IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC HOLDERS FOR KNIVES, PENS, PENCILS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AUTOMATIC HOLDERS FOR KNIVES, PENS, PENCILS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
communicated to him from Henry Berolzheimer a person resident in the City,
County, and State of New York in the United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1883.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC HOLDERS FOR KNIVES, PINS, PENCILS
AND OTHER ARTICLES a communication to me from Henry Berolzheimer a
person resident in the City County and State of New York in the United States
of America
This Invention has relation to a holder of the "automatic" type that is to say a
holder in which the case or handle and mechanism for clamping or holding the
articles contained in the said handle are combined with a retracting spring which
maintains the said mechanism normally in a position in which it grasps the article
and a pressure cap by which the said mechanism can be moved against the stress of
the retracting spring for the purpose of releasing the article.
There is employed according to this Invention as one of the component parts of
this combination a pressure cap which is separable and removeable from the holder.
A pressure cap having this characteristic can be utilized for a variety of purposes
It may be a cover or stopper for a chamber or receptacle in the rear of the holder
in which any desired article can be contained. It can also be made to constitute in
itself a distinct instrument such for instance as a lead holder an eraser or the like,
in which event the holder or eraser would be at one of its ends and the removable
cap as a whole would be reversible so that either one of its ends as desired might
be exposed.
There is also used according to this Invention in combination with the grasping
jaws, and spring impelled tip of an automatic holder a detent or catch whereby the

page_text: tip when retracted or moved back from the jaws can be maintained in that position
thus allowing the jaws to remain open as long as desired.
The tubular case or handle is of any suitable configuration material and
construction and at its front it terminates in a nozzle through a contracted opening
in which pass spring jaws which normally expand as in the ordinary automatic
pencil. The said jaws are formed on or carried by a longitudinally movable
receiver in which is contained the knife blade (for example) and its tang capable of
freely sliding therein within limits determined by the length of a slot in the
receiver into which projects a stud or projection on the tang of the blade The
receiver is connected at its rear to a tubular cylindrical extension which fits and is
adapted to slide within a sleeve inserted in the rear end of the case and fastened
thereto. Between the tubular extension and the sleeve is a spiral retracting spring
which bears at the front against a shoulder in sleeve and at the rear against
a shoulder on the tubular extension. This retracting spring moves the receiver in
a direction to cause the jaws to close as in an ordinary automatic holder. The
rearward movement of the receiver is limited by its shoulders which will bring up
against the front end of the sleeve
31
Thus far the instrument is not materially different from the automatic "gravity
holder hereinbefore referred to except as to the tubular extension which is open at
the rear and forms in effect a chamber or receptacle for containing any desired
article. This chamber forms a socket for the pressure cap which is inserted therein
and can be readily removed therefrom whenever desired. The pressure cap in this
instance constitutes a miniature "automatic" lead holder consisting of a shell or
case a lead receiving tube fastened to the closed rear end of the shell and provided
at its outer end with clamping jaws a contracted tip or nozzle longitudinally
moveable with reference to the jaws and a spiral spring encircling the lead tube
and interposed between the closed end of the shell and the inner end of the tip or
nozzle. The tip is prevented from being pushed out too far by a shoulder on
it which brings up against the contracted outer end of the shell or case.
A pin on the lead tube enters a bayonet slot in the tip whereby when the tip is
moved back by hand against stress of the spring for the purpose of permitting the
jaws to open, it can be retained in that position, by rotating it sufficiently to cause
the pin to enter the cross notch at the outer end of the slot. This feature is
applicable to automatic holders generally.
The shell has upon its exterior an annular flange which limits the extent to which
it can be inserted, either end foremost, into the receptacle.
When inserted, holder end foremost into the receptacle its lead holding portion is
contained and concealed within said receptacle and it presents externally the
appearance of an ordinary pressure cap and can be used as such. When on the
other hand it is put in reversed position it constitutes a lead holder of which
the aforesaid tubular case is the handle.
It is not necessary that the lead holding mechanism of the reversible pressure cap
should be automatic; and in lieu of carrying such a mechanism the pressure cap may
be provided at one end with any other suitable or convenient instrument as for
instance an eraser or an eraser blade which latter would probably be preferred if
the main portion of the instrument should have a sliding pencil or pen instead of a
knife blade.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Patent Office on the 13th June 1884.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC HOLDERS FOR KNIVES PENS PENCILS
AND OTHER ARTICLES" a communication to me from Henry Berolzheimer a person
resident in the City County and State of New York in the United States of
America
This Invention has relation to a holder of the "Automatic" type that is to say
a holder in which the case or handle and mechanism for clamping or holding the
article contained in the said handle are combined with a retracting spring which
maintains the said mechanism normally in a position in which it grasps the article
and a pressure cap by which the said mechanism can be moved against the stress
of the retracting spring for the purpose of releasing the article.
There is employed according to this Invention as one of the component parts of
the combination just recited of a pressure cap which is separable and removable
from the holder. A pressure cap having this characteristic can be utilized for a
variety of purposes. It may be a cover or stopper for a chamber or receptacle in
the rear of the holder in which any desired article can be contained. It can also
be made to constitute in itself a distinct instrument such for instance as a lead
holder, an eraser, or the like, in which event the holder or eraser would be at one
of its ends and the removable cap as a whole would be reversible so that either
one of its ends as desired might be exposed.
There is also used according to this Invention in combination with the grasping
jaws and spring-impelled tip of an automatic holder, a detent or catch whereby the
tip when retracted or moved back from the jaws can be maintained in that position
thus allowing the jaws to remain open as long as desired.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer
to the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section partly in elevation of an instrument
constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a like section in a plane at right angles with the plane of section in
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the rear portion of the instrument
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the removable and reversible pressure cap.
The instrument represented in the drawing in illustration of the invention is an
automatic holder of the "gravity" type. The article contained therein is a knife
blade A; and the reversible pressure cap B is a miniature automatic lead and
crayon holder. In Figure 1 the blade is shewn protruding and the pressure cap
placed so that its lead-holding end is concealed within the case or handle C of the
instrument. In Figure 2 the position of these parts is reversed.
In Figure 1 the parts are in normal position, that is to say the position which
they occupy when the grasping mechanism is closed upon the tang of the knife
blade. In Figure 3 the pressure cap is represented as advanced against the stress
of the retracting spring D so as to move the grasping mechanism in a direction to
release the blade and allow it to drop.
O represents the tubular case or handle which is of any suitable configuration,
material and construction; at its front it terminates in a nozzle C¹ through the
contracted opening a, in which pass the spring jaws b which normally expand as
in the ordinary automatic pencil. The jaws are formed on or carried by a

page_text: longitudinally moveable receiver c in which is contained the knife blade A and its
tang, capable of freely sliding therein within limits determined by the length of
slot d (in the receiver c) into which projects a stud or projection e on the tang of
the blade. The receiver c is connected at its rear to a tubular cylindrical
extension c¹ which fits and is adapted to slide within a sleeve finserted in the rear
end of the case and fastened thereto. Between the tubular extension c¹ and the
sleeve is the spiral retracting spring D which bears at the front against a
shoulder fin sleeve f, and at the rear against a shoulder c² on the tubular
extension c¹. This retracting spring moves the receiver in a direction to cause the
jaws b to close-as in an ordinary automatic holder. The rearward movement of
the receiver is limited by its shoulders c³, which will bring up against the front end
of the sleeve f
Thus far the instrument is not materially different from the automatic "gravity"
holder herein before referred to except as to the tubular extension c¹ which is open
at the rear and forms in effect a chamber or receptacle for containing any desired
article. This chamber forms a socket for the pressure cap B which is inserted
therein and can be readily removed therefrom whenever desired. The pressure cap
in this instance constitutes a miniature "automatic lead holder consisting of a
shell or case g; a lead receiving tube h, fastened to the closed rear end of the shell
and provided at its outer end with clamping jaws h', a contracted tip or nozzle i
longitudinally movable with reference to the jaws and a spiral spring ; encircling
the lead tube and interposed between the closed end of the shell and the inner end
of the tip or nozzle. The tip is prevented from being pushed out too far by the
shoulder on it, which brings up against the contracted outer end of the shell
or case.
A pin on the lead tube enters a bayonet slot in the tip, whereby when the
tip is moved back by hand against stress of the spring for the purpose of
permitting the jaws to open it can be retained in that position by rotating it
sufficiently to cause the pin to enter the cross notch at the outer end of the slot
as indicated in Figure 4. This feature is applicable to automatic holders generally.
The shell g has upon its exterior an annular flange g¹ which limits the extent
to which it can be inserted either end foremost into the receptacle c¹.
When inserted, holder-end foremost, into the receptacle c¹, its lead holding
portion is contained and concealed within said receptacle, and it presents externally
the appearance of an ordinary pressure cap, and can be used as such.
When on
the other hand it is put in reversed position, as seen in Figure 2, it constitutes a
lead holder of which C is the handle.
It is not necessary that the lead-holding mechanism of the reversible pressure
cap should be automatic. And in lieu of carrying such a mechanism the pressure
cap may be provided at one end with any other suitable or convenient instrument,
as for instance an eraser or an eraser blade, which latter would probably be
preferred if the main portion of the instrument should have a sliding pencil or pen
instead of a knife blade.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First In an automatic holder the combination of the case or handle, the
grasping or clamping mechanism, the retracting spring, and a reversible pressure
cap, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Second-The combination of the case or handle the receiver and grasping
mechanism longitudinally movable therein, and a pressure cap which engages and
moves with said receiver and is removable therefrom, substantially as hereinbefore
Bet forth.
Third-The case or handle, the holding mechanism, and the tubular extension
connected therewith and adapted to slide in the case, in combination with the

page_text: pressure cap adapted to fit and close said extension, and removable therefrom,
substantially as and for the purposes bereinbefore set forth.
Fourth-The removable and reversible pressure cap having at one of its ends a
lead holding device, or other instrument in combination with the case or handle,
the grasping mechanism, and the retracting spring substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth
Fifth-The removable and reversible pressure cap and automatic lead holder
combined, in combination with the handle, the grasping mechanism, and the
retracting spring, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Sixth The combination with the grasping jaws and the spring impelled tip
of an automatic holder, of a detent, whereby the tip when retracted or moved
back from the jaws can be locked in that position, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this twelfth day of June One thousand eight hundred and
eighty four.
J. HENRY JOHNSON (L.S.)