improvements in Fench sharpeners.
Year: 1887

page_text: improvements in Fench sharpeners.
1, EDGAR AZEL GAY, residing at. Minneapolis, in the County of Hennepin, and
State of Minnesota, one of the United States of America, gentleman, 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 present invention relates particularly to that class of pencil sharpeners used for
sharpening slate pencils although it may be applied with good results to sharpeners
for any kind of pencil. The invention has for its object to improve the construction,
reduce the cost and render the sharpener much more efficient in use than the ordinary
sharpener and to this end it consists in certain details of construction and combina-
tion of parts to be hereinafter described and pointed out particularly in the claims at
the end of the specification.
Figure, 1, is a perspective view of the sharpener constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure, 2, is a sectional view of the same.
Figure, 3, is a top plan view with the casing removed.
Figure, 4, is a section of the casing alone.
Figure, 5, is a view of the broad or double blade.
Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
The letter, A, indicates the base piece either having-slots or grooves cut therein for
the accommodation of the blades, D or said base piece may be cast directly around
said blades as will be readily understood.
For the sake of lightness this base is hollowed out in the centre and is preferably
provided with a recess a, around its periphery though this may be dispensed with if
desired and a shoulder formed thereon against which the casing fits and the outer
rim, d, being corrugated to prevent the device slipping in the hand of the user.
The blades or cutters, D, are of such width that their backs will be flush with the
periphery of the central portion of the base, A, and abut against the casing, C, when
placed therein. This casing, C, preferably made of thin sheet metal is formed with a
central aperture at the top, the edge being turned in to form a flange, d. The backs
of the blades or cutters are so formed as to fit snugly within the casing and abut

page_text: against it sufficiently to be supported by it. They preferably extend quite or nearly
up to the flange, d, around the central aperture at which point the cutting edge
commences and extends downward to the point where all the blades meet; the length
of this cutting edge of course determining the length of the pencil point.
Two of the blades preferably opposite each other are made somewhat wider than
the others and these two meeting at the centre will sharpen the very tip of the pencil
and at the same time these blades serve as a stop for the other blades causing them to
center properly as shown clearly in figure, 3. These two central blades may be made
separate if desired, but are preferably made in one piece, to lessen the number of parts
and increase the stability of the whole device, as shown in figure, 5.
It will be observed that the grooves or slots in the base piece extend straight
across from side to side thereon rendering the manufacture very much easier than
heretofore.
When the casing is fitted on over the blailes its lower edge fits snugly down into
the recess, a, in the base in the construction shown, so as to prevent the escape of
dust etc. though as before stated a plain shoulder may be formed against which the
casing rests and in the present instance the casing is preferably held in position by
friction alone although it is obvious that screw threads or other fastenings may be
employed.
Or instead the casing, if desired, may be secured rigidly to the base by solder or
other fastening device.
In using the device the pencil is inserted through the central aperture and turned
as in the ordinary sharpener. If the arrangement of the removable casing is
employed the dust, chips etc. may be retained in the casing and removed by taking
off the casing, but if the casing is secured to the base permanently other means may
be provided for their removal as perforations in the casing.
It is obvious that the form of the base piece may be varied, for instance, so as to
fit on the end of a pencil, or elongated to afford a better grip for the hand of the user;
the blades may be arranged or bent at any angle so as to present a more oblique
cutting edge which may he found desirable when intended for sharpening lead pencils.
It is also obvious that the blades may be more or less in number than as shown and
that if desired some of them may be made without cutting edges to act simply as
guides.
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 :-
:-
1. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener having the series of blades
and base piece of a casing therefor against which said blades abut extending up over
the ends thereof and having the relatively small central aperture; substantially as
described.
2. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener having the series of blades
supported in transverse grooves in the base piece, of a casing against which said
blades abut extending up over the ends thereof having the relatively small central
aperture and the inwardly projecting flange around said aperture; substantially as
described.
3. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener provided with a series of
blades and a base piece having the annular grooves and transverse slots for the cutters,
of a casing the lower edge of which fits into said grooves in the base piece, substan-
tially as described.
4. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener provided with the series of
blades and base piece having the annular groove and corrugated flange, of a casing
the lower edge of which fits into said groove in the base piece, as set forth.
5. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener provided with the base piece
and casing as described, of the series of radial blades, two of which meet in the
centre and serve as a sharpener for the tip of the pencil and as a stop against which
the other blades abut. substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener provided with the base

page_text: piece and casing as described, of the series of radial blades two of which are formed
in one piece serving as a sharpener for the tip of the pencil and a stop against which
the other blades abut, substantially as described.
7. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener provided with the casing and
series of radial blades, the base piece having grooves or slots therein extending
straight across from side to side thereof through the centre and in which said blades
are mounted substantially as described.
8. In a pencil sharpener such as described, the combination with the transversely
slotted base and the casing fitted thereto of the series of blades two of said blades
serving as stops against which the remaining blades abut, substantially as described.
9. The combination in a pencil sharpener such as described of the transversely
slotted base, the blades fitted therein and the removable casing surrounding the blades
and fitted to the base, substantially as described.
10. As a new article of manufacture a pencil sharpener having the series of blades,
the base piece in which the blades are secured, of a removable casing against which
said blades abut extending up over the ends thereof having the relatively small central
aperture, substantially as described.
11. In a pencil sharpener, such as described, the combination with the base having
the blades secured therein and roughened or corrugated on its periphery, of the casing
secured to said base above said corrugated portion, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of October 1887.
Dated this 4th day of October 1887.
EDGAR AZEL GAY.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.