Improvements in Lead Pencils
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 4th Oct., 1887.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52, Chancery Lane,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, which has been communicated to me from abroad by Byron
Benjamin Goldsmith, of New York City, State of New York, United States of
America, Gentleman, 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 "Improvements in Lead Pencils," and consists in a stick
or handle having a lead containing space formed in it longitudinally a movable cap
attached to a lead holding tube; a spring to retract the lead, and means for holding
a rubber or other crasive material; all so combined and arranged that the lead can be
protruded and retracted at will from the end of the pencil stick, the stick being cut
away as the lead wears off; and the devices are so arranged that when the lead is
retracted the rubber will be covered by a protecting tube or sheath, so that it will
not become soiled.
In the Drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal section of my pencil. Figure 2 illustrates a plan
of the rubber holding tube. Figure 3 illustrates a plan of the rubber protecting and
lead operating sheath. Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 illustrates an alternative construction:
Figure 4 showing a longitudinal section thereof; Figure 5 showing a plan of the
rubber holding tube thereof; Figure 6 showing a plan of the rubber protecting and
lead operating sheath thereof; Figure 7 showing a plan of the sliding washer at the
upper end of the lead holding tube thereof. Figure 8 illustrates a modified
construction of the devices shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7. Figure 9 illustrates a
modified construction of the slot in the lead holding tube. Figure 10 illustrates
devices whereby the lead holding devices may be removed from the pencil stick for
renewing the lead should it become broken, or substituting one lead for another.
Referring first, to Figures 1, 2, and 3: A is the stick or handle of the pencil; it is
preferably made of wood, and resembles the ordinary pencil sticks. It may, however,
be made of any other material, the pointed end whereof can be cut away or otherwise
removed as the lead wears off; B is a longitudinal recess or bore made through the
Pin1

page_text: stick from end to end; C is a metallic tube rigidly attached to the upper end of the
stick A, at its outer end it holds a stick or piece of rubber or other erasive material
as usual in such devices; D, D, are slots made in the tube C having a bayonet-joint
recess at their lower ends; there are preferably two of these slots, one on each side of
the tube; E is another metallic tube so much larger than the tube C as to slide freely
on it longitudinally; F, F, are two ears or lugs extending inwardly from the inner
side of the tube E, which are preferably cut out from the metal of the tube itself as
shown. They are of such a size as to fit and move easily in the slots D, D; G is a
washer of such diameter as to slide freely in the tube C, and H is a lead-holding tube
preferably, but not necessarily, split as shown, which is attached to the washer G.
The cars F extend so far through the slots D inwardly as to overlap the washer I is
a spiral spring shouldered at one end against the end of the pencil, and at the other,
against the washer; J is the lead; J¹ is the rubber. The ends of the slots D act as
stops against the ears F determining the movement of the tube E.
The operation of the pencil as thus far described, is as follows:-
9
The lead is entered at the pointed end of the stick A, and is pushed into the lead-
holding tube H, and is firmly held therein.
Now, to uncover the rubber and expose the lead both at the same time, the tube E
is pushed downwardly, the ears F carrying the washer G, the lead-holding tube H
and the lead J with it, and compressing the spring I, the cars F slide through the
slots D. When the ears F of the tube E reach the bottom of the slot, the tube is
turned or twisted slightly relative to the stick A, and the cars moving laterally, enter
the bayonet-joint recesses, and thus lock the parts in their then position, the lead being
projected from the pointed end of the pencil and the rubber being exposed for use at
the other end. To retract the lead and recover the rubber the tube E is simply turned
or twisted back again freeing the ears from the bayonet-joints and then, being released,
the spring returns the parts to their position as shown in Figure 1. As the lead wears
off, the point of the pencil stick is cut away. The slot may be made in the lead-
holding tube at an angle to the central line of the tube, as shown in Figure 9, with
the advantage that if made, it will not be necessary to turn the tube E by hand,
because the action of the spring upon withdrawing the pressure on the tube, will cause
the ears F to enter the bayonet-joint recesses which by reason of the inclination of
the slot are directly above the ears F, when they are at the bottom of the slot. To
retract the lead the tube E must of course, be turned to release the ears from the
bayonet-joint recess. This construction is especially desirable when no rubber is used,
because then simply pressing the end of the inverted pencil on the table or like
support, will protrude the lead, and it will lock itself in a protruded position.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, illustrate a modified construction. The stick A, lead J,
rubber J, lead-holding tube H, and spring I, are all substantially the same as the
like parts shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
The tube C, however, has indented screw threads or spiral depressions K, K, formed
in its interior, and the rubber-protecting, and lead-operating tube E has two
depressions L, L, forming interior projections, which engage with the spiral
depressions K, K, of the tube C, these two features constituting practically male and
female threads. The tube E has also two straight slots M, M, formed longitudinally
in it, in which slide two projections N, N, extending from opposite sides of the
washer G. These projections N, N, extend so far through the slots M, M, as to
engage with the lower end of the tube E; the rubber J is held by the tube C the
same as before described.
The operation is as follows
The lead is introduced as before stated. The tube E being then turned or twisted
relative to the stick A, the projections L engaging with the spiral depressions K, K,
cause the tube E to travel down the tube C, carrying the washer G, tube H and
lead J with it, because of the impingement of the projections N of the washer G
against the lower end of the tube E, the spring being compressed. The lead is thus
projected and the rubber is exposed. The parts will remain in any position in which
the tube E may be left, the pitch of the threads or depressions K being such, that

page_text: pressure on the point of the lead will not retract it. Upon turning back the tube E,
the spring causes the washer and its attached parts to follow the tube E up, thus
retracting the lead. This modification of my invention is different from that shown
in Figures 1, 2, and 3, in that the degree of projection of the lead and the uncovering
of the rubber may be adjusted.
In Figure 8, I show still another modification of my invention. All the parts are
the same as those shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, excepting that the spring 1 is not
used, and at the lower end of the tube E an annular internal groove O is formed by
rolling over the end of the tube. The projections N, N, of the washer J fit into this
groove, thus the washer is positive with the tube E and is carried by it up and down,
thus projecting and retracting the lead by the simple turning of the tube E without
the employment of the spring I.
In Figure 10, I illustrate a construction in which the lead-holding parts may be
disconnected from the stick, and thus a new lead introduced into the lead tube and
the old broken-off stump of lead removed. It is as follows: I make the tube C
somewhat snug on the stick of the pencil, but still easily removable therefrom, and I
cut a bayonet-joint slot a in it from its lower end forming the right angle part bat
the upper end of the slot in this bayonet-joint slot a, pin c, which is driven into the
stick or formed on a tube which is placed on the stick within the tube C, enters, and
by this means the tube C and the lead-holding parts are held in position but may be
detached from the stick when desired; any other suitable means may be employed
instead of the bayonet-joint slot and pin, for example, considerable friction alone
between the tube C and the pencil stick will answer the purpose, but I prefer the
positive engagement described, or its equivalent.
I do not limit myself to the details of construction shown, since they may be some-
what departed from and still my invention be employed.
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 :-
:-
First. The combination of a pencil stick constructed and arranged to be removed as
the lead wears away, having a longitudinal lead-containing recess therein, a spring
controlled lead-holding device, arranged to slide longitudinally in the pencil stick,
and locking mechanism co-acting with the sliding lead-holding device whereby the
lead may be locked in its projected position against the stress of the spring, substantially
as set forth.
Second. The combination of a pencil stick, constructed and arranged to be removed
as the lead wears away, having a longitudinal lead-containing recess therein, a spring
controlled lead-holding device arranged to slide longitudinally in the pencil stick,
a rubber-holding tube attached to the rear end of the pencil stick, and an exterior
longitudinally movable rubber-protecting tube engaged with the lead-holding device
and moving with it, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of a pencil stick constructed and arranged to be removed
as the lead wears away, having a longitudinal lead-containing recess therein, a
longitudinally movable lead-holding device, engaged with an exterior rubber-
protecting tube, and a rubber-holding tube attached to the rear end of the pencil stick,
substantially as set forth.
a
Fourth. The combination of a pencil stick, constructed and arranged to be removed
as the lead wears away, having longitudinal lead-containing recess, a longitudinally
movable lead-holding device, a rubber-holding tube, and a longitudinally movable
rubber-protecting tube engaged with the lead-holding device, and controlling its
position, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination of a recessed stick A, a lead-holding tube H; a washer G,
attached to the lead-holding tube; a spring I; a rubber-holding tube C, having slots
through it; a rubber-protecting tube E engaged with the washer G through the slots
in the rubber-holding tube, and co-acting locking parts on the rubber-holding and
rubber-protecting tubes, whereby the exposure of the lead and of the rubber is
determined, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Sixth. The combination of a pencil stick, constructed and arranged to be removed
as the lead wears away, having a longitudinal lead-containing recess therein, a lead-
holding tube longitudinally movable within the pencil stick, a tube provided with
slanting slots having bayonet-joint recesses at their lower ends, an exterior longi-
tudinally movable tube provided with ears which pass through the slots in the said
slot containing tube and engage with the lead-holding tube and a spring arranged to
retract the lead-holding tube and the exterior longitudinally movable tube, substan-
tially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination of a pencil stick having a longitudinal lead-containing
recess therein, a spring controlled lead-holding device arranged to slide longitudinally
in the pencil stick, a locking mechanism co-acting with the sliding lead-holding
device whereby the lead may be locked in its projecting position against the stress of
the spring, the lead-holding device being detachably attached to the stick, sub-
stantially as set forth.