IMPROVE- MENTS IN ATTACHMENTS FOR SHARPENING "SOLID INK PENCILS OR PENCILS OF AN ANALOGOUS CLASS AND IN THE ACTUATING OF THE LEADS THEREOF, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY WOOD PENCILS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Darling at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 8th September 1883.
35
JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain,-" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ATTACHMENTS FOR SHARPENING "SOLID INK PENCILS OR PENCILS OF AN
ANALOGOUS CLASS AND IN THE ACTUATING OF THE LEADS THEREOF, PART OF THE
IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY WOOD PENCILS,"
This invention relates to improvements in attachments for sharpening the leads
of "solid ink" pencils or pencils of an analogous class and in the actuating of the
leads thereof, parts of the said improvements being also applicable to ordinary wood
pencils.
With reference to pencils of the "solid ink" class, the Invention consists in
providing the cylindrical end of the holder of such pencils with an open ended cap
or short tube capable of being slid upon the said cylindrical part and also of being
rotated thereon by pressure of the thumb and finger,-At the one extremity of the
said cap an elastic knife or cutter is formed thereon and protrudes therefrom, or
the said knife or cutter may be acted upon elastically by means of a spring or
equivalent thereof so that when the cap is upon the end of the pencil and the said
cap is slidden outwards therefrom the spring of the knife or cutter causes the said
cutter to bear upon the point of the "solid ink or lead and rotated by means of
the thumb and finger the sharp edge of the knife or cutter acts upon the "solid
ink" or lead and sharpens the same.-The attachment may either be kept
permanently upon the end of the pencil through which the solid ink" or lead
protrudes or the attachment may be made removable therefrom and kept separate
from the pencil or it may be placed upon or within the upper end of the pencil
casing from which it is or may be removed to the writing end of the pencil when
it is required to sharpen the solid ink or lead therein.
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و"
"
In this latter arrangement I prefer to employ three or other convenient number
of elastic or spring cutters which are so mounted within the cap at the one
extremity thereof that the three points of the said blades are brought to a central
position within the cap so that when the cap is removed from the top of the pencil
and applied to the "solid ink or lead at the bottom thereof the lead is sharpened
as it tends to pass through the meeting points of the blades.-This removable cap
may be closed at its top.-An aperture being provided in the side thereof for the
escape of the lead parings-The blades may be encased within a separate cap or
top portion fitting upon and within the tube and capable of turning therein and the
1.
3

page_text: corresponding holes for the escape of the parings may thus be closed when the
attachment is on the top of the pencil and not in use.
"
It is to be understood that this attachment applies to all pencils in which the
drawing or writing substance that is to say, a solid ink
or lead is carried
independently of an encasement of wood or equivalent material.
My further improvements in the sharpening of the leads has reference to
improvements or additions to the cutters as described in the Specification filed in
pursuance of Letters Patent No. 1126, A.D. 1881, granted to me the said John
Darling, and the improvements consist in effecting the alteration in the angle of
the blade or cutter with respect to the lead of the pencil applied thereto so that the
lead of ordinary wood pencils, to which the herein before Patent refers but which
with regard to my present improvements is also applicable to the leads of "solid
ink or analogous pencils, is cut to a point.
"
The improvements consist in providing the tube containing the cutter which is
applied to the cylindrical end of the lead holder with a moveable cap fitting within
the top of the tube.-The two ends of the said cap being closed with the exception
of a hole through the bottom of the said cap and formed eccentrically therewith so
that the said hole is passed over a projection upon the one end of the cutter.-Upon
imparting a slight motion of partial rotation to the cap of the tube a slight angular
movement is given to the blade within the body of the tube sufficient to act upon
the lead and without acting upon the wood of the pencil when the attachment is
applied to wood pencils.
With reference to my improvements in actuating the leads of "solid ink" pencils
or pencils of an analogous class the improvements relate to a method of giving out
or drawing in the lead within the casing.-Within the body of the pencil is placed
an india-rubber tube preferably of a diameter to easily fit the interior of the
casing or holder. The tube being screwed both at the top and bottom of the
casing. I prefer to attach the length of lead to a holder or small split tube, the
one end of the said tube or holder being preferably provided with a ball or
enlargement. The lead with this attachment is then placed within the india-rubber
tube so that the said ball or enlargement is in proximity with the end of the tube,
that is to say in a position at the top of the pencil case.-At the bottom of the
outer cylindrical casing and at two opposite sides thereof there are provided
openings in the said outer casing sufficient to grasp the india-rubber tube between
the finger and thumb. When for instance it is desired to protrude a portion of
the lead, the india-rubber tube is pressed forward towards the point of the pencil,
the lead being within the tube which is so grasped and which is thus by this said
movement of the fingers moved forward and out from the end of the pencil, the
ordinary spring gripper at the point of the pencil being sufficient to retain the lead
in the position which it is now brought to when the tube is released, the portion
of the tube which has been stretched out, returning to its normal condition. When
it is desired to draw in a portion of the lead the india-rubber tube is operated in a
similar manner but in the reverse direction.-The apertures in the outer casing
may be covered by sliding strips or finger portions of metal or other material the
movements of the said pieces being regulated by a pin and slot or other equivalent
means. The ball or enlargement herein before inentioned has the effect of holding
the lead in position within the pencil in the same way as the ordinary spring top
but by the employment of the said ball or enlargement the lead is held in position
without the necessity of the said top of the pencil gripping the lead with such
severity as to weaken the lead and cause it to snap as is the cause with pencils at
present in use. In lieu of a tube of India rubber as hereinbefore described a spiral
spring or the equivalent thereof may be employed.