IMPROVEMENTS IN RESERVOIR PENHOLDERS OR WRITING INSTRUMENTS"
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Vale of the firm of William Vale and Sons of
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Manufacturers-for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RESERVOIR PENHOLDERS OR WRITING INSTRUMENTS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Vale at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th September 1883.
WILLIAM VALE of the firm of William Vale and Sons of Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturers, "IMPROVEMENTS IN RESERVOIR PENHOLDERS
OR WRITING INSTRUMENTS.
"1
My invention consists, in constructing and arranging the parts of reservoir or
fountain penholders, and other writing instruments; whereby, great simplicity of
construction and efficiency of action are secured.
The principal object of my invention, is to construct penholders, or other writing
instruments, containing a reservoir of ink, or writing fluid; which by a slight
rotary or other movement imparted to the terminal mount of the holder; causes an
intermittent supply of fluid to flow to the nibs of the pen or writing instrument ;
and on the reverse movement of the said mount, the writing fluid will instantly
recede again to the reservoir.
The reservoir or chamber for containing the writing fluid, consists essentially of
an elastic or bollow cylinder, composed of caoutchouc, india rubber or other suitable
elastic material. The upper end of which said elastic tube or reservoir is connected
to a short length of metal tubing (hereafter called the reservoir mount) closed at
its bottom; the said reservoir mount, has an external collar, at its junction with
the elastic tubular chamber; and immediately above the collar, the mount is
wormed for a short distance, with a slow threaded screw; and above the wormed
part is left plain. To the lower end of the elastic reservoir, the penholding mount
is attached, and running in the axis thereof, a small tube bent at its end conveys
the writing fluid from the reservoir to the nibs of the pen. A tubular casing or
barrel, screwed internally at its upper end, encloses the elastic reservoir, and
connects the top and bottom mounts. The internal screwed part of the barrel or
casing takes into, or engages with the screw of the reservoir mount; and upon the
said mount a ferrule or socket partially covers the protruding end. The terminal
cap for operating the reservoir, covers, and is attached permanently to the reservoir
11.מ

page_text: mount, so that, the operating terminal mount, and also the reservoir mount move
together.
The action on propelling the terminal mount of the penholder, is as follows; on
the reservoir or chamber having been supplied with writing fluid.
On propelling the holder, the reservoir mount is rotated and advanced axially
within the internal screw of the casing; so that, the elastic or yielding reservoir is
twisted spirally through its entire length, to an extent, dependant on the amount
of propullsion. The effect produced by the twisting described is to reduce the
capacity of the reservoir and consequently to urge or drive forward, the writing
fluid, through the conveying tube or channel to the nibs of the pen; and thereby
supplying the said pen, with an intermittent quantity of ink; as the act of
propelling is from time to time repeated.
The motion of propelling is limited by the abutment edge. of the propeller
mount; and the repelling by a stop on the reservoir mount, coming against the
shoulder of the screwed part in the enclosing case or barrel.
On rotating the propeller mount in the reverse way than that, as before
described, repelling is effected. The twisted and partially contracted caoutchouc
tube or reservoir is uncoiled or straightened out, resuming its normal state, and in
so doing, the ink left in the pen (or for refilling the reservoir) instantly recedes or
flows up the conducting tube into the reservoir, as before described.
Therefore the penholder or writing instrument both propels and repels at
pleasure.
Where a continuous flow of ink is required I provide at a convenient part of the
reservoir, a hole for the admission of air. The flow being produced continuous by
capillary attraction of the fluid from the nibs of the pen.
On refilling the reservoir, the hole is temporily stopped to rarefy the interior of
the reservoir.
According to another part of my said invention, I form at the upper, or terminal
part of the holder, a spherical or bulbus chamber of caoutchouc or india-rubber, for
containing the reservoir of ink. The lower end of the said bulbus part is connected
by an elastic tube, which conveys the ink or writing fluid to a conducting tube,
and thence to the nibs of the pen. The elastic reservoir and tubo is covered by a
metallic mount and casing; and passing through the upper part of the said mount,
and in an axial line of the holder, a piston or rod works and moves tightly therein.
So that on pressing the piston or rod through the upper casing its end acting upon
the summit of the bulbus reservoir, (when filled with ink) flattens its its top, and
thereby forces or urges forward the writing fluid, through the conveying tube to
the pen.
On pulling back the rod or piston to its former position, the bulbus
reservoir resumes its normal state, causing the ink to recede up the conducting
tube, to the reservoir; when filling or otherwise.
My invention consists further in constructing and arranging, reservoir or
fountain penholders in the following way.
A piston is made to rise and fall within a cylindrical tube, by means of which
a pin on the piston rod taking into an helical slot formed around a length of
tubing. By rotating the end of the helically slotted tube, by a terminal mount,
the piston is caused to traverse the inside of the cylindrical tube, or reservoir part
of the holder. The said movement also causes the pin to travel vertically by the
action of the said helical slot in which the pin is confined. The said pin being
compelled to travel in a vertical line by moving also in a vertical slot, in an outer
So that ink or writing fluid, is forced to the pen; or drawn into the tubular
reservoir, in which the piston works, by either propelling or repelling the terminal
mount attached to the helically slotted tube as described.
case.
In order to prevent the escape of ink through the top of the reservoir, through
which the piston rod works a packing of india rubber is interposed betwen the
top of the reservoir, and piston rod.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Vale in the Patent Office on the 13th March 1884.
WILLIAM VALE of the Firm of William Vale and Sons of Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Manufacturers "IMPROVEMENTS IN RESERVOIR PENHOLDERS
OR WRITING INSTRUMENTS
"
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of reservoir or
fountain penholders and other writing instruments whereby great simplicity of
construction and efficiency of action are secured
The principal object of my invention is to construct penholders or other writing
instruments containing a reservoir of ink or writing fluid, which by a slight rotary
movement imparted to a terminal mount of the holder causes an intermittent
supply of fluid to flow to the nibs of the pen or writing instrument and on the
reverse movement of the said mount the writing fluid will instantly recede again
to the reservoir
The reservoir or chamber for containing the writing fluid consists essentially of
an elastic, or hollow cylinder composed of caoutchouc, india rubber, or other
suitable elastic material-The upper end of which said elastic tube or reservoir is
connected to a short length of metal tubing (hereafter called the reservoir mount)
closed at it's bottom, the said reservoir mount has an external collar at it's junction
with the elastic tubular chamber and immediately above the collar the mount is
wormed for a short distance with a slow threaded screw and above the wormed
part is left plain
To the lower end of the elastic reservoir the penholding mount is attached and
running in the axis thereof a small tube bent at its end conveys the writing fluid
from the reservoir to the nibs of the pen-A tubular casing or barrel screwed
internally at it's upper end encloses the elastic reservoir and connects the top and
bottom mounts-The internal screwed part of the barrel or casing takes on to or
engages with the screw of the reservoir mount and upon the said mount a ferrule
or socket partially covers the protruding end-The terminal cap for operating the
reservoir covers and is attached permanently to the reservoir mount, so that
the operating terminal mount and also the reservoir mount described, move
together
The action on propelling the terminal mount of the penholder is as follows, on
the reservoir or chamber having been supplied with writing fluid-On propelling
the holder the reservoir mount is rotated and advanced axially within the internal
screw of the casing so that the elastic or yielding reservoir is twisted spirally
through it's entire length to an extent dependant on the amount of propulsion
The effect produced by the twisting described is to reduce the capacity of the
reservoir and conséquently to urge or drive forward the writing fluid through the
conveying tube or channel to the nibs of the pen and thereby supplying the said
pen with an intermittent quantity of ink as the act of propelling is from time to
time repeated
The notion of propelling is limited by the abutment edge of the propeller mount,
and the repelling by a stop on the reservoir mount coming against the shoulder of
the screwed part in the enclosing case or barrel
On rotating the propeller mount in the reverse way than that as before described
repelling is effected-The twisted and partially contracted caoutchouc tube or
reservoir is uncoiled or straightened out, resuming its normal state and in so doing
the ink left in the pen (or for refilling the reservoir) instantly recedes or flows up
the conducting tube into the reservoir as before described

page_text: Therefore the penholder or writing instrument both propels and repels at
pleasure where a continuous flow of ink is required I provide at a convenient
part of the reservoir a hole for the admission of air-The flow being produced
continuous by capillary attraction of the fluid from the nib of the pen
On refilling the reservoir the hole is temporarily stopped to rarefy the interior
of the reservoir
According to another part of my said invention I form at the upper or terminal
part of the holder a spherical or bulbus chamber of caoutchouc or india rubber for
containing the reservoir of ink-The lower. end of the said bulbus part is connected
by an elastic or other tube which conveys the ink or writing fluid to a conducting
tube and thence to the nibs of the pen-The elastic reservoir and tube is covered
by a metallic mount and casing, and passing through the upper part of the said
mount and in an axial line of the holder a piston or rod works and moves tightly
therein-So that on pressing the piston or rod through the upper casing its end
acting upon the summit of the bulbus reservoir (when filled with ink) flattens its
top and thereby forces or urges forward the writing fluid through the conveying
tube to the pen-On pulling back the rod or piston to it's former position the
bulbus reservoir resumes its normal state, causing the ink to recede up the
conducting tube to the reservoir when re-filling or otherwise.
My invention consists further in constructing and arranging reservoir or fountain
penholders in the following way,-
A piston is made to rise and fall within a cylindrical tube by means of a pin on
the piston rod taking into an helical slot formed around a length of tubing-By
rotating the end of the helically slotted tube by a terminal mount the piston is
caused to traverse the inside of the cylindrical tube or reservoir part of the
holder
The said movement also causes the pin to travel vertically by the action of the
said helical slot in which the pin is confined-The said pin being compelled to
travel in a vertical line by moving also in a vertical slot in an outer case-So that
ink or writing fluid is forced to the pen or drawn into the tubular reservoir in
which the piston works either by propelling or repelling the terminal mount
attached to the helically slotted tube as described
In order to prevent the escape of ink through the top of the reservoir through
which the piston rod works a packing of india-rubber is interposed between the
top of the reservoir and piston rod
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which the same is to be performed
Figure 1. represents in front elevation and figure 2 in side elevation partly in
longitudinal vertical section a reservoir or fountain penholder constructed according
to my invention, the reservoir being filled ready for use-Figure 3. shows the
same in action the ink in the reservoir being forced therefrom by coiling spirally
the chamber or reservoir as represented
The other figures 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. and 10. represent the parts separately-Figure 4.
is the outer casing of the holder-Figure 5. is an elevation of the propelling cap.
Figure 6. shows a section of the barrel enclosing the reservoir-Figure 7. shows in
elevation the reservoir with its top and bottom mounts-Figures 8. 9. and 10. show
in section the principal parts separately-The same letters indicate the same parts
in the above figures of the drawings
a is the reservoir or chamber composed of caoutchouc or india-rubber for
containing the reservoir of ink or writing fluid-The upper end a³ of the elastic
chamber or cylinder a. is connected to a terminal mount b. closed at its lower end,
the mount is wormed externally with a slow threaded screw b. this reservoir mount
is connected permanently by soldering or otherwise to the terminal or operating cap
c. so that this cap and the mount b. move together when operating the penholder
The lower end a³ of the elastic reservoir a. is connected to the penholding
mount d. and in the axis of the said mount a tubular channel d. communicates with
the reservoir of ink and through which said channel ink or writing fluid flows to

page_text: the nibs of the pen e., f is a tubular casing or barrel enclosing the elastic or
yielding reservoir a. and connects the top mount b. and bottom mount d. the said
enclosing barrel or casing f. is screwed internally at which takes upon or
engages with the screw 63. of the mount b. The barrel f. is surrounded by an
external covering g. of vulcanite or other suitable material.
•
In order to supply the pen with ink or writing fluid, the action of the parts is as
follows-
The reservoir or chamber having been supplied with the necessary writing fluid
on propelling the cap c. figure 2. the reservoir mount b is rotated and advanced
axially down the barrel f. through a distance proportionate to the amount of
propelling by 62. of the amount b. worming within the screw f. of the barrel f. and
at the same time the cap c. is lowered or advanced within the upper end of the
barrel, in which end cs of the cap c. slides thereby diminishing the distance (as
in figure 3.) between the end of the barrel and collar or stop c³, which limits the
motion of the cap within the barrel-So that in consequence of the mount b.
attached to the upper end a². of the elastic or yielding chamber having been turned
or rotated several times by the propelling action of the cap (while the lower end a³
of the said reservoir is held stationary) is to act upon the elastic or yielding
reservoir so as to twist it spirally through its entire length as represented in
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings
The effect produced by the twisting described and represented is to reduce the
internal capacity of the reservoir and consequently to urge or drive forward the
writing fluid through the channel d. conveying tube d³. to the nibs of the pen
e, as shown at figure 3., and thereby supplying the said pen with an intermittent
quantity of ink as the act of propelling is from time to time repeated.
The motion of propelling and consequently the twisting of the ink reservoir is
limited by the abutment of the cap c.-While the repelling is limited by the
shoulder b³. of the mount b. coming against the underside of the screwed part
f. of the enclosing barrel f.
On rotating the cap c. in the reverse way than that as before described repelling
is effected-The twisted and partially constructed caoutchouc or india rubber tube
or reservoir a. as in figure 3. is uncoiled or straightened out, the parts resuming
their normal positions as represented in figures 1. and 2. and in so doing the ink
left in the pen or for refilling the reservoir) instantly recodes or flows up the
conducting tube by partially rarefying the reservoir by opening out its folds or
coils and increasing its internal area as shown in figure 1. so that ink at the mouth
of the conducting tube recedes up the said tube d³ into the reservoir chamber as
described―Therefore the penholder or writing instrument both propels and repels
at pleasure
The cap h. figure 4. covers the lower mount & when the penholder is not in use
When the flow of ink is required to be made continuous instead of intermittent
as before described a small hole in communication with the reservoir is uncovered-
The refilling is effected by temporarily stopping or closing the said hole in order to
rarefy the interior of the ink chamber or reservoir that is to say,
By the raising of the point of the screw t. out of the seat u² of the passage w,
thereby admitting air to the ink chamber and causing a continuous flow-On
closing the mouth of the hole u. by the point of the screw and repelling the mount,
ink flows back into the reservoir for refilling or otherwise as shown at Figure 34
According to another part of my said Invention as represented in figures 11. 12.
13. and 14., figure 11 shows a side elevation figure 12. a longitudinal vertical
section out of action; and figure 13 in action or the same in the act of forcing ink
contained in the reservoir to the nibs of the pen figure 14 shows the principal parts
separately of the said reservoir or fountain penholder constructed according to my
said invention
I form at the upper or terminal part of the holder a sperical or bulbus
chamber i of india rubber or caoutchouc for containing the reservoir of ink-The
.

page_text: lower end of the said bulbus chamber i is connected by an elastic or rigid tube i².
which conveys the ink from the said reservoir to the conducting tube . and from
thence to the nibs of the pen j.-The lower end of the tube i. is connected to the
penholding mount it.
The yielding or elastic ink reservoir described and ink conveying tube is covered
by an outer casing k. Passing through the upper end of the said casing and
immediately above the bulbus chamber or reservoir of ink, a piston or rod l. works
tightly therein
On pressing the pusher 1. the piston or rod l. presses forcibly upon the summit
of the bulbus reservoir of ink i. flattening it's top and thereby forcing or urging
forward the writing fluid contained therein, through the tubes . . to the nibs of
the pen as best seen in figure 13 of the drawings-On pulling back the pusher
mount the bulbus reservoir i resuming its normal condition as shown in figure 12
causes the ink to recede up the conducting tube 3. to the reservoir when refilling
or otherwise
My Invention consists further in constructing reservoir penholders as hereinafter
described Figure 15. is a longitudinal vertical section of a reservoir penholder-
The other figures 16. 17. and 18. are parts of the same
By propelling or repelling the mount m the piston n. is caused to traverse the
inside of the cylinder tube o. which forms the reservoir chamber for containing the
writing fluid Ink is forced from or drawn into the said chamber as the act of
propelling or repelling is effected
So that on rotating the mount m. the pin p. on the piston rod n³. is raised or
lowered by the slot of the helically slotted tube q. attached to and rotated by the
mount m. The vertical movement of the pin is effected by being confined in the
longitudinal slot 2. in the outer casing r.-In order to prevent the escape of ink,
through the top of the reservoir o. a packing of india rubber s. is placed at that
part as represented through which the piston rod n². of the piston works-So that
by the act of propelling the mount m. ink is forced from the chamber o. to the nibs
of the pen down the conducting tube o and by the act of repelling the reservoir
is refilled or any overplus of ink left in the pen is caused to recede again to the
reservoir.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim
First constructing Penholders or other writing instruments having a
reservoir of ink contained within a tubular chamber or hollow cylinder a.
enclosed at one end a¹ and composed of india rubber caoutchouc or other
suitable elastic material, which is capable of collapsing or reducing its internal
capacity by twisting the said elastic chamber spirally or into folds by rotating
or turning the mount b. in the act of propelling the cap c. while the other end
attached to the mount d. remains stationary-The act of twisting the
chamber a. described forces or urges the writing fluid contained therein
through a conducting tube d³. to the nibs of the pen or other writing
instrument employed, thereby causing an intermittent flow of ink to the pen
as the act of propelling is from time to time repeated, also again re-charging or
re-filling the said reservoir with writing fluid or causing the superfluous fluid
contained in the pen or writing instrument to recede again to the reservoir by
the act of repelling as described and illustrated in figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
and 10 of the drawings.
Secondly-The general arrangement or combination of the parts of reservoir
or fountain penholders, that is to say, the act of propelling or repelling coils or
uncoils the reservoir of ink thereby urging the writing fluid of the said
penholder from or drawing it into the chamber in the way and for the purposes
described and set forth in figures 1 to 10 both inclusive of the accompanying
drawings
Thirdly.-Producing a continuous instead of an intermittent flow of ink by

page_text: admitting and excluding air to the ink reservoir by the screw t. with its seat u².
and passage u. for the purpose as described and set forth
Fourthly constructing reservoir or fountain penholders with spherical or
bulbus ink chambers in which the fluid contained therein is forced or urged
forward in the way described and illustrated in figures 11. 12. 13. and 14. of
the accompanying drawings-Also removing the superfluous ink left in the pen
or for refilling the reservoir by relieving the pressure of the piston or presser
rod on the bulbus chamber as described and set forth in the above said figures
of the drawings
Fifthly The general arrangement of the parts of reservoir Penholders in
combination with the india-rubber packing marked 8. as described and
represented in figures 15. 16. 17. and 18 of the accompanying drawings
In witness whereof I the said William Vale have hereunto set my hand and
l this tenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
d eighty four.
HENRY SKERRETT
Patent Agent
6 Livery Street
Birmingham
WILLIAM VALE (L.S.)