fig. 10 which is a longitudinal mid-section of a holder the feed-bar E has a
single capillary partition placed in it, lettered G", consisting of a flat piece of quill,
hard rubber, etc., around which the irritant F is coiled or looped at f'. The irritant is
not otherwise looped. The pen C is pressed in between the feed-bar and the nozzle and
fastened in place by a wedge k which is forced in on top of it. The nozzle has a
tubular extension B¹ screwed on to it. The feed-bar projects through the upper ond of
the nozzle, and on its projecting end is slipped a tube E¹. This tube has a capillary
slit a' along its top which communicates with the capillary slit a in the feed-bar E.
Fig. 11, which is a fragmentary longitudinal section, shows another construction.
There is no capillary slit a but the feed-bar is provided with perforations communi-
cating with the ink reservoir above, and with other perforations or small vents n n
communicating with the under side of the pen and serving for the admission of air
or discharge of ink, as the case may be. The coil of wire q serves as a capillary
conduit to conduct the ink from the duct to the pen. The irritant F extends up
through the duct in the feed-bar E, and continues op up to a supplementary feed-
bar E, being looped at intervals through both.
Fig. 12, which is also a longitudinal section, shows a pen having a looped irritant
extending through the feed-bar with the ring H serving to bind the pen to the feed-
bar and screwing inside a tubular extension B', which itself screws upon the lower
end of the nozzle B, thus clamping the ring H against the end of the nozzle.
Fig. 13 shows a construction wherein the ring H and tubular extension B' are
both made in one piece and screwed into the end of the nozzle. The irritant Fis
looped at f, extends thence through the capillary slit a over the spiral partition G,
thence down into the duct c and through the center of the tubular partition G'.
It will be understood that either of the three forms of partitions G, G' or G" may
be used alone, or in combination with either of the others, according to the precise
effect desired, and that if two or more be used in combination they may be arranged
in any desired order. By varying the kind of partition or the arrangement of
partitions, the flow of ink may be made more or less free to suit the taste of different
penmen.

page_text: Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating an ordinary feed-bar such as is used in
certain kinds of cheap fountain pens, it having been altered in accordance with my
present invention in order to render the pen practical and efficient. The feed-bar is
a simple straight bar with a groove or gutter along its upper side which comes against
the pen. In this gutter I place one, two or more cross pins G, and I then take an
irritant F and loop it around these pins. The pins G constitute partitions in the
duct whose operation is analogous to that of the partitions G G¹.
Fig. 15 is an oblique plan view illustrating another common feed-bar used with
certain cheap pens, after having been altered in another way according to my inven-
tion. The feed-bar has a bore through it and a broad groove on top, united by a
capillary slit.
I arrange bridges or partitions G" across the groove at intervals, and
take an irritant F and loop it around these partitions, carrying its loops into tho
capillary slit a, and letting its upper end project into the holder.
Fig. 16 is a fragmentary longitudinal section representing a stylographic or stylus
pen embodying my present invention. The stylus C' extends up through the conical
tip and is formed with a flexible scroll or spiral a which constitutes its spring
seating, coming against an adjustable tube E', which is pressed into the nozzle from
its upper end. An irritant l', looped at extends from the chamber below this
tube up through the latter and into the ink reservoir.
Fig. 17 has been already described.
Fig. 18 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of another construction of stylo-
graphic pen embodying a portion of my invention. The stylus C consists of a stiff
Bristle which combines in itself the functions of the stylus, the spring seating for the
stylus, and the irritant F. This bristle is arranged with its end protruding slightly
beyond the end of the conical nozzle or tip, as usual in stylus pens, extends thence
back through the tip, and is looped at around the rear portion of the tip, returning
into the latter by a hole, and extending thence upwardly into the holder. The
loop imparts to the bristle sufficient elasticity to give the protruding stylus point
the requisite yielding character. In other respects the bristle serves the same functions
as already described for the irritant F.
I will now proceed to describe the remaining constructions shown in the figures on
sheet 3 of the drawings. Of these the preferred form is shown in Figs. 19 to 24
inclusive, of which
Fig. 19 is a longitudinal mid-section of the penholder with the cap or cover for
protecting the pen-point.
Fig. 20 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the holder looking from beneath
and showing the feed-bar or pipe and its extension or film tube in elevation.
Fig. 21 is an enlarged transverse section cut on the line 21-21 in Fig. 20.
Fig. 22 is a plan of the upper side of the feed-bar.
Fig. 23 is a plan of the film tube or vent tube; and
Fig. 24 is a vertical longitudinal section of the feed-bar showing a portion of the
vent tube within it in elevation.
The remaining views illustrate modifications. Of these Fig. 25 is a longitudinal
section through a holder and Fig. 26 is a plan of its feed-bar. Fig. 27 is a longi-
tudinal section through another construction of holder with its cap or cover on, and
Fig. 28 is a plan of its feed-bar. Fig. 29 is a longitudinal section through another
modification of holder, and Fig. 3. is a plan of its feed-bar.
Referring first to Figs. 19 to 24 inclusive, it is seen that the holder A with its
hollow or reservoir D, the nozzle B, the pen C, and the feed-bar E are in general of
the same construction as in the forms first described. The feed-bar E however, does
not extend up into the reservoir, but is provided instead with a film tube or vent
pipe E which passes longitudinally through the feed-bar from end to end thereof and
extends up within the holder to the upper portion thereof, or to the portion of the
holder or reservoir in which the air collects when the fountain pen is in use. This
film tube E' has the bore or duct before referred to formed through it from end to
end and opening at its lower end beneath the pen and at its upper end into said air
space, so that communication is established between the air in said air space and the.

page_text: external atmosphere at a point beneath the lower end of the holder. The capillary
slit a before referred to is formed in this film tube E, extending along the upper side
thereof from end to end, as best seen in Fig. 23. The feed bar E fits against the
under side of the pen as before, but instead of being longitudinally slitted and
notched to conduct the ink down from the reservoir and hold it in reserve beneath
the pen, its surface which comes against the pen is otherwise provided with capillary
interstices for holding ink, preferably by roughening it by means of cuts or cross-
grooves in the manner best shown in Figs. 22 and 24. These roughnesses are of
small size and slight depth so that the ink held in reserve is minutely subdivided
and is kept under continuous capillary control. This construction is better suited for
fine pens which aro not required to shado heavily, whereas the construction shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, referring especially to the notch 6 therein, is better suited for
flexible pens which in writing are designed to yield heavy shade lines. The capillary
interstices or roughnesses & do not communicate directly with the ink in the holder,
but are put into communication by means of a series or row of perforations a' a' with
the capillary slit a, in the manner best shown in Figs. 19 and 22, the film tube E'
being adjusted with its slit a directly beneath these perforations. The film tube E¹
has no shoulder to limit its movement and is consequently adjustable in the feed-bar E,
so that it may be set to different positions in the nozzle as may be desired.
The bore e through the film tube E' should, if it be made larger than a capillary
bore, be somewhat filled or obstructed in order that the air in ascending into the
holder may not move too freely and thereby enable the ink to flow out under the
influence of gravitation. For the purpose of somewhat obstructing this bore and
also in order to moisten or saturate the air and reduce it to a frothy condition in its
ascent I provide a filling F¹ for the bore, which filling may be either of absorbent or
non-absorbent material. It may for example, be composed of wires, bristles, threads
or other things. Strands of broom corn answer this purpose well, on account of
their smooth hard surfaces and somewhat permeable substance, which acts most
perfectly to maintain a moist condition without being soaked or swelled by the action
of the ink. These strands or obstructions serve to subdivide the air and force it to
follow the minute interstices extending longitudinally between them, and also to
subdivide any ink which may pass down the film tube. They do not obstruct the
free flow of ink through the minute capillary slit a. These capillary obstructions
serve to some extent the purpose of the irritant F in the construction first described,
but subdivide the air to a greater extent and afford a greater obstruction to its
passage, so that the flow from this pen cannot be so free as that from the pen shown
in Figs. 1 to 5.
A slender wire is also inserted in the film tube and on its end is a head u of
sufficient size to serve as a cap or stopper for closing the lower end of the tube. By
pulling this head out or pushing it in a greater or less opening into the tube may be
provided by adjustment at the will of the user. The cap K which, when the pen is
not in use is placed over its lower end, is provided with a pin v projecting inwardly as
shown in Fig. 19, to such position that its end will, in the act of applying the cap,
come against the head u and press it back against the lower end of the film tube.
Thus the air vent is closed when the penholder is put away in the pocket, so that the
oozing out of ink therefrom is prevented. When the penholder is to be used again
the cap K is removed and slipped on to the upper end of the holder as usual, after
which the head should be pulled out slightly in order to adinit air more freely.
By constructing the feed-bar E and film tube or vent tube E' in separate pieces the
advantage is gained of being able to adjust the flow by setting the film tube higher or
lower, or by slightly twisting it in order to partially cut off or reduce the communi-
cation between its slit a and the perforations a¹.
Figs. 25 and 26 show a construction wherein the feed-bar E has no cross grooves
on its side against the pen, but in place of these and of the perforations a¹ it is formed
with a capillary slit a which coincides with the slit a. Fig. 25 also shows a looped
rritant F extending through the bore of the film tube or vent tube E' in place of
the obstructive fillings shown in Figs. 19 to 24.

page_text: Figs. 27 and 28 show a penholder having still another construction of feed-bar, the
latter having not only capillary interstices & formed by cross grooving or roughening
its upper surface, but also a capillary slit a" and above this a large opening or spoon 61
forming a grip similar to the notch b in Figs. 2 and 3, and which is consequently
better suited for heavy writing. The cap K carries a pin with the head u on its
end, so that when the cap is removed the lower end of the vent duct is open.
Figs. 29 and 30 sbow a construction wherein the feed bar is slitted along its upper
side at a for its entire length, a construction which would be liable to admit too
free a flow of ink were it not that this result is prevented by the insertion in the slit
of an obstruction consisting of a strand F of broom-corn. The vent tube E¹ is not
slitted, but is provided with holes at intervals, through which holes the strand Flis
passed into the holder. Thus arranged the strand F takes to some extent, the place
of the capillary slit a, as it affords a capillary line down which the ink may flow to
the pen.
By comparing the various forms introduced in my present invention with those
illustrated in my patents No. 698 of 1881, and No. 825 of 1882, it will be seen that
iny invention involves a somewhat different principle, my new penholder feeding not
by barometric action alone or by the mere balancing of capillary attraction and
repulsion, but determining the feed through the movement of the ink and air within
the holder in such manner as to utilize the air bubbles or sacs of froth as a means
of regulating the flow of ink downward proportionally to the demand therefor, while
preventing the formation of the air into coherent hubbles or sacs which may act as
stoppers to close the air passage. In my improved penholder the air space in the
upper part of the ink reservoir is kept in communication with the external atmosphere
through a duct or vent tube, the flow through which is slightly or partially obstructed
by the presence in it of moistening obstructions or strands, or of irritants which engage
the successive bubbles, so that in either case the air in ascending is subdivided and
kept moist. This result may be produced by inserting in the vent tube other materials
than those described, as for instance some finely curled hair.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fountain penholder constructed with a vent duct leading from the air space in
the ink reservoir and opening to the outer air at the lower end of tho holder beneath
the pen, and with a capillary conduit for ink opening to the underside of the pen and
communicating with said duct, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A fountain penholder constructed with a vent duct leading from the air space in
the ink reservoir, extending thence to the lower end of the holder and opening to
the outer air beneath the pen, and a partial obstruction in said duct adapted to impede
the passage of air bubbles thereto and to moisten the air, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. A fountain penholder constructed with a vent duct leading from the air space
in the ink reservoir and opening to the outer air beneath the pen, and capillary
interstices against the under side of the pen arranged in communication with said duct,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. A fountain penholder constructed with a capillary slit extending downward from
the reservoir and communicating with the under side of the pen, and with a vent duct
extending from the upper part of the reservoir and opening to the air beneath the
same, and communicating with said slit, substantially as herein before described.
5. A fountain penholder having an irritant of non-absorbent material formed with
longitudinal loops and arranged in the duct or passage leading from the reservoir to
the pen or writing point, substantially as herein before described.
6. A fountain penholder provided with an irritant in the ink duct formed into succes-
sive longitudinal loops at intervals for the purpose of subdividing the ascending air
bubbles, substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 7. A fountain penholder having a feed-bar inserted in its reservoir and formed with
an ink duct extending through said bar and communicating with the underside of the
pen, and a capillary slit along said duct, and having a looped irritant arranged in said
ink duct, substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. A fountain penholder constructed with an ink or air duct leading from its reservoir
with one or more partitions in said duct and an irritant extending through said duct
and looped at intervals therein, substantially as herein before described.
9. A fountain penholder having a capillary partition in its ink duct and an irritant
extending through said duct, substantially as herein before described.
10. A fountain penholder having a capillary partition in its ink duct consisting of
a strip rolled into spiral form with capillary interstices between its convolutions,
substantially as hereinbeforo described.
11. The combination with a fountain penholder of a removable feed-bar insertible in
the nozzle thereof, and a ring H entering within the nozzle and passing over said bar
and the pen to bind them together, substantially as hereinbefore described.
12. The combination with a fountain penholder of a removable feed-bar insertible
in the nozzle thereof, a ring H adapted to pass over said bar and bind the pen thereto,
and screw threads on said ring and in the nozzle whereby the ring may be screwed
into the nozzle upon the insertion of the feed-bar therein, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
13. The combination with a fountain penholder of an adjustable capillary partition J
having the form of a section of a hollow cylinder arranged in the ink reservoir and
held in place therein by frictional contact of its edges with the walls thereof, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.
14. A stylographic fountain penholder constructed with a reduced point section or
tip and having a stylus consisting of an irritant strand of elastic material looped within
the nozzle to give the requisite yielding mounting to the stylus point and extending
up through the ink duct into the reservoir, substantially as shown in Fig. 18.
15. A fountain penholder constructed with a tubular feed-bar beneath the
vent tube extending through said feed-bar into the reservoir and adjustable in said
and a
pen,
bar to different positions, substantially as shown in Figs. 19 to 30.
16. A fountain penholder constructed with a tubular feed-bar having capillary
interstices against the under side of the pen and holes or slit through it communi-
cating with said interstices, and a vent tube inserted through said bar and having a
capillary slit coinciding with said holes or slit in the bar, substantially as shown in
Figs. 19 to 28.
17. A fountain penholder constructed with a vent duct extending down from the
reservoir and opening to the outer air beneath the pen, and obstructions in said duct
consisting of parallel strands of slightly absorbent material adapted to subdivide and
moisten the air ascending therethrough, substantially as shown in Figs. 19 to 24.
18. A fountain penholder constructed with a vent duct extending from the air
space in the reservoir and opening to the air beneath the pen, a head or plug u
adapted to close the lower end of said duct, the pen-protecting top, and a pin v fixed
within the latter for closing said head against the duct when the cap is applied,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 19 and 27.
Dated this 12th day of March 1888.
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.