US2179835A

US2179835A - Step-by-step lead pencil

Info

Publication number: US2179835A
Application number: US217112A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hugh A Ward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-07-02
Filing date: 1938-07-02
Publication date: 1939-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1939. H. A. WARD STEP-BY-STEP LEAD PENCIL Filed July 2, 1938 Odillfvf filiali? AT1-OR Y atente Nov. 14, 1939 PATENT orifice STEP-BY- STEP LEAD PENCIL Hugh A. Ward,

New York, lilZ Y.

imputation July 2, 193s, serial No. 217,112

9 Claims.

This invention relates to so-called step-bystep" pencils and finds one of its preferred embodiments in a magazine pencil of the type which effects the advance of a new length of leadinto 5 writing position by a simple manual thrust, the lead feeding being conveniently accomplished by one handed manipulation by the user.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a construction which will eliminate or l lessen the possibility of jamming or other accidental derangement of the feeding mechanism.`

vThis involves an automatic lead guiding, lead gripping, and lead advancing mechanism which is inaccessible to the user of the pencil, yet which is positive in its action.

'Among the problems involved in the construction of a pencil of this type are:

(l) Holding the lead in writing position,

(2) Preventinga lead from dropping out of and (3) `The positive gripping and movement of the lead toward forward position.

A feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention isl the provision of. means whereby the lead at no part of the operation cycle can escape gravitationally from its holding and feeding mechanism. v

The preferred embodiment of the invention makes use of two lead clamping members, one of which is' effective to grip the lead in its normal writing position. The second lead gripping member serves as the lead advancing means, and in the operation of the pencil the timing is such that 4one lead clamping member engages the lead substantially simultaneously with the release of the lead by the other.

The invention provides a mechanism which is positive in action, which is rugged and durable in construction, which may be assembled with fa- Icility and expedition, and which is well suited to meet the requirements of economical manufacture and to withstand the rigorous abuse of casual or careless handling or manipulation.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the` features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplied in the typical article hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, as a non-limiting example, in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical section showing the m6911- anism in normaler writing position;

the barrel during the lead advancing movement,

(Cl. 1Z0-17) Figure 2V is an enlarged partial view in vertical section showing the parts after the rst step in the downward or working stroke;

Figure 31s a view similar to Fig. 2, but showingthe par-tsat the end of the .working stroke;

Figure 4 is a View similar toFig. 2, but showing the parts toward the end of the upward or idle stroke;

Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line -'invFg. 3; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line G--G 'in Fig. 4.

Fig. l. shows the pencil of the invention with the. parts in position for writing; hereafter and in the claims, this position will be called the normal position. As is customary in speaking of magazine pencils, movement ofthe parts towards and away from the tip will be called respectively, downward and upward movement. For purposes of description, casingv it and tip li will beasf sumed to be' stationary.

Magazine l2, for leads it, and slotted lead guide tube llt connected therewith are movable Within the casing. Guide tube ld is provided with lateral slots l5 vand has at its lower end outwardly spring-pressed lead-gripping jaws or` fingers i6. Jaws i6 are normally held in cam relation with collar Il for forcing them in gripping engagement with lead I3. Collar l'l is pref erably formed of conical shape, soldered to tip ll, and secured in casing l0 by threaded connection i8. The downward movement of guide tube I4 is limited by shoulder it, adapted to impinge on seat 20 on the inside of collar l'l.

`Slidably mounted on guide tube It is a gripper unit 2l including spring jaws 22 inserted in slots lli of the guide tube'and normally out vof engagement with the lead therein, as shown in Fig. 6. At the top of the gripper unit, there is provided a shoulder 23. To operate the grippers, there are provided means'such as sleeve 2t, connected to actuating sleeve 25, and provided with seat 26 for receiving shoulder 23. Sleeve 25 is capable of independent movement with respect to both casing H and guide tube i4, but has sumcient frictional engagement with magazine l2 to carry said member with it during a portion of its movement. It is normaly held in upward position by the action of spiral spring 21. Preferably there is provided a protective sleeve 28 for preventing deformation of spring 21 and held in place lby the pressure thereof. Sleeve 25 extends above the top of casing l0 and may terminate in a push button type of cap 29 as-shown, or may instead be capped by an upper casing member adapted to telescope withlower casing member II.

The operation of the feeding mechanism is accomplished by depressing cap 29 from the normal position shown in Fig. 1, various stages'of the feeding action being shown in Figs. 2,3, and 4. When sleeve 25 rst begins to move downward, by reason of its frictional engagement therewith it carries with it magazine l2 and guide tube I4 until the movement of the latter is arrested by shoulder I9 striking against seat 20, which position is shown in Fig. 2.. This amount of movement by guide tube I4 is suillcient to carry jaws I6 out of contact with collar I1 and cause them to release their gripl on lead I3. Practically s'imultaneously with this action, as sleeve, 25 continues its downward movement, it carries sleeve 26 along gripper unit 2| until it engages jaws 22 and forces them by 4cam action to grip lead I3, as shown in Fig. 5, and feed it forward in guide tube I4. This downward movement continues until sleeve 25 strikes the upper end of sleeve 28, as shown in Fig. 3.

When pressure on cap 29 is released, spring 2l! causes sleeve 25 to retract, carrying with it magazine I2 and guide tube I 4 until movement of the latter is arrested by the engagement between collar il and jaws I I5, which causes the latterl to -grip and hold the lead. 'I'hereafter,'sleeve 25 continues to retract under the urging ci spring 21., carrying along with it gripper unit 2I by reason of'the engagement between seat 26 and shoulder 23, grippers 22 being out of engagement with the lead as shown in Fig. 6. This retracting movement continues until all the parts regain normal position.

It will be seen that the invention provides mechanism which is at the same time both simple and positive in action. Moreover, the mechanism of the invention is unlikely to jam or otherwise get out of order, on account of its simplicity and the continuous passage provided for the lead from the magazine to the tip.

Since certain modifications in the article which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope. it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a step-by-step pencil, a casing and tip; a magazine meinberand slotted lead guide tube connected therewith, said guide tube being provided at its outer end with releasable jaws and being capable of movement with respect to said tip; said tip being adapted to force said jaws into/gripping position when said parts are in writing position; gripper 'means slidably mounted on said guide. tube for propelling said lead towards said tip; and sleeve means capable of movement with respect to both said guide tube and said tip, for operating said gripper means.

2. In a step-by-step lead pencil, a casing and conical tip connected therewith; a lead magazine and slotted guide tube connected therewith and ,reciprocable .with respect to said tip; said guide tube being provided at its lower end with releasable jaws; means for causing said 'jaws to grip' the lead and thus limit upward movement of said tube; means for limiting downward movement of said tube; releasable gripper means slid- ,ably mounted on said guide tube and extending into the slots therein; and an exteriorly acccssicasing and tip, lead feeding means comprising incombination, a lead magazine member and slotted guide tube connected therewith and providing a passage to said tip, said tube being provided at its lower end with releasable jaws, said jaws being held in gripping engagement with the lead by cam contact with said tip when said parts are in writing position, said tube being capable of sufiicient movement with respect to said tip to release said jaws; gripper means slidably mounted on said guide tube and adapted to grip said lead through said slots; and an exteriorly accessible, spring-controlled sleeve for operating said gripper means.

4. In a step-by-step lead pencil including a casing and tip, lead feeding means comprising in combination, a lead magazine member and slotted guide tube connected therewith and providing a passage to said tip, said tube being provided at its lower end with releasable jaws, said jaws being held in gripping engagement with the lead by cam contact with said tip when said parts are in writing position, said tube being capable of suilicient movement with respect to said tip to release said jaws; gripper means slidably mounted on said guide tube and adapted to grip said lead through said slots; and an exteriorly accessible, spring controlled sleeve for operating said gripper means, said gripper means being provided at its upper end with a shoulder, and said sleeve being provided with an interior seat adapted to receive said shoulder and support said gripper means. i

5. A step-by-step magazine lead pencil comprising in combination, a casing and tip; a lead magazine and slotted lead guide tube connected therewith and movable with respect to said ca sing; said guide tube being provided at its lower end with releasable jaws; stationary means in cam relation with said jaws for forcing the same to grip the lead; means for limiting the movement of said guide tube; releasable gripper means slidably mounted on said guide tube and adapted to grip the lead through the slots in said tube; and exteriorly accessible operating means for 'said gripper means for causing the same to grip and advance the lead towards said tip and then to release it and return to normal position.

6. A magazine lead pencil comprising in combination, a casing and tip; a magazine memberand slotted lead guide tube connected therewith and movable with respect to said tip, the lower end ciA said guide tube being provided with releasable jaws; means for causing said jaws normally to grip the lead; gripper means slidably' mounted on said guide tube and adaptedvto extend into the slots in said tube and grip 'and 'advance the lead therein, said gripper means being normally in a retracted position; operat- -ing means for said gripper means; and an excluding a casing having a tip at its lower end, a magazine member and slotted lead guide tube connected therewith and @mf-.1 a passage to said tip, said tube being provided at its lower end with releasable jaws normally in cam engagement with said tip for gripping said lead in writing position, said tube being capable oi suicient movement with respect to said tip to release said jaws; gripper means slidably mounted on said guide tube and adapted to grip said lead through said slots; exteriorly accessible actnating means; and operating means acting normally to hold said grippers in retracted position and out oi engagement with said lead, and acting in response to the operation of said actuating means iirst to advance said guide tube to release said jaws, then to force said grippers to grip and advance said lead, then to permit said guide tube to retract and force said jaws again into gripping position, and then to cause said gripper to vrelease said leadand to return to normal position.

e. A step-by-step lead pencil, comprising in combination a casing provided with a conical' ti a lead magazine and slotted lead guide tube lconnected therewith and reciprocable within said casing, said guide tube being provided at its lower end with releasable lead-gripping jaws; stationary camming means in said tip for forcing said `iaws normally into gripping position; means for limiting the movement of said guide tube; a grip- 'per unit slidably mounted on said guide tube and provided with releasable jaws extending into the slots therein for gripping and feeding the lead; saidV gripper unit being provided at its upper end with a shoulder; and an externally accessible, spring controlled sleeve for operata ing said gripper unit, said sleeve being interiorly provided with a seat for receiving said shoulder on said gripper unit to retract the same to normal position after each working stroke.

9. A step-by-step lead pencil, comprising in combination a casing provided with a conical tip; a lead magazine and slotted lead guide tube connected therewith and reciprocable within said leasing, said guide tube being provided at its lower end with releasable lead-gripping jaws; stationary camming means in said tip for forcing said jaws normally into gripping position; means for limiting the movement of said guide tube; a. gripper unit slidably 4mounted on said guide tube and provided with releasable jaws extending into the slots therein for gripping and feeding the lead; said gripper unit beingprovided at its upper end with a shoulder; and an externally accessible, spring controlled sleeve for operating said gripper unit, said sleeve being interiorly pro` vided with a seat for receiving said shoulder on said gripper unit to retract the same to normal position after each working stroke, and a stationary sleeve for' preventing deformation of said spring and adapted to telescope with said operating sleeve and limit the downward movement thereof.

HUGH A. WARD.