AN INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR SHARPENING PENCILS, AND FOR PROTECTING THE SHARPENED POINTS, A PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PENCIL SHARPENERS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Darling, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for an Invention of "AN INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE
USED FOR SHARPENING PENCILS, AND FOR PROTECTING THE SHARPENED
POINTS, A PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PENCIL SHARPENERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Darling at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1881.
" AN
JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR SHARPENING PENCILS, AND FOR
PROTECTING THE SHARPENED POINTS, A PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PENCIL SHARPENERS."
The said Invention relates to an instrument or apparatus so constructed or
combined that it is fitted for use both as an instrument or apparatus for sharpening
pencils, and as an instrument for protecting the points. The said instrument or
apparatus consists of a tube, the one end being the protector and the other end
being the sharpener. The said tube is preferably a split spring tube at the protector
end, or throughout its length, the end opposite to the protector end having in its
interior a strip of steel or a cutting blade set at an angle, so that its cutting edge
extends from the interior surface of the tube to or beyond the central line thereof.
In the said tube, at the portion where this cutting blade is situated, is a file,
preferably circular, or partially circular, the said file being fixed to or formed on
the said tube or in one piece with the cutting blade, so that when the pencil is
being sharpened by the cutter it will, as it is rotated after being cut by the
sharpener, come into contact with the file, to be thereby smoothed and finished.
This file is applicable to pencil sharpeners other than those forming part of the
hereinbefore described combined instrument or apparatus.
By placing the instrument or apparatus with the protector end over the pointed
end of the pencil it protects the point, and the same instrument may be used to
sharpen the pencil by withdrawing the pencil from the protector end of the
instrument, and inserting the end of the pencil to be sharpened into the other end
of the instrument, and rotating it therein, so that it is cut to a point by the
cutting blade. The herein before described combined protector and sharpener may
or may not have the herein before mentioned file combined therewith. The sharpener
may be set some distance inwards from the protector end instead of being at the
opposite end, so that in this case the opposite end will be left free for the reception
of a piece of india-rubber, a burnisher, or the like.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Darling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th September
1881.
"
AN
JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR SHARPENING PENCILS, AND FOR
PROTECTING THE SHARPENED POINTS, A PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PENCIL SHARPENERS.” "
My said Invention relates to an instrument or apparatus so constructed or
combined that it is fitted for use both as an instrument or apparatus for sharpening
pencils, and as an instrument for protecting the points. Figure 1 represents in side
elevation, and Figure 2 in longitudinal section an instrument or apparatus con-
structed according to my Invention; it consists of a tube a, the one end a¹ being
the protector, and the other end a³ containing the sharpener. The said tube is
preferably a split spring tube at the protector end or throughout its length. In
the interior of this tube is a strip or cutter of steel set at an angle, so that its
cutting edge extends from the interior surface of the tube to about the central line
thereof, and at this part there is situated a file, preferably partially circular, the
said file being fixed to or formed in the said tube, or made in one piece with the
cutting blade, so that when the pencil is being sharpened by the cutter it will, as it
is rotated after being cut by the sharpener, come into contact with the file, and
the point be thereby finished. In the instrument shewn in the Drawing the
cutting edge 6s (Figure 2) is upon a conical piece b soldered or otherwise fastened
in the tube a, and the file consists of a partially circular piece c roughened on its
inner surface, and formed or fixed to the said conical piece b, and forming a con-
tinuation to the axial line or apex of the said conical piece. By placing the
instrument or apparatus with the protector end a' over the pointed end of the
pencil, as shewn in Figure 2, the said protector protects the point. An internal
rib or turned in portion a³ may be provided to prevent the pencil from being
pushed too far into the tube, When the same instrument is to be used to sharpen
the pencil the said pencil is withdrawn from the protector, and the end to be
sharpened is inserted into the end a³, and into the conical piece 6 carrying the
cutter, and the said pencil being rotated therein it is cut to a point by the cutting
blade, the file c finishing the sharpening by filing the lead down to a point.
Figure 3 represents the instrument in longitudinal section, shewing a pencil therein,
the sharpening of which has just been completed. The hereinbefore described
combined protector and sharpener may or may not have the file c combined therewith,
but I prefer that the said file be used. The said file may be combined with
ordinary pencil sharpeners, or pencil sharpeners other than those forming part of
the hereinbefore described combined instrument or apparatus. Figure 4 represents
an ordinary pencil sharpener with the said file combined therewith, the said file
being marked c³.
In place of the sharpening blade or blade and file being placed as before described,
the said sharpening blade or blade and file may be set some distance inwards from
the protector end with the commencement of its cutting edge towards the said
protector end, so that in this case the opposite end will be left free for the reception
of a piece of india rubber, a burnisher, or the like. This modification is shewn in
longitudinal section in Figure 5, where parts like those hereinbefore described. and
shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, are marked with the same letters of reference. The
piece of india rubber inserted in the other end is marked d. When the instrument
is used as a protector the end a¹ serves this purpose; and when the pencil is to be
sharpened it is pushed further into the tube, so that it can be rotated against the
sharpening blade or blade and file.

page_text: For convenience in inserting the cutter, the tube a may be made in two lengths,
which will be screwed or otherwise fastened together after the cutter is inserted and
fixed in place.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein before described, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combined pencil sharpener and protector, consisting of a tube or its
equivalent, capable of use at one end as a protector, and having in its interior, so as
to be protected by the said tube, a sharpening blade or blade and file, essentially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The combination with pencil sharpeners of a file (c or c³) for finishing
the point of the pencil, as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, John Darling, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN DARLING. (L.S.)