Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 14th Jan., 1887.
I, PETER JENSEN, of 77, Chancery Lano, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, 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, a communication to me from abroad by Marie
Brown of the City, County and State of New York
Referring to the drawings.―
-
Figure, 1, is a top plan view of a fountain pen having a tapering pen section or
nozzle.
Figures, 2, and, 3, are isometric views of modified forms of the pen section or
nozzle.
Figure, 4, is a longitudinal axial section of a fountain pen provided with a
cylindrical nozzle.
Figures, 5, and, 6, are end views of the nozzle shown in figures, 2, and, 3,
respectively, and figures, 7, and, 8, are sections thereof.
Figures, 9, 10, and, 11, are isometric views of different forms of feed bars.
Figures, 12, 13, and, 14, are like views showing the feed bars provided with an
enlargement or wings.
Figures, 15, 16, and, 17, are sections of the feed bars shown in figures, 12, 13,
and, 14, respectively.
Figure, 18, is a longitudinal axial section of a fountain pen provided with a prism
shaped nozzle in which pen are combined a top and bottom feed, the latter serving also
as a seat for the pen.
Figure, 19, is transverse section on line, x-x, of figure, 18, and,
Figures, 20, and, 21, are isometric views of the lower feed bar or seat for the pen.
Figure, 22, is a top plan view of a top feed bar of uniform width and very narrow,
and,
Figure, 23, is a sectional view of the pen section or nozzle in which a seat of the

page_text: form of that shown in figure, 21, is combined with a very narrow top feed bar shown
in fig. 22.
This invention relates to improvements in that class of pens known as fountain
pens, which though very efficient and convenient for use, yet usually have the great
inconvenience of either "skipping" or "dropping" in writing, or both.
The former inconvenience is due to an irregular influx of air into the fount or
reservoir for the writing fluid resulting in a corresponding irregular flow of ink from
the fount of the pen. This skipping may also be due to air bubbles lodging at the
rear end of the ink duct or ducts which necessitate the shaking of the pen to dislodgo
or rupture them. The dropping of the ink is due to several causes, either to a too
sudden or rapid influx of air into the fount or to the influx thereinto of too great
a volume of air.
In the first case the pen may skip and drop alternately or occasionally, while in the
second case the pen will drop all the time. The object of this invention is to obviate
these inconveniences, and it consists in structural features and combinations of
elements, substantially as hereinafter fully described and as set forth in the claims.
The fountain pen consists, as usual, of a fount or reservoir, A, that constitutes the
holder of a pen section or nozzle, B, screwed into the open end of said fount, and of
a cap, C, adapted to be placed on the nozzle to enclose the pen when not in use, or
placed upon the closed end of the fount or reservoir, A, when the pen is used, as is
usual in this class of pens.
Formerly in order to provide a firm bearing for the pen so that it will not yield to
the pressure in writing, grooves have been formed in the walls of the nozzle for the
reception of the edges of the pen shank, necessitating the use of pens having shanks
that will fit the grooves of the nozzle.
To avoid grooving the nozzle and provide means for securing the pen firmly into
position therein I employ a seat for the pen that may not only serve as such, but also
closes the nozzle below the pen to prevent either access of air to or egress of ink from
the fount at that point, or that may serve as a feeding device for feeding ink to the
underside of the pen as will hereinafter appear.
By means of the described construction a nozzle having any desired form in cross
section may be employed. For instance a nozzle, B, tapering from front to rear may
be used as shown in figure, 1, or a cylindrical nozzle as shown in figure, 4, or a nozzle
having an ellipsoidal form or the form of a flattened cylinder, as shown in figures, 2,
5, and, 7, or a prism shaped nozzle as shown in figures, 3, 6, 8, 18, and, 19.
It is obvious, however, that when a nozzle is employed that is of greater diamotor
in one direction than in the other as shown in figures, 5, and, 6, the pen can be more
readily secured therein, the nozzle conforming more nearly to the form of the pen.
As above stated, the skipping of the pen may be due to an insufficient or irregular
flow of ink to the nibs of the pen, or it may be due to air bubbles lodging at the inner
end of the duct or ducts that convey the ink to the pen.
The latter inconvenience may be effectually avoided by bevelling the rear end of the
seat, b, as shown at, 61, figure, 4, or the corresponding end of the seat, G, as shown at,
g, figures, 18, and, 20, said beveled portion of the seat extending from the rear end of
the shank, d, of the pen towards the rear end of the nozzle or through said nozzle into
the fount.
In practice I prefer to use a seat, b, of soft rubber having substantially the form of
the nozzle in which it is used, but when said seat is employed to convey ink to the
underside of the pen as shown in figures, 18, and, 19, I make the same of hard rubber.
By making the seat, b, of soft rubber it will more readily adapt itself to the shape of
the nozzle and more effectually close the space thereof below the pen while the said
pen will be more firmly held in the nozzle.
In fountain pens of usual construction, that portion of the feed bar which serves to
conduct the ink by capillary attraction or otherwise to the nibs of the pen is generally
made comparatively wide, the ink being conveyed to the nibs of the pen between the
pen and the feed bar. In this arrangement unless the admission of air to the fount is

page_text: regulated very carefully the volume of ink fed to the pen is either too copious and
drops off the pen in writing or is insufficient and causes the pen to skip. To obviate
this I construct the feed bar in such a manner that the surface thereof that lies in
proximity to or in contact with the pen will have a less cross sectional area than the
body of said pen. This may be effected by giving the feed bar various forms in cross
section, for instance a semi-cylindrical feed bar may be employed and arranged in the
nozzle with its convex side in proximity to or in contact with the pen, or a cylindrical
feed bar, F, figure, 9, may be employed for this purpose, which when applied above
the pen, and in contact therewith, will divide the nozzle longitudinally and form ink
and air ducts on opposite sides thereof, the proximate surfaces of the pen and feed bar
and the latter and the wall of the nozzle being in this construction reduced to a
minimum, the said contacting surfaces being simply a succession of points of contact.
The same result may be obtained by beveling that portion of the feed bar which lies
above the pen so as to give it the form of a prism in cross section as shown in
figs. 11, and, 17. Or the prismatic form of the body of the feed bar may be obtained by
molding or compression in dies so as to form a channel,, in the upper face of the
feed bar as shown in figures, 10, 13, and, 16, this construction providing at the same
time an air duct,, through which air is admitted to the fount.
In these constructions it will readily be seen that air will have access to the fount
on opposite sides of the feed bar, while said feed bar will also form ducts for the ink
from the fount which is conveyed to the nibs of the pen by capillary attraction. In
either of the constructions shown in figures, 9, 10, 11, 13, and, 14, the feed bar may
bo provided with an attenuated shank, F, that extends into the fount and conveys the
ink by capillary attraction to the body of the feed bar, and if desired, such a shank
may be formed on the cylindrical feed bar shown in figures, 9, and, 12, though this is
not absolutely necessary. To prevent too copious a flow of ink along the opposite
sides or edges of the feed bar I corrugate or roughen said sides or edges as shown in
figures, 11, 14, 16, and, 17, thereby forming channels, ", at an angle to the
longitudinal axis of the bar that tends to check the free flow of the ink to the nibs of
the pen and supply the same thereto as fast as it is consumed in writing, a greater
supply being furnished in making the heavier strokes or dashes than in making the
finer strokes.
The flow of ink from the fount and the ingress of air to the said fount may be
further controled by forming at the rear end of the body of the feed bar, F, or at that
point which lies above or on the rear end of the pen shank, lateral projections or
wings,, that will close or nearly close the space between the pen and the nozzle on
opposite sides of the feed bar, said projections or wings being provided with grooves,³,
that form ink and air ducts respectively, below and above the feed bar as shown in
figures, 12, to, 16. This construction will effectually prevent too copious a flow of
ink and at the same time provide a uniform flow of air to the fount while said
projections or wings, , also serve as bearings for the shank of the pen, D, and assist
in holding the same firmly in position.
As shown in figures, 18, and, 19, I combine a top and bottom feed, the seat, G,
serving here as an under feed and taking the place of the seat, b. This seat, G, is
preferably of semi-cylindrical form, or substantially so, the convex portion thereof
lying in contact with the walls of the nozzle. As shown in figure, 20, the seat, G, is
made tapering from its rear end to its forward end and the upper face, gl, thereof is
flat so as to form an ink duct between said flat face, g', and the concave shank, d, of
the pen. Any one of the forms of feed bars, F, hereinabove described may be used as
top feed bar in combination with the seat, G. As the latter seat is of nearly
semicylindrical form and made tapering as set forth the larger rear end, g, thereof
will nearly fill the space between the underside of the pen and the wall of the nozzle
thus performing the function of a seat and a feed bar for the pen and of a plug that
nearly closes the nozzle below the pen.
a
To provide means for feeding a sufficiency of ink to the underside of the pen the
seat, G, is scooped out from near the outer end thereof to or nearly to its beveled

page_text: portion, g, or said seat may be bent between said points so as to form an enlarged
cavity or ink chamber, g², at that point to supply the required volume of ink to the
underside of the pen.
This result may also be obtained by beveling the edges of the seat, G, as shown in
figures, 21, and, 23, to form ducts along said edges as above described or by forming a
groove in the upper face of said seat or feed bar and in combination with this the
narrow top feed bar shown in figure, 22, may be employed with excellent results. It
will be readily seen that when a semi-cylindrical feed bar is employed as a top feed in
a cylindrical nozzle or a nozzle of the form shown in figures, 5, to, 8, the grooves,³,
in the upper face of the wings, f, of the bar may be dispensed with as there will be
between the feed bar and nozzle sufficient space for the admission of the required
volume of air. The same result will be obtained by the use of the feed bar, F, shown
in figures, 13, 14, 16, and, 17.
When a cylindrical feed bar is employed in conjunction with a cylindrical or
ellipsoidal nozzle, B, the air and ink ducts will be formed between the pen and the
nozzle wall as will be readily understood and the wings, 3, may or may not be used as
desired according to the diameter of the said nozzle and when such a feed bar, F, is
employed with the prism shaped nozzle an air duct will also be formed between said
bar and the wall of the nozzle as will be readily seen by an inspection of the
drawings.
It is desirable that the shank of the pen should fit as closely to or hug the walls of
the nozzle as much as possible throughout the length of the shank; especially when
the seat, G, is employed, it is obvious that pens having tapering shanks could not fit
said nozzle snugly or sufficiently so to prevent ink from passing around the same;
with such pens I prefer to employ the tapering nozzle shown in figure, 1, so as to
cause the edges of the pen shank to hug the walls of the nozzle.
If the air is admitted to the fount either through the seat, b, or directly without
passing through the nozzle the grooves, in the upper face of the wings, 2, of the
feed bar may also be dispensed with as will be readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A feed bar for fountain pens having one or more bearing or contact faces of less
cross-sectional area than the body of the bar, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
2. A feed bar for fountain pens having diametrically opposite bearing or contact
faces of less cross-sectional area than the body of the bar, substantially as & for the
purposes specified.
3. A feed bar for fountain pens having one or more bearings or contact faces of
less cross-sectional area than the body of the bar and having its lateral faces channeled
or roughened for the purposes specified.
4. A feed bar for fountain pens having one or more bearings or contact faces of
less cross-sectional area than the body of the bar and having its lateral faces channeled
or corrugated, said channels or corrugations being formed at an angle to the longi-
tudinal axis of the bar, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
5. A feed bar for fountain pens having bearings or contact faces of less cross-
sectional area than the body of the bar and provided with enlargements or wings
projecting from opposite sides thereof, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
6. A feed bar for fountain pens having enlargements or wings, f, provided with
notches or grooves, /, along the body of the pen on the upper and underside of said
wings, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
7. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or nozzle
of two feed bars between which the pen is inserted, the lower feed bar having a groove
in its upper face, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
8. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount & the pen section, or nozzle,
of a seat for the pen extending in rear of the shank thereof and having said extended

page_text: portion beveled in a direction away from said shank and a feed bar arranged above
the seat to feed ink to the top of the pen, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
9. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or nozzle
of a seat for the pen extending in rear of the shank thereof and ink ducts between the
pen and its seat and between said seat or pen and the wall of the nozzle, B, substan-
tially as described.
10. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle, of a seat for the pen extending in rear of the shank thereof and having the
extended portion beveled in a direction away from said shank and a feed bar located
above said seat, said parts being arranged to form ink ducts between the wall of the
nozzle and the pen when inserted between the seat and feed bar to deliver ink to the
top and underside of the pen, substantially as described.
11. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle, of a seat for the pen extending in rear of the shank thereof and having said
extended portion beveled in a direction away from the shank of the pen, a feed bar
above the seat for the pen and ink and air ducts above and below the seat or pen and
between it and the wall of the nozzle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
12. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle, of a seat for the pen having a cavity in its outer end to form a space between
the seat and the pen and a feed bar arranged above the seat and pen, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
13. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle, of a seat for the pen, a feed bar provided with lateral projections arranged
above the seat and pen to divide the nozzle longitudinally and nearly close the space
on opposite sides thereof, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
14. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle, of a seat for the pen, a feed bar provided with lateral projections arranged
above the seat and pen to divide the nozzle longitudinally and close the space on
opposite sides of said feed bar, and ink and air ducts formed on opposite sides of the
feed bar, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
15. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle, of a seat for the pen, a feed bar provided with lateral projections or wings
arranged above the seat and pen to divide the nozzle longitudinally and close the space
on opposite sides of the bar, ink and air ducts formed along the feed bar and an ink
duct formed below the seat and between it & the pen, substantially as & for the
purposes specified.
16. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount, of a nozzle of greater
diameter in one direction than in the other, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
17. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and a nozzle of greater
diameter in one direction than in the other, of a seat for the pen arranged in said
nozzle and a feed bar arranged above the seat, substantially as described, for the
purposes specified.
18. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and a nozzle of greater
diameter in one direction than in the other, a scat for the pen arranged in said nozzle,
a feed bar having its face in contact with the pen of less cross-sectional area than the
body of the bar, said feed bar being arranged above the seat or pen, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
19. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount, and a pen section or nozzle
of greater diameter in one direction than in the other, of a seat for the pen and air
ducts and ink ducts above and below said pen when applied to its seat, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
20. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and pen of a pen section or
nozzle having substantially the form of a prism as described.
21. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and a nozzle of substantially

page_text: prismatic form, of a seat for the pen seated on the base of the prism, and a feed bar
seated in the apex of said prism, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
22. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle of a seat or under feed bar and a top feed bar between which the pen is inserted,
an ink duct between the pen and its seat and an ink duct between the seat or pen and
the wall of the nozzle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
23. In a fountain pen, the combination with the fount and the pen section or
nozzle having that portion above the pen closed, of a seat for the pen a feed bar
arranged above said scat or pen extending through the closed portion of the nozzle
into the fount and ink and air ducts formed along the feed bar & communicating
with the fount, substantially as & for the purpose specified.
PETER JENSEN.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.