Improvements in Pencils.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
Improvements in Pencils.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by the Eagle Pencil Company, of the City, County
and State of New York, in the United States of America) and in what manner the
Baine is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention relates to what are called mechanical pencils-that is pencils in
which the lead, or crayon, is longitudinally moveable within a sheath, or holder, and
the object of this invention is to obviate the serious objection, applying to this kind
of pencils that when the pencil drops or strikes against a hard body, the shock is very
liable to break the lend, or crayon.
According to this invention there is combined with the lead or crayon a reinforcing
strip, or tongue, of wood, or other material, which can readily be cut with a knife,
the two being fastened together throughout their entire length by glue, or other
suitable adhesive inaterial. The tongue has provided for it in the case, or sheath, a
groove, or slot, in which it fits and travels, so that besides supporting and reinforcing
the lead, it serves as a guide for the latter; and it may also be utilized as a means of
propelling the lead as well as holding it in adjusted position, for which purpose there
are combined with it means mounted on the sheath adapted to engage the tongue,
and through it to propel or adjust the lead or crayon to which it is attached.
The nature of this invention and the manner in which it is, or may be, carried into
effect will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pencil embodying this invention in its simplest
form.
Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the same pencil with the tongue and lead
protruded.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the pencil.
Figure 3 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section.
Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4, Figure 3, of a modification.
Figure 5 is a view of a still another modification.
Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6-0, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the front end of the pencil shewn in Figure 5,
the section being taken in the plane of the reinforcing tongue.
Figure 8 is a view of a modification in which the lead propelling device cuts its own
thread in the tongue.
Figure is a longitudinal section of the front end of the pencil shewn in Figure 8,
the section being taken in the plane of the reinforcing tongue.
Figure 10 is a cross section of the sheath and tongue of the pencil shewn in
Figures 8 and 9.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 are views of pencils illustrative of other forms of lead or
crayon propelling and adjusting devices which may be employed. Figures 11 and 12
are respectively a plan and a longitudinal section of one form of pencil; and Figure 13
is a longitudinal section of another form of pencil,
[Pind 1

page_text: The case, or sheath, of the pencil may be made of any suitable material. It is
preferred on the score of simplicity and economy to make it of wood.
In Figures 1 and 2, the pencil sheath A has the usual central hole a for the lead,
or crayon, B, and, in addition thereto, it has on one side a longitudinal slot b, which
extends from end to end of the sheath and opens into the central hole a the width of
the slot being less than the diameter of the hole. The frout end of the sheath is of
the usual conical, or taper, forin. The lead B is contained in the hole a and is
moveable lengthwise therein. A strip, or tongue, C, of wood, or equivalent material,
fits in the slot b in which it can move lengthwise, and its inuer edge is concave in
cross section so as to fit closely upon the lead, or crayon. It extends the length of
the lead or crayon, and the two are glued or otherwise cemented together. The
outer edge, or face, of the strip, or tongue, is fashioned to form a continuation of the
periphery of the sheath and is preferably provided with side lips c, which overlap
slightly the edges of the slot in which it moves. The tongue guides the lead, or
crayon, which being of greater diameter than the width of the slot b, holds the tongue
in place. When the pencil is in use, the pressure of the fingers on the tongue C will
suffice to prevent the lead or crayon from moving backward in the sheath. When it
is desired to expose a fresh portion of lead or crayon for use, all that is required is to
slide the lead or crayon forward a short distance, as indicated in Figure 1^, after
which the protruding portion of the tongue can be cut away, or removed, until it is
again flush with the conical tip of the sheath. It is only necessary under this
arrangement to cut away the tongue. The sheath itself may remain intact.
Various means may be provided for effecting the feed and adjustment of the lead
or crayon. These means should engage the tongue C, the lead or crayon being
actuated through the intermediary of the latter.
In the arrangement shewn for this purpose in Figures 3 and 4, the tongue has in
its exposed edge a series of cross notches d having the pitch of a screw thread. The
front end of the sheath in advance of the shoulder e is reduced in diameter so as to
permit the notched edge of the tongue to project a little, and on this reduced part of
the sheath is fitted an internally screw threaded sleeve D, which engages the screw
notches in the tongue, and is held between the shoulder e, and a thimble (fitted on
the tip of the sheath after the sleeve is put on) 80 as to be incapable of longitudinal
movement while free to rotate. By rotating the sleeve the tongue, and consequently
the lead or crayon, will be advanced, or retracted, according to the direction of rotation.
It is not necessary that there should be an open slot b extending throughout the
length of the sheath. Instead of an open slot, a groove can be employed for the
reception of the tongue, which groove does not extend to the periphery of the pencil
as shewn in Figures 5, 6 and 7. At the tip of the pencil, the sheath is however
reduced in diameter, so as to open the groove, and to permit the tongue to project
therefrom so as to put its notched edge d in position to be engaged by the propelling
screw. In this instance the screw is formed in the front end of the sleeve, or
ferrule, 1, which can revolve upon the sheath, but is held from longitudinal
movement by an annular depression, or inwardly projecting rib, g, on it, which enters
a corresponding annular groove in the sheath.
The ferrule inay be provided, at its front end, with a spiral flange, or inturned edge,
made sharp so that it will cut its own thread in the tongue, in which event the
preliminary notching of the tongue may be dispensed with. Such a modification is
represented in the pencil illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10. In the pencil shewn in
these figures, there is fast upon the sheath a sleeve i, having an annular knurl i¹.
The sheath, in advance of this sleeve, is slightly reduced in diameter so as to permit
the outer edge of the tongue c to project. The ferrule D' is mounted on this sleeve
having an annular recess j, to engage the annular rib or projection i¹, on the sleeve,
whereby it is permitted rotation but is restrained from lengthwise movement on the
sheath. The inturned spiral sharpened edge of this ferrule meets and cuts into
the projecting outer edge, or face, of the tongue C, so that as the ferrule revolves it
will cut its own thread in the tongue and feed the latter and consequently the lead
or crayon which is attached thereto,

page_text: In the pencil shewn in Figures 8, 9 and 10 the form of the tongue is slightly
different froin that shewn in the preceding figures. Its concave inner edge which
projects into the orifice for the lead or crayon in the sheath and to which the lead or
crayon is glued, or cemented, is of greater width than is the slot b so that it cannot
be pulled laterally out of the slot. In this way the lead or crayon is relieved of the
duty of bolding the tongue in place from Interal pull, and all strain which might
otherwise coine upon it from this cause is removed. This pencil has a groove b¹; but
in case the slot bis desired the slot has the same position only it extends to the
periphery of the sheath.
In lieu of employing as a propeller, or adjusting means, a sleeve, or ferrule, having
rotary but not lengthwise movement, a device can be employed which has lengthwise
movement without rotation. This is shown by Figures 11,12 and 13. In Figures 11
and 12 the edges of the sheath bordering the slot bare formed with ratchet
teeth; and the tongue C is fast to a sleeve E which fits, and can slide lengthwise
on, the sheath, and has a spring pawl to engage the teeth k. The pawl has ears
by which it can be lifted against the stress of the spring whenever it is desired to
retract the lead or crayon. When the sleeve is pushed forward the pawl will readily
ride over the ratchet teeth, and by its engagement with them will prevent the lead
or crayon froin being pushed back when the pencil is in use. But as the pawl will
not lock the lead from forward movement, it sometimes happens that in cutting away
the tongue, the lead or crayon and tongue will be drawn forward and caused to
project a greater distance than is desired. This is avoided by the arrangement shewn
in Figure 13, in which the nutchet teeth in the sheath are replaced by square
shouldered notches ; and there is employed in lieu of the pawl 1, a detent m
pressed by a spring in a direction to engage, and having a square end adapted to enter,
the said notches, thus holding the tongue and its lead or crayon from movement in
either direction. The detent may be hinged or pivoted, at m', to its sleeve E', and
is provided with a handle m³, by which it can be lifted out of engagement with the
notches.
The tongue if desired may be scored, or partly cut through, or otherwise weakened,
at intervals, as indicated at 1, in Figure 13, so that pieces of it may be broken off
and removed by the fingers instead of having to be cut away by a knife. The tongue
itself also can be made not only of wood, but of papier machè, or other composition,
or material, which possesses the requisite strength and solidity and can be easily cut
with a knife.
I do not limit myself to the precise structural details hereinbefore set forth in
illustration of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1. A pencil having in combination a case, or sheath, provided with a longitudinal
lead or crayon receiving orifice and with a longitudinal slot, or groove, along one side
of and communicating with the said orifice a lead or crayon longitudinally moveable
in the said orifice, and a reinforcing tongue fitting and longitudinally moveable in
the said slot, or groove, and secured to the lead or crayon throughout its length,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
2. In combination with a pencil case, or sheath, formed with a longitudinal lead or
crayon receiving orifice and a longitudinal slot or groove along one side of, and
communicating with, the said orifice, a lead or crayon contained in, and longitudinally
Inoveable in, the said orifice; and a tongue fitting and longitudinally moveable in the
said slot or groove, and having its inner edge or face, which projects into the lead or
crayon orifice, and is secured to the lead or crayon, of greater width than the slot or
groove, substantially as, and for the purposes herein before set forth.
3. In combination, a pencil case, or sheath, formed with a longitudinal lead or
crayon receiving orifice and slot, or groove, along one side of, and communicating
with the said orifice; a lead or crayon and a reinforcing tongue secured together and

page_text: fitting, longitudinally moveable in, the said orifice and slot or groove respectively;
and a lead or crayon propelling device carried by the case, or sheath, and operatively
connected to the tongue, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before set forth.
Dated this 1st day of June 1897
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX'
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.