375,458. Fountain pens. VIVIAN, G. S., 237, Norbury Crescent, Norbury, London, and FORD, Ltd., T. B., Snakeley Paper Mill, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. April 2, 1931, No. 10120. [Class 146 (iii).] In a self-filling fountain pen of the type in which the piston slides against the inner wall of the reservoir and draws in a supply of ink on the upward stroke an air vent passage extends from near the nib end to a point near the opposite end of the pen and is arranged to be opened by the pistonactuating member before the piston commences its upward movement to provide an escape for air trapped in the barrel, the ink drawn in during the upward movement of the piston being transferred, during the return movement, to the rear side of the piston. The barrel 1 is preferably of transparent material and is enclosed in a vulcanite or other sheath as described in Specification 375,457. The lower end of the barrel is closed by a tubular member 2 carrying the nib 4 and feed-bar 5 which is formed with an aperture 9a open to the atmosphere and connected to a tube 9 extending to a point near the rear end of the barrel. The tube 9 extends into the hollow piston-rod 7, and its upper end is normally closed by a rubber or cork disc 8 at the bottom of the hollow part of the rod. In the initial outward movement of the piston-rod, a valve 15, Fig. 2, on a member 14 is drawn into a passage 13 in the end of the member 2, this movement being effected, if desired, during the unscrewing of the actuating-head of the piston-rod from the end of the barrel in order to prevent any leakage of ink. The member 14, which slides on the tube 9, is formed with a second enlargement 12 constituting a valve which serves, during outward movement of the piston-rod, to engage a piston 11 and seal an aperture therethrough. Beyond the valve 12, the member 14 is slotted to permit the passage of ink through the piston during normal use and to provide a resilient connection with a tubular coupling-member 16 secured to the lower end of the piston-rod. After the passage 13 has been closed by the valve 15, further retraction of the piston-rod draws the valve 12 into engagement with the piston, and the frictional engagement between the piston and barrel prevents the member 14 from being drawn along by the coupling 16 until a pin 14b on the member 14 is engaged by the lower end of the coupling. The piston is drawn out until the rear end of the coupling engages the end of the barrel. On the return movement of the piston-rod, the member 14 slides through the piston until the latter is engaged by the coupling 16, the valve 15 having, by this time, closed the passage 13 to prevent the ejection of ink by the piston. When the valve 15 engages the rear end of the feed-bar, the coupling slides over the member 14 in order to return the parts to initial position. During normal use, the piston-rod can be drawn out slightly to uncover the end of the tube 9, a vent 17 in the piston-rod being provided to enable air to enter and assist in discharging the ink. When out of use, the piston-rod can be raised further to cause the valve 15 to close the passage 13 and prevent leakage of ink. In a modification, designed to give larger ink capacity and a longer stroke of the piston, the piston-rod 7, Fig. 12, is screwed into the end of a slotted sleeve 23 formed with two enlargements 12, 24, the former acting as a valve to close the passage in the piston during retraction, and the latter serving as an abutment for returning the piston.