US1130741A - Lead-pencil. - Google Patents

Description

C. R. KBERANQ v LEAD PENCIL.

APPLICATION FILBD 00T.1o, 191s.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

5,1m mm MN MN \N Q MN LIQNAWRM.. mW.

C. R. KEERAN.

LEAD PENCIL.

APPLICATION FILED ooT.1o,-191s.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES R. KEERAN, 0F BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

LEAD-PENCIL.

mamar.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application led October 10, 1913. Serial No. 794,508.

To all whom'z't may concern t Be it known that I, CHARLES R. KEERAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State yof Illinois, have invented certain. new

and useful Improvements in Lead-Pencils, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that form of pencil employing a permanent body or casing into which individual leads are in serted from time to vtime as may be desired, the leads being forced out from the forward end of the body or casing by suitable means.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a device of the class described which will be siniple of construction and operation and contain "no involved or intricate parts which would'bel likely to become disordered or imperfect in ordinary usage; to so arrange the parts comprising the pencil as to provide a magazine for extra leads which will be contained within the body of the pencil, and to utilize this magazine as an actuating member formoving the followeru which forces the lead from' the end of the pencil; to so arrange the parts as to prevent a breaking of the lead when a new lead is placed in position; to so correlate the parts as to provide an indicator for determining the length of lead left within the pencil; to provide means for centering and alining the lead with the follower during the recharging operation, and to maintain such aline ment during use; to so arrange the parts as to have the lead forced through and out of the body thereof at all times by a pressure directed against the longitudinal center thereof, and thus eliminate any and all side strains or vpressures against the lead which would tend to break the same; to prevent the lead from being forced back in theholder by pressure on the point, except by frst withdrawing the follower; and to use the interior portions o f the pencil as a filler for the outer-sheathing or casing which permits the use .of a thin shell of the finer metals for said sheathing without subjecting them to the danger of mutilation during usage by .the forward portion plane at approximately right angles to the plane inwhich the first section is taken; F1g. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. f1 1s a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking 1n the direction of the arrow; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on a somewhat reduced scale, and showing the follower member advanced, and the magazine member and actuating member pulled out from the casing, this view illustrating the mannerv in which the position of the parts gives an indication of theamount of lead yremaining in the pencil; Fig. 6 is a detail showing the magazine member initsinitial stages' of formation; Fig. 7 is a detail showing the magazine member after it has been rolled to give it the elongated formation in cross section; Fig. 8 is a perspectiveof the magazine member 1n completed form; Fig. 9 is a cross section illustrating a modied form' 'of magazine; Fig. modified form of magazine; Fig. 11 is 'an enlarged sectionof the end of lsaid magazine; Fig. 12 is a detail of the cap pieee'for said magazine; and Fig.;13 isa. detail section of the plug'for holding the eraser.

Referring nowto the drawings, the pencil, as illustrated, comprises a'n outersheathing or shell 10 which is drawn toa' taper at thisl forward end 11. This 'sheathing orvs'hell may be of any suitable material; and may be in the'nature of a relatively thin sheathing if made of the finer metals, such as gold or silver, but may, of course, be made of any suitable material and of any suitable design or size. vThis sheathing or' shell forms a chambered body'which receives whatV may be termed the interior ortionsor parts of the pencill A core or filler 12 is positioned in of this chambered interior. This core is preferably made of some suitable fibrous material, and is formed with an axial bore 13which is contracted at its forward end 14 giving a sliding t to the lead through the major portion of the bore therein with a clutching engagement upon the lead at the contracted outer end of the bore. The. core, as illustrated, has its forward end 15 projectingslightly beyondthev end of the sheathing or casing 10.

The lead 16 which passes through the bore in the core is preferably of a small diameter or gage, and is of such a nature as to give at all times a suitable writing point without 10 is an elevation of another proper -size In usage,'it'is'preferred not to-have this lead taper of.the forward end of the necessity of sharpening the same; that i's, ther-normal diameter Yof the lead 1s o f a to constitute awriting point.

tends from the rear. end 20 of the shellor casing vto the rear end .of the filler 12,1 and abuts against the-filler. This tube or sleeve 19 is fitted litly into the shellor' casing,

and is not, fin er normal operation, intended to betremvable freni said shell, and is in effect aportion of the shell, and when the finer grades of metal aref used for theshell or'sheathi'ng, this sleeve 'serves to reinforce the same. :This sleeve is formed with an interior'. threaded surface 21 extending from end to end thereof, -and the sleeve, when inserted, maintains the ller 12 its' proper position within the casing. .l

The means, illustrated as constituting the follower which forces end of thepencil, through ,the bore or pas-` sage 13, consistsof a member 22 in the nature of a stiff w1re, ywhich member termiin, effect,

nates at its: rear end in an enlarged head 23 which, as best shown :in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, is of an elongated form in cross section. This head is formed exteriorly with threaded sur- 'faces.24-adapted. to mesh with the threads `21 of the sleevea19." It is obvious, as'this head is rotated, that it will advance through- `.the sleeve y19,A and forcel the follower' for'-,v

ward, with the -result that the lead is fedout age is'obviated.- `This feature .of-` the invenfrom the end of the pencil.

v The means ,forturnin the head comprisesa hollow shell-like mem r 25 .which. f9rn 1s,' a magazine for carrying extra. leads for the pencil. This magazine in its pre-L- ferred form is constructed from a tube 23,

and the methodof making the same 1s briefly asfollows The tube is first'cut to form an opening 27, and opposite said opening isformed'a depression 28. The wall o f theI tube is provided'at the center of the de pression with an opening 29of a size to allow the follower to pass" therethrough. The tube is then subjected vto a rolling operation which flattens it out so as to give itv the elongated arcuate formation clearly shown in Figs.r 3;^4,and8. .The tube, after being subjected to tliefrolling operation, is

k construction illustrated, an :innerv sleeve vor 'tubing'19' is provided which exf.

the lead out Afromtlie shown in Fig.' 7, and after this operation it is bent at -the point wherethe opening 27 is cut, so'that companion magazine members 29 and 30v are finally produced which are joined together by the depression 28. lThis depression gives at the point of juncture of v the two sections a funnel-shaped surface 31,

the function of which is to center the lead 16 in alinement with the follower member, and is formed in the forwardend of the lmagazineffor the following reason: The bore 13,-isfdesignediso that the lead has a free passage therethrough until positioned in the-same; that is, the lead will not yengage 'I with'the contracted portion 14: of the bore until the -rear end of thellead has-'passed beyond the rear end' of the" bore 13 and the lead fully `positioned in the .bore of the filler; thus the follower 22 and .the lead 16 I will bewithin the bore 13 before anyA ma terial'pressure is-exerted to force the` lead through the contraction 14.I -Consequently, thebore' 13 holds'the follower 22 and lead 16 in proper alinement as Y the head is forced yforward,'but it is possible that in `operation -1 the' bore through the filler may become slightly clogged or choked, in which'case the lead, when dropped into place, would not pass into the boreA the distance intended,

and the rear end -of the -lead would project.

out beyond the rear end ofthe filler. (Then when the magazineis inserted in its place, v

it might happen Athatthe forward end of the same` would hit the lead, bending it .,sidewise and brealn'ng it, but by providing the conical depression 31 a guiding'means is provided, whereby the lead, if engaged by the forward end ofthe magazine, will be forcedto the center ofthe magazine and into'alinement with the opening 298; and thus the follower member will engage d irectly with the rear end of the lead' and force' 'it forward through the bore as `the magazine is forced into place by adirect pressure longitudinally thereof. In this waythe lead is not subjected to any side stresses 'orf strain and the danger of breaktion isi particularly important especially when a lead of small diameter or gage is utilized. j.

As will be seen from Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the' head 2 4 of the followerwill be positioned so las lto lie between the magazine sections 29 and 30, but, of course, will project beyond said section a -sutlicient .distance to enable 'the threads on. said head to engage with the threads on the tube 19. I'The magazine portion has both a turning and sliding lit with in said tube, and the magazine is-formed-of'4 isc nagegaaof the pencil, should the pencil be turned upside down. This frictionis not sullicient to prevent a free turning and sliding movement of the magazine within the tube, whenever pressure is exerted tending to produce such movements.

The assembling of the follower and the lmagazine is very simple, simply invol-ving the placing of the end of the follower th-rough the hole 29a andthe springing of the head into position between the magazine sections. The rear ends of the magazine sections project through suitable openings 33 in a transverse wall 34 of a cup-shaped member 35. The outer periphery of this cup-shaped member may be of knurled formation, if desired. This cup-shaped member is of a diameter so that it bears against the rear end of the outer shell or casing. The magazine members are intended to be lixedly secured in this cup-shaped member, which securance can be accomplished by any suitable means, as, for instance, a drop of solder 36, as indicated in Fig. 2. Thus, with the magazine sections and cup-shaped member fixedly held together, a rotative movement imparted to the cup-shaped member will obviously turn the magazine sections within the tube19, and the magazine sections, in conjunction with the cup-shaped member, will thus constitutethe actuating means for the follower. The cup-shaped member to all intents and purposes is a continuation of the magazine sections.

The interior of the cup-shaped member maybe threaded as at 37 and a plug 38` inserted within said threaded portion. Said plug has formed at its outer end inwardlyextending lugs or tines 39 and at its bottom is provided with inwardly extending lugs or ears 39a. This plug is intended to receive a rubber eraser 40 and when the eraser is inserted in position within the plug it will rest against the lugs 39a. The plug, as shown, is slotted and hence when it is inserted in the cup-shaped member it will be contracted to an extent thus embedding the tines 39 in the body of the eraser and preventing displacement of the same from the plug. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the ends of the magazine members extend through the transverse wall 34, so that the leads 16 carried by said magazine member may be easily obtained by removing the plug 38 and tappin the pencil in a manner to cause them to s ide out of the magazine.

The method of assembling and the operation of the device is as follows: The filler 12 is first positioned within the casing 10; the sleeve 19 is then inserted within the casing and forced in place so that the forward end engages the rear end of the filler. rPhe magazine section is then taken and the follower is placed through the opening 29a and the member or head 23 sprung into position between the magazine sections. A lead is then dropped into the interior of the pencil and will be guided into the bore 13 by the walls of the tapered openings 18. The assembled magazine and the follower is then pushed into the tube 19 until the threads of the member 23 engage the thread of the tube 19. Then by rotative movement the magazine is turned, turning the head 23 which,-

by reason of its threads, .follows the threads of vthe sleeve 19 and 'travels inward in the space between the magazine sections 29 and 30 until the lead is forced out from the end of the pencil. When the exposed portion of the lead has been worn away by writing, the cup-shaped member 35 is turned, thereby actuating the follower and forcing more lead out'from the core or. filler. W'hen it is desired tolretract the projected point of the lead, this can be readily done by giving a slight backward turn to the cup-shaped or actuating member 35, and then by pushing on the end of the lead, it will be pushed back so that no portion thereof will project.

Another feature of arranging the parts in the manner specified liesin the fact that by so arranging them an indication can be obtained of the amount of lead remaining in the pencil. This is due to the fact that thel distance between the inner face of the head 23, indicated by the letterA in the drawings, and the Wall of the magazine section in which the opening 29a is located, which wall is indicated bythe letter B in the drawings, is, approximately equal to the initial length of the lead. Now as the lead is fed out, the head 23 approaches constantly nearer to the cross Wall B, so that this distance decreases in proportion to the decrease in length of the lead. Therefore, assuming the lead to have been worn to the extent shown in Fig. 5, the vhead 24 will have been advanced the distance indicated in said figure. Thus, the magazine section can only be pulled out' distance of this retraction will be approximately equal to the amount of lead left in the pencil, and thus by observing the dis.

tance between the inner face of the cupshaped member 35, indicated by C in the drawings, and the outer' or rear ed 1e of the casing 10, indicated by D in the flarawings, you will have the exact amount of lead left within the pencil. This distance will be the amount of retraction afforded the magazine section, and the amount of retraction will be equal to the amount of lead remaining in v directed solely non-rotative retraction, because a rotative retraction will, of course, retract the head at the lsaine time, and thus the indicating feature will then' be lost.

In Fig. 9, 4av magazine 41 is illustrated which is based on the same principle as the magazine-described,y with the exception that thev tube, from which the magazine is formed, is somewhat larger and is not bent at the middle portion. r1`he head 42 in this one direction only, and hence has only one threaded surface 43 which meshes with the Jthreads 19 of the'sleeve.. -This magazine, however, is used in the same manner 'as the foregoing, and accomplishes the same purposes and results.

The foregoing description is, of course, 'toward the construction illustrated, and modifications, the

`the appended claims. l.

In F ig. 9, a modified form of magazine is shown, which corresponds in principleof in that itis provided with a closed o'uter cap-piece or head be of a decorative nature. The lower ends ofthe magazine are rclosed by a cap-piece 5.1 consisting of abody 52, from which extend arms 53 l provided with outwardly turned ends 54 arranged te catch and lie within openings`55 in the walls of the maga-V zine. `This cap-piece is removable by forcing the ends 54-out of thehole 55, and by removing the cap piece'l new leads can be obtained. -This method of extractingthe lead is necessitated owing tothe closing of the upper end of the magazine by the cappiece 50. Iclaim :1

1. In a lead pencil o f the class described, the combination of an outer sheathing constituting a chambered body, a core piece within said'body extending partially the length thereof bore adapted-to receive a lead, a follower for forcing' said lead said followerbeing enlarged for a portion of the length thereof and exteriorly threaded on said enlarged vortion, a threaded surface located .interior y of the body, adapted to receive the-threads on said head, a hollow l-member serving as' a magazine for leads, the outer end ofthe magazine abutting the 'inner end lof the core'when the lparts are assembled, ymeans for centering the abutting I edges ofthe magazine'and core, said magazine having a sliding and turning fit lwithin lead should the lead' 'through'said' bore, instance projects beyond the magazine inthe device is susceptible of linvention nt being limited-in any other .way than by the terms of ,50 which, if desired, can

and formedf'with anaxialv Athrough said bore,

said chambered portion, said magazine engaging the threaded portion of the follower,

and means located exteriorly of said casing for turning the magazine, substantially as described.

2. In a lead pencil of the class described, the combination of a body, acore piece within said body extending partially ,the length thereof, an interiorly threaded sleeve within the body extending from the inner terminus of the core to-the rear end of the body, said core having an axial bore adapted to receive a lead, a follower for forcing said follower being enlarged for a portion thereof, and exteriorly threaded to mesh with the threads on said sleeve, a magazine for leads, a sliding and turning said magazine engaging the threaded portions ofthe follower, and means exteriorly 'of said casing for turning the magazine, substantially 'as described.

3. In a lead pencil of thev class described, the combination of a sheathing forming a chambered body, a core piece in said body said` magazine having 'extending partially the length thereof, and

providedl with an axial bore to receive a lead, a follower f or forcing the lead 'through said bore embodying an exteriorly threadedhead, the interior of said chamber being provided with 'a threaded surface forreceiving the threads on said head, a chambered magazine member having a rotating and sliding t in said chamber and engaging said head, means `exteriorly of said sheathing for rotating said ber, said member serving as a stop for limiting the non-rotative outward movement ofthe magazine member from the body, whereby the ,amount of retraction thus allowed the magazine gives an indication of the amount of lead remaining in thepencil, substantially as described.

4. In a lead pencil of the class described,

a hollow member serving asy fit within said sleeve,

magazine memthe combination of a sheathing forming a sheathing 'for turning said magazine portion, -substantially as described.

5. Inv a lead pencil of the class described, the combination of a sheathing forming a chambered body, a'coi'e piece in said body extending partially the length thereof and provided with Yan,v axial vbore to receive a lead, a follower for forcing the lead through the bore embodying an exteriorly threaded head, a'sleeve within said sheathing' provided with an interior thread with which the threads on the -head engage, said sleeve extending from the rear end of the core to the rear of the sheathing, a magazine com- .prising companion lmembers of shell-like formation adapted to lie upon each side-of the head,"saidv member having a slidable and rotatable fit `in saidsleeve, and means exteriorly of said head for rotating said.

magazine, substantiallyas described.

6. In a lead pencil of theclass described,

Y the combination of a. sheathing forming a chambered body,

sliding and turning-tit therein,

chambered body,r a core piece in .said body provided Awith an axial bore to receive a lead, a follower for forcing the lead through the bore embodying an exteriorly threaded head, a magazine formed of a. single piece of tubing bent midway Aits longitudinal -dim'ension to provide companion shell-like members adapted t'o lie'upon-opposite sides of said head, said tube at the point of ybending being provided with an'v opening through which the followenpasses, and said tube, when inserted within the chambered body, havinga a threaded surface within said chambered portion adapted to receive-the threads on said head,

and means exteriorly of the shell for turning the magazine, substantially as described.

` 7. In a lead pencil of the class described, the combination of a sheathing .forming a a core piece in said body provided with an axial bore to receive'a lead, a follower for forcing the -lead throughthe'bore embodying an eXteriorly threaded -head,a magazine comprising shell-like members arranged to lie upon opposite'sides of saidhead, said members having a slidable and rotatable fit in, said chambered portion, the outer end of the magazine portion'-` abuttin'gthe inner end of thelcore, said magav -zineat its abutting end being formed with a funnelshaped opening converging toward a point central'of said shell-like members and forming aI means for guiding the lead into the space between the shell-,like members, a threaded surface in said chamber for receiving the threads on said head and means ex'teriorly ofsaid sheathing for turning' said magazine portion,- substantially as' 8. In a .lead pencil of the class described, -the combination of a sheathing forminga chambered body, .a core piecein-said body, an axial bore `in said core to receive alead,

a follower for'forcing the lead through the.

' ,bore embodying an 'exteriorly threaded head, r a magazine comprising shell-like members arranged to lie upon opposite sides ofsaid head, said head having central curved portions struck from an archaving its center at" the center of the chambered-body, sald shell-like members having their inner and outer walls struck u pon a similar curve,

said members having a sliding androtatable fit" in. said chambered portion, a threaded surface-in .said chamber for receiving 'the threads on said headand means 'exteriorly of said sheathing for turning said magazine portion, substantially as described. l 9. Ina lead pencil of the class described,

, the combination-'of a shell forming a ,cha'm-v bered body, a core piece in said body, an faxialv bore in said core adapted to receive a lead, a follower for engaging and forcing the lead through said bore embodying a rectangular shaped head having a-threaded sol surface on two opposed sides thereof, a-

' threaded surface 'forjreceiv-ingthe threads on said head, a' magazine for extra leads comprising shelllike members arranged to lie upon opposite l sides of the interior of said body and spaced away from one another at the center of said in said chambered portion f having no' positive connection with said i shell-like members, and means exteriorly of said sheathing for turning said magazine portions, substantially as described.

' 'CHARLES R. KEERAN. Witnesses:

THOMAS A..BANNIN G, Jr., .HARRY S. G

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