Improvements in Lead Pencils.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Lead Pencils.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MUSSON, of No. 1410 Marquette Building, Chicago,..
County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following:
statement:-
My invention relates to movable-lead pencils, and to means for conveniently
moving such leads.
The invention, with modifications and details, is illustrated in the accompanying:
drawings...
Figure 1 is a section through a pencil with lead oval in cross-section ;
Figure 2, a like view of a pencil with modified tip';
Figure 3, a detail of a hexagonal lead;
Figures 4 and 5, enlarged cross-sections through Figure 1 ;
Figures 6 and 7, details of the tip; and
Figures 8 and 9, cross-sectional details of a modified tip.
A is a body, preferably of wood, with central aperture B and head B'. The
lead, variously shaped, is placed in the aperture. C is an oval lead, C' a round
lead, C' a hexagonal lead. C³ is a lead without screw-thread, C' is a screw-.
threaded lead. The tip D on the forward end of the case has the outer small.
apertured portion, D', and the inner preferably spring and slotted portion D². By
this means it is held to the case. It has also an annular chamber D³, slotted to.
receive the internal screw-threaded milled nut E or washer E which extend.
through the openings in such annular chamber so as to be reached by thumb and
finger. The washers J J may be used to hold the lead in position. They are-
used in conjunction with a load having a cross-section other than circular, and
when the aperture in the body A is not of such shape or size as to prevent the
rotation of the lead when the screw-threaded nut is turned. K is a side pressure
device to hold the lead if it is round in oross-section. The lead may or may not.
be threaded or it may be only partially threaded when put into use.
The real essence of my invention cousists in having a lead, an apertured case in
which it lies, the two related and shaped and provided with devices so that the
lead may be reciprocated by a thumb-controlled device while being in one case
rotated and in the other held from rotation, as shown and described.
In the form shown in Figure 2, the size and weight of the lead is such that it.
fits somewhat snugly in the aperture of the case, and the outer tip G being turned,
the lead will be reciprocated. This figure is on a smaller scale than the others..
The nut may be screw-threaded to either cut a screw on the lead, or to travel in
a screw on the lead, in which event the lead is in some manner prevented from.
rotating.
If the nut or threaded part is held from rotation, the washer may rotate the
lead, thus causing its thread to be cut or operated upon by the screw-threaded.
portion.
I have used the term "lead" pencil, but I mean to be understood thereby as
including all forms of marking devices to which my invention would be applicable.
In most cases, as suggested, the leads could be smooth when put into the pencil,
or screw-threaded for a part of their length, the threaded portion of the mechanism.

page_text: either cutting the thread on the leads or completing the same or traveling in the
same if completed. With this explanation I have drawn the following claims:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I deolare that what-I
claim is :-
1. In an automatic lead pencil the combination of a body having a longitudinal
aperture with a cross-section other than circular, with a lead having a cross-section
to fit the aperture and thus prevent its rotation, a tip through which the lead
passes, an annular chamber in the tip and a thumb-nut in the annular chamber
through which the lead passes and whereby it is reciprocated.
2. An automatic lead pencil consisting of a body having a longitudinal aperture,
a lead screw-threaded throughout its length, and of such size as to snugly fit and
make a holding frictional engagement with the walls of the aperture, and a device
engaging the threads of the lead and rotatably mounted on the body so as when
rotated to reciprocate the lead along the body.
3. In an automatic lead pencil the combination of a body with a central longi-
tudinal aperture, a lead having a cross-section other than circular and free to
rotate and reciprocate in the aperture, a screw-threaded part in the aperture
adapted to engage the lead, and a thumb-controlled washer having an aperture
which fits the lead and which when turned rotates the lead.
4. An automatio or movable-lead lead-pencil substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.