AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNTAIN PEN OR RESER- VOIR PENHOLDER
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Columbus Hurry, of Adam Street,
Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the In-
vention of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNTAIN PEN OR RESER-
VOIR PENHOLDER."
Sealed the 23rd March 1858, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Columbus
Hurry at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st October 1852.
J, HENRY COLUMBUS HURRY, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNTAIN PEN OR RESER-
VOIR PEN-HOLDER." to be as follows:
The chief objects of this Invention are to prevent the clogging up of
the vent or passage through which the writing fluid escapes to the pen,
while at the same time the possibility of the fluid escaping when the
pen is not in use is avoided, and also to allow of the pen being changed
with the same facility as when a common penholder is used.
The accompanying sketch.shews a mode of carrying out this In-

page_text: a, is a tubular reservoir for containing the writing fluid, and attached
to one end thereof is a tube b, of a small diameter, and having at its
extremity a projecting piece for conducting the fluid to the pen. Fitting
over this tube is a tube or frame c, which carries a cap piece at its for-
ward extremity so formed as to be capable of closing the end of the
tube b, when brought into contact therewith, and stopping the flow of
the writing fluid. To effect this object the tube or frame c, is made
capable of sliding on the tube b, and it is worked backwards and for-
wards by means of a swivel nut d, which is retained in its place by a
shoulder on the tube b. This nut is threaded on its inner periphery,
and takes into a male screw cut on the inner end of the tube or
frame c. By turning, therefore, this nut to the right or to the left the
cap is drawn to or thrust from the supply tube b, and the passage for
the flow of the liquid is opened or closed as required.
A clip is attached to the tube or frame c, for holding the pen as in
the ordinary penholder, and thus steel, quill, or other nibs may be used
and changed (when desired) with the greatest facility. It will be
understood that the ink flows from the reservoir through a vent, which
is closed when the pen is not in use, and may be enlarged as necessity
requires. By this arrangement, therefore, the supply of ink may be
regulated with great nicety, and there will be no liability of the vent
clogging, which has been found so detrimental to the use of the old
fountain pen.
This construction of fountain pen or penholder may be mounted in
any suitable manner either for the pocket or the desk.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Columbus Hurry in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, 3
HENRY COLUMBUS HURRY, of 18, Adam Street, Adelphi, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Columbus Hurry, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Columbus Hurry, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Columbus
Hurry, 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 CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNTAIN PEN OR RESERVOIR PENHOLDER,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Columbus
Hurry, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Henry Columbus Hurry, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say):
My Invention refers to fountain pens and reservoir penholders, and
the construction of them in such a manner as to hold a considerable
supply of ink or other writing fluid, having a valve of such a form that
when out of use the reservoir may be closed perfectly air-tight to pre-
vent evaporation, and that when opened for use the act of moving the
valve must break or remove any incrustation which may have taken
place between the orifice and the pen or nib, and form an unbroken
channel of communication.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood I have
appended to this my Specification certain illustrative Drawings which I
will now proceed to explain. See Drawings.
Fig. 1, represents a side view of a pocket reservoir penholder
as open for use; Fig. 2, represents the same, but in longitudinal
section; and Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, are the several parts of the same

page_text: in detail, each part being marked by the same letters in all the Draw
ings where they occur: A, A, (Figs. 1, 2, & 3,) is an outer case.o
pocket shield, which may of course be made of any useful, or..orna-
mental form-desired. B, B, (Figs. 2, and 4,) is an-inner tube chamber
or reservoir. for the reception of ink or any other writing material, and
lias a screw or other tight cap at its top, which may be easily removed
for the replenishing of the reservoir: C, C, (Figs. 2; and 5,). is a con-
tinuation tube which screws into the tube B, at b. when. having
a collar at c, it forms a neck in which the flange -d, of the swivel
nut D, (Figs. 1, 2, and 6,) works. At the other extremity of this. con-
tinuation tube is a horn or small metal conductor ; this may either
be formed out of the solid metal or be fitted into an appropriate groove
in the tube C, but must in every case reach the pen or nib. And
immediately under this horn or conductor the tube is cupped out to
form a valve-seat at the end. Upon this 'tube is fitted the sheath E
(Figs. 1, 2, and 7.) This sheath works freely along on the tube C,
but is prevented turning round by the tube G, being made square on
the outside, or in any other convenient manner. "At the one end of
this sheath is fixed a plug or valve e, made to fit accurately the end of
the tube C, so that when pressed tightly against it an air-tight-closing
may be effected. At the other extremity of this sheath is a screw
to fit the screw in the swivel-nut D, so that the turning of thic latter
may open or close the valve at pleasure. From the valve or plug e, is
a horn or conductor e', which may be formed out of the same metal, or
be fitted into an appropriate groove in the valve or plug e. This horn
or conductor may be of any suitable length, but should in all cases be
nearly in contact with the pen or nib.. Upon any convenient part of
the sheath E, is fixed a clip or penholder E, made of any suitable.
form for carrying the pen or nib, whether metal or other. When the
penholder is not intended for pocket use the outer case A, A, is dis-
pensed with, and the tube or reservoir B, B, is made of convenient
992
length.
Another arrangement is shewn at Fig. 8, which represents a longi-
tudinal section of desk or table penholder as open for use; and Figs.
9, and 10, are the parts in detail. In this arrangement there is a tube.

page_text: F, F, (Figs. 8, and 9,) of any desired length, made smaller at one end
to allow of the clip g, for the pen or nib being put round without
rendering it too cumbrous. The extremity of this tube is contracted to
a convenicut size for a valve seat h, and the other extremity there is a
screw f to fit the screw f¹, in the cap F¹, (Figs. 8, & 9,) and in its
length are two guides i, i. The plug or valve K, (Figs. 8, and 10,) is
made to fit the valve-seat h, (Figs. 8, and 9,) accurately; so that when
pressed tightly against it an air-tight closing may be effected. This
plug or valve is fixed to the end of a tube or rod L, L, (Figs. 8,
and 10,) which passes through the guides i, i, and is prevented turning
round in them by being made square, or by any other convenient
means. At the other extremity of this tube or rod is fixed a screw m,
which fits the small screw tube m¹, of the cap F¹; this screw is of a
double (or any other convenient varied) pitch to that at f, so as to open
the valve K, by the unscrewing of the cap F, by which means a very
slight supply of air; if desired, may be admitted into the upper part of
the reservoir whilst the pen is in use, and that when out of use the
screwing up of the cap F', will close both ends of the tube F, perfectly
air-tight to prevent evaporation. When L, L, is a tube, it is per-
forated at intervals for its whole length, so that it may also form a por-
tion of the reservoir. The valve or plug K, is furnished with a horn
or conductor k, (Figs. 8, and 10,) similar to that before described,
which may reach to within a short space from the point of the pen or
nib, or may come nearly in contact with it at any other convenient
place. In the first example I have shewn these horns or conductors of
the shortest length, whilst in the latter I have represented them of the
longest; but I do not tie myself to any particular form, length, or con-
struction for them. Figs. 11, and 12, represent a small funnel and
cap for the purpose of charging the chamber or reservoir with writing
material. The cap N, is to be placed on the lower end of the tube I,
to prevent the ink or other fluid escaping during the time of filling.
The funnel O, is to be inserted in the upper end of the tube F, for con-
venience in pouring in the fluid. When the tube or reservoir is full
the cap.F, must be screwed on before removing the cap N. By this
means the differential screws will be properly adjusted, the cap N,

page_text: being made of such a depth as to support the valve h, in the proper
position until it is taken hold of by the screw m², of the cap F¹. At
Fig. 13, I have shewn another description of cap as a substitute for the
cap F, (Figs. 8, and 9,) by which the valve K, may be worked indepen-
dently of the screw f, (Figs. 8, and 9,) and without regard being paid
to the relative pitch of the screw m, (Figs. 8, and 10.) In this cap
the screw f, is made to fit the screw f, of the tube F, (Figs. 8, and 9,)
and the screw tube m", is made to fit the screw m, of the tube or
rod L, (Figs. 8, and 10); the other end of this tube passes through
the top of the cap, and is formed into a valve or conical plug, having
beyond a head with roughed edge, by which it may be turned in the in-
side of the cap, and upon the screw tube m", is fixed a collar closely
fitting against the top of the cap, as shewn in the Drawing, which com-
pletes a swivel-nut, by which, as is manifest, the valve K, (Figs. 8, and
10,) may be worked at pleasure.
I would remark, that either of the above-described arrangements
can be applied to pens made in the same piece with the tube or reser-
voir, (that is to say, to ("fountain pens,") as well as to reservoir pen-
holders. And that they may in each case be constructed either in con-
venient cases for the pocket, or in any other forms, for desk or table
use, as may be desired.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I
would remark that I have not thought it necessary to point out all the
applications of my Invention, as such matters will be readily understood
by all competent persons. And I do not confine myself to the precise
form and construction of parts described and shewn in the Drawings;
nor do I confine myself to any particular manner of working the valve
or outlet of the reservoir. But that which I claim as secured to me
under the above in part recited Letters Patent is,--
Firstly, the construction of reservoir penholders capable of contain-
ing a quantity of writing fluid, and adapted for holding metal or other
pens or nibs of any ordinary form.
"
÷
Secondly, the application to "fountain pens ' and "reservoir pen-
holders of a plug, conical, or other shaped valve of such form and con-

page_text: struction that by it the reservoir may be closed perfectly air-tight, and
that the act of opening the said plug or valve must break or remove
any incrustation which may have taken place over the orifice.
Thirdly, the application of a horn or conductor to the end of the tube
or reservoir, or to the plug or valve, or to both of them, being either
made out of the same piece with them or attached to them. Being
so placed and constructed that it or they form a conductor or conductors
from the reservoir to the pen or nib, and so induce a gradual and
regular flow of the writing material.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Henry Columbus Hurry, have
heretofore set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three
H. C. HURRY. (L.S.)