Improvements in Ink Wells or Bottle Attachments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ink Wells or Bottle Attachments.
I, BURT RAMSAY, a resident of Attleborough, Bristol County, Massachusetts,
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 certain improvements in ink wells or bottle
attachments.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for ink
wells or bottles, exceedingly cheap, simple and durable in construction, and
composed of a minimum number of parts and which can be applied to any ordinary
ink bottle and which will normally seal the mouth or opening into the ink bottle
so as to effectually prevent evaporation of the ink and which will easily open on
the insertion of a pen to permit the pen to enter in the bottle.
The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combina-
tion of parts more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the
claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1, is a sectional view showing a bottle provided with my improvement.
Figure 2, is a sectional view (partially in elevation) through a bottle provided
with my attachment, showing a pen depressing the parts to receive ink.
Figure 3, is a top plan view of a bottle having the attachment.
Figure 4, is a detail elevation of the attachment, the valve being detached and
showing the spring before being reversed and inserted in the bottle neck.
Figure 5, shows in perspective the attachment in the position it assumes when in
the bottle and depressed by the pen.
In the drawings the reference letter a, indicates any ordinary ink bottle
provided with the mouth or opening b, as usual.
The particular object of this invention is to provide means for maintaining the
mouth or neck of an ink bottle sealed or closed so that there will be no evaporation
of the ink, and so that dust or dirt will not enter the ink, and which will permit
insertion of a pen or other article into the ink at any time without in anyway
injuring the fine point of the pen, and without causing any annoyance or extra
labor or operation on the part of the writer or the person using the instrument
inserted in the ink.
The present attachment or device consists of a volute spring c, suspended in the
mouth.or neck of the bottle by having its upper convolutions or rings d, resting on
the top or upper flange of the mouth of the bottle so that the spring has a constant
tendency to draw upwardly and hold the valve e, attached to its lower end against
and closing the lower end of the mouth of the bottle. This valve e, is preferably
composed of a flexible disk, circular if desired, and formed of any suitable substance
and which will resist the action of the ink and will form an air tight joint around
the lower end of the mouth of the bottle so as to prevent access of air to the ink.
The spring c is formed on a suitable tool or formed so as to taper from the large
end or convolution d, that is adapted to rest on the top of the mouth of the bottle t
the small,end or convolution which receives and supports the tapered or cup shaped
pen guide or guard h, having a central opening and downwardly projecting neck i,
around which the small end of the spring fits, and to which it is secured in any
suitable manner as by turning over a portion of said neck into the spring or by any
other means or methods desired or found suitable to perform the function of
securing the cup.to the spring. The guide,h, is so secured and located as to be in
the center, approximately, of the neck of the bottle, and so that its central opening

page_text: through which the pen projects will be approximately over the center of the disk e.
The end of the wire forming the small end of the coil is projected downwardly,
seef, from the small end of the coil to one side of the longitudinal center of the
coil so as not to interfere in anyway with the projection of the pen through the
guide h. This endforms or constitutes the connection or securing means
between the valve and the spring and pen guide; this arm f, being placed to
one side of the center or eccentrically leaves a clear open space above the valve e,
for the pen to enter the ink. The arm f, and its lower end has a lateral bend g,
which permits securing the arm f, to the center of the valve by passing the lower
end of said arm through the valve and upsetting the lower extremity thereof or
forming an eye on the same, and it also forms a shoulder on the upper surface of
the central portion of the valve which enables the arm to press the valve down.
However, I do not wish to limit myself to any peculiar manner or means of securing
the arm, to the valve g, and merely specifically describe and show the present mode
as a practical and easy method of securing the valve to the spring.
In manufacturing the article the spring is formed as shown in Figure 4, and the
guide, is then suitably secured to the small end of the spring, and then the
arm, is secured to the valve e, so that the spring is coiled or compressed between
the guide h, and the valve e, with the large end resting on the valve e. Now when
it is desired to insert the device in an ink bottle the large end of the spring is
drawn upwardly so as to surround the pen guide, and then the valve or disk e, is
bent or doubled so that it can be inserted through the neck of the bottle and will
resume its natural normal position against the underside of the neck on the top of
the bottle with the large end of the spring resting on the top or mouth of the
bottle and the spring coiled around the interior of the neck in a reversed position
surrounding the pen guide and drawing the said guide and the valve upwardly
so that the valve forms an air tigth joint on the lower end of the neck of the
bottle. The normal positions of the parts are shown in Figure 1, with the spring
suspended from the mouth of the bottle. When it is desired to dip the pen in the
ink the writer merely inserts the pen in the pen guide and the downward pressure
which is not more than is ordinarily exerted in inserting a pen into an ink well
carries the pen guide and the valve down so that the pen enters the ink, as for
instance as shown in Figure 2, wherein the ink in the bottle is low and the pen
moves the valve and cup to the bottom of the bottle showing that all the ink in the
bottle can be utilized and the downward movement of the present device is not
limited. When the pen is withdrawn the parts assume their normal position
sealing the mouth of the bottle.
It should be observed that the present device is very simple in construction, and
composed of a minimum number of parts, but three parts being employed; viz.: the
pen guide, the spring and the valve. It should be also observed that this device
can be used with any ordinary ink bottle, and that it is ready for use at any time,
and yet effectually seal the bottle at all times except when the pen is inserted in
the ink; also that the pen guide guides the pen into the ink and yet prevents any
injury to the points of the pens as the shoulders of the pen strike against the pen
guide and prevents the pen point striking the spring or other part of the device, or
the valve.
It is evident that various changes might be made in the forms, arrangements and
construction of parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my
invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set
forth, but consider myself entitled to all such changes that fall within the spirit and
scope of my invention.
Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is :-
First. The attachment for ink bottles which consists in the combination of the
、spring, substantially as described, the valve carried thereby and the pen guide
carried by the spring and arrange to move the valve, substantially as described.

page_text: Second. The ink bottle attachment comprising the volute spring having a valve,
and a pen guide attached to one end of the spring, substantially as described.
Third. The bottle attachment composed of the volute spring having one end
arranged to rest on the top or mouth of the bottle and a disk valve attached to the
other end of the spring, substantially as described.
Fourth. The hereindescribed article for the purpose described composed of a
spring having one end formed to rest on the top or mouth of the bottle, and a disk
valve secured to the opposite end of the spring whereby in use the coiled spring is
located in the neck of the bottle and holds the valve yieldingly to close the bottom
of the neck, substantially as described.
Fifth. The hereindescribed article consisting of the convolute spring having its
large inner end arranged to rest on the top of the neck of the bottle, the tapered
pen guide secured to the small end thereof and the disk valve secured to the spring
a distance below the pen guide substantially as described.
Sixth. The article for the purpose described consisting of the convolute spring
having the large ring at one end to rest on the mouth of the bottle, the valve
controlled by said spring and the cup shaped pen guide having the small end of
the spring secured around the central opening of the guide, substantially as described.
Seventh. The article for the purpose set forth consisting of convolute spring having
an arm extending downwardly from the small end thereof to one side of the
longitudinal center of the spring, and the valve, in the shape of a disk secured to
said arm and controlled. by the spring, substantially as described.
Eighth. The hereindescribed article composed of the reversible volute spring,
the pen guide secured to the small end thereof as set forth, the end of the spring
extending downwardly from the pen guide at one side of the longitudinal center
of the spring, and having the offset at the lower end and the disk valve secured to
the extremity of said arm or end with said offset bearing on the upper face of the
valve as set forth.
Ninth. The hereindescribed ink bottle attachment for the purpose set forth.