US2602423A - Fountain pen - Google Patents

Description

July 8 1952 J. A. SMITH FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Nov. 15, 1946 INVENTO v HTTOENEV I Patented July 8, 1952 mes f James Smith,Nortl1'Hollywood, Calif; 51:" 1Appuai n'mw e 15, 4a s r fi ;1 m;-

d This invention relates'to'fountain'pens; and is directed particularly toan improved arrangement for filling the ink reservoir. J I

[A major consideration in ft) nt'ain pen design is the, provision of t inne s liven oilfiaxiinuin filling the reservoircompletely.

It is a further object of this inventiojn -to provide a fountain pen embodying an inkfreservoirhaving an ink intake passage which is independent of the ink outlet .passagewhich feeds the pen point, thereby permitting the use of unidirectional flow type of pen point such, as, for

m eab ll point. v

It is another objectof this invention to provide a fountain pen embodying an ink reservoir hi h may be comp e fill with y 5 ,0- cessive pumping strokes in; acontinuous operation. a

It is still, another object of this invention to provide a fountain pen in which the reservoir may be completely filled by a comparatively simple manipulationwhich may be easily performed Without disturbing the relationship of the ink in: take opening to the ink supply. This invention possesses many" other advantages and has other objects whichmay be. made morefieasily apparent from a consideration .of one embodiment of the'invention. For. this purpose there is' shown a-forminthe drawings. ac: companying and forming .part' of therpre'sen't specification. This form will now be described in detail; illustrating theirgene'ral principles of theinvention; but'it is to'beunderstood that this detailed description is not 'tovbe taken inalimit ing'sense, since the scope of the invention: is best defined by the appended claims In accordance with this invention the pen barrel is constructed with a rotatable van'e extending axially the full length of the barrel'reservoir, and cooperating with a stationary radial partition extending inwardly fromthe barrel wall to form an 'expansible ink receiving chamber. I A first ink passage is'provided communicating between the chamber and the upper end of the pen, and a second ink passage is-vprovided communicating between the. chamber and the pen point. Preparatory to filling the'chamber, the vane is first rotated in one direction until the chamber is of minimum volume. The pen is then inverted, the end including the first passage orifice is dipped into an inksupply, and thevane is rotated in the opposite directionto expand the I S CIaimS. (Cl. 120-46) chamber and create a' partial vacuum therein to draw'ink'intothebarrel reservoir. r

The second passage, communicating with the pen point, is so positioned that during the filling operation-it is isolated from the ink chamber; being 'bro'ught into" registry withthe ink chamberfonlywvhen the vane has been rotated to its final position providing maximum volume of the chamber; In this" manner, the pen point-ink passage is ineffective to break the suction created in the ink chamber duringthe filling operation. The vane is preferablymountecl on "a, hollow, central shaft; the conduit in the shaft forming an ink inlet passage communicating betweenthe inkchamber and the upper exterior'endof the pen. 'Aport communicates between the shaft passage and-the chamber near that end of thebarrel adjacent the pen point, so that the ink; upon flowing into the chamber,-drops away from the port, thereby permitting repeated pumping of the vane until the barrel reservoir is full of ink.

Referring nowto the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the pen; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged'longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2 -2 of Figure 3b and showing the ink receiving reservoir in the pen barrel;

Figures 3, 3a and 3b are sectional views taken. along line 3+3 in Figure 2, illustrating three different positions of the rotatable vane which effects expansion and contraction of the ink receiving chamber; and

Figure 4 is asectional view taken'along line 4- of Figure-2c I Referring to Figures land 2, the pen comprises in---general a-cylindrical barrel ll having a taperedextension 12 rotatably mounted on the upper 'end'thereofand having a pen point It secured to the lower end thereof. The pen point may be-of the ball'type, including-a writing ball I 4 protruding slightly from the tip.

Thejinterior} of the barrel I'I constitutes an ink reservoir 15 extending throughout substantially the entire lengththereof, being closed at its upper end by a transverse partition I6 secured in sealed relation to the barrel by the extension l2,'and being closed at its lower end by a transverse partitionl'l similarly secured to the barrel byithe' pen point 13. A hollow shaft l8 extends the full length of the reservoir in coaxial rela-' tion thereto and is journaled at its lower end in the partition H. The shaft extends" upwardly through a central opening in "the upper partition l6 and through the extension E2. The latter is secured to the shaft, as by a press fit, so that the shaft may be rotated by the extension;

"A radial vane I9 is secured to the shaft [8 andextends thefull length of the reservoir IS} The upper and lower ends of the vane have substan-.

tially fluid tight sealing engagement with the to divide the reservoir into two separate chambers 2,2 and 22a, the relative volumes of which may be changed by rotation of the vane about its axis.

The interior of the hollow shaft l8 serves as an ink passage 23 which communicates with the chamber 22 through a lateral port .24 adjacent the lower extremity of the shaft. For the purpose of showing the port 24 in Figure 2, it is shown therein as disposed diametrically opposite the vane Hi. It will be noted, however, by ref-' erence to Figures 3, 3a and 31), that the port 24 is located closely adjacent the vane on the side thereof communicating with the chamber .22.

The upper end of the passage 23 is open and forms an inlet port 25 through which ink may be drawn'from an ink supply into the passage 23 and thence into the chamber 22 upon rotation of the vane. I I

As previously stated, the extension I2 is nonrotatably secured to the shaft I8 so that the shaft and the vane l9 may be rotated by manual rotation of the extension. The extension is secured to the barrel II by a retaining ring 26 which permits relative rotation but prevents axial separation of these elements. The upper protruding end of the shaft l8 may be enclosed within a cap 21 detachably secured, as by a threaded connection 28, to the upper extremity of the extension [2.

, An ink outlet port 3| is formed in the lower partition H to allow ink to flow from the reservoir into a conical well 32 in the pen point l3. The well 32 communicates with the writing ball l4 through a central axial bore 33, the upper portion of which is threaded to receive an adjustable control plug 34. As shown in Figure 4, the threaded portion of the control plug is provided with a plurality of axially extending external grooves 35 forming ink passages. The

lower portion 36 of the plug 34 is of reduced diameter andhas formed integrally therewith at its" lower end a control ball 31 of a diameter slightly less than that of the bore 33. The control ball limits the'inward displacement of the writing ball 14 from its seat in the tip of-the point 13, and thus by adjusting theposition of the control plug 34 in the bore 33 the fiow of ink downwardly around the writing ball may be adjustably controlled. A transverse slot 38 is formed in the head of the plug 34 to facilitate adjustment of the plug.

Referring to Figures 3, 3a and 3b, it will be observed that the outlet port 3| is so located with respect to the radial partition 2| that it is isolated fromthe chamber 22 except when the vane l9 "isrotated. to the final position illustrated in Figure 3. In this manner communication between the chamber 22 and the pen point is cut off during the filling operation, thus preventing intake of air through the pen point, and the .port 3! into the chamber 22 which, if it were permitted, would break the suction in the chamber 22 during the filling stroke of the vane. It will also be observed that the port 24 in the shaft I8 is located closely'adjacent the vane IS on the trailing side thereof so as to be in communication with the chamber 22 throughout the pumping stroke of the vane.

The ink reservoir is filled in the following manner:

After removal of the cap 21, the pen is inverted and the inlet port 25 in the protruding end of the shaft 18 is dipped in the ink, the .pen being conveniently held in this position by grasping the extension [2. Either the barrel or the extension is then rotated through slightly less than one revolution in the proper direction to effect rotation of the vane l9 relative to the barrel in the direction of the arrow 45 in Figure 3. The vane is thus rotated fromv the position'shown in Figure 3, which is the position it normally occupies during use of the pen, to the position indicated in Figure 31). During this stroke of the vane the .air' in the chamber 22' is expelled through the port 24,th e' axialpassage 23 and the port 25. Thereafter the vane is rotated in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrow 46 in Figure, 3b, to increase the volume of the chamber 22. Inasmuchas the only communication with the chamber 22 during this pumping stroke is through the ports 24 and 25 and passage 23 to the ink supply, the partial vacuum created in the chamber by the increase in volume thereof causes ink to be drawn upwardly through the passage 23 and the port 24 and into the chamber. Practical design considerations and manufacturing tolerances prevent the formation of a perfect seal between the relatively slidable surfaces defining the chamber 22, and hence there will be some loss of suction during the pumping stroke due to leakage of air from thechamber 22a into the chamber 22. Consequently the chamber 22 will not be completely filled with inkby a single pumping stroke of the vane. Additional ink may, however, be drawn into the reservoir by successive pumping strokes until the reservoir is filled. Upon reverse rotation of the vane any air in the chamber 22 above the ink therein is expelled through the ports 24 and 25 and passage 23 and forms bubbles in the ink supply. When the vane reaches a mid-point, as indicated in Figure'Ba, the volume of the chamber 22 has been reduced to approximately one-half its maximum volume, and, if it be assumed for example that'the chamher was half filled with ink during the initial pumping stroke, the chamber will then be completely filled with ink and continued counterclockwise rotation of the vane would expel ink from the chamber. This conditionv is'indicated by the cessation of formation of bubbles inthe ink supply. The vane is then rotated fromthe intermediate position in a clockwise direction to the final position shown in Figure 3. Upon successive repetitions of the foregoing operation the return strokes become successively shorter until the chamber is completely filled. The cap 21' is then applied to close the port 25,'and the pen is ready for use.

From the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be apparent that a fountain pen constructed in accordance therewith possesses several outstandingadvantages. Not only is substantially the entire barrel utilizedas an ink reservoir, but the filling mechanism is such as to permit the reservoir to be completely filled with ink. A pen of exceptionally large ink capacity is thereby provided. By reason of the small numberof parts and their simple and ,yet rugged construction, the pen is inexpensive to manufacture and iscapableoflong, trouble-free service.

I claim:

1. In a fountain pen: means forming a circular barrel; transverse end walls respectively closing the opposite ends of said barrel; an element extending axially of said barrel and rotatably supported by said end walls; said element extending beyond one end of said barrel, a fixed radial partition extending longitudinally of said barrel between the end walls and between said element and the wall of said barrel; a rotatable vane secured to said element to rotate therewith, extending longitudinally of said barrel between the end walls, and between said element and said wall, and cooperating with the fixed partition to form an expansible chamber, there being an outlet port from said chamber through one of said end walls and means forming an inlet into said chamber through the other end wall and extended portion of said barrel.

2. In a fountain pen: means forming a circular barrel closed at its opposite ends; a rotatable element' extending axially of said barrel; a pair of radial vanes extending longitudinally of said barrel between said element and the wall of the barrel, one of said vanes being fixed, the other vane being secured to rotate with said element, said vanes cooperating to form an expansible chamber; said element providing a passage opening into said chamber to establish communication therewith at one end, there being a port establishing communication at the other end.

3. In a fountain pen: means forming a circular barrel closed at its opposite ends; a rotatable tubular element extending, axially of said barrel and projecting from one end thereof; a pair of radial vanes extending longitudinally of said barrel, between said element and the Wall of the barrel, one of said vanes beingfixed, the other vane' being secured to rotate with said element, the vanes cooperating to form an expansible chamber; said element opening into said chamber to provide communication therewith, there being a port through one of said walls also adapted to provide communication with said chamber, said port being spaced radially from said element so as to be controlled by the rotatable vane.

4. In a fountain pen: means forming a circular barrel having transverse end closure walls; an element extending axially of said barrel and rotatably supported by said end walls; said element extending outwardly from one end of said barrel, a pair of radial vanes extending longitudinally of said barrel between said end walls and between said element and the wall of the barrel, one of said vanes being fixed, the other vane being secured to rotate with said element, said vanes cooperating to form an expansible chamber of maximum volume at one limit of movement of said other vane, and of minimum volume at the other limit of movement; there being a discharge port in one of said end walls so positioned as to communicate with said chamber only when said other vane is adjacent, one of said limits of movement; and means extending through said element and forming an inlet into said chamber. 7

5. In a fountain pen: means forming a circular barrel having transverse end closure walls; a tubular element extending axially of said barrel and rotatably supported by said end walls; a pair of radial vanes extending longitudinally of said barrel between said end walls and between said element and the wall of the barrel, one of said vanes being fixed, the other vane being secured to rotate with said element, said vanes cooperating to form an expansible chamber; said tubular element extending through one of said end walls and having a port opening into said' chamber adjacent the other end wall forming a passage establishing communication with said chamber,

.there being an opening through said other end wall forming a second passage for establishing 1; communication with said chamber.

6. In a fountain pen: means forming a circular barrel having transverse end closure walls; a

'- tubular element extending axially of said barrel and rotatably supported by said end walls; a pair of radial vanes extending longitudinally of said barrel between said end walls and between said 1 element and the wall of the barrel, one of said vanes being fixed, the other vane being secured to rotate with said element, said vanes cooperating to form an expansible chamber; said tubular j element extending through one of said end walls and opening into said chamber, forming a passage establishing communication with said chamher; a membersecured to said element externally of said barrel and through which said element extends, said member being rotatably mounted on said barrel, as well as secured against axial movement with respect thereto; and a closure for rel, one of said vanes being fixed, the other vane being rotatable, said vanes cooperating to form an expansible inlr receiving chamber in said barrel; means for operating said rotatable vane from the other end of the barrel; there being inletand outlet ports in said chamber, the outlet port feed- 7 ing ink to said pen point, the inlet port extending through said other end of the barrel.

8. In a fountain pen: means forming a circular barrel closed at its opposite ends; means forming a pen point at one end of said barrel; a pair of radial vanes extending longitudinally in said barrel, one of said vanes being fixed, the other vane extension rotatably mounted on said barrel for operating said means to rotate said vane; there being a pair of ports opening into said chamber,

one of said ports being connected in fluid transfer relation with said pen point, the other port tension.

I JAMES A. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 304,275 Neif Aug. 26, 1884 468,324 Brown Feb. 9, 1892 1,616,551 Rosenberg Feb. 8, 1927 1,620,345 Haist Mar. 8,1927

1,725,163 Sigel Aug. 20, 1929 1,864,050 Myers June 21, 1932 2,208,588 Laforest .July 28, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 461,361 France 1913

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