Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1888
We, MAURICE MYERS, of Charlotte Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Pen
Manufacturer, and EDWARD HUNT, of 9, Lozells Street, Aston, Warwickshire, Works
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
Our invention of certain improvements in pencil cases has reference to improved
means of propelling the lead from the case, of holding the lead whilst in use and of
withdrawing the lead into the case again when required, which improvements are
carried out as follows:-
For convenience of description we will describe the pencil case as being in a
vertical position.
For the purposes of our invention we arrange for an inner casing to project from
the top and bottom of the outer casing of the pencil case and for the outer casing to
be continuously pressed downwards by means of a suitable spring towards the writing
end of the pencil case. The lower part of the inner casing is divided longitudinally
and the extreme lower ends bent slightly inwardly towards each other. Free to move
loosely within the inner casing is a lead holder which can be withdrawn for the inser-
tion of a new lead by removing a cap at the upper end of the pencil case. This lead
holder is made tubular at the lower end so as to hold a lead in the ordinary manner
and for the greater part of its length it is notched outside for the purposes hereinafter
explained. This notching can very effectually be formed by coiling and fixing a piece
of wire round the holder the coils being a short distance apart and forming the
notches. Connected to the outer casing and pointing towards its lower end is a
spring tongue the bottom end of which is turned inwardly and, projecting through a
hole in the inner casing, engages with the notched part of the lead holder. Imme-
diately above the spring tongue and free to slide upon the inner casing between
suitable stops is a loose collar.
The pencil case above in part described is operated as follows:-In its normal
state the spring tongue presses against the lead holder and prevents its moving. To
propel the lead ready for use the pencil case is held with its lower end downwards and
the outer casing is pushed upwardly along the inner casing so as ultimately to force
the spring tongue away from the lead holder by bringing it over the loose collar
ID 077

page_text: which latter will now be between the spring tongue and the lead holder. The lead and
lead holder will now fall down the inner casing until the former is arrested by coming in
contact with the lower end of the inner casing. The outer casing is now allowed to
be moved downwards by the above mentioned spring carrying with it the loose collar
which is held by the spring tongue until the downward motion of the collar is
arrested by coming into contact with one of the above mentioned stops on the inner
casing. The spring tongue now slides over the loose collar and immediately springs
upwardly and engages with the notched lead holder which it carries downwards and,
slightly springing open the lower end of the inner casing forces out the lead ready for
use. When the spring tongue moves over the collar and engages with the notched
lead holder as above described the outer casing has but about a tenth of an inch more
or less to move before coming into contact with its stop which thus gauges the length
of the lead projecting from the lower end of the pencil case. The pencil is now
ready for use as the lead is prevented, by the spring tongue engaging with the
notched lead holder, from being forced back into the case. To withdraw the lead
into the pencil case the outer casing is moved backwards carrying with it the spring
tongue, loose collar, notched lead holder with which latter the spring tongue engages,
and the lead. When the lead has been withdrawn so far within the case as to be
quite free of the lower end of the case the motion of the loose collar is arrested by
coming into contact with the upper one of its two stops and the spring tongue then
slides upon it and is withdrawn from the notched lead holder which latter, on the
pencil case being turned upper end downwards falls down within the case where, on
the outer casing being left free to resume its normal position, it is held by the spring
tongue.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We, MAURICE MYERS, of Charlotte Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Pen
Manufacturer, and EDWARD HUNT, of 9, Lozells Street, Aston, Warwickshire, Works
Manager, 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 :-
Our invention of certain improvements in pencil cases bas reference to improved
means of propelling the lead from the case, of holding the lead whilst in use and of
withdrawing the lead into the case again when required, which improvements are
carried out as follows:-
For convenience of description we will describe the pencil case as being in a
vertical position.
For the purposes of our invention we arrange for an inner casing to project from
the top and bottom of the outer casing of the pencil case and for the outer casing to
be continuously pressed downwards by means of a suitable spring towards the
writing end of the pencil case. The lower part of the inner casing is divided longi-
tudinally and the extreme lower ends bent slightly inwardly towards each other.
Free to move loosely within the inner casing is a lead holder which can be withdrawn
for the insertion of a new lead by removing a cap at the upper end of the pencil case.
This lead holder is made tubular at the lower end so as to hold a lead in the ordinary
manner and for the greater part of its length it is notched outside for the purposes
bereinafter explained. This notching can very effectually be formed by coiling and
fixing a piece of wire round the holder the coils being a short distance apart and
forming the notches. Connected to the outer casing and pointing towards its lower
end is a spring tongue the bottom end of which is turned inwardly and, projecting
through a hole in the inner casing, engages with the notched part of the lead holder.
Immediately above the spring tongue and free to slide upon the inner casing between
suitable stops is a loose collar.
The pencil case above in part described is operated as follows:-In its normal state
the spring tongue presses against the lead holder and prevents its moving. To propel
the lead ready for use the pencil case is held with its lower end downwards and the
outer casing is pushed upwardly along the inner casing so as ultimately to force the
spring tongue away from the lead holder by bringing it over the loose collar which
latter will now be between the spring tongue and the lead holder. The lead and lead
holder will now fall down the inner casing until the former is arrested by coming in
contact with the lower end of the inner casing. The outer casing is now allowed to
be moved downwards by the above mentioned spring carrying with it the loose collar
which is held by the spring tongue until the downward motion of the collar is arrested
by coming into contact with one of the above mentioned stops on the inner casing.
The spring tongue now slides over the loose collar and immediately springs inwardly

page_text: and engages with the notched lead holder which it carries downwards and, slightly
springings open the lower end of the inner casing forces out the lead ready for use.
When the spring tongue moves over the collar and engages with the notched lead
holder as above described the outer casing has but about a tenth of an inch more or
less to move before coming into contact with its stop which thus gauges the length of
the lead projecting from the lower end of the pencil case. The pencil is now ready
for use as the lead is prevented, by the spring tongue engaging with the notched lead
holder, from being forced back into the case. To withdraw the lead into the pencil
case the outer casing is moved backwards carrying with it the spring tongue, loose
collar, notched lead holder, with which latter the spring tongue engages, and the lead.
When the lead has been withdrawn so far within the case as to be quite free of
the lower end of the case the motion of the loose collar is arrested by coming into
contact with the upper oue of its two stops and the spring tongue then slides upon
it and is withdrawn from the notched lead holder which latter, on the pencil case
being turned upper end downwards, falls down within the case where, on the
outer casing being left free to resume its normal position, it is held by the spring
tongue.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings
the manner in which our said Ivention is to be performed.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a pencil case constructed according to this inven-
tion the parts being in the positions which they occupy when the lead is withdrawn
into the case Figs. 2, 3, 3* and 4 represent the same parts as Fig. 1 but in different
positions so as to illustrate how they operate to propel the lead ready for use (part
only of the pencil is represented in Fig 3*); Figs. 5 and 6 also represent the same
parts as the preceeding Figures and illustrate how the parts operate to withdraw the
lead into the case; Fig. 7 is an elevation partly in section of the same pencil case
inverted with the top cap removed showing how the lead holder can be removed from
the top of the pencil case; Fig. 8 shows the lead holder of the same separately;
Fig. 9 represents the inner casing of the same in elevation and in sectional elevation
Fig. 10 shows the loose cap of the same in elevation and in sectional elevation and
Fig. 11 represents in elevation, sectional elevation and sectional plan the outer casing
of the same separately.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
A is the tubular outer casing provided with the usual diminished nozzle a¹ at its
lower or writing end through which the inner casing B protrudes. The upper part a²
of the outer casing is made separate from and fits inside the body A thereof where it
is secured by soldering or other means. The upper end of the inner casing B pro-
trudes through the said upper part a² and is provided with a loose cap C which fits
thereon and also fits easily in the open diminished end of the top part a². D is the
coiled spring which acts between a collar E fixed on the inner casing B and the
bottom of the top part a² so as to press the outer casing A towards the writing end 61
of the inner casing B. The lower end 6 of the inner tube B is split or divided
longitudinally for a short distance from its extreme end in the usual manner and these
extreme lower ends are bent slightly inwardly towards each other. F is the lead
holder (shewn separately by Fig. 8) made tubular at its lower end so as to hold a
lead g and made notched above the lead which can readily be done by coiling a piece
of wire thereon and leaving spaces between the coils, the coiled wire being fixed to
the lead holder by soldering, tinning or other like means. The lead holder F can
slide freely within the inner casing B and it can be altogether removed for the
insertion of a new lead by inverting the pencil case and taking off the cap C (see
Fig. 7). I is the spring tongue connected to the upper part a² of the outer casing A
and turned inwardly at its bottom end so as to project through the hole in the
inner casing B and engage with one or other of the notches h of the holder F.
This spring tongue is preferably made as shewn on the drawings where it will be
seen to form part of a short tube J outside the inner casing B and fixed to the upper
part a².
A collar K fixed on the inner casing B comes into contact with the lower
end of this tube when the outer casing A has been moved to its lowest position by

page_text: the spring D (see Fig. 1) thus forming a stop for preventing the outer casing moving
too far. is the loose collar which is free to slide on the inner casing B and is
arranged, for the purpose hereinafter described, to partly cover the hole when in
its lowest position (see Figs. 1, 3, 3*, 4 and 9) a stop m² preventing its moving
farther in that direction. A second stop m² a short distance above the collar L
prevents the collar moving too far up the inner casing B. These stops m¹, m² can
very conveniently be formed out of the body of the inner casing B and bent up at
right angles thereto as shewn on the drawings. And the stops m³, m² are made fong
enough to engage with a longitudinal slot j in the inner tube J so as to prevent the
inner casing turning round within the outer casing.
The operation of the parts of the pencil above described is as follows:-In its
normal state the lower end of the spring tongue I projects through the hole 6*
and pressing against the lead holder F prevents its moving. To propel the lead ready
for use the pencil case is held with its lower end downwards (see Fig. 1) and the
outer casing A is pushed upwardly along the inner casing B (or, which is the same
thing, the upper end of the inner casing B is pressed downwardly into the outer
casing A) until the end of the spring tongue I has been forced away from the lead
holder F by riding on to the loose collar L which latter is now in contact with the
upper stop m² and is between the end of the spring tongue and the lead holder F
(see Fig. 2). The lead and lead holder F will now drop down the inner casing B
until arrested by the writing end of the lead coming into contact with the lower
end of the inner casing B as shown by Fig. 2. The outer casing A is now allowed
to be moved downwards by the reaction of the spring D carrying with it the loose
collar L (which is held by the spring tongue I pressing upon it) until the downward
motion of the collar L is arrested by coming into contact with the lower stop m' on
the inner casing (see Fig. 3). As the downward motion of the outer casing A con-
tinues the end of the spring tongue now slides over the loose collar L and imme-
diately springs inwardly and engages with the notched lead holder F, as shewn by
Fig. 3*, which it carries downwards and, slightly springing open the lower divided
end of the inner casing forces out the lead ready for use: the parts are shewn in
this position by Fig. 4. Any further motion of the outer casing in this direction is
prevented by the collar K coming into contact with the lower end of the tube J.
When the end of the spring tongue moves over the loose collar L and engages
with the notched lead holder F as above described and as shewn by Fig. 3*, the outer
casing A has but about a tenth of an inch more or less to move before the lower end
of its inner tubular part J comes into contact with the collar K fixed on the inner
casing which thus gauges the length of the lead projecting from the lower end b¹ of
the pencil case. The pencil is now ready for use as the lead g is prevented from
being forced back into the case by the spring tongue engaging with the notched lead
holder F.
To withdraw the lead g into the pencil case the outer casing A is moved backwards
thereby compressing the spring D (or, which is the same thing, the top of the inner
casing is pressed forwards towards the writing end) carrying with it the spring
tongue 1, loose collar L, notched lead holder F, with which latter the spring
tongue I engages, and the lead g. When the lead g has been withdrawn so far
within the case as to be quite free of the lower end 61 of the inner case the
motion of the loose collar L is arrested by coming into contact with the upper
stop m² (see Fig. 5) and the end of the spring tongue then slides upon it and is
withdrawn from the notched lead holder F which latter, on the pencil case being
turned upper end downwards (see Fig. 6), falls down within the case where, on the
outer casing being left free to resume its normal position by the reaction of the
spring D the lead holder is held by the spring tongue I.
It will be seen that by employing with the spring tongue I the loose collar Land
the stops as above described the spring tongue I draws back the lead holder and lead
through a greater distance than it pushes the lead holder and lead forwards thus
insuring the writing end of the lead always being withdrawn well within the case
before the end of the spring tongue is free of the lead holder; and this has the

page_text: further advantage that if the lead should happen to protrude.too far through the end bl
of the pencil case it can be brought back by simply, working the outer casing
backwards and forwards on the inner casing in the manner above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
:
1st. In a pencil case and in combination with the longitudinally movable and spring
controlled outer and inner casings thereof, the notched lead holder fitting loosely in
the inner casing, the spring tongue fixed to and moving with the outer casing and
arranged to protrude into the inner casing so as to engage with the notched lead
holder, and the sliding collar on the inner casing on to which the free end of the
spring tongue can ride the travel of the said collar being limited by stops, these parts
being arranged together for joint operation substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a pencil case in which the lead and lead holder are arranged to fall down
the case by gravity, the employment of means substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated for gauging the length of the protruded lead and for withdrawing the
lead clear inside the pencil case and freeing the lead holder as hereinbefore set forth.
3rd. The general arrangement or combination of the parts as reprosented by the
accompanying drawings..
Dated this 1st day of February 1888
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.