Improvements in Reservoir Pens.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reservoir Pens.
I, WILLIAM HIGGS, of 34, Clifton Hill, St. John's Wood, London, N.W.
Gentleman, 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 improvements in reservoir pens, the object being to
provide a pen which shall be simple in construction, durable, easy to fill and to
clean out, and at the same time to combine all the advantages of the most expensive
pens of this class.
The invention will be readily understood, on reference to the accompanying
drawings,
Fig. 1 of which represents a complete pen viewed from the underside,
Fig. 2 a section thereof,
Fig. 3 is a view of the ink reservoir, and
Fig. 4 a view of the spoon or duct which conveys the ink through capillary
attraction, from the reservoir to the nib.
The outer casing a which constitutes the holder, is composed of a tube of nickel-
plated steel or other suitable material.
For office use, the upper end of the tube may be fitted with a taper wooden
plug thereby rendering the holder equal in length to the ordinary wooden
holder.
This
Within the tube a, is placed the ink reservoir c composed of a piece of india-
rubber tube sealed at one end c¹ and cut away obliquely at the open end c³.
open end fits within the bowl of a metal spoon or duct d, the bowl being concave
like a tea-spoon, though narrower and tapering to a point as shown in Fig. 1.
This spoon is provided with a handle or extension d' which fits inside the tube, but
is cranked at d³, the crank portion passing through a slot a¹ and forming a projection
on the outside of the tube."
The nib, which may be of any well known form, is inserted between the
tube u, and the back of the projecting end of the reservoir, thus bringing the hollow
portion of the nib and the concave end of the spoon into contact. The pen is
manipulated in the following manner.
To fill the reservoir, the nib is preferably removed, and the end of the reservoir
inserted freely into the ink. By pressing upon the crank d' the air is expelled from
the reservoir owing to the compression of the latter by the stem of the spoon. On
removing the pressure, the reservoir expands and sucks up a charge of ink. The
nib is now inserted, and if the ink does not flow freely at first, a gentle pressure
upon the crank will expe: sufficient ink to enable the user to commence writing,
after which he can continue to write uninterruptedly for an incredible period.
To clean the reservoir out, the nib is removed and the end of the reservoir dipped
into water, the crank is then alternately compressed and released, so as to cause
water to be drawn into and ejected from the reservoir quickly, thus effectually
clearing the latter from all ink sediment.
For pocket use, the wooden handle b is dispensed with and that end of the tube
closed, whilst the nib end is furnished with a cap or point protector.
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 :-
1. A reservoir pen, consisting of a hollow holder a, elastic reservoir c, a spoon or
duct with cranked stom 18 in combination with

page_text: in manner substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
2. The complete reservoir pen, constructed substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of July 1891.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.