IMPROVEMENTS IN "FOUNTAIN PENS
Year: 1885

page_text: I PAUL ESTERLY WIRT of Bloomsburg, in the County of Columbia, and State
of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America, gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN "FOUNTAIN PENS 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 fountain pens and it has for its object to improve the
construction of the same so as to make them more reliable in action, the flow of ink
by capillary attraction being regular and continuous to the extreme points or nibs of
the pen thereby avoiding the common fault of "skipping" and producing an article
of this character which will be practicable and efficient for the purposes intended.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved cap or cover to
fit over the nozzle and pen and protect the latter when not in use.
With these and other objects in view the said invention consists broadly in
providing a rubber shaft pivoted held or wedged within the detachable nozzle of
the ink reservoir and projecting up within said reservoir the lower portion of the
shaft, resting flat against the body of the pen and its end lying over the nibs
thereof, so as to draw the ink by capillary attraction and thus supply the pen with
a steady and full flow of ink.
The invention further consists in certain details of construction and combination
of parts as hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings;
Fig 1 is a side view of my improved fountain pen.
Fig 2 is a perspective view of the nozzle detached.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the pen, complete with the cap removed.
Fig 4 is a longitudinal section view of Fig. 3.
Fig 5 is a transverse section on the line c-x Fig 4.
Fig 6 is a detail view of the rubber shaft.
Figs 7, 8 and 9 are views illustrating modifications in the form and arrangement
of the rubber shaft.
Fig. 10 illustrates an improvement which may be used in connection with any of
the forms shown.
Fig 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fountain pen embodying several more
of my improvements.
Fig 12 is a detail perspective view of the rubber shaft, and the two partitions or
discs.
Darr

page_text: fitted thereto.
Fig. 14 is a transverse section on line x-x Fig. 1.
Fig 15 is a longitudinal section of the cap or cover showing it fitted over the
front end of the nozzle.
Fig 16 is a detail perspective view of the soft rubber tube within the cap or
cover.
Fig 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of pen.
Fig 18 is a detached perspective view of the nozzle.
Fig 19 is a detail view of the shaft and one of the partitions or discs shown in
Fig. 17.
Figs 20 and 21 are sectional and detail views of a modification in which a flexible
spring gold shaft is employed.
Referring to Figs 1 to 6 of the drawings A designates the handle of the pen,
preferably constructed of gutta percha or other suitable non-corrosive material and
of any desired form said handle being hollow so as to form an ink reservoir and
having its front end internally threaded to receive the threaded extension B of the
nozzle C, the latter being adapted to be detached so as to permit the filling of the
reservoir with ink.
The said nozzle is provided with a central perforation D at its front end and
extending back so as to communicate with a recess E in rear of the perforation and
thus form a passage entirely through the nozzle from end to end, the recess being
Jarger in diameter than the perforation so that a shoulder F is formed at the
junction of the recess and perforation for purposes hereinafter explained.
The side wall of the perforation D is formed with inclined slots G extending from
the front end of the nozzle back nearly to the shoulder F, the pen H having its
shank I fitted in the slots so as to be retained firmly in position.
J is the rubber shaft constructed sufficiently thin to be pliable and yield readily
under the pressure or action of the pen and provided near its centre with an
enlargement K adapted to abut against the shoulder F and thus be held in place the
front end of the shaft projecting forward through the nozzle above the body of the pen,
its extreme point curved down or inward and resting upon the nibs of the pen, the
rear end of the shaft extending through the rear end of the nozzle into the ink
reservoir so as to communicate with the ink in the same.
The operation of my invention will be readily understood taken in connection
with the annexed drawings.
The reservoir is supplied with ink, the nozzle is attached in position so as to cause
the rear end of the rubber shaft to project into the ink reservoir and the pen is
then in condition for use. The rear end of the shaft. operates to attract or draw
the ink towards the opening or recess E. at lower end of holder, and it also assists
globules of air admitted through the perforation D to traverse along its length and
find its way more easily up through the ink to supply the vacuum as the ink is
withdrawn from the reservoir.
If the upper end of the shaft did not project as it does, up within the reservoir
the ink after being removed from immediately about the lower opening would
remain suspended within the tube by atmospheric pressure at a point above the
opening around the pen, where it would be useless as a flowing supply for the nibs
of the pen. The shaft attracts or draws the ink downward and keeps it suspended
immediately at lower opening or recess E from which point it is drawn upon the
points of the pen by capillary attraction produced by the lower end lying as shown
above the pen to the extremity of the nibs if desired said shaft being movable and
adapted to project more or less from the holder as circumstances require.
The shaft J thus serves a two fold purpose, first the upper end within the holder
attracts and keeps the ink always suspended about the recess E, secondly, the
lower end lying over the pen in the manner shown, produces a slight space between
the pen and the shaft, whereby capillary attraction is created and the ink traverses
to the points of the pen.

page_text: Care should be taken in constructing the portion of the shaft that lies over the
pen for if it be too large or too long at lower end, the attraction then produced
would be too strong for the ink within the holder, so as to be drawn out precipi-
tately and cause blotting. The pen, the shaft, the diametric size of the ink
reservoir as well as the recess E about the pen taken in conjunction must be of a
size requisite to always maintain or balance the desired quantity of ink over the
points or nibs of the pen, by capillary attraction and atmospheric pressure as the
pen is used. The ink must close entirely the recess E in nozzle when the pen is in
use, while at the same time enough is drawn over the pen by capillary attraction, to
afford a supply in writing. As the ink is drawn from the points of the pen it
necessarily reduces the quantity in the reservoir so that air may be drawn up through
the ink to supply the vacuum and thus continually lowering or dropping it to the
mouth of the reservoir this action being assisted by the rear end of the shaft
projecting into the reservoir.
In Figs 7 and 8 are shown two modified forms of the shaft. Fig. 8, illustrates
the shaft doubled upon itself forming two arms L L' the lower arm L¹ being formed
with the enlargement K the rear end of the shaft with the double arms projecting
into the ink reservoir the front end lying over the pen in the manner hereinbefore
described.
This shaft affords greater attraction for the ink at the recess E and it further
affords more pliability in operating the pen since the length of the spring is
extensive the shaft being held at the point K only.
In Fig 7 I have shown the shaft consisting of two sections the upper section J
being longer and of substantially the same form as the shaft shown in the inain
figures, while the lower section M is short and is fitted in the nozzle below the
section J Both sections are formed with the enlargement K to abut against the
shoulder F and thus they are held in place parallel to each other.
This construction of shaft ensures more ready accumulation of ink at the lower
end of the holder within the recess E..
The recess E about the inner end of the pen is concaved or larger immediately
about its mouth so as to allow excessive ink if any occur, to be retained within the
recess by attraction and not run off the points of the .pen.
When the pen is
The advantages of my fountain pen over others are numerous.
in use, the nibs are pressed upward toward the shaft so as to lessen the space
between the pen and the shaft, and thus the attraction for the ink is kept up to
the extreme points of the pen, whereas if the shaft is upon the under face of the
pen the nibs are pressed entirely away from the shaft so that ink would recede
from the points and thus produce "skipping" in writing.
If desired a very fine gold pen may be used thus saving material and work and
ensuring durability the pen being especially made and adapted for the holder.
The shaft being constructed of hard rubber and sufficiently thin to be pliable lies
over the pen, a free space being allowed around it so as to accommodate itself readily
to the play of the nibs of the pen when in use.
In Fig. 9 is shown another modification of the rubber shaft, which consists of a
simple square, round or other suitably shaped shaft, (preferably of hard rubber), and
forced through the perforation D of the nozzle above the pen thereby secured
permanently in place along the upper surface of the pen and upon the upper inner
surface of the nozzle. The pen communicates at its rear end with the ink drawn
into the recess E by the rubber shaft, the latter being securely held in place its'
upper end extending into the ink reservoir while its lower end lies over the nibs of
the pen. Sufficient capillary attraction is produced around and under the shaft to
draw ink from recess E down upon the pen. It will be seen that the pen and shaft
do not entirely close the opening or perforation D so that air can escape into the
ink reservoir to fill the vacuum left by the ink as it is drawn down.
The improvement shown in Fig 10 consists in placing a hard rubber disc button
or partition Z at the inner end of the recess E said disc or button being perforated
ats to allow the rubber shaft J to project into the ink reservoir the outer end of

page_text: the shaft lying over the pen in the manner hereinbefore described. The shaft is
preferably constructed arranged and secured in place as shown in Fig 9 and the
rubber disc or button may be formed integral with the nozzle or in a separate
piece therefrom. By this arrangement if the holder is suddenly placed in an
inverted or thrown into a writing position the ink within the holder or reservoir is
moderated in its course to the pen and cannot so readily or precipitately gain exit
and cause blotting. The rubber shaft shown in Figs 9 and 10, has no enlargement
to hold it in place and by reason of its attachment it does not require any, since
the shaft is held in place by being driven through the space between the upper face
of the pen and the adjacent inner face of the nozzle and is thereby permanently
retained from dislodgement.
Referring to Figs 11 to 14 inclusive A designates the hollow handle forming the
ink reservoir and preferably constructed of hard rubber or gutta percha or other
suitable non corrodible material One end of this handle is closed and the other
end is open and threaded internally for the reception of the threaded extension
provided (on one of the ends of the nozzle B, so that the latter may be detached at
will when it is desired to fill the reservoir with ink.
The nozzle B is perforated or provided with an opening or passage D from end
to end the front portion flaring outward or formed conical to provide an enlarged
mouth C which will retain superfluous ink from the case or reservoir and allow the
ink to be returned thereto by simply inverting the handle should too much ink
accumulate on the pen The main portion of the passage D and the enlarged
mouth Coccupies about one-half of the length of the nozzle B the remaining half
being enlarged to form a recess or chamber E for the accumulation of ink drawn
down from the case or reservoir.
F, designates the pen, (preferably gold) having its sides in the rear end seated
in downwardly inclined slots or grooves provided in the opposite walls of the
perforation, or opening D and adapted to be withdrawn at will for the purpose of
renewal.
G designates the rubber conducting shaft, rod or strip received in a longitudinal
groove a of corresponding shape formed in the upper wall of the passage or
.opening D which shaft is bent at an intermediate point of its length as at b in rear
of the groove'a to conform to the bend of the nozzle. The shaft G lies loosely
over the upper face of the pen and plays freely within the groove a the rear end
extending back, hinged within the nozzle and projecting from the latter within the
case or reservoir.
The enlarged chamber or recess E at the inner end of the nozzle, is divided off
into a supplemental chamber or compartment I by the two perforated partitions or
discs HH' formed of hard rubber or other suitable material The forward disc H
is tightly wedged within the chamber or recess E of the nozzle and is cut out at
its upper end to allow the passage or introduction of the rubber shaft G. The rear
disc or partition H' is fitted within the inner end of the nozzle and is perforated at a'
and notched or cut out at a² the rear end of the shaft G being notched on its under
face at e to catch over the bottom wall of the notch a², and fit within the same. By
this means the shaft will be retained in place within the nozzle and will be allowed
to play loosely under the action of the nibs of the pen to work the ink downward
by capillary attraction, in the manner well known. In place of this manner of
connecting the shaft within the nozzle I may substitute any other arrangement
which could be adopted for the same purpose.
I have shown and described the simplest and best mode of carrying this mode
into effect, but I do not wish to be limited to the same as various modifications
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
The main object is to connect by hinging or hooking or otherwise the rubber
shaft at an intermediate point of its length either to the partitions or the nozzle
proper, so as to allow the loose playing of both the front and rear ends of the shaft,
and causing the feeding of the iuk to be regular and continuous.

page_text: The cap or cover shown in Figs. 15 and 16, consist of the outer shell or casing J
closed at one end and open at the other in the usual manner and a soft rubber
bushing or tube K fitted in the forward half of the cylindrical casing J This tube K
seen in Fig 16, has a central passage or opening f, the outer end or termination
of which is enlarged or formed conical or funnel shape as at g so as to fit over and
around the nozzle B to prevent the ink from being shaken out into the cap or
cover.
The operation of this improvement is as follows:-By the action of the nibs of
the pen in writing the front end of the shaft which lies over the upper face of the
pen to the extreme points, is caused to be worked slightly in an upward direction,
the binging of the shaft at the rear end and the groove in the nozzle allowing the
loose playing of the said shaft By this action of the latter greater attraction is
afforded for the ink, which is caused to be fed downward and keep a sufficient
As
continuous supply (but not too much) upon the back of the pen at all times
the shaft is constructed of rubber and not metal, there will be no corroding of its
face and furthermore the action of the shaft will not cause the latter to lose its
elastic or spring force such as would result from the use of spring metal conductors,
for although there is but little strain on the rubber shaft, yet the peculiar or
inherent, elasticity of the latter is sufficient to overcome still greater strains and
for that reason I have found rubber to be superior to any other material known to
the trade.
It will be observed that the shaft is hinged pivoted or held at an intermediate
point of its length so that the action of the front end will cause a slight vibratory
movement to be given to the rear end within the handle or reservoir and by that
means attract the ink downward therefrom into the chamber or compartment I,
formed by the two partitions H H¹ There the ink remains suspended or held by
atmospheric pressure and as the continued action or working of the pen feeds the
ink upon the face thereof, it reduces the quantity air immediately rushing in
through the nozzle and the openings in the partitions H H as indicated by the
arrows to supply the vacuum left by the ink withdrawn. Thus it will be kept up
as long as desired, the admission of air within the reservoir preventing the ink
from dropping precipitately upon the paper which is one of the objectionable
features to be overcome in the present form of fountain pens.
In Figs 17, 18 and 19, is illustrated a modified form of the plan shown in
Figs 11, 12, 13 and 14. In this arrangement I employ the bell or funnel shaped
mouth for the nozzle hereinbefore described, and also the two partitions forming
the supplemental compartment or chamber I but I simplify the construction in
many respects. The flexible hard-rubber shaft G is rigidly fixed or wedged against
the upper internal surface or wall of the opening D and chamber or recess E and
conforms exactly to the shape thereof the groove a being dispensed with. This
shaft lies over the extreme point of the pen upon the nibs, the ink being conducted
by capillary attraction down along the shaft upon the point of the pen whence it
is drawn upon the paper by the action of the nibs. The extreme tip of this shaft G
may be slightly bent upward to avoid getting between the nibs when they are
spread apart in writing. The shaft rests close against the surface of the pen, but
may be arranged to afford a slight space for the purpose of retaining ink on the
upper face of the pen this construction supplying the ink more readily while
in use.
By having this shaft or ink-conductor shaped as shown in Figs 17, 18 and 19, so
as to lie closely along the upper face of the opening in the nozzle and partly along
the upper internal surface of the reservoir A a small interstice space or crevice
formed within and along which the ink is more strongly attracted, and a more
reliable flow or supply is drawn continually upon the pen than if the shaft were
removed to or nearer to the centre of the nozzle and reservoir The partition HH¹
seen in Figs 17 and 19 are similarly constructed, that is are both notched or cut
out at the upper end to allow the introduction of the shaft and also permit the

page_text: passage of air upward into the reservoir as seen by the arrows Fig 17 to fill the
vacuum left by the withdrawal of the ink in writing.
The particular point of merit of the rubber shaft as an ink conductor is that it
supplies ink to the utmost or extreme point of the pen, whereas if it were under
the pen, it could not go so near to the tip for it would strike the paper in writing
Having the supply of ink thus always upon the upper face of the pen, insures
against skipping or imperfect writing and enables the pen to readily respond to the
will of the user to produce fiue or shaded lines as desired.
The hard rubber partitions H H forming the compartment or chamber I is also
a special feature of the invention. The ink.accumulates or is drawn down within
the chamber and when the pen is suddenly placed in position when it is desired to
write it prevents the ink from rushing down upon the pen too freely and thereby
blotting. It is particularly adapted to retain ink without dropping or blotting
when the case or reservoir is nearly empty.
Other advantages are apparent but it is not necessary to further detail them here,
as the simplicity cheapness and reliability of the improvement over the existing
form of fountain pens will be seen on comparison.
In Figs 20 and 21 are shown a detail view of a pen with another form of shaft.
The pen G is fitted in place in any suitable manner and the shaft F has its rear
end doubled over upon itself and secured by soldering to the rear end of the pen.
The shaft may be made of thin flexible spring gold and is withdrawn with pen
from the case or nozzle. The arrows indicate the course of the ink the operation
being essentially the same as hereinbefore explained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a fountain pen the combination with the ink reservoir, of the nozzle fitted
thereto and carrying the pen and the rubber-shaft extending through the nozzle in
the space between the inner face of the latter and the upper face of the pen and
held within the nozzle at an intermediate point of its length one end of the shaft
extending beyond the nozzle into the ink reservoir so as to draw the ink downward
from the same while the other end lies over the pen so that when the latter is
pressed upward in writing it comes in contact with the shaft to produce capillary
attraction and cause the feeding of the ink downward upon the pen as set forth.
2. In a fountain pen the combination with the ink reservoir of the nozzle
detachably fitted to one end of the same, the pen attached to the nozzle, and the
rubber shaft provided with an enlargement to hold it in place in the nozzle one end
of the shaft, extending into the ink reservoir and the other end of the shaft lying
over the pen as set forth.
3. In a fountain pen the combination with the ink reservoir of the nozzle
detachably fitted to one end of the same, and formed with a recess at its inner end,
a pen attached to the nozzle and having its inner end arranged to communicate
with the ink which accumulates in the recess and a rubber shaft formed with an
enlargement fitting within the recess the rear end of the shaft extending into the ink
reservoir while the front end lies over the pen as set forth.
4. In a fountain-pen the combination with the handle or ink reservoir of the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, a recess at the inner end of the nozzle,
and a rubber shaft held within the nozzle at an intermediate point of its length
one end of the shaft extending beyond the nozzle into the ink reservoir so as to
draw the ink downward into the recess while the other end lies over the pen, so
that when the latter is pressed upward in writing it comes in contact with the
shaft to produce capillary attraction and cause the feeding of the ink from the
recess upon the pen as set forth.
5. In a fountain pen, the combination with the ink reservoir of the nozzle fitted
to one end thereof and carrying the pen, a recess at the inner end of the nozzle, a 5
perforated disc or partition fitted in the inner end of the recess and a rubber shaft

page_text: passing through the nozzle and disc, arranged and operating as and for the purpose
set forth.
6. In a fountain pen, the combination with the ink reservoir of the nozzle fitted
thereto and carrying the pen, and a shaft located above the pen, and communicating
with the ink reservoir so as to draw the ink downward by capillary attraction as
set forth.
7. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle, case or ink reservoir and
the nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen of the ink conducting shaft passing
through the nozzle and having one end lying over the back or upper face of the
pen, and the other end projecting into the ink reservoir said shaft being hinged,
pivoted or otherwise held within the nozzle at an intermediate point of its length
whereby the pressing of the nibs upward in writing causes the shaft to play
loosely within the nozzle its rear end within the reservoir also having a slight
movement to produce capillary attraction, and draw the ink downward upon the
nibs of the pen as set forth.
8. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle, case or reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, said nozzle having a chamber or com-
partment at its inner or rear end of the ink conducting shaft passing through the
nozzle above the pen, and projecting through the chamber into the ink reservoir
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle, case or reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, said nozzle having a partially closed
chamber at its inner rear end for the accumulation of ink from the reservoir of the
ink conducting shaft for drawing or feeding the ink downward upon the back of
the pen as set forth.
10. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle, case or ink reservoir
and the nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen the rear or inner end of the
nozzle being partitioned off into a compartment or chamber for the accumulation
of ink drawn downward from the reservoir, of the ink-conducting shaft passing
through the chamber or compartment arranged and operating substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
11. In a fountain-pen the combination with the handle, case or ink reservoir
and the nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, of two or more discs, buttons or
partitions located within the inner end of the nozzle to subdivide the opening of
the latter into one or more chambers or compartments for the accumulation of ink
drawn downward from the reservoir and the ink conducting shaft passing through
the nozzle substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle or ink reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto, and carrying the pen, of two or more perforated or notched
discs, buttons or partitions located within the nozzle to subdivide the latter into
cne or more chambers or compartments for the accumulation of ink, drawn down-
ward from the reservoir and the ink conducting shaft, the perforations or holes in
the discs or partitions allowing the passage of air upward into the ink reservoir to
fill the vacuum caused by the withdrawal of the ink while writing as and for the
purpose set forth.
13. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle or ink reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, of a chamber or compartiment provided
at the inner or rear end of the nozzle and the ink-conducting shaft, arranged
loosely above the pen, passing through the nozzle and its chamber and projecting
into the ink reservoir, the said shaft being hinged or pivoted at an intermediate
point of its length within the nozzles, arranged and operating as and for the purposo
set forth.
14. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle or ink reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, the chamber or compartment at the
inner or rear end of the nozzle and the funnel shaped or enlarged mouth at
the front end, of the ink-conducting shaft arranged and operating substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 15. In a fountain pen the combination with the handle or ink reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, the chamber or compartment at the
inner end of the nozzle, of the ink conducting shaft having its rear end hinged or
pivoted at an intermediate point within the nozzle, a portion of the shaft working
or playing loosely within a groove in the inner surface of the nozzle as and for the
purpose set forth.
16. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle or ink reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, of the partitions or discs at the inner
end of the nozzle forming the chamber or compartment for the accumulation of ink
from the reservoir and the ink conducting shaft pivoted or hinged to the partitions
or discs as and for the purpose set forth.
17. In a fountain pen, the combination with the bandle or ink reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, of the partitions or discs at the inner
end of the nozzle forming the chamber or compartment, a notch in one of the
partitions and the ink conducting shaft having its rear end notched to catch over
the bottom wall of the notch in the partition as set forth.
18. In a fountain pen, the combination with the handle or ink reservoir and the
nozzle fitted thereto and carrying the pen, of the cap or cover having a soft rubber
tube or bushing arranged within the same, the outer end of which is provided with
an enlarged opening to receive and accommodate the funnel shaped mouth of the
nozzle as set forth.
19. In a fountain pen the herein-described cap or cover for the same, comprising
the outer shell or casing having a soft rubber tube or bushing located within, the
same as set forth.