Improvements in Fountain Pens.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fountain Pens.
I, GUSTAV PICKHARDT, manufacturer of Bonn on the Rhine (Cölner Chaussee 149)
do hereby declare the nature of the 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 an improved fountain pen in which the out-flow of the
ink is regulated by a capillary tube lying within the point of the pen behind
the nib.
.
In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying drawings,
in which similar letters denote similar parts, throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 is a view of the fountain pen.
Fig. 2 is a section of the same.
Fig. 3 is a view of the capillary tube c drawn to a larger scale.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are vertical sections of the pen showing variations.
Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of nib.
a is a glass cylinder having its one end closed whilst its other extremity is drawn
out to a point a' in the manner shown in fig. 2. The cylinder itself is slightly
narrowed at the end towards the point, for the reception of the metal cylinder b
forming the pen holder. That portion of the glass cylinder covered by cylinder bis
again narrowed slightly, in order to allow the metal pen to be held between the metal
and glass cylinder.
In the glass point d and running up some distance inside the handle a is a tube
formed of a metal gauge or thread woven of asbestos. This runs out to a point and
lies inside the point of the glass tube, as may be seen from the drawings, and is so
bent, that when the metal nib is fixed in the pen holder, the glass point lies on the
nib the point terminating shortly above the point of the nib.
In the drawing a metal cup is shown, over the closed end of the glass holder, this
may be taken off and used as a protector for the glass point and nib by being passed
over the same, when the pen is not in use.
The device operates in the following manner:
When it is required to be filled, the glass pen holder is held over a lamp or in
any other convenient manner warmed, so that the air inside by expanding will
become thinner and the point is then dipped into the ink when the ink will be drawn
into the holder by the partial vacuum caused in the same by its being cooled, and by
the capillary attraction of the thread b. By this means the holder will be almost
filled with ink. When the pen has not been used for some time the ink in the point
will become dry, it is therefore necessary on re-using the same to dip the point at
first, once in either water or ink when the pen will immediately be in working order.
I can of course close the end of the glass holder a with a cork, instead of sealing the
same, which former allows of cleaning the ink holder occasionally, nor do I confine
myself to a metallic cylinder 6 as the same may be of vulcanite or any other suitable
material.
Fig. 4 shows a modification of the holder in which, instead of warming the pen
holder in order to fill it the same is provided with a syringe. a is the glass cylinder
drawn out to a point at a¹, b the metal cylinder and f the nib; c is the capillary
tube. The upper end of the holder a is open, and the piston k slides in the glass
cylinder. When it is required to fill the pen the piston k is placed in the position
shown in fig. 4 by means of the handle or rod h which hooks into the eye in the piston.
The latter is then drawn backwards until it has reached the position shown in dotted
lines in fig. 4 when the pen will be filled with ink. The rod h may then be unhooked,
the piston remaining in its end position and forming a plug.

page_text: In figs. 5 and 6 a modification is shown in which the holder is made in two
pieces the point piece a¹ being of vulcanite or ebonite. The advantage of such
holder is that, it can be much more easily cleaned. In cases where the holder is
made in two parts 1 use the nib shown in fig. 5*, which has a tongue z passing
into the point a¹ and in direct connection with the capillary tube. This nib grasps the
lower end of the holder with its upper end f thereby making the cylinder 6 of fig. 4
superfluous.
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:
In Fountain Pens :
1. A glass cylinder a having its one end closed and drawn out to a point at its
other extremity, and having a capillary tube c in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described and shown.
2. The combination of glass cylinder a having point a¹ capillary tube c cylinder b
and nib, in the manner substantially as described.
3. The combination of glass cylinder a, capillary tube c, cylinder b, nib and pro-
tecting cap, in the manner substantially as described.
4. The combination of the glass cylinder a drawn out to a point at a¹ having
the capillary tube c, piston k with detachable rod h for the purpose substantially
as described.
5. The combination of glass cylinder a having vulcanite or ebonite point a¹ and
capillary tube c for the purpose substantially as described.
6. The combination of glass cylinder a, vulcanite point a', capillary tube c and
nib having tongue z for the purpose as described.
Dated 28th day of December 1889
.
GUSTAV PICKHARDT.
Fredk. Walker & Hyde,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.