{
  "patent_number": "US 293545",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Lewis Waterman's Original Fountain Pen Design Worked",
  "original_title": "Fountain-pen",
  "summary": "This 1884 patent describes an early fountain pen designed by Lewis E. Waterman, which aimed to solve common ink-flow problems, making writing smoother and cleaner.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent likely describes a fountain pen design that improved upon earlier models by controlling ink flow more reliably. Early pens often either leaked too much ink or didn't provide enough. Waterman's design, based on historical accounts of his work, introduced a 'feed' mechanism with air channels that allowed air to enter the ink reservoir as ink flowed out, preventing vacuum lock and ensuring a steady supply of ink to the nib. For example, a writer could fill the pen with ink and then write continuously for an extended period without blots or dry spots, unlike previous dip pens or unreliable early fountain pens.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover pens using disposable ink cartridges or piston-filling mechanisms for refilling.",
    "Does not cover pens with retractable nibs or capless designs that emerged much later.",
    "Does not cover writing instruments that use a rolling ball for ink delivery, like modern ballpoint pens.",
    "Does not cover advanced nib materials or complex nib designs for specialized writing, such as flexible calligraphy nibs."
  ],
  "filed": null,
  "granted": "1884-02-12",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Lewis E. Waterman",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/lewis-e-waterman",
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "mechanical",
    "consumer_goods",
    "manufacturing"
  ],
  "abstract": null,
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/293545/fountain-pen-waterman",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/293545/fountain-pen-waterman/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US293545",
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}