Improvements in Racks for Holding Pens, Pencils, and other like Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Racks for Holding Pens, Pencils, and other like
Articles.
I, JOHN SHORT DOWNING of Commercial Street, in the City of Birmingham,
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 appliances designated pen-racks, for the holding of pen-
holders, pencils, and other like articles.
My invention has for its object, a rack, which will prevent the article carried by it,
or placed upon it, from being accidentally removed or displaced.
This I accomplish, by providing holding plates, which when in one position allow
articles to be placed or removed, and in another position, to be held.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in front elevation, a pen
or penholder, pencil, or brush rack, constructed and arranged according to my
invention.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the same, showing the stay
axis, which connects the moveable and holding plates together, so that the same
may move simultaneously in the securing of a penholder or other article, within the
gaps of the fixed uprights of the said rack.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of figuro 1 and figure 4 represents a transverse
vertical section, on the dotted lines A B figure 1, with the penholders and pencils
removed.
Figure 5 represents one of the moveable and holding plates, with bayonet-shaped
gaps formed within the edge of it, and by means of which, the penholders or pencils,
are overlapped and held in the gaps of the rack plate, one side of which is shown at
figure 6.
Figure 7 represents a modified form of my invention in which the holding plates
are brought back to their securing or overlapping positions, by means of a spring,
although a counterpoising weight may be used in its stead.
a, a, are upright and fixed rack plates, provided at their edges with plain or semi-
circular shaped gaps a², wherein a penholder, pencil, or other like article, rests, or is
placed, when the same are not required to be used.
The lower ends of the said rack plates, have attachment rests a³, which are secured
to, or stand upon a base b, common to both plates as aforesaid.
Working and disposed upon the inside faces of the plates a, are coupled together
holding plates c, with overhanging or bayonet shaped gaps e², with the parts of
them, raking forwardly in the direction of the motion of the said holding plates, when
the same are rotated, and which said plates are coupled together, by a stay-axis d,
whose plain ends d', work within the middles of the rack plates a, as bearings.
The entrances c', of the said gaps c³, become coincident with the entrances a*,
of the gaps a, of the rack plates a, when a penholder or the like is required to
be removed, or placed within the rack, as represented in figure 4, but on the said
article requiring to be secured, or held within the rack, then the holding plates are
rotated, and the parts c³ made to close over the entrances a', and so prevent the article
from falling out, or being displaced, as represented in figure 3.
One of the holding plates, is provided with a lever e, and a stopf, which limits the
movements of the said plates, with respect to the rack plates and their gaps.
To place a penholder or the like in the rack, lift the arm or lever e when the
entrances to the gaps of both the holding plates and rack plates, are coincident,
when an article as aforesaid, can be dropped or placed in position, and then secured

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by the pressing downwards of the arm or lover, which by so doing the entrances to
the rack gaps, are closed, and an article secured from falling out or being removed.
In figure 7 the return movement of the holding plates, is performed by a spring 9,
which becomes distended, by the depression of the arm or lever, consequent upon the
opening of the gap entrances.
Thus when a penholder or other article is required to be placed within the rack,
depress the lever, place the article in position, and release the said lever, when the said
article is automatically held.
Instead of the holding plates being operated for holding and releasing by a rotatory
movement, the same may be operated by a sliding movement, so as to cover and
unclose the entrances to the gaps of the rack plates as aforesaid.
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 A pen, pencil, or the like, rack, securing or holding the articles deposited
upon or within the said rack, by a partially rotating or sliding plate, or its equivalent,
with gapped edges, acting substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly-A pen, pencil, or like rack, consisting of fixed and gapped edged rack
plates, with rotatory or sliding gapped edge-holding plates, the whole constructed
and arranged and the latter operated, substantially as described and set forth in
figures 1 to 6.
Thirdly-A pen, pencil, or like rack, consisting of fixed and holding rack plates,
lever, and spring or weight, as described and set forth in figure 7.
Dated this
LECCLE
U
JOHN SHORT DOWNING.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
JOHN SHORT DOWNING.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.