Improvements in Fountain Penholders.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fountain Penholders.
I, WILLIAM WASHINGTON STEWART, of No. 117 Montague Street, in the
City of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of New York, United States of
America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
a
This invention relates to fountain pens or penholders, and more particularly to
those of that class which are adapted to be filled with ink from the exterior and
without unscrewing or taking apart the holder. Fountain pens of this class are of
my invention, and were first disclosed in the Provisional Specification filed on
25th February 1895 No. 4012, in the name of Andrew Calvin Watts, as
communication from Mabie, Todd and Bard of New York, by whom said pens are
manufactured under licence from me. My present invention introduces further
forms or modifications adapted to provide for such external filling, and also
provides means for readily controlling the flow of ink and ensuring the cleanly
operation of the pen.
According to one construction of my invention the penholder being formed as
usual with a reservoir closed at the upper end and open at the lower end or nozzle
into which the pen or pen-nib is introduced, the opening or throat in this nozzle is
nearly filled by means of a stopper or feed bar placed therein, and which by the
presence of the
pen is crowded to one side, so that the space intervening between
itself and the inner wall of the nozzle becomes meniscoidal, this space being
subdivided by the shank of the pen, and further interrupted by a feed-bar or
wedge thrust in against the top or back of the pen, so that the passage through the
throat of the nozzle is subdivided into interstices of varying thicknesses, so that in
different portions they afford varying degrees of capillary or adhesive attraction
for the ink. The stopper is extended upward into the reservoir and preferably
through it, being fastened to its upper end or not as preferred. This extension of
the stopper is made tubular, and is formed with one or more longitudinal
capillary slits, and its bore is more or less filled or obstructed by a wire of
non-corrosive metal as silver or other suitable material, broom corn being one
example of such other material, which is held frictionally within the bore,
preferably in the case of a metal wire by being corrugated so as to bear against
carried a
opposite walls of the bore. On the projecting outer end of this wire
ball or head, which stands preferably somewhat within or above the lower end of
the nozzle, so that a partial chamber is formed on the under or concave side of the
pen-nib, which is partly enclosed and made annular by the presence of this head,
which approaches the pen and which is adjustable in position by drawing the wire
out more or less from the bore, so that the head can be in contact with the stopper
closing the bore, or can be drawn out to leave more free communication. This
adjustability is for the purpose of controlling the flow of ink to the pen, the flow
being thus free when the head is pushed in close against the outer end of the bore,
and more free when it is drawn further down so as to uncover the opening of the
bore. As a further means for holding the wire frictionally in place, it is or may be
doubled or bent back upon itself so as to form a tongue or spring arm on its lower
end which tends to spring open in the bore of the feed-bar.
In the construction of Swan fountain pen disclosed in the said Provisional
Specification in the name of the said Watts, the feed-bar or ink conductor is split

page_text: into two prongs grooved or channeled longitudinally, these prongs or legs are
separated within the reservoir by being bowed apart so as to leave between them
as wide a cavity as possible traversed by the longitudinal wire, to facilitate the
action of the pen in being filled from the exterior. In my present construction,
instead of flaring or bowing apart the two halves of the tubular feed-bar where it
is divided by the slits, I have left the bar unchanged in shape and have introduced
another means for securing the requisite continuous communication from the
feeders adjacent to the pen to the remote portion of the reservoir necessary to
properly secure the unobstructed flow necessary for filling from the exterior. To
this end I place in the holder a ball or tongue forming an extension from the
nozzle into the reservoir on one side thereof, which is provided with a split tube or
spring clip which holds it in place by frictionally clinging against the walls of the
reservoir. This tongue is first thrust in the holder, and the nozzle is screwed in
against it, so that its interior surfaces are brought into communication with the
-surfaces-of the tongue.
The shape or construction of the feed-bar or stopper may be greatly varied, and
it may be extended a greater or less distance into the reservoir, and may be
provided with one, two or more longitudinal slits, or may have no slits according to
the proportions of the parts and the flow desired. The top feed-bar or finger may
be of greater or less length, and may be of any one of a great variety of shapes,
either parallel-sided, tapered, spear-headed or otherwise, or it may be formed as an
integral extension of the nozzle of the penholder, with or without a longitudinal
ink conducting groove on its under side communicating with the slit in the pen.
The penholder may be formed with a separable nozzle or pen holding section, or
this portion of the holder may be formed integrally with the reservoir.
My invention further provides certain constructions constituting essentially
modifications of the construction of the Swan pen referred to in the said
Provisional Specification of Watts. Instead of a single feed-bar or ink conductor
split longitudinally into two prongs or legs, the feed-bar may be made up of two
separate bars longitudinally grooved or otherwise, introduced on opposite sides of
the pen or nib and extending into the remote portion of the reservoir, being
preferably bowed or flared apart in the reservoir so as to touch the walls thereof,
and the wire instead of passing between them may pass along the outer side of
either or both. Their longitudinal grooves may readily be formed by constructing
them as longitudinal half-sections of a tube, as by splitting a tube of hard rubber
or other material longitudinally and turning the two halves back to back. Or one
half alone inay be turned with its back to the other half so that their convex sides
shall both stand in the same direction. The legs may be of equal or unequal
length, and one alone need project into the remote portion of the reservoir. The
longitudinal wire is preferable and highly desirable, but nevertheless may be
omitted.
Dated this 15th des of Tul. 2005
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, Loudon, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in Fountain Penholders.
I, WILLIAM WASHINGTON STEWART, of No. 117 Montague Street, in the
City of Brooklyn, County of Kings 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 fountain pens or penh Iders, and more particularly to
those of that class which are adapted to be filled with ink from the exterior and

page_text: without unscrewing or taking apart the holder. Fountain pens of this class are of
my invention, and were first disclosed in the Provisional Specification filed on my
behalf 25th February 1895, No. 4012, in the name of Andrew Calvin Watts, as a
communication from Mabie, Todd and Bard of New York, by whom said pens are
manufactured under licence from me. My present invention introduces further
forms or modifications adapted to provide for such external filling, and also
provides means for readily controlling the flow of ink and ensuring the cleanly
operation of the pen.
According to one construction of my invention the penholder being formed as
usual with a reservoir closed at the upper end and open at the lower end or nozzle
into which the pen or pen-nib is introduced, the opening or throat in this nozzle or
nib-holding section is nearly filled by means of a stopper or feed bar placed
therein, and which by the presence of the nib is crowded to one side, so that the
space intervening between itself and the inner wall of the nozzle becomes menis-
coidal, this space being subdivided by the shank of the nib, and further interrupted
by a feed-bar or wedge thrust in against the top or back of the nib, so that the
passage through the throat of the nozzle is subdivided into interstices of varying
thicknesses, so that in different portions they afford varying degrees of capillary or
adhesive attraction for the ink. The stopper is extended upward into the reservoir
and preferably through it, being fastened to its upper end or not as preferred.
This extension of the stopper is made tubular, and is formed with one or more
longitudinal capillary slits, and its bore is more or less filled or obstructed by a
wire of noncorrosive metal as silver or other suitable material, broom corn being
one example of such other material, which is held frictionally within the bore,
preferably in the case of a metal wire by being corrugated so as to bear against
opposite walls of the bore. On the projecting outer end of this wire is carried a
ball or head, which stands preferably somewhat within or above the lower end of
the nozzle, so that a partial chamber is formed on the under or concave side of the
pen-nib, which is partly enclosed and made annular by the presence of this head,
which approaches the nib and which is adjustable in position by drawing the wire
out more or less from the bore, so that the head can be in contact with the stopper
closing the bore, or can be drawn out to leave more free communication. This
adjustability is for the purpose of controlling the flow of ink to the nib, the flow
being less free when the head is pushed in close against the outer end of the bore,
and more free when it is drawn further down so as to uncover the opening of the
bore. As a further means for holding the wire frictionally in place, it is or may be
doubled or bent back upon itself so as to form a tongue or spring arm on its lower
end which tends to spring open in the bore of the feed-bar.
The accompanying drawings illustrate different embodiments of my invention.
Figs. 1 to 5 show the preferred form, Fig. 1 being a longitudinal mid-section,
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 sections on a larger scale on the lines 2, 3 and 4, respectively, in
Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 showing the internal parts removed.
Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another form or modification, Fig. 6 being a longitudinal
mid-section, and Fig. 7 showing the internal parts removed.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another form or modification, Fig. 8 being a longitudinal
mid-section, and Fig. 9 showing, partly in section, the various parts separated.
Figs. 10 and 11 show another construction, Fig. 10 being a longitudinal
mid-section, and Fig. 11 an end and side elevation of the feed-bar removed.
Figs. 12, 13, and 14 show modifications of the feed-bar or stopper.
Fig. 15 is a section of a further modification.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, let A designate the tubular holder or reservoir; B the
nozzle or nib-holding section which screws into the reservoir; C the writing pen or
nib; Da top feed-bar or key laid over the nib and extending back into the nozzle,
and E the feed-bar or stopper-bar extending from the exterior through the nozzle
and into the reservoir. In this construction it extends through the reservoir and
is screw-threaded at its upper end a, which screws into the closed upper end of the

page_text: reservoir. The lower end of the bar E is enlarged at E' to form a partial stopper
for nearly closing the throat or passage through the nozzle. Sufficient space is
left between the stopper-head and nozzle to admit the nib C and key or top.
feed-bar D. The heel of the nib is best thrust somewhat back of the head E¹, so
that it projects into the mass of ink in the lower part of the reservoir, the ink
filling the interstices bb, Fig. 3, around the stopper, nib, and top feed. The
proportions are such that these interstices are sufficiently contracted to hold the
ink by capillary attraction and prevent it rolling out or bleeding. The main
feed-bar E extends beyond the nozzle and into the main portion of the reservoir,
and in the construction shown extends entirely through the reservoir, being
fastened to the upper end thereof, as shown. The bar E is tubular, being bored
through either for its entire length, or for the greater portion of its length. In
_addition, it is formed on one or more sides with a slit c, formed by sawing through
from the exterior into the bore, this slit extending longitudinally to or through the
head E. In this construction the slit is shown as not entering the head. Through
the bore is thrust a wire F of polished non-corrodible metal, as gold or silver. This
wire fits firmly enough into the bore to prevent its falling out, and it has on its
outer end a head or ball G, which is accessible and may be engaged by the finger
to more or less draw out the wire. It is shown pressed in in Figs. 1, 6, 8, and 10.
This adjustability is for the purpose of controlling the flow of ink to the pen, the
flow being less free when the wire is pushed in so as to bring the hall close against
the outer end of the bore, and being more free when the wire is drawn farther
down, so as to move the ball away from the opening of the bore. To enable the
wire to fit tightly enough to avoid slipping out and yet not be so large as to wholly
fill or seal the bore, the wire is crinkled or corrugated, as shown at f in Fig. 5, so
that its projecting corrugations will bear against the bore or fit frictionally in the
slit c and serve to hold the wire in place. As a further means for holding the wire
frictionally in place, it is doubled or bent back upon itself so as to form a tongue or
spring-arm d on its lower end, which tends to spring open in the bore of the feed-
bar, and hold the wire frictionally in any position.
In Figs. 1 to 5 the bar E is shown as slitted through longitudinally on opposite
sides, forming two opposite slits cc, as shown best in Fig. 4, the wire F extending
through the bore or duct between them. This construction thus approximates to
that shown in said Watts' Specification No. 4012, wherein are explained the
principles governing the construction of a "self-filler" fountain pen.
In the construction of Swan fountain pen disclosed in the said Provisional
Specification in the name of said Watts, No. 4012, the feed-bar or ink conductor
of which is split into two prongs grooved or channeled longitudinally, these prongs
or legs are separated within the reservoir by being bowed apart so as to leave
between them as wide a cavity as possible traversed by the longitudinal wire, to
facilitate the action of the pen in being filled from the exterior. In my present
construction, instead of flaring or bowing apart the two halves of the tubular
feed-bar where it is divided by the slits, I have left the bar unchanged in shape
and have introduced another means for securing the requisite continuous communi-
cation from the feeders adjacent to the pen to the remote portion of the reservoir
necessary to properly secure the unobstructed flow necessary for filling from the
exterior. To this end I place in the holder a bar or tongue H (shown separately
in Fig. 5) forming an extension from the nozzle into the reservoir on one side
thereof, which is provided with a split tube, or spring clip h, which holds it in place
by frictionally clinging against the walls of the reservoir. This tongue is first
thrust in the holder, and the nozzle is screwed in against it, so that its interior
surfaces are brought into communication with the surfaces of the tongue. This
tongue serves the purpose of letting air flow up past a seal of ink or film in the
annular space around the feed-bar. In other words, the tongue breaks up the
annular space on one side and thereby renders the space irregular and reduces
the film to varying degrees of thickness, while opening a fluid passage past the

page_text: film, so that the air, when even very slightly compressed by the inflow of ink in
filling, may break through the inner portion of the film by rupturing it, and hence
may freely escape or exhale upwardly to and through the nozzle.
By extending the stopper or feed-bar entirely through the holder and screwing
it into the upper end thereof it is given a fixed position within the nozzle, so that
the nib can be removed and replaced without danger of displacing the stopper, and
the holder can readily be fitted with different nibs. Thus the holder may be sold
without any nib and be fitted by the purchaser with a nib to his liking.
In operation, the flow is readily adjusted by moving the ball G up or down, and
the stopper-bar serves to keep the holder moist at the exterior and prevent drying
and caking. Thus the dry air which enters the holder to gradually take the place
of the ink which is used is tempered or moistened before entering the interstices,
so that these interstices are kept free and prevented from choking or filling up.
The ball-head G contributes to this result by preventing the direct entrance of air
into the vents, the air having to pass around the ball and being thereby introduced
into the semi-enclosed space within the end of the nozzle. After writing, when
the pen is to be carried in the pocket, it is first inverted, whereby the suction in
the holder draws back the ink which has been attracted to the nib, thereby
freeing the exterior surfaces in order to prevent any overflow into the cap. The
cap is then applied, as usual, and the pen placed in the pocket.
The shape or construction of the feed-bar or stopper may be greatly varied, and
it may be extended a greater or less distance into the reservoir, and may be
provided with one, two or more longitudinal slits, or may have no slits, according
to the proportions of the parts and the flow desired. The top feed-bar or finger
may be of greater or less length, and may be of any one of a great variety of
shapes, either parallel-sided, tapered, spear-headed or otherwise, or it may be
formed as an integral extension of the nozzle of the pen-holder, with or without
a longitudinal ink conducting groove on its under side communicating with the
slit in the nib. The penholder may be formed with a separable nozzle or nib-
holding section, or this portion of the holder may be formed integrally with the
reservoir.
In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the stopper-bar E has its head E'
formed with a shoulder e, which when pushed in strikes against an internal
shoulder g in the nozzle and limits the movement of the stopper. The slit e on
one side is extended entirely through the head of the stopper, as clearly shown in
Fig. 7, where this portion of the slit is lettered c¹. An under-feed wire i is
provided, which is received in the slit c¹, and its outer end projects against the
under side of the nib, overlapping the slit thereof, so as to serve as an under feed
or duct for conducting the ink to the under side of the nib, thereby supplementing
the top feed D. This top feed is in this construction in the form of a metal plate
or tongue of the shape in top view. shown in Fig. 7.
Figs. 8 and 9 show a further construction, the stopper-head being slitted entirely
through, as in Fig. 7, the top feed in this case consisting of a finger or extension Di,
prolonged from the holder A, and having, preferably, a groovej on its under side,
as most clearly shown in Fig. 9. In this construction the nozzle is formed in one
piece with the holder. To fill the larger opening thus made, a tubular sleeve I is
provided which fits around the head of the stopper, thereby filling or nearly filling
the space between the stopper-head and the interior of the barrel, with the exception
of the space required for inserting the nib. This sleeve is formed with an under-
feed projection or finger I', which extends forward against the under side of the
nib. The fit of this against the nib is sufficiently loose to leave narrow spaces.
between, such as will admit in connection with the groovej of a sufficient passage
or flow of ink. Ink and air may also pass through the bore in the feed-bar and its
slit c.
An outer sleeve or finger-piece J is applied over the nozzle portion of the
holder.
Figs. 10 and 11 show a modification of my invention in which there is no separate

page_text: nozzle, the body of the barrel or holder of the pen being provided with a forward
projection or finger D¹, constituting the top feed as in Fig. 8, which extends over
the top of the nib. The feed-bar or stopper E is in this construction provided
with slits cc on opposite sides, but not extended through the head, as in Fig. 1.
The head is notched around its circumference with longitudinal notches or
grooves kk, and in addition has transverse notches or recesses 1 Fig. 11, forming
pockets or grips for holding a small mass of iuk.
The stopper may itself be formed with a projection or finger constituting an
under feed for the nib, as shown by m in Fig. 12. In case it is desired to use the
holder with a smaller nib or with a given size of nib to employ a larger size of
holder or nozzle, the superfluous space around the stopper may be closed by fitting
over it a sleeve or ring n, as shown in Fig. 13. Such a ring or sleeve can have a
feed-finger formed upon it, as shown at I" in Fig. 9. For further attracting
moisture around the stopper the stopper or head of the feed-bar may be slitted
longitudinally by cuts or slits crossing each other, so as to make it elastic, and
provide additional interstices for holding ink, as shown in Fig. 14, where p p are
the slits..
For using a small nib with a holder of the character provided by my present
invention I may construct the stopper without any bar, the head E' only being
used, as shown in Fig. 15. This figure shows it as being formed with a feed-
finger m coming underneath. the nib, as in Fig. 12. For such a small nib, the
wire F forms a sufficient bar or extension of the stopper into the reservoir.
In said Specification No. 4012, and in other patents of mine, the stopper filling
the throat of the nozzle is arranged concentrically, so that the space around the
stopper is annular, and the nib is held in the enlarged portion of the nozzle and
does not project into its throat or narrowest portion, feed grooves or ducts being in
such case arranged to lead the ink to the pen. By my present construction I
mount the stopper in the throat of the nozzle, and then by thrusting in the nib
against one side of the stopper the latter is pressed into an eccentric position, so
that the annular space is reduced on one side and enlarged upon the other, rendering
it substantially crescent-shaped or menisciform. This menisciform space is sub-
divided by the shank of the nib and by the top feed-bar, so that it is cut up into
the interstices b b. (Shown in Fig. 3.) These interstices, it will be observed,
taper from a wider portion to their narrowest portions, where they terminate, so
that they afford varying degrees of attraction for the ink, the liquid being attracted
most strongly in the narrower spaces. Hence, when the pen is inverted for filling,
the ink being drawn back into the reservoir, leaves the wider spaces free for the
exhalation of air, the narrower spaces being utilized for conducting the applied ink
downward into the reservoir.
My invention further provides certain constructions constituting essentially
modifications of the construction of the Swan pen referred to in said Provisional
Specification of Watts. These are shown in Figs. 16 to 22. Instead of a single
feed-bar or ink conductor split longitudinally into two prongs or legs, the feed-bar
may (as shown in Figs. 16 to 18) be made up of two separate bars F¹ G' longi-
tudinally grooved or otherwise, introduced on opposite sides of the pen or nib and
extending into the remote portion of the reservoir, being preferably bowed or flared
apart in the reservoir so as to touch the walls thereof; (Fig. 16) and the wire H¹
instead of passing between them may pass along the outer side of either or both.
Their longitudinal grooves may readily be formed by constructing them as longi-
tudinal half-sections of a tube, as by splitting a tube of hard rubber or other
material longitudinally and turning the two halves back to back. Or (as shown
in Figs. 19 to 22) one half F2 alone may be turned with its back to the other half G
so that their convex sides shall both stand in the same direction. The legs may
be of equal or unequal length, and one alone F need project into the remote
portion of the reservoir. The longitudinal wire is preferable and highly desirable,
but nevertheless may be omitted.

page_text: 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 fountain pen having a reservoir holder, and a stopper partly filling the
throat of the nozzle and pressed into an eccentric position by the pen so that the
intervening space becomes menisciform, said stopper formed as a bar extending into
the reservoir having a bore or duct through it, and a longitudinal slit commu-
nicating with said bore, and a wire partly filling said bore and having a head
upon its exterior by which it may be adjusted therein, essentially as herein before
set forth.
2. A fountain pen having a reservoir holder, and a stopper partly filling the
throat of the nozzle and pressed into an eccentric position by the pen so that the
intervening space becomes menisciform, said stopper formed as a bar extending into
the reservoir having a bore or duct through it, and a longitudinal slit communicating
with said bore, and a wire formed in corrugations engaging said bore frictionally
and partly filling it, and having a head at its end by which it may be adjusted,
essentially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. A fountain pen having a reservoir holder, with a feeder extending from the
reservoir through the nozzle to the pen, combined with a tongue mounted in the
reservoir and extending along its inner wall to form a continuation of the feeding
surfaces of the nozzle, whereby the self-filling of the pen is facilitated, essentially
as herein before set forth.
4. The improved construction of fountain pen, essentially as hereinbefore set
forth with special reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings.
5. The improved construction of fountain pen, essentially as hereinbefore set
forth with special reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.
6. The improved construction of fountain pen, essentially as hereinbefore set
forth with special reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.
7. The improved construction of fountain pen, essentially as hereinbefore set
forth with special reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings.
8. The improved construction of fountain pen, essentially as hereinbefore set
forth with special reference to Figures 16 to 22 of the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of April 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.