Swiv-o-dex Inkwell Desk Set

These are examples of a Swiv-o-dex Inkwell Desk Set.

Description of the Swiv-o-dex Inkwell

The Swiv-o-dex is a compact, innovative desk set that solved a common problem with dip pens: keeping the ink at a consistent, usable level while preventing evaporation and spillage.

The Swiv-o-dex Mechanism: How It Works

The ingenuity of the Swiv-o-dex lies in its sealed ink system:

1. Resting Position: When the pen is not in use, it rests tip-down in the metal cup/collar, which acts as a sealed lid, preventing the ink from evaporating. The ink inside the glass body is at a low level.
2. Swivel/Dip Action: To use the pen, the writer simply swivels the pen holder/collar 90 degrees.
3. Ink Rise: This action causes the ink level in the small dipping cup to temporarily rise (due to a siphon or displacement effect, or simply because the cup dips further into the main reservoir). The pen nib is freshly dipped without requiring a separate motion or cap removal.
4. Sealing: Swiveling the pen back returns the ink to the main reservoir, effectively re-sealing the small dipping area and keeping the main ink supply fresh and at a constant, spill-resistant level.

Summary of U.S. Patent No. 2,227,091 (December 31, 1940)

This patent is the true basis for the unique mechanism found in this Swiv-o-dex inkwell.

• Patent No.: 2,227,091
• Inventor: L. W. Kendrick
• Issue Date: December 31, 1940
• Title: Inkwell

Outline of the Patent’s Mechanism (Kendrick’s Invention)

This patent describes a non-spill, non-evaporating inkwell device, which is the direct forerunner of the Swiv-o-dex:

1. The Goal: To provide an inkwell that keeps the pen constantly moist when at rest but also keeps the main ink supply fully sealed to prevent evaporation and dust contamination.
2. Internal Structure: The design features a main, sealed ink reservoir (the glass body). Inside this, there is a smaller dipping cup or well. Crucially, the dipping cup is designed to be submerged or nearly sealed off from the air in its resting position.
3. The Pen Holder: The pen is held by a movable cap or closure (the swivel head).
4. The Action: When the user rotates the cap/pen holder:
   • The movement mechanically causes the small dipping cup to rotate or shift position.
   • This rotation momentarily opens the cup to the air and the pen.
   • Due to the shape and rotation, the ink level in the small cup rises (either by lifting the cup into the main reservoir or by changing the connection to the main supply), bringing the ink into contact with the pen’s nib.
5. Sealing and Spill-Proofing: When the pen is returned to its vertical, rest position, the rotational element seals the dipping cup, allowing the ink to settle back down and providing the key anti-spill, anti-evaporation benefits.

The Patent Lineage

The citation of the 1940 Kendrick patent (2,227,091) on the later 1949 Zephyr American Corp. patent (2,466,736) confirms the lineage:

This establishes L. W. Kendrick as the original inventor of the core mechanism that defines this inkwell.

Summary of U.S. Patent No. 2,466,736 (April 12, 1949)

• Inventor: M.S. Pollock
• Assignee: Zephyr American Corporation, New York (The patent lists the assignee as Zephyr American Corp., confirming the commercial link).
• Title: Inkwell
• Outline: This patent describes the final, commercially practical design of the rotating inkwell. The primary objective is to create a pen and inkwell combination that is spill-proof and evaporation-proof while constantly maintaining the ink at an accessible, usable level for the dip pen nib.
  • Mechanism: It details the internal structure, which includes a main ink reservoir and a dipping cup connected by a small channel.
  • Action: It outlines the rotating or “swiveling” cap mechanism (the “Swiv-o-dex” action). When the cap/pen holder is rotated, it forces the liquid to be displaced or raises the dipping cup, bringing the ink level up to contact the pen’s nib.
  • Sealing: When the pen is returned to its vertical, upright position, the mechanism acts as an effective seal, closing the dipping cup and preventing the main ink supply from evaporating or spilling if the inkwell is tipped over.
  • Material Focus: The drawings show the use of a glass body (or other frangible material) for the reservoir and a metallic/plastic headpiece for the swivel mechanism.

This patent, granted in 1949, represents the perfected commercial design that was sold as the “Swiv-o-dex.”