Improvements in Pencils.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pencils.
I GEORGE WILLIAM JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
London Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by The Eagle Pencil Company of
73 Franklin Street, in the City and State of New York United States of America)
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to pencils composed of a series of conical or tapering
tubes nested or packed one within the other the said tubes being removeable one
after the other to expose fresh portions of the lead as the latter wears away, and
the said invention consists in the construction of the tubes and the manner in which
they are put together so as to give a smooth, even exterior to the body of the
pencil.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view of a pencil
embodying this invention;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal axial section of the same;
Figure 3 is a view of one of the conical tubular pieces detached;
Figures 4 and 5 are sections showing conical tubular pieces of modified external
form.
The conical tubular pieces A of which the pencil is composed are made of any
suitable material but preferably of wood, the grain of the wood running lengthwise
of the said pieces. They have a tapering front end, which may vary in form
somewhat. For example the front end in the form shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3
tapers from heel to point but this taper is not a straight taper, being slightly
concaved at the rear; that shewn in Figure 4 has a straight taper from heel to
point, while that shewn in Figure 5 has a straight taper from the major portion of
its length, but at the rear for a short distance is cylindrical. But all of them
have a base or rear portion b which is cylindrical exteriorly or of other suitable
external contour, with a surface that is parallel to the axis of the cone.
these surfaces b which when the conical pieces are nested together form the exterior
of the pencil and enable a smooth and perfect finish to be given to the exterior.
Each conical piece internally is formed so as to fit tightly and accurately upon the
tapering portion of the other, covering all of the latter excepting the part b.
These conical pieces can be formed rapidly, accurately, and in large quantity by
the use of well known lathes. Their walls are thin and almost scale-like, so that
when nicked or notched as hereinafter described they can rapidly be successively
ruptured and removed.
It is
After the parts of the pencil are put together the exterior of the pencil can be
finished in any ordinary or suitable way, the glue in the first coating or dressing
usually applied to the pencil serving to hold the conical pieces together. The
lead before its insertion may be passed through a glue bath, so as to carry with it
enough glue to cause it to be held in place in the pencil.
To facilitate the removal of the conical pieces each has a longitudinal slit notch
or slot (or more than one such slit, notch or slot) in its tapering portion, extending
only part the length of that portion. This is to enable the conical pieces to be
picked off more readily. In this way the conical pieces retain their strength,
having their ends intact, and therefore they are not liable to split when nested
together.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A pencil composed of a series of conical tubular pieces nested and packed one
within the other, each such piece being provided with a longitudinal slit notch or
slot for more-than-one-such-slit notch or slot) extending partway only of its
length and stopping short of its ends, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
2. A pencil composed of a series of conical tubular pieces nested and packed one
within the other, each having base portions b which together form the exterior of
the pencil, and each being provided with a longitudinal slit notch or slot (or more
than one such slit notch or slot) extending partway only of its length and stopping
-short of its ends, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Dated this 10th day of April 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.