Improvements in or relating to Fountain Pens.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fountain Pens.
I, DOMINGO ARRIAZA, of 35 Tempelhofer Ufer, Berlin in the Empire of
Germany, Artist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
Fountain pens hitherto used possess various defects.
When one has used all the ink contained in the reservoir further writing with
the penholder is mostly impossible because on refilling there is a failure of ink at
the writing point or the new supply is of a different kind of ink and the mixture
in the reservoir consequently decomposes and throws down a deposit or becomes thick
or the like which necessarily results in a stoppage of the fine outflow-opening. If
in order to remedy these disadvantages one were to constantly carry a larger ink-
reservoir the fountain-pen would not only become quite superfluous but also it
would fail of its object because then an ordinary penholder would be preferable.
Furthermore the narrow outlet or fine outflow-opening becomes very quickly and
easily obstructed because the ink at this point where it comes in contact with the
air rapidly precipitates or crystallises and the more so with the lapse of time thus,
on the upper part of the steel-pen and especially on the ink-conducting appliance a
thick crust rapidly accumulates so that the removal of the nib becomes troublesome
and difficult involving risk of damage to the holder itself and a great waste of time
and more particularly the reservoir has only one outlet in some cases viz. that
leading to the pen in which case the thorough cleansing which is occasionally
necessary is in general impossible. Apart however from all other disadvantages
the essential point to be urged is that after a certain period of use of a fountain-pen
more or less prolonged and not infrequently short the ink leaks from the holder
into the pocket in which it is carried greatly to the annoyance and inconvenience
of the wearer and to the detriment of his clothes.
All these and more defects are obviated by my improved fountain-pen whereof
the reservoir besides the narrow outlet towards the pen is provided with a second
and much wider opening which is very easily accessible and which allows the whole
apparatus to be easily and thoroughly cleansed by means of a current of water and
furthermore by reason of the fact that the ink or writing-fluid is prepared afresh for
each time of use as required by dissolving a concentrated ink-substance in water the
objectionable necessity of carrying the holder in the pocket with its reservoir full
of ink and the leakage of the latter is entirely done away with.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved fountain-pen.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in section and
Figure 3 shows the closing device.
The ink reservoir a shown in Figure 1 is filled with water in which a small
quantity of the powdered concentrated ink or an ink pill n so to say is dissolved.
The filling is easily effected by means of the wide opening c and the small outlet
tube d (at the other end of the reservoir) is provided with a closure e (Figure 3)
which in the figure comprises the cap e and india-rubber lining or stopper ka
lateral orifice and a bayonet-joint m if desired however this closure device e may
be very differently constituted.
For the purpose of writing the closure e is opened and the buttons ƒ are pressed
by the two fingers which help to hold the fountain pen. For inasmuch as the
receptacle 6 closes the reservoir almost air-tight the ink will begin to flow through
the outlet-tube d in appreciable quantity as soon as the reservoir a is compressed

page_text: byf. This latter purpose is effected by the rubber tube which is held fast by
its elasticity against the internal surface of the reservoir. Therefore when the
buttons fare pressed upon the ink cannot find an outlet of escape in that direction
and the adherence of the rubber tube enables the opening c to be made wide and
easily accessible. Both may however be attained in another manner as for instance
by soldering in the interior of the reservoir, somewhere near the opening ca conical
sleeve round which the rubber tube is secured. Thus the ink after the finger-
pressure on the button f can only flow towards the nib through the small tube d
while the conductor i in well-known manner in part holds back the ink and in part
feeds the nib h. As the receptacle is not fitted perfectly air-tight in the
reservoir a the equilibrium disturbed by the finger-pressure is thus restored and
that during the time occupied in writing with the ink which has flowed into the
conductor. This outflow may however be regulated from time to time by means of a
suitably arranged screw-valve in which case the receptacle 6 must be made to close
the reservoir in an absolutely air-tight manner. It is not necessary that the
storage-receptacle or magazine b should be directly attached to the holder; it may
be provided as an extra in which case the opening c must be provided with a special
closure which may also be fitted with the screw regulating valve above mentioned.
Although the receptacle is only of a limited size, its contents suffice for about
50 renewals of the ink in the reservoir; and as water is plentiful as the concentrated
ink-pills are cheaply renewed and the reservoir is easily emptied by means of the
wide opening it is always preferable so soon as any particular task of writing is
accomplished to pour out the ink remaining in the reservoir and at once rinse the
latter out with water preparatory to the next occasion for use. There is however
nothing to prevent the preservation of the ink in the reservoir especially when the
interruption in writing are only occasional because the tight closure of e prevents
the ink from escaping even if the opening c is not closed in a perfectly air-tight
manner. The storage receptacle may have two compartments whereof one may
contain a reserve of common writing ink and the other a reserve of copying ink
both of course in the dry or solid but soluble state.
Furthermore as the same kind of ink is used to replenish the reservoir a when
the task of writing is prolonged, the before-mentioned disadvantage viz. the
decomposition or thickening of the contents of the reservoir and the consequent
stoppage of the outflow-pipe d cannot occur. Should it happen that there is no
supply of water in the locality where the work of writing has to be executed the
reservoir can be filled with water before leaving home and if required a small
reserve quantity may be provided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
-
1. A fountain-pen which besides its narrow lower outflow pipe (d) is provided at
its upper end with a wide and easily accessible opening such as c in combination
with a receptacle such as b containing a concentrated ink-substance in solid form of
which when required for use a certain quantity is introduced into and dissolved in
the reservoir filled with water in order that the pen after use may be thoroughly
cleansed when the water has formed ink in the reservoir and any leakage of the ink
and consequent damage to clothes may be prevented substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete fountain
pen substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of May 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.