IMPROVED PNEUMATIC INK AND PEN HOLDER
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Bertolacci, of No. 45, Rue
d'Amsterdam, Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, for
the Invention of an "IMPROVED PNEUMATIC INK AND PEN HOLDER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Williani Robert
Bertolacci at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th October 1852.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT BERTOLACCI, of No. 45, Rue d'Amsterdanı,
Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC INK AND PEN HOLDER" to
be as follows:-
The constructing an apparatus for writing in which the ink is made
to supply itself according to the requirement of the writer.
Figures 1. and 2, shew a tube or reservoir m, n, of a cylindrical or
any other form; c, c, c, c, tube of vulcanized caoutchouc inserted in the
tube or reservoir m, n; t, a piston head; M, the pen; D, the pressure
knob, Figures 1, 2, and 3. The tube c, c, c, c, is introduced into the
tube m, n, so as to adhere and prevent any passage, except through the

page_text: internal channel of the caoutchouc tube. The pen M, is placed between
these two tubes, and being pressed on its concave surface by the caout-
chouc and on its convex surface by the outer tube, it cannot oscillate
either way. The ink is made to egress underneath the pen. An opening
is made in the tube m, n, to correspond with the centre of the caout-
chouc tube, in order to admit of the insertion of the pressure knob D,
which stands above the level of the tube m. n. The end, of this knob,
Fig. 8, is introduced between the caoutchouc and outer tube similarly
to the pen. Thus when the knob D, is pushed down it presses upon
the caoutchouc, and produces a general diminution of the whole
capacity of the reservoir.
A, Figure 4, is the piston, composed of a rod fitted with a spiral
thread or screw; it is provided with a small collar a. B, Figure 5, is a
small tube of the same shape as the aforesaid rod, sufficiently large to
slide casily over it. This tube is open at both ends, and is provided
with a small collar b, at one end. C, Figure 6, is another tube of the
same shape as B, Figure 5, but of greater length; it is closed at its
lower extremity i, and furnished with a small collar c, placed a little
above that end. Figure 7, shows the rod A, mounted with the sliding
tubes B, & C, Figures 5, and 6, and the whole covered over with a
tube of vulcanized caoutchouc t, t. This piston is formed by tying the
caoutchouc tube over the sliding tubes B, and C, as represented in the
Figure. Figs. 8, and 9, represent the action of the piston. Figure 10,
shows the piston with the upper portion of its rod. This portion is of
a cylindrical form, and furnished with a screw thread, which passes
through a box or hollow screw P, P, fixed to the lower end of a
tube 2, n. This latter fits with easy precision into another tube
m, m, which is the reservoir of the pen-holder. A slight annular
lepressions, s, causes the two tubes m, and n, to unite so as to allow
them to rotate one over the other in the positions they occupy. By
turning round the tube n, n, by means of its hollow screw P, P, in one
direction, the rod will ascend and bring along with it the piston head t,
in consequence of this piston adhering against the inside of the reser-
voir m, m, which prevents it from turning. For the same reason, if the
upper tube is turned round in the opposite direction the piston will

page_text: descend. Thus the pen-holder acts like a pump or syringe, sucking in
the ink gradually when the piston ascends, and rejecting it when it
descends.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Bertolacci in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM ROBERT BERTOLACCI, of Paris, France, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto mic, the
said William- Robert Bertolacci, IIer special licence that I, the said
William Robert Bertolacci, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Robert Bertolacci, my exccutors,
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 Kingdon of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IN-
PROVED PNEUMATIC INK AND PEN HOLDER," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Bertolacci, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Bertolacci, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say):

page_text: My Invention consists in the combination of mechanical parts for the
production of a pen-holder for containing and furnishing a supply of
ink to the pen, and withdrawing the said ink at discretion.
M, N, Figures 1, & 2, tube or reservoir, which may be of a
cylindrical or other shape. c, c, c, a vulcanized caoutchouc tube
inserted in the reservoir M, N. 1, a piston stopper. M, the pen of
any of the ordinary substances made use of for writing. D, Figures
1, 2, & 3, the pressure knob. G, II, Figure 11, the cap.
The caoutchouc tube c, c, c, c, is of larger diameter than the tube
M, N, and is forced into it by pressure. When the tube is in its place
it constantly tends to distend beyond the capacity of its case, and by
means of that pressure or adherence all ingress is shut, except through
the internal channel of the caoutchouc tube. The pen M, is placed
between these two tubes, and being pressed on its concave surface by
the caoutchouc, and by the outer tube or case on its convex surface,
it is prevented from oscillating in either direction.
In order to diminish the space between the pen and the lower end
M, of the holder, the latter may be fined off, or slightly turned down, so
as to present an angular or convex inclined surface towards the inside
of the pen. The space left is at the same time so calculated as to admit
of the easy insertion of the pen, and a free flow of ink between it and
the holder. An opening is made in the tube M, N, to correspond with
the middle of the caoutchouc tube c, c, c, c, to allow the insertion of the
tail z, of the pressure knob D, the upper end of which projects beyond
the level of the tube M, N. The lower end z, Figure 8, of this pres-
sure knob is introduced between the caoutchouc and outer tube in a
similar manner to the pen. When the knob D, is pushed down it
presses upon the caoutchouc tube, and flattens it sideways, which causes
a general diminution of the capacity of the whole of the reservoir.
Figure 4, represents a piston rod A, fitted with a spiral thread or
screw; it is of a square or oval shape at its lower end, and is provided
with a fixed collet u, towards the middle. Figure 5, is a small tube B,
of the same shape as the end of the piston rod A, and is adapted so as
to slide easily over it; the tube B, is open at both ends, and has like-
wise a small ring b, towards one end of it. Figure 6, is another tubo

page_text: or casing C, of the same shape as B, and about the same length; it
is also furnished with a small ring C, fixed towards its extremity i, at
which end the tube is closed. Figure 7, shows the framework and
rod A, mounted with its sliding tubes B, and C, and the latter covered
over with a caoutchouc tube t, t, which being tied forms the piston of
my apparatus complete, as seen in Figures 7, 8, & 9. Figure 10,.
represents the piston with its screw rod in the place it occupies. It
will be seen that the screw rod passes through a box or hollow screw
p, p, fixed to the lower end of another tube n, n. This latter tube n, n,
fits with easy precision in another tube m, m, which is the reservoir of
the ink. A slight annular depressions, &, unites the two tubes m,,
and n, so as to allow them to rotate one within the other without
deviating from the position in which they are placed. Now by turning:
round the tube n, n, and its fixed hollow screw p. p, in one direction,
the rod will ascend and bring along with it the piston t, in consequence
of this piston adhering against the inside of the reservoir m, m, which
adherence prevents its turning, and by turning the upper tube n, n, in
the opposite direction the piston will descend. The pen-holder thus.
acts like a pump or seringe, sucking in the ink gradually when the
piston ascends, and repelling it when it descends.
If it were thought preferable to give a cylindrical form to the sliding
tubes B, and C, and their rod. In that case the upper or screw end.
of the piston rod A, would require to be furnished with an angular or;
irregular shaped head, or a turning down, and the tube n, n, be disposed
so as to carry the screw round with it in its rotatory motion. This or
any other means employed in ordinary mechanisms that will cause the
screw to ascend and descend by the alternate rotations of the tube n, 1,
and its hollow screw box p, p, can be applied. If it were not for the
particular construction of the piston the adhesion of the caoutchoux to
the sides of the reservoir would be too great, and any increase of force
applied to make it move would only tend to make the piston swell the
more, and consequently increase the resistance in proportion to the force
applied. It is for this reason that many attempts made to apply caont-
choux to the ordinary mode of setting up pistons have always failed.
Figures 8, & 9, represent the action of the piston. Figure 8, shows

page_text: the piston when descending. As the caoutchoux tube or piston adheres
to the reservoir, the rod A, bearing downwards, its collet a, pushes
the slider C, forward, while the opposite sliding tube B, remains
momentarily behind, and causes the piston to stretch until its pressure
diminishes sufficiently to allow it to proceed along the sides of the
reservoir. Now as it will only stretch so long as it presses very hard
against the inside of the reservoir, it is evident that when it does
proceed its adhesion will still be sufficient to exclude the air or any
liquid from passing between it and the sides of the reservoir. When
the rod ascends, the collet a, bears upon the slider B, the caoutchoux
again stretches, and leaves in this case the slider C, momentarily behind,
and then the piston follows the rod in the position it is seen to occupy
in Figure 9.
It will be easily understood, that in order to fill the reservoir with
ink, in the first place, it will suffice to introduce the lower or pen end
of the holder into any vase containing ink, and then turn the tube
n, n, (Figures 1, and 10,) backwards, so as to effect the ascent of the
piston, by which means it will suck the liquid into the reservoir. When
the pen is required for writing you must screw the tube », », in the
opposite direction until you perceive the ink just about to enter the
inner surface of the pen; then by pressing down the knob D, with your
thumb, as is seen in Figure 2, the space inside being diminished, the
ink will flow out sufficiently to fill the inside of the pen. You must on
the outset moisten the inside of the pen by spreading the ink all over
it down to the nib, after which you may raise your thumb from the
knob. The caoutchoux by its elastic property will repel the knob, and
resuming its cylindrical form and its former capacity will suck the ink
up again, leaving the inner surface of the pen moistened. As soon as
you perceive your pen beginning to get dry, and require a fresh supply
of ink, you have only to press the knob D, with your thumb, and let it
go again immediately. The ink will again descend, moisten the pen,
and return to the reservoir.
This pen-holder is a safe and convenient article to carry about in the
pocket, in as much as when it is not being used you have only to put
on the cap G, H, (Figure 11,) after having sucked the ink back into

page_text: the reservoir by turning the tube n, n, backwards as far as the screw
will go. By taking care to press the knob D, down when putting on
the cap G, H, it will cover both the pen and knob, and retain the latter
in the position seen in Figure 11. Then the ink which is enclosed in
the reservoir between the point of pressure near D, and the piston
t, is not only prevented from escaping through the open space at the
pen end of the holder; but as these closings are perfectly air-tight, no
evaporation can take place, and the ink cannot by any means dry in the
pen-holder, however long it may remain there.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
nanner of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein-before
described.
But what I claim as my Invention, and intended to be protected by
the said Letters Patent, is,-
Firstly, the application of the pneumatic principle to the construction
of a pen and ink holder, by which I obtain a flux and reflux of the ink
from the reservoir to the pen, instead of having a continued flow, as
herein-before described, reference being had to the Figures of the
Drawing.
Secondly, the means of obtaining the fixture and herinetic adhesion
of the vulcanized caoutchouc tube without any tic or ligature by intro-
lucing the larger caoutchoux tube into a tube or reservoir of smaller
diameter, as herein-before described, and referred to in Figures 1, 2,
and 11.
Thirdly, the means of obtaining a diminution in the size of the reser-
voir by means of lateral pressure on the vulcanized caoutchoux tube, as
herein-before described, and referred to in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 11.
Fourthly, the means of fixing the pen M, and pressure knob D, in
the pen-holder by the pressure of the vulcanized caoutchoux tube, as
herein-before described, and referred to in Figures 3, and 11.
Fifthly, the construction of the piston stopper or extending piston,
and the application of the principle of extending a vulcanized caout-
choux tube or cylinder alternately in either direction so as to make
it slide and act as a piston or stopper, as Lerein-before described, and
referred to in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10.

page_text: Sixthly, the construction of the spiral piston rod, as described, and
the application of the principle of the greater adhesion of the vulcanized
caoutchoux piston to the sides of the reservoir for overcoming the lesser
friction of the screw thread, in order to effect the direct ascend and
lescent of the piston rod, as herein-before described. and referred to in
Figures 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Bertolacci, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three
W RT BERTOLACCI. (L.S.)