IMPROVEMENTS IN PENHOLDERS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PENHOLDERS."-A communication from abroad by
Emile Barberot, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 12th January 1872, and dated the 17th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 17th July 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENHOLDERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of penholder, the
improvements consisting in novel means for removing or detaching the
pen nib without soiling the fingers.
I am aware that penholders have already been made to discharge the
nib either by the aid of springs or slides, but the present arrangement

page_text: differs entirely from those before in use, is very simple in its con-
struction and action, and may be adapted to all kinds and sizes of
pens hitherto used with ordinary penholders.
I employ two short concentric tubes fitted to turn one on the other,
the inner tube being fixed to the penholder by a pin or otherwise. Both
tubes are cut away towards the extremity so as to form two semi-
circular portions between which the nib is gripped while the inner
tube is prolonged a little beyond the outer one, and has two small
projecting lugs, one on each side, which are bent over the outer tube
and serve to retain it in position. It is also split so as to give it a
certain amount of elasticity and facilitate the introduction of the nib.
The outer tube may also be similarly split if desired to adapt it to receive
nibs of different sizes. This outer tube may be provided at its end with
four projections bent at right angles with the holder to form a support
for the pen, and also to prevent its rolling when laid down; or the end
of the tube may be simply bent outwards without being formed with
projections, as described against which the lugs or ears of the inner
tube would abut. The tubes thus fitted can be readily rotated the one
on the other in either direction, and so long as the two semicircular
parts remain juxtaposed the nib will be held between them, but imme-
diately one of them is uncovered by the rotation of the one or other
tube, the nib will be freed from the holder.
One of the especial features of the Invention consists in the appli-
cation of the two small projecting lugs or cars on the inner tube, which
when the latter is turned bear against one side of the nib and disengage
it from the holder, or when the outer tube is turned serve to retain
the nib in position on the inner tube.
Another advantage consists in the absence of solder or rivets in putting
the parts together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th January 1872.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PENHOLDERS," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Emile Barberot, of 13, Boulevard St.
Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an in-
strument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thercon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of penholder, the
improvements consisting in novel means for removing or detaching
the pen nib without soiling the fingers.
I am aware that penholders have already been made to discharge the
nib either by the aid of springs or slides, but the present arrangement
differs entirely from those before in use, is very simple in its construction
and action, and may be adapted to all kinds and sizes of pens hitherto
used with ordinary penholders.

page_text: I employ two short concentric tubes fitted to turn one on the other,
the inner tube being fixed to the penholder stick by means of a collar
fixed by a pin or otherwise. Both tubes are cut away towards the
extremity so as to form two semicircular portions, botween which the
nib is gripped while the inner tube is prolonged a little beyond the
outer one, and has two small projections, one on each side, which are
bent over the outer tube and serve to retain it in position. It is also
split so as to give it a certain amount of elasticity and facilitate the
introduction of the nib. The outer tube may also be similarly split,
if desired to adapt it to receive nibs of different sizes. This outer tube
may be provided at its end with four projections bent at right angles
with the holder to prevent the nib touching the desk or table, and also
to prevent the penholder rolling when laid down, or the end of the tube
may be simply bent outwards at the edge without being formed with
projections, as described, against which the projections or ears of the
inner tube would abut. The tubes thus fitted can be readily rotated, the
one on or in the other, and so long as the two semicircular parts remain
luxtaposed the nib will be held between them, but immediately one
of them is uncovered by the rotation of other other tube the nib will be
freed from the holder.
One of the especial features of the Invention consists in the appli-
cation of the two small projecting lugs or cars in the inner tube which
when the latter is turned bear against one side of the nib and disengage
it from the holder, or when the outer tube is turned serve to retain
the nib in position on the inner tube.
Another advantage consists in the absence of solder or rivets in putting
Figure 1 is a part sectional longitudinal view of a penholder drawn
on a considerably enlarged scale with the nib held therein; Figure 2
is a similar view taken at right angles to Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the
pen nib released from the clip from which it falls as shown in Figure 3*;
Figure 4 shows an end view of the holder, Figure 1, with the pen held
therein; Figure 5, an end view of Figure 3; while Figure 6 shows an
end view and Figure 7 a part longitudinal section of the outer tube

page_text: provided with projecting ears for the purpose before mentioned. The
same reference letters apply to all these Figures.
a, penholder stick; b, inner tube; d, collar for fixing the inner and
retaining the outer tube c; e, lateral projections formed on the inner
tube for the purpose before mentioned, besides which they serve to
retain the tube c on tube b; f, pen nib. If desired the tubes b, c, may
be split longitudinally, as shown, in order that by their elasticity they
may be prevented from turning freely one on the other, and may grip the
nib inserted between them, or the inner tube alone may have a slit i
of T form (shown in Figure 8) on the upper or under side so as to
permit of its being expanded and made to fit tightly within the tube c.
To facilitate the insertion of the pen between the tubes, and offer more
resistance to the rotation of the tube c than that obtained by the friction
of the ears e against the thickness of metal of tube c the edge of the
latter is slightly splayed' out at the end g, or it may terminate in four
projecting cars h, h, (Figures 6 and 7,) which also serve to prevent
rolling or the pen touching the desk or table when laid down.
Figures 9 and 10 show two views of the penholder at right angles, in
which a simplified mode of forming the projections on the holder is
adopted, whereby increased strength is obtained, and they are not liable
to become bent out of shape or to be broken through falls or end
pressure of one tube on the other.
The improvements consist in stamping small raised heads or bosses A
at the end of the tube b, as a substitute for the ears before described,
and for a similar purpose.
Figures 11, 12, and 13, show some modifications in the details of
construction of the penholder. Figure 11 being a longitudinal view
of the two tubes inserted one in the other; while Figures 12 and 13
show an under side and side view of the inner tube.
These improvements consist, 1st, in bending back the ears e, e, on the
outer tube c. 2ndly. In cutting a tongue x in the inner tube to
form a spring to bear on the inside of the outer tube, and ensure the
proper degree of friction between the two tubes when turned one on
the other.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be

page_text: protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
construction of penholder described and illustrated, consisting of two
split or partially split tubes, turning one on the other, and provided
with projections as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.