Improvements in Inkstand Covers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Inkstand Covers.
I, FRANCIS SCHENKER, of Novelties Mfg., in Vincennes, in the County of
Knox, and State of Indiana, United States of America, Gentleman, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of
reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification:-
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in inkstand covers, and
has for its object to provide a simple, cheap and effective device of this description,
which is adapted for use in connection with an ordinary inkstand or well, and when
placed thereon will completely exclude the atmosphere therefrom, as well as
preventing dust from gaining access to the ink contained in the well, and yet freely
permit a pen to be inserted therein for immersion in the ink, and automatically
close after the withdrawal of said pen.
With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and
combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by
the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may
understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now
be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of
this specification, in which-
and
Fig. 1 is a plan view of an inkstand having my improvement applied thereto,
Fig. 2, a section at the line x, x, thereof.
In carrying out my invention, I form a cover A of such shape as to close the
opening in an ordinary inkstand, and with this cover is formed a band B adapted to
fit around the neck of this stand. The upper surface of the cover is convex, as
clearly shown in Figure 2, and has a section cut therefrom in which is fitted the
valve C, the latter being pivoted at D so as to freely swing downward; the outer
portion of this valve is of the same general shape as the cover, which is somewhat
thicker than the inner portion thereof, so as to over-balance said inner portion and
act as a weight, as indicated at E., The inner portion of the valve conforms to the
general contour of the cover, so that when closed, as shown in Figure 1, and in full
lines in Figure 2, access cannot be had to the ink-well, thereby excluding dust and
preventing the evaporation of the ink contained therein; but when it is desired to
immerse the pen within the ink, it is only necessary to force the pen against the
inner portion of the valve with sufficient pressure to swing the latter downward
against the gravity of the weight E, when it will assume the position shown in
dotted lines in Figure 2, thereby permitting the pen to pass within the well as
freely as though no cover were provided for said well, and as the weight E is
only sufficient to just over-balance the inner portion of the valve, it is obvious
that the pressure necessary to open the same will not injuriously affect the pen.
By the use of my improvement the ink within the well will be maintained in its
ordinary condition for an indefinite length of time, since it can neither evaporate
nor become clogged by the accumulation of dust, thus obviating the necessity of
often refilling the well, which is now required when it is left open, and also the
necessity of having to frequently wash the well to cleanse it from the

page_text: accumulations of dust and impurities, while at the same time not requiring
the constant attention, which would otherwise be the case, to close the well when
not in use.
One of the principal advantages of my improvement is that it may be fitted to
any well, the only requirement being that the band B be of sufficient size to
embrace the neck of the well, and it is not essential that this band shall fit tightly
about the neck, since the lower edges thereof resting upon the upper surface of the
well, will be sufficient to exclude the air and dust, by which arrangement it will be
seen that the same sized cover is well adapted for a number of sizes of inkstands.
If desired the top and stand may be made together, so that the only removable
piece would be the valve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination with an ink-well, a cover for closing the same, said cover
having a valve pivoted thereto, the inner end of which is over-balanced, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A cover for an ink-well, consisting of a band, a convexed upper surface, and
a valve so pivoted that its inner end is over-balanced, whereby it will remain closed
until forced downward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The herein described cover for an ink-well, consisting of a top, a band formed
therewith, a valve pivoted within said top, the top and valve being concaved, and
a weight for over-balancing the inner end of the valve, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1896.
J. P. BAYLY,
18 Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for Applicant.