Improvements in and Connected with Cases for Pencils, Pens, or other Articles.
Year: 1887

page_text: PROVISIONAL DI BUIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Cases for Pencils, Pens, or
other Articles.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Henry Berolzheimer, of the City County and State
of New York, in the United States of America, Manufacturer, to be as follows:-
The present invention bas relation to the type of case or instrument illustrated in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 1046 of February 27, 1883, viz.-an
instrument in which is comprised a divided sheath or handle, having its parts longi-
tudinally movable with respect to each other and distinct grasping mechanisms-one
for each part of the handle-connected together, and each adapted to engage the
device or article to be contained in its part of the handle, in combination with retracting
spring mechanism which normally holds the parts of the sheath in a position in which
the grasping mechanisms will engage the device to be held by them.
The devices or articles to be held or contained in the case may be of any desired
kind, but for simplicity of description I will mention a pencil or pencil lead and a
penholder, each to project from its own end of the case.
The grasping mechanism for the lead is substantially that of the "automatic" pencil
so called, such as set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 5165 of
A.D. 1879. The grasping mechanism for the penholder is substantially that of what
is now known in the market as the "Arrow penholder such as set forth in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 1580 of A.D. 1887.
There is provided a sheath or handle with a penholder sliding freely therein and
having a tubular stock or shank which fits within the said handle so as give steadiness
to the penholder. There is also a spring closed cover or stopper for the penholder end
of the sheath, hinged or loosely jointed to a pusher rod, and adapted, when the pen-
holder is protruded, to engage a notch in the latter all substantially as described in the
said Specification of Letters Patent No. 1580 of 1887.
The pusher rod, however, unlike that described in the last named Specification, is
tubular and is closed at its end adjoining the said cover so as to form a lead-receiving
tube, similar to the longitudinally movable lead receiver of the "automatic" pencil
described in the said Specification of Letters Patent No. 5165 of 1879.

page_text: The end of this tube from which the lead is intended to project terminates in spring
expanding clamping jaws similar to the clamping jaws of an automatic "pencil; and
these jaws are (by a retracting spring hereinafter described) normally closed by being
drawn against the contracted portion of the tip. The tip beyond its contracted portion
is expanded into a globular or other suitably shaped nozzle (perforated for the passage
of the lead) which completely covers and shields the lead grasping jaws, there being
sufficient room within it for the longitudinal movement of the jaws necessary to permit
them to move far enough away from the contracted portion or neck to allow of their
expansion, and the consequent release of the lead. This feature, viz. the covering
of the jaws by the nozzle is a feature which may be applied to the ordinary "automatic
pencil, as well as to the present instrument, although in the present application it has
the added advantage of furnishing a convenient knob or pressure button or cap for
operating the cover at the other end as hereinafter explained. I may state here that
I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a covering sleeve or nozzle which
completely conceals and covers the jaws. But in such devices the covering sleeve or
nozzle heretofore used has been distinct and separate from the tip which compresses the
jaws, whereas in this arrangement no separate sleeve is employed, but the covering
nozzle is merely a prolongation of the compressing tip.
The tip which, in effect, forms part of the sheath or handle is made longitudinally.
moveable with reference to said handle for the purpose of forming a spring retracted
pressure cap for operating the cover or stopper.
To this end it fits and is adapted to slide back and forth in a sleeve fixed in the
pencil end of the handle, said sleeve being provided as a convenient receptacle for a
coiled spring which is confined between a shoulder in the tip and a washer which brings
up against an inturned annular flange on the inner end of the sleeve. This washer fits
loosely around the tubular rod and a projection on the said rod is so placed that when
the rod is pushed in a direction to advance the lead-grasping jaws the said projection
will bear against and push forward the washer, thus compressing the spring. When
pressure on the rod is removed, the spring by its expansion will retract the jaws and
draw them again into contact with the contracted neck of the tip. It will be
seen that in this arrangement by pressing inward the tip against the stress
of the spring the head or nozzle by bearing against the jaws will press forward the
rod and will thus operate the stopper or cover and cause it to open. As soon as this
pressure is removed from the tip, the retracting spring at once returns the parts to
their normal position.
It remains to describe the manner of operating the jaws in order to cause, them to
expand and thus release the lead; which operation is brought about by a longitudinal
movement of the tubular rod in a direction opposite to that in which it moves in
opening the stopper.
For this purpose the rod is jointed not directly to the cover or stopper, but to a rod
which passes through the stopper and is provided with a presser cap, between the head
of which and the opposite end of the interior of the hollow stopper is confined a spiral
spring tending to hold the said rod normally retracted outwardly. By pushing the
pressure cap inwardly it will be caused to push the tabular lead holding rod in the
direction necessary to permit the lead holding jaws to expand. As soon as this
pressure is removed the retracting spring returns the parts to normal position, the
spring below assisting in this action and also steadying and assuring the position of
the rod and pressure cap.

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Cases for Pencils, Pens, or
other Articles.
1 JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Henry Berolzheimer of the City County and
State of New York in the United States of America Manufacturer and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :--
The present invention has relation to the type of case or instrument illustrated in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 1046 of February 27 1883-iz. an instrument in
which is comprised a divided sheath or handle, having its parts longitudinally movable
with respect to each other and distinct grasping mechanisms-one for each part
of the handle--connected together, and each adapted to engage the device or article
to be contained in its part of the handle, in combination with retracting spring
mechanism which normally holds the parts of the sheath in a position in which the
grasping mechanisms will engage the device to be held by them.
The nature of the improvement and the manner in which the same is or may be
carried into effect can best be explained by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which I have shown it applied as a penholder and a pencil holder.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section partly in elevation of the instrument with
the penholder protruding from its end of the sheath and the lead retracted.
Figure 2 is a like sectional elevation representing the lead projecting from its end
of the sheath, while the penholder is drawn back.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the instrument with both lead and penholder
retracted.
::
The devices or articles to be held or contained in the case may be of any desired
kind but for simplicity of description I assume that a pencil or pencil lead and a
pen
holder are the objects selected each to project from its own end of the case.
The grasping mechanism for the lead is substantially that of the "automatic pencil
so called, such as set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 5165 of
A.D. 1879. The grasping mechanism for the penholder is substantially that of what
is now known in the market as the "Arrow" penholder such as set forth in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 1580 of A.D. 1887.
A is the case sheath or handle-B is the penholder sliding freely within the handle
and having a tubular stock or sbank which fits within the said handle so as to give
steadiness to the penholder. C is the spring closed cover or stopper for the penholder
end of the sheath, hinged or loosely jointed to its pusher rod G, and adapted when

page_text: the penholder is protruded, to engage a notch a in the latter as seen in Figure 1-
all substantially as described in the said Specification of Letters Patent No. 1580
of 1887.
The pusher rod G however-unlike that described in the last named Specification-
is tubular and is closed at its end adjoining the said cover C, so as to form a lead
receiving tube, similar to the longitudinally movable lead receiver of the "automatic"
pencil described in the said Specification of Letters Patent No. 5165 of 1879.
The end of this tube G from which the lead is intended to project terminates in
spring expanding clamping jaws e similar to the clamping jaws of an automatic'
pencil and these jaws are (by a retracting spring hereinafter described) normally
closed by being drawn against the contracted portion 6 of the tip T. The tip beyond
its contracted portion is expanded into a globular or other suitably shaped nozzle T¹
(perforated for the passage of the lead) which completely covers, and shields the lead
grasping jaws there being sufficient room within the part T for the longitudinal
movement of the jaws necessary to permit them to move far enough away from the
contracted portion or neck to allow of their expansion, and the consequent release of
the lead. This feature, viz. the covering of the jaws by the nozzle T is a feature
which may be applied to the ordinary "automatic" pencil, as well as to the combination
instrument represented in the drawings-although in the instance last named it has
the added advantage of furnishing a convenient knob or pressure button or cap for
operating the cover C, as will be hereinafter explained. I may state here that I am
aware that it is not broadly new to provide a covering sleeve or nozzle which
completely conceals and covers the jaws. But in such devices the covering sleeve or
nozzle heretofore used has been distinct and separate from the tip which compresses
the jaws, whereas in this arrangement no separate sleeve is employed, but the covering
nozzle is merely a prolongation of the compressing tip.
The tip, which in effect, forms part of the sheath or case A is made longitudinally
moveable with reference to said part A, for the purpose of forming a spring retracted
pressure cap for operating the cover or stopper C.
To this end it fits and is adapted to slide back and forth in a sleeve D fixed in the
pencil end of the handle A-said sleeve being provided as a convenient receptacle for
the coiled spring E which is confined between a shoulder d in the tip and a
washer which brings up against an inturned annular flange e on the inner end of
the sleeve D. This washer d¹ fits loosely around the tubular rod G;
and at
projection on the said rod G is so placed lat when the rod is pushed in a direction
to advance the lead grasping jaws the said projection ƒ will bear against and push
forward the washer d thus compressing the spring E. When pressure on the rod G
is removed, the spring by its expansion will retract the jaws and draw them again
into contact with the contracted neck of the tip.
It will be seen that in this arrangement by pressing inward the tip T, against the
stress of the spring E, the head or nozzle T¹ by bearing against the jaws will press
forward the rod G and will thus operate the stopper or cover C and cause it to open.
As soon as this pressure is removed from the tip, the retracting spring E at once
returns the parts to their normal position.
It remains to describe the manner of operating the jaws in order to cause them to
expand and thus release the lead which operation is brought about by a longitudinal
movement of the tubular rod G in a direction opposite to that in which it moves in
opening the stopper C.
For this purpose the rod G is jointed not directly to the cover or stopper C, but to
a rod which passes through the stopper and is provided with a presser cap h,
between the head of which and the opposite end of the interior of the hollow stopper
is confined a spiral spring i, the said spring tending to hold the rod g normally
retracted outwardly. By pushing the pressure cap i inwardly it will be caused to
push the tubular lead holding rod G in the direction necessary to permit the lead
holling jaws to expand. As soon as this pressuro is removed the retracting spring E
returns the parts to normal position-the spring assisting in this action and also
steadying and assuring the position of the rod and pressure cap g, i.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is : :-
1. The combination with the sheath the longitudinally movable lead containing
tube or rod, and the lead grasping mechanism situated at one end of the sheath, of
the cover or stopper placed at and adapted to close the opposite end of the sheath and
hinged or loosely jointed to the said longitudinally moveable lead containing tube, or
rod and the retracting spring operating to move the said tube or rod in the direction
necessary to cause the stopper to close its end of the sheath.
2. The combination with the sheath, the longitudinally movable lead containing
tube or the like and clamping jaws, the longitudinally moveable compressing tip for
the said jaws, and the retracting spring, of the freely sliding penholder or other
article adapted to project from the end of the sheath opposite to that from which the
lead or the like projects, and the cover or stopper, hinged or loosely jointed to the
said stopper-the combination being and acting substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in an automatic" pencil holder with the sheath, the lead
containing tube and the lead grasping jaws, of a jaw compressing tip, provided with
a nozzle T which covers and conceals the said jaws and is perforated for the passage
of the lead, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
4. The combination of the sheath or case and the cover or stopper, of the longi-
tudinally movable lead containing tube or the like forming a pusher rod for the said
cover or stopper and the presser rod mounted and longitudinally moveable in the
said stopper and hinged or loosely jointed to the said lead containing tube or the like
as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
5. The combination of the longitudinally moveable lead containing tube or the
like, the sheath, the cover or stopper C, the presser rod and cap mounted and longi-
tudinally moveable in the said stopper, and hinged or loosely pointed to the said tube,
and the spring, as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
6. The combination of the sheath the longitudinally moveable lead containing tube
or the like terminating at its outer end in clamping jaws, the longitudinally moveable
jaw compressing tip or nozzle, the tracting spring E, the cover or stopper C, the
freely sliding tubular holder for
or other article, the longitudinally moveable
presser rod mounted in and carrie he stopper and hinged or loosely jointed to the
lead containing tube or the like. the spring these parts being arranged
***
together for joint operation substan.ally as and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth.