10, The Gravity Filler

[rhr]

Here's another Japanese pen patent, the Namiki, or Pilot gravity filler, patent no. 2,144,296.

 

And here's one of the ink bottles for the pen, with its distinctive cardioid shape, 2,132,313.

 

In the US patent for the Pilot filling bottle, the words "capillarity" and "gravity" do not appear. However, both words do appear, in the US patent for the Pilot fountain pen that is meant to be filled from this bottle. Throughout the specification, the phrase "capillarity and gravity" is used over and over. "The ink-ducts serve as passages for ink, which is sucked from the bottle into the casing, under the action of capillarity and gravity." But near the end, the specification makes a statement that clearly separates the two words. "In brief, in known fountain-pens, the idea has prevailed that capillarity should be regarded as of importance, whereas in this invention the idea is based on the fact that much more importance should be placed on gravity." One can never completely discount capillarity, but I think the pen is more properly called a gravity filler.

 

There's a gravity filler that preceded the Pilot pen, patent no. 2,001,263, and some earlier ones still, but I'll save them for later.

 

And here are a couple of Pilot ads showing the pen being filled from different bottles.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/rhrpen/Pilotad16.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/rhrpen/Pilotad17.jpg

 

George Kovalenko.

 

Edited October 9, 2007 by rhr

[wdyasq]

Who would have thought one could patent gravity!

 

Ron

[rhr]

Maybe someone should give Newton the heads-up. ;~)

 

George.

 

:ph34r:

[rhr]

I like these two quotes from the specifications for the two pens. The Namiki patent states, "In known fountain-pens, the idea has prevailed that capillarity should be regarded as of importance, whereas in [this] invention the idea is based on the fact that much importance should be attached to gravity". And the Osterhout patent states, "The present invention...has for an object to provide an improved [fountain] pen that functions solely by the action of natural laws".

 

George Kovalenko.

 

:ph34r:

[Johnny Appleseed]

This looks a lot like the filling system in the Pelikan Level 5 pen. I wonder what the relation is, and what patent the Level 5 uses?

 

John

[rhr]

The "Level 5" fills under pressure, if I am not mistaken, and fills in any position. It does not have to be inverted to be filled by gravity.

 

I think this is the US patent for the "Level 5" pen and ink bottle, 5,888,008.

 

This is the German patent for the bottle, DE4438590, and this is the German patent for the filling valve, DE4340760.

 

George Kovalenko.

 

:ph34r:

Edited July 27, 2006 by rhr

[amberleadavis]

The Level filing system is very different. If you can find a level, buy it. It's a wonderfully fun pen. If anyone has one of these here, I want to buy it.