AN IMPROVED PENCIL SHARPENER to be as follows:—
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I BARNET SOLOMON COHEN, of 24 Great Prescot Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"AN IMPROVED PENCIL SHARPENER to be as follows:—
"
My invention relates to pencil sharpeners and is designed to provide means
whereby pencils may be sharpened with great facility and in a very efficient
manner, a fine point being obtained with the greatest ease and with a minimum
risk of breaking the same in the operation of sharpening.
The essential feature of my invention consists in the employment of a flat or
a curved cutter arranged in such a manner that the sharpening may be effected by
drawing the pencil across the cutting edge instead of by rotating the same against
a cutter in, or forming part, of a tube, as is usual.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide either a flat or a curved steel
plate one edge of which is sharpened to form the cutter and is preferably inclined
transversely. This cutting plate is rivetted, or otherwise secured, to a guide or
guard plate which is formed with a base and with a piece bent upward at a right
angle to the said base. This guide plate extends beyond the cutting edge of the
cutter-plate and the upwardly bent portion extends around the front of the base
as well as all along one side of the same, an open space being provided between
the cutting edge and the front portion of the base of the guide plate to permit the
cuttings of wood or lead, or both, to drop through the same. The front portion
of the guide plate serves as a rest or stop for the end of the pencil and also for
ensuring the proper position of the same each time it is pushed forward pre-
paratory to effecting a cut so that the cutting may be commenced at the same part
of the pencil each time all around the same and thus give an even and neat
appearance thereto. When a pencil is to be sharpened, the end is placed against
the front upright portion of the guide plate or stop piece and rests upon the front
portion of the base, the part of the pencil at which the cutting is to be commenced
resting upon the edge of the cutter. The other end of the pencil is grasped by the
hand and by being drawn backward over, and against, the cutter a piece of the
pencil is thereby shaved off. By alternately pushing the pencil forward against
the stop piece and drawing it back the pencil is sharpened very rapidly and
efficiently. A very fine point can be obtained and the risk of breakages is reduced
to a minimum.

page_text: In some cases the stop piece at the front may be made adjustable in order that
a longer or shorter cut may be obtained at pleasure. The sharpener so constructed
may be furnished with a ring or handle of any suitable form whereby the same
may be held conveniently in one hand whilst the pencil is moved to and fro by the
Or the said sharpener may be provided with a base whereby it can be
screwed upon a desk or table.
other.
It is obvious that my improved sharpener may be used for leads or crayons
whether enclosed in wood or not so enclosed.

page_text: I, BARNET SOLOMON COHEN, of 24, Great Prescot Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN
IMPROVED PENCIL SHARPENER" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention is designed to provide means whereby pencils may be sharpened
with great facility and in a very efficient manner with a minimum risk of breaking
the lead in the operation of sharpening.
The essential feature of my said invention is the employment of a cutter so
formed and arranged that the sharpening may be effected by drawing the pencil
across the cutting edge instead of by rotating the same against a cutter secured in,
or forming part of, a tube, as in the pencil sharpeners heretofore usually employed.
The cutter, in my improved sharpener, consists of a piece of steel, which is either
flat or is curved in any suitable manner, and which is provided with a cutting
edge.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn one form of my improved pencil
sharpener.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation of the said sharpener.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
a indicates a bracket or base-plate designed to be screwed to a desk or table.
b is the cutter, which consists of a flat steel plate having its edge sharpened and
preferably inclined or bevelled transversely on the underside, as shewn in Figure 2.
c is a guide or guard plate, which is bent so that it extends beneath the cutter b
and along one side of the same at a right angle thereto, as most clearly shewn in
Figure 3. The cutter b and guide-plate c are rivetted or otherwise secured to the
bracket or base-plate a. The said guide plate is made with a slot c¹, through
which the cuttings of wood or lead or both will fall, thus leaving the cutting edge
free from obstruction. The said guide-plate has, moreover, an upwardly projecting
portion c² which serves as a rest or stop for the end or point of the pencil, and also
for ensuring the proper position of the pencil each time it is pushed forward
preparatory to effecting a cut, so that each cut may be commenced at the same
distance from the end of the pencil and an even and neat appearance be thus
imparted to the pencil when sharpened.
When a pencil is to be sharpened, the end thereof is placed against the front
portion or stop c² of the guide-plate c so that it rests upon the said plate in front
of the cutting edge b', the part of the pencil at which the cutting is to be com-
menced resting upon the said cutting edge. The other end of the pencil is grasped
by the hand and the pencil is drawn backward over and against the cutter, a slight
downward pressure being exerted upon it. A piece of the pencil is thereby
shaved off. By alternately pushing the pencil forward against the stop c² and
drawing it back again, the pencil is sharpened very rapidly and efficiently. A very
fine point can thus be obtained and the risk of breakage is reduced to a minimum.
In some cases an adjustable stop may be substituted for the stop c³ in order that
a longer or shorter cut may be obtained at pleasure.

page_text: The base plate or bracket a, in the sharpener constructed as above described,
may, if desired, be dispensed with and the sharpener be furnished with a ring or
handle of any suitable form, whereby it may be held conveniently in one hand
whilst the pencil is moved to and fro by the other hand.
It is obvious that my improved sharpener may be used for leads or crayons
whether enclosed in wood or not so enclosed.
Moreover, the position of the cutter may be either horizontal as shewn, or
vertical, or inclined, and the cutter may be inverted so that the pencil will require
to be pressed upward instead of downward against the cutting edge.
By my improved pencil sharpener, not only can a round point be made, as with
the ordinary sharpeners, but a flat, oval, or other suitably shaped point can be
formed such as ordinarily necessitates the use of a knife. Furthermore pencils of
various sizes can be pointed by means of my sharpener.
5
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
A pencil sharpener constructed substantially as herein set forth so that the
sharpening of a pencil thereby may be effected by drawing it across the cutting
edge as above specified.
Dated this 27th day of May 1885,
BARNET SOLOMON COHEN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
Agents.