Filling system for a fountain pen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12384192-B2
Application number	US-202118043362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2021
Priority date	Sep 2, 2020
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

A filling system for a fountain pen includes a pump unit, an air channel connected to the pump unit and to a first connection for connecting to the fountain pen, and an ink channel separate from the air channel and having an immersion end for immersing in ink and which is connected to a second connection for connecting to the fountain pen. The pump unit is designed to introduce a specified air volume into the air channel with positive pressure in order to flush ink out of the fountain pen and subsequently apply a negative pressure to the air channel such that a specified ink volume is suctioned out of the ink channel into the fountain pen.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A filling system for a fountain pen, comprising:
a pump unit attachable to an ink container having an ink volume;
an air channel connected to the pump unit and terminating at a first connection configured to connect to the fountain pen; and
an ink channel separated from the air channel, the ink channel having immersion end for immersing into the ink volume and a second connection opposite the immersion end configured to connect to the fountain pen;
wherein the pump unit is operable to introduce a first air volume into the air channel with a positive pressure for flushing ink out of the fountain pen, and to evacuate a second air volume from the air channel with a negative pressure for drawing a predetermined volume of ink out of the ink channel and into the fountain pen.

2. The filling system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump unit is a piston pump.

3. The filling system according to claim 2 , wherein the pump unit comprises:
a cylinder with a lower section configured to be positioned in the ink container and an opening opposite the lower section;
a piston axially movable in the cylinder, wherein the piston is radially sealed from the cylinder such that the positive pressure acting on the first connection is created by moving the piston in a first direction toward the lower section and the negative pressure acting on the first connection is created by moving the piston toward the opening in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a spring element biasing the piston in the second direction;
wherein the air channel extends through the piston from an air chamber formed between the piston and the lower section, and the ink channel extends through the lower section and the piston.

4. The filling system according to claim 3 , wherein the spring element comprises a compression spring arranged between the lower section and the piston.

5. The filling system according to claim 3 , wherein the piston comprises a first sealing member arranged on a side facing the lower section.

6. The filling system according to claim 3 , wherein the immersion end is guided in an axially sliding manner through a second sealing member arranged in the lower section.

7. The filling system according to claim 6 , wherein the immersion end includes a sealing section that seats in the second sealing member when the piston is moved in the first direction beyond a neutral position, and an overflow section arranged adjacent to the sealing section and having a taper for passing ink from the air chamber through the lower section when the piston is in the neutral position.

8. The filling system according to claim 3 , wherein the immersion end includes a first section arranged on a side of the lower section facing away from the air chamber and having a larger outer diameter than a second section arranged in the air chamber when the piston is in a neutral position.

9. The filling system according to claim 3 , wherein the air channel and the ink channel are arranged in the piston in a radially offset configuration.

10. The filling system according to claim 3 , wherein the cylinder comprises a shoulder on an outer side for flush placement of the cylinder on the ink container.

11. The filling system according to claim 1 , wherein the first connection and the second connection are configured concentrically to one another.

12. The filling system according to claim 11 , wherein the first connection is arranged within the second connection and extends beyond an end of the second connection.

13. The filling system according to claim 1 , further comprising an insertion sleeve arranged on a side of the pump unit facing away from the air chamber, wherein the first connection and the second connection are supported in the insertion sleeve.

14. The filling system according to claim 13 , further comprising a third sealing member arranged between the insertion sleeve and the piston.

15. A refillable writing instrument system, comprising:
a filling system having a pump unit attachable to an ink container having an ink volume, an air channel connected to the pump unit and terminating at a first connection configured to connect to the fountain pen, an ink channel separated from the air channel, the ink channel having immersion end for immersing into the ink volume and a second connection opposite the immersion end configured to connect to the fountain pen, wherein the pump unit is operable to introduce a first air volume into the air channel with a positive pressure for flushing ink out of the fountain pen, and to evacuate a second air volume from the air channel with a negative pressure for drawing a predetermined volume of ink out of the ink channel and into the fountain pen; and
a fountain pen having an ink tank with a first section and a second section, a coupling arrangement in fluid communication with the first section and the second section, wherein the coupling arrangement is connectable to the first connection to establish a fluid connection between the first connection and the first section and is connectable to the second connection to establish a fluid connection between the second connection and the second section.

Assignees

• Montblanc Simplo Gmbh

Inventors

• Wagner Thilo
• Dickopp Jörg

Classifications

• B43K5/189

  Pumps · CPC title

• B43K11/00 Primary

  Filling devices (ink receptacles B43L25/00) · CPC title