IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL CASES AND HOLDERS FOR CRAYONS AND OTHER ARTICLES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I ERNST HEINRICH SCHMIDT of No 12 Moorfields in the city of London, Agent
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL
CASES AND HOLDERS FOR CRAYONS AND OTHER ARTICLES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to improvements in pencil cases (applicable also to holders
for crayons and other articles) whereby I provide a holder or case, which can be
automatically elongated in a better manner than hitherto or otherwise elongated
when required for use and in which the lead is automatically propelled by the act
of closing the case.
In carrying out my invention I employ a telescopic case in which slides the
lead carrier; the parts of the case are opened when required to elongate the case
by means of a push piece or catch releasing a spring or they may be elongated or
drawn out in the usual manner; the lead carrier when the case is elongated falls
by its own gravity so as to protrude from the end of the case by a pair of spring
racks being released the said racks being so arranged that when the inner case has
been drawn out to a certain point the racks close against and hold the lead carrier
in working position; the lead is propelled on the closing of the case by means
of a pin operated by a suitable spring the said pin being held in position by the
said racks when the lead carrier is protruted.
The outer tube and the inner tube of the pencil case slide one upon the other
telescope-wise; the push pin or catch is placed on the inner tube which is slotted
at this part so as to form a spring to force the push piece to take into the slot in
the outer tube, the push piece slides in a groove in the outer tube whereby the
rotation of the tubes is prevented; when the push piece is pressed inwards it
releases a spring, contained in the lower part of the inner tube and bearing at its
upper part against a ring on the lower end of a slotted tube the said spring serving
to elongate the pencil case; the slotted tube is fixed by means of a collar to the
upper part of the pencil case and is provided with a slot on each side in which
work the flat spring racks provided at their lower ends with springs which by
bearing against a neck or groove in the slotted tube always tend to press the racks
in an outward direction; the said collar also serves as a stop for the upper part
of the inner tube of the case; conical projections are provided on the inner side
of the spring portion of the inner tube (or spherical projections may be employed)
which projections serve to press the racks together when the pencil case is closed;
when however the pencil case is opened by pushing inwards the push piece as

page_text: herein before described while the pencil case is held point downwards, the cones
will as the inner tube is pressed outwards by the spring enter recesses in the racks
which being pressed outwards by their springs will allow a free passage to the
lead carrier which will fall by its own gravity so as to protrude from the end of
the case and when the case is completely open the uppermost teeth of the racks
will enter a groove in the lead carrier and the next lower teeth will close against
a conical shaped lower end of the lead carrier which will thereby be firmly held
in working position; a pin is provided for propelling the lead on the closing of the
case; the said pin is of a length greater than that of the lead carrier and is
provided with a conical shaped lower end to correspond with and be held by the
conical teeth of the racks; its upper end works in the lead carrier; a spring
operates the pin as hereinafter described; the said spring is contained in an inner
tube which is slotted on either side to allow the racks to work through the same;
a pin on the lead carrier works in slots in the hereinbefore described slotted and
grooved and innermost tubes respectively to limit the downward fall of the lead
carrier when the pencil case is closed; the push piece enters a slot in the outer case
when the case is closed to fix it in its closed position.
Instead of forming the bottom of the lead carrier as herein before described it
may be formed with a number of teeth on its periphery if required to provide a
firmer grip for the teeth of the racks.
The slotted and grooved tube instead of being slotted may be provided with a
number of holes or perforations corresponding to the number of teeth in the racks
-and-through which the said teeth (shaped accordingly) would project and work
either directly on the lend or on the-lead propelling pin. Instead of forming the
spring racks of a flat shape as herein before described I sometimes-form-them
tubular or cylindrical whereby I am enabled to dispense with the slotted and
grooved tube. In this case the racks themselves are made flexible by being
tempered so as to act as springs and are soldered or otherwise suitably fixed to the
ring; the lead carrier is provided with two pins and is prevented from falling too
far within the case by means of the lowermost teeth of the racks which are made
somewhat longer than the rest of the teeth so as to form a stop for keeping the
pins of the lead carrier from passing; the lower ends of the lead carrier and lead
propelling pin are made cylindrical instead of conical, the teeth of the racks
closing over the pins thereon; the racks may be provided with slots instead of
recesses as hereinbefore described into which the cones enter to admit of the
outward movement of the racks; the spring racks are kept in position by the
counteraction of the elongating spring.
Instead of the teeth of the racks being pointed and conical they may if found
desirable be formed of a rectangular shape.
In some cases the pencil case is elongated by the spiral spring contained in the
lower part of the outer tube; the inner tube is fixed to the collar; the spring racks
are formed with inward protuberances and their lower ends are screwed or
otherwise suitably fixed to the inner tube and push piece by means of the ring, (or
the end of one of the racks may be arranged so as to form the push piece); the
spring racks the tendency of which is to spring inwards (instead of outwards as in
the arrangements herein before described) are caused to open by means of projections
on the innermost tube, the said projections when the pencil case is being opened or
closed press against the protuberances; the pins of the lead carrier and lead
propelling pin respectively work in slots in the said tube when the pencil case is
closed. I sometimes employ an arrangement of springs fixed in the collar of the
pencil case which springs when the pencil case is shut up, close over the point of
the lead but which are forced asunder to allow the lead carrier to fall out of the
case by the spring racks as they open outwards when the pencil case is opened.
When this arrangement of springs is employed the elongated top teeth of the racks
herein before described are dispensed with. Or instead of the springs herein before
described fixed in the collar of the case I sometimes provide the spring racks with
flexible ends, the said ends closing over the point of the lead when the caso is

page_text: closed by being caused to bear against a conical shaped underside of the collar of
the case by the pressure of the elongating spring.
Although I have described my improved pencil case as being provided with one
spring push piece it will be evident that more than one may be employed if
necessary.
I may in some cases dispense with the elongating spring and effect the elongation
of the pencil case by pulling out the inner tube or the outer tube as the case may
be; the push piece or pieces in this case would not be required.
Instead of the inner tube being formed so as to act as springs as herein before
described the push piece or pieces may be fixed to suitable springs attached to the
said tube.
I sometimes dispense with the groove in the outer tube and in this case I prevent
rotation of the tubes by soldering or otherwise fixing the upper and lower ends of
the elongating spring to the case.
One tubular spring rack only may sometimes be employed closing upon a rigid
half tube instead of upon a second spring rack as herein before described.
.
With the object of preventing the lead carrier and lead propelling pin from
rotating the spring racks may be formed elliptical or polygonal in cross section,
the lower ends of the lead carrier and lead propelling pin being correspondingly
shaped.
I have described my invention as arranged for a pencil case but it will be
obvious that it may be adapted to hold other articles such as a knife blade or a pen
in which case the lead propeller, pin propelling spring and innermost tube will not
be required the arrangement being otherwise the same.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ERNST HEINRICH SCHMIDT of N° 12 Moorfields in the City of London Agent
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL
CASES AND HOLDERS FOR CRAYONS AND OTHER ARTICLES" 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 improvements in pencil cases (applicable also to holders
for crayons and other articles) whereby I provide a holder or case, which can be
automatically elongated in a better manner than hitherto or otherwise elongated
when required for use, and in which the lead is-automatically propelled by the act
of closing the case.
In carrying out my invention I employ a telescopic case in which slides the lead
carrier; the parts of the case are opened, when required to elongate the case, by
means of a push piece or catch releasing a spring, or they may be elongated or
drawn out in the usual manner; the lead carrier, when the case is elongated, falls
by its own gravity so as to protrude from the end of the case, by a pair of spring
racks being released, the said racks being so arranged that when the inner case has
been drawn out to a certain point the racks close against and hold the lead carrier
in working position; the lead is propelled on the closing of the case by means of
a pin operated by a suitable spring the said pin being held in position by the said
racks when the lead carrier is protruded.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1 is a longitudinal
section of a pencil case constructed according to my invention and to be elongated
by the pressure of a spiral spring in the lower end of the inner sliding tube, the
pencil case being provided with flat shaped spring racks and the parts of the pencil
case being in their closed position; figure 2, is a longitudinal section shewing the
pencil case partly opened, and figure 3 is a similar view but shewing the pencil case
completely open and ready for use; figures 4 to 9 are detached views of some of
the parts; figure 10 is a longitudinal section of a pencil case in which semi-circular
shaped spring racks are employed, the pencil case being shewn partly open;
figures 11 to 14 are detached views of some of the parts; figure 15 is a longi
tudinal section of a pencil case which is elongated by the pressure of a spiral spring
in the lower part of the outer sliding tube the pencil case being closed; figuro 16 is
a similar view to figure 15, but representing the pencil case open; figure 17 is a
detached view of part of the pencil case; figure 18 is a longitudinal section of
a pencil case similar to that shewn in figure 9, but having racks provided with
Hexible upper ends for retaining the lead carrier when the pencil case is closed, the
pencil case being shown closed; figure 19 is a detached view of one of the spring
racks.
Figure 20 is a longitudinal section shewing my invention as adapted for holding
a penknife; figure 21 is an elevation of one of the spring racks.
Similar letters in all the figures represent similar or corresponding parts.

page_text: I will first describe my improvements by reference to figures 1 to 9.
a is the outer tube and 6 the inner tube of the pencil case the two tubes sliding
one upon the other telescope wise; c is the push pin or catch on the tube b which
is slotted at this part as shewn in figure 9 which is an elevation of the tube b' so as
to form a spring to force the push piece to take into the slot a¹ in the outer tube a,
the push piece c slides in the groove c¹ in. the outer tube a whereby the rotation of
the tubes a and b is prevented; when the push piece c is pressed inwards it releases
a spring; in the drawing I have shewn a spiral spring d, but it will be obvious that
any other suitable spring may be employed; the spring d is contained in the lower
part of the tube b and bears at its upper part against a ring e on the lower end of
a tube, the said spring serving to elongate the pencil case; the tube f is fixed by
means of the collar g to the upper part of the pencil case and is provided with
a sloth on each side in which work the spring racks i, provided at their lower ends
with springs j, which by bearing against the neck or groove j' of the slotted tube f,
always tend to press the racks i, in an outward direction; figures 4 and 5 are
elevations of the tube f, figure 4 shewing an edge view of one of the spring racks i
working in the slot of the tube; figure 6 is a plan of one of the racks; the
collar g also serves as a stop for the upper part of the inner tube 6 of the case;
k and are conical projections on the inner side of the spring portion of the tube b,
(or spherical projections may be employed) which projections serve to press the.
racks together when the pencil case is closed; when however the pencil case is
opened by pushing inwards the push piece c, as hereinbefore described while the
pencil case is held point downwards, the cones k and will as the tube b is pressed
outwards by the spring d enter the recesses m in the racks i which being pressed
outwards by their springs j, will allow a free passage to the lead carrier n (shewn
in detached elevations at figures 7 and 8) which will fall by its own gravity so as
to protrude from the end of the case and when the case is completely open the
uppermost teeth y of the racks i will enter the groove o in the lead carrier and the
next lower teeth will close against the conical shaped lower end p, of the lead
carrier which will thereby be firmly held in working position; q is the pin for
propelling the lead on the closing of the case; the said pin is of a length greater
than that of the lead carrier n and is provided with a conical shaped lower end r
to correspond with and be held by the conical teeth of the racks ; its upper end
works in the lead carrier; 8 is the spring for operating the pin q as hereinafter
described (a spiral spring is shewn in the drawing as being most convenient but
any other suitable spring may be employed) the said spring 8 is contained in the
tube t which is slotted on either side at u to allow the racks i to work through the
same; v, is a pin on the lead carrier working in the slots w and x of the tubes fand
respectively to limit the downward fall of the lead carrier when the pencil case is
closed; the push piece enters the slot a' in the outer case a when the case is closed
to fix it in its closed position.
In order to make use of a pencil case of this construction, the pencil case being
closed as shewn in figure 1, in order to open or elongate the same it is held with
the point downwards and the push piece c being pressed inwards the spiral spring d
will be released and will force outwards the inner tube b of the case, which will
carry with it the cones and 7; as soon as the said cones have reached the
recesses m in the racks i, as shewn in figure 2, the racks will spring asunder and
the lead holder n, will fall by its own gravity and be protruded from the pencil
case as shewn, the pin q falling with it; when the tube b, has been fully elongated
by its spring d as shewn in figure 3 the racks by the action of the projections k
and Z. will be partially pressed inwards whereby the top teeth y will be caused to
enter the groove o in the lead carrier and the conical teeth of the racks will close
against the conical shaped lower ends p and r, of the lead carrier n and pin q,
respectively and the lead carrier will thereby be firmly held in working position;
in order to close the pencil case it is merely necessary to press upon the lower end
of the tube b at the same time holding the pencil case with its point upwards and
the tube b will be forced inwards; as the cones k and enter the recesses m, the

page_text: racks will open outwards and allow the lead carrier n, to fall within the case as
far as the slot w will allow; as the tube b continues to be pressed inwards the
cones will press against the racks i the teeth of which will close against the lead
carrier n, and pin q, the uppermost teeth y; of the racks meeting over the point of
the lead.; the push piece c. will enter the slot or catch a¹ in the tube a, thereby
preventing the reaction of the spring d; as the tube b is being pressed inwards the
spring 8 will be brought to bear against the lower end r of the pin q the pressure
of the spring propelling the lead until it touches the said teeth y; the lead as it
becomes used will be thus automatically propelled to a certain length every time
the pencil case is closed, and when the lead has been almost completely used it will
be ejected by the pin q-To renew the supply of lead it is merely necessary (the
parts of the pencil case being in the position shewn in figure 2) to hold the lead
carrier n, from falling within the case and to insert a lead of the proper length;
the case is then closed in the manner hereinbefore described.
Instead of forming the bottom of the lead carrier as hereinbefore described and
shewn it may be formed with a number of teeth on its periphery, if required to
provide a firmer grip for the teeth of the racks i.
The tube, f, instead of being slotted as shewn at h, may be provided with a
number of holes or perforations corresponding to the number of teeth in the racks
and through which the said teeth (shaped accordingly) would project and work
either directly on the lead or on the pin q. Instead of forming the spring racks i
of a flat shape as herein before described and shewn in figures 1 to 9, I sometimes
form them tubular or cylindrical as shewn in figures 10 to 13 whereby I am enabled
to dispense with the slotted tube-f -In this-case the racks i themselves are made
flexible by being tempered so as to act as springs and are soldered or otherwise
suitably fixed to the ring e; figures 11 and 12 are elevations and figure 13 is a
plan of the tubular racks fitted to the ring e, the racks being shewn in their closed
position or position of tension; the lead carrier n shewn in elevation at figure 14,
is provided with two pins v and is prevented from falling too far within the case
by means of the lowermost teeth b', of the racks which are made somewhat longer
than the rest of the teeth so as to form a stop for keeping the pins v from passing;
the lower ends of the lead carrier n and pin q, are made cylindrical as shewn
instead of conical the teeth of the racks i, closing over the pins v and v¹, instead of
over the ends p and r; the racks may as shewn be provided with slots m, instead
of the recesses as hereinbefore described into which the cones k and Z enter to
admit of the outward movement of the racks; the spring racks i are kept in
position by the counter action of the spring d.
Instead of the teeth of the racks i being pointed and conical as shown they may
if found desirable be formed of a rectangular shape.
The construction of the pencil case shewn in figures 15 and 16 is similar to that
herein before described and shewn in figures 10 to 14 with the exceptions that the
pencil case is elongated by the spiral spring d contained in the lower part of the
outer tube a; the inner tube b is fixed to the collar g; the spring racks i are
formed with inward protuberances m and their lower ends are screwed or otherwise
suitably fixed to the tube b and push piece c by means of the ring e (or the end of
one of the racks i may be arranged so as to form the push piece c); the spring
racks i, the tendency of which is to spring inwards (instead of outwards as in
the arrangements herein before described) are caused to open by means of the
projections k and, on the tube t (shewn detached in elevation at figure 17), the
said projections when the pencil case is being opened or closed press against the
protuberances m; the pins vand 1 of the lead carrier n, and pin q, respectively,
work in the slots c of the tubet when the pencil case is closed. In these figures
I have shewn an arrangement of springs y which I sometimes employ fixed in the
collar of the pencil case which springs when the pencil case is shut up, close over
the point of the lead as shewn in figure 15, but which are forced asunder as shewn
in figure 16, to allow the lead carrier to fall out of the case by the spring racks i,
they open outwards when the pencil case is opened. When this arrangement

page_text: of springs is employed the elongated top teeth y, of the racks hereinbefore described
and shewn are dispensed with. Or instead of the springs hereinbefore described
and shewn in figures 15 and 16 fixed in the collar of the case I sometimes provide
the spring racks i with flexible ends y as shown in figures 18 and 19 the said ends y,
closing over the point of the lead when the case is closed by being caused to bear
against a conical shaped underside o¹, of the collar of the case by the pressure of
the spring d; figure 19, is an elevation of the spring rack so formed.
Although I have described and shewn my improved pencil case provided with
one spring push piece o, it will be evident that more than one may be employed if
necessary.
may in some cases dispense with the elongating spring d, and effect the
elongation of the pencil case by pulling out the inner tube b, or the outer tube a,
as the case may be; the push piece or pieces in this case would not be required.
Instead of the tube b, being formed so as to act as springs as herein before
described the push piece or pieces c, may be fixed to suitable springs attached to
the said tube b.
I sometimes dispense with the groove e¹, in the outer tube a, and in this case
I prevent rotation of the tubes by soldering or otherwise fixing the upper and
lower ends of the spring d to the cuse.
One tubular spring rack only may sometimes he employed closing upon a rigid
half tube instead of upon a second spring rack as herein before described.
With the object of preventing the lead carrier n and pin q from rotating the
spring racks in figures 10, 15, 16 and 18 or the tube f in figures 1 to 3 may be
formed elliptical or polygonal in cross section the lower ends of the lead carrier n,
and pin q, being correspondingly shaped.
I have described my invention as arranged for a pencil case but it will be
obvious that it may be adapted to hold other articles such as a knife blade or a pen
in which case the lead propeller, pin propelling spring inner tube t, and elongating
tube b, will not be required.
Figures 20 and 21 shew an arrangement suitable for a penknife; in this case
only two recesses or teeth are required in the spring racks, the front recesses
or teeth ¹, serving to hold the blade f1, in position when it is protruded; the back
recesses or teeth is, prevent the blade ¹, from moving when it is within the case.
For the purpose of limiting the outward play of the blade and for preventing the
rotation of the same I form the spring racks as shewn with slots f, in which slide
pins or projections g¹, on the end p, of the blade in which case the necessity of
employing an inner tube for this purpose is dispensed with; the opening of the
racks i, i, is effected by a globe or sphere k, upon a push piece n¹; when the
blade, has been protruded pressure is removed from the push piece n', and
the teeth, of the racks will close over the pins g¹, and hold the blade firmly in
position for use.
It will be obvious that instead of slotting the racks as at f¹, a slotted inner tube
can be employed for a like purpose or the outer tube can be formed with a similar
slot or recess; also that the racks may be arranged to be operated by a push piece
or pieces working through the sides of the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1) A pencil case in which the lead as it is consumed is automatically propelled
to a given length by the act of closing the pencil case as hereinbefore described.
(2) A pencil case in which the lead is automatically ejected by the act of
closing the pencil case when the lead has been nearly consumed as hereinbefore
described.
(3) The method of automatically propelling the lead as it is used by the employ-
ment of spring racks in combination with a spring such as 8, acting on a pin q, so
as to force the lead forward to a given length the said racks holding the lead carrier

page_text: in position while this operation is effected substantially as herein before described
and represented in the accompanying drawing.
(4) In a pencil case crayon holder or the like, the use of spring racks arranged
and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
(5) The tubular form of spring racks operating substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and represented in figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18,
and 19, of the accompanying drawing or the elliptical or polygonal or slotted form
of the spring racks as herein before described.
(6) The combination of the spring racks provided with recesses or their
equivalents with the projections on the inner tube 6 figures 1, 2, 3, 10, and 18,
or on the tube t, figures 15, 16, and 17, and the spring d, for allowing the lead
carrier to be protruded as herein before described and represented in the accom-
panying drawing.
(7) The combination of the spring racks i, having recesses or their equivalents,
projections and l, lead carrier n, propelling pin g and spring 8 whereby the act of
closing the pencil case causes the lead carrier to fall by gravity and the lead to be
propelled by the action of the spring 8 as hereinbefore described and represented in
the accompanying drawing.
(8) The combination of the spring racks having projections m or their
equivalents, projections and l, push piece c and spring d, whereby the act of
pressing the push piece c causes the pencil case to be elongated and the lead carrier
and pin to fall by gravity as herein before described and represented in the accom-
panying drawing.
(9) In a pencil case the arrangement of spring racks i kept in position within the
case by the pressure of a spring such as d, such pressure serving at the same time
to elongate the pencil case substantially as herein before described and represented
in figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 18 and 19 of the accompanying drawing.
(10) The employment of the springs y, herein before described and shewn in
figures 15 and 16, the said springs operating substantially as and for the purposes
described.
(11) The springs y in combination with the spring racks i and collar 9, 'for
limiting the extent of movement of the lead, when the pencil case is closed and of
the lead carrier when the pencil case is opened as hereinbefore described and
represented in figures 15 and 16 of the accompanying drawing.
(12) Providing the spring racks i with flexible upper ends in combination with
a conical shaped cavity or recess in the collar g, whereby the pressure of the spring d
on the racks causes the flexible ends to close over the point of the lead when the
case is closed and to open on the pressure being sufficiently decreased when the case
is opened substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented
in figures 18 and 19 of the accompanying drawing.
(13) The application of the improvements to holders or cases for crayons and
other articles as herein before described.
(14) The general arrangement and construction of the pencil cases herein before
described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
AL
400K
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.