US2330053A - Fountain applicator - Google Patents

Description

Sept.r2l, 1943. o. J. HERB 2,330,053

FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR Filed April 2s, 194s Patented Sept'2l, 1943 A Otto J. Herb,

St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Diagraph- Bradley Stencil Machine Corporation. St. Louis, Mo., a corporation oi' Missouri Application April 2s, 194s, serial Na 484,595

(ci. 12o-43) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain applicators or markers of the kind having a reservoir for ink or other liquid, an absorbent nib for the appiication of such liquid, and a valve that is opened by pressure on said nib to permit iiow of liquid thereto. from said reservoir. The invention has for its principal object to provide a simple and eillcient fountain applicator oi' the above type that will enonomize ink, that will saturate the absorbent nib with ink, and that will prevent the nib from flooding. The invention consists in providing the applicator with a force feed mechanism that is operable. only by endwise pressure on the nib in excess of that required for writing, to force a predetermined quantity or charge of ink from the reservoir into the absorbentbody of said nib. 'I'he invention also consists in the parts, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this speciflcation and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a force feed fountain applicator embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the nib cap removed and with the upper portion of the applicator shown in section,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the lower end portion of the applicator on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, with the nib shown in projected or writing position,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the nib depressed.

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal cross-sections on,

the lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the nut for locking' the force feed mechanism in the applicator.

My fountain applicator or marker comprises a tubular body I having an internal annular rib 2 therein near the lower end thereof, a reservoir 3 above said rib and a downwardly opening recess or pocket 4 therebelow. The reservoir 3, in which in k or other uid is kept for use when wanted, is closed at its upper end by a screw cap 5 and at lar supporting shoulder 9 provided therefor in the internal annular rib 2 of the body I. yThe lower end portion of the cylinder 6 is exteriorly threaded to receive a lock nut I0 which bears against the lower end of theinternal annular rib 2 of the body and clamps the external annular rib 2 of said cylinder tightly against the shoulder provided therefor in said internal annular rib, thereby preventing relative axial movement of said body and cylinder. A screw driver slot II in the upper end of the cylinder 6 and a similar slot I2 in the lower end of the lock nut I0 permits one of said cylinder and nut to be turned while the its lower end by a hollow cylindrical housing 6 located within the tubular body I in axial alinement therewith. 'I'he cylinder '6, which is inserted in and removed from the body I through the upper end thereof. extends through the circular opening 'Iy dened by the internal annular rib 2 into the downwardly opening pocket Il in the lower end of said body. The cylinder 6 has an external annular rib 8 that seats on an annuother is held against rotation when said'cylinder is secured to the internal hollow rib 2 of the tubular body.

The cylinder '6 has diametrically opposed ports `I3 through the side wall thereof that establish communication between the reservoir 3 and the interior of said cylinder. Reciprocable in the hollow cylinder 6 is a cylindrical piston valve I4 having upwardly and downwardly extending stem portions I5 and I6, respectively. The upwardly extending valve stem I5 has a fiat-sided upper end portion Il that extends through andhas a sliding but non-rotary ilt in a iiat-sided opening I8 in the upper end of all of the cylinder Ii.l

The depending stem I6 of the valve I 4 is slidably supported in a bushing I9 that is presstted in the.' lower end of the cylinder 6; and said valve is normally held in endwise abutting relation to said bushing by means of a coil compression spring 20 that is sleeved on the upstanding valve stem I5 with one end seated against the top of said cylinder and the other end seated on the upper end of said valve. In this spring projected position of the valve I4 it covers the ports I3 in the cylinder `6 and thus cuts oi communication between the reservoir 3 and the interior of said cylinder. 'I'he depending valve stem I6 has an axial passageway 2| extending therethrough from end to end thereof and across passageway 22 that establishes communication between said axial passageway and the interior of the cylinder 6 when the valve I4 is lifted olf the .bushing I'9.

The applicator is provided with a suitably shaped liquid applier or nib 23 comprising a body of felt or other absorbent material having a screw 24 threaded into the upper end of an axial bore 25 therein; and said screw has an axial bore 26 therein whose 4upper end is threaded to receive the threaded lower end of the depending valve stem I6, whereby said nib is reciprocable with said valve stem in the downwardly openingv pocket 4 therein, but terminates short of the lower end of said nib. The head portion 23 of the screw 24 abuts against the upper end of the nib and is provided with holes 29 for a spanner wrench; and said nib is provided near the upper end thereof with a band or hoop 30 whichprevents the felt body of said nib from spreading when said screw is threaded therein.

When it is desired to ll or saturate the felt nib 23 with ink from the reservoir 3 of the body I of the applicator, the nib is pressed endwise against a stationary surface with suilicient pressure to force said nib inwardly in said body against the pressure of the spring 20 until the head of the screw 24 abuts against the nut I0. In this position of the parts, see Fig. 4, the valve I4 uncovers the ports I3 in the cylinder 6 and the inflows from the reservoir 3 into said cylinder and illls the annular space therein between said valve and the bushing I9. When the pressure is released, the valve I4 is projected downwardly in the cylinder 8 by the' action of the spring 20, whereby said valve member rst covers the ports I3 and cuts ofi communication between the res` ervoir 3 and cylinder 6 and then operates as a piston to forcibly feed the ink trapped in the cylinder through the passageways 22, 2| in the depending valve stem I6, thence through the axial bore 26 in the screw 24, and thence through the axial bore 25 of the nib 23 into the felt body thereof. The valve loading spring 20 is strong enough to prevent opening of the valve I4 under ordinary writing pressure. Thus, no ink is fed to the nib 23 during the operation of writing.

The hereinbefore described fountain applicator has several important advantages. 'I'he force feed of the ink from the reservoir to the interior of the absorbent nib serves to thoroughly saturate said nib. Flow of the ink to the nib is prevented when writing and the nib is charged with ink only when required, thus saving ink and preventing the nib from flooding. The ink is forced under pressure from the interior of the nib to the outer surface thereof and prevents the ink from accumulating in the body of the nib and hardening. Obviously, the hereinbefore described invention admits of considerable modification and I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A fountain applicator comprising a iluid containing reservoir, a marking nib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of that required for marking therewith for forcing fluid from said reservoir to said nib.

2. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, a marking nib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of that required for marking therewith for forcing a predetermined quantity of 'uid from said reservoir to said nib.

3. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir. a writing nib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of that employed in writing therewith for forcing fluid y from said reservoir into the interior of said nib.

4. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir. an absorbent writing rnib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of that employed in writing therewith for forcing a predetermined quantity of fluid from said reservoir into the interior of said nib.

5. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, a housing, a marking nib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of that required for marking therewith for admitting fluid from said reservoir into said housing and for feeding said fluid from said housing to said nib when such pressure is released. 6. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, a housing, an absorbent writing nib and means operable by pressure on said, nib in excess of that employed in writing therewith for admitting a charge of fluid from said reservoir into said housing and for forcing said charge into the interior of said nib when said pressure is released.

7. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, a housing having a port therein for establishing communication between said reservoir and the interior of said housing, a valve in said housing for opening and closing said port, a spring in said housing for normally holding said valve in closed position, and a writing nib fixed to said valve for movement therewith, said valve having a passageway therein leading from the interior of said housing to said nib, said valve being movable against the pressure of said spring to open said port by pressure on said nib in excess of that employed in writing therewith, said valve being adapted upon release of such pressure to close said port and force the fluid from said housing through said passageway to said nib.

8. A fountain applicator comprising a uid containing reservoir, a housing having a port therein for establishing communication between said reservoir and the interior of said housing, a valve reciprocable in said housing for normally closing said port, a spring enclosed in said housing for normally holding said valve in port closing position, and an absorbent writing nib xed to said valve for movementtherewith, said valve having a passageway therein opening at one end into said housing and at the other end into said nib, said valve being movable against the pressure of said closing spring to open said port by pressure on said nib in excess of that employed in writing therewith, said valve being adapted upon release of such pressure to function after the manner of a piston to force fluid from said housing through said passageway into said nib.

9. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, a housing having a port therein for establishing communication between said reservoir and the interior of said housing, a reciprocable valve in said housing for covering and uncovering said port, said valve having a stem extending outside of said housing, a spring for holding said valve in port closing position, an absorbent writing nib, a screw threaded into said nib and threaded on said stem portion, said stem, screw and nib having passageways therein for establishing communication between the interior of said housing and nib, said valve being movable to open said port by pressure on said nib in excess of that required for writing therewith, said valve being adapted upon release of such pressure to function after the manner of a piston to force fluid in said housing through said passageways and into the interior of said nib.

10. A fountain applicator comprising a tubular body having a reservoir therein, a housing ilxed to said body and'having a portion disposed in said reservoir and a port establishing communication between said reservoir and the interior of said housing, a valve reciprocable in said housing for opening and closing said port, a spring mounted in said housing for normally holding said valve in closed position, said valve having a stem extending outside of said housing, and an absorbent writing nib nxed to the exposed end oi.' said valve stem, said valve stem having a passageway therein leading from the interior of said housing to the interior of said nib, said valve being movable to open said port only by pressure on said nib in excess oi that employed in writing therewith.

11. A fountain applicator comprising a`hollow cylindrical body having a downwardly opening pocket in one end thereof and a reservoir above said pocket, a hollow cylindrical valve housing mounted in said reservoir, said housing'being disposed axially of said body and having a port in its side adapted to establish communication between, said reservoir and the interior of said housing, a valve axially slidable in 'said housing to open and close said port. a

compression spring mounted in said housing above said valve for normally holding the same in closed position, said valve having a depending stem portion extending into said pocket, and an absorbent writing nib having its upper portion disposed in said pocket and removablysecured to the lower end of said valve stem,

said valve stem'having a passageway therein leading from the interior oi said housing to the interior oi said nib, said valve being movable to open said portorily` by endwise pressure on said nib in exces oi' that employedin writing therewith.

12. A fountain applicator comprising a tubular body having an internal annular rib therein, a reservoir above said rib and a downwardly opening pocket therebelow, a screw cap for the upper .end of said body, a slip cover for the lower end thereof, ai hollow cylindrical housingrdisposedinls'aid bodyaxially thereof and closing the opening defined by said annular rib, said housing having'a port adapted to establish communication between said reservoir and the interior oi' said housing, a yvalve mounted in said housing for axial sliding but non-rotary movement therein to open and close said port, a spring mounted in said housing above said valve for normally holding the same in position to close said' port,

said valve having a depending stem extendingI 'into said pocket, an absorbent nib disposed in said pocket, and a hollow screw threaded into said nib and on the lower end of said valve stem, said valve stem having a passageway therein leading from the interior of said housing to the interior of said nib through said hollow screw.

OTTO J. ERB.

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