AN IMPROVED PENHOLDER AND MEANS OF SUPPLYING INK TO PENS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Darling, of Stanes, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PENHOLDER AND MEANS
OF SUPPLYING INK TO PENS"
Sealed the 4th June 1867, and dated the 6th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Darling at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
December 1866.
I, JOHN DARLING, of Stanes, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "AN IMPROVED PENHOLDER.
AND MEANS OF SUPPLYING INK TO PENS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its essential object the supplying of an ordinary pen
used for writing with ink without the necessity of dipping the pen into a bottle
or reservoir containing the ink or writing fluid. For the purpose, then, of.
supplying the ink the handle or bolder of the pen is made hollow or tubular
and fitted at its upper end with a small cistern or reservoir into which the ink
or writing fluid is placed. The outer end or one side of the reservoir is
provided with a flexible diaphragm to which the pressure of the finger or
thumb is applied, the action being the forcing of the ink or writing fluid down
through the tubular part of the holder, a small opening being made at that
point where the pen passes into its holder through which the ink escapes and

page_text: runs into the hollow part of the body of the pen on to the writing nib. The
portion of the holder near to which one of the fingers is applied when the pen
is held for writing is provided with a diaphragm, the occasional or continual
pressure of the finger on which causing a sufficient flow of the ink or writing
fluid. When the pressure of the finger is withdrawn the ink or writing fluid
ceases to flow, and when not in use it is preferred to protect the pen by a case
or sheath which can be put on or taken off as required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Darling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DARLING, of Stane, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Darling, Her special license that I, the said John Darling, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Darling, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED PENHOLDER AND MEANS OF
SUPPLYING INK TO PENS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Darling, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be. filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next. and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Darling, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed;.
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and.
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its essential object the supplying of an ordinary.
pen used for writing with ink without the necessity of dipping the pen into a

page_text: .bottle or reservoir containing the ink or writing fluid. For the purpose, then,
of supplying the ink the handle or holder of the pen is made hollow or tubular
and fitted at its upper end with a small cistern or reservoir into which the ink
or writing fluid is placed. The outer end or one side of the reservoir is provided
with a flexible diaphragm to which the pressure of the finger or thumb is
applied, the action being the forcing of the ink or writing fluid down through
the tubular part of the holder, a small opening being made at that point where
the pen passes into or is held by the holder through which the ink escapes and
runs into the hollow curved part of the body of the pen on to the writing nibs.
The, portion of the holder near to which one of the fingers is applied when the
pen is held for writing is provided with a diaphragm, the occasional or continual
pressure of the finger upon which causing a sufficient flow of the ink or writing
fluid. When the pressure of the finger is withdrawn the ink or writing fluid
ceases to flow, and when not in use it is preferred to protect the pen by a case
or sheath, which can be taken off or put on as required.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall
now proceed to describe more particularly the system, mode, or manner in or
under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect,
reference being had to the several Figures on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings which I have hereunto appended, that is to say:―
Figure 1 is a plan of the under side of the penholder and pen constructed
in accordance with my Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the
same; Figure 3 being an elevation of the case or sheath for protecting the
pen or writing nib.
The holder A is tubular throughout, and may be composed of any suitable
material; inside of the holder is placed a piece of elastic tube B, as seen in
Figure 2. The top of the holder is expanded so as to form a cistern C for
the reception of the ink or writing fluid, and is also fitted with a cap D, the
central conical part E of which is composed of the same elastic material as
the tube B, the raised part E of the cap being thus formed that a slight
pressure thereon forces the ink down the tube B, and by the occasional or
continual pressure of the thumb or finger on the projecting part F of the
elastic tube B a constant supply of ink is carried to the writing nib through
the small distributing tube G.
It will be observed on, referring to Figure 1 that a portion of the metallic
case is cut away to allow a part of the elastic tube, as at F, being left clear
for the thumb or finger to act upon.
When the pen is not in use it can
be completely protected by placing over it the case or shield H, shown in
Figure 3, so that the holder and pen may be safely carried in the pocket.

page_text: Figure 4 represents a plan of the penholder and pen under another modi-
fication of my Invention, Figure 5 being a longitudinal section of the same.
The general arrangement of the holder under this second modification is
similar to the first, but instead of having the top expanded, as in Figures 1
and 2, for the reception of the ink, it is made of the same diameter as the
body, thus giving the holder a much neater appearance; a neater cap is also
applied to the top of the holder under this modification, which will be clearly
understood on reference to the Figures. The cap D¹, Figures 4 and 5, is
fitted with a moveable head I with an elastic pad J inside, so that when the
supply of ink is getting low in the bolder a slight pressure on the moveable
head forces the ink, by means of the elastic pad J, down through the body
of the holder, and is carried through the tube G on to the writing nib by the
pressure of the thumb or finger on the elastic tube at F, as described in
reference to the first modification. It is preferred under this modification to
fit the holder with a sliding shield K, as at Figure 4; this shield is slipped
over and protects the projecting part F of the elastic tube when the holder is
not in use. The writing nib may also be protected by a case or sheath as in
the first modification.
The manner of operating with the holder may be thus briefly described :-
When it is desired to use the holder under either modification the cap D
or D¹ is unscrewed and a sufficient quantity of ink is poured in ; when this is
done the cap is again screwed on and the holder is ready for use. The holder
is held in the usual manner with the finger or thumb placed on the projecting
part F of the elastic tube, the slight pressure of the finger or thumb upon the
part F during the operation of writing being sufficient to cause the ink to
flow through the distributing tube G to the writing nib. If the ink should
under any circumstances cease to flow freely an occasional pressure on the
elastic part E or movable head I of the caps D or D¹ will completely maintain
the flow of ink until the supply in the reservoir is exhausted.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letter Patent is,-
First, the construction of reservoir penholders with an elastic top or head
as well as an elastic thumb or finger piece for the purpose of forcing the ink
or writing fluid on to the nibs of the pen, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second, the application and use of the tube for distributing the ink over

page_text: the body of the pen, as herein-before described, or any mere modification
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Darling, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-seven.
JOHN DARLING. (L.S.)