Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1893--Accepted, 15th Apr., 1893
adjusting the cutting device; and finally, to provide means for preventing the
scattering of the particles of lead and shavings of wood over the floor, desk or
clothes of the operator.
With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain features
of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pencil-sharpener embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a detail plan view.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.
Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the cutter or blade.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the receptacle.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.
In practicing my invention, I employ an oblong box or receptacle 1, formed of
sheet-metal, and provided with a removable snugly-fitting cover 2, which latter has
one of its side walls near its top provided with a pair of clips 3, and its top at the
opposite side thereof adjacent to this side wall provided with a depending flange 4,
whose lower edge is beveled and projects beyond the lower edge of the side wall
and therefore into the box or receptacle.
The box or receptacle has its bottom adjacent to one end provided with a
transverse slot 6, and above the same with a pair of rearwardly-disposed inclined
lugs 7 that project over the slot. In rear of the slot a pair of inclined ways 8 are
located upon the bottom within the receptacle and lead from the back wall thereof
to a point adjacent to the slot.
A pair of bearing-openings are formed in front and rear walls of the receptacle
to one side of the ways 8, and at one side of the slot 6, and in these bearings there
is mounted for rotation a rod 9, which beyond the front wall of the receptacle has
a head 10 and in rear of the rear wall is provided with a button 11 by means of
which the rod may be rotated. Between its ends the rod is screw-threaded as
indicated at 12, and the same passes through a block 13 which is perforated and
threaded for the reception of the rod, whereby when the rod is rotated in one
direction the block is fed forward, and when rotated in the opposite direction it is
fed to the rear.
Supported upon the inclined ways 8 is a cutting blade 15, and the same is of
such width as to adapt its front beveled cutting end 16, to take through and extend
a slight distance beyond the transverse slot 6 formed in the bottom of the
receptacle. This blade at that side thereof adjacent to the threaded rod has a
notch 17, and the same receives and interlocks with the aforesaid block 13 so that
any movement of the block caused by the rotations of the threaded rod will cause
a similar movement upon the part of the blade and in this manner said blade may
be readily adjusted into and out of the slot 6.
This completes the construction of the device, and the operation of the same may
be briefly stated as follows:-The blade having been placed in position, the same is

page_text: adjusted until its lower edge extends a suitable distance through the slot 6. The
cover being in position the clips bear against the inner sides of the side walls of the
box, thus maintaining the cover in position thereon, and the depending flange
having the lower beveled edge rests upon the blade, thus maintaining it upon its
ways and preventing it rising so as to disconnect from the block. The blade
having been adjusted, the pencil is passed forward under the point so as to support
the same, after which the remaining hand is employed to manipulate the sharpener.
The sharpener is manipulated much after the fashion of a plane; that is, it is
reciprocated back and forth over the end of the pencil and is held at such an angle
thereto as to give to said pencil the requisite bevel. That is to say, by holding
the sharpener nearly parallel to the pencil or at an acute angle to the same, the
bevel may be made much longer than if said pencil was held at a greater angle. It
will be seen that the particles of lead and shavings pared from the pencil pass out
through the slot 6 into the receptacle where they are stored, and whereby they are
prevented from becoming scattered over the floor, the clothes of the operator, or
the desk. At intervals the cover of the receptacle may be removed and the
latter inverted so as to deposit the contents in the waste-basket, or other
receptacle.
It is intended to construct the device of light sheet-metal, either nickeled or
japanped, and suitably ornamented, and when completed it will be found not only a
useful compendium to the desk, but also ornamental.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a pencil-sharpener, the combination with a receptacle provided near one
end with a transverse slot and in rear of the same with ways, of a removable cover
for the receptacle, a blade mounted for sliding on the ways and having its front end
beveled to a cutting edge, and means for adjusting the blade upon the ways and its
edge through the slot, substantially as specified.
2. In a
pencil-sharpener, the combination with a receptacle provided near its
front end with a slot, inclined ways mounted in the receptacle in rear of the slot, a
blade mounted loosely on the ways, means for adjusting the blade, and a cover
removably mounted on the receptacle and provided with an internal depending
flange having the lower inclined edge agreeing with the ways and located over the
blade, substantially as specified.
3. In a pencil-sharpener, the combination with the oblong receptacle provided at
one end upon its bottom with a transverse slot, inclined ways in rear of the slot, a
blade mounted on the ways adapted to be projected through the slot and provided
at one side of the ways with a notch, bearing-openings in the front and rear ends of
the receptacle, a rod journaled in the bearing-openings and provided in rear of the
same with a head, threads formed on the rod between its ends, a block perforated
and threaded to loosely receive the rod and engaged with the notch of the blade of
a cover removably mounted on the receptacle, substantially as specified.
4. In a pencil-sharpener, the combination with the oblong receptacle provided at
its front end in its bottom with a transverse slot, in rear of the same with inclined
ways, and a cover for the receptacle, of a blade mounted on the inclined ways, an
adjusting rod located at one side of the blade, and a loose block threaded on the
adjusting rod and connected with the blade, substantially as specified.
Dated this 10th day of March 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.