Compan
Year: 1886

page_text: 66
States of America as Scholars' Companions."
I, THOMAS WEBB of Stockport in the County of Chester, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (which invention has been communicated
to me from abroad by Thomas D. Richardson of New York City, in the United
States of America, Manufacturer), and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to that class of devices commonly termed "scholars
companion," and the present device embraces a water bottle, sponge, washing or
rubbing pad, pencil sharpeners, and lead pencil eraser, all combined in one small
and compact structure.
.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device complete.
Figure 2, a vertical central section of the same; and
Figures 3 and 4, views illustrating certain details.
A indicates the body of the cleaner the lower part thereof being of substantially
rectangular form, while its upper portion is cylindrical. The cylindrical upper
portion is made hollow or tubular to provide a chamber a, to receive a bottle or
phial B, which latter is made to fit rather tightly in the socket in order to prevent
its accidental displacement and if desired it may be permanently cemented or
otherwise secured therein.
Only the head or neck of the bottle B is exposed, its sides and body being
protected against breakage by the wooden surrounding body or holder.
The bottle B is provided with a cork or other suitable stopper b, to the lower end
of which is attached a piece c, of sponge or other absorbent material. Sponge is
preferred however as it is easily compressed and passes readily through the neck
of the bottle. The stopper and sponge are shown removed in figure 3. The
sponge c may be attached to the cork by any convenient means, a light wire being
shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 for that purpose.

page_text: The sponge is for the purpose of washing the slate surface, and in order to wipe
or dry the slate after being washed, the bottom of the block A is covered with
a layer of felt d, which is secured in place by cement or in any other suitable
manner.
If the sponge be removed the bottle can be filled with ink. In such case I make
the bottom of the block flat & at right angles to the sides.
The bottom instead of being felt can then be india rubber protected if desired by
a tin or other light cap or cover.
The front and rear faces of the lower portion of the block A, are provided, cach,
with a transverse groove, e, which on one face is made V shaped and on the other
semicircular. These grooves e are each covered with an abrading material glued
or otherwise placed directly upon the walls of the grooves, or they may be lined
with sand paper or emery cloth, or otherwise roughened with a hard rough surface.
These abrading surfaces are for the purpose of sharpening lead and slate pencils, as
is commonly done.
In order to provide the device with an ink or pencil eraser a hole or socket f is
made in one of its faces as shown in figure 2, in which is inserted a rubber eraser o
preferably with-metallic cap as shown in figure 4.
The device is small and compact and possesses all the advantages and conveniences
of the separate articles.
It is not essential that the upper portion containing the bottle B, be made cylin-
drical, or that the lower portion be made rectangular, as it is obvious that other
forms will answer.
The bottom of the block A when used for a wiper is preferably inclined or
beveled so as to get as wide a surface of the felt wiper as possible in a small
implement.
The block A may be made of any suitable material, metal, rubber wood etcetera.
By making the block of rubber the phial E may be omitted and the cork or
stopper b, used to close the top of the socket, a, which latter serves all the pur-
poses of the phial. When made of wood the interior of the socket a can be lined
with cork or other material impervious to water thus doing away with the bottle
or phial.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. As a new article of manufacture, a slate cleaner having its bottom. face
beveled or inclined and provided with a wiper.
I
2nd. A slate cleaner consisting of a block provided with a wiper on one face, and
with a water receptacle having a stopper provided with a sponge or its equivalent.
3rd. A slate cleaner consisting of a block having a wiper, a water receptacle, and
a pencil sharpener combined in one, substantially as described.
4th. The combination of the block having a bottle or equivalent receptacle; a
pencil sharpener and eraser, substantially as described.
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