Improvements in Reservoir or Fountain Pens.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June. 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov.. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reservoir or Fountain Pens.
I, RORERT GEORGE DOUGLAS FRY, of 34, High Street, Strood, in the County of
Kent, Grocer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I claim the production of a writing instrument of the above mentioned class, simple
in principle, effectual in action, and economical in construction. Its action depending
on the method employed of balancing or regulating the outflow of ink and admission
of air at the bottom of a suitable holder or reservoir as hereinafter explained. Such
holder or reservoir being closed at one end, the upper, and at the other or lower
having two or more small openings, and with a division in some part of its length so
that it can he filled with ink.
For example, in illustration of the principle I claim, let a tube be taken constructed
of any suitable material, closed at one end preferably narrower at the other, and in
this narrow end having a small opening circular or clongated, if this tube filled with
a fluid be inverted so that the open or end having the small opening is lowest, the
ink or fluid contained in the tube or reservoir will by the action of gravitation find its
way to the opening, or it may be brought down to the opening by jarring the tube,
and if now this opening or hole he not too large the ink or fluid will remain in the
tube, if now another hole or holes be made at a sufficient distance from the lower or
bottom hole, air will be admitted and the ink or fluid will escape or run out of the
bottom hole, the rapidity of such escape or outflow being proportioned to the distance
the two holes are from each other, and also their respective diameters.
Now a point in the tube is reached where a hole may he made in any part of its
periphery just balancing or regulating the outflow required for the purpose of writing
and allowing ink to be fed from the lower hole to the pen nib attached to the tube, and
at the same time supplying the necessary quantity of air to take the place of the ink
used by the pen nib thus enabling the ink contained in the tube or reservoir to be used
for writing by the vibratory movement of the pen nib on the paper.
If a tube be taken with the holes properly arranged so that the fluid is regulated
or balanced in the lower end of the reservoir between the two holes as above described,
and without the nib attached, it will be observed on the tube being held with the
holes downwards that there is ink at both openings if now a piece of blotting paper or
other absorbent material be applied to the lower opening and thereby removing a
portion of the ink by capillary attraction, it will be found that the ink flows from the
mouth of the upper hole to replace that portion removed, and at the same time air is
admitted through the upper hole, and after the air has passed up into the reservoir
ink will again be seen at both openings, and this operation may be repeated until the
tube becomes emptied of fluid.
That portion of the tube in which the inkfeed hole is made must be in close contact
with the pen nib. and the upper or air hole must be formed in a recess or cutaway
portion of the tube so as to be quite free from contact with the pen nib. Or that part
of the tube carrying the pen nib may be bent or so formed as to acomplish the same
object.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from the
principle thereof I do not restrict myself to materials dimensions, or the precise form
or placement of the several parts. For instance it may take the form of a nib inserted
in a tube together with a feed bar having a grove or channel on its under surface
running up the said feed bar its whole length, the said feed bar and nib being held in
the tube by a plug, or the feed bar and plug may be in one piece and thus the channel
by its carrying ink to the pen point, forms the lower opening or ink feed and a hole or
boles made into the feed bar and extending into the channel, forming and acting in

page_text: like manner to the upper hole as before described. This feed bar may be fitted either
under or over the pen nib, the channel heing formed in that side of the feed bar next
to the pen nib, or the feed bar may be simply a continuation of that part of the holder
carrying the pen nib, the pen nib being held in its place under the said continuation
by a plug of india rubber or other suitable material thus simplifying the construction
materialy.
I also claim the use of a rod of wood or other suitable material, inserted in
the tube, either free or attached, the rod acting as a conductor of the ink to the
lower hole.
I also claim the attachment of a tongue of quill or other suitable material such
tongue lying between the nib and feed hole, and thus ensuring absolute contact
between the pen nib and that part of tube containing the lower or feed hole.
I claim these two last additions though they are not absolutely essential to the
proper working of the above described pen.
A cap is used, fitting either end of the tube, for the purpose of protecting the
nib.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Reservoir or Fountain Pens.
I, ROBERT GEORGE DOUGLAS FRY, of 34 High Street, Strood, in the County
of Kent, "Grocer," 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in reservoir or fountain pens, for the
production of a writing instrument of the above mentioned class; simple in principle,
effectual in action, and economical in construction.
Its action depending on the method employed of balancing or regulating the
outflow of ink, and admission of air at the bottom of a suitable holder or reservoir as
hereinafter described. Such holder or reservoir being closed at the upper end; and
at the other or lower end I provide two or more small openings. A division is formed
in some part of the length of the said holder, so that it can be disconnected and filled
with ink.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed
to describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being had to letters and
figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents the side view or elevation of the reservoir B. with a screwed
stopper A, and the pen nib D, partly described by dotted lines, and secured by the
cylinder C, and attached to the feeder E.
Figure 2 is the elevation of figure 1 with the nib D, and cylinder C, unscrewed
from the upper part of the feeder F, and describing the outflow hole H; and the
disconnecting portion B¹.
Figure 3 denotes the front elevation of figure 2, describing the air hole [.
Figure represents a section with the addition of a cut-off arrangement in the
flow of the ink from the reservoir B with an india rubber ring J; to regulate the
same as it travels into the feeder F, which is performed by. unscrewing or raising the
stop plug G (which may be of any desired shape,) to permit the ink to flow freely
through the hole or holes J, and thence into the chamber below.
To stop a further supply of ink the plug is screwed up tightly as described in
figure 4.
Figure 5 is a section of a nibless style pen for marking parcels or the like, and is
constructed of glass at B, and F, with hard india rubber K, cemented to the glass B,
and screwed to the rubber L on the chamber F. This figure can be constructed of
any other suitable material, or combination of materials.

page_text: air hole I, and the outflow H of the feeder E.
Figure 7 represents a section of a different form feeder with the air hole at the
back.
Figure 8 is a section of a feeder with air hole I placed perpendicular to the
chamber F, which may be fitted with a stop plug in the air hole 1 to prevent
the flow of ink when the pen is not in use.
Figure 9 denotes the front view of the feeder as in figure 3, with a slit H¹.
Figure 10 represents the outflow H as a small slit, and the air opening 1 a
long slit.
Figure 11 is the air opening I in the formation of a slit, and the outflow a hole.
Figure 12 denotes the ink outflow a slit, and the hole 1 for the air to ascend.
This invention is constructed of a tube B of vulcanite, glass, or of any other suitable
material, closed at one end, preferably narrower at the other end F, and in this
narrow end having a small opening circular or elongated, as in figures 3, 6, 9, 10, 11,
and 12; and if this said tube F is filled with a fluid be inverted so that the open or
end having the small opening H is lowest, the ink or fluid contained in the tube or
reservoir will by the action of gravitation find. its way to the opening, or it may be
brought down to the opening by jarring the tube, and if now this opening or hole
be not too large the ink will remain in the tube; and if now another hole or holes I
be made at a sufficient distance from the lower or bottom hole H, air will be admitted
and the ink or fluid will escape or run out of the bottom hole, the rapidity of such
escape or outflow being proportioned to the distance the two holes are from each other,
and also their respective diameters, or other shaped openings.
A hole may be made in the pen at any part of its periphery just balancing or
regulating the outflow required for the purpose of writing and allowing ink to be fed
from the lower hole to the pen nib D attached to the tube C, and at the same time
supplying the necessary quantity of air to take the place of the ink used by the pen
nib, thus enabling the ink contained in the tube or reservoir to be used for writing by
the vibratory movement of the pen nib on the paper.
If a tube taken with the holes properly arranged so that the fluid is regulated or
balanced in the lower end of the reservoir between the two holes as before described
and without the nib attached, it will be observed on the tube being held with the holes
downwards, that there is ink at both openings; if now a piece of blotting paper or
other absorbent material be applied to the lower opening and thereby removing a
portion of the ink by capillary attraction, it will be found that the ink flows from the
mouth of the upper hole to replace that portion removed, and immediately afterwards
air is admitted through the upper hole I, and after air has passed up into the
reservoir ink will again be seen at both openings, and this operation may be
repeated until the tube becomes emptied of fluid.
That portion of the tube E in which the ink feed hole is made must be in close con-
tact with the pen nib as in figure 1. and the upper or air hole must be formed in a
recess or cut away portion of the tube F, so as to be quite free from contact with the
pen nib, or that part of the tube carrying the pen nib may be bent or so formed as to
accomplish the same object. If the air hole be made in the side, or that part of the
tube not covered by the pen nib as in figure 7, it is not then necessary to bend or cut
away as hereinbefore described.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from the
principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to materials, dimensions, or the precise form
or placement at the several parts; for instance it may take the form of a nib inserted
in a tube together with a feed bar having a groove or channel on its under surface
running up the said feed bar its whole length; the said feed bar and nib being held
in the tube by a plug, or the feed bar and plug may be in one piece and thus the
channel by its carrying ink to the pen point forms the lower opening H or ink feed,
and a hole or holes made into the feed bar and extending into the channel, forming
and acting in like manner to the upper hole as before described. This feed bar may
be fitted either under or over the pen nib, the channel being formed in that side of the

page_text: feed bar next to the pen nib, or the feed bar may be simply a combination of that part
of the holder carrying the pen nib; the pen nib being held in its place under the said
continuation by a plug of india rubber or other suitable material, thus simplifying the
construction materially.
A cap is used for the purpose of protecting the nib fitting either end of the
reservoir.
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.
:
First The combination of the reservoir or fountain pen B closed at one end by
a screwed stopper A, and the narrow chamber F, screwed to the reservoir B, and
the small openings I for the air to ascend, and the outflow H of the feeder E,
with the pen nib D, for the continuous supply of ink to the pen nib D, substantially
as herein described and according to the accompanying drawings.
Secondly In combination with the feeder F constructed as described and the
cut-off arrangement or regulator of the flow of ink from the reservoir B, and the
stop plug G with the hole or holes J, or to entirely stop the supply of ink from
reservoir B, substantially as herein described and according to figure 4.
Thirdly A nibless style pen for marking parcels or the like, constructed of glass
reservoirs B and F, and screwed together, with the india rubber cap K, and lining L,
substantially as herein described and according to figure 5.
Fourthly: The various shapes of the outflows H, and the air inlets I, substantially
as herein described and according to the figures 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Fifthly I claim to construct the pen of any material, or of any combination of
materials, of any size, or shape, with the air hole I, or outflow H, in any position, size
or shape, and of any number of holes, substantially as herein described and according
to the accompanying drawings.
Sixthly: A stop plug to be inserted in the air hole I to prevent the flow of fluid
when the pen is not in use substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of October 1880
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.