US2724366A - Non-leaking and flooding fountain pen - Google Patents

Description

Mig

B. F. MIESSNER Filed July 2, 195] Nov. 22, 1955 NoN-LEAKING AND FLOODING FOUNTAIN PEN i is replaced by an externally operable valve.

United States Patent Otlice Patented Nov. 22, 1955 tions` disclosed in my patentapplications Serial Nos.

167,237, led June 9, 1950,1and now abandoned, and 206,678, filed January 178, 19517J and now Patent Num- 7 ber 2,642,041, which describe such pens having nipple valves in `the inkand air paths whichconnect the ink reservoir with` the ink collector and writing point feed devices. Said valves are made of such flexible materials as soft rubber, and are provided with a radial-axial slit on the reservoir side which may` be squeezed open by opposed radial` pressures applied parallel to this slit on the sides of the rubber valve or on the` outside of a radially-flexible surrounding pen barrel.

in the above copending patent applications, I have shown such valves situated between the pen barrel and` the ink collector, so that these types of pens require a special filling technique.

ln my copending patent application Serial No. 230,378, filed June 7, 1951, and now Patent Number 2,694,382, I have shown a novel method of filling such pens through the top end `of the barrel via an axial connecting tube. The present invention `provides an ar,- rangement and location of the nipple valve which permits filling of the pen through the point end, as in conventional practice. The nipple type valve is located in one form near `the top end of a radially-flexible barrel and connected ink tight` to the ink collector and the pen point feed elements, by an axial `tube which `passes,1 ink tight, through a plug situated between the barrel` reservoir andthe collector. With this arrangement, squeezing pressure applied across the slit ends of the nipple valve, exerted via the flexible barrel reservoir walls, opens the nipple valve and at the same time compresses the air in the reservoir so as to expel` it. Release of this pressure allows ink to flow into the reservoir, in the filling operationswith the point end of the` pen immersed in ink. Ink maybe `expelled from the reservoir to relill the collector when it is' empty, by holding the pen point up and squeezing the barrel across the slit ends of the nipple valve. In this position the slit, will be submergedtin the reservoir ink so that the barrel pressure will compress the `air in the barrel, open: the valve, and force ink up through the `axial tube and into the collector. t

`In still another form to be described, the nipple valve These forms are shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view mostly in section showing on a much enlarged scale many of `the details of the form of my `invention first referred to; 7

Figure 2 is a view on the line 2-2 'of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view `on the line 3-3 of Figure 17;

Figure 4 is a View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; 7

Figure 6 is a detail, end elevational View showing how the ink collector is built up;

Figure 7 is a sectional View of a` modification having a manually operable valve control;

Figure 8 is a View on the line 8 8 of Figure 7;

Referring now` to the drawings wherein likenumbers refer to corresponding parts, 1 is a-radially flexible barrel which isr removable but force ttednonto a'hood 2 which carries the shank 18 of a pen point 4. Barrel 1 may be of suitable transparent material. Within the hood 2 is mounted an ink collector 5 to which axially extends a tube 6 that is positioned in a plug 7 that lits ink tight at the upper end 8 of the hood 2. The tube 6 has an ink tight joint with the plug 7 and extends upwardly into a soft rubber cylindrical member 9 which has radially located slots 10 extending longitudinally of its length. The member 9 also has a centrally located slit 11. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the slots 10 are arcuately displaced from the direction of the plane of the slit by an angle of 90, thus permitting air and ink or air to ow through them to and from the main section of the barrel 1 to the top end of the barrel above the valve slit 11. 7

The ink collector S consists of a spirally wound sheet 12 of suitable material which may be Celluloid or Lucite. The cylinder 12 is about 5%: of an inch long and has cemented at oneend a disc 13 and at the opposite end a disc 14. These discs 13 and 14 preferably engage the inner wall of the hood portion 8, while the outside diameter of the cylinder 12 is a few mils less than the internal diameter of the hood. This cylindrical collec-l tor may be made by rolling the material around a mandrel with a spacer strip of any suitable material. After the cylinder is wound it can be secured in its wound position in any satisfactory manner as by an elastic tube and the complete spiral roll treated in hot water to soften and form it, if made of plastic instead of a suitable metal. Thenit is cooled as in cold water which will cause it'to take a set form and the spacer strip is then removed by unwinding or pulling it out from the cylinder which will then take its set form, at which time the end discs'` 13 and 14 are cemented in place preferably under pressure in order to insure permanence and uniformity of the spiral turns of the collector. The discs 13 and 14 are made of a material which may be softened, it the collector 5 is made of plastic, in any suitable manner and forced into position as above noted. Extending axially through the collector 5 and snugly fitting in the discs 13 and 14 is a tube 17 that extends to a point adjacent the nibs 4 of the pen. The discs 13 and 14 are slotted at 15 to allow air and ink to move into the collector 5 from the passageway 16 between the disc 14 and the plug 7, the tube 6 terminating not quite flush with the inner end of the plug 7.

Around the shank 18 of the pen is an annular ink space 19, the shank having a hole therein to connect this outer space with the inner space 21 around the tube 17. The thickness of the annular space around the shank of the pen and between the turns of the spiral collector 5 are such that these spaces will support by capillary attraction a column of ink extending from adjacent the pen nibs 4 to the collector space 16 adjacent the disc 14 without flooding and so that ink will feed without over flowing to the point as the collector supply is written out. Since this column of ink has a total length of 1%" to 11/2l the thickness of the spiral capillary spaces in the collector 5 shouldl be no larger than about 8 mils, while the' annular spaces around the shank of the pen may have a thickness of about 5 or 6 mils to insure penward flow of the ink from the collector. The radial slots in the lower collector end disc 13 should be about 7 or 8 mils in thickness, while the space 16 between disc 14 and plug 7 should be suflicient to provide free access of air to the top side of the collector with the pen point in down position so that air may flow in and out freelyto the top of the collector through the axial tube 17 as the" collector ink is Written out, thereby preventing `flooding or `refusal to write due to temperature and/or external barometric pressure changes. I

Since slit 11 is normally closed by the compliance of the rubber of the plug 9, inkand air are normally sealed in the reservoir until the valve 11 is opened by lateral squeezing .of :the barrel, adjacent .the valve.

.From the foregoing, it will be seen that in .this form f of vrny invention the .pen maybe .filled with its .point down .in .an ink -vessel .and Athat .the collector may be lled with vthe point up from '..the barrel reservoir R.

In Figure 7 )the control .valve for the pen is manually operated and :positionedin the .outer end of the .barrel 1. In this construction the .outer .end of .the .barrel is closed :by va cap 22 .having a .hollow .shank 23 .extending a .substantial ldistance .into the barrel A1. in side `the upper .end of .the fshank 23 sis llocated a .plug 24 preferably of :soft rubber .through which, as well as through `the end of .the :cap 22, Aextends .an operating rod 25 .having .a knob 2.6 fastened thereto. The rod 2b" has a point end 2'7 that .fits ink tight `into a valve seat in a soft .rubber ltube .28 that is 4carried by a Eplug 29 fastened within the inner =end =of the shank 23. Plug 29 .has .a plurality of .slots .30 therein. The tube 6 which may beofmetal or some other equivalent material :extends a Substantial distance into .the inner end' of the tube 28 vand is Vpreferably `cemented therein. .Rod 25 has fastened thereto, a collar 31 which is .in Vengagement with the inner surface of .the plug 24.

In this .construction `the .pointed rod vend :27 and the rubber tube .28 form a valve which is vnormally closed by the plug 24 ,that has 4inherent spring action whereby after the Arod 25 is r:pulled outwardly, yto open the valve, the lplug 24 is compressed but when .knob 26 is Areleased, the :spring action of the .plug .24 will return the rod to closed position .as :shown vin .Figure 7.

.After opening the -valve by pulling 4out on the knob 26, the `barrel -is squeezed which will expel air `in llin g the reservoir R, or .ink when the collector is being filled. In this construction .the valve is ink-tight and none lcan escape .through the .rubber plug 4spring v24 4or around it to the outside. Preferably `the rod 25 should be of stainless steel, Lucite .or .other .non-corrosible .material.

It will be readily .appreciated .that many .of the .details .may .be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention and the .scope of the appended l.claim-s.

Having thus described my invention, .1I claim.:

l. A fountain .pen as herein :described comprising a hood having a barrel attached thereto at one end `and alpen point atits opposite end, said barrel vbeing radially flexible but longitudinally rigid, a circular .ink collector comprising a strip :of material rolled up in arcuately suitably spaced relationship .about .an axis that extends longitudinally of -.the pen, .each .end of the collector .having a disc .fastened thereto, :these discs being located in close proximity to the 'inner wall of :a .part :of the hood, la feed tube extending .axially .through the collector-to a ylocation near :the `pen point -while the shank of the pen point extends preferably inwardly vto vthe .disc nearest .the inner end of ithe tpen shank, the pen shank and feed tube defining therebetween .a circular ink space, the hood .and `the `pen shank defining therebetween a circular .space outside the pen shank, the .pen shank having ,a .hole therethrough to .connect .said inner and .outer circular spaces, .each of ysaid :discs having a :plurality .sof radial slots extending .from their periph'eries to 'points adjacent said tube, .a plug :secured :in the inner end of the .hood in a :small spaced relation to the inner .positioned disc, la plug of suitable soft material .fastened within and ,near the outer end of the barrel, a nipple type valve formed .in vthe outer end of this plug, a vsecond feed .tube extending preferably through the plug in the rhood .through v-the barrel iand into said soft plug in the barrel ato cooperate with said valve, N.this last .mentioned ,plug having :at .least :one .opening therein :as `ancl for :the purpose described.

2. A fountain pen as set forth in claim Il ffurther `de- 4,. fined in .that the .plug .having the nipple valve therein .is of soft rubber whereby pressure in the right direction on the barrel will cause the valve to open above sai co-operative feed tube.

3. A Yfountainpenhaving ahood carrying .a pen :point at one end and an ink .barrel at the rother end, said barrel being radially iiexible but .longitudinally rigid, an ink collector carried Within the hood adjacent the inner end of the shank of the pen point, said collector comprising la piece tof suitable material Awound `up with the turns -in radially spaced relationship, end Vplates orl discs fastened to `said "turns for holding them in radial spaced position, vthe end plates or 'discs having a plurality yof radial slots "for the purpose described, a plug secured Ito the inner end-'of the hood at a `distance from said collector-adequate lto leave a small 'space between its -end =nearest 'the Jcollector and the discs 'at this end of .the collector, a plug of Asuitable 'soft material near the outer endof the barrel and yhaving at least one slot along -its length, a. valve located in this last mentioned plug, -a Lfeed -tube extending from said 'valve into the rst mentioned plug 'and Acommunicating with the space between ythe -inner `end of this `plug and the adjacent disc end of the collector, .the `valve being manually operable Vas and for the 'purposes described.

4. A fountain pen as -set forth `in claim 3 further dened in that I`-the Vi/a'lve Yis Ioperated by pressure applied to the barrel in .a certain direction.

5..A fountain pen having a radially flexible barrel reservoir, a hood attached to the barrel, a collectorunit within Vthe hood composed of -a sheet of Vsuitable .material `rolled up Vin Ispaced 1turns with a Adisc at `each end to hold 'the turns in `operative position, the discs 'having air and ink passages therethru, the `collector `having a centrally located longitudinal `hole thru its length, the hood carrying at its free -end a pen point having a shank extending `to a point closely adjacent the outer end of thewcollector, a 'tube 4`extending from near the pen nibs thru .the shank .of the Lpen and thru the centrally lccated fhole 'the collector, the --hood and the shank of the pen tdeiining therebetween a circular space around the .shank :of the pen for the greater part of its length while `the shank has at least one vhole `therethru opening into `'said space, `a vplug carried by the hood at its interior .end and spaced a short distance from the innerend of fthe collector, a -tube lextending from said -plug toward the free yend -of the vbarrel and in sealing Vengagement kwith said plug whereby Vsaid tube comprises the only .means for passing air and ink from the reservoir by way tof its remote end at the upper end of said barrel to Vsaid collector, a plug mounted 'on the free end of said barrel for .supporting said Vair and ink tube and carrying =a valve, Tsaid valve being manually operable for controlling Vthe passage of air fand ink through said tube while said-plug'has at least one slot along its Aedge for `the `purpose described.

`RelerencesrCited1in the file of this patent UNITED .STATES PATENTS 255,205 Stone Mar. 21, 1882 610,818 Means Sept. lf3, 1898 '2,005,179 Chamberlin .Tune 18, 1935 2,093,701 .Zahel Sept. 2.1, 1937 2,101,304 Wright Dec. 7, 1.9.37 2,3875001 .Baker Oct. 16, `1945 2,425,143 'Brubaker Aug. 5, 1947 2,480,718 vDonato Aug. 30, 1949 2,509,465 Wing May 30, 1950 2,522,555 Bartell Sept. 19, 1950 2,648,309 Bartell Aug. l1, 1953 'FOREIGN .PATENTS rv5;570 Great Britain 1915 .818.5824 Francey `June 28, .1937 941,407 France July 1'9, 1948

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