Improvements in Vessels for Holding Ink or other Liquid.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels for Holding Ink or other Liquid.
I, WILLIAM HARVEY BERKY, of Hoosick Falls, County of Rensselaer, and
State of New York, one of the United States of America, Machinist, do hereby
"and in
eclare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN INK-STANDS
hat manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
ained in and by the following statement:-
My invention is designed to hold a body of ink or other liquid, in such a manner
hat it can be fed upward in small quantities, as it may be needed for use; whereby
he greater body of liquid may be retained in a fresh and clean condition, and not
iable to spill if the vessel be overturned.
Figs. 3, 5 and 6 show different forms of the cover and tube.
Fig. 4 shows a construction, not herein claimed, specially designed for acids used
by chemists.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A is a vessel of glass or similar
material, open at the top, and provided with a lateral filling aperture a, having a
vertically movable plug a', a special function of which will be hereafter explained.
The upper edge of the vessel A is reduced in diameter and provided with a
bead a² and recess a sort of ogee construction being the result. This formation
of the upper edge of the vessel A, may, however, be modified. In Fig. 1, (and also
in Fig. 4, hereafter to be more fully described), the bottom of the vessel A. is
provided with a small well at, not, however, employed in Fig. 3.
B is a flexible cover formed of rubber, thin metal or other substance sufficiently
elastic, sprung over the bead a² and retained within the recess a³ the outer edge
of the flexible cover B being provided with a stiffening bead b. The cover B is, at
its center, developed into a tube reaching to a point near the bottom of the
vessel A., and as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, reaching slightly within the well at. The
plug a', fitting in the filling aperture a, is intended to be moved, by sliding or
screwing vertically therein.
Supposing the vessel A. to be partially filled with ink, and it is desired to use a
small quantity of it for writing purposes, the user will slightly depress the flexible
cover B, whereupon the compression of air within the vessel will force a small
quantity of liquid upward through the tube to the funnel-shaped space b² at the
upper end of said tube. The pressure of air within the vessel, and, consequently
the feeding upward of the ink, may be nicely regulated by adjusting the plug a¹
within the filling aperture.
In Fig. 3, substantially the same construction is shown, except that the tube b¹
does not extend to the bottom of the vessel A, which is not provided with a well a*.
In other respects, the vessel and tube are the same as in Fig. 1. A ball or globe d
of metal or glass, is secured to one end of a rod d', which rod is passed through the
tube , nearly to the bottom of the vessel A, thus allowing the ball to close the
funnel-space of the tube 1, when the cover B is in its normal position.
In Fig. 4 is shown a device in all respects the same as that of Figs. 1 and 2,
except that the tube is formed of glass, and has an upper funnel-shaped mouth 63,
said glass tube being secured to the flexible cover B, the central part of which is
perforated and beaded to allow of a tight connection between it and said glass tube.
The inner edge of the central perforation of the flexible cover B is beaded at e, so
as to rest within an annular depression e' formed in the tube 6. The device shown
in Fig. 4 is specially designed to hold acids for chemical purposes.

page_text: Fig. 5 shows a modification adapted for use with ordinary or small-necked
bottles such a construction being especially useful to draughtsmen employing
india-ink. The bottle, of ordinary construction, is clamped by a rubber or flexible
cover B, having a tube formed as a part of it, the cover being enlarged in
diameter as compared with the diameter of the neck around which it fits.
In such
an arrangement, the elasticity of the cover adapts it to the necks of bottles of
various sizes.
In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, an important consideration is
the fact that the flat top of the cover surrounding the depression or funnel-shaped
space 12 in the center, causes said space to be enlarged as the cover is depressed,
thus enabling all the ink raised to be held, without there being danger of
overflowing, as would be the case were the funnel-shaped space of a fixed size.
Another feature, common to all the constructions and modifications shown, is the
returned edge of the cover, whereby a large area of cover is permissible while the
cover is adapted to fit a bottle having a small neck.
In Fig. 6 the tube is enlarged immediately below the funnel-space 6² to admit
loosely a float c of glass or other material, which closes the space; the ink is kept
up in the tube by pressure, maintained by means of the plug a, say to the point A¹.
The point of the pen depresses the float c, and the ink having been raised, the float
offers no serious resistance to the returning fluid, and acts as a valve to close the
opening. One advantage of this construction is that the ink cannot rise if pressure
should be accidentally applied to the cover, as by a dusting brush or otherwise; and
also that evaporation is entirely arrested.
My invention may be applied to any ordinary ink-stand or bottle having a suitable
neck.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination with a vessel having a beaded and recessed or ogce neck, of
a flexible elastic cover having a central tube homogeneous therewith, whereby a
close joint may be effected between said vessel and cover, substantially as set
forth.
2. A vessel having a beaded and recessed neck, combined with a flexible elastic
cover having a central tube homogeneous therewith and returned edge adapted to
fit said neck, as shown whereby a cover of large area may be applied to the neck
of a bottle of small size, substantially as set forth.
3. A vessel having a neck, substantially as described, combined with a flexible
elastic cover having a tube homogeneous therewith connected centrally thereto, said
cover having a flat top surrounding the mouth of the tube, whereby, as the cover is
depressed as described, the mouth of the tube will be enlarged, as set forth.
4. An ink-stand or vessel having a filling aperture and a movable plug fitted
thereto, combined with a flexible elastic cover adapted to fit the neck of the vessel,
and having a central tube homogeneous therewith extending approximately to the
bottom of said vessel, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1891.
WILLIAM HARVEY BERRY.
Witnesses:
WM. ROBERTSON, Machinist, Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
HUGH FULLERTON, Labourer, Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
Haseltine Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.