Improvements in Ink Stands or Ink Wells.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ink Stands or Ink Wells.
1, WILLIAM NICOL, of 148 Church Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex,
Architect and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to that class of ink wells which is provided with a small,
shallow, dip opening upon the front or side of the main receptacle, to prevent
the pen from being immersed more than is necessary in obtaining ink for writing
purposes.
The main vessel or ink vessel may be of any convenient shape, or material, and
made in a plain or ornamental manner. The main reservoir is made perfectly air tight
at all points, except a small opening near the bottom, which communicates with the
dip opening above-named. When the reservoir has been filled with ink, the pressure
of the atmosphere balances the weight of the ink inside as is well known so that
although the level thereof is above the dip opening, no overflow of ink can take place
through the latter.
or cap.
The main reservoir can be filled with ink in three ways. At the bottom, an
opening into the reservoir is made, which is adapted to be securely closed by a plug
This may be attached by simple closo fitting or by the elasticity of the
material employed, but I prefer a screw plug or its equivalent, with a suitable
elastic washer. Another way is to form an opening into the said reservoir from
the front, just above the dip opening, and similarly closed in the manner described
for the bottom opening.
The third method is to make the part forming the dip opening, of a separate piece,
and adapt it to be securely attached to the main reservoir in the manner indicated for
the bottom or front opening, or in any other convenient way. It may be done by
making a screwed opening in the front or side of the vessel, close to the bottom
thereof. This opening is of sufficient size to be used for filling the reservoir with ink,
without difficulty. The dip opening piece is of metal or other suitable material, and
in addition to its being formed to fit the screwed opening, it has a small tubular
canal through the same, entering into the dip opening, so that when in place, a
communication is established therefrom into the main reservoir. The joint must be
made tight, as aforesaid, and arranged to keep the dip opening upright when
in use.
A
The dip opening may be made with a suitable cover, to close the same, and the
ink vessel or well formed to receive or support pens or the like, if desired.
combination of two or more ink vessels may be made, and whether simple or
combined, may be formed to make a complete stand in itself, or adapted to be
fitted in or upon a suitable base.
Dated this 2nd day of Anil 1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Inkstands or Inkwells.
I, WILLIAM NICOL, Architect and Surveyor, of 148, Church Road, Islington,
London,, 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 :-
..
My invention relates to that class of inkwells, which is provided with a small dip

page_text: opening on the front or side of the main receptacle, to prevent the pen from being
dipped or immersed more than is necessary in obtaining ink for writing purposes.
The object of my improvements is, to simplify and cheapen the construction of
such inkwells.
The main vessel or ink reservoir may be of any convenient .shape, plain or
ornamental, and of earthenware, glass, or any convenient material. It is made
perfectly air-tight at all points, except a small passage at the bottom, which
communicates with the dip opening inentioned above. When the reservoir is
filled with ink, and then placed in its normal position, a partial vacuum will be
formed at the top, and the pressure of the atmosphere that has access to the dip
opening, will therefore balance the weight of the ink inside, so that the ink in the
dip opening will not rise above the upper edge of the said passage, but will remain
at that level until the ink in the main reservoir is nearly exhausted. The reservoir
may be filled with ink through an opening made in the bottom of the reservoir,
which is afterwards securely closed by a cork, or by a screw plug, or by a cap. Or.
a fill opening may be formed in the front of the reservoir, just above the dip opening;
which opening is provided with a cork or plug or cap, as described for the bottom
opening.
A third method is to make the part which forms the dip opening, of a separato
piece, and attach it to the main reservoir hermetically, by means of a screw joint, or
by other suitable means. The dip piece may, for instance, have on one side a tubular
projection, which is screwed into a corresponding opening in the ink reservoir, so
that, when the dip piece is fixed, a communication is established through the same,
between the dip opening and the reservoir.
The dip opening may have a suitable cover, to close the same; and the ink vessel
may be adapted to receive or support pens, if desired. Two or more inkwells may
be combined to form one piece, or they may be fitted in or upon a suitable base.
The accompanying drawings represent some special forms of inkstands embodying
my invention, and serve to explain the same more clearly.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, Fig. 2, a plan, and Fig. 3 a front elevation, of an
ornamental inkstand of cylindrical shape, with the fill opening in front, immediately
over the dip opening. .
Fig. 4 is a vertical section, Fig. 5, a plan, and Fig. 6, an elevation of an
ornamental inkstand made of one hemispherical piece of glass with a concave bottom
and a fill opening in the centre of the same.
In all figures, A is the ink reservoir, and a the fill opening; B is the dip opening,
the depth of which below the upper edge of the narrow passage b equals the length
to which it is desired to dip the pen. C is the cork or cap, that closes the fill
opening. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, Fig. 8 a plan, and Fig. 9 a front elevation of
of a plain inkstand similar to the first.
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 pneumatic inkwell, constructed substantially as.described.
2. In an ink well composed of a main reservoir and, a dip opening, a main
reservoir, hermetically closed on all sides, except at the dip passage, and provided
with a fill opening either in, the bottom of the main reservoir, or in the side,
immediately above the dip opening, the whole being made of one piece of glass,
earthenware, or any other suitable material, substantially as described.
3. The special forms of pneumatic inkstand, substantially as described and shown
by the drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of Sentember 1880
WILLIAM NICOL.
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433; Strand, London, Agents.