Improvements in School and like Drawing Compasses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in School and like Drawing Compasses..
I, ALFRED AUGUSTUS WOODWARD, of Legge Lane, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to school and like drawing compasses, and has for its
object, an automatic spring grip for the holding any sized pencil, pen or
additional leg.
In carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a drawing compass,
I fit or
provide a short leg or a part leg, with a half barrel, having a small lever
mounted at the open side of it, and with a levering or mouse-trap spring surrounding
the pivot pin upon which the lever turns, and with the arms resting upon the half
barrel and lever respectively.
Normally, the fore and gripping part of the lever, which may be either plain, or
be provided with a jointed grip finder, presses upon the top side of any sized lead
pencil, pen or compass leg.
Thus, the short leg of the compass has, or is fitted with, a half barrel or trough-
shaped holder, parts of whose sides are formed into opposite ears, upon which the
lever is jointedly mounted by a cross pin, forming the centre of a coiled spring,
whose arms bear respectively upon the holder part and the back or tail end of the
lever, which is formed into a thumb, or presser plate, by means of which the fore
end of the said lever is lifted, for the introduction into the holder of a lead pencil,
pen or the like, and when the said pressure plate is released, the same automatically
grips the article to be held.
I propose that the finder should consist of a pressure plate, jointed about its
middle to the end of the lever, so that the grip is extended, and is exerted parallel
to the direction of the article being held, that is, supposing the said article is taper,
then the finder grip follows its direction.
Dated the 2nd day of July 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in School and like Drawing Compasses.
I, ALFRED AUGUSTUS WOODWARD, of Legge Lane, in the City of Binningham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to school and like drawing compasses, and has for its
object, an automatic spring grip for the holding any sized pencil, pen or
additional leg.
In carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a drawing compass,

page_text: I fit or provide a short leg or a part leg, with a part barrel. or tubular holder,
having a small spring lever mounted at the open side of it, and with a levering or
mouse-trap spring surrounding the pivot pin upon which the lever turns, and with
the arms resting upon a lateral pin carried by the half barrel and the underside of
the lever respectively.
T
Normally, the fore and gripping part of the lever, which may be either plain, or
be provided with a jointed grip finder and equalizer presses upon the top side of
any sized lead pencil, pen or compass leg.
Thus, the short leg of the compass has, or is fitted with, a half barrel or trough-
shaped holder, parts of whose sides are formed into opposite ears, upon which the
lever is jointedly mounted by a cross pin, forming the centre of a coiled spring,
whose arms bear respectively upon the holder part and the back or tail end of
the lever, which is formed into a thumb or presser plate, by means of which the
fore end of the said lever is lifted, for the introduction into the holder of a lead-
pencil, pen or the like, and when the said pressure plate is released, the same
automatically grips the article to be held.
I propose that the finder should consist of a pressure plate, jointed about its
middle to the end of the lever, so that the grip is extended, and is exerted parallel
to the direction of the article being held, that is, supposing the said article is taper,
then the finder grip follows its direction.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in elevation, a school compass,.
with one leg provided with an automatic pencil, pen or other grip made according
to my invention.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section of the holder or grip part of the compass
upon an enlarged scale.
2
Figure 3 represents a front elevation of Figure 2 showing the positions of the
component parts, whilst Figure 4 represents a general section upon the dotted
lines Figure 2, showing the mounting of the spring and how one of the levering
ends presses upon the cross pin directed from ear to ear or from side to side of the
open front of the tubular holder or part barrel.
Figure 5 represents a section of the grip upon the dotted lines A Figure 2.
Figure 6 represents an edge view of the lever.
Figure 7 is a section of the half barrel or tubular holder part.
Figure 8 shows the spring separately.
Figure 9 is a section and elevation of the grip finder and equalizer, and
Figure 10 is a front elevation of Figure 7.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
a is the long leg of the compass and bis the short leg, the latter having at its
lower end, a tubular holder or part barrel c, closed at its inner end at c', and open
at its front at c³, and with the said open front fitted or provided with a spring
lever d, having upper and lower arms d³, d, cross pivoted or jointed at d¹, to the
lower parts of opposite ears, disposed at the upper front part of the barrel of the
holder c, which is also crossed by a rest pin e, against which the levering arm ƒ³, of
a coiled spring f, encircling the pivot or joint pin d', bears, whilst the other levering
arm f³, of the said spring bears upon the back side of the longer and upper arm ď³,
of the lever d, and above the joint thereof so as to press the shorter arm
constantly inwards, and through the medium of a jointed grip finder g, upon the
article to be gripped.
Assuming that a pencil is required to be placed within a holder or carrier,
compress the upper end of the lever, which is formed into a presser, in the direction
of the arrow Figure 2, then place the lead, pen, leg or article to be gripped in the
barrel, and release the lever, when the force of the spring, made further active by
the compression occasioned on the opening of the holder, closes the said lever and
forces the inner and fore end d³, upon the article to be gripped, either directly, or
through the medium of a grip-finder or bearing equalizer g, as shown in the several
views.

page_text: Where no plane or grip finder is employed, I propose, to make the bearing fore
end of the lever troughed upon its inner side.
Instead of employing a coiled spring encircling the pivot pin and having levering
arms, I may employ a loop spring or a flat spring in lieu thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First. In the holder parts of school or other compasses, providing or fitting the
same with a spring lever clip, substantially as and for the purposes as described and
set forth.
Secondly. A holder part for school or other compasses, consisting of a carrier or
bearing part, fitted with a jointed and double-armed lever, taken home by a spring,
or by a coiled spring, either surrounding the joint pin of the said lever or otherwise,
substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. In the holder parts of compasses, providing the presser end of the spring
lever with a plane-finder, whereby the grip is equalized, substantially as described
and set forth.
Dated this 28th day of November 1894.
ALFRED AUGUSTUS WOODWARD,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.