Improvements in Lead Pencils and Pencil Holders.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lead Pencils and Pencil Holders.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a com-
munication to me from abroad by Joseph Hoffman, of Hoboken, Hudson County,
New Jersey, in the United States of America, Manufacturer, to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to lead pencils of that class in which the lead is movable
in the case which encloses it, so that it may he projected from the end of said case
for use and retracted into the case when not in use. The invention is applicable
both to pencils in which the wood of the case is to be cut away as the lead is
consumed, and to those in which the case is permanent and the lead is fed out from
the end of the case as it wears away.
The principal feature of the invention consists in the use of a latch in the case
for holding the lead in position, and a movable weight, by the movement of which the
latch is operated, so that when the pencil is placed in position for writing, the weight
moves the latch into position to hold the lead projected outward from the case, and
when the pencil is inverted, the weight causes the release of the latch and the
retraction of the lead into the case.
The invention is susceptible of various modifications of construction. In one form
the case of the pencil is provided with a ferrule at its end, within which is placed a
sliding tube holding the sliding lead. Two curved latches are pivotted in said sliding
tube, and the ends of such latches extend out through slots in the sides of said tube,
so that at one end or the other such latches may engage with the inside of the
ferrule. A sliding weight in the form of a ring or cylinder encircles the sliding
tube, so that when such weight inoves in one direction or the other, it strikes the
ends of the curved latches, so as to move said latches on their pivot and throw out
their other ends into engagement with the ferrule. It will be seen that when the
pencil is held in position for use, the lead will be projected from the end of the case
by gravity, and at the same time, the sliding weight will fall into contact with the
lower ends of the curved latches, and their upper ends will therefore be thrown out
against the ferrule, which is preferably provided with recesses for such ends to enter.
The tube which carries the lead will thus be prevented from moving backward by the
pressure of the lead on the paper. When the pencil is not in use and the same is
inverted in position, the sliding weight falls against the other ends of the latches and
throws them out of engagement with the ferrule, so that the lead is permitted to drop
back into the case by gravity. It will be seen that all that is necessary therefore,
when the lead is to be projected for writing, is to hold the pencil with the point
downward, whereupon the lead will at once assume its projected position and will be
locked in such position, and in order to retract the lead, the pencil has only to be
inverted, whereby the lead is automatically unlocked and falls back into the
case.
Instead of having two latches, there may be a single latch only pivotted on the
tube which carries the lead and with its ends extending out toward the ferrule, so that
the dropping of the weight in one direction or the other, rocks the latch on its pivot
and forces its outer end into engagement with a recess on the inside of the ferrule,
or removes such engagement.
In another form the latches are the free ends of a bent spring, which is secured in
the rear end of the lead holding tube on which the weight slides, so that when the
weight falls toward the rear end of the pencil, it removes the springs from engagement
with the ferrule and when it falls toward the point of the pencil, such springs are
In another form of the invention
released and fly out and engage with the ferrule,

page_text: the latch consists of two springs secured to the interior of the ferrule, the ends of
which catch over the rear end of the lead holding tube to lock the same and are
removed therefrom by the weight which slidesh.between them on the tube.
In another form of the invention, the latches are provided with separate springs for
throwing them out against the sides of the ferrule, they being moved inwardly by the
fall of the weight as before described.
It will be seen that the invention is fequally applicable to pencils in which the
wood of the case is to be cut away as the lead is consumed and those in which
the lead is fed downwardly. In the latter case the weight actuated catch is added to the
mechanism for feeding the lead, which may be of any suitable or well known character,
such as that in which the feeding mechanism consists of a worm, a lead holding tube
and a carrier engaging with the worm, so that when the mechanism is turned, the
lead is fed downward.
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038
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lead Pencils and Pencil Holders.
1, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a com-
munication to me from abroad by Joseph Hoffman of Hoboken, Hudson County,
New Jersey, in the United States of America, Manufacturer, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to
the Figures and letters marked thereon :-
This invention relates to lead pencils of that class in which the lead is moveable
in the case which encloses it so that it may be projected from the end of said case for
use and retracted into the case when not in use.
The invention is applicable both to pencils in which the wood of the case is to be
cut away as the lead is consumed and to those in which the case is permanent and
the lead is fed out from the end of the case as it wears away. The principle feature
of the invention consists in the use of a latch in the case for holding the lead in
position and a moveable weight by the movement of which the latch is operated so
that when the pencil is placed in position for writing the weight moves the latch into
position to hold the lead projected outward from the case, and when the pencil is
inveried the weight causes the release of the latch and the retraction of the lead into
the case.
The invention is susceptible of various modifications of construction.
The preferred form is represented in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section showing the lead protruded from the holder in
position for use.
Figure 2. is another longitudinal section in reverse position to Figure 1. and show-
ing the lead retracted within the holder.
.
Figure 3. is a separate view of the lead holding tube and pivotted.latches and
Figure 4. is a side view of one of the latches separately. These Figures are all
drawn to double the real size. In the form shown in the drawing the case a of the
pencil is provided with a ferrule fixed thereto at its upper end and within' which is
placed a sliding tube c holding the sliding lead d. Two latches'e are pivotted at the
upper end of said sliding tube c and the lower endse of such latches extend out
through slots cl in the sides of the upper end of the sliding tube c whilst the upper
ends thereof extend beyond the upper end of said tube c and are capable of
engaging with the inside of the ferrule b. A sliding weight in the form of a ring
or cylinder encircles the sliding tube c so that when such weight moves in one
direction or the other it strikes the ends e or e² of the latches e so as to move said

page_text: latches on their pivot c² and when in the position shown in Figure 1. throw out the
upper ends e into engagement with the ferrule b.
The sliding tube c at the bottom of the slots c is formed with an annular rib c³
and a collar g is placed on such tube c below the rib c which collar when in the
position shown at Figure 1. rests on the upper end of the case a and by supporting
the tube c prevents the latches e from coming into contact with the upper end of the
case a and thereby becoming injured. A portion of the tube c is pressed inwards
at c to act as a stop to the lead d and the pivot c² is formed from a portion of the
material of one side of the upper end of tube c which is cut to the required shape
and then pressed through the pivot holes of the latches e and through a hole in the
opposite side of the tube c.
When
It will be seen that when the pencil is held in position for use as shown at
Figure 1. the lead will be projected from the end of the case a by gravity and at
the same time the sliding weight will fall into contact with the lower ends e¹ of the
curved latches e and their upper ends e² will therefore be thrown out against the
ferrule which is preferably provided with recesses arranged in a ring around
the same for such ends to enter. The tube c which carries the lead d will thus be
prevented from moving backward by the pressure of the lead an the paper.
the pencil is not in use and the same is inverted in position as shown at Figure 2
the sliding weight falls against the other endse of the latches e and throws them
out of engagement with the ferrule b, so that the lead d is permitted to drop back
into the case a by gravity. It will be seen that all that is necessary therefore when
the lead is to be projected for writing is to hold the pencil with the point downward
whereupon the lead will at once assume its projected position and will be locked in
such position; and in order to retract the lead the pencil has only to be inverted
whereby the lead is automatically unlocked and falls back into the case.
Instead of having two latches e there may be a single latch only, pivotted on the
tube which carries the lead and with its ends extending out toward the ferrule so
that the dropping of the weight in one direction or the other rocks the latch on its
pivot and forces its outer end into engagement with a recess on the inside of the
ferrule, or removes such engagement. In another form the latches are the free ends
of a bent spring which is secured in the rear end of the lead holding tube on which
the weight slides so that when the weight falls toward the rear end of the pencil it
removes the springs from engagement with the ferrule and when it falls toward the
point of the pencil, such springs are released and fly out and engage with the ferrule.
In another form of the invention the latch consists of two springs secured to the
interior of the ferrule, the ends of which catch over the rear end of the lead holding
tube to lock the same and are removed therefrom by the weight which slides between
them on the tube. In another form of the invention the latches are provided with
separate springs for throwing them out against the sides of the ferrule, they being
moved inwardly by the fall of the weight as before described.
It will be seen that the invention is equally applicable to pencils in which the wood
of the case is to be cut away as the lead is consumed as represented in the drawing and
to those in which the lead is fed downwardly. In the latter case the weight actuated
catch is added to the mechanism for feeding the lead which may be of any suitable
or well known character such as that in which the feeding mechanism consists of a
worm, a lead holding tube and a carrier engaging with the worm so that when the
mechanism is turned the lead is fed downward.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In lead pencils and pencil holders the peculiar construction, arrangement and
combination of parts whereby when the pencil or pencil holder is held in position
for use the lead is projected from the end of the case and securely held for use
whilst by reversing the same the lead is retracted within the case substantially as
herein described.

page_text: 2. In lead pencils and pencil holders the combination of lead holding tube, latch
or latches, sliding weight and ferrule provided with recesses to act in combination
with the holding end or ends of the latch or latches substantially as berein described.
Dated December 7th 1889.
CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.