IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PENHOLDERS, AND PENS FOR USE THEREWITH
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Goodman Hester, of the City of Washington,
in the District of Columbia, United States of America, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PENHOLDERS, AND PENS FOR USE
THEREWITH
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Joseph Goodman Hester at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1881.
JOSEPH GOODMAN HESTER, of the City of Washington, in the District of
Columbia, United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
PEN-HOLDERS, AND PENS FOR USE THEREWITH."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in pen-holders and pens. Pen-
holders, as ordinarily constructed, are provided with a pen at one end arranged
between two practically rigid or immovable surfaces or cylinders, and the removal
of the pen therefrom when necessary by reason of the same becoming worn or
broken is rendered exceedingly difficult when it has become cemented in place by
corrosion. To avoid this difficulty it has been suggested to arrange within the
barrel of the holder proper a sliding plug, between which and the barrel the pen
is held; this sliding plug has been arranged to operate automatically to eject the
pen by the force of a spring arranged at its upper end, and which is compressed
when the plug is in its normal position, and so held by a short button or pin
locking in a bayonet slot in the barrel of the holder; and it has also been arranged
without a spring and operated positively by a pin or button projecting through a
straight slot in the barrel of the holder.
I have discovered that these methods only partially overcome the difficulties,
because where spring pressure is used it is difficult to preserve the proper amount
of power, the necessity for which increases as the pen becomes more firmly attached
to the parts by long use, corrosion, &c., and because the continued confinement of
the spring and the ordinary crystallization of the metal tend to rob it of its elastic
force; and where the positive action is provided for in the sliding block' with

page_text: projecting pin or button, the force is applied to such pin or button which must of
necessity be small and arranged at one side, and hence it is difficult of
operation.
.
The object of one part of my Invention is to overcome all the disadvantages
named, and provide a pen holder with an ejector which shall be positive in its
action and unlikely to become broken or disarranged, and with these ends in view
my Invention consists of a pen holder cored or open centrally from end to end, and
provided with an axially arranged ejector longer than the pen holder, and having
one end adapted to confine a pen between itself and the inside of the barrel of the
holder, the opposite end projecting beyond the upper end of the holder a sufficient
distance to enable a longitudinal movement to be given to a suitable degree to
eject the pen, as will be hereinafter and in detail explained.
My Invention further consists in the details of construction of the several parts,
as hereinafter set forth and specifically claimed, and my Invention also consists in
the peculiar formation of the pen itself, adapting the saine by a seat or opening in
the body portion thereof to engage with or straddle one of the radial projections on
the ejector, as will more fully appear hereinafter.
In order that those skilled may fully understand the construction and operation
of my improvements, I will proceed to describe the same, referring by letters to the
accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a pen
holder embodying my Invention; Figure 2, a similar view with a spring arranged
at one end to return the ejector to its place, and with a pen in position; Figure 3,
a similar view of a modification showing the spring arranged internally, and the
head of the ejector provided with radial projections to limit the return movement
of the same, and with a telescopic end piece to cover the projecting end of the
ejector; Figure 4 is a similar view of another modification, in which the head of
the ejector is made separate and connected to an ejector rod by pivot; Figure 5, a
similar view at right angles to that shown at Figure 4; Figure 6, a similar view
showing another means of connection between the ejector head and the rod, con-
sisting of an ordinary double hook connection; Figure 7, an end view of the ejector
and holder shown at Fig. 4; Figure 8, a plan view of a pen designed for use in
the same, and provided with an orifice in the body adapted to lie over and engage
with one of the radial projections on the head of the ejector; Figure 9, a cross
section taken at the line x, x, of Figure 1; Figure 10, a plan view of a modification
of-the-pen-;-and-Figure-11,-a-front-or_end_view_of_Figure 3.
Similar letters denote like parts in the several Figures.
A represents the handle of the pen holder which may be made of wood, hard
rubber, or other suitable material, preferably tapering in form, though any other
desired form may be adopted; this holder is made hollow or formed with an axial
bore from end to end adapted to receive a longitudinally reciprocating ejector B,
which latter is provided at its forward end with a head C, the inner end of which
is preferably made tapering, and adapted, when in its normal position, to rest
against an annular shoulder a on the interior of the pen holder.
The relative diameters of the pen holder A and head C of the ejector are such
that sufficient space is left between the surfaces of the two to accomodate and securely
hold the pen when placed in position. The periphery of the head C may be notched
or grooved longitudinally, as shown, to form a seat for narrow pens.
The ejector B
may fit loosly within the holder A, as shown, or the rod and bore of the holder
may be of a near diameter, so that the ejector may be operated and guided through
an exact axial line.
The movement of the ejector, both to eject the pen and return the former to its
place, may be positive and by hand, as shown at Figure 1, or the pen may be
ejected positively by the application of power to the upper extended end of the
ejector, and the ejector returned by a spring D. This spring D may be secured
in operative position between the upper end of the pen holder and nib b on the end
of the ejector to form an ornamental finish, as shown at Figures 2, 4, and 5, or it
may be secured nearer the centre by being fastened at one end to the ejector, and

page_text: confined at the other by a collar c secured to the ejector, which collar is slightly
tapered and adapted to find its seat within the holder by wedging. The upper end
of the ejector B may project, as seen at Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, or it may be
concealed by and connected to a telescopic cap E, see Figure 3.
The shoulder a, which stops the ejector at the proper point, as seen at Figures 1,
2, 5, 6, may be used to control the depth of insertion of the pen, and the return
movement of the head C of the ejector limited and determined by one or more
short radial arms or bearings & (see Figs. 7 and 11), so arranged or disposed as to
leave one or more spaces e for the reception of different sizes of pens.
The ejector B may be of one diameter from its head up, as shown at Figures 1
& 2 ;
it may be tapered, or it may be stepped and of different diameters corre-
sponding to different diameters in the bore of the holder, as shown at Figure 3.
The ejector head C may be perfectly cylindrical throughout its entire length, as
shown at Figure 3, but I prefer to taper the inner end, as shown in the other
Figures of the Drawing, so that when projected the pen will be free to fall out by
its own gravity should the ejector fail to carry it (which however is not likely).
In introducing the pen it attaches itself with greater frictional tenacity to the
ejector head C than to the barrel of the holder, and hence, when the former is
projected beyond the latter, the pen is carried out, and will not remain in contact
with the barrel of the holder.
Instead of making a rigid connection between the ejector B and its head C, as
shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, I may connect them by a pivot or hook, as seen at
Figures 4, 5, 6, the tapered portions of the ejector serving to guide and center the
same in its return movement, and instead of introducing the pen between the
radial projections of the ejector head C, as before described. I may make the pen
with an opening fin its upper or body portion, adapted to receive and surround
one of such projections, which opening also determines the depth of insertion of
the pen, and secures the absolute discharge of the same when the ejector is moved
outward. Instead of making the pen with the opening fit may be formed with
a longitudinal slot or gate g, see Figure 10, though I prefer to make it with the
opening f, seen at Figure 8. I have heretofore explained the state of the art as
I understand it at this time, and I do not wish to have my Invention confounded
with and limited by the same, the gist of my Invention, so far as the pen holder is
concerned, resting in the broad idea of the holder being open or bored centrally
from end to end, and having arranged axially therein an ejector extending entirely
through the pen holder proper and beyond the upper end of the same, so that the
power used to eject the pen may be applied axially and at a point exactly opposite
to the point of resistance when the pen is in place, and in such manner that an
extra amount of applied power will not injure or disarrange the parts.
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
1st. In combination with a pen holder open or bored centrally from end to end,
a reciprocating ejector B, C, adapted to confine the pen at one end, and extended
at the opposite end beyond the end of the holder, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
2nd. The combination with the holder A bored or open from end to end, and the
ejector B, C, arranged therein, as described, and adapted to be operated positively
to eject the pen, a spring D arranged externally or internally to return the ejector
to its normal position.
3rd. In combination with the pen holder A and ejector B, the telescopic cap E
for concealing and protecting the upper end of the ejector, as hereinbefore set
forth.
4th. The ejector head C adapted at its outer end to confine the pen in place
against the barrel of the holder, and having its inner end tapered, as described, to
insure the releasement of the pen, as herein before set forth.
5th. The head C of the ejector having its outer end formed with one or more
radial projections or arms e to limit the return movement of the head, and to form
spaces for the reception of pens, substantially as herein before set forth.

page_text: 6th. The pen having formed in its body a hole or orifice adapted to receive
and surround one of the radial arms a on the ejector head, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Goodman Hester, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our. Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
JOSEPH GOODMAN HESTER. (L.S.)