IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS," which Invention has been communicated to me
from abroad by The Eagle Pencil Company of New York in the 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 has reference to that kind of pencil or lead and crayon holder
which, has a lead-containing sheath combined with a spring-controlled lead grasping
or clamping device and means by which said device may be caused' or permitted to
release its hold upon the lead-And it relates more particularly to a holder of this
character which is provided with means termed for convenience sake. a "stop
gauge" for limiting the extent to which the lead when released can drop or
protrude from the pencil-The Invention is mainly characterized by the com-
bination of a split or collapsible nozzle from which the lead may protrude with stop
gauge-jaws longitudinally movable with reference to said nozzle which operate
according to the direction of their movement to cause the nozzle to clamp or release
the protruded lead-the arrangement being such that when the stop-gauge jaws
are pushed forward to the required extent the nozzle shall open to permit the loose
lead to drop as far as permitted by the jaws, and that when the said jaws are
moving back with reference to the nozzle the latter shall thereby be closed to hold
the lead protruded while the jaws are returning to normal position, in which
position they then act, either mediately or immediately to clamp the protruded lead
in position for use-The extent to which the lead protrudes is determined by the
joint action of the jaws and the split or collapsible nozzle the clamping of the
protruded lead in position for use is effected by the jaws which close upon it either
directly or indirectly that is to say through the intermediary of the collapsible
nozzle.
•
The latter arrangement is represented in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of the holder with the parts in the
position which they occupy when the lead is not proiected.

page_text: Figure 2 is a like section with the parts in the position which they assume when
the stop-gauge has been pushed forward the proper distance and the lead has
dropped so as to protrude from the nozzle as far as permitted by the stop-gauge.
Figure 3 is a like section with the parts in the position they assume after the
stop-gauge has withdrawn, leaving the lead protruding and clamped in place.
5
A, is the sheath or handle: B is the pressure cap: C is the retracting spring:
D are the jaws which in this case constitute the stop-gauge attached to and moving
with the pressure cap, the attachment being effected in the present instance by
a stem or tube D¹-The retracting spring is contained in a short metallic sleeve or
lining E fixed within the upper portion of the sheath and is confined between 1
the pressure cap and an annular internal shoulder a in the lining E-The organi-
zation thus far does not differ materially from the well known "Automatic" pencil
save that the stop-guage jaws which have a spring action, normally tend to close
together instead of to expand as in the ordinary "Automatic" pencil and are
otherwise constructed as will be presently described in order to fit them for the 1
stop-gauge use for which they are intended.
Within the stop-gauge jaws is a lead containing tube or receptacle F at the front
end of which is a split or collapsible nozzle upon which the jaws normally close, and
with reference to which they are longitudinally movable; for which purpose the
said tube F is in the present instance attached to the sheath A. or the metal lining E
thereof by a pin b which extends through said lining and inner tube and passes
through longitudinal slots c in the intermediate jaw-supporting stem or tube D¹-
The receptacle F and its collapsible nozzle are in one in the present instance
consisting of a split sheet metal tube whose front end normally projects somewhat
beyond the stop-gauge jaws as indicated in Figure 1 the parts of this split end
when relieved from the closing pressure of the jaws spread apart far enough to
permit the lead to pass freely, and the extreme outer ends of these parts are slightly
bent inward as indicated so that they will bite or hold firmly the lead when closed
upon the same.
The extent of the longitudinal movement of the stop-gauge jaws with reference
to the collapsible nozzle or tube is such that when moved forward to their full
extent they will project a distance beyond the nozzle about equal to the length of
lead which should protrude from said nozzle.
When the stop-gauge jaws are pushed forward beyond the lead holding nozzle
they close together or towards one another to such an extent that the lead when it
drops cannot pass them and at the time they are pushed forward to the full extent
required their pressure is entirely removed from the nozzle which can thus expand
as seen in Figure 2-the jaws or their stems being for this purpose outwardly bent
or recessed or equivalently formed at the points d to permit this expanding to take
place.
If under these conditions the pencil be turned point downwards the loose lead x
contained in the tube or receptacle F will drop until its protruding end brings up
against the stop gauge jaws as indicated in the figure last referred to-In this
position the lead protrudes the proper distance from the nozzle-If now the pressure
of the hand on the pressure cap be removed, the retracting spring draws back the
jaws The instant however they move back with reference to the nozzle their
contracted portions just in front of the recesses d bear upon the collapsible or split
nozzle and cause it to close upon the lead, thus preventing the latter from being
carried back by the jaws while by the same action the jaws are opened far enough
to pass by the lead Thus the jaws move back to normal position upon the nozzle
and clamp it firmly upon the lead, being assisted in this operation by the contracted
front end A¹ of the sheath into which they are drawn by the force of the retracting
spring By being thus drawn into the part A¹ the jaws are positively closed upon
the nozzle or tube which is thus caused to hold the lead with entire firmness.
In figures 4 to 7 inclusive is represented a modified_ arrangement in which the
lead is grasped directly by the jaws-The parts in these figures lettered A, B, C, D
D, E, F, a b and c, are similar in construction and arrangement to like lettered

page_text: parts already described by reference to Figure 1 to 3 save that in the arrangement
about to be described the collapsible or split nozzle does not normally extend
beyond the jaws D, and the latter close directly upon the protruded lead.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the holder with a portion of the tubular jaw
carrying stem and enclosing sheath or handle broken away-In this figure the
parts are in the position which they occupy when the lead is retracted and lies
loose in the tube or receiver that contains it.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal central section with the parts in the position they
assume when the stop-gauge jaws are projected to their full extent, with the point
of the pencil held downwards.
Figure 6 is a like section with the parts in the position they assume when the
protruding lead is clamped by the jaws in position for use.
Figure 7 is a view of the front portion of the split or collapsible nozzle in the
position it assumes when the jaws in their backward movement, have brought the
narrow or contracted portion of the slots which separate them to bear upon
the wings of said nozzle-the jaws and other adjacent parts of the holder being
represented in dotted lines.
The jaws D are separated by slots d' and each of these slots is formed as shown
with two enlarged portions e e¹ and an intermediate narrow contracted portion f
Each part of the split nozzle F is provided on each side with a laterally projecting
wing or fin g-the two fins or wings on each side projecting into the adjoining.
slot d', between the jaws D-the arrangement being such that when the wings are
in either enlarged portion e or e¹ the split nozzle will be permitted to expand to
allow the lead to pass through freely, but when they are in the intermediate
contracted portion f they will be brought together sufficiently to cause the split
nozzle to contract and close upon the lead.
The arrangement of the parts is such that when the stop-gauge jaws D are at
either extreme of their movement, that is to say, in either the position shown in
Figures 4 and 6 or that shown in Figure 5-the wings will be in either the
enlarged portion e or e' of the slots as the case may be.
Such being the organization of the parts the mode of operation is as follows.
Suppose the pencil to be in the condition represented in Figure 4 and it be
desired to protrude the lead for use-The pencil is held point downwards and the
pressure cap B is depressed pushing forward the jaws D to the position indicated
in Figure 5-In this position the wings g are brought into the rear enlarged
portion e¹ of the slots d¹ the split nozzle F consequently is open for the passage of
the lead and the jaws D project some distance.beyond the split nozzle and are
closed so that the lead in dropping brings up against them as seen in the Figure,
last referred to.
Pressure is now removed from the pressure cap and the retracting spring C.
draws back the jaws D to normal position-During this backward movement
the wings gare first brought into the intermediate contracted portion f of the
slots d¹ and then finally enter the enlarged front portion e of the same-The
contracted portion f of the slots is somewhat narrower in width than the space
occupied by the two wings g on each side when, the split nozzle closes upon the
lead consequently so long as the wings are in this portion f, the split nozzle as
indicated in Figure 7 will be closed upon the lead firmly and at the same time the
jaws D will be separated or spread apart by the wings far enough to permit said
jaws to clear the lead and to pass back a distance sufficient to allow the point of
the lead to project the proper distance beyond them-As soon as the wings clear
the contracted portion f of the slots and enter the enlarged portion e thereof the
jaws D at once close upon the lead and hold it firmly as seen in figure 6.
It will be noted that under this arrangement the length of the contracted
portion of the slots d¹ virtually determines the extent to which the lead shall
protrude-It will also be noted that the wings and jaws mutually act upon one
another while the wings are passing through the contracted portion f of the slots-
the jaws to clamp the split nozzle upon the lead and the wings to spread apart the

page_text: .
jaws far enough to permit them to move back the requisite distance without taking
hold of the lead.
A modification of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 4-7 is illustrated in
Figures 8 and 9.
Figure 8 is a side elevation partly in section of the front end of the holder.
Figure 9 is a section on line 6-6 Figure 8.
In this modification the wings g are dispensed with and in lieu thereof there is
formed on each of the parts of split nozzle a protuberance h' and at proper points
on each jaw D are formed two openings or enlargements i i. These two openings
correspond with and have the same function as the end enlargements e e¹ and the
imperforate part of the jaws intervening between each pair of openings i
corresponds with, and has the same function as, the intermediate or contracted
portion falready described.
The operation of the parts in this modification will be readily understood in view
of the explanation herein before given of the mode of operation of the device.
At either extreme of the lougitudinal movement of the jaws the projections h, h
will enter one or the other of the end enlargements i i¹ and thus permit the nozzle
to expand-But so long as the projections are opposite the parts, j the nozzle will
be contracted.
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
1st The combination of the sheath or handle the collapsible or split nozzle the
stop-gauge jaws longitudinally movable with reference to said nozzle arranged and
operating both to limit the extent to which the lead can protrude and to cause the
nozzle to clamp and release the lead the pressure cap and the retracting spring
substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2nd The combination with the sheath or handle, the split or collapsible nozzle,
the longitudinally movable stop-gauge jaws recessed to permit the expansion of
said nozzle the pressure cap and the retracting spring substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd The sheath or handle, the pressure cap and the retracting spring, in
combination with the longitudinally movable stop guage jaws having openings or
enlargements and an intermediate contracted or narrowed portion and the split or
collapsible nozzle provided with projections adapted to enter said openings and to
operate in connection with said jaws substantially as described with reference to
Figures 4 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
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T 1
BOOK