US1910495A - Fountain pen filling means - Google Patents

Description

PARKER 1,910,495

2 Sheets-Sheet l May 23, 1933. C. P.

FOUNTAIN PEN FLLING MEANS Filed May 5l, 1930 May 23, 1933. c. P. PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN FILLING MEANS Filed May 3l, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES CECIL PAUL PARKER, OF vEVAINSIN', ILLINOIS ynoulx'rarn 'PEN application .inea my s1,

The general objects ofthe 'invention are to provide means for automatically filling a fountain pen; to provide a comb-ined pen support and automatic filling means; to provide a combined ink well, fountain pensupport and pen filling means; and lto provide a combined ink well and pen illing means which is operable to fllthe pen :automatically by merely depressing the pen towardthe ink lo well.

Another object of the invention is :to produce a novel fountain pen desk set which comprises a base containing yan ink well, a tubular supporting dev-ice mounted on said 515 base and adapted to receive and hold a fountain pen, the lowerl .end of said supportingfdevice being `so .associated with the ink well that the pen point may be dipped into the ink in said well while the pen is held in said sup- 29 porting device.

More specifically stated, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, an object is to provide, in association with an ink well, means to receive and support a fountain pen, said means being .so constructed that the self-.filling mechanism of the pen itself will be automatically operated in the axial movement of :the pen with respect toy the ink well.

Another object is to provide a device .of this character which embodies an ink well in communication with rthe fountain pen support, an ink reservoir communicating with said well, and means to maintain a uniform level of ink in said well.

Another object `is to provide a device of this character in which the support for the fountain pen is connected through the medium of a. pivot or swivel with the ink well or the base of the device so as to permit said support and the pen therein to ext-end at various angles of inclination.

Other and .ancillary objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view show- 150 ing one :exemplary form of device embodying FILLING MEANS 1930. :Serial No. 457,903.

the features of my invention, the parts occupying their normal -or inactive position.

Fg. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in a different position in which the fountain pen has been depressed almost, but not quite, to its lower limit of movement.

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views in the planes of lines ift-3 and 4-4 -respectively of Fig. 1. n

Fig. 5 is Ia view showing the ink well and ink reservoir in Vertical section and the fountain pen lsupport or socket in elevation.

- Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sectional views showing two modified forms of fountain pen supports a-nd ink wells constructed to permit the pen support to occupy universally different positions or angles of inclination relative to the ink well.

Although my invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms and structural. arrangements, I have shown in the drawings and will herein .describe in detail the preferred embodiment for the sake of imparting an understanding of the features of the invention, but it should be understood that no limitation is intended bythis disclosure and that I aim to cover in the appended claims all modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within the scope of this invention, which I believe to be broadly new.

Most fountain pens have internal rubber sacks which are collapsed and then permitted to expand and thereby draw up a charge of ink to fill .the pen. Pens made by differ-ent manufacturers vhave various devices for collapsing the ink sack. In the present instance I have chosen for illustration a fountain pen which is of the general type shown, for example, in Patent No. 745,481, issued December 1,1903,to-Conklin PenCompany, but it is to Ybe understood that vthe principles of my invention are adapted for use with many `other types `of pens, either in the exact form as at present marketed or with slight modifications.

A brief description of the major features of that .form of my device which is herein illustrated will facilitate an understanding of the more detailed description which follows.

The device comprises an ink well above which is a tubular support adapted to receive a fountain pen. The lower end of this support opens into the ink well so that the pen point of the pen may be dipped into the ink.. This pen support comprises two telescoping parts which are normally held in their extended relation by a coiled spring. Two instrumentalities mounted respectively on the said telescoping parts are brought into cooperation in the telescoping movement of said parts, and the operation is such that merely by the act of depressing the fountain pen to dip its point into the ink one of said instrumentalities first collapses the ink sack of the pen and then, after the pen point is immersed in the ink, releases the ink sack thereby permitting it to expand and draw up a charge of inl; to fill the pen. The pen support may have a swivel or universal connection with the ink well so that the pen may extend at various angles o f inclination. In order that the level of the ink in the well may be kept constant, I preferably provide an ink reservoir from which the inl flows into the well, the flow being controlled by a valve operated by a fioat in the well.

Referring now to the specific structure as illust-rated in the drawings, the device comprises a suitable base having an ink reservoir 10 (Fig. 5) and an ink well 11 communieating with each other through a passage 12 and so related that ink will flow from the reservoir into well. rllhe flow is controlled by a valve 13 carried by one end of a lever 14: pivoted at 15, the other end of the lever being forked to embrace an annular float 16 within the well 11 so that when the ink stands at a certain level in the well, the float will hold the valve 13 closed and when the ink level in the well is lowered, the float will descend and open said valve to permit more ink to flow from the reservoir into the well.

Rising from the well 11 is a fountain pen support preferably in the form of a tube or socket into the upp-er end of which a fountain pen may be inserted. The lower end of this pen support opens into the ink well to permit the pen point to be dipped into the ink. The pen support comprises the lower stationary section 17 rising from the cover for the ink well and the upper section 18 which telescopes into said lower section. A coiled spring 19 bears at its ends against shoulders on the two sections and tends to move the inner section'rupwardly to a position in'which the pen point is above the ink, as seen in Fig. 1. A sleeve 2O surrounds the' spring 19 and has its lower end fixed to the lower section 17 of the pen support and its upper end slidably receiving the upper section 1 8. Suitable stop means is Vprovided for limiting the upward movement of the upper section and for preventing relative rotation thereof, the said stop means in the present instance being shown in the form of a lug 21 turned inwardly from the upper end of the sleeve 20 to engage in a vertical groove 22 in the upper section. v l

The fountain pen herein shown is of the general type shown in Patent No. 745,481 hereinbefore referred to, and it comprises the usual rubberin'k sack '2.3 which is collapsible by a bar 24 having a bow-shaped operator 25 normally extending outwardly through the slot inthepen barrel. The numeral 26 (Fig. 2) indicates the usual ink duct leading from the ink sack to the pen point 27.

The lower end of the upper section of the pen support has an inturned flange 28 providing a shoulder against which the lower end of the pen barrel abuts, the pen point projecting beyond the lower end of this upper section. The upper end of the upper section has a slot 30 open at its upper end to receive the operator 25 of the sack collapsing means.

A` lever 31 is pivoted at 32 on the upper section 1S and the upper end of this lever is positioned to` abut against the operator 25 of the pen, while the lower end of the lever is somewhat hook-shaped, being provided with a cam face .33 and a shoulder 34. A spring 35 acting on the lever 31 normally holds the lever in the position seen in Fig. 1 in which a stop shoulder 3G on the lever abuts against the pen support. A dog 37 pivoted at 38 in a recess in the lower section 17 of the support is in vertical alinementwith the lever 31.l A suitable spring 39 normally holds this dog in its outer position with a portion of the dog in abutment with a shoulder 40 in the support 17, but the dog is capable of moving inwardly to a retracted position substantially flush with the face of the support 17.

-In the normal position of the parts as viewed in Fig. 1 the device simply serves as a means for supporting a fountain pen on a. desk in convenient position for use. Villien it is desired to fill the pen the operator merely pushes downwardly on the pen or on the upper sectionlS of the support, and in the downward movement the cam face 33 ofthe lever 31 rides o n the inclined end face of the dog 37 as seen in Fig. 2, with the result that the upper end of the lever 31 pushes the operator 25 of the pen inwardly and collapses the ink sack. By this time the pen point will have been immersed in the ink as seen in Fig. 2, and upon a further slight downwardl movement of the pen, the cam face 3.3 vof the 'lever 31 will ride off the dog 37 and the spring'35 will return the lever to its normal position as viewed in Fig. 1, whereupon the ink sack 23 will expand and draw inlr from the well up into the sack through the duct 26 in a manner well known. The operator preferably holds the pen in its fully depressed position for a moment to give the ink time to lill the ink sack, whereupon the manual pressure on the pen is relieved to allow the upper section 18 to rise under the infiuence of the spring 19 until the parts are again in the normal position seen in Fig. 1. In this upward movement the lower end of the lever 31 cams the dog 37 inwardly of its way so tha-t the dog will not affect the position of the lever.

The charge of ink withdrawn from the ink well will lower the level of ink in the well and the lioat Valve will descend to open the valve 13 and permit ink to flow from the reservoir 10 into the well until the proper level has again been established, when the float will close the valve 13.

In Figs. 7 and 8 are shown two modified forms of connections between the ink well and the lower section of the pen socket so as to permit the pen socket to swivel relative to the well and allow the pen to extend at various angles of inclination.

In Fig. 7 the lower section 17 of the pen socket has a ball 41 formed thereon which fits in a complementary recess in the upper end of the well 11 and forms a closure for the well. A collar 42 fastened to the well has an inturned flange at its upper end to fit the ball and hold it in place. An annular iiange 43 on the ball limits the swinging movement thereof by abutment with the collar 42.

In Fig. 8 the side walls of the ink well 11 are arcuate in shape and they are embraced by inner and outer semi-spherical members 44 and 45 which are fastened to an annular liange 46 on the lower end of the pen socket 17. The construction provides a universal mounting of the pen socket on the ink well and permits the socket to swivel in all directions. The abutment of the flange 46 with the upper edge of the ink well limits the swiveling movement.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a fountain pen having self-filling means, of an ink well, a

Y tubular pen support through which the pen is insertable to dip its point into the ink in said well, and means associated with said support and automatically movable upon axial movement of the pen relative to said well for actuating the self-filling means of the pen to cause the introduction of a charge of ink from said well into said pen.

2. The combination of a fountain pen have ing` a body, a pen point stationarily mounted relative to said body, an internal collapsible ink sack, andcollapsing means including an operator Vprojecting externally of said body; an ink well; a tubular pen support communicating at its lower end with said well; and means associated with said support and operable in the movement of said body in the direction to dip said point into the ink for first depressing said operator of the pen to collapse said ink sack and for then releasing said operator to permit to expand and draw ink into the pen.

3. The combination of a fountain pen having an internal collapsible ink sack and havi ing collapsing means including an operator projecting externally ofthe pen; an ink wel-l; a tubular support adapted to receive a foun-v tain pen and communicating at its lower end with said ink well; and means associated with said support and operable in the movement the ink sack Y of the pen downwardly to dipits point into the ink, said means acting to engage said operator and collapse the ink sack as the pen is moved downwardly, said means also acting during continued downward movement of the pen, and after the pen point is immersed in the ink, to release said operator to permit the ink sack to expand and draw a charge of ink into the pen.

4. The combination with a self-filling fountain pen and an ink well, of means engageable by the pen and automatically operable by movement of the pen into the ink well for first collapsing and then releasing the ink sack in the pen.

5. The combination with a fountain pen having an ink sack and collapsing-means therefor, of an ink well, and means associated with said ink well and including a. shiftable abutment arranged to be engaged in the movement of the fountain pen into the ink well for automatically operating said collapsing means. y

6. The combination with a fountain pen having a collapsibleink sack and operating means therefor, of an ink well, a support associated with said ink welll and adapted tov receive and hold a fountain pen, and shiftable means associated with said support and arranged to coact with said ink-sack-operating means and constructed to cause the ink sack toy be first collapsed and then'released after the pen point is immersed in the ink in said well.

7. The combination of an ink well, a support associated with said ink well and adapt- Y ed to receive and support a fountain pen, 'and means providing a pivotal connection between said support and said ink well, said means being constructed to permit the passage of the pen point of the fountain pen therethrough to bedipped into the ink in said container.

8. The combination of an ink well, a tubular pen support associated therewith in which a pen may bel received and held, and a tubular swivel connection at the lower end of said support through which the pen point may pass to be immersed in the ink in said well.

9. The combination of an ink well,`a yield- Iso for collapsing said ink sack and including a ink well and arranged to receive a fountain pen and normally support the pen with its point above the ink but yieldable downwardly to permit the pen point to be dipped into the ink in said well, and means associated with said ink well and said support and arranged to engage a part of the filling device of a fountain pen occupying said support, said means acting during the continuous downward movement of the pen to actuate said filling device to first expel the contents of the pen and then draw ink from said ink well into the pen.

10. The combination of an ink well, a

'Y yieldable tubular pen support associated with said ink well and arranged to receive a fountain pen. and normally support the pen with its point above the ink but yieldable downwardly to permit the pen point to be dipped I into the ink in said well, and means mounted on said support and arranged to engage a part of the filling device of a fountain pen occupying said support, said means including a shiftable element acting during the continuous downward movement of the pen to actuate said iilling device to first expel the contents of the pen and then draw ink from said ink well into the pen.

11. The combination with a fountain pen p, of the type comprising a body portion composed of a barrel and a head stationarily mounted at the lower end of said barrel, a pen point mounted in said head, a collapsible ink sack in said barrel, means in said barrel part projecting outwardly through an aperture in a part of said body; of an ink well, a

tubular longitudinally yieldable pen support associated with said ink well and arranged to receive the lower part of theL fountain pen and normally support the pen in elevated position, said support yielding downward by manual pressure to carry the pen point downwardly in the well, and means arranged to engage said projecting part of said ink sack collapsing means and acting in the continuous downward movement of the pen to actuate said ink sack collapsing means to cause said sack to be first collapsed and then expanded and thereby draw ink from said well into said pen.

12. The combination with a fountain pen of the type comprising a body portion composed of avbarrel and a head stationarily mounted at the lower end of said barrel, a pen point mounted in said head, a collapsible ink sack in said barrel,'means in said barrel for collapsing said ink sack by lateral pressure thereon, said means including a part projecting laterally outward through an aperture in said barrel; of an ink well, a tubular longitudinally yieldable pen support associated with said ink well and arranged to receive the lower part of the fountain pen and normally support the pen in elevated p0- sition, said support yielding downward by manual pressure to carry the pen point downwardly in the well, and means mounted on said pen support and including a movable operator arranged to engage said projecting part of said ink-saclr-collapsing.means and acting in the continuous downward movement of the pen to actuate said ink-sackcollapsing means to cause said sack to be first collapsed and then expanded and thereby draw ink from said well into said pen.

13. The combination with an ink well of a tubular pen socket associated therewith and arranged to receive and support a fountain pen, said socket comprising an outer stationary section, an inner tubular section slidable therein and having an internal shoulder against which the lower end of the pen body abuts with the pen point projecting below the end of said inner section, spring means coacting with said sections arranged to hold the inner section in elevated position but permitting said inner section to be moved downwardly by manual pressure upon a pen therein to dip its point in the ink in said well, means movably mounted on said inner' section arranged to operate the filling device of a fountain pen, and means mounted on said outer section for actuating the last mentioned means in the downward movement of the inner section to cause the fountain pen filling device to be first collapsedV and then expanded during the continuous downward movement of the pen while in said socket.

14. lThe combination of an ink well, a tubular socket associated therewith and arranged to receive and support a fountain pen, said socket comprising relatively shiftabl'e sections with interposed spring means to hold the pen supporting section normally elevated, and means which is automatically actuated by the downward movement of the pen supporting section for operating the filling device` of a fountain pen therein to draw a charge of ink into the pen from said well.

15. In combination, a self-filling fountain pen having a member to actuate its self lilling mechanism, an inkstand having a pen opening, a sleeve cap thereon having a slot for receiving and guiding' said member when the pen is inserted in the inlrstand, a lever pivoted on the cap and extending across said slot to automatically operate said member when the pen is inserted, means for holding said lever in a normal operative position, said lever being adapted to move out of the path of said pen member when the pen is withdrawn and means for causing said lever to again assume its normal position thereafter.

VIn testimony whereof, I have hereunto aiiixed my signature.

CEOIL PAUL PARKER.

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