IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD OR CRAYON HOLDERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Phineas Lawrence, of Farringdon Street, in the City
of London, Merchant, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD OR
CRAYON HOLDERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Phineas Lawrence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1883.
PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of Farringdon Street, in the City of London, Merchant,
IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD OR CRAYON HOLDERS,
My Invention relates to improvements in propellible lead or crayon holders, and
it consists in means whereby the lead, or other marking material, is advanced step
by step from the holder, by longitudinal pressure; it further consists in means to
hold the said marking material, whereby it is prevented from dropping out more
than a predetermined distance.
For the above purposes my invention consists of suitable plungers, springs and
ratchet teeth, and the combination of the several parts all as hereinafter set forth.
The improved holder consists of an outer sheath or case, provided with a nozzle,
having the usual aperture for the passage of the lead, but which nozzle, for the
purpose of my invention, is slit or slotted in such a manner to act as springs and
bear against the lead, so as to prevent it falling or dropping out of the case
or holder. A second or interior tube, concentric with the sheath or case, and
extending nearly its whole length, is provided, and is furnished on opposite sides,
and upon its internal surface, with ratchet teeth, into which a sleeve, furnished
with spring pawls engage, as will be hereinafter explained.
Within this second or interior tube is a plunger, consisting of a tube having a
longitudinal slot extending for nearly its full length; the upper end of this
plunger-tube passes through a plate or washer, fixed to the head or in the upper
end of the second or interior tube, and said plunger-tube is normally held retracted
by a coiled spring, located between the plate or washer and a pusher which
terminates the uppermost end of the plunger-tube, and which pusher is employed
to actuate the plunger-tube and to advance the lead. A collar, fixed upon the
plunger tube below the plate or washer, limits the upper movement of the said

page_text: plunger-tube, and a pin, projecting outwardly from this collar, enters an L-shaped
slot formed in the upper end of the second or interior tube and limits the rotary
motion of the plunger-tube.
Surrounding the plunger-tube is a sleeve or ring, provided with spring pawls.
This sleeve or ring is arranged to travel along the plunger-tube, and to engage, by
reason of its pawls, with the ratchet teeth; it is limited or arrested in its travel by
a pin or stud, which on reaching its limit of travel, abuts against the lower end or
termination of the slot in the said tube. To this pin or stud is fixed a short rod
which is secured to the sleeve or ring, and is located within the slot of the plunger-
tube. At its outer end this rod is furnished with a wire or ejector for advancing
or propelling the lead. The upper free ends of these pawls are inclined outwardly
to engage with the ratchet teeth, in the second or interior tube, and the base of
these teeth is by preference, in the form of a segment of a true circle.
At each depression of the plunger by the pusher, the sleeve and its pawls
advance, and thereby eject the lead the desired distance. To insert the lead into
the holder, the pusher is turned for about a quarter turn (thus bringing the pin on
the collar into the lateral portion of the L-shaped slot) so as to rotate the plunger-
tube, and to disengage the pawls from the ratchet teeth; in this position the lead is
introduced through the nozzle until it abuts against the ejector, it is then pushed
upwards and carries with it the sleeve and its pawls. After this, the pusher
rotated back thereby bringing the pin out of the lateral portion of the slot, and the
pawls into engagement with the ratchet teeth ready for operation; the lead being
prevented dropping out of the holder by reason of the spring nozzle before
mentioned,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Phineas Lawrence in the Patent Office on the 17th June 1884.
PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of Farringdon Street, in the City of London, Merchant
IMPROVEMENTS IN LEAD OR CRAYON HOLDERS
My Invention relates to improvements in propellible lead or crayon holders, and
it consists in means whereby the lead or other marking material is caused to
advance step by step from the holder, by longitudinal pressure; it further consists
in the means employed to hold the said marking material, whereby the same is
prevented from dropping out more than a pre-determined distance.
For the accomplishment of the above purposes, my invention consists of suitable
plungers, springs and ratchet teeth, and the combination of the several parts, all as
hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig: 1, is an elevation of my improved holder.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of the same.
Fig. 3, is a portion of a similar sectional view enlarged.
Fig. 4, is a transverse section of the same, on the line x, x. of Fig. 3,
Fig. 5, is a portion of the plunger, shewing its relation to the ejector, and the
sleeve with spring pawls for advancing the lead outwardly.
Fig. 6, is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line y. y. Fig. 5.
Fig. 7, is a detached side elevation of the ejector and its attached sleeve and
spring pawls.
A, represents the outer sheath or case provided with a nozzle B, having the
usual aperture for the passage of the marking material, but which nozzle is,
according to my invention, so constructed as hereinafter described, as to retain
the said marking material, and prevent it falling or dropping out of the case or
holder. C is a second or interior tube, concentric with the sheath or case and
extending for nearly the length thereof. This tube C is preferably provided, on
opposite sides of its internal surface with ratchet teeth c, into which engage the
spring pawls of a sleeve, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.
D, is a plunger consisting of a tube having a longitudinal slot d, extending for
nearly its full length; the upper end of this tube D, passes through a washer d³,
fixed in the upper end of the tube C, and said plunger is normally held retracted
by a coiled spring d³, located between the washer and the pusher E, which latter
is fixed to the plunger and is operated to actuate the said plunger. A collar e,
fixed upon the plunger D, below the washer d¹, limits the upper movement of said
plunger, and a pin el projecting outwardly from the collar e, and entering an
L-shaped slot e³ (seen in detailed view Fig. 1*) in the upper end of the tube C,
limits the rotary motion of the said plunger D.
Surrounding the plunger is a sleeve G, provided with spring pawls g, and
arranged to travel along the plunger, at each depression of the pusher, it being
limited in its travel by a pin or stud g', entering the longitudinal slot d, of the
plunger. This pin or stud g', is secured to a short rod h, within the plunger, and
carries, at its outer end, a wire or ejector i, for advancing the lead or other
marking material. The upper free ends of the pawls g, are inclined outwardly, as
shewn, to engage with the ratchet teeth c, in the tube C, and the base of these
teeth are, by preference, in form a segment of a true circle.
The operation of my improved holder is as follows:—
The pusher E is first rotated about a quarter turn so as to rotate the plunger D,
and thus bring the free ends of the pawls g, out of engagement with the ratchet
teeth c, and into the smooth parts of the tube C. In this position the marking

page_text: f
material is then inserted through the aperture in the nozzle B, until it abuts
against the ejector i, it is then pushed upwards, carrying with it the rod h,
ejector i, and sleeve G, with its spring pawls g, until it is entirely concealed by
the nozzle B. The pusher is now rotated in the contrary direction for the same
amount, thus bringing back the spring pawls g into engagement with the ratchet
teeth. On pressure being applied to the pusher E, this latter will operate to move
the plunger forward, and to carry with it the sleeve G, and its attached pawls
which will be depressed the distance of one ratchet tooth, thus causing the marking
material to be advanced a corresponding distance. Upon pressure being released
from the pusher, the plunger will be retracted through the sleeve G, by reason of
the coiled spring, but the engagement of the pawls g, with the ratchet teeth, will
prevent the return of the sleeve. It will be understood that this operation may be
repeated, and the marking material advanced step by step, as required.
The marking material whether wholly within the holder, or partially ejected
therefrom, as the case may be is securely retained in place by reason of the
construction of the nozzle B, which, for this purpose, is slit or slotted, to act as
springs, to bear against the material without injuring it in any wise, and this I
consider an essential feature of my invention as I can dispense with the use of any
interior lead-holding or grasping tube.
In some other lead or crayon holders the slot in the nozzle is intended to permit
a lead somewhat too large, to be forced out from the holder, whereas, in my
invention, the object of the slit or slot is to form springs to bear against the lead
and so prevent it dropping out of the holder.
By reason of the pawls and ratchet teeth, the marking material is prevented
from slipping up vertically, or being broken, as is sometimes the case in other lead
or crayon holders.
Having now described the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim :-
1. The improved lead or crayon holder, having its parts arranged, combined, and
operating substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the drawings,
and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a lead or crayon holder, the combination of the sheath or case A, spring
nozzle B, and tube C, said tube having on its interior surface, ratchet teeth c; the
plunger D, provided with longitudinal slot d; spring d², washer d¹, and collar e,
with sliding sleeve G, provided with spring pawls g, the rod h and ejector i,
all as and for the purposes intended, and substantially as described and shewn.
3. The spring nozzle B, for preventing the marking material dropping out of the
sheath or holder, as described.
In witness whereof I the said Phineas Lawrence have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Seventeenth day of June in the year 1884.
P LAWRENCE
(LS)