Improvements in Finger Clip Writing Appliances.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
Improvements in Finger Clip Writing Appliances.
I, HENRY PLANE WILLIAMS, of 97 South Street, Ascot Vale, in the Colony of
Victoria, Australia, State School Teacher, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide the dual convenience of a pen holder
(with or without a nib or pen integral therewith) and a pencil holder in combination
with a ventilated finger clip, the whole being of one piece of thin metal, or suitable
flexible material and adapted from its small size and its lightness to be carried in the
pocket or hung to the watch chain. The clip is best used on the forefinger of the
right hand. In that position as will be understood it allows of great flexibility of
movement of the said finger; hence easy and good writing is promoted. The lower
end is made small so that the finger cannot project through it far enough to get
inky under ordinary usage.
This device has additional advantages in that it cannot roll away when put on an
inclined desk, nor can the nib contact with the desk; it is useful to children as well
as to adults.
Referring now to the drawings herewith
Figure 1 shows a flat blank say of thin sheet metal with certain cuts therein
indicating the first stage of the manufacture. Dotted lines show a pen nib blank
when a nib is to be made integral with the holder.
Figure 2 shows the blank in Figure 1 with the pencil and nib holder tongues
bent into their working positions.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 on the line X X.
Figure 4 is an end view showing the finger clip formed and the device finished.
Figure 5 is a side view of the device having a pen nib integral with the
whole.
Figure 6 shows the device (without integral pen nib) with a removable lead
pencil fixed in position, but any other writing appliance, as a fountain pen could be
substituted.
Figure 7 shows the device as seen in use, the nib being in this example
removable.
A is the flat blank. B B are any suitable number of flat tongues cut therein to be
formed into a pencil holder, and C C auy suitable number of flat tongues therein to
form a pen nib holder. D are the gaps formed in the blank when the pencil holder B¹
has been formed by curling up the tongues B, and E are the gaps between the blank A
and the nib, or nib holder C¹ formed by curling the tongues C. These various gaps
are designed for the better ventilation, coolnes and freedom of the finger when one is
writing with the invention.
The clip A¹ formed by curling up the blank A reversely to B¹ is flexible and will be
expanded slightly by the introduction of an ordinary finger, there being such
a natural "spring" about it (or tendency to contract to the size which characterizes
it when empty) that the clip will hold in position thereby when in use. Owing also
to the flexibility of the material, clip A¹ is adapted (if found too large) to be reduced

page_text: slightly in diameter by compression. The parts B' and C¹ likewise have a flexibility or
springiness, so that they can be slightly expanded to grip pencil or pen nib, or
slightly contracted under pressure. When I make a pen nib C2 integral with the
appliance I may dispense with the wings or like provision in C¹ for permitting
insertion or removal of a distinct nib, but generally I do not dispense with the same,
and thus when the integral nib is spoiled, it may be broken off at its root C³, said
root being narrowed or weakened in any suitable manner--for example by transverse
slotting as seen in Figure 1.
It will be obvious that the spirit of this invention may be embodied in forms
varying in minor details from those exhibited in the drawings to which I do not
therefore restrict myself; a part for example may be omitted.
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. The combination with a finger clip of flexible springly material, of a pen nib
holder, and a pencil (or the like) holder, both holders being formed by suitably
curling up tongues cut out of said clip, whereby gaps for ventilation are provided in
said.clip all substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a finger clip A¹ of a pencil holder B¹ formed of tongues B
so curled up as to leave gaps D in said clip substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a finger clip A¹ of a pen or nib holder C¹ formed of
tongues C so curled up as to leave gaps E in said clip, substantially as set forth.
4. A finger clip A¹ and a nib C² integral therewith (with or without provision
for the ultimate insertion of. a separate nib) all in combination substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 25th day of October 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane London W.C. Agents.