US2480014A

US2480014A - Changeable propelling pencil

Info

Publication number: US2480014A
Application number: US790572A
Authority: US
Inventors: Germann Werner
Original assignee: Fabrique Suisse de Crayons Caran dAche SA
Current assignee: Fabrique Suisse de Crayons Caran dAche SA
Priority date: 1946-01-17
Filing date: 1947-12-09
Publication date: 1949-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1966-08-23

Description

All@ 23, 1949 w. GERMANN CHANGEABLE PROPELLING' PENIL Filed De. 9, 1947 Patented Aug. 23, 1949 CHANGEABLE PROPELLING PENCIL Werner Germann, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Fabrique Suisse De Crayons Garan -DAche S. A., Geneva, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application December 9, 1947, Serial No. 790,5'072 In Switzerland January 17, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires January 17, 1966 12 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improved changeable propelling pencil of the kind comprising a housing having a tapered end provided with a seating element having a, tapered bore through which a contractible chuck protrudes, which chuck has a tapered part co-operating with said tapered bore under the action of :a spring in order to eiect contraction of the Jsaid chuck for gripping a lead.

The present invention has for its object to 'provide an improved changeable propelling pencil of this kind in which the selection of a particular lead may be effected by the action of gravity on turning the pencil about its axis, and

whereby the projection of the selected lead also may be effected by the action of gravity in a simple and effective manner.

According to the present invention, in a changeable propelling pencil of the kind referred to, the contractible chuck is xed to one end of a lead chamber slidably disposed in the housing, the other end of the said chamber being closed and protruding from the housing at the end thereof opposite to the tapered end, the said lead chamber containing a plurality of separate lead containers in each of which a lead holder is freely slidable, the arrangement being such that by turning the pencil about its axis when held substantially horizontal, one lead container moves by gravity into a position co-axial with the contractible chuck for the projection of a lead thereinto.

According to a further feature of the invention, the spring acting upon the contractible chuck acts to draw the same into the said seating element and to maintain the opposite end of the lead chamber projected beyond the end of the housing so that by pressing the projecting end of the lead chamber axially with respect to the housing, the chuck may be caused to open to receive a lead under the action of gravity when the pencil is tilted with the point downwards.

In one arrangement the lead chamber may comprise symmetrically arranged compartments for the reception of individually movable lead containers. These compartments may be constituted by radially disposedlongitudinally extending slots in the lead chamber. Alternatively, the lead chamber may comprise a tube having radially extending hollow ribs adapted to provide compartments for the reception of the lead containers.

In a modification, the lead containers may be positioned in a tubular element which is laterally movable within a space in-the lead chamber under the action of gravity so that any one of the lead containers may be positioned co-axial with the contractible chuck by turning the pencil about its axis. Thus, four lead containers in square formation may be positioned in a square tube freely .movable in the lateral direction within a hollow space in the lead chamber of square but larger cross-sectional shape, the arrangement being such that when two adjacent sides of the square tube are in contact with two adjacent walls of the said hollow space, one of the lead containers is positioned co-axial with the contractible chuck.

Each lead holder may have a slot in the side of the bore therein for the reception of the lead, which slot extends beyond the end of the said bore to facilitate the removal of the butt end of the used lead. The housing may have distinguishing markings on the outside to indicate the number of lead containersin the chamber and the particular lead container which is positioned co-axial with the contractible chuck.

The invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyin diagrammatic drawing, in which: o

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section illustrating one embodiment of the improved pencil,V according to the invention, Aal1 the leads being disposed in the interior of the lead chamber;

Fig. 2 is a partllongltudinal section similar to Fig. 1, showing one lead vxed in the contractible chuck;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on a larger scale taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section illustrating a further modification.

Referring to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, the improved changeable propelling pencil comprises a housing I 'which has a tapered part I at one end fitted with a seating element 2 having a tapered bore. A contractible chuck 6 of known construction having multiple jaws protrudes from the seating element 2 and is formed with a tapered part adapted to co-operate with a tapered-bore'in the element 2, so that under the influence of a spring I the chuck jaws are caused to contract. Y

The chuck 6 is provided at its rear end with a tubular threaded part 6' which screws into the end 5 of a lead chamber 3 slidably arranged in the interior of the housing I, and the spring 'i is arranged within the housing I between the element 2 and the endl-5 of the chamber 3. The

above operates asfollows:

inder 9 which has at one end an axial. bore l!)y to receive the end of a lead l I. VjAt'fits otlflerend the cylinder 9 has a head Sitheadiameter Aoffwhich substantially coincides with the internal diameter of the lead container Beso asvtoguide the lead holder. The wall oftlie 'bore' l0 has a longitudinal slot Ill which is prolonged'beyond the end of the bore, as shownlnFig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lead chambermay comprise compartments 4 adapted for thereception of one lead container 8 each, the" compartments 4 being formed by radial slots which extend longitudinallyfi inf*'thewa'll`= of the lead chamber.

These slots"are'iarrangedfsymmetrically in star fashion aroiiidftlilax'isof the lead chamber.

In the"modicationillustrated in-Fig. 4, the symmetrical radially" ara'ged" compartments '4 are formedby'constructing'the lead chamber in the form v"of a-'tibe wh'chin crosssection presentsthree ribs'arraged instar fashion to form 'the compartments.

The 'changcable'`f propelling pencil described In theid1epositionfia1 thespring 1 tends to cause the knob 3' of theilead chamber to protrude fron the "housing [Pfand draws the chuck 6 into the tapedborein theseating element "2; so' that the chuck sis-'contracted and obstructs protrusion kof a llead-' l.

In order ytoselecia lead for`projection through the chuck'V 6, thehousing il, while held with its axis substantially horizontalfis turned about its axis toY a suitable position, "whereupon one lead container moves under' the vinfluence of gravity liuto a positioninwhich it isT co-axial with the chuck 6. Thereupon, the point'i'sinclined downwards and inorder to ois'et the action of the f spring1,.the knob. 3f lslpr'essedso that the chuck `iaws 'can Yopen vto .permit thel'ead `vwhich is coaxial'the'rewithftoeslide out of its container and .the two remaining. containers which have remained in their respective compartments, as

, shown in Figs. liandfl,v will; be disposed automatically in a position,co,a xial A with the chuck 6. The lead containers which have remained-in their respective compartments lrevst onthe inner wall of the housing, .as shown in 3, or onthe partsV whichV formv the bottomsof the respective compartmenta; as in Fig. 4.

The interior ofthehonsing;*ispreferably not of. a completely circular cross-section, and the cross-section ofthe lead; chamber corresponds with that of the interior;of the housing in such manner as to maintainl'automatically a fix-ed angular relationthereb'etween.

Each lead containerzl has at its frontend a stop device which prevents the exit of the `lead piece 9'- fromftheleadjcontain'er.. the ernbodimentshown; thisstop'I-is formed by an in- '4 ternal flange 8' at the end of the lead container 3, which allows 'the cylindrical |part of the lead holder f9 to pass, but retains the head .piece 9. Th'e chuck16,`when open, hasia suiciently large opening to permit of the passage of the cylindrical part 9 of the lead holder, the length of which is such that the end of the bore lll is approximately level with the front end of the chuck 6 whenrthe head piece 9' abuts the iiange 8 at the end of the lead. container 8. Therefore, when a lead Ilghas been used up, the lead end can be removed fromthe bore lll by the introduction of a pointed tool into the slot l0' for pressing the lead out'of thef'bore. This arrangement therefore enables a used lead to be substituted without dis- "rnantling the? pencil.

In order to cause a lead which is in the chuck 65 to return into its container, the pencil is held with the point upwards and the knob 3 simultaneously pressed toropen the chuck 6.

In the modification shown in vFig. v5, fthe changeable i propelling pencil has the same components and elements' as" describedwithreference 'to house a square tube 'I3-which encloses'and positions four fle'ad: containers 3 arranged-in eter ofthe lead containers'V andthe wall thickness of the "tube I3Y arey such that, when-two adjacent sides of the latter are in contact with two adjacent sides Aof the hollow space,fone of the lead containers/is-disposed co-axial with. the chuck 6.

The improved changeable propelling pencil-according tothe invention has several important advantages as compared with known propelling pencils.

Aboveall, it does not have Yany ldevices for operating/the lead holderfwhich consist-generally Hof a knob which slides-in a slot along the housing, through which slot dust can enter the housing and impair the proper working of the mechanism. Furthermore, the pencil cannot' begdamaged bywrongv handling of '-.mechanism- Furthermore, as the contractible chuck ist rigidly fixed to the lead chamber; the lead is held strongly and rigidly: and, as each lead isaccommodated ina separate containenitis to alarga extent protected against breakage, if the pencil' is Furthermoreaszthelead is contained'in a lead Y container [l `andpitsrrear end is fixed in aV lead formed by the axis oftheqhousing tothefver'tical holder, the unitconsisting of the lead container, lead holder and` lead has a considerable' Weight, which is manyvtimes theweight of alead.- The selection of a particularlead istherefore'readily accomplished, when the axis ofthe housing is approximately atanfangle'of 40from the'vertical, a positive sliding.` of'fthes'elected lead being'assured, even when the `leadis Ialmost completely used up, duetofthefweight of the leadll'iolderv 9 to which it Visdaffixe'd.l Obviusy, the selection is effected withlgreatercertainty the more vthe'angle approaches 90. The device'described permits of anautomatica',and` absolutely reliable selection of leadsofthe-jsmallest calibre, whichisanimportant advantage.

As shown in ther drawing, distinguishing. marks4 lf2 canV be applied to= the housing; I. to indicate the number oi theleadsl containedv the chamber and the colour and. hardne'ssfof the lead vwhichv is co-axial with the chuck 6.

It will be understand that; the invention is not limited tothe particular embodiments described'. For example, in a further' modicationthe lead chamber 3 may comprise only two radial conrpartments 4. These can be arranged diametrically or in' radial' planes at an angle to each other.

IV claim: Y .Y

1. A. changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a tapered end,- a seating' element fitted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck devi-ee having a flared, part cao-operating with. said tapered bore, a spring acting toV engagek said aredi partinsai'd tapered bore to effectcontraction. of the chuck, a lead cham-ber sldable axially' iI-'i the said' housing and having one end part connected. to-said chuck and an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of ther s'aid housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to eiect opening of the said chuck, and a plurality of lead containers movabley laterally in said chamber by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to position a selected lead container co-axial with the said chuck, and in each of said containers a` lead holder provided With means for engaging ale'ad end freely lslidable axially in the said container.

2'. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a taperedend, a seating element tted to said tapered end and Yhaving' a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a ilared part co-operati'ng withsa-d tapered bore', a spring acting to engage saidared part in said tapered bore to effect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing and having one end part connected to said chuck and an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of the said housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to eiect opening of the said chuck,an`d a plurality of sep'- arate lead containers positioned in compartments in said chamber and independently movable laterally by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about' its axis to position a selected leadl container co-axial with the said chuck, and in each of said containers a lead holder provided with means for engaging. a lead andffreel-y slid able axially in the said'container.

3. A changeable propelling pencil comprisinga housing having a.. tapered end, a seating element ttedto said tapered end andl having a tapered bore, a contractible chuckfdevice having a ared part co-operating With-.said tapered bore., a spring acting to engage said flared part in saidtapered bore to eiect contraction of the chuck, la lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing and having` one end part connected to said chuck, an opposite closed end part protecting. beyond the respective end of the said housing toy enable the said chamber and. the said, chuck to bez 'moved axially against the action of. the spring to eiiect opening of the said chuck.. and a'plurality of compartments symmetrically arrangedabout the axis thereof, a lead container in 'each' of said oomparti-nents, said containers being independently movable laterally by the action oi. gravity' on turning the said housing about lits Aaxis tdpOS- 6 tion a selected lead container cit-axial with the said chuck, and in each of said containers a lead" holder provided with means for engaging aV lead and freely slidable axially in the said container.

fl. A changeable propelling pencil comprisingv a housing having a tapered end, a seatingv element fitted to said tapered end and having aJ tapered bore, a contractibleI chuck device having a flared part co-operating With said tapered bore,

. a spring acting to engage said ared part in said tapered bore to elect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially' in the said hous-k ing and having one end part connected tov said chuck, an opposite closed end partl projecting beyond the respective end of the said housing tocnable the said chamber and the said chuck to`v be moved axially against the action of the spring to effect `opening of the said chuck, 'and longituev dinally extending radial slots forming communi'- cating compartments, and a plurality of lead containers positioned in said compartments in said chamber and independently movable laterally by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to position a selected lead con'- tainer co-axial with the said chuck, and ineach of said containers a lead holder provided with means for engaging a lead and freely slidable axially in the said container.

5. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a tapered end,'a seating ele ment fitted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible* chuck device having' a ila-red part co-operating with said tapered. bore, a spring acting to engage said flared part' said tapered bore to effect contraction fof the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the saidk housing and having one end part connected to'.v said chuck, an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of the said housing to enable the said chamber vand the chuck to be moved axially against the action of,

the spring to effect opening of the said chuck and a longitudinally ribbedtube between the said end parts forming radial compartments, and a plurality of lead containerspositioned in .said compartments in said chamber and independently movable laterally by the action of gravity" on turning the said housing about its axis' to position a selected lead container co-axialwith the said chuck, and in eachv of said containers a lead holder provided with: means for engaging a lead and freely slidable axially in the said cone tainer.

6. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a' housing having a tapered end, a seating element fitted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a ii'aredA part cri-operating With said tapered bore, a spring vacting to engage said flared part in said tapered bore to e'ect contraction of the chu-ck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said house ing and having one end part connected to said chuck and an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of the Asaidhousing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to effect opening of the said chuck, said lead chamber and said housing being shaped in cross"- section to maintain a denite angular relation therebetween, and a plurality of lead containersA movable laterally in said chamber lby theraction, of gravity on turning the said'housing about its' axis to position a selected lead container caxialf with the said chuck, and in each of lsaid conf taine'rs a lead holder' provided with ineens fer' engaging a lead and freely slidable axially in the said container.

7. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a tapered end, a seating element fitted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a flared part co-operating with said tapered bore, a spring acting to engage said flared part in said tapered bore to eifect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing and having one end part connected to said chuck, an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of the said housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to effect opening of the Said chuck, and longitudinally extending radial compartments, said lead chamber and said housing being shaped in cross-section to maintain a definite angular relation therebetween, and a plurality of lead containers positioned in said compartments in said chamber and independently movable laterally by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to position a selected lead container co-axial with the said chuck and in each of said containers a lead holder provided with means for engaging a lead and freely slidable axially in the said container.

8. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a tapered end, a seating element tted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a flared part co-operating with said tapered bore, a spring acting to engage said flared part in said tapered bore to effect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing and having one end part connected to said chuck and an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of the said housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to effect opening of the said chuck, and a plurality of lead containers mounted in a tubular casing movable laterally in said chamber by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to position a selected lead container co-axial with the said chuck and in each of said containers a lead holder provided with means for engaging a lead land freely slidable axially in the said container.

9. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a bore with two opposite parallel side walls and a tapered end, a seating element fitted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a ilared part co-operating with said tapered bore, a spring acting to engage said flared part in said tapered bore to effect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing and comprising two opposite parallel side Walls extending between end parts, one end part being connected to said chuck and an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of said housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to effect opening of the said chuck, said parallel side walls of said chamber being at right angles to the parallel side walls of said bore in said housing to provide a hollow space of square cross-section, and four tubular lead containers mounted in a casing of square cross-section, said casing being movable laterally in said housing by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to bring any two adjacent Walls of said casing into contact with two adjacent walls of said hollow Space and thereby l8 to'position a selected lead container co-axial with the said chuck and in each of said containers a lead holder provided with means for engaging a lead and freely slidable axially in the said container or square tube.

10. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a tapered end, a seating eledr ment tted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a flared part co-operating with said tapered bore, a spring acting to engage said ared part in said tapered bore to eiTect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing and having one end part connected to said chuck and an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respective end of the said housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to elect opening of thesaid chuck, and a plurality of tubular lead containers movable laterally in said housing by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to position a selected lead container co-axial with the said chuck, each of said tubular containers having an inturned flange at the end adjacent the said chuck, and a lead'holder in each of said containers provided with means for engaging a lead and freely slidable axially in the said container, said lead holder having a head engageable with said inturned flange to retain said lead holder in its respective container.

1l. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a tapered end, a seating element fitted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a ared part co-operating with said tapered bore, a spring acting to engage said flared part in said tapered bore to elect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing `and having one end part connected to said chuck and an opposite closed end part projecting beyond the respectiveend of the said housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to effect opening of the said chuck, and a lplurality of lead containers movable laterally in said housing by the action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to position a selected lead container co-axial with the said chuck, and in each of said containers a lead holder freely slidable axially in the said container and provided atone end with a bore for receiving a lead, a slot in the wall of said bore extending beyond the end of said bore, land at the other end with a head for guiding and retaining said holder in its container, said holder being of a length to be capable of extending through the chuck with said slot exposed beyond said chuck.

12. A changeable propelling pencil comprising a housing having a tapered end, a seating element tted to said tapered end and having a tapered bore, a contractible chuck device having a ared part co-operating with said tapered bore, a spring acting to engage said ared part in said tapered bore toveect contraction of the chuck, a lead chamber slidable axially in the said housing and having one end part connected to said chuck and an opposite closed end partprojecting beyond the respective end of the said housing to enable the said chamber and the said chuck to be moved axially against the action of the spring to effect opening of the said chuck, and a plurality of lead containers movable laterally in said housing bythe action of gravity on turning the said housing about its axis to position a selected lead container co-axial with the said chuck, a lead holder in each of said containers, said lead holder REFERENCES CITED being provided with means for engaging a lead The following references are of record in the and being freely slidable axially in the said confile of this patent:

tailler, and means on the exterior of said housing for indicating the number of lead containers and UNITED STATES PATENTS the particular lead positioned co-axial with the Number Name Dlate said chuck. 2,219,769 Dorfman Oct. 29, 1940 WERNER GERMANN.