Patent US5047790A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5047790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controlled capillary ink containment for ink-jet pens
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1990-01-12
•
Granted: 1991-09-10
•
Expires: 2010-01-12
Abstract
Abstract Ink contained in a pen reservoir (12) is subject to the capillarity provided by an array of spaced apart capillary members (10). The capillarity provided by the capillary members (10) is sufficient for establishing a back pressure at the print head (18) of the pen (14) to thereby avoid leakage of ink from the reservoir (12) whenever the print head (18) is inactive.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Cowger
- 👤 John H. Dion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:13
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A containment apparatus comprising: a reservoir for storing liquid, the reservoir including a liquid-permeable part; an array of spaced apart capillary sheets disposed within the reservoir and arranged to provide capillarity sufficient to prevent liquid in the reservoir from permeating through the liquid-permeable part; and a screen disposed between the capillary sheets and the liquid-permeable part, the screen providing capillarity that is greater in magnitude than the capillarity provided by the capillary sheets for holding liquid within the screen after liquid is removed from between the capillary sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A containment apparatus comprising: a reservoir for storing liquid, the reservoir including a liquid-permeable part; an array of spaced apart capillary sheets disposed within the reservoir and arranged to provide capillarity sufficient to prevent liquid in the reservoir from permeating through the liquid-permeable part; and a screen disposed between the capillary sheets and the liquid-permeable part, the screen providing capillarity that is greater in magnitude than the capillarity provided by the capillary sheets for holding liquid within the screen after liquid is removed from between the capillary sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnitude of the capillarity provided by the capillary sheets is greater than the maximum static fluid pressure head that can be developed in the reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the capillary sheets are mounted within the reservoir in contact with the screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2587949A
Cited
US2855989A
Cited
US3296624A
Cited
US3438058A
Cited
US3452361A
Cited
US4149172A
Cited
US4207012A
Cited
US4183030A
Cited
US4217058A
Cited
US4272773A
Cited
US4422084A
Cited
US4382707A
Cited
US4436439A
Cited
US4719678A
Cited
US4342042A
Cited
US4490728A
Cited
US4412232A
Cited
US4509062A
Cited
US4500895A
Cited
US4671692A
Cited
US4539568A
Cited
US4571599A
Cited
US4673955A
Cited
US4677447A
Cited
US4771295A
Cited
US4771295B1
Cited
US4714937A
Cited
US4791438A
Cited
US4794409A
Cited
US4920362A
Cited
US4929969A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-09 | 1995-03-11 | 1995-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-09 | 1999-03-11 | 1999-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-09 | 2003-03-11 | 2003-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |