Year: 1886

page_text: I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by the Eagle Pencil Company of the City and State
of New York 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 lead and crayon holder in which a
lead containing sheath or case and lead holding and releasing mechanism are
combined with a "stop-guage" arranged and operating to permit the lead when
released and loose in the case, to drop or protrude from the latter only so far as
required to permit it to be conveniently used for writing or marking purposes. In
holders of this character, and particularly in those designed for lead of small
diameter, it is desirable to provide some means other than mere grasping-jaws-
like those for instance of the ordinary "Automatic" pencil-for the purpose of
holding the lead in place when it is protruded; the jaws themselves will sometimes
let the lead slip back when its point is pressed on, and if they grasp the lead
tightly enough to prevent this, they are apt to bite into and injure the lead,
particularly if it be of a soft kind such for example as ink-lead or copying-lead.
To this end the present invention consists in providing the holder with a device
-termed for convenience sake a "back-stop" which is arranged to follow up the
lead when the latter is protruded and is then locked or held fast in position to form
a stop to arrest backward movement of the lead it being thus held until released
by the action of the same mechanism which releases the lead. When a device of
this character is used, the grasping jaws of the holder need not bite the lead, but
can press upon it only to the extent needed to steady it and to prevent it from
dropping out of the sheath-its rearward movement being effectually prevented
by the "back-stop."
The feature just named is one which renders the back-stop available and useful
also in a lead and crayon holder of the type ordinarily known as the "Automatic” •
unprovided with stop-gauge mechanisın.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, partly in elevation of a holder
emboding this invention shewing the lead and back stop in the retracted position,

page_text: Figure 2 is a like view with the parts in the position they occupy when the
lead has dropped to the extent permitted by the stop-guage.
Figure 3 is a like view with the parts in the position they assume when the
lead is protruded and held fast in that position.
Figure 4 is a view of the guide tube and receiver detached.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section of the guide tube and back stop
contained therein.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal central section of a pencil of the ordinary automatic
type provided with this invention.
【་
"
The holder is composed of a sheath or handle A provided as usual with a
contracted tip or front end a; a longitudinally slotted tube or "receiver" B; and
a longitudinally slotted "guide-tube" C within the "receiver." The "receiver "
at its rear end is connected to the pressure cap D and between the pressure cap
(which works in a sleeve b on the rear of the handle) and a shoulder within said
sleeve, is confined the retracting spring d. The "receiver" is capable of longi-
tudinal movement; it is moved forward by pressing on the pressure cap against
the stress of the retracting spring, and when the pressure is removed, it is moved
backward by the recoil of the compressed spring d. The guide tube and receiver
are connected by a pin g which passes through the tube out through slots in the
receiver and its ends are seated in the handle, thus holding the guide tube
stationary with the handle. The extent of longitudinal movement of the
"receiver" is limited by the length of the slots h, and the latter at their rear
ends are inclined as shown so as to impart a movement of partial rotation of the
"receiver" when said inclined portions of the slots are travelling over the pin.)
One of the longitudinal edges of the slot in either the receiver or the guide tube is
toothed. In this instance it is the edge of the slot in the guide tube that is
toothed or notched as seen at c. Normally the receiver is so located with respect
to the guide tube, that a tooth or dog projecting through the two slots will be
forced by the receiver into engagement with the notched edge of the slot in the
guide tube.
When however the receiver in its forward movement is by reason
of the pin and inclined slot connection, caused to make a partial movement of
rotation its slot will be brought into register with the slot in the guide tube, thus
permitting the dog or tooth to quit the toothed edge of the said guide tube.
The tooth or dog referred to is shown at i and it is on a cylindrical piece of
metal E which may be termed the "back-stop."
The "receiver" and the "guide-tube" in Figures 1-5 inclusive, resemble the
holder described in the specification of letters patent number 8226. of July 7, 1885
so far as concerns their front ends-the "receiver" terminating in the stop gauge
jaws G and the guide tube terminating in a collapsible nozzle F consisting of a
sheet metal tube, split on both sides so as to form light spring jaws which normally
stand apart far enough to exercise no appreciable pressure on the lead. The stop-
gauge jaws G attached to and moving with the receiver on the other hand are
normally closed.
"
"
In each jaw are formed two slots m separated by a bridge or contracted
portion n; and on each half of the split nozzle F is a rib or protuberance o.
These parts operate together as a stop gauge in precisely the same manner as
do the corresponding parts of the holder in the arrangement described in the
Specification of the letters patent above named,
The lead contained in the guide tube is indicated at x.
This being the organisation of the parts the mode of operation is as follows.
Suppose the pencil to be in the condition represented in figure 1 and it is
tlesired to protrude the lead for use.
The pencil is held point downward and the pressure cap is pushed forward thus
advancing the jaws G to the position indicated in figure 2. In this position the
projections o are brought into the rear openings or slots m the split nozzle F
consequently is open for the passage of the lead, the jaws G projects some distance
J

page_text: beyond the split nozzle and are closed so that the lead in dropping brings up
against them. At the same time by reason of the action of the pin g in the inclined
portion of the slots h the "receiver" has been partially rotated so as to bring its
slot and that of the guide tube far enough into coincidence to open an
obstructed passage to the dog or tooth i of the back stop E and the latter'
consequently has dropped until its front end meets and rests against the rear ends
of the lead as seen in figure 2.
un-
Pressure is now removed from the pressure cap and the retracting spring draws
back the jaws to normal position The pin and inclined slot connection between
the receiver and the guide tube causes the former upon the commencement of its
rearward movement to rotate in a direction to force the dog or tooth i into
engagement with the notched or toothed edge of the guide tube, thus locking the
back stop E in its advance position-During the backward movement of the parts
the ribs or projections o first meet the bridges or contracted parts n and then enter
the front slots or openings m the effect being first to cause the split nozzle to close.
upon and clamp the lead while the jaws open and move back to place, and then to
permit the jaws to close upon and the collapsible nozzle to release, the lead, the
parts assuming then the position shown in figure 3 with the lead clamped at its
front end by jaws G and resting at its rear end against the back stop E-The
latter is locked in place and effectually prevents the lead from being forced back
by pressure upon its point.
In this way it will be noted that it is only necessary that the jaws or other
clamping mechanism employed need surround the front end of the lead close
enough simply to steady it and to prevent it from droping out of the pencil;
positive grasping action on the part of the jaws is not essential the back stop
serving to prevent the lead from being pushed back while in use.
This is a feature which as hereinbefore intimated will be found valuable in its
application to automatic holders of other than the stop gauge type as exemplified
in figure 6.
In the figure referred to the letters of reference indicate parts corresponding in
construction and arrangement to like lettered parts in the figures already described
In fact the only difference between the pencil illustrated in figure 6 and that
illustrated in figures 1 to 5 inclusive is, that in that shown in figure 6 the stop
gauge mechanism is dispensed with and the "receiver" terminates at its front end
in simple clamping jaws G¹ which need only press laterally against the lead
without biting it-the lead being prevented from backward movement by the back
stop.
In the particular construction shown in the drawing the edge of the slot in the
guide tube is toothed or serrated-It is manifest however that instead of this, these
notches can be in one of the edges of the slot in the receiver.
It is also manifest that in the structure shown in figure 6, it is immaterial
whether the "receiver" be longitudinally movable and the "guide tube" stationary
as there illustrated, or whether the "guide tube" be longitudinally movable and
the "receiver" be stationary. The jaws G¹ however must be attached to and move
with the longitudinally moveable part whether it be "receiver" or "guide tube."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination with the spring controlled lead clamping and releasing
mechanism of a lead and crayon holder, of a "back stop" arranged and operating
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore setforth.
Second. The combination with the sheath or handle, the stop gauge mechanism,
and the spring controlled lead clamping and releasing mechanism of a lead and
crayon holder, of a "back stop" arranged and operating substantially as and for
the purposes herein before setforth.

page_text: Third. The combination of the sheath or handle, the guide tube, the receiver
connected therewith by a pin and inclined slot connection, the toothed back stop,
the stop gauge jaws carried by the receiver, the collapsible or spilt nozzle carried
by the guide tube, the pressure cap and the retracting spring these parts being
connected and arranged together for joint operation substantially as hereinbefore
set forth...