In a conventional fountain pen the nib is mounted on a feed bar which supplies ink to a capillary channel defined by the nib and which extends to the writing tip. The nib tapers towards the tip and most usually the capillary channel is formed by a slit extending longitudinally along the tapered portion of the nib and dividing the forward end of the nib into a pair of tines. A pellet with a rounded surface to ensure writing smoothness is provided at the tip and is divided into two parts by the slit.

It is often desirable for the nib to be capable of flexing a small amount relative to the feed bar, such as to improve smoothness during writing or in some cases to open an ink delivery port which is formed in the feed bar. The flexibility may be provided by the resiliency of the tines or by a special mounting of the nib which provides for limited nib movement. The resiliency of the tines is difficult to control as they vary in cross section considerably along their length, and special nib mounting arrangements are inconvenient and also make it difficult to predetermine the nib flexing characteristics.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a fountain pen nib comprising a forward end portion with a tip and a channel for conducting ink to the tip, a rear end portion, and a resiliently flexible intermediate portion integrally interconnecting the forward and rear end portions, the intermediate portion having a width less than the length thereof and less than the width of the forward and rear end portions adjacent their junctions with the intermediate portion.

To facilitate control over the nib flexibility during manufacture it is advantageous for the intermediate portion to be substantially planar and to be substantially constant in width along its length. The intermediate portion then acts like a leaf spring of uniform width.

The intermediate portion may be a nib section of reduced width or alternatively the intermediate portion can be confined between longitudinal slots, in particular slots which extend laterally inwardly from the nib edges and then longitudinally rearwardly. Such slots can be conveniently produced during nib manufacture by laser cutting techniques.

With the nib of the invention the forward portion can be arranged for optimum performance of the tip and control of the ink flow thereto without needing to take into account the desired nib flexibility, and the rear portion can be easily and fixedly mounted to a pen body which can facilitate pen assembly and manufacture.

Also provided in accordance with the invention is a fountain pen nib comprising a forward end portion which tapers to a tip and includes a channel for conducting ink to the tip, a rear end portion, and a resiliently flexible intermediate portion integrally inter connecting the forward and rear end portions, the rear end portion having legs projecting forwardly therefrom, the legs being disposed along- side the intermediate portion and being separated therefrom by longitudinal slots.

The legs on the rear portion may assist in anchoring this portion with respect to the feed bar of a pen with the intermediate portion providing the desired nib resiliency.

The invention includes within its scope a pen equipped with a nib according to the invention.

A better understanding of the invention will be gained from the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a nib embodying the invention; Figure 2 show the nib of Figure 1 in side elevation ; Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section taken along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1 : Figure 4 shows in plan view a modified form of the nib of Figures I to 3 ; Figure 5 is a front end elevation of the nib shown in Figure 4 ; Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-section through the nib of Figure 4 ; Figure 7 is a plan view showing a further modification to the nib shown in Figure 7 : Figure 8 is a front end elevation of the nib shown in Figure 7 ; Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-section through the nib of Figure 7 ; Figure 10 is a plan view showing another modification to the nib of

Figure 7 : Figure 11 is a front end elevation of the nib of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a longitudinal cross-section through the nib of Figure 10; Figure 13 shows in plan view another modified form of the nib of Figures 7 to 9; Figure 14 is a front end elevation of the nib of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a transverse cross-section taken along the line XV-XV in Figure 13; Figure 16 is a longitudinal cross-section through the nib of Figure 13; Figure 17 is a plan view showing a further modified form of the nib shown in Figures 13 to 15; Figure 18 is a front end elevation of the nib of Figure 17; Figure 19 is a longitudinal cross-section through the nib of Figure 17; Figure 20 is a transverse section taken along the line XX-XX in Figure 17; Figure 21 is an enlarged scale view of the part shown circled in dotted line in Figure 20; Figure 22 is a plan view of another nib in accordance with the invention ; Figure 23 is a front end elevation of the nib shown in Figure 22 ; and Figure 24 is a longitudinal cross-section through the nib of Figure 22.

The fountain pen nib illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings is manufactured from a sheet metal blank and is provided in conventional manner with a forward portion 1 which tapers to a point at which a pellet 2 is provided, and which includes a longitudinal slit 3 which acts as a capillary channel for conducting ink to the tip 2. The nib includes a rear end portion 4 which is shown to include a hole 5 for mounting the nib to a pen body. The illustrated nib is arcuate in cross- section, but this is not essential and other shapes, e. g., essentially flat, are possible.

The forward and rear end portions 1, 4 are integrally interconnected by a resiliently flexible intermediate portion 8 having the general form of a leaf spring. The intermediate nib portion 8 is substantially narrower than the forward and rear end portions 14 adjacent their junctions with the intermediate portion. Also, despite the

arcuate cross-section, the portion 8 is substantially planar due to its narrow width.

The intermediate portion 8 is confined between L-shaped slots 9 which extend laterally inwardly from the opposite side edges of the nib and then longitudinally rearwardly in parallel with each other. The length of the intermediate portion 8 is 2 to 3 times the width thereof. Due to the slots 9, the rear end portion 4 has a pair of forwardly directed legs 10 which can be used to locate the nib onto a feed bar or may be desirable for aesthetic purposes, but these legs do not influence the resilient characteristics of the intermediate portion and can be removed if preferred. The slots 9 can be conveniently formed by laser cutting.

The nib illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 is basically similar to that of Figures 1 to 3, and only the differences will therefore be described. In all the drawings the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding parts. The nib of Figures 4 to 6 has a resiliently flexible intermediate portion 8 with a length which is approximately, and slightly greater than, 1.5 times the width as seen in the plan view. The slit 3 which forms the ink feed channel is extended rearwardly to pass along and beyond the intermediate portion 8, which may be desirable to facilitate uninterrupted flow of ink into the capillary channel when the nib is subjected to flexing movements.

With a long slit 3 extending along the nib, the nib sections on opposite sides of the slit may have a tendency to splay or move relative to each other in a manner which can be difficult to control. Problems of this kind can be averted by fixedly joining the nib sections across the slit. In the nib shown in Figures 7 to 9 the nib sections are Joined by a weld 12, e. g., a laser weld, which is located at the tip 2 of the nib and bridges the slit 3. Of course, a weld at the tip will preclude any relative movements of the tip sections on opposite sides of the slit and if it is felt desirable for a degree of such movement to be permitted the weld can be disposed along the slit 3 spaced from the tip. Thus, in Figures 10 to 12 there is illustrated a nib in which a weld 12 bridging the slit 3 is provided at a medial position between the tip'and the intermediate portion 8 of the nib.

It is not essential for the ink feed channel to be formed by a slit through the nib, and as illustrated by the nib shown in Figures 13 to 16 the ink channel can instead be defined by a longitudinal groove 14 provided on the

underside of the nib. Like the ink feed channels formed by the slits 3 in the nibs of Figures 4 to 12, and for the same reasons, the groove 14 extends rearwardly from the tip 2 beyond the resilient flexible intermediate portion 8. The groove 14 is relatively narrow in order to provide the capillary feed of ink to the tip 2, and the narrowness of the groove can lead to difficulties in ensuring continuous supply of ink to the groove 14 if the nib is able to move laterally. The nib shown in Figures 17 to 19 has an ink feed channel formed by a groove with a deep central part 15 ensuring the necessary capillary flow, and lateral portions 16 of reduced depth which increase the width to facilitate ink supply into the capillary channel without detracting from the capillary action of the ink feed channel.

Figures 22 to 24 illustrate a nib which differs from those described above in that the slots 9 which confine the resiliently flexible intermediate portion 8 extend longitudinally from the forward edge of the nib instead of being L-shaped.

In this embodiment the length of the intermediate portion 8 is many times the width thereof. The nib is shown to have an ink channel formed by a slit 3 as in the nib of Figures 4 to 6, but it could be provided with a weld bridging this slit as described in relation to Figures 7 to 12, or it could have instead a groove on the underside of the nib as described in connection with the nibs of Figures 13 to 21.

The nibs according to the invention enable greater freedom and control over the nib flexing characteristics and the described nibs may be especially beneficial when nib movements are needed for opening and closing a valve which controls ink supply to the underside of the nib, such as in the pen described in our United Kingdom Patent Application No. 9909326.2 entitled"Pens"and filed on 22 April 1999.