US5153612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink delivery system for an ink-jet pen
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1991-01-03
•
Granted: 1992-10-06
•
Expires: 2011-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A flexible reservoir bladder is connected to the base of a pen body to define a reservoir volume that permits nearly all of the ink contained therein to be delivered from the pen by a print head. The back pressure developed within the reservoir volume is regulated by the resilient properties of the bladder and an orifice that permits controlled entry of air into the volume as the ink is depleted. The system is able to withstand severe environmental effects, such as a drop in ambient air pressure, while preventing pen leakage.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Dunn
- 👤 Bruce Cowger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:01
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17513
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An ink delivery system, comprising: a pen body having a base and a housing attached to the base; a deformable bladder disposed inside the housing in contact with the housing so that opposing sides of the bladder are slightly deformed by the housing and having an open end sealed to the base of the pen body, the bladder and base defining a reservoir volume for containing ink; print head means connected to the base for ejecting ink from the reservoir volume, a back pressure within the reservoir volume increasing an ink is ejected therefrom; and bubble generator means for delivering air through the base and through the open end of the bladder and into the reservoir volume whenever the back pressure within the reservoir volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An ink delivery system, comprising: a pen body having a base and a housing attached to the base; a deformable bladder disposed inside the housing in contact with the housing so that opposing sides of the bladder are slightly deformed by the housing and having an open end sealed to the base of the pen body, the bladder and base defining a reservoir volume for containing ink; print head means connected to the base for ejecting ink from the reservoir volume, a back pressure within the reservoir volume increasing an ink is ejected therefrom; and bubble generator means for delivering air through the base and through the open end of the bladder and into the reservoir volume whenever the back pressure within the reservoir volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the bubble generator means includes an orifice formed through the base of the pen body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the bladder includes a sidewall and integrally formed cap, the bladder being shaped to substantially fill the housing so that the bladder and base define the entire reservoir volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the bladder is sized so that a portion of the bladder sidewall is deformed by the housing whenever the reservoir is filled with ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the bladder includes a sidewall and integrally formed cap, the bladder being movable between an expanded position that defines a maximum reservoir volume and a collapsed position that defines a minimum reservoir volume, the cap located so that the cap is not deformed whenever the bladder is in the expanded position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
An ink-containing pen comprising: a base; a flexible reservoir bladder having an open end attached to a surface of the base, the bladder having a sidewall and an integrally formed cap, the sidewall, cap and surface of the base defining a reservoir volume for storing substantially all of the ink contained by the pen; and an orifice formed in the base to provide fluid communication between ambient air and the reservoir volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
An ink-containing pen comprising: a base; a flexible reservoir bladder having an open end attached to a surface of the base, the bladder having a sidewall and an integrally formed cap, the sidewall, cap and surface of the base defining a reservoir volume for storing substantially all of the ink contained by the pen; and an orifice formed in the base to provide fluid communication between ambient air and the reservoir volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pen of claim 6 further comprising a rigid housing having walls enclosing the bladder and shaped so that the bladder sidewall and cap are adjacent to housing walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The pen of claim 7 wherein the bladder assumes a fully expanded position whenever the reservoir volume is filled with ink, the housing being shaped so that a portion of the bladder sidewall is deformed whenever the bladder is in the expanded position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pen of claim 6 wherein the bladder has an elliptical cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pen of claim 6 wherein the orifice includes closing means for closing the fluid communication whenever the pen is inverted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The pen of claim 6 wherein the bladder and orifice are configured so that the bladder collapses to reduce the reservoir volume by more than 40% before the orifice provides fluid communication between ambient air and the reservoir volume.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-06 | 1996-04-06 | 1996-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-06 | 2000-04-06 | 2000-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-06 | 2004-04-06 | 2004-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |