Improvements in Pencil Sharpeners.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
Improvements in Pencil Sharpeners.
I, ROBERT MCCLELLON WAKEFIELD, residing at Rockhill Furnace, in the County
of Huntingdon, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Farmer, 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: —
This invention relates to pencil sharpeners, and the object thereof, is to provide
an improved device of this class which is in the form of a spiral, and by means of
which a pencil may be quickly and easily sharpened, the operation of the device
being such that the wood of the pencil is cut longitudinally instead of transversely
as in the case of pencil sharpeners as usually constructed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which.:-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a part of a pencil, showing my improved pencil
sharpener in position for use; and,
Fig. 2, an end view of the pencil sharpener.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views,
and in said drawing, I have shown at A, a part of an ordinary lead pencil, and
at B, my improved sharpener.
The pencil sharpener B, is composed of a strip of steel bent into the form of a
spiral, and one side of the spiral thus formed is sharpened or provided with a
cutting edge as shown at C.
The larger end of the spiral which constitutes the pencil sharpener is large
enough to receive a pencil of the usual size, and the smaller end thereof, is formed
as shown at D, so as to admit of the passage of the pencil point.
The spiral which constitutes the pencil sharpener is also composed of metal which
is slightly elastic, and the separate coils thereof, are adapted to closely fit the
conical portion of the end of the pencil, and when said pencil has once been
sharpened which may be done by means of a knife in the ordinary manner, it may
be quickly and easily sharpened whenever necessary, or by, simply inserting the
point of the pencil through the spiral which constitutes the pencil sharpener and
then by holding the said pencil holder in one hand, turn the pencil to the right
at the same time pressing the same forwardly.
The sharpener is preferably composed of tempered steel and the edge C, of the
spiral is slightly turned inwardly so as to operate as described, and it will thus
be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a device which is
simple in construction and operation, and which is perfectly adapted to accomplish
the result for which it is intended.
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:-
1 A nencil sharpener consisting of a suiral through which the point of the

page_text: Jencil is adapted to be inserted, said spiral being provided with a cutting edge
throughout its length, substantially as shown and described.
2: A pencil sharpener, consisting of a strip of steel formed in a spiral, one side
of which is provided with a cutting edge throughout its length, and the point of
which is adapted to receive the point of the pencil, substantially as shown and ♬
described.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.