GB2197187A

GB2197187A - Instrument for drawing and/or writing

Info

Publication number: GB2197187A
Application number: GB08723684A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leung Yee Tok
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-07
Filing date: 1987-10-08
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Also published as: GB8723684D0

Abstract

A drawing/writing instrument, more particularly a Chinese fountain writing brush, comprises a tube (21), a brush head (8), a brush cap (28), two ink flow controlling valves (18,19) and a stopper cap (25). The two ink flow controlling valves (18,19) bear corresponding ports. A partition plate (2) is connected at one end to the stopper cap (25), and at the other end to the valve (19). Turning the stopper cap turns the partition plate and, thus, the controlling valve (19). As a result, the opening of the ports on the controlling valves (18, 19) is adjustable. In another arrangement, adjustment of the controlling valve is effected by turning a brush head ring which is fitted with a bush which holds the brush head. A third arrangement has the brush end of the passage in the tube (21) narrowed down and an ink flow adjustment knob, which can be moved in and out, is fitted at the said narrow passage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Instruments for drawing and/or writing This invention relates to instruments for drawing and/or writing such as a writing brush which is suitable for use in Chinese Calligraphy.

Traditionally, a Chinese writng brush is made by inserting a brush head into a bamboo tube. Despite the brush's simplicity of manufacture there are inconveniences which slow down the user's writing speed, for instance the brush has to be used with a Chinese inkstone, Chinese ink and an inkstick may also be used. It is necessary to rub the inkstick against the inkstone and to wet the brush. Lack of control of the ink flow can make writing difficult. In particular, when writing big Chinese characaters in Chinese calligra phy, discontinuous or intermittent ink flow can arise. Moreover, if the brush is not used for an extended period of time, the brush head can dry up and solidify.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least to mitigate the abovementioned problems.

According to this invention, there is provided an instrument for drawing and/or writing comprising a reservoir for ink, a brush head communicating with the reservoir for the passage of ink thereto and adjustable valve means upstream of the brush head in the path of ink flow for controlling the flow of ink to the brush head.

The present invention thus provides an improved drawing/writing instrument in which the flow of ink is controllable. The instrument may be used as a Chinese fountain writing brush and does not require an inkstone, inkstick or other supplementary instruments for use. It is convenient to use and improves writing speed. As ink flows from the tube and permeates into the brush head, it results in convenience and accuracy as well as a marked increase in writing speed. Moreover, as the rate of flow of ink into the brush head can be manually adjusted as desired during use, ink flows evenly and smoothly and results in a satisfactory drawing or writing performance. In addition, the brush head can be replaced e.g.

when worn out; thus, the rest of the ink brush can be used for a longer period of time.

A Chinese fountain writing brush in accordance with the present invention may comprise a housing tube, a brush head at one end of the tube, valve means for controlling ink flow and a cap at the other end of the tube.

The cap can be opened to refill the tube with ink. By adjusting the controlling valves, the Chinese ink can be allowed to flow to the brush head, and the rate of flow can be adjusted also.

Preferred features of the invention are now described: A partition plate may be accommodated in the interior of the tube. The lower end of the plate may be slotted to accommodate an agitator which can slide back and forth along the slot so that the ink inside the tube is agitated.

One controlling valve may be fitted to the lower end of the partition plate while the other is connected to the tube. There are corresponding ports on both valves. Turning the partition plate turns the valve attached thereto make these ports allign completely or partially, thus allowing the flow of ink into the brush head to be manually adjusted. A spring is placed above the controlling valves so that they are urged closer together. As a result, when the brush is not in use, sealing is improved. There is also a layer of sponge between one controlling valve and the brush head, which makes ink flow through more evenly and gently.

The upper end of the tube may be closed by a stronger cap, with a vent cap fitted above the stopper cap and one or more vent disc fitted below the vent cap. The lower end of the vent disc is slotted so as to connect with the partition plate. The turning of the stopper cap also turns the partition plate, thus adjusting the opening area of the ports on the controlling valve. A needle extending through the vent cap can be used for removing any ink which may block the apertures on the vent discs. The vent cap may bear a vent, which is preferably rectangular. The lower end of the cap may resemble an inverted hook. When the vent cap is pulled upwards, air enters the tube through the vent, and when the vent cap is pushed downwards, the vent is closed, air pressure in the tube enabling ink to flow smoothly to the brush head.

The brush head may be held in. a bush fitted in a connecting ring which is removably connected to the tube. As the brush head, bush and connecting ring can be removed, the brush head can be replaced e.g. when it is worn out or to change the size of the brush head.

The bush can be slotted on the outer surface so that ink can flow through the ports of the controlling valves, the sponge and the slots to the brush head. Alternatively, the brush head of the present invention can be fitted directly to the connecting ring which is connected to the tube, in which case the connecting ring may be slotted in its inner surface so that ink can flow through to the brush head. The lower end of the tube may have an enlarged outer diameter, or a connecting ring of a large diameter, making it possible to use a brush cap with a larger diameter in order to minimize friction between the brush head and the brush cap and thus minimize damage to the brush head by the brush cap.

The fountain writing brush may have two cooperative ink flow controlling valves, both of which have corresponding ports. One con trolling valve may be accommodated in the tube while the other valve may be connected to the brush head. This latter controlling valve has a protruding part which inserts into a groove of a ring holding the brush head. Turning the brush head ring therefore turns the ink flow controlling valve, thus manually adjusting the flow of ink through the ports.

A spring which is fitted below the controlling valves, presses the two valves together tightly, providing sealing. A layer of porous, permeable material e.g. sponge, is placed above the brush head, enabling ink to flow evenly and gently into the brush head. A cen tral core member which may bear a number of spiral slots, may be disposed inside the brush head. The brush head may be held by a bush fitted into the brush head ring. The brush head ring is also connected to the tube by means of a connecting ring.

Another embodiment of the present invention has provision for fitting an ink cartridge into the tube. There is a tubular structure on the controlling valve and a piercing portion on the tubular structure pierces the refill cartridge.

Ink then flows through the ports on the controlling valve and through the sponge to the brush head.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the brush end of the interior of the tube is narrowed. An ink flow adjustment knob is fitted across this narrow passage. The knob can be pushed in and pulled out radially from the tube. It may replace the aforementioned controlling valves which perform the function of adjusting the flow of ink. The ink flow adjustment knob can be threaded e.g.

spirally, or non-threaded.

The inner end of the brush cap may include moisture-retaining material e.g. sponge, so that the brush pen remains moist even if it is not in use for an extended period of time.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, this invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing an internal arrangement of a drawing/writing instrument of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged version of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on E-E of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevation on F-F of Fig. 2; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of another arrangement of the present invention, including an ink cartridge; Figure 6 is an enlarged drawing of the brush head shown in Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional elevation on G-G of Fig. 6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional elevation on H-H of Fig. 6; Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of another arrangement of brush head connection of the present invention;; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional elevation on J-J of Fig. 9; Figure 11 is a partial, isometric, broken view showing ink flow controlling valves and an agitator; Figure 12 is an elevation of a spirally-slotted central core used in the present invention; Figure 13 illustrates another arrangement, in which an ink flow adjustment knob is closed; and Figure 14 illustrates the arrangement of Fig.

13 in which the ink flow adjustment knob is opened.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a Chinese fountain writing brush according to the present invention comprises an ink reservoir in the form of a tube (21), a brush head (8) at one end of the tube, two parallel co-operative controlling valves (18), (19), each disposed across the tube near the brush end and a cap (25) at the other end of the tube. The controlling valve (18) is fixed to the tube (21) while controlling valve (19) is connected to a partition plate (2) in the interior of the tube. There are corresponding ports on both controlling valves. A spring (20) is fitted ontop of controlling valve (19). A sponge (17) is located between the controlling valve (18) and brush head (8). The brush also has a cap (28) over the brush head.

The lower end of the partition plate (2) is slotted to accommodate an agitator (4). The agitator can slide back and forth along the slot so as to agitate any solid material, e.g.

precipitate which may accumulate at the bottom of the tube (see Fig. 11).

The upper end of the tube (21) is closed by a stopper cap (25), in the top of which a vent cap (26) is fitted. The vent cap bears a rectangular vent. The lower end of the vent cap resembles an inverted hook (as shown in Figs.

2 and 3). Vent discs (22), (23) are fitted below the stopper cap (25). A needle (24) extending through the vent cap is used for removing any ink which may block aperture means in the vent discs (22), (23). The lower end of the vent disc (22) is slotted so as to connect with the partition plate (as shown in Figs. 2 and 4). Turning of the stopper cap (25) turns the partition plate and thus the controlling valve (19).

The brush head (8) is held in a bush (7) which is slotted on its outer surface for the passage of ink. The bush is fitted into a connecting ring (6), which is in turn connected to the tube (21) (as shown in Fig. 2). In another arrangement the brush head (8) is directly held by the connecting ring (6), which is itself slotted in its inner surface. The connecting ring (6) is connected to the tube (21) (as shown in Figs. 9 and 10). A sponge (27) is located in the tip of the brush cap (28) (as shown in Fig. 9).

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. A Chinese writing brush comprises a tube (14), a brush head (13), two controlling valves (29), (33) with a reservoir in the form of a replaceable ink cartridge (30) housed in the tube. There are corresponding ports in the two controlling valves.

Controlling valve (29) is fixed to the tube (14).

Controlling valve (33) includes a protruding part which is held in a groove on a ring (32) to which the brush head is attached (as shown in Figs. 6 and 8). There is a tubular structure on controlling valve (29), having a piercing portion which pierces the ink cartridge (30) (as shown in Figs. 6 and 7). A spring (20) is fitted below controlling valve (33) (as shown in Fig. 6).

A sponge (17) is located above the brush head (13). A central core (12), which may bear spiral slots, lies inside the brush head (13) (as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 12).

The brush head (13) in the brush (11) is fitted into the lower end of the brush head ring (32). The brush head ring is connected to the controlling valve (33). Turning the brush head ring (32) turns the controlling valve (33) whereby the flow of ink can be adjusted. The brush head ring (32) is connected to the tube (14) by means of an outer connecting ring (31) (as is shown in Fig. 6). The brush cap is again provided with a sponge (27) (as shown in Fig. 2).

The abovementioned fountain writing brush can alternatively be used with the tube (14) as the ink reservoir (not shown), that is without a refill cartridge.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrated another embodiment of the present invention, in which the brush end of the passage in the tube is narrowed. An ink flow adjustment knob (39), which may be screw-threaded or not, is fitted across the narrow passage. When the adjustment knob (39) is screwed or pushed into the tube (38) radially from the tube, the passage is closed and ink is unable to flow to the brush head (8). When the adjustment knob (39) is screwed or pulled out radially from the tube, the passage in the tube is opened, and the ink is able to flow down to the sponge (17) and permeate into the brush head (8).

In a further modification, independent valve means are adjustable by means incorporating the apparatus as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 6 to 10 of Figs. 12 and 13. One valve means may be employed for a coarse adjustment and the other for a fine adjustment.

Claims

1. An instrument for drawing and/or writing comprising a reservoir for ink, a brush head communicating with the reservoir for the passage of ink thereto, and adjustable valve means upstream of the brush head in the path of ink flow for controlling the flow of ink to the brush head.

2. An instrument according to claim 1,.

wherein the adjustable valve means is disposed near the brush head.

3. An instrument according to claim 1 or 2, having adjustment means for the valve means including manual adjustment means at or near the brush head end of the tube.

4. An instrument according to claim 1, 2 or 3, having adjustment means for the valve means including manual adjustment means at or near the end of the tube away from the brush head.

5. An instrument according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the adjustment means comprises angularly movable means.

6. An instrument according to claim 5, wherein the valve means comprises first and second relatively movable portions, the first portion having at least one opening which is relatively angularly movable into full or partial alignment with at least one opening of the second portion.

7. An instrument according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the adjustment means is connected to the valve means by means comprising an elongate member housed in the reservoir.

8. An instrument according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the adjustment means comprises translatable means.

9. An instrument according to claim 5 or 7, wherein the valve means comprises a barrier which is disposed across the path of ink flow and which is movable so as to occupy a variable distance across the said path.

10. An instrument according to claim 9, wherein the barrier is disposed across a duct between the reservoir and the brush head, the duct having a smaller diameter than the reservoir, and the barrier being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct.

11. An instrument according to claim 5 to 6, wherein the adjustment means comprises an annular member in which the brush head is held.

12. An instrument according to claim 11, wherein the annular member is connected with the valve means by means comprising a groove in which a portion of the valve means is retained.

13. An instrument according to any preceding claim, comprising means for detachably connecting the brush head to the instrument.

14. An instrument according to claim 13, wherein the means for detachably connecting the brush head comprises the annular member as claimed in claim 11 or 12.

15. An instrument according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the means for detachably connecting the brush head comprises an annular member one end of which is detachably connected to the tube exterior and the other end holds means comprising the brush head.

16. An instrument for drawing and/or writing constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the figures of the drawings.