IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS." A cominunication from abroad by Joseph
Reckendorfer, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Joseph Reckendorfer, of the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of lead and crayon holders in which an
expansible lead clamp or grasping device is caused to close upon the lead or crayon
by means of a collar tip or nozzle surrounding the said clamp, the two being
moveable with respect to one another in such a manner that the clamp shall be
caused either to close upon or relax its hold on the lead, according to the direction
of movement.
The holder embodying the improvements is one in which the lead grasping
device has a rotary movement without longitudinal play with respect to the nozzle
or tip that acts on it, and is combined with a longitudinally moving pressure cap
and reacting spring, by means of which a partial rotary movement in the proper
direction can be imparted.
In carrying out this Invention the handle is provided with the usual tapering
tip or nozzle, and the lead holding tube terminates at its front end in spring
clamping jaws, which normally stand apart a sufficient distance to leave the lead
free to move. The tube is capable of partial rotary movement in the handle, the
extent of its rotation being limited by a greater circle slot in the cap on the rear
end of the handle, through which projects a pin on the tube.
Within the tip and surrounding the jaws is fixed a ring or collar, having an
opening of elliptical shape. When the tube is rotated to the limit of the slot in

page_text: one direction the jaws will be compressed between the contracted faces of the
collar, and will thus close on the lead. When on the other hand the tube is rotated
to the limit of the slot in the other direction, the jaws will be brought opposite the
more widely separated faces of the collar, and in this position can expand sufficiently
to release the lead.
The last mentioned faces are however not a necessity, the essential feature being
the compressing faces, ribs, or bars placed in such proximity to one another as to
act on the jaws in the manner above specified. For example the apparatus may
be modified in the following manner: The partially rotating lead tube may carry
jaws, which are provided each with a knob or protuberance, the tip having formed
in it holes to register with these knobs. When the tube is rotated in one direction
the knobs will be thrown out of register with the holes, and the jaws will be
closed upon the lead. Rotary movement of the tube in the opposite direction will
bring the knobs to a position in which they can rise into the holes, and so permit
the jaws to expand sufficiently to release the lead.
The rotary movement of the lead tube is obtained in the following manner :-
Upon the rear part of the handle fits a sliding pressure cap, within which is a
spiral spring confined between the end of the handle and the head of the cap. In
the pressure cap is formed a spiral or inclined slot, and the pin on the lead tube is
of sufficient length to project into this slot. In order to insure that the pressure
cap shall move back and forth in a right line, it is provided with a pin or lug
which enters a longitudinal slot of proper length formed in the handlo. The
pressure cap is pushed back by the spring, in which position the pin will be at the
bottom of the inclined slot and at one extreme of the cross slot. In this (which is
the normal) position of the parts the jaws will be closed on the lead. The pressure
cap when pushed forward by hand causes by means of its inclined slot the pin c to
travel to the other extreme of the cross slot, thus bringing the jaws to a position
in which they are free to expand and thus release the lead. When pressure on the
cap is removed the spring throws the cap back, and thus returns the parts to their
normal position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th May 1882.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Joseph Reckendorfer, of the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of lead and crayon holders in which an
expansible lead clamp or grasping device is caused to close upon the lead or crayon
by means of a collar tip or nozzle surrounding the said clamp, the two being:
moveable with respect to one another in such a manner that the clamp shall be
caused either to close upon or relax its hold on the lead according to the direction
of movement.
The holder embodying the improvements is one in which the lend grasping
device has a rotary movement without longitudinal play with respect to the nozzle
or tip that acts on it, and is combined with a longitudinally moving pressure cap
and re-acting spring, by means of which a partial rotary movement in the proper
direction can be imparted.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improved holder.
Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged sections on line 2-3, Figure 1 representing the
clamping jaws in their open and closed position.
Figure 4 is a section on like scale on line 4-4, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an elevation on like scale of the rear end of the sheath or handle and
of the lead containing tube.
Figure 6 is an elevation on like scale of the pressure cap.
A is the handle provided with the usual tapering tip or nozzle d; B is the lead
holding tube, terminating at its front end in spring clamping jaws e, which
normally stand apart a sufficient distance to leave the lead f free to move. The
tube is capable of partial rotary movement in the handle, the extent of its rotation
being limited by a quarter circle slot a in the cap b on the rear end of the handle
through which projects a pin c on the tube.
Within the tip d and surrounding the jaws e is fixed a ring or collar g having an
opening of elliptical shape. When the tube B is rotated to the limit of the slot a
in one direction the jaws e will be compressed between the contracted faces 1 of
the collar g, and will thus close on the lead, as seen in Figure 2. When on the
other hand the tubo B is rotated to the limit of the slot a in the other direction
the jaws will be brought opposite the more widely separated faces 2 of the collar,
and in this position can expand sufficiently to release the lead, as seen in
Figure 3.
The faces 2 are however not a necessity, the essential feature being the com-
pressing faces, ribs, or bars 1 placed in such proximity to one another as to act on
the jaws in the manner above specified. For example the apparatus may be
modified, as shewn in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10.
The partially rotating lead tube B in this modification carries jaws c, which aro
provided each with a knob or protuberance h, the tip & having formed in it holes i
to register with these knobs. When the tube is rotated in one direction the knobs
will be thrown out of register with the holes, as indicated in Figure 8, and the
jaws will be closed upon the lead f. Rotary movement of the tube in the opposite
direction will bring the knobs to a position in which they can rise into the holes i,

page_text: as indicated in Figure 10, and so permit the jaws to expand sufficiently to release
the lead.
The rotary movement of the lead tube is obtained in the following manner :-
Upon the rear part of the handle fits a sliding pressure cap C, within which is
a spiral spring j confined between the end of the handle and the head of the cap.
In the pressure cap is formed a spiral or inclined slot &, and the pin c on the lend
tube is of sufficient length to project into this slot. To insure that the pressure
cap shall move back and forth in a right line it is provided with a pin or lug l,
which enters a longitudinal slot m of proper length formned in the handle. The
pressure cap is pushed back by the spring, in which position the pin c will be at
the bottom of the slot k and at one extreme of the cross slot a. In this (which
is the normal) position of the parts the jaws e will be closed on the lead. The
pressure cap when pushed forward by hand causes by means of its inclined slot k
the pin c to travel to the other extreme of the cross slot a, thus bringing the jaws e
to a position in which they are free to expand and thus release the lead. When
pressure on the cap C is removed the spring throws the cap back and thus returns
the parts to their normal position.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth of the handle, the tip
provided with compressing faces, as described, the rotary lead holding tube provided
with lead clamping jaws extending between said compressing faces, the longitu-
dinally moveable pressure cap connected with the lead tube so as to impart rotary
movement thereto, and the re-acting spring.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.