An Improved Apparatus for Holding Chalk or other like Substance for Writing or Drawing on a Blackboard or other similar Surface.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left 11th Sept. 1897-Accepted. 4th Dec. 1897
An Improved Apparatus for Holding Chalk or other like Substance
for Writing or Drawing on a Blackboard or other similar Surface.
We, LAURENCE CONWAY of 21 The Willows, Fairfield in the City of Liverpool,
Schoolmaster, and EDWARD MCGUINNESS of 162 Harrowby Street, in the City
of Liverpool, Schoolmaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention is designed principally to hold the prepared white and coloured
chalks used by teachers and others for writing on the black-board. The apparatus
consists of a tube of india-rubber or other similar elastic substance about the
same length as the prepared chalks. The greatest width of the interior of the
tube should be less than the thickest part of the prepared chalks, so that a little
force would be required to push the chalk through the tube. The end of the
chalk could then be made to protrude any convenient distance from the end of
the tube and could be easily pushed out as it was worn away or back into the
tube when not in use.
If preferred the tubes might be made tapering instead of parallel, with an
india-rubber flange around the top edge and a band of metal or other suitable
substance around the exterior to allow of the tube being held firmly whilst the
chalk was being pushed in or out. The outside might also be fluted or moulded
such a shape that the tube could be conveniently held between the forefinger
and thumb.
A small india-rubber sucker might be attached to the outside of the tube with
which it could be affixed to the blackboard when not in use.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896.
LAURENCE CONWAY.
EDWARD MCGUINNESS.
An Improved Apparatus for Holding Chalk or other like Substance
for Writing or Drawing on a Blackboard or other similar Surface.
We, LAURENCE CONWAY of 21 The Willows, Fairfield in the City of Liverpool,
Schoolmaster, and EDWARD MCGUINNESS of 162 Harrowby Street in the City
of Liverpool, Schoolmaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is designed principally to hold the prepared white and coloured

page_text: chalks used by teachers and others for writing or drawing lines on a black-
board. The apparatus in its simplest form consists of a tube of india-rubber
or other similar elastic substance about the same length as the prepared chalks.
The greatest width of the interior of this tube should be less than the greatest
diameter of the prepared chalks, so that à little force would be required to push
the chalk through the tube. When the chalk is inserted in the tube it will
be possible to make it protrude any convenient distance through the end of the
tube, whilst it can be pushed out gradually as it is worn away, or back into the
tube when not in use.
The manner in which we prefer to carry the invention into effect will bo
understood from the following description, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings in which
Figure 1 is the side elevation of one of the tubes,
Figure 2 is the side elevation of one of the tubes with collars,
Figure 3 is an interior sectional view of a brass tube with front and side views
of the attached spring, and
Figure 4 is a general view of a block carrying several tubes.
If preferred the sides of the tube, Figure 1, might be made slightly tapering
instead of parallel and a narrow india-rubber flange or collar might be moulded
around the outside as shewn in Figure 2, B.
A band of metal or other suitable material may be fastened around the exterior
of the tube by means of which the tube could be held firmly, without being
compressed, when the chalk, was being pushed in or out.
The outside of the tube might also be fluted or moulded into a shape that
would admit of its being held easily between the finger and thumb.
A small india-rubber sucker might also be attached to the outside of the tube
as shewn in Figure 1. A with which it could be affixed to the blackboard when
not in use.
If desired a narrow flange or collar may be moulded around the outside of each
end of the rubber tube as shown in Figure 2, B and B, whilst the width of the
aforesaid metal band may be increased until it forms a tube as shewn in Figure 3,
the ends of which E and E Figure 3 reach the under edges of the flanges or
collars B and B Figure 2, which would then rest on the edges E, E of the
metal tube Figure 3, and so prevent the india-rubber tube from slipping up or
down the metal tube.
A spring D. Figure 3, or other suitable device may be attached to the inside of
the metal tube in order to vary the diameter of the india-rubber tube when it is
required to carry chalks of different thicknesses.
Two or more of these india-rubber tubes, having collars or flanges at each end,
and being enclosed encased in metal tubes as described, may be held any desired
distances apart by means of a small clamp or other suitable device. It would.
then be possible, after the chalks had been pushed down the tubes until their
points projected on a level, to draw simultaneously on a black-board two or more
parallel lines if required in Writing, Music or other lessons.
Or instead of encasing the india-rubber tubes with metal and using a clamp,
it might be found convenient to use a piece of wood of suitable dimensions, as in
Figure 4, through which are bored a number of apertures F, G, H, (similar in
size and shape to the interior of the metal tube already described) with their
axes parallel to each other and their extremities in a straight line. The distances
between the apertures will be determined by the purpose for which the lines
are required. The india rubber tubes could then be inserted in the same manner
as those in the metal tubes. If, owing to the surface of the black board or the
ends of the chalk being a little uneven, the points of all the chalks do not touch
the board when the apparatus is applied to it, the flexible end of the tubing
containing those chalks already touching the surface will yield when slight
pressure is applied and so allow all the chalks to touch the surface at the same
time.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The improved apparatus for holding prepared chalk or other like substance
by means of a tubing of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material, substan-
tially as described.
2. The application of an india-rubber sucker for affixing an apparatus of the
kind set forth on the black-board when not in use, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus of the kind set forth the method of fixing the india-rubber
tubes in apertures or metal cases by means of two flanges or collars, substantially
as described.
4. In an apparatus for drawing two or more parallel lines simultaneously with
prepared chalks, the application of india-rubber tubes for holding the chalk,
substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of September 1807
LAURENCE CONWAY.
EDWARD MCGUINNESS.