AN IMPROVED RESERVOIR OR FOUNTAIN PEN
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ridsdale, of Stoke Newington, in the County
of Middlesex, Accountant, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED RESERVOIR
OR FOUNTAIN PEN."
Sealed the 22nd February 1859, and dated the 6th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ridsdale, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th October 1858.
I, JAMES RIDSDALE, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex,
Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED RESERVOIR OR FOUNTAIN PEN," to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists mainly in adapting a vulcanized india-rubber or
other like flexible tube to a metal or similar tube or penholder, in such a
manner that the end of the flexible tube nearest the pen shall be drawn to a
small or capillary bore, and the other end of the said tube be hermetically
sealed. On squeezing the tube so as to compress it throughout, or nearly
throughout its length, the contained air will be pressed out, in which state, if
the pen
be dipped into ink until the end of the tube touches its surface and
the pressure is removed, a certain quantity of ink will be raised into the tube
by atmospheric pressure as the elastic tube expands to its accustomed size and
bore. Another metal or other like tube may be slipped over the exposed top
portion of the flexible tube, and slid on to the penholder, so as to lengthen and
render it more convenient for use; and a portion of the metal tube may be
cut away sufficient to allow the forefinger to press on the flexible tube to force
a flow of ink when desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ridsdale, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
RIDSDALE, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex, Accountant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Ridsdale, Her special license that I, the said James Ridsdale,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Ridsdale, 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 "AN IMPROVED RESERVOIR OR
FOUNTAIN PEN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Ridsdale, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Ridsdale, 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):-
My said Invention consists mainly in adapting a vulcanized india-rubber or
other like flexible tube to a metal or similar tube or penholder in such a
manner that the end of the flexible tube nearest the pen shall be drawn to a
small or capillary bore, and the other end of the said tube be hermetically
sealed. On squeezing the tube so as to compress it throughout or nearly
throughout its length, the contained air will be pressed out, in which state, if
the pen be dipped into ink until the open end of the tube touches its surface,
and the presure is removed, a certain quantity of ink will be raised into the
tube by atmospheric pressure as the elastic tube expands to its accustomed
size and bore. Another metal or other like tube may be slipped over the

page_text: exposed top portion of the nexible tube and sad on to the pennorder, so as to
lengthen and render it more convenient for use, and a portion of the metal
tube may be cut away sufficient to allow the forefinger to press on the flexible
tube to force a flow of ink when desired.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference
marked thereon respectively as follows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a desk or office pen complete, constructed
according to my said Invention, and represented drawn full size; Figure 2 is
a side elevation of the above pen represented drawn half as large again as the
last above-mentioned pen, the reservoir or elastic tube for containing ink or
other writing fluid being exhibited partly in section; Figure 3 is an elevation
of Figure 2 at the underneath parts thereof; Figure 4 is an elevation of a
pocket pen complete constructed according to my said Invention, and as it
would appear when shut up or not in use; Figure 5 is an end view thereof;
Figure 6 is an elevation of this pen as it would appear when ready for use;
Figure 7 is a detached portion, hereinafter particularly described and referred
to; Figure 8 is the said pen looking at the underneath parts thereof, and
exposing to view the reservoir for ink uncovered; Figure 9 is a view of the
aforesaid reservoir, as it would appear when detached from the other parts of
the pen. At each of the foregoing Figures similar letters of reference are
employed to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can
be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
A, A, is an elastic tube, made of vulcanized india-rubber or other like suitable
elastic material capable of resisting the chemical action of the writing fluid
which it is intended to contain; this tube should be hermetically closed at
the end a thereof; the end 6 I form taper, as exhibited, having a small
flat orifice or mouth at this end for the passage of ink to the writing
point B, which is an ordinary steel pen fitting into a curved recess formed
in the short metal tube C for its reception. The tube A is held firmly
in its proper position by clips of metal at # *, exhibited at Figures 3
and 6, formed out of the curved piece of metal c, which is soldered or
otherwise securely fixed inside of the tube C, at such a distance therefrom
as to leave a channel to receive the steel or other writing nib or pen, and, if
necessary, cement, marine glue, or other suitable material may be used for

page_text: fixing the piece c to the tube C; D is a tube of thin metal, hard india-rubber,
or other suitable material, closed at one end, or if necessary with a small hole
therein. This tube fits over the part 1 of the tube C tightly, and thus forms
the handle or holder of the pen. The tube C has a portion thereof cut away;
as at 2, Figures, 1, 2, and 6, to enable that portion of the tube A which is
inside to be pressed upon by the forefinger when it is required to force ink,
&c., to the nibs of the pen in the act of writing. d is a small pin or piece
of wire, the outer end whereof is formed bent. This pin fits in the orifice of
the tube at b, and is employed for opening said orifice in the event of its
becoming closed, either by clogging of the ink, &c., or other cause, and also
to ensure the proper flowing of the ink from the reservoir.
the proper flow of ink
b
the part 6 thereof, that
say, the hole should be
I would here remark that it is very important to
through the hole in the mouth of the reservoir A, at
said hole be made in a particular manner, that is to
as a mouth or slit, as exhibited at f, Figure 10, the edges whereof are in
close contact with each other. The orifice by which the ink, &c., is to flow
from the reservoir is produced by inserting the pin d into the mouth f, the
effect of which will be to leave a channel at each side of the pin, as denoted
by red color at Figure 10, the Drawing at this Figure being exaggerated in
size to render the parts more conspicuous. To effect the opening of the
orifice in the tube A, it is only necessary to pass the point of a knife or other
convenient instrument under the bent part of the head of the pin d, and
force it away from the pen. To charge or fill the tube or reservoir with
ink, &c., the same may be effected by removing the tube D, and then com-
pressing the elastic tube A, so as to expel the air therefrom; in this state
dip the taper end 6 of the tube A into ink, &c., below the surface thereof,
and upon releasing the pressure from the tube, the ink, &c., will rise therein,
and fill the tube, or nearly so. To cleanse this tube a similar operation to
the foregoing may be employed, except that water may be used instead of
ink, &c.
The above description relates to the pen exhibited at Figures 1, 2, 3, which
I call a desk or office pen. The pocket pen, exhibited at the several other
Figures, differs from the foregoing pen in the following respects, that is to
say, in addition to the short tube C, I employ another tube of metal E, which
fits on to said short tube C, and covers the reservoir A; and I form the
opening for the forefinger in the tube E, instead of in the tube C, as before
described. Another tube of metal G fits on the tube E at either end, and
serves the double purpose of a handle or holder, and a cover or case for
covering the points of the pen, to enable it to be put in the pocket. I have

page_text: found it desirable in practice to employ a spring e, shewn detached at
Figure 7, for closing the orifice in the tube A, otherwise the expansion of
the air in the reservoir from heat would force a portion of the ink, &c.,
therefrom. The spring e should project sufficiently for the tube G, when
passed over the tube E, to press said spring e closely upon the taper orifice b
of the tube A, thereby closing same. A small hole should also be formed in
the tube G, as at Figure 5, to admit air into the said tube, to prevent the
formation of a partial vacuum therein, which would otherwise occur on said
tube being drawn off, and have a tendency to draw the ink out of the
tube A.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "An Improved Reservoir or Fountain Pen," together with the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect,
I would remark, in conclusion, that I am aware of india-rubber having
heretofore been employed in the construction of the reservoirs of pens, I do
not therefore claim as my Invention the use of india-rubber or other elastic
material, except when the same is employed in the manner and for the
purpose herein-before particularly described and set forth.
And I hereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim, the general
combination and arrangement of parts above particularly described, set forth,
and represented at the several Figures of the illustrative Sheet of Drawings
annexed to these Presents, as constituting "An Improved Reservoir or
Fountain Pen," and especially I claim forming the elastic tube or reservoir
A, A, with a taper mouth b, and also forming said tube the entire length of
the penholder for the purpose of conducting the ink therefrom direct to the
writing nibs of the pen, as above particularly described and represented.
I also claim the pin d, spring e, and tube G, for the purposes herein set
forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ridsdale, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
BENJ. BROWNE, Patent Office,
52, King William Street,
London Bridge.
JAMES RIDSDALE. (L.8.)