US2638873A

US2638873A - Fountain pen with cartridge barrel

Info

Publication number: US2638873A
Application number: US741461A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred D Woods
Original assignee: AUTOPOINT CO
Current assignee: AUTOPOINT CO
Priority date: 1947-04-15
Filing date: 1947-04-15
Publication date: 1953-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1970-05-19

Description

.May 19, 1953 F. D. wooDs FOUNTAIN PEN WITH CARTRIDGE BARREL Filed April 15, 1947 7 5 53B 6 T E.

. ol a.. n mz 2 1 5 B 6:14147@ 3L h Ibi m9 Patented May 19, 1953 Fred D. Woods, Glencoe, nl assignor to Autopoint Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofA Illinois Application April 15, 1947, Serial No. 741,461

1 claim. 1

The present invention relates to fountain pens and more particularly to a novel cartridge barrel for a fountain pen that isremovable and replaceable when theink with whichthe barrelV is initially supplied becomes exhausted.

- The novel invention comprehends a unique and simplified fountain penA comprising a' nib end assembly and a removable andfreplaceable barrel assembly providing an ink reservoir and a closure which permits limited flow of the ink when the pen is assembled.

YAmong the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel cartridge type barrel forming a closed ink receptacle which remains sealed until it is secured or assembled upon the nib end of a fountain pen. At such time, access is had to the ink supply in the barrel'and thereupon the ink flows to the nib.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel closure or valve member for the barrel which is automatically opened when the barrel and nib end are mounted in assembled relation, and which functions in such manner as to automatically control the flow of ink from the barrel.

The invention further comprehends a novel and simplified construction of a removable and replaceable part for a fountain pen providing an ink reservoir for holdinga substantial quantity of a standard liquidtype ink, and provided with a novel control for regulating theflow of ink to the pen nib and thereby prevent flooding.

Another object of the present invention isto provide a novel ink cartridgesold as a replacement for the barrel of a' pen and each cartridge providing a quantity of ink that will supply all requirements for a relatively long period of time. It is contemplated to form the barrel of a plastic material that is inexpensive and that may be discarded when empty and replaced by a new barrel or cartridge.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined barrel and ink container sold as a separate unit assembly for replacement on a fountain pen, and the provision of a novel closure therefor so constructed and arranged as to be automatically opened for access to and discharge of the inkonly when the barrel is in assembled relation and the pen is ready for use.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum efficiency, economy and ease of assembly, control and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby;

(Cl. L-45.4)

2 AThe invention further resides in .the vconstruction, combination and arrangement ofl parts illustrated in the accompanying. drawing, and While there is shown therein a preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the same is susceptibleof modification and change and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing froml the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing: Y

Figure l is a View in vertical cross-section through afountain pen constructed in accordance with the present invention. y

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but with the pen rotated through from the position in the preceding ligure. l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the combined ink reservoir and barrel unit, part in verticalcross-section and partin side elevation, and

showing the position of the closure and the vent' or discharge port when in closed relation.

Fig. 4 is a-view in horizontal cross-section taken in a plane represented by the line 4--4 of Fig. l,

Referring more particularly to the embodiment shown in the drawing and selected to illustrate the'ncvel invention, the fountain pen thereinv shown includes a combined cartridge 'and barrel that is vremovable and replaceable vwhen the ink supply is exhausted. It comprisesv a barrel I which may be of any desired outer contour and with its interior 2 unobstructed to form a ,sub-- stantially large reservoir for ink A. It is provided with a closure or valve kconsisting of a tubularor sleeve-like member 3v open at its lower end 4 andclosed at its upper end 5, and provided adjacent its open end with a port or valve openingY 6. f

This closure is press-fitted into the bore of a collar 1 preferably formed separately of but having one end rigidly secured in the open end 8 oi?l the barrel in any suitable'manner, such as by= an adhesive, plastic cement or the like, and having its outer or lower end 9 extending beyond the open end of the barrel and externally threaded for connection with the internally threaded portion I0 in the nib end cap or hood II of a fountain pen.

The nib end, hood or cap II is provided with a longitudinal bore for receiving a feed tube or sleeve I 2, which in turn is adapted to receive a feed bar I3 and a pen nib I4. The feed bar I3 is press-fitted into the feed tube or sleeve I2 with the lower end I5 extending beyond the lower end I B of the tube and the upper end I1 thereof projecting beyond the upper end I8 of the tube,

and retained in this operative position when assembled.

The arcuate 0r concaved under surface of the pen nib conforms to the contour of the end I5 of the feed bar and is retained thereon by having the end I9 of the nib press-fitted into the enlarged bore in the lower end I6 of the tube or sleeve I2 fandwith the -end of "the nib 'abutting the shoulder E0 thereat. 'To-permit passage or ow of ink B from the member 3 to the pen nib I4, the upper surface of the feed bar is p-rovided with a longitudinal slot 2 I.

The amount of ink A that maybe'in'itially supplied by such a replacement `:barrel unit :is `:considerable, although the quantity `of Sink that -is made available to or which flows to the writing point or pen nib is limited by the quantity B -available in the closure or member 3.

The feed bar I3 is preferably of rubber-or rubber-like composition, while the remaining parts, except for v.the -pen'nib which Iwill be `of vsuitable metal,:are preferably formed-of a suitable plastic material and may be injectionmolded. Furthermore, `byreason of `the present novel-and simpliiied construction, the nib ;I4, feed fbar :I3 and feed -tube v1I 2 are Vso constructed, -desi'gned and arranged as to be in .and maintain their proper, predetermined lalignment .and assembly.

As the combined barrel and ink cartridge is made removable andreplaceable when the ink supply .in the barrel is exhausted, vit will be appreciated that all that is 'necessary to remove the same is to unthreadthis barrel I and lits associated-collar I 4and closure or member 3 `and .toireplaceithisunit with asimilar :unit which .is filled with ink at the factory and sold as a replacement. As shown in Fig. .3, the closure -3 being press-fitted into lthe collar 1 has its opening or discharge lport '6 disposed wholly within the connes of the .collar and .is thereby covered or closed -so asto prevent leakage of ink from `the reservoir to the hollow .interior of the closure 3. However, when the barrel and-cartridge are assembled .upon the nib end, hood or cap II in .the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sleeve I4 carrying the feed bar is automatically aligned with the tubular closure 3 so that as the `barrel and hood or Cap are threaded into abutting relation, the .feed bar I3 enters the hollow interior of the closure and the .upper .end I8 of the feed tube or sleeve yI2 .abuts against .the lower end 4 of the vtubular closure 3 and .forces the latter upwardly or inwardly into the barrel to the position wherein the port or valve-opening .B leaves the collar 1 and is uncovered, in which .position .it permits ink to flow .from the reservoir orinterior of the barrel, through this port and 'into the tubular member .3, and thence along .the slotted feed bar VI3 .to the pen .nib I4. Air entrapped in the hollow interior of this enclosed tubular member '3'lim'itsthe quantity of ink permitted to flow thereinto to .such an amount as to prevent flooding of the ink to the pen nib.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing, it will be apparent that the present invention comprehends a novel fountain pen assembly of relatively inexpensive and simpliiied construction in which the barrel forms an ink receptacle Lor cartridge that has a'large ink capacity, and when the supply 'is Nexhausted may be readily removed and quickly and cheaply replaced by another. Although the usual protect- ..ing capforceveringthe nib when the pen is not in use is not shown, it is to be understood that :such a `cap im'ay libe Eemployed with the present fnovel'fformof fountain pen.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim: In afountain-pen having a nib assembly provided with a feed tube and a feed bar therein projecting beyond the end of the tube, a removable and replaceable barrel assembly containing a relatively .large tink supply, 'said .barrel assembly including a collar Vrigidly aflxed to the .open end of ithe .barrel 'and `having a .part extending beyond the end ofthe .barrel and adapted to b'e detachably connected to a nib assembly, .and .a tubular member.having-anouter'open end pressfitted inwardly of the end of said extended part of the collar'and an .inner end .closed and projecting into the barrel toprovide in one vposition a rclosure sealing the contents of the barrel and in another position receiving a limited quantity of ink 'from the barrel, said tubular member being provided with a port'in'itstubular wall which is covered .and thereby closed by the collar when the barrel is sealed againstleakage but is adapted to .be uncovered and opened uponcontact with a feed tube part through said end of said extended part of the collar and consequent'lengthwise movement vof the tubular member relative totthe collar'and inwardly of the barrel whereby said tubular member receives a limited quantity of ink from the 4barrel :and supplies-this ink to a feed'tube land vfeed bar.

.FRED D. WOODS.

References Cited in the file of lthis fpatent UNITED STATES .PATENTS Number 'Name Date '775,411 Wheeler Nov. l22, 1904 799,454 Cordner Sept. '12, '1905 -1,103,752 lhiegm'ann July '14, 1'914 1,345,965 Shute .July "1920 1,449L2'34 Lain Mar. 30, 1923 1,72'5g234 Wedeberg Aug. 20, 1929 f1;811,9'92 Bell June "20, '193'1 '2,381,898 Ger-ge'ly Aug. 14, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 'Country Date `A577,096 Great Britain Mar. '3, Z19216