An Improved Pencil Sharpener.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pencil Sharpener.
I, AUGUST LACHENMEYER, Manufacturer, of Narrowsburgh, in the County of
Sullivan, State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The pencil-sharpeners heretofore in use were objectionable because the cutting-
knife became soon dulled for the reason that the wood which encloses the lead-core
is cut across the grain and that the same portion of the blade is always called into
action. Another objection is that a fine point cannot easily be imparted to the
pencil-point as usually when it is 'attempted to so sharpen the point the lead is
broken off.
The object of my invention is to supply a pencil-sharpener in which not only the
cutting-knife remains sharp for a considerable length of time but in which the knife
can be readily sharpened whenever required while provision is made to impart even
the finest point to the lead so that the sharpener can be used by draftsmen artists
and others whose business necessitates a fine point of the pencil.
My invention consists of a pencil-sharpener composed of a conical guide-socket
having a laterally-extending shoulder or bracket a cutting-blade pivoted to the said
bracket and adapted to be locked so as to project into a longitudinal recess of the
guide-socket or into line with the shoulder so that it can be used in the latter
At the underside
position like an ordinary knife for cutting off the surplus wood.
of the shoulder and sideways of the guide-socket are arranged two roughened
rollers by which the pencil-point can be sharpened to a fine point whenever required
said rollers being protected by a downwardly-bent flange which serves together
with the guide-socket as a holding-device for the sharpener when using the same
for trimming off the wood.
The invention consists further of certain details of construction which will be
fully described in the Specification and finally set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 represents a top view of my improved pencil-sharpener showing the same.
in position for use as a sharpener.
Fig 2 is a top-view of the same showing the cutting-knife turned on its pivot
into line with its supporting shoulder so as to be used as an ordinary knife for
chipping off the wood.
Fig. 3 is a bottom view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the same and,
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively an end-view and a transverse section of the
same on line 6 6 Fig. 4.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings A represents a conical guide socket for the pencil
point which socket is provided at its tapering end with a longitudinal recess a into
which the cutting-blade B that is supported at a slight inclination to the axis of
the guide socket A is extended.
The guide socket A is provided with a laterally extending shoulder or bracket b
to the rear end of which the cutting blade B is pivoted the pivot 6' being provided
with friction plates between the heads of the pivot and the blade and shoulder
respectively so that the blade B can be moved from a position sideways of the
guide socket A into position in line with the shoulder or bracket b as shown
respectively in Figs. 1 and 2.
The tang of the blade B is provided with shoulders d at its front and rear part
which shoulders abut against a stop d' that is rigidly attached to the pivot of the

page_text: blade C so that the cutting blade is arrested when moved in outwardly open
position or sideways of the guide socket A. In the lattor position it is locked by
ineans of a suitable catch e which is guided along a flanged plate E that is attached
to the underside of the shoulder or bracket b.
The shank of the catch c is guided by a pin e' in a slot of the plate E said slot
and pin defining motion of the catch and preventing it from getting detached.
Any other retaining device for locking the blade in position alongside of the
guide socket A can be used.
The cutting blade B is provided at its outer end with a groove for being engaged
"by the thumb nail in opening of the blade. Above the larger end of the guide
socket A is arranged a smaller conical guide socket a¹ having a longitudinal slit
"and a lateral recess a² as shown clearly in Fig. 1 which serves for the insertion of
the pencil point and the pointing of the same by turning it against the outer portion
of the blade B.
The flanged plate E is advantageously provided with bent up ends f which
support parallel rollers F that are provided with roughened surfaces so that the
pencil point can be sharpened to a very nice point on passing the same forth and
backward between the rollers as the same turn loosely in ther bearings they can be
readily shifted on their axis so as to expose new proportions of their surface to the
pencil points sharpened on the same.
The downwardly bent flange of the plate E extends over the sharpening rollers
which are thus snugly stored away between the guide socket A and the flange E so
that they do not come in contact with the fingers when holding the sharpener
during the operation of cutting off the wood and grinding off the point.
The guide socket A with its auxiliary socket a and the shoulder or bracket bis
advantageously made of cast metal such as type metal which is finished by nickel-
plating while the flanged plate that supports the sharpening rollers is advantageously
made of brass and nickel-plated the cutting knife being made of steel.
For sharpening a pencil the device is used as follows:-
The blade is first moved on its pivot in a position in a line with the supporting
bracket as shown in Fig. 2 and the surplus wood chipped off from the pencil in
the usual manner the same as with ordinary pocket-knives preferably however in
the direction away from the hand holding the pencil. When the surplus wood
is taken off the knife is returned into its position along the guide socket A as
shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 & 6 and the trimmed off point inserted into the same so
that a regular conical form is imparted to the same until the lead projects a
sufficient distance from the wood." The pencil is then removed from the main
guide socket and the lead either placed into the auxiliary socket and sharpened by
turning it in the same against the blade or when a very fine point is required the
lead point is sharpened by moving it to and fro on the roughened rollers at the
underside of the bracket. After use the trimmed off wood and the lead-dust is
removed from the sharpener by striking the device several times on the table or
against any obstacle-after which it is ready for the next sharpening operation.
By placing the cutting blade into line with the supporting shoulder and trimming
off the surplus wood in the manner of an ordinary blade the edge of the blade
is not only saved to some extent so that it can sharpen a greater number of
pencils but it has also the advantage that the cutting blade can be readily and
conveniently sharpened on the grindstone whenever it has become dull so that
the pencil sharpener will last as long as the blade can be used.
In connection with the devices for giving a fine point to the lead a pencil-
sharpener of superior quality and durability is thus supplied and thereby the
well-founded objections to the sharpeners heretofore in use is effectively overcome.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a.guide socket having a longitudinal slit in its tapering

page_text: point and a laterally extending shoulder or bracket of a sharpening blade pivoted
to said bracket and adapted to be locked alongside of the slit of the guide socket
or in line with the bracket and a flanged plate attached to the bracket substan-
tially as set forth.
2. The combination, with a guide socket having a longitudinal slit in its conical
end and a laterally extending shoulder or bracket of a blade pivoted to the outer
end of the bracket a locking device for retaining it alongside of the said guide
socket and a flanged plate attached to said bracket, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with a guide socket having a longitudinal slit in its conical
end and a laterally extending shoulder or bracket of a cutting blade pivoted to the
outer end of said bracket, said cutting blade having shoulders at its tang and a
fixed stop for the blade so as to arrest the same when it is in position alongside of
the guide socket or in line with the bracket, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with a guide socket having a longitudinal slit in its conical
end and a laterally extending shoulder or bracket, a cutting blade applied to said
bracket, a flanged plate attached to the underside of the bracket and parallel
roughened rollers supported in bearings of said plate between the guide socket and
the flange of the plate substantially as set forth.
Dated this 90th dow of March 1892
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.