Solder feeding iron

Claim 1

A SOLDERING IRON WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A BARREL HAVING A VALVE MEMBER AT ONE END THEREOF AND A HANDLE AT THE OTHER END THEREOF; (B) A WELL FOR HOLDING LIQUID SOLDER HAVING A SOLDER OUTLET PASSAGE AND AN APERTURE AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, WHICH IS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BARREL SUCH THAT SAID BARREL ONE END AND OTHER END EXTEND THROUGH SAID WELL SOLDER OUTLET PASSAGE AND APERTURE, RESPECTIVELY, WITH SAID BARREL ONE END HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN SAID PASSAGE CROSSSECTIONAL AREA THROUGH WHICH IT EXTENDS AND WITH THAT PORTION OF THE BARREL WITHIN SAID WELL HAVING A LARGER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN SAID BARREL ONE END SUCH THAT THE WELL EFFECTIVE SOLDER HOLDING VOLUME IS REDUCED AS SAID WELL MOVES AWAY FROM SAID VALVE MEMBER, WHERE THE LENGTH OF SAID SMALLER BARREL ONE END IS SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER THAN THE TOTAL THICKNESS OF THE WELL WALL AT SAID SOLDER OUTLET PASSAGE AS MEASURED ALONG THE BARREL AXIS; (C) MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID WELL FOR OPEATOR USE IN SLIDING SAID WELL ALONG SAID BARREL TO VARIOUS POSITIONS; (D) A VALVE SEAT SURROUNDING SAID SOLDER OUTLET PASSAGE ON THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID WELL FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID VALVE MEMBER TO THEREBY VARIABLY OBSTRUCT SAID OUTLET PASSAGE FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS OF SAID WELL ALONG SAID BARREL; AND (E) AN ELECTICAL HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE SAID BARREL AT LEAST NEAR ITS SAID ONE END FOR APPLYING HEAT TO BOTH SAID VALVE MEMBER AND TO THE SOLDER IN SAID WELL.