AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR HOLDING A PENCIL PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Lane of Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR HOLDING A PENCIL
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Lane at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th April 1883.
EDWARD LANE of Queen Victoria Street in the City of London
"AN IMPROVED
DEVICE FOR HOLDING A PENCIL OR OTHER INSTRUMENT FOR DESCRIBING CIRCLES
OR FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
"
My invention relates to improvements in drawing compasses.
The object of my said invention is to provide a simple, cheap and efficient
instrument which may be attached to a pencil, a penholder a mathematical pen or
the like.
According to the said invention I provide a sleeve or collar which is adapted to
receive a pencil, penholder or the like; the said sleeve is slit down one side so that
when a pencil or the like is forced into it, it will slightly open and thereby prevent
the said pencil from slipping when being used. The pencil or the like when
passed through the said sleeve forms one of the legs of the instrument. Another
leg is pivotted to the said sleeve in any suitable manner so that by placing the
sleeve having one leg upon a pencil or pen a pair of compasses is instantly formed.
To provide a support for the pivot of the said leg I sometimes cut the sleeve in
such a manner that I form two wings which when turned towards each other form
projections between which the said leg is placed and through which the pivot
thereof is passed. I do not confine myself to this method of pivotting the said leg
as it is obvious that it may be accomplished in other manners, for instance by
soldering or otherwise securing separate projections upon the sleeve.
I sometimes provide a screw for adjusting the leg relatively to the pencil or the
like. The said screw passes through a corresponding screw thread hole in the
upper part of the leg, and its lower end is suitably connected to the sleeve
It is obvious that the shape of the sleeve and of the leg can be varied to suit
different shapes of pencils without departing from the nature of this invention,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Lane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th October
1883.
EDWARD LANE, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, “AN IMPROVED
DEVICE FOR HOLDING A PENCIL OR OTHER INSTRUMENT FOR DESCRIBING CIRCLES
OR FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple device which may
be attached to a pencil or pen-holder or any similar article to enable the same to
be used for describing circles.
My invention consists essentially of a sleeve or tubular portion adapted to fit :
upon a pencil or similar article and having jointed to it a leg or limb pointed at its
free end. In some cases I provide means for retaining the said leg or limb in any
desired position.
My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my invention attached to a pencil and :
closed for insertion in the pocket.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same open and ready for use.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modification of my invention hereinafter
described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is the sleeve or tubular portion, which may be made of brass or other suitable
material. This sleeve is divided longitudinally at one side so that it will expand
to suit pencils of different diameters. b is the pointed leg or limb which is pivotted
at 6¹ between two parallel pieces c. These pieces are preferably formed by cutting
and bending back a portion of the sleeve a on each side of the division, so as to
form two openings d in the said sleeve. It will be readily understood that by
forming the pieces c in this manner the weight of the device will be much less than
if the said sleeve were left whole and the pieces o were soldered or otherwise fixed
thereon.
When a pencil e or similar article is passed through the said sleeve, it forms with
the leg b a pair of compasses.
In the modification shown in Figure 3, I provide a slotted arm f which is
pivotted upon a screw f¹ passing through the parallel pieces c A screw g is
passed through the slot in the arm f and enters a screw-threaded aperture in the
leg b. This leg is made with a notch or recess b² to pass over the screw f¹ when :
the device is closed.
When the screw g is slackened, the leg b can be moved to any desired position;
the said leg can then be secured by tightening the screw g.
It is obvious that the form of the sleeve a and leg b can be varied to suit different
shapes of pencils without departing from the nature of the said invention.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I Claim:-
:-
The above described improved device consisting of the sleeve or tubular portion
having the pointed leg or limb pivotted thereto (with or without the means for
fixing the said leg or limb in any desired position) substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Lane have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Ninth day of October in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty three.