Improvement in Ink-stands.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Ink-stands.
I, JOHN LARKIN, Gentleman of Bradford, in the county of McKean, and State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENT IN INR-STANDS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to an improvement in ink-stands and it consists in an ink-
stand, the reservoir of which is made entirely of flexible soft rubber. in combination
with a tube which extends down through the top of the reservoir to near its bottom,
and is provided with a cone at its upper end, as will he more fully described
hercinafter.
The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of an ink-stand which
embodies my invention.
A represents the reservoir of an ink-stand which is made of soft collapsible rubber,
and is preferably given a dome shape as here shown. The bottom and a portion of
the sides may be made of thicker and heavier rubber, and the upper portion of the
dome will be quite thin so as to respond to the slightest pressure of the pen.
In order to brace, strengthen, and to make the ink-stand more rigid at its
bottom, there is inserted in the bottom a circular perforated disk or plate O, of any
suitable sheet metal, and this plate is entirely surrounded by the rubber at all points
so that the ink cannot come in contact with it.
Through the extreme top of the dome, is made a small opening through which the
lower end of the tube D, which is made of glass, wood, rubber or any suitable material
which may be preferred, passes into the inkstand. To one side of the opening
through which the tube is inserted, is made a small opening P, which is closed air-
tight by a plug or cap R, of any kind. By removing this plug or cap air is allowed
to pass in and out of the reservoir of the inkstand so as not to interfere with its
proper working after the tube D, has been removed for any cause, and then returned
to position. Where the tube has been removed and is then returned to position, a
greater quantity of air is in the body than is necessary, and hence it is difficult to
return the tube to position, and then have the ink delivered in proper quantities. If,
however, the cap is removed and all superfluous air is allowed to escape through the
opening P, this trouble is avoided.
The upper end of the tube is formed into a funnel or cone y, or given any other
shape which may be desired, and into which the ink rises when the tube is depressed
by the pressure of the pen upon its upper end. The tube is nearly as long as the
reservoir is deep, so that the lower end of the tube will be held just above the top of
the bottom, and when the tube is depressed by the pressure of the pen its lower end
will strike against the bottom of the body and thus prevent any further downward
movement of the tube. The lower end of the tube is closed, and through the side
of the tube at any suitable distance above its lower end is made one or more
openings a, through which the ink is forced when the top of the body is depressed
by the pressure of the pen upon the cone, as shown in dotted lines. The depression
of the top of the body compresses the confined air, and the pressure of this air upon
the top of the ink forces a portion of it through the tube into the cone or funnel upon
its top. The only necessity is that the ink shall extend above the opening in the
lower end of the tube, and then when the tube is depressed it carries the top of the
dome downward with it, and this downward movement of the top of the dome forces
the ink up into the cone or funnel.
In case the vertical opening through the tube is made large enough to allow the
ink to be squirted up through the cone or funnel when the pressure of the Dan is

page_text: brought to bear upon it, the vertical opening through the tube may be reduced in
size by having a pin T, to project horizontally through the tube as shown. If the
opening through the tube is one eighth of an inch, the pin should be about half
this size. This pin allows the ink to rise freely around it, but it breaks the force of
the rising currents of ink in such a manner that it cannot be squirted by a sudden
pressure upon the cone or funnel.
The stand is either filled from the bottom by removing the cork or plug, or
through the funnel by depressing the bulb and inserting the funnel in the ink, whereby
it fills the reservoir by suction.
The well being absolutely air-tight and the ink under a hydraulic seal there is no
perceptable evaporation, consequently the ink is in a perfect condition at the end of
six months or longer. In ordinary inkstands, ink will evaporate one fourth of an inch
in 24 hours, and will become a thick slimy substance in seven days.
Ink is composed of various minerals, irons, etc., etc., and volatile substances.
When the volatile matters evaporate, the minerals etc., are precipitated to the
bottom, thereby rendering the ink valueless. This inkstand is entirely automatic in
in its workings, the ink responds to the slightest pressure and comes instantaneously.
When the pressure is relieved, the ink disappears as quickly as it came. The stand
can be turned up-side-down without leakage. If there is no pressure on the rubber
it will not leak. Ink having no action whatever on rubber, the ink will retain its
bright color of carmine or otherwise. In ordinary inkstands you are liable to overload
the pen.
With the above stand you can obtain any amount of ink on the pen that
you wish by light or heavy pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invon-
tion, and in what manner the samo is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. An inkstand the reservoir of which is composed wholly of rubber, the bottom
and sides of the reservoir being formed of thick rubber and the top of thin collapsible
rubber, substantially as shown.
2. The combination with an inkstand the reservoir of which is composed wholly of
rubber, the bottom and sides of the reservoir being formed of thick rubber, and the
top of thin collapsible rubber, of an endwise moving tube which extends down
through the top into the body and provided with a cone or funnel at its outer end,
whereby the top is depressed by a pressure upon the cone, and the ink forced therein
automatically, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1889
S. S. BROMHEAD,
99, Newgato Street, London, Patent Agent.