IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL HOLDERS OR CASES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS. PATENT to Phineas Lawrence, of Farringdon Street, in the City
of London, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL
HOLDERS OR CASES." A communication from abroad. by Joseph Reckendorfer,
of New York. in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Phineas Lawrence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1881.
PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of Farringdon Street, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL HOLDERS OR CASES." A communication from abroad
by Joseph Reckendorfer, of New York, in the United States of America.
This Invention consists in the combination of a pair of scissors with a tubular
case, having preferably one end adapted to receive a pencil or a pen.
The pencil holder or case consists of a metallic tube split at the pencil receiving
end, and provided with a shoulder to limit the extent to which the pencil or pen
can be inserted. Behind the shoulder the tube is extended, and forms a case for
the reception of the scissors.
The scissors are mounted on and carried by a block which fits and is capable of
sliding backwards and forwards in the tube, and it can be thus moved by means
of a sliding sleeve, button, or thumb-piece arranged in any suitable manner.
The scissors may be attached to the sliding block in various ways. In one
arrangement one of the blades is rigidly attached to the block, and the other is
pivoted to the rigidly-fixed blade. Between the handle ends of the blade a spring
is interposed and is attached to one of the blades; it bears against the other in such
manner as to normally spread apart the handle ends of the blades.
When the handle ends are brought together against the stress of this spring the
scissors are closed, and are brought within a compass which will permit them to
enter and be received within the tubular holder or case. In this position the
handle end of one of the blades of the scissors which is pressed outwardly against
the wall of the case or holder by the spring becomes in effect a friction pad to hold
the scissors securely in place within said holder or case.
When the sleeve, button, or thumbpiece is moved in the direction to project the
scissors from the holder or case the blades will, as soon as they clear the holder or
case open, and in such position they will be ready for use.
A nail dressing file may be formed on the shank of the rigidly fixed blade.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Phineas Lawrence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th October
1881.
PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of Farringdon Street, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL-HOLDERS OR CASES." A communication from abroad
by Joseph Reckendorfer, of New York, in the United States of America.
This Invention consists in the combination of a pair of scissors with a tubular
case, having preferably one end adapted to receive a pencil or a pen, substantially
in the manner as hereinafter described.
The Invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a pencil holder or case with scissors
combined, and which are shewn projected from its holder; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal
central section of the combined article, but with the scissors withdrawn to its case
or holder.
A is the holder or case, which may be of any approved construction, but which I
propose to make of oval or elliptical shape in cross section, as shewn in Fig. 3, as
with a given quantity of metal I obtain two important results, viz., I am enabled
to adapt a pair of scissors having wider blades, and to produce a case or holder
which shall lie flat in the pocket, said results not being obtainable if the case or
holder were of circular shape in cross section. In the present instance the holder
or case illustrated is for the most part constructed like what is known as a pencil
point protector. It consists of a metallic tube split at the pencil receiving end, as
shewn at a, and provided with a shoulder b to limit the extent to which the pencil
can be inserted. Behind this shoulder b the tube is extended, and forms a holder
or case for the reception of the scissors.
The scissors are mounted on and carried by a block c fitting in and capable of
sliding backwards and forwards in the tube. This block can be moved by means
of a sliding ring or sleeve d mounted on the exterior of the case or holder A,
and connected with the sliding block c by means of a pine passing through the
longitudinal slot f formed in the case or holder. But instead of the sleeve a button,
thumbpiece, or equivalent device may be employed.
The scissors may be attached to the sliding block in various ways. In the
arrangement shewn in the Drawings, and which is preferred, one of the handles,
shanks, or legs g is rigidly attached to the block c, and the other g¹ is pivotted to
the rigidly fixed blade as shewn.
Between the handles a spring his interposed, and is attached to either one of
the handles, it bears against the other in such manner as to spread apart the
handles when the scissors are pushed outward from the case or holder.
When the handles are brought together against the stress of the spring the
scissors are closed, and are brought within a compass which will permit them to
enter and be received within the tubular holder or case, as shewn in Fig. 2. In
this position that handle g' which is pressed outwardly against the interior of the
case or holder by the spring / will hold the scissors securely in place within its
case or holder.
When the sleeve d or the button or thumbpiece is pushed in the direction to
project the scissors from the case or holder, as shewn in Fig. 1, the blades will open
as soon as they clear the case, and will in such position be ready for use.
If desired a nail dressing file i may be formed on the rigidly fixed handle or
shank
g.
I desire to have it understood in conclusion that while I have shown the scissors
applied at one end of a case, which at the other end is constructed to receive a

page_text: pencil, the said case may be formed and arranged to carry in lieu of the pencil any
article, such as a nailcleaner, shoe or glove buttoner, &c., which may be arranged to
slide in and out of the case at the end opposite that to which the scissors are
fitted, and which in this instance would not be split.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
1. In combination with the tubular case scissors mounted upon a sliding in
said case, and provided with a spring which acts to spread apart the handle
ends of the scissors-blades, so that the latter when closed and retracted within the
case will bear with yielding pressure against the walls of the same, substantially
as set forth.
2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the tubular slotted case, a
sliding block or support within said case, a sleeve or its equivalent upon the
extension of said case connected with and adapted to move said block, and scissors
mounted upon said block or support and provided with a spring which spreads
apart the handle ends of the scissors-blades, the parts being combined and arranged
for joint operation, as herein before described.
3. The pencil holder or point protector containing scissors adapted to be projected
from that end of the case opposite the pencil-holder end, said scissors having a
spring between the handle ends of the blades, being mounted on a longitudinal
sliding support operated from the exterior of the case, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Phineas Lawrence, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year 1881.