US2532384A

US2532384A - Sharpener for mechanical pencils

Info

Publication number: US2532384A
Application number: US774285A
Authority: US
Inventors: John L Worden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-09-16
Filing date: 1947-09-16
Publication date: 1950-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1967-12-05

Description

Dec. 5, 1950 J. L. WORDEN SHARPENER FOR MECHANICAL PENCILS Filed Sept. 16, 1947 INVENTOR. JOHN L. WORDE/V BY M 4% AGr I L T Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES ATEN'l' OFFICE SHARPENER FOR MEGHANIGAL PENOIIJS John L. Worden, SanDiegmCalif. Application September 16, 1947, "SeriallNo. 774,285

'2Claims. 1

My invention relates to a sharpener for mechanical pencilleads and the objects of :my invention are:

First, to provide a sharpener of this class which is very useful to bookkeepers, accountants and other persons who require sharp pencils for making neat and accurate entries in books or the like.

Second, to provide a sharpener of this class which greatly improves the operations of a mechanical pencil wherein the lead of the pencil is mechanically fed toward the writing end thereof, and is sharpened in connection with the mechanical pencil affording great convenience to the operator thereof and promoting accurate writing of the pencil due to the sharpened condition of the lead therein.

Third, to provide a sharpener of this class which may be telescopically mounted upon a mechanical pencil and extended slightly beyond the end thereof for reciprocal operation in sharpening the lead extending from a mechanical pencil.

Fourth, to provide a sharpener of this class which may be permanently attached to a mechanical pencil and which is very compact, easy to operate, and which sharpens lead very uniformly.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my sharpener for mechanical pencil leads shown in connection with a mechanical pencil illustrated fragmentarily; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken from the line 22 of Fig. l and Fig. 3 is an end view of my sharpener for mechanical pencil leads taken from the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

In the construction of my sharpener for mechanical pencil leads, I have provided a uni tary member as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings which is provided with a straight, hollow cylindrical portion I having a slot la in the sidewall thereof through which the pin 2 extends and this pin 2 is connected to the pencil 3 which is a conventional mechanical lead pencil. The slot I a is sufficiently long to permit considerable reciprocation of the hollow cylindrical portion 1 relatively to the pin 2. The forward end of this hollow cylindrical portion I converges into a plurality of resilient fingers which are turned in- These lends 3411:1818 radially disposed from each ather as lShOWIl in Fig. .3 of the drawings .and

substantially surround the pencil lead A and engage the same so that reciprocation of the cylindrical member I causes the pencil lead A to be shaved by the ends 4a of the fingers 4. The resilient character of the fingers 4 provides squeezing tension on the lead A at all times so that reciprocation of the cylindrical member I automatically sharpens the lead.

It will be here noted that the normally rear end 5 of the hollow cylindrical member I is provided with an annular flared portion adapted to be engaged by the fingers of a person's hand for actuation of the hollow cylindrical member I longitudinally of the pencil 3. It will be here noted that the hollow cylindrical member I may be actuated in any manner as desired and is slidably movable longitudinally of the pencil 3 and may be adapted to various shapes of pencils or the tips thereof as desired.

The operation of my sharpener for mechanical pencil leads is substantially as follows: When the hollow cylindrical member I is in the position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the flared annular portion 5 of the hollow cylindrical member I may be engaged by the fingers of a person's hand and the hollow cylindrical member I may be operated in a reciprocal manner on the pencil 3 until the sharp ends 4a in their resilient engaged relation with the lead A shave said lead to a sharpened condition as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The pin 2 in connection with the pencil 3 prevents accidental removal of the hollow cylindrical member I therefrom and maintains said hollow cylindrical member I in certain fixed position against rotation about the axis of the pencil 3.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

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

1. In a sharpener for mechanical pencil leads of the class described, the combination of a mechanical pencil having a lead projecting therefrom and a plurality of opposed resilient fingers reciprocally mounted longitudinally of the axis of said mechanical pencil having sharp inwardly directed extremities, engageable with the outer side of said lead, the ends of resilient fingers being sharp and disposed inwardly toward the axis of said lead, a hollow cylindrical portion connected to said fingers telescopically connected with a portion of mechanical pencil, and stop means in connection with said mechanical pencil for limitingthe longitudinal play of said resilient fingers on said lead'and said pencil.

2. In a sharpener for mechanical pencil leads of the class described, the combination of a mechanical pencil having a lead projecting therefrom and a plurality of opposed resilient fingers reciprocally mounted longitudinally of the axis of saidmechanical pencil having sharp inwardly directed extremities, engageable with the outer side of said lead, the ends; of resilient fingers being sharp and disposed inwardly toward the axis of said lead, a hollow cylindrical portionconnected to said finger s'telescopically connected with a portion of said mechanical pencil, f and stop means in connection with said mechan- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,057 Foley Dec. 15, 1891 484,071 Walker Oct. 11, 1892 642,914 Mitchell Feb. 6, 1900 2,432,376 Brady Dec. 9, 1947