IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL OR LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS
Year: 1879

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 OR LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS." A communication from abroad
by Joseph Reckendorfer, of the City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America.
Sealed the 12th March 1880, and dated the 16th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th December 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL OR LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS." A
communication from abroad by Joseph Reckendorfer, of the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to pencil or lead and crayon holders in which jaws for
grasping the lead or crayon are combined with a tubular sheath or handle, a central
lead containing tube, and means for causing the jaws to open or close in order to
release or grasp the lead.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to employ hinged or pivotted jaws
which normally stand apart, and are operated to shut together to grasp the lead of
a longitudinally movable jaw closing device
The jaws are pivotted to a metal tube affixed to the front end of the handle and
are prolonged to the rear of their pivots, their prolonged metallic ends forming
springs curved and shaped to bear at their rear ends against the inner surface of
the metal tube and to hold the jaws normally spread apart or open. In order to
close the jaws a longitudinally sliding conical wedge is employed, the contracted
front end of which fits around the lead holding tube. This cone is connected to a
sliding ferrule or sleeve mounted on the exterior of the metal tube by pins which
pass through longitudinal slots. By means of this sleeve the inner cone can be
moved back and forth; when it is moved forward it will enter between and spread
apart the bent spring ends and so cause the jaws to close on the lead. A contrary
movement of the cone will permit the jaws to again open.
In lieu of connecting the cone to a sleeve on the exterior of the metal tube it may
be connected rigidly to the front projecting end of the lead holding tube, and this
tube may be made longitudinally moveable with respect to that part of the handle
which carries the jaws. In this case the handle is made in two sections, the front
rei 071

page_text: one of which carries the metal tube to which the jaws are pivotted, whilst to the
rear section is firmly attached the lead holding tube which passes loosely through
the front section. The two sections can be moved to and from one another, & sleeve
attached to one of the sections being used to cover the joint between them. If the
rear section be pushed forward the cone carried by the tube will enter between the
ends and close the jaws as boreinbofore described. If the said section be drawn
back the cone will be moved back to a sufficient distance to permit the jaws to open
and relax their hold on the lead.
It is found convenient and preferable on some accounts to provide the holder
with a metallic covering sleeve which is fixed to the handle outside of the jaw
supporting tube, and is provided with a contracted front end which extends out
beyond or in front of the jaws and forms a nozzle from which the lead will project.
In the holders herein before described the hinged jaws are arranged to be normally
open, they may however be equally as well arranged to be normally closed according
to the following modification.
The lead containing tube is attached to the handle with its front end projecting
in advance thereof and is surrounded by a metal sleeve or tube fixed to the handle
and having pins in its contracted front end. These pins enter holes in the jaws,
the latter being held between the contracted front end of the sleeve and the front
end of the lead containing tube which extends forward nearly up to the pins. The
jaws are prolonged in rear of the points where they engage the pins, these prolonged
ends forming arms which are bowed to form springs (being made of spring metal),
and bear at their rear ends on the central tube and by their pressure thereon
cause the jaws to close together. The bowed parts of the springs project through
slots in the sleeve in a position to be operated on by hand. In order to open
the jaws the springs are pressed together, thoir rear ends sliding on the tube; the
result of this movement will be to cause the jaws at their outer ends to separate, and
thus release their grasp on the lead. It is not essential that the arms themselves
should constitute springs, as they may rest on and be acted on by springs which
will tend to cause them to move apart. Furthermore, the arms need not project
through the outer sleeve but may be acted on against the stress of the jaw closing
springs by a compressing device, such as a movable sleeve adapted to slide on and
press them together, and operated to so move by a sliding ring or ferrule on the
exterior of the sheath with which it may be connected.
The sectional handle herein before described may be used with other forms of
holding devices, for example, the rear section may carry the lead containing tube
terminating at its front end in clamping jaws, and the front section may carry the
tapering sleeve which acts on the jaws to close them, a spring interposed between
the sections serving to push them apart and cause the sleeve to close the jaws; or
in lieu of this arrangement the sleeves may be attached to the lead containing tube
by pins which pass through longitudinal slots in the front section of the bandle
In this case the jaws must be separate from the lead containing tube and are
attached to the front section. A spring can be used to push back the rear section
thus drawing the sleeve in the direction requisite to cause it to act on and close
the jawa
The covering nozzle or sleeve previously described may also be used with other
forms of holder.
According to a further modification the front end of the sheath is formed with
a double cam or incline, and in the sleeve at a suitable point is provided a corres-
ponding double cam or incline, the sleeve being moreover formed with a contracted
front end to act upon the inclined or swelling part of the said jaws. By a slight
rotary movement of the sleeve it is caused to move forward to close the jaws. A
reverse movement will cause it to retire and release them. The sleeve is prevented
from advancing to an undue extent by a washer fixed on the tube in advance of
the internal flange.

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 15th
June 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. " IMPROVEMENTS IN PENCIL OR LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS." A
communication from abroad by Joseph Reckendoofer, of the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America.
The said Invention relates to pencil or lead and crayon holders in which jaws
for grasping the lead or crayon are combined with a tubular sheath or handle, a
central lead containing tube, and means for causing the jaws to open or close in
order to release or grasp the lead.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3. Sheet 1, of the accompanying 2 Sheets of Drawings, are
shown hinged or pivoted jaws which normally stand apart, and are operated to
shut together to grasp the lead by a longitudinally movable jaw closing device.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of the holder with the jaws open.
Figure 2 is a like section of the same with the jaws closed; Figure 3 is a per-
spective view of the same
In these Figures A is the tubular sheath or handle, and B the lead holding tube
in the said handle. To the front end of the handle is affixed a metal tube C to
which are pivoted at a the jaws D. These jaws are prolonged to the rear of their
pivots a, their prolonged metallic ends forming springs b curved and shaped as
shown to bear at their rear ends against the inner surface of the metal tube C, and
to hold the jaws normally spread apart or open, as shewn in Figure 1. In order
to close the jaws a longitudinally sliding conical wedge c is employed, the con-
tracted front end of which fits around the lead holding tube B. This cone is con-
nected to a sliding ferrule or sleeve d mounted on the exterior of the metal tube C
by pins e, which pass through longitudinal slots fin the tube C. By means of this
sleeve d the inner cone can be moved backwards and forwards; when it is moved
forwards it will enter between and spread apart the bent spring ends b, and so
cause the jaws to close on the lead g, as indicated in Figure 2. A contrary move-
ment of the cone will permit the jaws to again open.
In lieu of connecting the cone to a sleeve on the exterior of the tube C, may
be connected rigidly to the front projecting end of the lead bolding tube B, and
this tube may be made longitudinally movable with respect to that part of the
handle which carries the jaws.
This arrangement is shown in Figure 4, Sheet 1, which is a longitudinal central
section of a holder containing this modification.
In this Figure the cone c is fixed to the front end of the lead tube B. The
handle A is made in two sections, y; The front section carries the metal tube C,
to which the jaws D are pivoted; to the rear section y is firmly attached the lead
holding tube B, which passes loosely through the front section . The two sections
can be moved to and from one another, a sleeve h attached to one of the sections
being used to cover the joint between them. If the rear section be pushed forward
the cone carried by the tube B will enter between the ends b, and close the jaws
as herein before described. If the said section be drawn back the cone will be
moved back to a sufficient distance to permit the jaws to open and relax their hold
on the lead.
It is found convenient and preferable on some accounts to provide the holder
with a metallic covering sleeve E, which is fixed to the handle outside of the jaw
supporting tube C, and is provided with a contracted front end i, which extends
out beyond or in front of the jaws, and forms a nozzle from which the lead
g
project.
will

page_text: In the holders shown in the preceding figures the muged Jaws are arranged to
be normally open.
They may however be equally as well arranged to be normally closed.
Such an arrangement is shewn in Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 1.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal central section and,
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a holder with the said arrangement of hinged
jaws.
In these Figures A is the handle; B, the lead containing tube attached to the
said handle with its front end projecting in advance of the handle, and surrounded
by a metal sleeve or tube C fixed to the handle, and having pins a in its contracted
front eud. These jaws a enter holes in the jaws D, the latter being held between
the contracted front end of the sleeve C and the front end of the tube B, which
extends forward nearly up to the pins a. The jaws are prolonged in rear of the
points where they engage the pins a, these prolonged ends forming arms b which
are bowed as shewn to form springs, being made of spring metal, and bear at their
rear ends on the central tube C, and by their pressure thereon cause the jaws to
close together. The bowed parts of the springs project through slots c in the
sleeve C as shewn in position to be operated on by hand.
In order to open the jaws the springs are pressed together, their rear ends
sliding on the tubes C, the result of this movement will be to cause the jaws at
their outer ends to separate, and thus release the grasp on the lead.
It is not essential that the arms b themselves should constitute springs, as they
may rest on and be acted on by springs, which will tend to cause them to move
apart. Furthermore the arms b need not project through the outer sleeve, but may
be acted on against the stress of the jaw closing springs by a compressing device,
such for example as a movable sleeve adapted to slide on and press them together,
and operated to so move by a sliding ring or ferrule on the exterior of the
sheath with which it may be connected.
The sectional handle x, y, shewn in Figure 4, can be used with other forms of
holding devices as shewn, for example, in Figure 7, Sheet 2, in which the rear section
carries the lead containing tube B, terminating at its front end in clamping jaws,
and the front section causes the tapering sleeve C which acts on the jaws to close
them; a spring i interposed between the sections serving to push them apart, and
cause the sleeve to close the jaws; or in lieu of this arrangement the sleove may be
attached to the lead containing tube, as shewn in Figure 8, Sheet 2, in which the
sleeve C is attached to the lead containing tube B by pins k, which pass through
longitudinal slots i in the front section of the handle. In this case the jaws
must be separate from the lead containing tube, and are attached to the front
section. A spring i may be used to push back the rear section, thus drawing the
sleeve in the direction requisite to cause it to act on and close the jaws. It should
be observed also that the covering nozzle or sleeve shown in Figure 4 may be used
with other forms of holder than the one represented in the said Figure.
In Figures 9 and 10, Sheet 2, is represented another form of holder.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal central section of the holder.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the same with the movable jaw closing sleeve
removed.
A is the sheet, and B is the lead containing tube terminating at its front end in
the jaws.
Upon the front end of the sheet is a double cam or incline m, and in the sleeve C
at a suitable point is provided a corresponding double cam or inclinen; by a slight
rotary motion of the sleeve it is caused to move forward to close the jaws. A
reverse movement will cause it to retire and release them. The sleeve is prevented
from advancing to an undue extent by a washer o fixed on the tube in advance of
the internal flange.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, 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,

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination with the tubular sheath or handle and the central lead
containing tube of central or pivoted lead grasping jaws and mechanism operated
from the exterior of the handle to cause the said jaws to open or close, as the case
may be, against the stress of a reacting spring, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Secondly. In combination with the lead containing tube, the lead holding jaws
and the device for operating on the said jaws, the sectional or divided handle
composed of two sections x, y, by whose longitudinal movement with respect to one
another the jaw operating device is caused to act on the said jaws, substantially as
herein before described.
Thirdly. The combination with the tubular handle or sheath, the central lead
containing tube, the jaws and jaw operating device of the covering sleeve provided
with a contracted front, and which extends in advance of the jaws, and forms a
nozzle from which the lead held by the jaws projects, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Fourthly. The receiving sheath or handle having a central tube or bore, and lead
holding jaws, and formed or provided with a cam on its front end, in combination
with the rotary clamping sleeve provided with an internal flange or projection to
meet the said cam, and with a contracted front end to act upon the inclined or
swelling part of the said jaws, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifi-
cation set iny hand and seal, the Twelfth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (LS.)