IMPROVEMENTS IN PEN OR PENCIL HOLDERS, AND IN ATTACHMENTS THERETO FOR FACILITATING THE ACQUISITION OF WRITING AND FOR GENERAL USE
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I ALFRED HALEY of 10 Coleman St in the City of London Agent & Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PEN OR PENCIL HOLDERS, AND IN ATTACHMENTS THERETO FOR FACILITATING THE
ACQUISITION OF WRITING AND FOR GENERAL USE" to be as follows :—
The first part of my invention consists in constructing pen or pencil holders with
what I term a "Tubular finger rest or guide" whereby the points of the fingers are
caused to lay hold of the instrument in a natural manner, and ensures its being held
in a correct position.
The said Tubular finger rest or guide may be permanently attached to, or form
part of the holder; or it may be constructed as a separate attachment to fix to any
ordinary penholder. It may consist of any suitable material and may be made of
cylindrical, spherical, barrel, bulbous, or other suitable configuration.
This as well as the 'second part of my invention will be readily understood from
the following description, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings
where the corresponding parts in each figure are indicated by like letters.
Fig 1. shows the "Tubular finger rest or guide" permanently attached to a
penholder, and viewed obliquely as held whilst writing. It consists substantially
of a short length of light tube (a) somewhat larger in diameter than the holder
which it encircles. The ends of the said tube may be closed on to the holder, or
end pieces may be introduced to secure it, and keep it concentric therewith, so that
a vacant space is left between it and the holder.
Openings b. c. d for the insertion of the forefinger, the second finger, and the
thumb respectively are formed in the tube, in such a manner as to follow the
natural bent, or the position it is desired that the fingers should assume in writing.
In some cases however I dispense with the thumb opening.
Fig 2. shews a method of constructing the Tubular finger rest or guide as &
separate attachment. In this case one or more slits are cut in each end of a short
length of tube which are then bent or closed in so as to encompass the holder, and
form as it were a "spring clip" so as to render it adaptable to any size of ordinary
holder. That part of an ordinary holder however where the pen is inserted may
be here be dispensed with as it can be secured between the holder and the ends of
the finger rest or guide as herein before described,

page_text: Fig 3 shews another modification of my invention. In this case the impress of
the fingers is first taken in some plastic material placed round the holder so as to
obtain a cast, from which a mould may be made to form the finger rest or guide in
vulcanite, gutta percha, papier maché, or other suitable material.-Although the
openings for the fingers are here represented with the faces flat across, I prefer
to make them "undercut so that the finger points may come in contact with
the edges alone. This modification of my invention may also be formed in
one piece with the holder or may consist in a separate attachment as hereinbefore
described.
"
It will be evident that the end in view may also be partly attained by a
construction composed wholly or partly of wire, such a modification is shewn at
Fig 7 but although I lay claim to such manner of accomplishment I do not approvo
of the plan as the fingers are apt to become misplaced.
The second part of my invention consists in combining with the aforesaid
Tubular finger rest or guide certain mechanical actions with a view of assisting the
movement of the fingers in writing:
Fig 4 gives a sectional view of an arrangement in accordance with the foregoing,
wherein the holder is caused to oscillate on a pin (h) passing through the Tubular
finger rest or guide, the ends of which in this case are left open. When in use the
holder would assume the position shown, but when the pressure exercised in
writing is removed it would assume the position shewn by the dotted lines, the
small spiral spring shewn at (2) becoming relaxed or distended.
Fig 5 is a view also in section, of another arrangement where I give the holder a
slight sliding movement. In this case the holder is provided with a collar (e)
which confines a light spiral spring (f) between it and the back end of the
Tubular rest or guide. "The pin (g) and slot keeping it from turning and limiting
its movement endwise.
6. A pin
movement.
By another arrangement I cause the holder to have a partial rotary movement
in the Tubular rest or guide, this I'effect by' confining the rest or guide between
collars placed on the holder at each end thereof so as to prevent any endwise
movement; one of the collars aforesaid being notched out as i
placed in the end of the Tubular finger rest or guide limits its
The object of this arrangement is to enable the heavy downstrokes
phonography.to be struck without altering the position of the wrist or elbow, the
pen being brought to the opposite angles by a slight movement of the thumb.
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page_text: I ALFRED HALEY late of 10 Coleman Street now residing at 59, Rotherfield St.
Essex Road N. do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN PEN OR PENCIL HOLDERS AND IN ATTACHMENTS THERETO &c. and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The 1st part of my Invention consists in constructing pen-holders with what
I now term a Tubular finger guide, or its equivalent as hereinafter described,
whereby the points of the fingers are caused to lay hold of the pen-holder in
such a manner as to ensure its being held in the correct position.
The said Tubular finger guide may be permanently attached to or form part of
the pen-holder, or it may be constructed as a separate and moveable attachment to
any ordinary pen-holder. It may consist of any suitable material and may be
made of cylindrical, spherical, bulbuous, barrel or other suitable configuration. This
as well as the second part of my invention will be readily understood from the
following description, reference being had to the sheet of drawings accompanying
my provisional specification where the corresponding parts in each figure are
indicated by like letters.
Fig 1 shews one method of applying the Tubular finger guide permanently to a
pen-holder. It is represented as viewed obliquely whilst writing and consists
substantially of a short length of tube (a) of somewhat larger diameter than the
pen-holder which it encircles. The ends of the said tube if of metal may be closed
on to the pen-holder, or otherwise end pieces may be introduced, or fixed thereto to
secure it to the pen-holder and keep it concentric therewith so that a hollow space
or chamber is left between it and the penholder. Openings b. c. d are then effected
in the tube for the insertion of the forefinger, the second finger and the thumb
respectively. The said openings being effected in such positions relative to the
pen-nib as to ensure the points of the fingers and thumb when introduced coming
in contact with the pen-bolder at the right places.
Instead of effecting three openings in the Tubular finger guide it may suffice in
some instances to have two or one only.
It will also be evident that a pen-holder may be moulded or carved from the solid
in such a manner as to present substantially the same features as hereinbefore
described without departing from the principle of my invention.
Fig 2. shews a method of constructing the Tubular finger guide as a moveable or
separate attachment in metal. In this case one or more slits are cut in one, or
both ends of a short length of tube, which are then bent or closed in so as to
form as it were a spring clip or clips, which when pushed on to a pen-holder
or pencil would expand and adapt itself to the size-Instead of employing

page_text: tube the guide may be stamped out of sheet metal and "rolled" or formed to the
required shape.
"
That part of the pen-holder which holds the pen and which I term the " barrel
may here be dispensed with and the pen inserted between the "stick" and the
Tubular finger guide; or it may be retained; in either case suitable provision is
made either by a pin, key, or similar device, to bring the finger openings in their
relative position to the pen-nib. In the case of the barrel being of metal
I preferably bend a small piece of the Tubular finger guide, at the end nearest the
pen, inwards so as to take into the slit therein. The barrel may also form a
continuation of the Tubular finger guide and be made in one piece therewith.
Fig 3 shews another modification of my Invention. In this case the impress of
the fingers is first taken in some plastic material placed round the pen-holder so as
to obtain a cast from which a mould may be made to form the finger guide.
Vulcanite, gutta percha, papier maché or other suitable material may be employed.
Although the finger openings are here represented flat across the face I prefer to
make them "undercut", so that the finger points may coine in better contact with
the pen-holder. This modification of my Invention may also be formed in one
piece with the holder or as a separate attachment as hereinbefore described.
The second part of my invention consists in combining with the aforesaid
Tubular finger guide certain mechanical actions, with a view of assisting the
movement of the fingers in writing.
Fig 4 gives a sectional view of an arrangement in accordance with the foregoing
wherein the pen-holder is caused to oscillate on a fixed pin (/) passing through the
tubular finger guide, the ends of which in this case are left open. When in use
the holder would assume the position shewn by the dotted lines, but when not in
use the pressure exercised on the spring (i) being relaxed the pen regains the
position shown.
Fig 5 is another view also in section of an arrangement whereby I give the
holder a slight sliding movement. In this case the holder is provided with a
collar (e) which confines a light spiral spring (f) between it and the back end of
the Tubular finger guide. The pin (g) and slot keeping it from turning and
limiting its movement end wise.
By another arrangement I cause the holder to have a partially rotary movement
in the Tubular finger guide this I effect by confining the finger guide between
collars placed on the holder at each end thereof so as to prevent any end wise
movement. One of the collars being notched out as in Fig 6. A pin placed in the
end of the Tubular finger guide limits its rotary direction. The object of this
arrangement is to enable the heavy downstrokes and in phonography to be
struck without altering the position of the wrist or elbow, the pen being brought
to the opposite angles by a slight movement of the thumb on the holder.
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
1st A Tubular finger guide permanently attached to a pen-holder for the purpose
named, constructed substantially as herein set forth and represented in Fig 1.
2nd The forming of a solid piece of any suitable material by moulding, carving,
or otherwise in such a manner as to present the same features as the Tubular
finger guide permanently attached to a pen-holder as herein described and shewn
at Fig 1.
3rd A Tubular finger guide as a separate or moveable attachment to any ordinary
pen-holder or pencil for the purpose named and substantially as herein described
and shewn at Fig 2.
4th The modification of the said Tubular.finger guide or its equivalent for the
purpose named, and constructed substantially as herein described and shewn at
Tia 3

page_text: 5 The oscillating action of the penholder in the Tubular finger guide for the
purpose named, and constructed as herein set forth and shewn at Fig 4.
6th The sliding movement of the pen-holder in the tubular finger guide for the
purpose named, and constructed as herein set forth and shewn at Fig 5.
7th & last the rotary movement of the pen-holder in the Tubular finger guide
for the purpose named and as herein set forth and shewn at Fig 6.