IMPROVEMENTS IN PEN-AND-INK HOLDERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Francon Williams of Liverpool in the "County of
Lancaster-Editor for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PEN-AND-INK
HOLDERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Francon Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st September 1883.
"
JOHN FRANCON WILLIAMS of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Editor,
'IMPROVEMENTS IN PEN-AND-INK HOLDERS
This relates to holders for holding the pen or nib and also for holding a liberal
supply of ink and has for its object to provide a holder suitable for school
commercial and general use whereby charging with ink is simply and quickly
effected, discharging and cleaning is easy, and the feed to the pen or nib is regular.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a tongue or feed trough and
retracting spring in or attached to a body of suitable form and material. The
spring is so connected to the tongue or feed trough that the latter can be pushed
forwards towards or beyond the point of the pen or nib attached to the body and
it is at this time the charge of ink is taken into the tongue or feed trough. The
point of the said tongue or feed trough lays normally close to the under side of
the pen or nib and regulates the feed. The spring is so fitted that after a charge
is taken it may be allowed to retract automatically and withdraw the tongue or
feed trough into its normal position. To admit of cleaning the tongue and
adjacent parts and discharging ink the tongue or feed trough is turned on its
longitudinal axis.
A pen-and-ink holder under my invention is conveniently constructed as
follows:-
A tubular metal body having at one end a nib holder, is fitted at that end with
a tongue or feed trough capable of sliding within the said tubular holder and at
the other end with a head free to slide on or in the tubular body. The tongue or
feed trough and cap are connected so as to move together by a rod, bar, wire or
other suitable means and the parts so connected are kept in their normal position..
[Price 6d.1

page_text: by means of a helical or other suitable spring. The said spring is connected to the
sliding head, to the tongue or feed trough or to the connecting rod or its equivalent
and to the tubular body. To prevent the tongue or feed trough from turning on
its longitudinal axis except when required for cleaning or other purposes the said
tongue or feed trough is caused to move to and fro any required distance in a
straight line by means of a pin, groove or other suitable guiding device.
The action is as follows:-A nib or pen being placed in the holder the sliding
head is pressed and caused to move the tongue or feed trough towards or beyond
the point of the pen or nib, the said tongue or feed trough is then dipped into the
ink and the pressure is removed from the sliding head so as to allow the spring to
draw the tongue or feed trough back into its normal position.
The body of the holder may be of wood or other suitable material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Francon Williams in the Patent Office on the 21st March
1884.
"
JOHN FRANCON WILLIAMS of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Editor,
IMPROVEMENTS IN PEN AND INK HOLDERS
"
This relates to holders for holding the pen or nib and also for holding a liberal
supply of ink and bas for its object to provide a holder suitable for school
commercial and general use whereby charging with ink is simply and quickly.
effected, discharging and cleaning is easy, and the feed to the pen or nib is regular.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a tongue or feed trough and
retracting spring in or attached to a body of suitable form and material. The
spring is so connected to the tongue or feed trough that the latter can be pushed
forwards towards or beyond the point of the pen or nib attached to the body and
it is at this time the charge of ink is taken into the tongue or feed trough. The
point of the said tongue or feed trough lays normally close to the under side of the
pen or nib and regulates the feed. The spring is so fitted that after a charge is
taken it may be allowed to retract automatically and withdraw the tongue or feed
trough into its normal position. To admit of cleaning the tongue and adjacent parts
and discharging ink the tongue or feed trough is turned on its longitudinal axis.
A pen and ink holder under my invention is conveniently constructed as
follows:-
A tubular metal body having at one end a nib holder, is fitted at that end with
a tongue or feed trough capable of sliding within the said tubular holder and at
the other end with a head free to slide on or in the tubular body. The tongue or
feed trough and cap are connected so as to move together by a rod, bar, wire or
other suitable means and the parts so connected are kept in their normal position
by means of a helical or other suitable spring. The said spring is connected to the
sliding head, to the tongue or feed trough or to the connecting rod or its equivalent
and to the tubular body. To prevent the tongue or feed trough from turning on
its longitudinal axis except when required for cleaning or other purposes the said
tongue or feed trough is caused to move to and fro any required distance in a
straight line by means of a pin groove or other suitable guiding device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig 1 is a longitudinal section, and fig 2 a transverse section. fig 3 a side
elevation of a pen and ink holder constructed under my invention, a is a tubular
metal body having at one end the holder b for the nib c and fitted at that end with
the tongue or feed regulating trough d free to slide within the said tubular body a,
e is a cap or head fitted on the opposite end of the body a and connected to the
tubular holder d by the rod or bar f. g helical spring connected to the body and
cap. Fig 4 shows the tongue or trough pressed forward in the act of taking ink,
and fig 5 shows the said tongue or trough turned half round for cleaning
The action is as follows:-A nib or pen is placed in the holder 6 the sliding cap
or head e is pressed and caused to move the tongue or feed trough d towards or
beyond the point of the pen or nib as shown in fig 4, the said tongue or feed
trough d is then dipped into the ink and the pressure is removed from the sliding
cap or head e so as to allow the spring g to draw the tongue or feed trough d back
into its normal position.
Fig 6 is a longitudinal section, and fig 7 a transverse section of a modification of
holder in which part of the body a' is of wood, and in which the head e slides

page_text: within the body. Here the helical spring g presses directly against the wood
body a and head e. A portion of the rod or bar f near the tongue or trough e is
made with wings which fit into grooves in the body a as shown in the section 7.
These wings extend so far up the rod or bar as only to allow of the tongue or
trough being turned on its longitudinal axis when pressed well forward.
Fig 8 is a longitudinal section showing a modification of pen and ink holder in
which the spring is attached to the trough or tongue and in which a pin guide is
used to direct the motion of the tongue or trough.
Having now described and particularized the nature of my said invention in
such manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect I
would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the several constructions
of pen and ink holders illustrated or described nor to the materials from which they
are composed as many modifications thereof may be made without departing from
my invention.
What I claim is:
First In Pen and Ink holders the combination of a tongue or feed trough and
retracting spring.
Second. The combination in pen and ink holders of a tongue or feed trough
retracting spring and sliding cap or head.
Third. The combination with a body or holder of tongue or trough retracting
spring sliding head and guide substantially as setforth.
Fourth. Pen and ink holders consisting of a body, nib holder tongue or trough,
head connecting rod or bar and spring combined
In Witness Whereof I the said John Francon Williams have hereunto set my
hand and seal this nineteenth day of March in the year of Our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
JAMES
JAMES JOHNSON
Patent Office
Witness
4 Clayton Sqr
Lpool
JOHN FRANCON WILLIAMS (L.S.)