US2031343A - Fountain pen - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1936.l l. D. TEFFT FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Aug. 6, 1934 l :Ill ill] III| Az2'.tivi# 1 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES FOUNTAIN PEN Ivan D. Tefft, Janesville, Wis., assigner to The Parker Pen Company, Janesville, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 6,

y Claims. Myinvention relates to fountain pens and particularly to that class generally designated as the pump filler type. More particularly it relates to the class of fountain pens which employ a rubber 5 diaphragm which, when actuated, tends to create a partial vacuum within the barrel to draw ink thereinto through the apertured section. An analogous device is disclosed in the patent 4to Arthur O. Dahlberg, Number 1,904,358, Aprill8, 1933. v However, in the instance of the Dahlberg device the plunger for actuatingthe diaphragm is returned to normal position through the medium of a'spring whereas in my device no spring is employed.

Furthermore, in the Dahlberg structure -the method of assembling the plunger of` the filling structure is such that while the plunger may be reciprocated. it cannot be rotated.

In the instance of the device disclosed herein, the lling of the pen may be accomplished by either or-both reciprocation and/or rotation of theplunger. In the instance of filling by reciprocation, the plunger rolls upon itself as in the Dahlbes structure, and when filling by rotation of the plunger, the diaphragm is twisted to accomplish the same result.

It in the twisting action the end of the plunger is held lightly between the fingers, the said plung- 30 er will reciprocate out of the retaining sleeve due l'o the' natural action of the rubber diaphragm when twisted about the plunger stem.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a fountain pen of the pump ll type which may be filled by either reciprocationof the pump plunger or rotation thereof.

Another object is to provide a pump mechanism that may -be readily assembled inthe rear end of the barrel as a complete unit.

Another object is to provide a new and unique means for firmlyV axing the end of the plunger io the lower closed end of the diaphragm.

In order to better understand the details of construction of my invention,'attention is the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 discloses a pen assembly withv the blind and outer caps removed from the rear and nib ends of the barrel;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear end of a pen barrel with my improved pump ll mechanism mounted therein and disclosing the action of the diaphragm when the pen is iilled by reciprocation of the plunger; and

Fig. 3 is a view'partiallyiragmentary and partially in plan of the improved unit which discloses directed to f 1934, Serial No. 738,623

(Cl. 1Z0-46) the action of the diaphragm when the actuated by rotation of the plunger.

In thedrawing the numeral I0 is generally used to indicate a pen barrel, the top open end l.of which is milled to provide a tapered shoulder II 5 and internally threaded as at I2. The said barrel ID is axially drilled to provide an ink reservoir I3. The pump unit consists of an externally threaded nut I4, one end of which is reduced and threaded as at t5. The said nut I4 is adapted 10 to be screwed into the internally threaded rear end of the barrel and bear against a circular wedge member IG which, in turn, engages the skirt of an open-ended resilient diaphragm II and compresses it against the tapered shoulder II.

Upon thenut I4 being screwed against the wedge member I6, the skirt of the diaphragm is compressed against the tapered portion of the barrel I I and thus firmly aflixes the diaphragm within the barrel and effects an ink tight joint.

Inasmuch as the construction of the nut and diaphragm unit is similar to that disclosed in the Dahlberg patent heretofore mentioned, it is not thought necessary to describe the said parts in detail.

The diaphragm I'I is conical in shape and closed at one end, the said closed end being restricted to form a nipple I8. The plunger I9 is formed of hard rubber reduced and threaded as at 20 at its lower extremity and knurled at its 30 upper end as at 2| to provide a gripping surface for the finger when the filler is actuated. An axially drilled sleeve 22 is adapted to be screwed onto the threadedl end of the `plunger to aflix the. diaphragm to the said plunger. The said sleeve throughout most of its length is the same diameter as the plunger. However, the diameter of the lower extremity is greater as to provide a shoulder over which 'the end of the diaphragm is stretched when the said diaphragm is assem- 4f bled onto the plunger.- The lower end of the sleeve is axially drilled, the`- aperture formed being of lesser diameter than the threaded por` tion of the interior wall, the function of which will beexplained hereafter.

In assemblying the diaphragm onto the plunger, the nipple I3 is forced through the opening in the aperture in the lowermost end of the sleeve, and a soft rubber plug 23 inserted Ithrough the said opening to the bottom of the nipple. The threaded extension of the plunger 'is then screwed into the upper open end of the sleeve, its y length being such that when the top edge of the sleeve contacts the shoulder on the threaded extension, the rubber plug 23 pump is will be compressed as to compress the nipple on the diaphragm (and inserted resilient plug 23), thus causing it to expand outwardly and lock against the shoulder on the interior of the lower .end of the sleeve. In this manner the diaphragm is assembled to the plunger and the method of so amxing it is such that when the plunger is rotated, the lower end of the diaphragm will twist with it. v

As may be seen, the plunger, locking nut, wedge member and diaphragm form a complete unit when assembled, thus when the diaphragm is rolled onto the said plunger as to cause the skirt to bear against the tapered face of the wedge member, and the unit is inserted into the open -rear end of the barrel and the nut screwed thereinto, the skirt of the diaphragm will be wedged against the tapered shoulder in the barrel, thus forming an ink tight joint.

The front or nib end of the barrel has the usual nib, feed and air tube assembly such as disclosed in the Dahlberg patent heretofore mentioned, the relation of the parts being such that upon actuation, either by reciprocation or rotation, of the plunger, a partial vacuum will be created within the reservoir i3 and thus ink will be drawn thereinto. If the diaphragm be actuated through reciprocation of the plunger, on the downstroke air and a small portion of the ink drawn vint'o the barrel on the upstroke will be forced out of the air and ink channels, and thus by continued reciprocation of the plunger the reservoir will be filled.

The ink reservoir may also be filled by rotation of the plunger, which action will cause the diaphragm to twist on the lower end of the said plunger, causing air surrounding the plunger within the diaphragm to be expelled around the plunger, wedge and nut, and also reduce the area of the diaphragm within the reservoir and thus create a partial vacuum within the said reservoir, whereupon the air pressure within the reservoir being less than the exterior air pressure ink will be drawn into the said reservoir. The user will then release the plunger and the diaphragm will return to normal position due to its natural elasticity and, upon continued rotation and release of the plunger member, the barrel will be lled.

When the diaphragm twists due to the actuation of the plunger, it naturally tends to shorten and as the plunger recedes from the interior of the barrel simultaneously with the shortening of the diaphragm, the combined twisting and shortening of the diaphragm will cause a greater air displacement to be had within the barrel than A were the plunger to-be rotated in the same plane.

The fact that greater displacement is effected will increase the vacuum within the pen barrel and more ink will be drawn thereinto and thus it will necessitate fewer actuations of the plunger to complete the filling of the reservoir.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are pos-- sible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, whatA I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a fountain pen, an ink reservoir barrel, -having at one end passages for ink and air, combined with a twist-sac located within, supported at, and vented toward the other end of the barrel,vand having an impervious wall extending into the reservoir; and a rotatable element engaging torsionally a deep part of the sac, thereby by twisting the sac to change displacement of the reservoir.

2. In a fountain pen, 'an ink reservoir barrel, having at one end passages for ink and air, combined with a twist-sac located within, supported at, and vented toward the other end of the barrel, and having an impervious wall extending into the reservoir; and a rod reaching Aendwise into and engaging torsionally a deep part of the sac, thereby by twisting the sac to change displacement of the reservoir.

3. In a fountain pen, an ink reservoir barrel, having at one end passages for ink and air, combined with a twist-sac located Within, supported at, and vented toward the other end of the barrel, and having an impervious wall extending into the reservoir; and a rotating and/or reciprocating element engaging torsionally a deep part of the sac, thereby by twisting and/or reciprocation of the said sac to change displacement of the reservoir.

4. In a fountain pen, an ink reservoir barrel, having at one end passages for ink and air, combined -with a twist-sac located within, supported at, and vented toward the other end of the barrel, and having an impervious wall extending into the reservoir; a reciprocable and/or rotatable plunger engaging torsionally a deep portion of the sac thereby by twisting and/or rotating the said plunger to change displacement of the reservoir.

5. In a fountain pen, an ink reservoir barrel,

having at one end passages for ink and air, comf bined with a twist-sac located within, supported at, and vented toward the other end of the barrel,

- and having an impervious wall extending into IVAN D. TEFFT.

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