IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Ransome, of Ipswich, in the County o
Suffolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS."
Sealed the 10th October 1861, and dated the 16th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Ransome at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th April 1861.
I, ROBERT RANSOME, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN INKSTANDS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in inkstands. For these
purposes in order to obtain an inkstand which may be carried in the pocket
conveniently, and yet have a broad base to support it when placed on a desk,
table, or other surface, the following construction is produced:-It is preferred
that the ink vessel should be rectangular in form, but the shape of the vessel
may be varied. At its lower end there are formed projecting necks or axes,
on which the ink vessel can be moved into a horizontal or vertical position,
and in some cases these necks or axes are arranged to slide in suitable grooves
in the frame which contains the ink vessel. These necks or axes are to admit
of the ink vessel folding down into the frame, so that when folded into a

page_text: horizontal position the ink vessel may lie within the frame, thus forming a flat
structure, which will occupy but a small space in a waistcoat or other pocket,
but when the ink vessel is vertical the frame forms the base or stand. It is
preferred to cover the neck or mouth of the ink vessel with a spring cover,
lined with vulcanized india-rubber, or the ink vessel may be otherwise closed,
and the circumstance of the vessel being surrounded by a close fitting frame
when out of use tends to prevent the cover from opening when the ink vessel
is in the pocket.
In another arrangement the ink vessel has only one axis or neck, which is
at its lower end, and the parts of the frame or case are made to fold in such
manner that when opened out the frame forms the base of the ink vessel,
which on being turned partly round on its neck or axis retains the parts of the
frame extended as a base to support the vessel in a vertical position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Ransome in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
RANSOME, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Ransome, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Ransome,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Robert Ransome, my executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INKSTANDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Ransome, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Ransome, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in inkstands. For these
purposes in order to obtain an inkstand which may be carried in the pocket
conveniently, and yet have a broad base to support it when placed on a desk,
table, or other surface, the following construction is produced-It is preferred
that the ink vessel should be rectangular in form, but the shape of the vessel
may be varied. At its lower end there are formed projecting necks or axes,
on which the ink vessel can be moved into a horizontal or vertical position,
and in some cases these necks or axes are arranged to slide in suitable grooves
in the frame which contains the ink vessel. These necks or axes are to admit
of the ink vessel folding down into the frame, so that when folded into a
horizontal position the ink vessel may lie within the frame, thus forming a flat
structure, which will occupy but a small space in a waistcoat or other pocket;
but when the ink vessel is vertical the frame forms the base or stand. It is
preferred to cover the neck or mouth of the ink vessel with a spring cover;
lined with vulcanized india-rubber, or the ink vessel may be otherwise closed,
and the circumstance of the vessel being surrounded by a close fitting frame
when out of use tends to prevent the cover from opening when the ink vessel
is in the pocket.
In another arrangement the ink vessel has only one axis or neck, which is
at its lower end, and the parts of the frame or case are made to fold in such
manner that when opened out the frame forms the base of the ink vessel,
which on being turned partly round on its neck or axis retains the parts of the
frame extended as a base to support the vessel in a vertical position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
.;
Figures 1 and 2 show respectively a plan and elevation of my pocket
inkstand folded up for the pocket; Figures 3 and 4 shew plan and elevation
of the same when set up in a vertical position for use, wherein a is the ink
vessel contained in a case with a cover fastened by a spring catch as hereto-
fore, but the form and mode of fitting up the ink vessel may be varied; b, the
frame (in this case made of metal, though other material may be used);
c, c, are the pivots on which the ink vessel is mounted; d, d, are slots in the
frame, so shaped as to allow the ink vessel to be moved either into a vertical
or horizontal position.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 shew a modification in which the frame may be made

page_text: of wood, ivory, ebonite, or other substance. The same letters apply to the
same parts as in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Figures 8 and 9 show a plan and elevation of a different arrangement of
carrying out my Invention. a is the ink vessel; 6 is an open box (in this
case it is by preference made of metal); c is a moveable link, hinged to the
bottom of the box, and also to the bottom of the ink vessel; d, d, are pins
projecting from the side of the ink vessel; e, e, and f, f, are four grooves in
the sides of the open box 6 for the passage of the pins d, d. Figures 8 and 9
shew. the ink vessel in a vertical position, in which the pins :d enter the
grooves e, e, and the link c lies on the bottom of the box:
Figure 10 shews the inkstand closed for the pocket, in which case the pins d
enter the grooves f, f, and the link c folds up against the end of the box; is
a spring catch to hold the ink vessel in the position shown.
9
Figures 11 and 12 show another modification in which the ink vessel is
mounted on pivots working in holes in the frame. The ends of one or both of
the pivots are squared to receive the action of a spring or springs, the effect of
which is to hold the ink vessel either in a vertical or horizontal position, as
required. The spring may be dispensed with provided the ink vessel fits
sufficiently tight within the frame, or the frame itself may be made elastic, so
as to prevent the ink vessel from getting loose within it.
I would remark that although I prefer the ink vessel and its frame to be
rectangular, as shown, the form of the parts may be varied so long as the
ink vessel is arranged to fold in the frame.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any of
the parts separately; but what I claim is the combining an ink vessel with a
frame, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Ransome, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
H. A. BYNG, Engineer.
ROBERT RANSOME. (L.s.)