US2017555A

US2017555A - Mechanical pencil

Info

Publication number: US2017555A
Application number: US750629A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Wehn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-10-30
Filing date: 1934-10-30
Publication date: 1935-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1952-10-15

Description

Get. 15; 1935. c. E. WEHN MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Oct. 30, 1954 INVENTOR.

6442111 are/1w.

Maw I ATTORNE s.

Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical pencils and especially to a propelled type of pencil employing a spring tension tip which grips the lead adjacent the point of use.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of pencils of the character described; to reduce to a minimum the number of parts required; to provide a pencil comprising a main barrel section, a point or lead-carrying section, and an actuating section, said actuating section being interposed between the barrel and point sections and being rotatable with relation to the barrel section but non-rotatable with relation to the point section, and said point section being carried by the actuating section and being removable with relation thereto when a new lead is to be inserted; to provide a threaded push rod for advancement of the lead which is non-rotatable with relation to the lead; to provide a member carried by the barrel section for supporting and anchoring the actuating section with relation to the barrel section, said anchoring member leaving the actuating section free for rotation;

and, further, to provide a driving member formed in or carried by the actuating section for rotating the threaded push rod with relation to a nut carried by the anchor member.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the pencil;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the anchor member;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pusher rod; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the driving member.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, A indicates the main or barrel section of the pencil; B, the point of lead-carrying section; and C, the actuating section. The several sections are disposed end to end and are secured with relation to each other, as will hereinafter be described.

Formed in one end of the barrel section is a central passage 2, and secured therein is a tubular member 3 which will hereinafter be referred to as the anchor member. The anchor member is secured in the passage in any suitable manner,

I and one end of the anchor member projects heyond the barrel section into'the actuating section C, the projecting end of the anchor member being provided with an annular shoulder 4 and an internal threaded passage 5 which will function as a nut. The shoulder 4 which is formed 5 on the outer end of the anchor member secures the actuating section C against endwise removal with relation to the barrel but it permits free rotation of the actuating section.

Mounted within the tubular anchor member is 10 a push bar, generally indicated at 6. This bar is flat and its opposite edges are threaded, as indicated at l. One end of the bar is flattened, as shown at 8, to form shoulders which engage the nut 5, and as such limits outward movement of 15 the pusher rod. The rodis threaded to engage with the nut 5 and means must be provided for rotating the pusher rod so that it may be advanced or retracted with relation to the point section B, as the case may be. This is accomplished as follows:

Suitably secured in the actuating section is a driving member which consists of a sleeve 9, one end of which is open while the other end is partially closed, as indicated at 10. A rectangular shaped slot H is formed in the partially closed end of the driving member and the pusher rod extends therethrough. The pusher rod is freely movable in an endwisedirection in relation to the driving member, but the sides of the rectangular shaped slot ll engage the fiat side of the pusher rod; hence, if the actuating member C and the driving member secured therein are rotated, rotary motion will be transmitted to the pusher bar and as it rotates with relation to the stationary nut 5, the rod will either be advanced or retracted with relation to the point sections, depending'upon the direction, of rotation of the member C.

The point or lead-carrying section B, as pre- 40 viously stated, is carried by the actuating section C; that is, the forward end of the actuating section is internally threaded, as shown at l2, to receive the threaded end l3 of the point section. The point section is otherwise'provided with a central passage for the reception of a lead l4; and it is also provided with a spring tension tip l5 whereby the lead is gripped adjacent the point of use.

The assembly of the mechanism is accomplished as follows: The pusher rod is first inserted through the inner end 3a of the tube and screwed through the nut 5 until it projects slightly beyond the same. The inner end 3a of the tube is then spun over, as indicated at 3b (see Fig. 1), and when this is accomplished the pusher rod will be permanently secured against removal as the shouldered end 8 of the pusher rod will engage the spun-over section of the inner end of the tube when the pusher rod reaches its innermost position; similarly the shouldered end 8 will engage the inner end of the nut 5 when it reaches its outermost position. After the pusher rod has been secured in position in the tube or anchor member 3, it is pushed through the actuating member C until the shoulder t engages an inner shoulder 4a on the actuating member. The anchor member is then inserted in the central passage 2 of the barrel section and pushed inwardly until a snug fit is formed between the adjacent end faces of the barrel section and the actuating section, it being understood that the tubular member or anchor member 3 is pressed or otherwise forced into the barrel section so that it will be rigidly secured when it finally reaches position.

After these parts have been assembled, the driving'member 9 is inserted in the actuating section. This is also pressed in and as the outer surface is knurled or roughened, as indicated at 9a, it will be rigidly secured. It is then only necessary to apply the point section by screwing it into the threaded open end of the actuating section, and that completes the assembly.

The operation will be as follows: After a lead such as shown at M, has been placed in the point or lead-carrying section and it is desired to advance the lead,'it is only necessary to grasp the barrel with one hand and the actuating section with the other and to rotate the two members relative to each other. Assuming that the actuating section is rotated and the barrel held still, the driving member will transmit a rotary movement to the pusher bar and as the nut 5 is sta tionary, the pusher bar will advance providing the actuating member is rotated in the right direction, and as the pusher rod engages the inner end of the lead l4, it will be pushed outwardly through the spring tension tip I5. If the lead has been too far advanced and it is desired to return it, it is only necessary to rotate the actuating member in the opposite direction as this will cause retraction of the pusher rod; and when the pusher rod has been retracted a suitable distance, it is only necessary to apply an inward pressure'to' the outer end of the lead to force it back the distance desired.

The mechanism here shown is exceedingly simple in construction, the number of parts required is reduced to a minimum, and the problem of assembling is easily and quickly accomplished. The pencil is divided into three sections but two of them are non-rotatable 'with relation to each other, to-wit, the actuating section and the point or lead-carrying section; hence it is only the barrel proper or the actuating section which may be rotated, thus simplifying the operation of advancing the lead as it wears away.

The entire mechanism is concealed within the pencil and is at no time exposed, thereby preventing tampering with the mechanism.

The pusher bar and the lead are non-rotatable with relation to each other, which is a very desirable feature as cutting away of the inner end of the lead is prevented and the dust that would be formed will not clog or foul the operating parts of the mechanism; also, the pencil is cleaner.

The lead-carrying chamber may be formed in the head ofthe barrel, as shown at l8, and a cap may be applied as shown at I9; also, an

1 eraser may be applied if desired; but these features are common to most pencils of this character and form no part of the present construction.

The only parts subject to wear are the threaded pusher bar and nut, but this wear is reduced to 5' a minimum in the present instance because double, triple, or quadruple threads may be employed. There may also be a slight amount of wear at the point where the actuating member rotates about the outer end of the anchor mem- 10 her; and also a slight amount of wear between the contacting faces 20; but this wear can readily be taken up by removing the point or lead-carrying section and tapping or applying endwise pressure to the driving member so as to cause 15 the anchor member to be driven into the barrel section. Hence, wear is easily compensated for and a long life and dependable operation are insured.

While I have shown the preferred form of my 20 invention; it is to be understood'that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 2:1

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. In a pencil of the character described, a barrel section, alead-carrying section and an actuating section disposed between the lead-carrying 30 and the lead-carrying section, a pusher rod car- 40 1 ried by the anchor member, and means actuated by relative rotationof the actuating section and the barrel section for imparting longitudinal movement to the pusher rod and the lead in the lead-carrying section. 45

2. In a pencil of the character. described, a barrel section, a lead-carrying section, and an actuating section disposed between the lead-carrying section and the barrel section, ananchor member secured in the barrel section and extend-' 50 ing into the actuating section, said anchor member having a shoulder engaging a shoulder in theactuating section and securing-the actuating section against endwise removal from' the barrel section but permitting free rotation of 55 the actuating section about the anchor member,

a detachable connection between the actuating section and the lead-carrying section, a threaded pusher rod' carried by the anchor member, means actuated by rotation of the actuating section for 50 rotating the pusher rod, and a nut in the anchor member through which the pusher rod extends and whereby longitudinal movement of the pusher rod is produced by the rotation thereof.

3; In a pencil of the character described, a bar- 5 rel section, a lead-carrying section, and an actuating section disposedbetween the lead-carrying section and the barrel section, an anchor member secured in the barrel section and extending into the actuating section, said anchor member having a shoulder engaging a shoulder in the actuating section and securing the actuating section against endwise removal from the barrel section'but permitting free rotation of the actuating section about the anchor member, a detachable connection between the actuating section and the lead-carrying section, a threaded pusher rod carried by the anchor member, a driving member secured in the actuating section to cause the pusher rod to rotate with the actuating member, and a nut in the anchor member through which the pusher rod extends and whereby longitudinal movement of the pusher rod is produced by rotation thereof.

4. In a pencil of the character described, a barrel section, a lead-carrying section, and an actuating section disposed between the lead-carrying section and the barrel section, an anchor member secured in the barrel section and extending into the actuating section, said anchor member having a shoulder engaging a shoulder in the actuating section and securing the actuating section against endwise removal from the barrel section but permitting free rotation of the actuating section about the anchor member, a detachable connection between the actuating section and the lead-carrying section, a threaded pusher rod carried by the anchor member, a driving member in the actuating section to cause the pusher rod to rotate with the actuating member, a nut in the anchor member through which the pusher rod extends and whereby longitudinal movement of the pusher rod is produced by rotation thereof, and means for limiting longitudinal movement of the pusher rod in either direction.

5. In a pencil of the character described, a barrel section, a tubular anchor member secured against rotation and endwise movement in said barrel section and projecting beyond one end of the barrel section, an actuating section rotatably mounted on the projecting end of the anchor member, a shoulder on the anchor member engaging a shoulder in the actuating member to secure the actuating section against endwise removal, a nut in the anchor member, a threaded pusher rod disposed within the tubular anchor member and having threaded engagement with the nut, and means forming a driving connection between the actuating member and the pusher rod whereby relative rotation between the pusher rod and nut is obtained.

6. In a pencil of the character described, a

barrel section, a tubular anchor member secured against rotation and endwise movement in said barrel section and projecting beyond one end of the barrel section, an actuating section rotatably mounted on the projecting end of the 5 anchor member, a shoulder on the anchor member engaging a shoulder in the actuating memher to secure the actuating section against endwise removal, a nut in the anchor member, a threaded pusher rod disposed within the tubular anchor member and having threaded engagement with the nut, means for forming a driving connection between the actuating member and the pusher rod whereby relative rotation between the pusher rod and nut is obtained, and a point section detachably secured to the actuating section and having a passage formed therein in alignment with the pusher rod, said passage being formed for the reception of a lead, said point and the lead carried therebybeing nonrotatable with relation to the pusher rod and the actuating section.

7. In a pencil of the character described, a barrel section, a tubular anchor member secured against rotation and endwise movement in said barrel section and projecting beyond one end of the barrel section, an actuating section rotatably mounted on the projecting end of the anchor member, a shoulder on the anchor member engaging a shoulder in the actuating member to secure the actuating section against endwise removal, a nut in the anchor member, a threaded pusher rod disposed within the tubular anchor member and having threaded engagement with the nut, means for forming a driving connection between the actuating member and. the pusher rod whereby relative rotation between the pusher rod and nut is obtained, a point section detachably secured to the actuating section and having a passage formed therein in alignment with the pusher rod, said passage being formed for the reception of a lead, said point and the lead carried thereby being non-rotatable with relation to the pusher rod and the actuating section, and means for limiting longitudinal movement of the pusher rod with relation to the nut.

CHARLES E. WEHN.