IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Enright of Kingsland in the County of Middlesex
Watch Maker for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Enright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1882.
ROBERT ENRIGHT of Kingsland in the County of Middlesex Watch Maker,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS
"
This improved fountain pen consists of a hollow tube with a vent at the end
which tube can be screwed on to the barrel or holder of the pen the nib itself being
the valve by which the ink is supplied in writing.
The nib is formed with a conical projection which acts as a valve and enters and
closes a corresponding hole near to the end of the ink holder or tube and the
outward pressure in the act of writing causes the ink to flow from the ink reservoir
or fountain into the nib.
Or a spring with a conical projection which acts as a valve is fixed over or
under the nib the conical projection passing through corresponding holes in the
nib and ink holder. The action of the pen in writing opens the valve and allows
the ink to flow into the nib as required
As all inside fittings are dispensed with the pen cannot get out of order.
A gold nib may be used with iridium point which is practically indestructable
in use but as the nibs can be replaced at any time a pen of this improved
description can be supplied sufficiently low in price to supersede any other pen of
the kind in use.
It possesses this advantage that although the supply of ink is constant it flows
It is therefore cleaner better and
only in proportion to the pressure on the nib.
more economical than the ordinary pen
The holder consists of a barrel and air tube only.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Enright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April
1883.
ROBERT ENRIGHT of Kingsland in the County of Middlesex Watch Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN PENS"
•
This improved fountain pen consists of a hollow tube with a vent at the end
which tube can be screwed on to the barrel or holder of the pen the nib itself being
the valve by which the ink is supplied in writing.
The nib is formed with a conical projection which acts as a valve and enters and
closes a corresponding hole near to the end of the ink holder or tube and the
outward pressure in the act of writing causes the ink to flow from the ink reservoir
or fountain into the nib..
Or a spring with a conical projection which acts as a valve is fixed over or
under the nib the conical projection passing through corresponding holes in the
nib and ink holder. The action of the pen in writing opens the valve and allows
the ink to flow into the nib as required.
As all inside fittings are dispensed with the pen cannot get out of order.
A gold nib may be used with iridium point which is practically indestructablo
in use but as the nibs can be replaced at any time a pen of this improved description
can be supplied sufficiently low in price to supersede any other pen of the kind
in use.
It possesses this advantage that although the supply of ink is constant it flows
only in proportion to the pressure on the nib. It is therefore cleaner better and
more economical than the ordinary pen.
The holder consists of a barrel and air tube only.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed which shew
a fountain pen and its component parts arranged and constructed in accordance
with my improvements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shews a plan and Figure 2 a section of the nib a of a fountaiu pen
constructed in accordance with my invention.
The nib ais formed with a projection a' (of conical or other suitable form) which
enters the mouth of a passage b' in communication with the ink holder b so as to
act as a valve thereto. The projection a passes through a hole formed in the bow
spring fixed to the underside of the nib a which spring serves to retain the ink
as it is admitted through the valve al in the act of writing. Or the valve a' may
be attached to a short spring ex, so as to act between the nib a, and the bow
spring c, as shown by Figure 2* of the Drawing.
Figures 3 and 4 show a plan and section of a plain nib arwith the projection.or
valve a¹ attached to a spring o in accordance with my improvements. The
spring is fixed on the underside of the nib the valve al acting in the mouth of
the passage b of the ink holder as in the previous arrangement.
Just in front of the valve al the spring c. has an opening or hole formed in it to
allow the ink to pass to the nib a from the valve a'. in the act of writing.
Figures 5 and 6 show a plan and section of a nib a in which the spring.c, with
the projection or valve a' thereon is fixed on the top or upper side of the nib a,
which has a hole in it through which the projection or valvo a, passes and enters

page_text: the mouth of the passage leading to the ink holder 63 as in the previous
arrangements
The springs c may be fixed to the nibs a by rivets or by tongues formed on the
spring or may be attached to the ink holder b' as shewn by Figures 7 and 8 the.
nibs a being arranged to take on and off so that they may be easily replaced.
Figure 9 shews a section of the point and barrel or ink holder 6 of the pen.
The point of the holder is advantageously made of ebonite but may be made of any
other suitable material.
The barrel or ink holder 6 of the pen is fitted with an air tube b², air being.
admitted to the passage b¹ leading to the nib of the pen through a small hole b³ in
the top of the holder and through a small air hole 6 at the side near its other
end. These holes admit air to the ink holder without allowing the ink. to exude.
The nib a is covered by a cap 65, (shown by dotted lines in Figure 9) which is
placed on the end of the holder when the pen is in use.
The barrel or ink holder b is shewn as separated or unscrewed from the point
of the holder.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice I would remark that I do not limit myself to
the exact details herein before described so long as the novel features of my
invention are retained at the same time I make no claim to any of the parts
separately which are well known and in common use But what I claim is :-
The improved arrangement and construction of fountain pens in which the nib a
in combination with a spring c, acts as the valve to supply ink in the act of writing
an air tube 2, being arranged to supply air to the ink holder the parts being
combined and arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein before described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Enright have hereunto set my hand and
seal this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
J G TONGUE
Patent Agent
34 Southampton Buildings
Chancery Lane
London W.C.
ROBERT ENRIGHT. (L.S.)