US2691364A

US2691364A - Mechanical pencil

Info

Publication number: US2691364A
Application number: US689034A
Authority: US
Inventors: Valsecchi Arduino Carlos Pedro; Capurro Juan Jorge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-08-07
Filing date: 1946-08-07
Publication date: 1954-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1971-10-12
Also published as: BE471514A; FR934716A; CH273716A; GB615295A

Description

MECHANICAL PENCIL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 7, 1946 0d- 12. 1954 A. c. P. vALsEccHl ETAL 2,591,364

MECHANICAL PENCIL I 2 sheds-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1946 Patented Oct. 12, 1954 MECHANICAL PENCIL Arduino Carlos Pedro The present invention relates to mechanical pencils provided with a lead feeding mechanism to advance the lead step by step by push button operation, and has for one of its objects the provision of a pencil of this character having a lead feeding mechanism utilizing the inertia of the lead, and comprising a single lead gripping member and means to ensure an abrupt stop as well as an abrupt retraction of said lead gripping member to cause the lead to advance, due to its own inertia, upon said lead gripping member.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a mechanical pencil having a rotatable multicelled magazine with independent cells for each lead and means for receiving a lead from any cell of said magazine and guiding same to the lead gripping member and back into its magazine cell.

A further object resides in the means for 1ocating and retaining the rotatable magazine in position with one of its cells in communication with the lead gripping member.

The advantages of the mechanical pencil having a lead feeding mechanism in accordance with the present invention, comprising only one lead gripping member, include the following:

(l) The lead can be advanced step by step up to the last millimeter of its length. This characteristic constitutes an improvement which distinguishes the pencil according to the present invention from all the button operated pencils having a lead lfeeding mechanism to advance the lead step by step hitherto known and used, all of which have two lead gripping members. In these pencils the lead cannot be positively advanced if its length is less than the distance between the two lead gripping members, which is usually about half an inch, and this drawback which is very important in a pencil for several colors with independent cells for each lead, is avoided by the present invention.

(2) The lead is firmly secured by the lead grip.

ping member at the point of the pencil even if it is not of an exact diameter.

(3) A lead can be released from the lead gripping member to return it to the magazine without any other special device, with the maximum simplicity of construction and operation.

(4) A lead can be returned to its magazine cell and another lead can be selected and advanced to writing position only by reversing the pencil, pressing a push button and rotating the magazine, all of which are accomplished in a very short time.

The rotatable magazine is held in a position Valsecchi and Juan Jorge Capurro, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application August 7, 194s, sera1No.6s9,os4

4 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-14.3)

corresponding to a desired writing color by means of a locking device, the latter comprising a series of openings, one for each cell, in the wall of said magazine, an opening in the housing capable of registering with any of the said first-mentioned openings according to the angular position of the magazine, a movable locking member lodged in the opening in the housing and insertible in any of the first-mentioned openings for holding said magazine in selected angular position, and a clip attached to the housing and overlying the opening in the housing to hold said member in one of said mst-mentioned openings.

In order that the inventionv may be clearly understood and readily put into effect, two embodiments of same will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the multi-color mechanical pencil showing the lead feeding mechanism in its starting position,

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the pencil showing the lead feeding mechanism just before the lead gripping member is uncou pled from the push button,

Figure 3 shows the same mechanism, just after the lead gripping member is uncoupled from the push button,

Figure 4 shows the same mechanism during the return movement of the push-button,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pencil taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 through the lead magazine,

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pencil, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the lead gripping member, y

Figure 8 is a plan-view of the lead gripping member, and

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a single color mechanical pencil showing the lead feeding mechanism in its starting position.

The embodiments of Figures 1 to- 9 are to be taken as examples and not as limiting the invention.

The same reference numerals describe the same parts throughout the several views of the draw ings.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the pencil object of this invention comprises:

A tube |,Figure 1, with a point 2 longitudinally pierced by an eccentric conduit 3 at whose outlet a sleeve 4 is provided, having a bore 5 in which the lead gripping member 5 is wedged.

In the internal portion of tube I, suspended 3 by a flange 8, a tube 1 is rotatably mounted. Rotatable tube 'I contains the lead feeding mechanism in the upper part thereof, the periphery of the lower part being provided with slots 9, which constitute the lead magazine. The tubes I and 1 constitute the housing.

A ball IQ is lodged in an orifice H of tube i registering with the clip I2, and is insertible in any of the openings I3 of the tube TI. Each one of said openings I3 as well as the marks I4 of the flange 8 corresponding to a determined slot 9.

A lead-guide tube I5 is slidably mounted within the eccentric conduit 3 of the tube I, which :by turning tube 1, may be brought into alignment with any one of the slots 9 of the lead :magazine The lead gripping member 6 is provided with a plurality of jaws elastica-lly urged in a manner such that if no external force acts upon the lead gripping member it is open allowing free 'passage to the lead I6.

A disc vI1 forms the base of the lead magazine and .serves as a union between the lead guide tube I5 and a rod I8, with which it forms an integral part.

The disc I1 is a closure member adapted to close all the slots 9 except the one from which a lead is to be used.

The rod I8 is slidably mounted inside the bore I9 of tube `1 and is provided with a flange 29.

A spring 21 is compressed between flange 20 of rod I8 and the top of the lead magazine.

A rod `22 is slidably mounted in the tube 1 and is provided with a flange portion 23, and another ange portion 24, this latter one being bounded by two conical surfaces.

A bushing 25 is threaded into the tube 1 and is provided with .an inner flange 26.

A spring 21 is compressed between the inner ange 25 of bushing 25, and the flange 23 of rod 22. i

A bushing 28 is threaded in the tube 1, abutting against the bushing 25, and is provided with an inner flange 29 bounded by two conical surfaces.

A washer 38 is housed inside bushing 25, and retained by the inner flange 29 of bushing 28.

A spring SI is compressed between washer 30 and the inner iiange 26 of bushing 25.

A cap 32 is threaded on the bushing 28 and forms therefore an integral part of the tube 1, and is provided with an opening 33.

The tube I together with the tube 1, the cap 32. the

bushings

25 and 28, and the point 4 constitute the housing of the pencil.

A push button 34 is slidably mounted in the bushing 28 as well as in the cap 32, and is telescopically related with the rod 22.

A ball 35 is movably lodged in a bore in the wall of the push button 34.

The single color pencil of Figure 9 comprises:

A casing I1 constituted by two parts joined by the bushing 28. A bushing 251 is threaded in the casing I1, abutting against the bushing 28. A bushing 38 is threaded in the casing I1 and is provided with a flange 39 to retain the springs 21 and 3|. A tube 221 is slidably mounted in the casing I1 and is provided with a flange 231 and another flange 241 bounded by two conical surfaces. A tube 36, forming the lead magazine, is slidably mounted in the casing I1 and is telescopically related with the rod 221. The ball 35 is lodged in a bore in the wall of the tube 36. A push button 341 is provided at the top of the tube 36.

The casing I1 together with the bushings 251,

f ruptly f rod 22, acting upon the lead falls to the point 4 28 and 38, and the point 4 constitute the housing of the pencil.

In Figure l the lead gripping member 6 is wedged in the opening at the point of the pencil, gripping a lead due to the action of the spring 2 I.

In these conditions, in order to advance the lead, the push button 34 is pressed compressing spring 3|, and the ball 35 is thus guided radially inwardly of the button by the upper vconical surface of inner flange 29 to couple the button to rod 22 and thrust it down by acting upon its -fiange 24.

The rod 22 advances together with the lead guide tube I5, compressing the spring 2I.

'The lead gripping member 6 advances with the lead I6 initially held by its jaws, till the ball 35, sliding over the upper conical surface of the flange 24 lodges itself beneath the inner iiange 29 of the bushing 28 (Figure 2 and Figure 3). This abruptly uncouples the rod 22 from the button 34.

When the rod 22 is uncoupled from the button 34, the lead gripping memberV 9 is first abruptly stopped in its advance by the spring 2l, and then abruptly retracted to lead gripping position, as shown in Figure 3.

When the lead gripping member is abruptly stopped, the lead continues advancing somewhat, sliding in the open lead gripping member due to its inertia of motion, in the same way as an article, resting freely on a moving support continues its motion when the support is abruptly stopped.

'Then when the lead gripping member is abretracted, the lead remains in its advanced position, sliding 'in the open lead gripping member, due to its inertia of rest, inthe same way as an article resting freely on a support, remains in its rest position when the support is abruptly removed.

When button 34 is lreleased it moves back with the ball 35, by the action of the spring 3l (Figure 4), and said ball 35 sliding over the lower cone of the inner flange 29 of bushing 22 will lift the its flange 24 and compress- 21. Once past the inner flange will slide over the lower cone of the ange 24 of rod 22, lodging itself on the flange 29, and the rod 22 will then return to its initial position of Figure l, by the action of the spring 21.

The assembly has thus returned to its starting rest position, as shownA in Figure l, the only difference being that the lead has gone forward. projecting somewhat, as shown Vin Figures 3 and 4.

To return the lead to the magazine for selecting another color, the button 34 is fully pressed, farther than the position shown in Figure 3, with the pencil pointing upwards, in order to cause the upper wall of the cavity in the button 34 to act directly upon the top of the rod 22, thus -advancing the lead gripping member 6 and freeing the lead from the jaws, so that it can fall by gravity into its magazine cell. The button 34 is then released.

To select another color the magazine is turned with the pencil pointed upwards, till the desired mark I4 of rotatable tube 1 coincides with the clip I2. Then by pointing the pencil downwards 4, and by pushing the button 34 said lead is fixed by the lead gripping member 6.

In order to nil the magazine, the cell it is deing the spring 29, the ball 35 sired to replenish is aligned with the lead-guide.

tube. The pencil is pointed upwards and the push button is pressed fully down, as when changing color, and the new lead is inserted through the lead gripping member, the jaws of which will be open.

In order to iill the magazine of the pencil of Figure 9, the push button 341 must be removed to insert the leads through the top. The mode of operation of the lead feeding mechanism of the pencil of Figure 9 is analogous to that described with reference to the pencil of Figure l.

Obviously, various modifications of construction and detail may be introduced without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention, as herein claimed.

We claim:

1. A mechanical pencil, provided with a lead feeding mechanism utilizing the inertia of the lead stick to advance it step by step, comprising a housing, a lead gripping member mounted'in said housing for longitudinal movement Y outwardly and inwardly thereof and having jaws resiliently urged in an outward direction, means for longitudinally moving the lead gripping member and for varying the velocity of the lead gripping member during movement lengthwise thereof to cause the lead to advance, due to its own inertia, upon said lead gripping member, said means comprising resilient means urging the lead gripping member inwardly of the housing to wedge it inthe opening at the point of the pencil to grip the lead to prevent its recession during writing, an inner flange on the housing for limiting the stroke of the lead gripping member inwardly thereof when it grips not a lead, a push button slidably mounted in the housing, resilient means urging this push button to a position projecting outwardly of the housing, a tube connected to the push button and forming a magazine for containing a plurality of lead sticks side by side, said tube having a lower opening for passing the lead sticks singly therefrom toward the lead gripping member, a tube telescopically related to said rst mentioned tube and abutting against the lead gripping member, resilient means urging said second mentioned tube against the lead gripping member, said firstlmentioned tube having an opening in the side wall thereof, a sphere movably lodged in said opening, an inner flange on the housing, bounded by two conical surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially inwardly of said first mentioned tube for coupling said two tubes during movement lengthwise thereof to advance the lead gripping member from the opening at the point of the pencil and against said first mentioned resilient means, and a flange on said second mentioned tube, bounded by two conical surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially outwardly of said first mentioned tube for uncoupling said two tubes to allow said first mentioned resilient means to abruptly stop and retract the lead gripping member.

2. A mechanical pencil comprising a housing constituted by upper and lower parts rotatably related, fthe upper part of this housing being partially contained in the lower part thereof and provided with a plurality of longitudinal cells for leads constituting the magazine, means mounted at the outlet end of the lead magazine cells and rotatable relative tothe upper part of the housing for selec-tively closing all the cells except the one from which a lead is selected to be used, receiving the lead from that cell and guiding said lead to the point of the pencil and back to its magazine cell, said means comprising a closure member and a lead guide tube eccentrically mounted at y according to the angular position of 6.. the outlet end of said closure member, the lower par-t of the housing being prolonged in the form of an` eccentric conduit in which the lead guide tube is slidably mounted to prevent the rotation Ibetween said closure means and the lower part of the housing, a releasable retaining device for positioning said closure means relative to that magazine cell, said device comprising means on the housing to indicate that cell, vthe upper part of the housing having a plurality of openings, one for each magazine cell, the ywall of the lower lpart of the housing having an opening registering with any of said iirst mentioned openings the magazine relative to the closure means, a sphere movably lodged in the opening on the lower part of the housing and a clip attached to the lower part of the housing and overlying said sphere to hold it in one of the openings on the upper part ofthe housing, and `a lead feeding mechanism utilizing the inertia o-f `the lead stick to advance it step by step comprising a lead gripping member attached to the outlet end of the lead guide tube for longitudinal movement outwardly and inwardly of the housing and having jaws resiliently urged in an outward direction, means for longitudinally moving the lead gripping member and for varying the velocity of said lead gripping member during movement lengthwise thereof to cause the lead to advance, due to its own inertia, upon the lead gripping member, said last mentioned means comprising a rod slidably mounted in the housing and attached to the inlet end of the closure member, resilient means urging said rod inwardly of Ithe housing to wedge the lead gripping member in the opening at the point of the pencil to grip the lead to prevent its recession during writing, a push button slidably mounted in the housing, resilient means urging said button to a position projecting outwardly ofthe housing, a rod telescopic-ally related -to said button and abutting against said first mentioned rod, resilient means urging said -two rods the one against the other, said button having an opening in the side wall thereof, -a sphere movably lodged' in said opening, an inner flange on the housing, bounded by two conical surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially inwardly of said button for coupling Athis button to said second mentioned rod to advance the lead gripping member from the opening at the point of the pencil and against said rst mentioned resilient means, and a flange on said second mentioned rod, bounded by two conical surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially outwardly of the push button for uncoupling this button from said rod to all-ow said first mentioned resilient means to abruptly stop and retract the lead gripping member.

3. A mechanical pencil comprising a housing constituted by upper and lower parts rotatably related, the upper part of this housing lbeing provided with a plurality of longitudinal cells for leads constituting the magazine, means mounted at the outlet end of -the magazine cells and rotatable relative to fthe upper part of the housing for selectively closing all the cells except the one from which a lead is selected -to be used, receiving the lead from that cell and guiding said lead to the point of the pencil and back to its magazine cell, means to prevent the rotation between said lclosure means and the lower part of the housing, a releasable retaining device for positioning said closure means relative to that cell,

and fa llead `lfeeding 4mechanism utilizing 'the A-in'- ertia of the lead stick to advance it step by step comprising a Ylead gripping member attached to the outlet fend of said closure means for longitudinal movement outwardly and inwardly of the housing and having jaws resiliently -urged in 4an outward direction, meansior longitudinally moving the lead 4grinning member and for varying the velocity of said lead gripping member during movement lengthwise thereof toca-use the lead to advance, due to its own inertia, upon the lead gripping member, said last mentioned means compris-ing a r-od slidably mounted in the upper part of Athe yhousing and attached to the inlet end of said closure means, resilient means urging said rod inwardly of the housing to wedge the lead gripping member inthe opening at the point ofthe pencil to grip the lead to prevent its recession duringwriting, -a push button slida'bly mounted in the upper part of the housing, resilient means urging said button to a, position projecting outwardly of the housing, a rod telescopically related to said button and abutting against said rst mentioned rod, resilient means urging said two rods the one against the other, said button having an opening in the side wall thereof, a sphere movably lodged in said opening, an inner flange -on the upper part of the housing, bounded by two conical surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially inwardly of the push lbutton for coupling said second mentioned rod to said button during movement lengthwise thereof to advance the lead gripping member from the opening fat the point of the pencil and against said iirst mentioned resilient means, land a flange on said second mentioned rod, bounded by two Vconical surfaces, for guiding 'said sphere radially outwardly of the push button for uncoupling said second mentioned rod from said lbutton to allow said rst mentioned resilient means to abruptly s'top and retract the lead gripping member.

'4. A mechanical pencil provided with a lead feeding mechanism utilizing the inertia of the lead stick to advance it step :by step comprising a housing, a lead gripping member mounted in said housing for longitudinal movement outwardly and inwardly thereof and having jaws elasticallyurged in an outward direction, means for longitudinally moving the lead gripping memb'er Iand ,for varying the velocity of said lea'd gripping member during movement lengthwise thereof to' cause the lead to advance, due to its own inertia, upon said lead gripping member, said means comprising resilient means urging said lead gripping member inwardly of the housing to wedge it in the opening at the point of the housing tov grip the lead to prevent its recession during writing, a push button slidably mountedin the housing, resilient means yurging said button to a position projecting outwardly of the housing, a rod telescopically related to said button and abutting against said lead vgripping member, resilient means urging said rod against the lead gripping member, said butto-n having an opening in the side wall thereof, a sphere movably lodged in said opening, an inner ange `on lthe housing, bounded by two conical surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially inwardly of the push button for coupling said rod to said button `during movement lengthwise thereof to advance the lead gripping member from the opening at the point of the housing and against said first mentioned resilient means, and a ange on 'said rod, bounded by two corneal surfaces, for guiding said sphere radially outwardly of the push button for uncoupling said rod from said button to allow said first mentioned resilient means to abruptly stop and retract said lead gripping member.

References circa in the 'fue of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 876,228 Newman et al Jan. 7, 1'90'8 1,666,405 Caldwell et al Apr. 17, 1-928 1,908,386 Wahl May '9, 1933 1,964,154 Hertz June 26, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 37,270 Germany Oct. 16, 17886 359,276 Germany Sept, 21, 1922 437,867 Germany Dec. 4, 1926