Improvements in or relating to Pencils.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1898-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or relating to Pencils.
I, FISHER HAZARD LIPPINCOTT, of 333, West Upsal Street, Germantown, City of
Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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:-
-
My invention relates to that kind of pencil wherein the lead, or crayon, is
contained within a hollow holder and adapted to be slid longitudinally therein,
so that the end or point of the lead may be caused to protrude a suitable distance
from the end of the holder whenever required, and be maintained in such
position, by a suitable holding device for preventing the retraction of the lead
when writing.
The object of my improvement is to provide a pencil of this kind, which shall
closely resemble, in external appearance, an ordinary wooden lead pencil, yet
which shall be simple and capable of being cheaply and readily made, and very
convenient in use.
,
The precise construction of the invention will clearly appear from the following
description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate
that form of the invention which I believe to be the preferable one, and in which
drawings,
Figure 1, is a perspective view;
Figure 2, a longitudinal section of Figure 1, enlarged;
Figure 3, a section on line -, Figure 2;
Figure 4, a perspective of the follower detached and enlarged; and
Figure 5, a side elevation, the slot and the sliding piece or follower being
toward the observer.
2 is a
In said drawings, 1 designates the sheath or holder which is of the usual
external form and is of wood, or other comparatively soft material.
central bore extending through the same, and 3 is an open slot communicating
with the bore and of a width somewhat less than the diameter of the latter, so
that the lead, 4, cannot escape laterally,
5 is the follower, constructed, in the present instance, of a piece of elastic or
spring wire bent into the suitable form shown, and having a part, 5", adapted
to the bore with rearwardly extending, outwardly turned, pointed limbs, 5b, the
point of each of which extends normally-that is when the follower is detached-
beyond the line of the side of part, 5. The follower has, preferably, also a
projection, 5°, that is adapted to pass into the slot, 3; its outer end projecting
therethrough a short distance beyond the side of the holder, as seen.
In applying and using the device, I first slide the lead, 4, into the bore, 2,
and then enter the follower into the rear, or upper end of the latter, the diver-
gent points (marked 5d) being pressed towards each other, as they enter the bore.
It, the follower, is pushed forward by pressing against the projection, 5º, until
the lead has been advanced sufficiently far to protrude the desired distance from
the front end of the holder.
If now, the pencil be used in writing, the lead cannot be pushed back by
pressure of its point against the writing surface, as obviously, the points, 5d,

page_text: of the limbs 5b, of the follower; will instantly catch in, or penetrate, the wood,
and it will be equally obvious that they will be released from the latter when the
follower is again slid forward to advance the lead.
Although the lead is intended to fit the bore of the pencil so that it, the lead,
will be held by friction, I have found that wood sometimes, expands and thus
the lead becomes comparatively loose. In order to obviate this, I usually employ
a tube, 6, of metal or other suitable material, with a slightly contracted and split
end as shown, which tube is inserted within the forward end of the bore, and is
held in place by cement or otherwise. The diameter of this tube is about equal
to that of the lead, excepting at the contracted end, which latter, by its elas-
ticity, sufficiently holds the lead, yet permits it to be advanced when the follower
is pushed forward. It is preferred to cement the tube to the pencil, for the
reason that thereby the wood on the sides of the slot is prevented from spreading.
In lieu of the tube within the bore, there may be used a sleeve or ferrule,
with a concave split end, and forced on to the pencil, thereby serving to accom-
plish the same result as that secured by the inserted and cemented tube.
The follower may be pushed forward by a pin, knife-blade or the like passed
into the slot.
I sometimes provide a sliding sleeve, 7, upon the pencil, to the rear of the
projecting end of the part, 5, of the follower, which sleeve is slid forward against
said projecting end, and thus advances the follower.
My device may be made of a variety of forms, without departing from the
essential principle or mode of operation of the invention; for example, the
follower may be constructed with a single outwardly projecting pointed limb, in
lieu of two.
I further remark that in order to insure the catching of the points of the
follower in the wall of the bore of the sheath, the said wall may be provided
with teeth or indentations along the path of the follower.
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. In a pencil, the combination of the holder of wood, or the like, having the
lead receiving bore and the open slot communicating therewith, of a width less
than the diameter of the bore, and the follower within the bore having the
spring controlled rearwardly and outwardly projecting point or points, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a pencil, the combination of the holder of wood, or the like, having the
lead receiving bore and the open slot communicating therewith, whose width is
less than the diameter of the bore, and the follower within said bore and having
the spring controlled rearwardly and outwardly projecting point or points, and
having also the projection extending through said slot, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
3. In a pencil, the coubination of the holder, of wood or the like, having the
lead receiving bore, and the open slot communicating therewith, whose width
is less than the diameter of the 'bore, and the tube secured to the forward end of
the holder and having the contracted elastic or gripping end, and the follower
within said bore, and having the spring controlled rearwardly and outwardly
extending point or points, and having also the projection extending through said
slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 31st day of October 1898.
FISHER HAZARD LIPPINCOTT:
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.