Improvements in Pocket Holders for Pencils and Small Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pocket Holders for Pencils and Small Articles.
We, FANNIE CYNTHIA FISHER, Nurse, and JENNIE SEFTON NICHOLS, Housewife,
both of the City of Worcester, County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts,
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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement; -
The object of this invention is the construction of a device capable of ready
attachment to and of disconnection from the pocket of a garment, in which device
or attachment small articles such as pencils, fountain-pens, combs and scissors,
can be placed and assured against accidental displacement therefrom.
Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device showing it holding the articles quoted.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the holder on the line X X in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of the same on the line Y in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp by which the holder is
secured in place.
Fig. 5 is a view of the metal blank from which the main portion of the holder
is formed.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the holder.
The pen and pencil holder consists essentially of a spring-metal bow having
means of attachment to the pocket-edge, and a flexible backing terminally attached
to said bow, the normal bend of the latter being comparatively slight and the
parts so arranged that a pencil or similar object inserted between said bow and
backing is forcibly gripped by said parts, through the deflection of the backing
and the consequent tensional strain put thereon by said bow.
In the drawings 1 indicates the said bow, which is formed from sheet spring
At the upper
metal, being stamped therefrom in the blank shown in Fig. 5.
edge of the main body of this bow 1 is an extension 2 formed with the wings 3
and so apertured as to leave the bridge 4. Said wings 3 are bent up at right angles
to the surface of the extension and pierced with rivet holes 5. The said extension
is bent over until nearly parallel with the face of the bow 1 as shown in Fig. 2;
and the clamp 10 is pivotally mounted on the rivet 11 extending from wing to
wing 3. Said clamp is formed with the thumb piece 13 at the lower extremity, and
the spurs 12 at its upper edge bent at approximately right angles and slightly
curved, as shown in Fig. 4.
At the ends of the bow 1 are the serrations 6 the purpose of which is the
attachment to the bow of the ends of the flexible backing 20. By forcing said
serrations over into the material of said backing, which is usually leather on
fabric, the latter is securely held, see Fig. 3.
The backing 20 being made of the proper length, and the bow 1 given a slight
initial curve as shown in Fig. 6 a contracted space is left between said parts down
into which can be inserted the pencils or other small articles which it is desired
to have the holder support. Such space being less in width than the diameter or
thickness of the articles placed therein, the backing will be forced more or less

page_text: away from the bow to permit the same, and said bow will be slightly sprung to
allow this deflection of the backing. The bow being made sufficiently strong, the
pressure caused thereby between itself and the backing will absolutely ensure the
safe retention of whatever articles are placed in the keeping of our holder.
To make assurance doubly sure. We face the inner surface of the bow 1 with
fabric or rubber 9, and the inner surface of the backing 20 with rubber 22 more
or less roughened or filimentous.
We prefer to extend the upper edge of the backing 20 a suitable distance above
the bow 1, as shown in Figs. I and 2, in order to better guide the articles into the
space between said parts.
In use, this holder is generally applied to the proper pocket of the wearer's
waistcoat, the holder itself entering the pocket bodily and the extension or band 2
remaining on the exterior of the pocket edge. In doing this, the clamp 10 is raised
until the spurs 12 are wholly exterior to the said jaw 2, but after the holder has
been placed in position said clamp is pressed down until its spurs are forced into
the pocket front and the clamp takes the position shown in Fig. 2. To ensure the
clamps retaining this position, the distance from the rivet 11 to the clamp edge
at the bases of the spurs is made slightly greater than the space between said rivet
and the bridge 4. Hence, to bring the clamp into the locking position shown in
Fig. 2 the said bridge must be forcibly displaced to a slight extent. So also,
in unlocking the clamp, said bridge must also be forcibly flexed inward. Hence,
said bridge 4 acts as a detent or lock to prevent the easy or unintentional unfasten-
ing of the clamp 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a pencil holder, the combination of a spring bow formed of resilient sheet
metal, means for securing the same in place, and a flexible backing, the ends of
said bow and backing being secured together and the backing thereby held taut,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a pencil holder, the combination of a spring bow having a jaw or hook
at its upper edge for engaging a pocket edge and the flexible backing terminally
held by said bow and adapted by the tensional strain given thereto by the latter
to tightly clasp and retain whatever small articles are placed therein, substantially
as set forth.
3. The combination with a holder, of the jaw rigidly connected therewith and
adapted to come in front of the pocket into which the holder is inserted, said
jaw being formed with the wings and the bridge, and the clamp pivoted between
said wings and formed with the spurs, the edge of said clamp at the base of said
spurs being adapted to displace said bridge and thereby lock the clamp when its
-spurs have been pressed into the pocket edge substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with the sheet metal spring bow having the serrations at
its terminal edges, of the flexible backing terminally held by the engagement
therewith of said serrations which are bent over into the same, substantially as set
forth.
Doted thin 19th day of Anril 1899