IMPROVE- MENTS IN FOUNTAIN OR RESERVOIR PENS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Kay, of Farnworth, near Bolton, in
the County of Lancaster, Analytical Chemist, for an invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FOUNTAIN OR RESERVOIR PENS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Kay at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1882.
WILLIAM EDWARD KAY, of Farnworth, near Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN OR RESERVOIR PENS."
The improvements relate to what are known as fountain or reservoir pens, and
consist of the application of an indiarubber spring in lieu of the metallic spiral.
mostly employed; of an automatic valve for the double purpose of ink exit & air
entrance; of special arrangements whereby a flat pen may be used; of the
application of a moveable air tube whereby the ink passages may be cleared; and
of a method of filling the reservoir with ink.
I apply the india rubber spring in lieu of the metallic spiral mostly employed in
the form of a short indiarubber tube or other suitable form attached to the
mounting or carrier for the stylus or pen.
I construct the automatic valve in the form of a conical or other plug, having
perforations therein, which are closed by the valve coming upon the valve seating
in such a manner, that when the pressure on the stylus or pen is applied, the valve
lifts, and so allows an entrance through the perforations above mentioned for air,
and an exit for ink at the same time.
For the purpose of using a flat pen I attach to the spring of the instrument a
conical plug which is split to carry the pen and allow of the separation of its nibs,
the point of the pen only protruding from the plug aforesaid. This plug is fitted
into the conical end of the tube, and in use recedes, so allowing the final exit of the
ink to the pen point. A modification of this is made by fixing a pen carrier on the
spring and allowing the flat pen to pass through a corresponding fixed taper orifice,
whether such pen be fitted with a conical plug or not.
I construct the air tube for the purpose of rendering the same moveable for
clearage purposes, by forming the valve at one end of the tube, and attaching to
any convenient point one end of an indiarubber tube spring, and attaching the
other end of such indiarubber tube spring to the outer casing of the pen holder or
to a ferrule inserted or screwed therein. I provide for the filling of the ink
reservoir through openings in the outer casing, which may be covered by means of
a screw or sliding plug.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Kay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th September 1882.
WILLIAM EDWARD KAY of Farnworth near Bolton in the county of Lancaster
Analytical Chemist "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUNTAIN OR RESERVOIR PENS.'
"
The improvements relate to what are known as fountain or reservoir pens, and
consist of the application of an india rubber spring in lieu of the metal spiral
mostly employed; of an automatic valve for the double purpose of ink exit and
air entrance; of special arrangements whereby a flat or ordinarily shaped pen
may be used; of the application of a moveable air tube whereby the ink passages
may be cleared; and of a method of filling the reservoir with ink.
I apply the india-rubber tube spring in lieu of the matallic spiral mostly
employed, in the form of a short india-rubber tube, or other suitable form,
attached to the mounting or carrier for the stylus or pen.
I construct the automatic valve in the forin of a conical or other plug having
perforations therein which are closed by the valve coming upon the valve-seating
in such manner that when the pressure on the stylus or pen is applied, the valve
lifts, and so allows an entrance through the perforations abovementioned for air,
and an exit for ink at the same time.
For the purpose of using a flat or ordinarily shaped pen, I connect with the
spring of the instrument, whether such be spiral, indiarubber, or other elastic form
or material, a conical plug, (in this case elastic) which is split to carry the pen,
and to allow of the separation of the nib; the point of the pen only protruding
from the plug aforesaid. This plug is fitted into the conical end of the point
section portion of the outer casing, and in use recedes, so allowing the final exit
of the ink to the pen point. A modification of this is made by fixing a pen carrier
in connection with the spring aforesaid, and allowing the pen nib to pass through
the corresponding fixed taper orifice, whether such pen be fitted with a conical
plug or not.
I construct the air-tube for the purpose of rendering the same moveable for
clearage purposes, by forming the valve at one end of the tube, and attaching
to any convenient point, one end of an india-rubber tube spring, and attaching
the other end of such india-rubber tube spring to the outer casing of the penholder,
or to a ferrule inserted or screwed therein.
I provide for the filling of the ink reserve, through openings in the outer casing,
which may be covered by means of a sliding plug.
But that the improvements may be better understood, I will, by the aid of the
accompanying drawings, proceed more fully to describe the means employed
by me.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig 1. shews a longitudinal section of the arrangement of apparatus when a
stylus or needle is used; And Fig 2. a similar view in the case of a flat or
ordinarily shaped pen. The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever
they occur, and the drawings are twice the necessary working size.
a. a. is the barrel portion of the outer casing, and a¹. a'. is the point section
portion of the same. b. b. is the india-rubber tube spring fitted at one end to the
air tube c. c. and at the other to the ferrule d. d.e. e is the valve which is of
conical form and provided with air passages which are automatically closed on the

page_text: valve being pressed on the seating, by means of the spring. The stylus or
needle f. for the pen g. g. is suitably attached to the valve, (but it may be
attached to the air tube, or other portion connected with the spring) in such
manner that the valve lifts from the seating on pressure being applied to the
points of such stylus or pen. In case of the latter being used, I fit the same into a
conical plug in which the pen is allowed to move, and from the apex of which plug
the nib of the pen protrudes, the plug being held in position when the pen is at
rest by a shoulder on the pen; or else I attach such plug to the pen itself and allow
the same to move in a taper tube for the same purpose, or the pen may pass simply
through a correspondingly shaped taper opening, and the plug dispensed with.
For the purpose of filling the reservoir with ink I fit the point section portion of
the casing into the barrel portion thereof, by a sliding plug or socket joint, having
openings in the one which correspond with openings in the other, in such manner
that when the point section portion is turned partly round in the barrel portion,
the openings aforesaid are closed thereby. h. h. are the openings in the socket
joint, whereby the reservoir is enabled to be filled. i. i is a lock-uut which closes
the upper end of the air tube, the air entering by a small side passage below the
nut. By means of this nut, the air-tube and needle or pen attached thereto, may
be twisted or pulled forward and backward, so as to clear the ink passages, when
these are obstructed by dirt or dried particles of ink.
k. k is the pen-carrier which is suitably cut in hexagonal form or otherwise to
permit the free passage of the air and ink. The conical plug may be of any
suitable material, and the stylus or pen may be protected, when not in use, by a
suitably formed cap.
Having now described my improvements and the means I adopt in carrying the
same into effect, I would have it understood, that I do not confine myself to the
precise details shewn and described, as variations may be made, without departing
from the peculiar character of the invention.
But what I do claim is :—
1st. The application to fountain or reservoir pens, of an india-rubber spring, in
lieu of the metallic spring now mostly used, substantially as shewn and described.
2nd. The application of a moveable air tube, for the purpose of facility of
clearance, substantially as described.
3rd. The application of an automatic perforated valve, for the purpose,
and substantially as shewn and described.
4th. The arrangement whereby a flat or ordinarily shaped pen may be used, in
manner substantially as shewn and described.
5th. The application of the perforated socket-joint, for the purpose of filling the
reservoir with ink, substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Kay, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this eighth day of September One thousand eight hundred
and eighty-two.
Witness
WILLIAM GOLD. C.E. M.E.
Manchester.
WILLIAM EDWARD KAY (L.S.)