Improvements in Ink Stands.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ink Stands.
I, EMRY DAVIS, Times Building, of the City, County, and State of New York,
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 inkstands, and the object thereof is to provide an
improved device of this class having a depressible funnel float and automatic feed,
and in which the float is sustained by the air within the reservoir, and with this
and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction combina-
tion and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed,
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which:-
Fig. 1, is a central vertical section of my improved inkstand; and,
Fig. 2, a section on the line 2, 2 thereof.
In the drawing forming part of this specification the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views
and in the practice of my invention, I provide an inkstand 5, which is cylindrical
in form, and which is provided with an enlarged base 6, and the inkstand 5, is
provided with a reservoir 7, which is also cylindrical in form and the upper end
of said inkstand is provided with an annular flange or rim 8.
I also provide a vertically movable air-supported float, which comprises a tube 9,
which is adapted to move vertically within the reservoir 7, and the outer diameter
of which is preferably slightly less than that of the diameter of said reservoir, and
secured to or formed on the upper end of the tube 9, is a conical receptacle 10, the
apex of which is directed inwardly and downwardly, and provided with a tubular
extension 11, which extends downwardly through the tube 9, and which is provided
with a reduced extension 12, which passes through the bottom of the tube 9, and
the bottom of said tube 9, is also provided with perforations or openings 13.
The upper part of the conical receptacle 10, in the tube 9, is also provided with
an outwardly directed annular flange or rim 14, and the float consists of the outer
tube 9, the inner tube 11, and the conical receptacle 10, with which said tube 11,
is connected and these parts may be formed integrally and the lower end of the
inner tube 11, need not necessarily be connected with the bottom of the tube 9,
the only object in this connection being to properly support these parts and to
provide openings in the lower ends of the tubes 9 and 11.
As thus constructed, an annular air chamber 15, is formed in the float, and the
upper part of the reservoir is provided with an annular overflow chamber 16.
The reservoir may be composed of any desired material, as may also the float;
but said float including the outer tube 9, the inner tube 11, and the conical recep-
tacle 10, is preferably composed of hard rubber, and the upper end of the air
chamber 15, is hermetically sealed or closed in any desired manner.
The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when
taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the following statement
thereof.

page_text: In the operation of the device the reservoir 7, may be first partially filled with
ink, and the float placed therein, and the float will be buoyed up by the air within
the chamber, and by applying pressure to the upper end thereof, the ink will be
forced up into the inner tube 11, and into the conical receptacle 10, and in practice,
the pen is dipped into the conical receptacle, and the float depressed at the same
time so as to force the ink upwardly thereinto. In this operation, the ink rises in
the tube 11, but cannot rise to any considerable extent in the air chamber 15, and
as soon as the pressure is removed from the float, the latter will again rise as will
be readily understood.
Instead of removing the float however, which is wholly optional and not necessary,
the inkstand may be readily filled by simply pouring the ink through the conical
receptacle 10, when the float rests on the bottom of the reservoir, whereupon as the
ink fills the reservoir the float will rise until it reaches the desired height accord-
ing to the quantity of ink with which it is intended to charge the inkwell, the
float being guided by the inner wall of the reservoir. It is to be noted that this
simple way of filling the inkstand dispenses with all of the customarily necessary
manipulation of the funnels or floats, unscrewing of covers or regulations of air
inflow or outflow, it being an essential objective function of this invention to
simply the operation of the inkstand equally with the simplification of the structure
thereof.
It is to be understood that I do not claim broadly in this application, the con-
struction of the tubular float nor do I claim broadly an overflow chamber. The
subject matter of this application being the combination of such a float directly
with the interiorly cylindrical reservoir 5, whereby I dispense with intervening
elements of construction, and form a perfectly operating inkstand which consists
of two parts, it being noted that I dispense with an outer supply reservoir, and
an interior feed reservoir, and combine said parts in one, for the particular pur-
pose of such a form of device, which I have herein shown, and that I fit the tubular
float in direct engagement with the inner walls of the reservoir, instead of pro-
viding the separate interior guide which the feed reservoir of the aforesaid patent
constitutes whereby air was admitted to the ink from outside the float, and a
circumferential air chamber formed thereby, necessitating the provision of means
for equalizing or regulating the pressure of the air upon the ink at all times;
and it will further be observed that the overflow chamber 16, in this device is
formed in the inner walls of the reservoir.
It is to be observed that the float is exteriorly cylindrical and formed so as to
substantially occupy the interior of the reservoir before it is filled, and by this
means not only is the device capable of being filled through the funnel which
automatically rises as the ink enters, but moreover, the displacement of the float
is such that by reason of the float occupying laterally the interior of the inkstand,
just sufficient ink is by such displacement of the float forced upwardly to form a
film between the outside of the float and the inside or wall of the reservoir to seal
the same against the ingress of air, so that in this device the height of the funnel
is dependent solely upon the height of the ink within the reservoir. It is
further to be noted that by this invention, I dispense with all the auxiliary
mechanism and provide a two part inkstand, in which there are no covers, in which
the reservoir is entirely open at the top except for being closed by the float as
herein stated, and that these two parts are mutually detachable directly without
manipulation.
In addition to these important advantages as respects the operation and the
efficiency of my present inkstand, it is further to be noted that as the float is
wholly within the reservoir, the two parts telescope together in a novel and com-
mercially convenient manner, and that by reason of the externally as well as the
internally cylindrical form of the reservoir and the presence of the base 6, and
upper annular flange S, said reservoir may be readily grasped and held in the
hand, while the usual annular flange 14 upon the float rests upon the top of the
reservoir when the device is empty, and is the only part of the device which pro-

page_text: jects above the reservoir, and the ready handling shipping, manipulation, cleaning
and filling of this device' will be obvious.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An inkstand comprising the combination of an exteriorly cylindrical air
filled funnel float centrally tubular, and an interiorly cylindrical reservoir pro-
vided with a base, and in which the float closely fits to slidably engage the interior
walls thereof, the said float being of a form and adapted to substantially wholly
occupy the interior of said reservoir whereby air is excluded from said fluid other
than through the centre of the float, substantially as shown and described.
2. An inkstand formed of a cylindrical body or reservoir provided with a base 6,
and an annular flange 8, at top, in combination with an exteriorly cylindrical
float substantially occupying the interior of the reservoir and fitting wholly with-
in the same, the said float being provided with an annular flange 14 at top adapted
to rest upon and project above the flange 8 of the reservoir, and the said float being
vertically movable in and freely removable from the said reservoir, substantially
as shown and described.
3. In an inkstand, a reservoir consisting of a cylinder open at the top, and
provided with a closed lower end supported by a base, in combination with a funnel-
float having exteriorly longitudinal and lateral dimensions and form, approxi-
mately corresponding to those of the interior of the reservoir, substantially as
shown and described.
4. In an inkstand, the combination with a reservoir having a uniform width
at and upward from the bottom thereof, and open at the top throughout its width,
of a centrally tubular air-filled float having exterior longitudinal and lateral
dimensions and form approximately corresponding to those of the interior of the
reservoir, whereby the whole of said reservoir is occupied by the float, the said
float normally resting upon the bottom of said reservoir and projecting above the
top of the same, whereby it is adapted to deliver the ink from its lowest level,
without the top of said float being movable below the top of the reservoir or below
the ink at its highest level, and the delivery of said float being wholly from center
thereof, said float fitting closely in the reservoir whereby the walls of the same
engage therewith.
5. An inkstand consisting of an interiorly cylindrical reservoir, and a hollow
cylindrical air filled float mounted therein and closely fitting said reservoir, and
adapted to move vertically therein, and consisting of an outer tube, the upper
end of which is closed by a conical cap, the base of which extends upwardly, and
the apex of which extends downwardly and inwardly and is provided with a
tubular extension which projects downwardly and centrally through said outer
tube, said outer and inner tubes being each open at the bottom, the longitudinal
and lateral dimensions of the float being substantially equal to the correspond-
ing dimensions of the interior of the reservoir, substantially as shown and described.
6. An inkstand consisting of an interiorly cylindrical vertical reservoir, and a
hollow cylindrical air filled float mounted therein and clearly fitting said reser-
voir, and adapted to move vertically therein, and consisting of an outer tube, the
upper end of which is closed by a conical cap, the base of which extends upwardly,
and the apex of which extends downwardly and inwardly and is provided with a
tubular extension which projects downwardly and centrally through said outer
tube, said outer and inner tubes being each open at the bottom the longitudinal
and lateral dimensions of the float being substantially equal to the corresponding
dimensions of the interior of the reservoir and said reservoir being provided at
the top thereof with an annular overflow chamber the inner walls of which is
formed by said float, substantially as shown and described.
7. In an inkstand the combination with a reservoir wholly open at the top, and
interiorly cylindrical, of an exteriorly cylindrical hollow air-filled float, having

page_text: a central vertical delivery, said float laterally fitting the walls of the reservoir, and
longitudinally formed so that when resting upon the bottom of the reservoir it will
project above the top of the same, the upper end of said float being provided with
an annular flange whereby the upper portion of said float and said flange, con-
junctively form the closure of the open top of the reservoir.
8. An inkstand consisting of two parts one adapted to receive the other within
it, the same being wholly open at one end and closed at the other, said part form-
ing the ink reservoir, and the other part of the device formed to telescope within
said first part or reservoir, and closely fit the wall thereof, said part being of a
length to correspond with the depth of the reservoir and provided with a flange to
limit the telescoping of the parts and permit their mutual detachment, said inner
part being adapted to deliver or supply the ink, and being formed into a funnel
at the top into a float throughout its length, and into a tube throughout its center.
9. In an inkstand the combination with a float of the character described, of
a reservoir formed to receive the said float within it, and to closely surround the
same, said reservoir being provided with a base on which said float is adapted to
rest, and extending approximately at the top of said float, said reservoir being of
a uniform width throughout the major portion of its interior, and being of an
increased width at the top thereof to form vertical annular groove
recess itself of uniform width, said upper recessed portion of the reservoir being
wholly open at the top to permit the free insertion and removal of the float.
Dated this 5th day of May 1898.
or
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.