Improvements in Ink Bottle Attachments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
Improvements in Ink Bottle Attachments.
I, BURT RAMSAY of Pell Street, New York City, 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 bottle attachments.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved stopper for ink bottles
whereby the bottle will be effectually sealed, but can be easily opened by the
insertion of a pen a sufficient distance and in such a manner that the pen will enter
the ink and take up enough for writing.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved stopper capable of
being placed in any ordinary neck ink bottle and containing sealing means
effectually closing the bottle, yet of such construction that the thrust of a pen in
inserting will be sufficient to open the way for the pen to the ink and in such
manner that the pen will not be injured.
A further object of the invention is to provide certain improved details in
construction and in arrangements and combinations of parts whereby a highly
efficient, exceedingly cheap and yet durable ink bottle stopper can be produced
which will seal the bottle, yet, can be easily opened for the insertion of a pen by
the thrust of the pen.
The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in com-
binations of parts more fully and particularly pointed out hereinafter and described
in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a bottle and the stopper of
the present invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through a bottle, showing the stopper
or seal opened by the insertion of a pen.
Figure 3 is a detail side elevation of the stopper.
Figure 4 is a detail top plan view of the stopper.
Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the pen guide before the opening in the centre
thereof has been completely formed.
Figure 6 is a detail elevation showing a method of uniting the pen guide to the
wire of the spring uniting the guide and valve.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modification.
In the drawings the reference letter a indicates a bottle of any construction
having the neck and mouth.
The attachment or stopper comprises a cylinder or bushing b, made to fit within
said neck tightly, preferably without projecting above the same. The lower edge
of this cylinder or bushing can be provided with some elastic or soft packing
material c, if the bushing or cylinder be of hard material, although I do not wish
to limit myself to the employment of such extra packing.
d indicates a rétractive spring here shown in the form of a coiled spring at its
upper end secured to or in the upper end of the cylinder and at its opposite portion
connected with and controlling the valve e, and yieldingly holding the same up
against the lower edge of the cylinder and closing the lower end thereof.
Any suitable method of fastening the upper end of the spring in the cylinder can
be employed, although I here show the upper convolution of the spring fitting in a
recess in the top end of the cylinder and having a lateral bend or deflection 2,

page_text: :
extending through a slot in the cylinder to the interior thereof and supporting the
spring in the interior of the cylinder.
The coil is of such diameter as to be close to the inner surface of the cylinder,
or of such size as to permit free operation of the parts hereinafter mentioned.
findicates a pen guide of any suitable and desirable size or shape preferably
cup shaped substantially as shown with the central opening of such size as to
prevent the complete pen passing through the opening so that the shoulders of the
pen nibs will strike the guide and the point will be protected from injury. The
lower convolution of the spring is of such size as to embrace the small end of
the pen guide, and from said lower convolution the spring end has the vertical
straight arm 3, extending downwardly at one side of the opening through the pen
guide to the valve to which the lower end of said arm is rigidly secured in any
approved and suitable manner.
The pen guide is rigidly secured to the valve at such a distance therefrom as to
prevent the point of the pen striking the valve and so that the downward thrust
of the pen against said guide will force down the guide and valve with the pen
until the pen enters the ink.
The pen guide is suitably secured to the straight portion 4 (cut out of the centre
of the pen guide in forming as shown) until said piece 4, strikes the arm 3, and
then bending it or doubling it around said arm so as to tightly clamp the same, and
thereby rigidly secure the guide to said arm.
If desired the lips can be indented and the arm bent into the same.
Other means of fastening can be employed and 1 do not wish to limit myself to
any peculiar fastening.
The valve is preferably in the form of a truncated cone as shown, and is usually
made of some light durable non-corrodible metal, preferably aluminium.
h is a cap or cover of some light ornamental metal to fit over the mouth of the
bottle and conceal the upper end of the cylinder, and the spring and bottle neck.
The outer edges of the cap can be spun down around the bead at the top of the
bottle neck to rigidly and permanently secure the cap. The cap has the central
opening slightly less in diameter than the width of the upper end of the pen guide,
and the edges of the cap around said opening are depressed downwardly,
substantially as shown.
The hollow cork, stopper or cylinder provided with this internal sealing device
can be fitted in any bottle having a neck of the proper size and a cap can also be
easily secured on any neck, or ink well.
In Figure 7, this invention shown applied to an ordinary ink stand or well.
The stopper b¹ in this case is made of rubber or some like soft material and has an
internal stiffening cylinder or bushing of metal.
The metal cap h, is suitably secured to the upper end of the stopper and the
edges thereof can be turned down as shown.
The operation of the device is clear and obvious. A pen on being thrust into the
device strikes the guide and carries the parts down into the ink (a light spring
being employed) and on the withdrawal of the pen the spring quickly. returns the
parts and seals the bottle. The shape of the valve is such as to quickly shed the
ink as it moves up to seal the neck.
The device can be made at a very low cost.
It is evident that various changes might be made in the forms, arrangements
and constructions of the 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 cousider myself entitled to all such changes as fall within the
spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A hollow stopper containing the automatic sealing device composed of a coil

page_text: spring therein carrying a valve yieldingly held closing the lower end of the
stopper and provided with a pen guide arranged to receive the pen and carry down
the valve with the same, substantially as described.
2. A hollow stopper or cylinder, a retractive coil spring therein, at its upper end
secured to the upper portion of the stopper, a valve yieldingly held by said spring
closing the lower end of said cylinder, and means to receive the thrust of a pen and
carry down the valve with the pen, substantially as described.
3. The cylinder having the retractive coiled coil spring therein, at its upper end
secured to the upper end of the cylinder, the valve carried by the lower end of
said spring and yieldingly held thereby closing the lower end of the cylinder,
substantially as described.
4. The hollow stopper having the retractive coil spring therein having the cone
shaped metal valve secured to the lower end thereof and yieldingly held thereby to
close the lower end of the cylinder, substantially as described.
5. A bottle having the automatic pe■ operated sealing device in its neck, and
the metal cap over the mouth thereof permanently secured to the neck with the
central opening and downwardly deflected inner edge, as set forth.
6. The bottle having the internal spring held valve provided with the pen guide,
and the metal cap over the mouth of the bottle having its outer edge spun down
around the bead of the neck, and the central opening over said pen guide, said
opening of less diameter than the pen guide so that the upper edge of the guide
and spring are concealed, substantially as described.
7. The hollow stopper having the valve seat at its lower end, the retractive
spring in said stopper carrying an upwardly dished metal valve at its lower end
arranged to yieldingly close the lower end of said stopper and fit the valve seat,
substantially as described.
8. The hollow stopper, the coiled spring therein having its upper convolution
secured in the upper end of said stopper, substantially as set forth, the lower end of
said spring having the vertical arm, the valve to yieldingly close the lower end of
the stopper secured to said arm, and a pen guide secured to said arm, substantially
as described.
9. The stopper comprising the retractive coil spring suitably held in the neck,
and having the lower vertical arm carrying the valve, the pen guide having the
downturned lip bent around and clamped to said straight arm, substantially as
described.
10. The herein described ink bottle attachment.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.