Improvements in and relating to Reservoir Pens.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1898-Accepted, 23rd July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Reservoir Pens.
I, JOHN HARDCASTLE, of Heaton Street, Timaru, in the Provincial District of
Canterbury, in the Colony of New Zealand, Journalist, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: --
This invention relates to the class of pens sometimes called "Stylographic" or
"Fountain" in which the pen holder is employed as a reservoir for writing fluid.
Hitherto the reservoirs of such pens have been charged by a separate injector
which is liable to become lost and the use of which is subject to other inconveni-
ences. The present invention has for its object the provision of means whereby
the need of a separate injector is dispensed with.
The invention, stated broadly, consists in drawing writing fluid into the reservoir
of the pen by a pump consisting of a plunger which works in the reservoir as a
working barrel through a stuffing box upon it.
In the accompanying drawings:-
-
Fig. 1. Is a plan partly in longitudinal central section (drawn to a larger scale
than normal size) of a reservoir pentube fitted with my invention.
Fig. 2. A similar view of a stylographic pen illustrating a modification.
The reservoir tube (a) is enlarged in diameter at one end to provide a stuffing
box (b) for a tubular plunger (c) which passes through it and works telescopically
in tube ().
The stuffing box is packed with any usual packing material to ensure a fluid
tight joint. As illustrated in Fig. 2 it is packed by a rubber tube (d) fitting at
one end round the plunger (c) and expanded at the other by a metal ferrule (i) so
as to closely fit the stuffing box.
In Fig. 1a cap (f) screws into the end of the stuffing box and keeps the packing
tube () in position. Plunger (c) is closed at its outer end and the inner end is cut
at ar angle, as shown; to facilitate entry of ink to the tube.
Instead of increasing the diameter of the reservoir tube to form a stuffing box
the result may be obtained as shown in Fig. 2 by fixing a short length of metal
tube (g) upon end of reservoir (a).
In applying the invention to the form of pen usually provided with an internal
air tube, the air tube is dispensed with and a hole to admit air and ink formed near
the point of the pen as shown at (4) in Fig. 2.
In operation the point of the pen is dipped into ink until all holes communicating
with the reservoir are submerged. The plunger (c) is then partially drawn out,
preferably slowly and with a screwing motion, ink being thereby drawn into the
reservoir, either by way of the vent hole through which ink is usually delivered
to the pen nib, or through a hole (h) especially formed for the purpose as described
in regard to Fig. 2.
The pen is then held point upwards for a few seconds to enable the ink and air
within the reservoir to exchange places and while in this position the plunger is

page_text: pushed back to its normal position within tube (a) which has the effect of expelling
the air.
The operation is repeated until the reservoir is sufficiently charged.
The plunger may be solid if desired but it is preferably made hollow for the
sake of lightness and so that it may contain ink.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:-
1. An improved method of charging reservoir pens consisting in drawing writing
fluid into the reservoir by means of a pump formed in connection with the pen,
substantially as herein described.
2. The combination with a reservoir pen of a plunger working fluid tight in
the reservoir tube through a stuffing box provided upon one end of such tube a
passage being provided near the point of the pen through which ink is drawn
when the plunger is actuated after the manner of a pump.
3. In a reservoir pen the combination with the tubular ink reservoir (a) of the
stuffing box (b) rubber packing tube (d) ferrule (e) plunger (c) and an opening
through which ink may pass into and air pass out of said reservoir when the
plunger is actuated substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
illustrated.
Dated this 16th day of June 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.