IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL HOLDERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PENCIL HOLDERS." A communication from abroad by Joseph Reckendorfer, of
the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 31st January 1879, and dated the 2nd December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd December 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. " IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL HOLDERS." A communication from
abroad by Joseph Reckendorfer, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America.
This Invention relates to holders for pencil leads and crayons. In carrying out
the same a tubular sheath is employed, made of suitable material, provided with a
conical or tapering end, and with a screw thread at the back of the tapering end.
This end of the pencil sheath is slit longitudinally with a view to dividing it into
jaws which are capable of being compressed so as to cause them to grasp the pencil lead
inserted in the sheath. The compression is effected by means of a metallic sleeve having
a conical or tapering end and a screw thread conforming to the taper and thread of
the sheath. By screwing this sleeve on the sheath the jaws of the latter will be
caused to close upon and grasp tightly the lead inserted in the sheath.
The construction hereinbefore described is preferred when the sheath is made of
hard rubber. When however it is made of wood (or other material, such for example
as paper or papier maché) the following construction is by preference employed for
the reason that it assures to the wooden jaws all the required resiliency and grasping
power,
One or more of the longitudinal jaw slits are continued back into and preferably
beyond that part of the sheath on which the screw thread is formed, so that the
screw threaded part of the sheath is made capable of yielding to the compressing

page_text: action of the sleeve, which may thus be screwed down on the sheath as far as
needed to effect the secure clamping of the jaws upon the lead.
Within the bore of the sheath near its..point is inserted a spiral spring, the bore
being there preferably slightly enlarged to form a recess for the spring, with, a
shoulder at the rear to prevent the spring from being pushed back beyond the jaws.
The spring has the effect of pressing the jaws outwardly to their normal position,
when they are released from the pressure of the clamping sleeve. It also constitutes
a guide or bashing for the lead.
Either of the two above mentioned features, viz., the elongated slits and the
expanding spring, may be used in the pencil holder without the other, but in the
case when the sheath is made of wood or similar material it is preferred to unite
the said features in the sheath.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
May 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL HOLDERS." A communication from
abroad by Joseph Reckendorfer, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America.
The said Invention relates to improvements in holders for pencil-leads and crayons,
whereby important advantages are obtained.
The accompanying Drawings (which I shall now proceed to describe) illustrate
two modes of carrying out the said Invention.
Figures 1 and 2 represent one modification, Figure 1. being a perspective view of
the two parts (of which the pencil holder is composed) detached, and Figure 2 being
a longitudinal section of the same parts when fitted together and holding a pencil-
lead or crayon; and Figures 3 and 4 represent the other modification, Figure 3 being
a longitudinal section of the holder, and Figure 4 being a perspective view (drawn
to an enlarged scale) of the split and tapering end of the sheath hereinafter
referred to.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is a tubular sheath (of suitable material), which
is provided with a conical or tapering end 6 and with a screw thread c at the rear
portion of the tapering end. This end of the pencil-sheath is slit longitudinally, as
shown at d, so as to divide it into jaws which are capable of being compressed in
order to cause them to grasp the pencil-lead inserted in the sheath. The compression
is effected by means of a metallic sleeve f, having a conical or tapering end and a
screw thread conforming to the taper and thread of the sheath. By screwing this
sleeve on the sheath the jaws of the latter will be caused to close upon and grasp
tightly the lead g inserted in the sheath.
The construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 is that which is preferred when the
sheath is made of hard india rubber. When however it is made of wood (or other
material, such for example as paper or papier maché) the construction shown in
Figures 3 and 4 is preferable for the reason that it ensures to the jaws all the
required resiliency and grasping power.
In the sheath shown in detail in Figure 4 one or more of the longitudinal jaw
slits d are continued back, as shewn at h, into and preferably beyond that part of
the sheath on which the screw thread c is formed, so that the screw threaded part
of the sheath is made capable of yielding to the compressing action of the sleeve,
which may thus be screwed down on the sheath as far as necessary to effect the
secure clamping of the jaws upon the lead.
Within the bore of the sheath near its point is inserted a spiral spring i, the borę
being by preference slightly enlarged at this part to form a recess for the spring,
with a shoulder k at the rear to prevent the spring from being pushed back beyond
the jaws. The spring has the effect of pressing the jaws outwardly to their normal
position when they are released from the pressure of the clamping sleeve. It also
constitutes a guide or bushing for the lead g.
Either of the two above mentioned features illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, viz.,
the elongated slits and the expanding spring, may be used in the pencil-holder
without the other, but in the case when the sheath is made of wood or similar
material it is preferred to employ both the said features in conjunction in the
sheath.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 a pencil holder the combination of a slit tubular sheath and a sleeve,

page_text: each having a conical or tapering end and a screw thread, and adapted the one to
the other, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Second. In a pencil holder the combination of a slit tubular sheath and a sleeve,
both constructed as herein described and adapted to each other, and a spring fitted
within the said sheath, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-ninė.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.) .