IMPROVEMENTS IN HOLDERS FOR PENCIL CASES, KNIFE BLADES, PENHOLDERS, TOOTHPICKS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, JOSEPH APPLEBY of. 36 Lancaster Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturers' Foreman do hereby declare the nature of said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOLDERS FOR PENCIL CASES, KNIFE BLADES, PENHOLDERS,
TOOTHPICKS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES" to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct holders or instruments for containing
pencil cases (the so called ever pointed pencils), knife blades, pen holders, tooth
picks and other similar articles in such manner that the same part which is acted
on by the thumb or finger for throwing the movement out by a positive action,
shall also serve to draw it in by a positive action, irrespective of the position in
which the holder is held in the hand that is to say whether with the open end
downwards or upwards or in any intermediate slanting position.
The upper end of the holder is provided with a cap in which is contained
a helical spring which I call the stronger spring; this latter on being thus
compressed acts on the end of a conducting tube or movement carrier provided
with two longitudinal slots, the rear or upper slot being provided for a pin to work
in, which is fixed on a ferrule to which one end of a second helical spring is
connected. This second spring I call the weaker spring. When it is acted on by
the aforesaid stronger helical spring in the cap it serves to draw the movement in;
the other or lower end of the weaker spring is connected to a socket which by
a bolt with head on each end is loosely connected to a hollow cylinder to the
lower of which the movement for the everpointed pencil or other article is fixed,
In this hollow movement cylinder is contained a flat spring split into two fangs at
the end which fangs can protrude through a hole formed in the side of the move-
ment cylinder. The other longitudinal slot in the aforesaid conducting tube or
movement carrier is provided for a pin to work in which is fixed on the hollow
movement cylinder.
"
The movement carrier or conducting tube is also provided with two cross slots
one towards the upper end and the other towards the lower end, for the protruding
fangs of the flat spring to enter, in the advanced or withdrawn position of the
movement.
The conducting tube or movement carrier is contained in a sleeve which is fixed
to the cap and is provided with a slot running down nearly to its lower end for the

page_text: guide pin on the movement cylinder to work through, for preventing that pin from
getting out of place. The sleeve is also provided with another slot say on the
opposite side running down nearly to its lower end which slot is wide enough in
its upper part for the fangs of the aforesaid flat spring to work freely in but in the
lower part tapers off to a narrower width so as to compress the two fangs or sides
of the split end of the flat spring, and then widens out sharply to a T-shaped part
wide enough for the expanded fangs to enter, and in that position holding the
movement cylinder. The whole of the aforesaid mechanism or parts are contained
in the usual outer casing which may be of gold or other precious or ornamental
inaterial.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:-When the movement is all with-
drawn into the casing and the laterally protruding fangs of the flat spring are in
the uppermost cross slot and it is desired to throw out the pencil movement,
pressure is applied say by the thumb against the upper movable cap thus com-
pressing the stronger spring and pressing on the conducting tube or movement
carrier at the same time the sleeve to which the cap is fixed or connected is pushed
forward, and the weaker spring is compressed. When the sleeve is advanced so far
that the upper end of its spring fang slot comes against the protruding fangs these
latter will be pushed in thereby and the flat spring in the movement cylinder being
thus released the pencil movement cylinder will by the pressure of the weaker
helical spring be shot out of the casing to the required distance determined by the
lower longitudinal slot in the conducting tube or movement carrier The fangs of
the flat spring will then enter the lower cross slot in the movement carrier for the
purpose of holding the pencil movement in its extended or advanced position. The
weaker spring thereby becomes extended to its uncompressed or powerloss stato.
When the pressure of the thumb is taken off, the movable cap the sleeve returns to
its original position and the weaker spring is put in tension again by means of the
bolt which connects the pencil' movement cylinder with the sleeve the former being
in its forward position and the latter in its back position When it is desired. to
cause the pencil movement to be withdrawn into the casing a slight pressure is
applied against the same cap or top whereby the stronger spring is somewhat
compresso and the sleeve pressed forward until the two protruding fangs are
puslied in by means of the two upper sides of the T-shaped part of the slot in the
sleeve; the flat spring being thus released the pencil movement is free to be pulled
back by the weaker spring until the fangs enter the upper cross slot in the move-
ment carrier. Instead of using a flat split spring I may use a flat spring with one
protruding fang and I then split the sleeve to act as springs to allow the fang to
pass into the T-shaped part of the slot.
A modified but more complicated mode of construction is by employing one
helical spring, for drawing in the movement, one stronger spring for shooting it out,
and one still stronger cap spring, for drawing the sleeve back into position and
.bringing the weakest spring into tension. The narrow lower part of the fang slot
in the sleeve is then made in an oblique direction and the weakest coil spring is
twisted for the purpose of keeping the fang of the flat spring in one position so
that when it has travelled up the oblique slot it will twist slightly round and come
in contact with the end of the sleeve.

page_text: WALT DELE FECIFICATION.
J, JOSEPH APPLEBY of 36 Lancaster Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Manufacturers Foreman do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN 'HOLDERS' FOR PENCIL CASES, KNIFE BLADES, PENHOLDERS,
TOOTHPICKS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES" and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this Invention is to construct holders or instruments for containing
pencil cases (the so-called ever pointed pencils) knife blades, penholders toothpicks,
and other similar articles in such manner that the same part which is acted on by
the thumb or finger for throwing the movement out by a positive action, shall also
serve to draw it in by a positive action irrespective of the position in which the
holder is held in the hand that is to say whether with the open end downwards or
upwards or in any intermediate slanting position.
For convenience of description 1 shall now proceed to describe my invention with
referenco to a so-called everpointed pencil constructed in accordance therewith and
with reference to Figures 1 to 16 of the accompanying drawings and firstly with
regard to Figures 1 to 9 Figuro 1 being a longitudinal section of such an article
and Figures 2 to 9 representing the various parts of same, all drawn to a rather
large scale for the sake of clearness.
The upper end of the holder is provided with a cap A Figure 2, also shown
separately in Figure 3 in which cap A is contained a helical spring B shown
separately at Figuro 4 which I call the stronger spring; this latter on being thus
compressed acts on the end of a conducting tube or movement carrier C shown
separately from opposite sides in the two side views Figures 5 and 6 provided with
two longitudinal slots, the rear or upper slot a being provided for a pin or screw f
to work in which is fixed on a ferrule F shown separately in the side view Figure 9
to which ferrule F one end of a second helical spring E is connected, and which
also by means of the screw fentering the hole d in the sleeve D is connected to the
latter. This second spring E which is also shown in the side view, Figure 9
I call the weaker spring. When it is acted on by the aforesaid stronger helical
spring B in the cap A it serves to draw the movement in; the other or lower end
of the weaker spring E is connected to a socket G which by a bolt H with head on
each end (and suitably made tubular as shown) is loosely connected to a hollow
cylinder I to the lower end of which the movement K for the everpointed pencil or
other article is fixed. In this hollow movement cylinder I is contained a flat
spring split into two fangs L at the end which fangs can protrude through a hole
formed in the side of the movement cylinder 1. The other longitudinal slot c¹.in
the aforesaid conducting tube or movement carrier C, Figures 5 and 6 is provided
for a pin i to work in which is fixed on the hollow movement cylinder I.
The movement carrier or conducting tube C Figures 5 and 6 is also provided
with two cross slots one c³ towards the upper end and the other c³ towards tho

page_text: lower end, for the protruding fangs L of the flat spring to enter in the advanced or
withdrawn position of the movement K with its cylinder I.
The conducting tube or movement carrier C is contained in the sleeve "D
Figures 7 and 8 which is fixed to the cap A and is provided with a slot d' Figure 8
running down nearly to its lower end for the guide pin of the movement
cylinder I to work through, for preventing that pin from getting out of place
The sleeve D is also provided with another slot say on the opposite side as shown
at d Figure 7 running down nearly to its lower end which slot is wide enough in
its upper part for the fangs L of the aforesaid flat spring to work freely in but in
the lower part tapers off to a narrower width so as to compress the two fangs or
sides of the split end of the flat spring, and then widens out sharply to a T-shaped
part d³ wide enough for the expanded fangs to enter and in that position holding
the movement cylinder I. The whole of the aforesaid mechanism or parts are
contained in the usual outer casing M, Figure 2 which may be of gold or other
precious or ornamental material.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:-When the movement I K is all
withdrawn into the casing M and the laterally protruding fangs L of the flat spring
are in the uppermost cross slot c² and it is desired to throw out the pencil move-
ment pressure is applied say by the thumb against the upper movable cap A thus
compressing the stronger spring B and pressing on the conducting tube or movement
carrier C; at the same time the sleave D to which the cap A is fixed, is pushed forward
and the weaker spring E is compressed. When the sleeve D is advanced so far that
the upper end of its spring fang slot comes against the protruding fangs L these
latter will be pushed in thereby, and the flat spring in the movement cylinder being
thus released the pencil movement cylinder I will by the pressure of the weaker
helical spring E be shot out of the casing M to the required distance determined by the
lower longitudinal slot c¹ in the conducting tube or movement carrier C. The fangs L
of the flat spring will then enter the lower cross slot c³ in the movement carrier C
for the purpose of holding the pencil movement I K in its extended or advanced
position. The weaker spring E thereby becomes extended to its uncompressed or
powerless state. When the pressure of the thumb is taken off the movable cap A
the sleeve D returns to its original position and the weaker spring E is put in
tension again thus the bolt H which by the screw f connects the pencil movement
cylinder I with the sleeve D the former I being in its forward position and the
latter D in its back position. When it is desired to cause the pencil movement I K
to be withdrawn into the casing a slight pressure is applied against the same cap A
or top whereby the stronger spring B is somewhat compressed and the sleeve D
pressed forward until the two protruding fangs L are pushed in by means of
the two upper sides of the T shaped part d³ of the slot d in the sleeve; the flat
spring being thus released the pencil movement IK is freo to be pulled back by the
weaker spring E until the fangs L enter the upper cross slot c³ in the movement
carrior C. Instead of using a flat split spring I may as shown in the modification
side view of movement cylinder I use a flat spring with one protruding fang L
and I then split the sleeve D shown from opposite sides in the two side views
Figures 11 and 12 or so to say carry the slot d' right through at the lower end
thus causing the two sides to act as springs to allow the fang L to pass into the
Tshaped part d³ of the slot d².
A modified but more complicated mode of construction is by employing one
helical spring for drawing in the movement one stronger spring for shooting it
out one still stronger cap spring for drawing the sleeve back into position and
bringing the weakest spring into tension. Figures 13 to 16 are detail views of the
interior parts of such an everpointed pencil. The narrow lower part of the fang
slot d³ in the sleeve D Figure 15 is then made in an oblique direction as shown
and weakest coil spring E is twisted for the purpose of keeping the fang L of the
flat spring in one position so that when it has travelled up the oblique slot d³ it
will twist slightly round and come in contact with the end of the sleeve. The

page_text: transverse slot at the lower end of the conducting tube or movement carrier C is
made slightly slanting. The other parts of the holder are similar to those already
described. The flat spring L is here shown as made in one with the movement
cylinder I.
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
First In holders for pencil cases, knife blades, pen holders, tooth picks and
other articles the combination of a comparatively strong spring in a sliding cap at
upper end of the holder of a comparatively weak spring loosely connected to the
movement cylinder and to the movement carrier, of spring fangs on the movement
cylinder suitable cross slots therefor in the movement carrier and of a suitable
T slot therefor in an outer enclosing sleeve fixedly connected to the said cap all
constructed and operating in such manner that when the movement is to be shot
out of the case an end pressure for that purpose is applied to the cap, the stronger
spring is compressed, the movement carrier pushed forward, the weaker spring
compressed the fangs forced inwards by the sleeve the weaker spring thereby
released and the movement shot out the spring fang being then held in a cross slot
so that when the pressure is thereupon released the stronger spring flies back and
by the aforesaid loose connection pulls the weaker spring in tension and keeps it
thus, and that when the movement to be retracted and a light end pressure is
applied to the cap the stronger spring is compressed sufficiently to cause the sleeve
to force the spring fangs inwards whereupon the weaker previously extended
spring is free to pull the movement in again the spring fangs being then held in a
cross slot.
Second-The combination of parts forming the holder described with reference
to Figures 1 to 9.
Third: The combination of parts forming the holder described with reference to
Figures 10 to 12.
Fourth-The modified construction of holder described with reference to
Figures 13 to 16 in which one spring is employed for drawing in the movement, a
stronger spring for shooting it out and a still stronger cap spring for drawing the
sleeve back and bringing the weakest spring into tension.
Dated this 26th day of February 1885.