US3246632A - Fountain pen structure - Google Patents

Description

April 19, W66 .1. G. MARBAN FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May '7, 1963 Ir Y INVENTOR. k FTAERPEZ/VJKBIM/ Arman United States Patent 3,246,632 FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE Julian Gutierrez Marban, 6233 Brooirview Ave. S., Minneapolis 24, Minn. Filed May 7, 1963, Ser. No. 278,597 2 Claims. (Ci. 120-46) This invention relates to an improvement in the structure of a fountain pen. More specificaliy the invention herein relates to an improvement in a fountain pen construction providing separate fluid chambers comprising a first chamber of nominal size and a second chamber of substantial capacity.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fountain pen construction comprising an independent first or use chamber and a second or reserve chamber wherein both chambers are filled simultaneously and ink may be subsequently transferred from the reserve to the use chamber without the need for any moving parts in the construction of the fountain pen.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fountain pen construction comprising independent chambers including a first chamber for nominal use of ink and a second chamber containing a reserve supply of ink and including a single stationary member designed to fill both chambers simultaneously and further designed to transfer ink from the reserve to the use chamber.

It is more specifically an object of this invention to provide a fountain pen construction comprising a pair of separate chambers and a single stationary member designed to fill both chambers in a single operation with a portion thereof designed for a modified pumping action.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a fountain pen construction having a use chamber and a reserve chamber and a stationary member used for filling said chamber and transferring ink from one chamber to another with means to engage and actuate said stationary member.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal section of a fountain pen embodying applicants invention with a portion thereof removed and a portion thereof shown in alternate position in dotted line;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing a detail of applicants invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section with a portion thereof broken away and a portion thereof removed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that in FIG. 2 showing a modification thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that in FIG. 3 showing a modification thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view in central longitudinal section of a fountain pen embodying a modification of applicants invention with some portions thereof indicated in dotted line;

FIG. 7 is a view in central longitudinal section with a portion broken away and somewhat similar to that of the view in FIG. 6 with a portion thereof shown in a different position;

FIG. 8 is a broken view in longitudinal section showing a modification of a portion of applicants invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 8 with a portion thereof removed and a portion thereof shown in a different operating position.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 13, a preferred embodiment of applicants invention is present in the fountain pen structure indicated generally by the character 10 which comprises a substantially cylindrical barrel 12 having portions 13, 14 and 15 threaded together into a coaxial relationship.

The barrel portion 13 forms a lower housing portion having a free end portion 16 having an external taper thereto and being designed to receive therein a conventional writing element 18 shown here to be secured therein by frictional engagement. Ink will feed through a passageway 19.

The barrel portion 14 forms a removable extension of the barrel portion 13 extending away from said writing element, and the barrel portion 15 forms a removable cap at the free end of said barrel portion 14.

An enclosing or capping member of conventional design will be used to enclose the writing element when not in use. Said enclosing member forms no part of the invention herein and is not shown.

Said barrel portion 13 has extending axially thereof in a direction away from said writing element a tubular sac-like or sac member 20 having an open end portion 29a sized to fit snugly within the edge portion of the open end of barrel portion 13, as indicated in FIG. 1, and having a closed end portion 20b of reduced transverse dimension. Said sac member is very adequately held in position as indicated by frictional engagement and in effect is integral with the barrel portion 13. In the instant embodiment, said sac member is indicated as being formed of a yielding or squeezable material, such as of a suitable rubber or plastic material. Said material shall have sufiicient body and rigidity to form a durable self-standing member.

Extending transversely of the interior of said barrel portion 13 is a wall 21 having a central apertured hub portion 21a here shown to be concentric with said barrel portion 13. Said barrel portion 13 is thus formed into a first or use chamber 23 from which ink is first drawn or used in the normal use of the pen and a second or reservoir chamber 25 from which ink is transferred to said first chamber as may be required. As above described and as indicated in FIG. 1, said chamber 25 is partially contained within said barrel portion 13 and partially contained within said sac member 20. In the present em bodiment the greater portion of said chamber 25 is indicated as being contained within said tubular member 26.

The barrel portion 14 threading onto the barrel portion 13 encloses the greater portion of said sac member 20 leaving uncovered the reduced end portion 29b, which end portion is enclosed by the cap portion 115, as indicated in FIG. 2.

It is seen that chamber 23 has free unobstructed communication with the writing element 18.

Disposed longitudinally within said barrel 12 coaxially thereof and within said chambers 23 and 25 is an openended tubular member 3%) of relatively small transverse dimension and having a passageway 32 extending therethrough. Said member 30 will be formed of a substantially rigid material and it extends through said hub portion 21a from a point substantially centrally longitudinally of said chamber 23 to a point within said chamber 25 and more particularly to a point within the reduced end portion of said sac member 20 spaced a relatively short distance from the closed end thereof. said tubular member 30 is stationarily mounted and will be suitably secured or anchored within said hub portion 21a having an airtight engagement therewith.

Thus it is seen that save for communication through said tubular member 30, said chambers 23 and 25 are completely separated from one another.

Carried at the free end of said tubular member 30 within said chamber 23 is a hollow semi-spherical or '9 J cup-like deflecting member 33 secured to said tubular member by spaced struts 33a to deflect ink passing into said chamber 23 through said passageway 32.

Ink within appli-cants fountain pen structure is indicated by the character 35.

Operation Commencing with applicants pen being free of any ink, the barrel portions 14 and are removed from the barrel portion 13 uncovering the sac member 20. This member forms the pump of applicants pen structure. It is to be noted here that no moving parts are present in the construction of applicants pen. It is true that barrel portions 14 and 15 are moved away from the barrel portion 13, but there are no moving parts in the operation of the pen. All parts are stationary and remain in fixed position. The sac member forming the pump is merely squeezed in position. No springs, gaskets, glands, or special seals are used, which elements are necessary where moving parts are used.

The writing element is immersed into a supply of ink. The sac member 29 Will be engaged at opposite sides thereof as by the tips of the thumb and forefinger of the operators hand. Said member 26 will be squeezed, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. This creates a powerful suction or pumping action drawing ink through the passage 19 into chamber 23.

The chamber 23 will first fill up with ink. Initially the pumping action will draw air from chamber 23 into chamber 25 through the passage 32 as ink is drawn or moves from the ink supply into the chamber 23. At a certain point as chamber 23 is filled, ink will also move upwardly through the passage 32 into chamber 25. Eventually as ink fills the chamber 25, the air therein will be evacuated at each squeezing stroke of the pumping action. Chamber 25 may be completely filled with ink. The passage 32 will also contain a certain amount of ink. Said chamber 23 will have some air therein as is common in any conventional pen.

When the pen is filled, it will be removed from the ink supply and the barrel portion 14 carrying barrel portion 15 will be placed over the sac 20 and threaded onto the barrel portion 13. It is noted here that barrel portion 15 in secured position, as indicated in FIG. 2, is designed to bear against the end of the sac 20 and press the same inwardly to seat against the open end of the tubular member and thus seal the chamber 25 and thus closing chamber 25 off from any communication with the chamber 23.

In the present embodiment, chamber 25 is shown to have approximately three times the capacity of chamber 23. The relative sizes of these chambers may be in any ratio that may be desired.

When the ink supply 35 within the chamber 23 has been used up, ink will be transferred thereto from the chamber 25.

To transfer ink from chamber 25 to chamber 23, the pen will be inverted with the writing element 18 being upward. Then the cap portion 15 is removed partially uncovering the reduced end portion of the sac member 20.

The reduced end portion of the sac member 20 is now engaged between the thumb and forefinger of the operator and with a succession of relatively short or recipro cating gentle squeezing actions ink in small increments is transferred to the chamber 23. This gentle action in the transfer of ink avoids the discharge of any ink that might be trapped in the writing element and the suction strokes of the squeezing action will tend to draw said ink which might be present in the Writing element, into the chamber 23. The deflecting member 33 prevents any direct discharge of ink into the writing element, such as by an unintentional sharp squeezing of the portion 20b. When a sufficient supply of ink has been transferred to the chamber 23, the cap 15 will be replaced and tightened against the sac portion 20b seating the same against the adjacent end of the tube 30 cutting off communication between chamber 25 and chamber 23. The pen is now ready for use again. Referring to FIG. 3, the height of the tubular member 30 within the chamber 23 will determine the ink level within said chamber relative to the transfer of ink from chamber 25. Any ink at a level above the height of said tubular member will be withdrawn with the suction strokes of the squeezing action of the portion 20b. Thus the extent of said tubular member 30 into said chamber 23 may vary as may be desired.

Modification With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modification of applicants fountain pen structure indicated generally by the character 40 is shown in which like characters are used to indicate portions identical with those above described. Only those portions representing the modified structure are here described.

The principal change lies in the use of a plunger to actuate means for squeezing the reduced end portion 20b of the sac member 20 for the purpose of transferring ink from the chamber 25 to the chamber 23. The barrel portion 41 which is similar to the barrel portion 14 is provided with an annular interior grooved shoulder 42 with the grooved portion thereof facing upwardly, as indicated in FIG. 4. Said barrel 41 has an end wall 43 enclosing the upper free end portion thereof and having a central aperture 44 therein. A plunger 46 comprises a shank portion 47 extending upwardly through said apertured end wall 43 and having a circular head portion 48 retained Within said barrel portion 41. Said head portion is shown having a small resilient washer 50 forming a cushion and sealing member between said head portion and the inner surface of the end wall 43.

Depending from said head portion 48 are a pair of diametrically spaced elongated plate-like spring members and 56 having their respective upper ends imbedded in said head portion 48 and suitably secured therein and having their lower end portions received within the groove portion of the annular collar 42. As indicated in FIG. 4, said spring members 55 and 56 have a slight longitudinal concave curvature.

Spaced inwardly from said end wall 43 is a transverse plate member or web 58 having spaced openings to accommodate the spring members 55 and 56. Said plate member is integral with said barrel portion 41 and will be positioned a sufiicient distance from said end wall 43 to allow room for the stroking action of plunger 46.

Enclosing the upper free end of the barrel portion 41 and the upwardly extending shank 47 is an end cap portion 57.

The tubular member 30 is here shown without the addition of the deflecting member 33.

Operation With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, when applicants fountain pen is in normal writing condition with the barrel portion 41 threaded fully onto the barrel portion 13, the plate member 58 Will cause the adjacent end portion of the sac member 20 to bear against the adjacent open end of the tubular member 30 to seal off the chamber 25 from the chamber 23.

When it is desired to transfer ink from chamber 25 to chamber 23, the pen will be inverted and the end cap 15 will be removed to uncover the plunger 46. The barrel portion 41 will next be unthreaded from the barrel portion 13 for a short distance, as indicated in FIG. 5, to relieve the portion 20b of the sac member 20 of the pressure of the plate member 58 for communication between the chambers 25 and 23. The plunger 46 will next be operated with relatively short gentle strokes to flex the spring members 55 and 55 inwardly to squeeze the sides of the portion 2012 much in the same manner as the squeezing action indicated in FIG. 3. This will create a gentle pumping action to move the ink 35. upwardly through the passage 32 and into the chamber 23.

Modification With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, another modification of applicants pen structure is shown. Indicated generally by the character 60 and in which portions identical with those first described in connection with FIGS. 1-3 are indicated by like characters.

The barrel of the fountain pen structure is indicated generally by' the character 61 comprising a portion 13 and a portion 62 which actually combines the portions 14 and 15 previously described into an integral or unitary barrel portion. In connection with said barrel portion 62 it is noted that circular openings 62a and 62b in opposed relation are formed in said barrel portion and these openings will be of sufficient size to receive therein the tip portions of fingers of the operator, such as of the thumb and forefinger. A sac member 63 is provided which is identical to the sac member 20 with the exception that it has an upper end portion of substantially the same diameter as the body portion thereof instead of having a reduced upper end portion as in connection with the sac member 20. It is noted that the portions of said sac member 63 adjacent the openings 62a and 6% are exposed at these points whereby said sac member may be directly engaged as by the tips of the thumb and forefinger of the operator.

Operation The operation of the modified pen structure 60 is somewhat simplified relative to the structures and 40 above described.

When this fountain pen structure is in Writing condition, the barrel portion 62 will be threaded fully onto the barrel portion 13, as indicated in FIG. 6, and the end portion of the sac member 20 will be depressed sufficiently to bear against the adjacent end of the tubular member 30 to seal said open end.

The steps to be taken in filling this modification of applicants fountain pen structure will be the same as in connection with the embodiment indicated in FIGS. 1-3.

To transfer ink from chamber 25 to chamber 23, the fountain pen will be inverted, as indicated in FIG. 7. The pumping action is then applied by successively squeezing the exposed portions of the sac member 63 with a gentle action. Very little force is required to cause ink to be transferred from chamber 25 to chamber 23.

Modification Another modification of applicants pen structure is shown in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9. Only a fragmentary portion of this modified structure is illustrated and it is indicated generally by the character 65. A barrel portion 66 is indicated which represents a modification of the barrel portion 14. Said barrel portion 66 is provided With an upper end Wall 67 having a portion 63 of reduced width forming shoulders 69 and having a portion 70 of further reduced Width which is externally threaded. Said end wall portion 67 has a central aperture 71 extending axially therethrough. The inner end portion of said end wall 67 has a cylindrical recess 72. A plunger 75 has a shank 76 disposed through said aperture 71 having a head portion 77 receivable Within said recess 72. Secured to the upper free end portion of the shank 76 is a cylindrical head portion 78 which will be seated on the upper outer surface of the end wall 67. An end cap 80 is provided adapted to enclose the upper stepped portion of the barrel portion 66. The shank 76 will be of such a length that when the end cap 86 is threaded in position, said end cap will move the plunger 75 downwardly to bear against the adjacent end portion of the sac member 63 to seat the same against the adjacent open end of the tube 30 for a sealing engagement.

Operation The steps to be taken in filling the modification 65 of the applicants fountain pen structure will be the same as those in connection with the structure described in FIGS. 1-3.

To transfer ink for the chamber 25 to chamber 23, the pen is inverted and the end cap 80 will be removed. This will release the plunger structure from the sac member 63 unseating said sac member from the adjacent end of the tubular member 30. The plunger 75 will then be reciprocated successively with gentle strokes and ink will be transferred from the chamber 25 into the chamber 23. The end wall 67 will be designed to allow the adjacent end portion of the sac member 20 to be fully extended when the cap is removed.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a very simple fountain pen structure formed of a minimum of parts and in which the preferred construction thereof is free of any moving parts. It will be noted also in the modifications of the preferred embodiment there are but very simple moving parts. Applicants fountain pen structure is designed to have an unusually large capacity of a reserve ink supply and a very efficient and simple means for transferring ink from the reserve supply of ink to the chamber from which ink is normally used.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fountain pen structure having in combination,

a barrel,

a writing element carried at the forward end of said barrel,

a wall within said barrel dividing the interior thereof into first and second axially aligned chambers,

said first chamber being adjacent to and communicating with said writing element,

a tubular sac-like member partially within said barrel independent thereof enclosing a portion of said second chamber remote from said first chamber, said saclike member comprising yielding portions,

a stationary tubular member disposed within said barrel axially thereof extending through said wall portion to provide communication between said chambers, said tubular member extending to a point adjacent the end of said sac-like member remote from said first chamher,

a detachable portion of said barrel enclosing said saclike member, said detachable portion in attached position engaging the adjacent end portion of said sac-like member to seat the same against an adjacent portion of said tubular member to seal said second chamber from communication With said first chamber,

said detachable barrel portion having an end wall and a removable end cap portion enclosing said end Wall,

a plunger carried adjacent the inner side of said end :wall having a shank portion extending outwardly of said end wall,

an annular shoulder within said barrel portion spaced inwardly of said end wall encircling the adjacent end portion of said sac-like member, and

a pair of diametrically opposed elongated plate spring members seated at one of their ends in said annular shoulder and seated at the other of their ends within said plunger whereby reciprocation of said plunger flexes said springs to queeze the adjacent wall portions of said sac-like member to transfer ink from said second chamber to said first chamber upon partial detachment of said detachable barrel portion.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1,

a plate member parallel to said end Wall integral with said detachable barrel portion and spaced inwardly of said plunger whereby said plate member engages the adjacent end portion of said sac-like member to seat the same against the adjacent portion of said tubular member to seal said second chamber from said first chamber with said detachable barrel portion in attached position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,239,971 9/1917 Ruff 120 46X Savio 12046 Chamberlin 12046 Sager 120-46 Alstrorn 12042.16 X

Wing 120'-42.16

Miessner 120-42.16

Von Platen 120-42.16

Marban 12042.16

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE HAVING IN COMBINATION, A BARREL, A WRITING ELEMENT CARRIED AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID BARREL, A WALL WITHIN SAID BARREL DIVIDING THE INTERIOR THEREOF INTO FIRST AND SECOND AXIALLY ALIGNED CHAMBERS, SAID FIRST CHAMBER BEING ADJACENT TO AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID WRITING ELEMENT, A TUBULAR SAC-LIKE MEMBER PARTIALLY WITHIN SAID BARREL INDEPENDENT THEREOF ENCLOSING A PORTION OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER REMOTE FROM SAID FIRST CHAMBER, SAID SACLIKE MEMBER COMPRISING YIELDING PORTIONS, A STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BARREL AXIALLY THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH SAID WALL PORTION TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHAMBERS, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDING TO A POINT ADJACENT THE END OF SAID SAC-LIKE MEMBER REMOTE FROM SAID FIRST CHAMBER, A DETACHABLE PORTION OF SAID BARREL ENCLOSING SAID SACLIKE MEMBER, SAID DETACHABLE PORTION IN ATTACHED POSITION ENGAGING THE ADJACENT END PORTION OF SAID SAC-LIKE MEMBER TO SEAT THE SAME AGAINST AN ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO SEAL SAID SECOND CHAMBER FROM COMMUNICATION WITH SAID FIRST CHAMBER, SAID DETACHABLE BARREL PORTION HAVING AN END WALL AND A REMOVABLE END CAP PORTION ENCLOSING SAID END WALL, A PLUNGER CARRIED ADJACENT THE INNER SIDE OF SAID END WALL HAVING A SHANK PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID END WALL, AN ANNULAR SHOULDER WITHIN SAID BARREL PORTION SPACED INWARDLY OF SAID END WALL ENCIRCLING THE ADJACENT END PORTION OF SAID SAC-LIKE MEMBER, AND A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED ELONGATED PLATE SPRING MEMBERS SEATED AT ONE OF THEIR ENDS IN SAID ANNULAR SHOULDER AND SEATED AT THE OTHER OF THEIR ENDS WITHIN SAID PLUNGER WHEREBY RECIPROCATION OF SAID PLUNGER FLEXES SAID SPRINGS TO QUEEZE THE ADJACENT WALL PORTIONS OF SAID SAC-LIKE MEMBER TO TRANSFER INK FROM SAID SECOND CHAMBER TO SAID FIRST CHAMBER UPON PARTIAL DETACHMENT OF SAID DETACHABLE BARREL PORTION.

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