IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN OR RESERVOIR PENS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN OR RESERVOIR PENS." A communication from
abroad by Alonzo T. Cross, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of
"
Amorine
Sealed the 9th January 1880, and dated the 14th November 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN OR RESERVOIR
PENS." A communication from abroad by Alonzo T. Cross, of Providence, Rhode
Island, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of fountain or reservoir pens in which a
tapering tube of small calibre enclosing a loosely fitting spindle is employed in
writing, and it consists first in supporting the writing spindle with its holder or
guide upon a slender spring rod secured to the upper end of the ink reservoir,
so that by slightly bending the rod near its point of fastening the spindle holder
or guide located at the lower end of the rod will when the point section is unscrewed
be thrown to one side of the ink-chamber, thus presenting a comparatively large
opening for the insertion of the point of an ink-filler, and also serving to prevent
the accidental forcing of the ink into the air-duct made in the wall of the ink
reservoir; secondly, in an ink reservoir provided with an air duct in its side wall
in combination with a metallic rod or tube serving to support the writing spindle,
and also to strengthen and support the vent valve screw at the upper end of the
reservoir; and thirdly, in providing the closed bore of the spindle-holder or guide
with a vent hole for the circulation of ink around the upper end of the connected
spindle, thus preventing the formation of obstructing sediment.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a fountain pen furnished with the said
improvements.
Figure 2 is a side view of the writing spindle, spindle-holder, or guide and spring
rod detached from the reservoir.
inion of the l
11

page_text: Figure 4 is a side elevation and partial section shewing the proper position of the
filler for supplying ink to the reservoir.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 4.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is the reservoir, preferably made of hard india-rubber, vulcanite, or similar
material, and provided with an air duct a formed in the side wall of the reservoir,
and terminating at its lower end slightly above the screw thread B and point
section C. The spring rod D is held or attached at the upper end of the reservoir A,
and serves to support the writing spindle E and its holder or guide F in such a
manner that upon unscrewing and removing the point section C the guide and
spindle will be thrown by the spring of the rod D to one side of the ink chamber G,
near the aperture of the air-duct a, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, by which means a
comparatively large opening will be provided for the insertion of the point of the
filler H, used for the purpose of supplying ink to the reservoir. The position
assumed by the spindle bolder or guide, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, prevents the
danger otherwise experienced of injecting the ink from the filler into the air-duct;
the proper position and direction of the point h, of the filler H, is also shewn in
these Figures of the Drawing.
The upper end of the rod passes centrally into the hard india-rubber or vulcanite
screw I, at the upper end of the reservoir, and serves to prevent the screw from
being broken off by screwing down the vent-valve J too forcibly or otherwise; I
am thus enabled to overcome a serious difficulty resulting from the necessarily
small size allowed to the screw I by reason of the desirability of avoiding contact
with the screw thread in boring out the air-duct a in order that the lower face
of the vent valve may seat upon and completely cover the upper aperture of the
air duct.
The spindle holder or guide F, made of hard india rubber vulcanite or similar
material, is adjustably held upon the end of the rod D in order to conveniently
change and adjust the relative positions of the end of the spindle E and ink
delivering tube O.
The lower end of the holder or guide F is provided with a centrally located
hole P to receive the loosely fitting enlarged cylindrical portion e of the
spindle E.
The spindle E is secured to the holder or guide F by means of the pin K passing
loosely through the hole L in the cylindrical enlarged portione of the spindle, and
is operated in its downward movement by means of a spring M.
The central bore P is closed at its upper end, and an orifice N is made in the side
of the holder or guide F to connect with the bore P in order to allow of the ink to
circulate freely around the sides of the loosely fitting cylindrical portion e of the
spindle. The spindle holder or guide F is provided in its enlarged portion with
the grooves g, g, for the free downward passage of ink towards the writing point
of the pen.
The spring rod D may be made of silver or other metal or material not liable to
be acted upon by the acids of the ink, and may be either solid or hollow, as
preferred.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. In a fountain or reservoir pen, the combination of the spindle, the holder
or guide, and the spring rod with an ink reservoir, substantially as above
described.
Second. In a fountain or reservoir pen, the combination of the spindle, the holder
or guide, and the spring rod with an ink reservoir provided with an air-duct within
its side wall, substantially as herein described.
Third. In a fountain or reservoir pen, the ink reservoir provided with an air-
duct within its side wall and combined with a metallic solid or tubular rod serving

page_text: both to support the writing spindle and to strengthen the screw for the vent
valve, substantially as above specified
Fourth. In a fountain or reservoir pen, the side orifice made to connect with the
closed bore P of the spindle holder or guide for the purpose of ink circulation,
substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
W. ROB. LAKE
(L.B.)