Improvements in Self-closing Inkstands.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES ADAIR, of 234, Broadway, New York,
United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Self-closing Inkstands.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 self-closing inkstands, and comprises the following useful
and novel features:-
al
First, the inkstand or holder for ink is provided with a cover containing
small opening for the insertion of the pen, which, while the reservoir contains
ink, is closed by a float or buoyant body sustained by the ink, the said float
being, preferably, elongated or of cylindrical shape and with a rounded top.
This float is contained in a well which forms part of, and is below the chamber or
reservoir for the ink, and a passage is provided between the lower part of the well
or that below the float and the upper reservoir, so that when the float is depressed
by the insertion of the pen the displaced ink finds ready access into the reservoir,
second, this passage is provided with a valve which permits the ink to flow readily
into the reservoir from the well, but which retards the return flow, so that while
the float is very easily and quickly depressed it rises more slowly and does not touch
the point of the pen after its withdrawal from the ink.
These results are secured to better advantage by means of certain improved
details of construction which are more particularly hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an inkstand embodying my im-
provements.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with the cover removed.
Figure 3 is a vertical central section of the preferred form of the invention, and
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a part of the same detached.
The shape and dimensions of the body of the device may be very much varied.
In Figure 1, is shown a plain cylindrical body A, provided with a cover B, the
latter being formed with a small opening for the insertion of the pen.
Immediately below the cover or in the upper part of the body of the inkstand
is a space or chamber C which constitutes the ink reservoir proper. Below this is
a well D, which is of smaller diameter.
For convenience in manufacture, though this is not essential, in the form of
inkstand shown in Figure 1, a separate piece E is used, which is fitted down into
the space D.
This piece E is hollowed out to form the well proper D', and the edges of the
opening are extended up in the raised rim or flange F, that reaches up to or nearly
up to the cover B. One or more slots or perforations G are formed in this exten-
sion so that there is a free passage for the flow of ink between the well and the
reservoir.
From the lower part of the well D', is a channel or passage D" that opens
nto the upper chamber or reservoir, and some form of valve, as a ball H, is
provided therefor which will permit a ready flow of ink from the well to the
eservoir.
Within the well D' is a float or buoyant body I that is held up normally by its
uoyancy and closes the opening in the cover B. This float is or may be an
nverted bell jar of glass, or it may be made of any other suitable material, such as
rood or cork protected by a waterproof coating, and any hard resisting surface on

page_text: top to prevent injury from the pen point. In any case, it should be somewhat
elongated so as to allow for a considerable fall in the level of ink.
The operation of this device is readily perceived. A pen dipped in the usual
way into the inkstand encounters the top of the float, but the latter is depressed
with scarcely any perceptible resistance, permitting the point of the pen to enter
the ink well.
As the float is depressed, ink flows into the well above it through the slots or
perforations in the flange F. At the same time the ink in the bottom of the well is
displaced and flows up into the reservoir through the passage D".
There should be but very little space between the float and the sides of the well
in which it is contained, as thereby a slower return is secured and the float held in
position to properly close the opening in the cover when it rises.
As soon as the pressure of the pen is removed from the top of the float, the latter
rises. If the valve or ball H. be dispensed with, the ink flows freely back into the
well through the passage D", causing the float to rise with some degree of rapidity,
so that an improved result is secured by employing a valve which offers an
obstruction to the return of the ink. Thus, after the depression and release of the
float, the ink that flows back to replace that forced out of the well has to leak
through the valve or find its way through the space between the float and the sides
of the well, consequently, the return of the float is slow.
The raised rim or flange F, serves as a guide for the float, and also prevents the
pen from being dipped off obliquely into the reservoir.
The preferred form of the improved inkstand is shown in Figure 3. In this
form, the part corresponding to the separate piece E that enters the well is made to
serve as the valve. It is made in this case, of hard rubber or any material of
specific gravity somewhat greater than that of the ink.
The upper and lower parts of the reservoir are substantially the same as in
Figure 1. E' is a cylinder of glass, hard rubber or other suitable material, which
is made of somewhat smaller diameter than the well D, so that when inserted
it leaves an annular space which corresponds to the passage D".
Around the cylinder E' is a flange E, the under side of which is bevelled and
rests on the correspondingly bevelled edge of the well. The top of the cylinder
extends up to within a short distance of the cover B, to allow sufficient vertical
play, and its lower edge is raised somewhat above the bottom of the well. As in
the form previously described, the upper part contains slots G, as shown more
plainly in Figure 4. The float I is the same as in Figure 1.
When this float is depressed by the pen point, the ink is forced from the inner
well D upwards through the annular space D", and into the reservoir, the entire
part E being lifted by the pressure applied. When the float is released, the ink
returns to the well Du by leaking back through the valve seat and by flowing
downward between the sides or walls of well D' and the float.
When a valve is used, it is largely immaterial where it is placed.
It will also be
understood that the specific construction of the inkstand as a whole may be very
greatly varied and that it may be made in many ways and forms without departure
from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In an inkstand, the combination with an ink reservoir, a well and a cover
containing an opening over the well, of a float or buoyant body contained in the
well and adapted to normally close the opening in the cover, and a valve controlled
passage for permitting the ready escape from the well of ink displaced by the
depression of the float, as set forth.
Second. In an inkstand, the combination with an ink reservoir and well below
the same,
and a cover over the reservoir containing an opening for the pen, of a
float or buoyant body contained in the well and adapted to close the opening in the

page_text: cover, and a passage or channel for the flow of ink from the lower part of the
well to the reservoir when displaced by the depression of the float, as set forth.
Third. In an inkstand, the combination with an ink reservoir in the upper portion
and a cover provided with a pen opening, of a vertical well under said opening, a
Hoat or buoyant body contained in said well and normally closing the opening, and
a passage or channel extending from the bottom of said well up to the reservoir
and a valve contained therein.
Fourth. In an inkstand, the combination with an ink reservoir in the upper
portion and a cover provided with a pen opening, of a well under the said opening
provided with a flange or raised rim containing a slot or perforation and a float or
buoyant body contained in said well and normally closing the opening in the
cover.
Fifth. In an inkstand, the combination of a cover containing a pen opening, a
well under said opening the walls of which extend up to the cover, a float contained
is said well and normally closing the opening in the cover, an ink reservoir below
the cover and passages of communication from the upper and lower parts of said
well into the reservoir, as set forth.
Sixth. In an inkstand, the combination with a cover containing a pen opening, an
upper reservoir and a well of smaller diameter beneath the opening in the cover,
and extending downward from the reservoir, of a cylinder fitting loosely within the
well and having a flange or projection that rests upon the upper edge of the well,
and a float or buoyant body within the cylinder and adapted to close the opening in
the cover.
Seventh. In an inkstand formed with an upper reservoir and a well of smaller
diameter below the same, the combination of a cylinder of smaller diameter than
the well and provided with a flange that rests upon the edge of the well and with a
slot or perforation in its upper portion, a cover over the reservoir provided with a
pen hole, and a float within the cylinder adapted to close the opening in the cover,
as set forth.
Eighth. In an inkstand, the combination with a cover provided with a pen hole,
of an ink reservoir and well, a valve controlled passage between the reservoir and
the lower part of the well, and a cylindrical float with rounded top contained in said
well and adapted to close the opening in the cover, as set forth.
Ninth. In an inkstand, the combination of a reservoir and a cover containing an
opening for the insertion of a pen, of an automatic or self-closing float or body
adapted to be moved away from the opening by the pen, and means for retarding
or impeding the movement of the same operative only on its return or movement
towards the opening, as set forth.
1
T
1301
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.