IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INKSTANDS
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARK
FREEMAN, of Sutton Common, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, sond
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-first day of March, in the fifth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Mark
Freeman, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I,, the said Mark Freeman, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as
J; the said Mark Freeman, my exors,. adiñiors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INKSTANDS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Mark Freeman,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and im-
mediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Mark Freeman, do hereby declare that the nature of my invention, and the

page_text: Monier in winch the same is to be performed, are juny described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):-
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a front view of an inkstand constructed according to
the first part of my Invention; Figure 2 shews a plan thereof; Figure 3
represents a side view; Figure 4 is a side section thereof, the cover of the
dipping cup being closed; Figure 5 shews a similar sido section, the cover
of the dipping cup being raised, and the ink has thereby been caused to flow
into the dipping cup by pressing down the float; Figures 6 and 7 shew separate
views of the cover of the dipping cup and of the float. In each of these Figures
the same letters indicate similar parts. a, a', is the inkstand, consisting of two
chambers opening into each other at b, and ink is supplied at the opening c
which opening has an air-tight cover screwed thereon; d is the dipping cup,
which opens into the chamber or compartment a' of the inkstand, thero being
a hole ate for the passage of ink from the compartment a' into the dipping
cup; or the dipping cup may communicato with the other chamber by a tube
descending nearly to the bottom. f is a cover, fitting into the upper part of the
compartment a' of the inkstand; g is the cover of the dipping cup, which
moves on a hinge joint, as is shown, and there is a projecting finger g' to the
cover of the dipping cup, which passes into the compartment a' of the ink-
stand, and is the means of depressing the float h, which is placed in the
compartment a', as is shown, and moves freely therein. This float I make of
cork, and coat it with coach-makers' japan varnish or sealing wax; the float
may, however, be made of other materials. At the upper part of the float a
rack is formed by means of a series of pins, as is shewn at i, between which the
finger g' enters when the cover 9 of the dipping cup is being opened, and the
float is thereby depressed, and a quantity of ink will be displaced and will rise
up the groovej formed in the float, and such ink will pass into the dipping
cup. It will readily be understood that when the cover
of the dipping cup
is again closed, the float will be released, and it will rise to the surface of the
ink, the ink in the dipping cup flowing back into the compartment a'; as the
vessel a, a', becomes empty, the float will descend low down and the finger will
act on the upper pius of the float. In order that more ink may flow into the
compartment a out of the compartment a, it will be necessary to unscrew the

page_text: cover of the opening c, which will cause the ink in both compartments to be.
on the same level, and when the cover of the opening c is again screwed down
the ink cannot return into the compartment a, when the float is caused to.
descend, as above described, by opening the cover of the dipping cup. I
would remark, that I do not confine myself to the shape of the inkstand,
shewn, so long as it is arranged as above described.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention. Figure 8 shows a
side view of an inkstand constructed according to this part of my Invention;
Figure 9 shows a plan thereof; Figure 10 shews a side section, the dipping
cap being empty; Figure 11 shows another side section, the dipping cup being.
supplied for use; and Figure 12 shows the plunger in plan and side view.
separately. This inkstand, like that above described, is composed of two com-
partments, opening into each other by means of an opening b. Ink is supplied-
to the compartment a through the hole c, into which the tube of the dipping.
cup d is screwed, as is shown; or the dipping cup may communicate with the.
compartment a', and the opening c have an air-tight cover. f is a cover, fitting-
the upper part of the compartment a¹ of the inkstand. This inkstand acts in a
similar. nianner to that above described, but in place of using a float h there is
a plunger used, which is worked up and down by a screw, as is shown, the
plunger h being prevented turning in the compartment a' by means of a stud
or projection, which enters the groove x formed in the plunger, as is shewn.
In raising ink into the dipping cup the plunger is caused to descend, and
when the plunger is again raised, the ink remaining in the dipping cup will
return into the compartment a of the inkstand. (In order that more ink
flow into the compartment a' and out of the compartment a, it will be neces-
sary to unscrew the dipping cup or cover of the opening c, which will cause
the ink in both compartments to be on the same level, and when the dipping
cup or cover of the opening c is again screwed down the ink cannot return
into tho compartment a when the plunger is caused to descend. I would:
remark, that this inkstand may be varied in its shape so long as the peculiar
arrangement of parts be retained, whereby a compartment a' with a plunger
therein is combined with and opens into another compartment a, having a
suitable dipping cup applied thereto, such dipping cup being supplied with ink.
by the displacement caused by the plunger, as described.
there
may
I will now describe the third part of my Invention, which differs somewhat
from the previous arrangements, inasmuch as in the before-described inkstands:
air required to be admitted into the compartment a, from time to time,-
as the ink contained in the compartment a' becomes used up; but according to.
the present arrangement air will flow into the compartment a from the

page_text: compartiment a' as the ink becomes used up. In this part of Invention
my
the inkstand is composed of two compartments, opening into each other at the
opening b, the lower end of the float or plunger used being capable of
descending below the opening b, as will be seen in the two sections, Figures 18.
and 14; one section, Figure 13, showing the float or plunger at its highest
position, and the other section showing the plunger at its lowest position, the
ink into which the pen is to be dipped being above the plunger; and in Figures
13 and 14 thero is a variation, inasmuch as there is a dipping cup useil,
but the plunger acts in the same manner by descending below the opening b
the other parts of Figures 18 and 14 being similar to the inkstand first
described.
In the inkstands shown at Figures 13, 14, and 13 and 14*, it will be found
that as the ink becomes used up and will not fill the space below the opening
b, fresh ink will flow from the compartment a into the compartment a', and
air will pass through the opening b, the parts being so arranged in respect
to each other that the compartment will bo supplied in a like manner to
the action of the bird glass or fountain. So soon as the ink in the compart-
ment a' is used up to such an extent as not to come above the opening b, air
will flow into the compartment a, and ink will, flow from the compartment a
into the compartment a', till the ink again stands above the opening b. It
will therefore be evident that the whole of the ink in the compartment a
may he brought into the dipping place or cup by the simple action of the
plunger or float without requiring any opening of the compartment a by
hand, as is necessary in the former inkstands. The plunger or float in the
present inkstand may be pressed down by auy convenient means; that at
Figures 18 and 14* is neted on by a finger, in like manner to that first
described. In the inkstands. Figures 13 and 14, the lid does not move up
and down, but there is a pivot t attached to it, which works in a projecting
piece a.attached to the inner surface of the compartment a', and on the lower
part of this pivot there is a screw of greater diameter, forming a shoulder
against the under surface of the projecting piece, which screw works in a
female screw formed in the plunger, so that in turning the lid off the dipping
jilace this screw forces down the plunger, and in shutting causes it to rise.
A stud or projection is attached to the inner surface of the compartment a
above the bearing it in. which the pivot t works, aud another stud is attached
to the outside of the compartment a' at k, and when the dipping place is
closed these studs are received by two inclined planes, attached to the lid in
such a manner as to force down the lid on the top of the dipping place to
make the inkstand air-tight for travelling.

page_text: 'I will now proceed to describe the fourth part of my Invention, which ¯
relates to a mode of supplying ink from an inkstand to a dipping cup, and for
returning the ink from the dripping cup back into the inkstand, by means of a
syphon. Figure 15. shows a plan of an inkstand constructed according to this
part of my Invention; Figure 16 is a side section thereof, shewing the dipping
cup empty; and Figure 17 shows another section of the inkstand, the dipping
cup being filled. 1, 1, is the frame or stand, of wood or other material, for.
holding the inkstand; m is a vessel of glass or other suitable material; n is a
cover, fixed at the upper part of the vessel m; and o is an opening, by which
ink is supplied to the vessel m, there being a small hole through the cover in
order that the outer atmosphere may have free passage into the vessel m. The
ink contained in the vessel m is caused to flow into the dipping cup p. by
means of a bent tube 9, which forms part of the handle by which the inkstand
is carried, as is clearly shown in the Drawing; the part of the tube q which
passes through the cover of the vessel m has a screw formed thereon, which,.
passing through a female screw formed in the cover of the vessel m, is the
means of raising the vessel m when that vessel is moved round, by which
means the level of the ink in the vessel m will be raised to such a height as to
bring the syphon into action to fill the dipping cup. Thus, supposing the.
vessel m to be in the position shewn in Figure 16, if the vessel m were turned
round so as to cause it to rise up the tube q, the level of the ink being raised
above the end of the tube q, ink would flow into the dipping cup, as is indicated
by Figure 17; and as the ink is used, by again raising the vessel m, by turning
it on the screw of the tube q, a further supply to the dipping cup would take
place, and when it is desired to return the ink which may remain in the
dipping cup into the vessel m, that may be done by turning the vessel m in an
opposito direction, which will cause it to descend on the tube 2, and the ink
will flow back into the vessel m. In order to fill the syphon, in the first
instance, I use a tube and funnel r, shown by dotted lines, which screws into
the dipping cup, as is shown; I then pour iuk down the tube r, by which the
syphon tube 9 will be filled, and in this manner the vessel m may be supplied
with ink, if preferred. I would remark, in respect to this part of my Invention,
that it will be evident, that in place of the vessel me moving, and the syphon
and dipping cup remain stationary, the inkstand may be so made that the
vessel m may remain still, and the syphon and dipping cup move, so as to
wer and raise the dipping cup in respect to the level of ink in the ink
vessel m, and the parts may be varied in shape, so long as the mode of com-
bining the dipping cup with the ink vessel by a syphon, in the manner above
described, be retained.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to bo performed, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,-
First, the mode of constructing inkstands by combining two compartments
a and a', opening into each other, with a float or plunger in the compart-
ment a', and a dipping cup opening into either of the compartments, as above
described in respect to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Secondly, I claim the mode of constructing inkstands by combining two
compartments a and a', opening into each other, and the compartment a'
having a plunger working. within it, either compartment having a dipping cup
applied thereto, as above described in respect to Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of arranging the communicating hole 6 between
two compartments of an inkstand, in one of which a plunger or float works. so
that the lower part of the float may pass below the opening 6, as described in
respect to Figures 13, 14, and 14*.
And, fourthly, I claim the mode of constructing inkstands by combining a
dipping cup with an ink vessel m by means of a syphon, in such manner that.
the positions of the vessel and of the dipping cup may be varied, as above
described in respect to Figures 15, 16, and 17.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Mark Freeman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of September, in the year of our
Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and forty-two.