IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Weil, of 28, Basinghall Street, in the City of
London, Administrator of Joseph Illfelder, of Fürth, Bavaria, in the Empire
of Germany, and of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer, deceased, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD AND CRAYON
HOLDERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Illfelder at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1880.
JOSEPH ILLFELDER, of Fürth, Bavaria, in the Empire of Germany, and of Queen
Victoria Street, in the City of London, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD
AND CRAYON HOLDERS."
tr
In lead and crayon holders which are made with a tube or sleeve to screw over
and clamp or compress the inner jaws it is often found that the lead or crayon does
not exactly fit the bore of the tube and the inner jaws. Another inconvenience
experienced with holders of this construction is that the tube is frequently lost.
Now I construct lead and crayon holders with the inner jaws of conical or tapered
form, so that leads or crayons of various sizes may pass through and be held
therein. The lead or crayon is contained in a longitudinal containing tube or
channel in the case or body of the holder, and the jaws are acted upon by the tube
or sleeve, which is moved longitudinally by means of wires connected with a spring.
In the normal position the spring keeps the tube or sleeve pressed back in the
direction away from the point of the pencil, and in this position it automatically
clamps or compresses the jaws, but by pressing upon the head or cap of the holder
the tube or sleeve is moved longitudinally towards the point, so that it no longer
clamps the jaws, and the lead is therefore free to pass through them to the extent
required. As soon as the pressure is removed the spring returns the tube or sleeve
to its normal position, so that it again clamps the jaws.
I also construct lead and crayon holders with an enlarged lead containing tube
or channel so as to hold a number of leads, say 5, more or less, which leads when
the head or cap of the holder is pressed to unclamp the jaws, as above explained,
will move in succession into and through the jaws, in which they are successively
clamped by the tube or sleeve when the pressure is removed.

page_text: I also sometimes construct lead and crayon holders, whether for containing one
or more leads or crayons, with an inner tube, connected to the sleeve by means of
wires. This inner tube, together with the wires and sleeve, is moved longitudinally
in the one direction by pressure on the head or cap of the holder, and when the
pressure is removed the parts are returned to their normal position by means of a
spring.
I also construct lead and crayon holders with a compound lead-containing tube
or holder, divided longitudinally into compartments, say 4, more or less, the several
compartments respectively containing leads or crayons of different colors or degrees,
and so arranged that the lead or crayon of the particular color or degree required
can be made to drop into the jaws. For this purpose I make the compound lead-
containing tube or holder of conical shape, and I place a projection within the
outer case or sheath to keep the compound lead holder against one side of the case,
so that one or other of the compartments is always opposite the jaws. The
compound lead holder can be moved round by means of the head or cap of the
pencil so as to bring any desired compartment into position; and for the guidance
of the user in adjusting the compound holder the outside of the head or cap and
of the outer case or sheath are marked with signs indicating the several colors or
degrees.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Martin Weil in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 11th December 1880.
MARTIN WEIL, of 28°, Basinghall Street, in the City of London, Administrator
of Joseph Illfelder, late of Fürth, Bavaria, in the Empire of Germany, and of
Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Manufacturer, deceased. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS."
In lead and crayon holders which are made with a tube or sleeve to screw over
and clamp or compress the inner jaws it is often found that the lead or crayon does
not exactly fit the bore of the tube and the inner jaws.
Another inconvenience experienced with holders of this construction is that the
tube is frequently lost.
.
Now in lead and crayon holders constructed according to my Invention the
inner jaws are of conical or tapered form, so that leads or crayons of various sizes
may pass through and be held therein. The lead or crayon is contained in a
longitudinal containing tube or channel in the case or body of the holder, and the
jaws are acted upon by the tube or sleeve, which is moved longitudinally by means
of wires connected with a spring.
In the normal position the spring keeps the tube or sleeve pressed back in the
direction away from the point of the pencil, and in this position it automatically
clamps or compresses the jaws, but by pressing upon the head or cap of the holder
the tube or sleeve is moved longitudinally towards the point, so that it no longer
clamps the jaws, and the lead is therefore free to pass through them to the extent
required.
As soon as the pressure is removed the spring returns the tube or sleeve to its
normal position, so that it again clamps the jaws.
I construct the said lead or crayon holder with an enlarged lead containing tube
or receptacle, so that the same can hold a number of leads or crayons (say 5, more
or less), which said leads when the head or cap of the holder is pressed to unclamp
the jaws, as above explained, will move in succession into and through the jaws, in
which they are successively clamped by the tube or sleeve when the pressure is
removed, or the said holder can be made to contain only one lead or crayon, in
which case the said holder can be made of unusually small dimensions or
diameter.
I also construct lead and crayon holders, whether for containing one or more
leads or crayons, with an inner tube, connected to the sleeve by means of wires.
This inner tube, together with the wires and sleeve, is moved longitudinally in
the one direction by pressure on the head or cap of the holder, and when the
pressure is removed the parts are returned to their normal position by means of a
spring.
I further construct lead and crayon holders with a compound lead containing tube
or receptacle divided longitudinally into compartments, say four, more or less, the
several compartments respectively containing leads or crayons of different colors or
degrees or shades, and so arranged that the lead or crayon of the particular color
or shade required can be made to drop into the jaws.
For this purpose I make the compound lead containing tube or holder of conical
shape, and I place a projection within the outer case or sheath to keep the compound
lead holder against one side of the case, so that one or other of the compartments
is always opposite the jaws. The compound lead holder can be moved round by
means of the head or cap of the pencil so as to bring any desired compartment
into position; and for the guidance of the user in adjusting the compound holder
the outside of the head or cap and of the outer case or sheath are marked with
signs indicating the several colors, shades, or degrees.

page_text: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one of my holders for containing one or
more leads or crayons. Figure 2 is a cross section of the same on the line a¹, b¹, in
Figure 1. Figure 3 shows the longitudinal section of a modification of this part
of my Invention. Figure 4 is a cross section of the same on the line a², b¹.
Although I have shown the body of this holder enlarged so as to contain several
leads or crayons, it is obvious that the size of the said body part of the holder can
be so reduced that only one lead or crayon can be introduced into the same at a
like time.
a is the body part, tube, or sheath of the holder made of wood, metal, or other
suitable material; b, b, are two small borings or channels in the said case or tube
of the holder to receive two pieces of wire c, c.
'
These said pieces of wire are connected at one end to the sleeve or tube d, and at
the opposite end are wound or twisted together, and then so carried to the side of
the cape that they can be conveniently attached to the same, or the wires can run
direct up to the cap and be connected to the outer plate of the same, or in other
suitable manner.
A spiral spring g is so arranged around these said wires that the one end of the
said spiral spring presses against the lower end of the case or body part of the
holder α, whereas the other end presses against the top of the cap e, so that
the cap or sleeve d is held firmly on the jaws or clamps h.
These jaws or clamps h are of conical form, as is customary with pencils in
which the caps are screwed on.
A is the reservoir receptacle or containing tube. The sheath or case is provided
with a large boring to form the receptacle or containing tube A, and a smaller
boring i to receive the jaws or clamps h.
By employing these borings of different size I am enabled to produce a much
more durable holder than is possible by any other system.
The case or sheath is further provided with the small borings or holes b, b, to
receive the two wires c, c which connect the cap e with the sleeve d.
If it is desired to employ the lead or crayon, hold the sleeve d pointed down-
wards and press on the cap e, so that the spring g is compressed, the sleeve d raised
by means of the wires c, c, and the jaws or clamps freed from pressure.
As soon as the lead or crayon protrudes far enough, the cape is freed from
pressure, the spiral spring g or its equivalent draws the sleeve back to its original
position, so that the lead or crayon is clamped or held firmly in the jaws h.
To return the lead or crayon into the receptacle or containing tube A hold the
cap d uppermost, press in the cap e, when by-compressing the spiral or other
spring g the wires c, c, and the sleeve d are raised and the jaws freed, so that the
lead or crayon can fall back into the receptacle or containing tube A.
By employing this part of my said Invention, holders can be produced of less
diameter than is possible by any of the methods known whereby a tube or cylinder
is employed for freeing the jaws or clamping the lead or crayon in the same.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show another modification of my Invention, whereby a metallic
or other suitable tube k is connected to the wires c. This tube can be employed
where it is not necessary that the body or tube be very small.
A small knob can be screwed into the cap e, so that by removing the same the
lead or crayon can be introduced into the containing tube A.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 represent a modification of my said Invention, so that
leads of various degrees of hardness, or crayons, or various colors can be employed
in one and the same holder.
This part of my Invention consists in the employment of a conical swinging
tube which is divided into four compartments, so that one compartment always
remains in communication with the tube forming the jaws or clamps.
The closed end of the conical tube is provided with a square, triangular, or
other suitable opening m, in which a pin n of suitable form fits so that the conical
tube can be revolved, whereby one side of the same remains constantly parallel to
the inner side of the outer tube a.

page_text: The end of the tube can be attached to an extra tube, the bottom of which is
then provided with the said opening for the pin or pivot n.
A projection o is so arranged in the interior of the body of the holder that the
said conical tube is held continuously in.contact with the outer case or tube.
The leads or crayons are clamped in the jaws in like manner as before described.
If it is desired to change the lead or crayon for another shade or color, press on
the cap e, so that the jaws are freed and the lead or crayon falls back into its
compartment, then give the cap a quarter of a turn, when a lead or crayon of
different shade or color will be brought before the opening leading to the jaws or
clamps.
Figure 10 shows the sleeve raised to allow the lead or crayon to fall back into
its compartment; Figure 11 shows a modification of this arrangement.
I am aware of the Letters Patent granted to John Henry Johnson, dated
respectively 9th April 1879, No. 1419, and 16th December 1879, No. 5165, and I
do not claim anything contained in the Specifications of these Letters Patent.
What I claim as my improvements in lead and crayon holders is,-
First. The employment of a wire or wires c for raising and lowering the sleeve
or cap d for freeing or clamping the jaws h of holders for leads or crayons,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The combination of the wires c with the short tube k of a holder
for leads or crayons, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. The construction and employment of the wires c, c, for connecting the
sleeve d with the cap e of a holder for leads or crayons, substantially as herein before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The combination of the wires c with the spiral spring g, cap e, and
sleeve d, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth. The combination of the conical tube with the opening m, pivot or pin n,
spiral spring g, and cap e, and sleeve d of a holder for leads or crayons, substantially
as herein before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The arrangement of the square or other suitable pin or pivot n which
fits in a corresponding opening in the top m of the tube 1, substantially as and
for the purpose herein before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The construction and arrangement of the tube l, pivot n, and tube m
(Figure 11), substantially as hereinbefore described and shown."
Eighth. Constructing lead and crayon holders, as herein before described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Weil, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty
MARTIN WEIL. (L.S.)