IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Henry Davis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1882.
WALTER HENRY DAVIS of New North Street, Bloomsbury in the County of
Middlesex, Watch Maker "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS."
A
This invention relates to what are known both as stylus or stylo-graphic and
anti-stylus or stylographic pens and consists, 1st in a novel arrangement of parts
for admitting air to the pen, and for preventing the escape of ink from the air
holes, and 2ndly to a novel arrangement of the needle and point of the stylus pen
whereby the construction of these pens is greatly simplified.
In carrying out my invention I may combine the two kinds of pen in one, or I
may form each separately. When combined I form a stylus pen at one end of the
body and an anti-stylus at the other. The body I make of any desired length
and diameter and divide it centrally of its length into two compartments or
reservoirs by means of a block of vulcanite or its equivalent into which the air
tubes are fitted.
As the arrangement of the air tubes will be the same for either form of pen,
whether combined or separate, I will proceed to describe it with reference to a
stylus pen only, in which case the vulcanite block or its equivalent will be at one
end of the body.
In this block a cavity of any desired depth is bored, and at right angles thereto
and at about half its depth a small air hole in connection therewith is formed.
Into this cavity is fitted the closed end of a tube of the same length as the
body, and which is intended to form the air tube. That portion of the tube which
is inserted in the cavity I slightly taper so that an air space may be left all round
it. At some distance from the end of the tube, but so as to be within the cavity,
and in connection with the air space I form a small hole by which air can pass into
the air tube.
By thus forming the air hole in the tube at some distance from the closed end,
I obtain a small reservoir into which any ink that may enter the air tube will flow
when the pen is not in use, instead of passing out through the air hole as in other
pens of the kind.
.
The point of the pen which is screwed or otherwise secured to the body I make
conical both externally and internally leaving a cup-shaped shoulder internally
near the tin to form a valve seat.

page_text: The needle I form in one piece with an enlargement which is intended to act as
a valve and rest on the cup-shaped seat in the point. The needle below the
enlargement is tapered to fit the point so that when the pen is out of use the
needle will entirely close up the tip. This tapering will also serve to regulate the
flow of ink when the pen is in use. The needle is secured to one end of a coiled
spring the other end being screwed into the air_tube. By securing the needle in
this manner a considerable amount of flexibility is imparted to it, and the enlarge-
ment will adjust itself with ease on the valve seat forming thereby a perfect valve.
The pressure of the valve on its seat can be regulated by more or less screwing
the spring into or out of the air tube. That part of the spring which is screwed
into the air tube serves also to impede the entrance of ink while allowing free
passage to the air.
Provision is made to allow for the escape of air while screwing the point to the
body after refilling with ink.
I apply a short spring to the air tube of the anti-stylus pen to impede the
entrance of the ink as above mentioned.
In making this kind of pen, the lower end of the body is closed by a plug of
vulcanite or other material in which a semi-circular groove is made to receive the
nib which may be of the ordinary kind sold by stationers.
Through this plug is inserted an ink conductor tube, the outer end of which is
bent so as to conduct the ink on to the nib in the well known manner.
Instead of inserting the nib in the vulcanite plug a metal holder may be used to
which the nib is applied in the usual way.