The Fountain Pen Patent Archive

The instruments that put ink under pressure

Air-tube

Patent drawing showing four figures of a fountain pen: a full longitudinal cross-section labeled Fig.1 with threaded cap, needle, valve, and tapering writing tube; a similar full pen view labeled Fig.2 showing the internal rod and needle; an enlarged detail of the tubular point and valve seat labeled Fig.3; and a side view labeled Fig.4 showing the needle and capillary tube feeding an ordinary pen nib.IMPROVEMENT IN FOUNTAIN-PENSAlonzo T. Cross · April 10, 1877Patent drawing of a 19th-century fountain pen shown in cross-section (Fig. 1) revealing an inner valve-spindle, air-tube, and nested chambers, with separate views of the cap and threaded nut assembly (Fig. 2), the outer air-tube (Fig. 3), and close-up edge and side views of a flattened ink needle (Figs. 4 and 5).IMPROVEMENT IN FOUNTAIN-PENSAlonzo T. Cross · May 1, 1877Patent drawing showing five figures of a stylographic fountain pen, including a full external view, an assembled pen with barrel and point section, a longitudinal cross-section revealing the internal air-tube and valve mechanism, an enlarged detail of the adjustable screw-threaded writing point with key-head, and the pen shown closed with its protector cap in place for pocket carrying.STYLOGRAPHIC FOUNTAIN-PEN.Alexander M. Sutherland and Francis C. Brown · October 17, 1882Patent drawing of a cylindrical stylographic pen shown whole and in two cutaway sections revealing an internal spring-loaded needle stylus running through a central air-tube to a tapering ink-discharge point.STYLOGRAPHIC PEN.Frederick J. Seybold · February 13, 1883Patent drawing showing cross-sections of a stylographic pen with a tapered point-piece, internal air-tube, adjustable pin carrier, and cap, plus a small cross-sectional detail and an exploded carrier view.STYLOGRAPHIC PENThomas W. Evans · February 11, 1890