US2899932A

US2899932A - Pencil point cleaner

Info

Publication number: US2899932A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1959-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1976-08-18

Description

Aug. 18, 1959 5 BENNETT 2,899,932

PENCIL POINT CLEANER I Filed Aug. 22, 1956 Fqz hz E'n [U .z' 16 77704114 5. flaw/var?- '3 ix V United States Patent O 'ice PENCIL POINT CLEANER Latham S. Bennett, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 22, 1956, Serial No. 605,659

-3 Claims. Cl. 120-108 This invention relates to a pencil point cleaner and particularly to a device which is useful for draftsmen and artists in cleaning residual graphitic particles from pencil points after the same have been sharpened by an abrading action as on sandpaper, emery cloth or a file. In a modification .of the invention, means are also provided for cleaning draftsmens pens.

When a draftsmans or artists pencil is sharpened by abrading the point .on sandpaper, emery cloth, a file or the like, graphitic particles adhere to the point and undesirably smudge the drawing. Heretofore these particles have generally been removed by wiping the point with a cloth. However, this procedure is troublesome and frequently-results in breaking the pencil point, necessitating resharpening. Furthermore, the cloth is unsightly, frequently misplaced and cumbersome to use.

provide a pencil point cleaner which rests firmly on the draftsman s table or desk and which provides a resilient cleaning surface to which particles clinging to the'pencil point adhere when the latter is wiped thereon.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pencil point cleaner having a resilient cleaning pad that is readily removable from a supporting base for replacement or cleaning and that may be conveniently secured in operative association with such base.

'Another object of this invention is to provide a pencil point cleaner which may readily be converted for use as a pen point cleaner wherein a resilient pad used for cleaning pencil points provides a cushion support and holding means for a covering of pen point cleaning material.

The invention, in a preferred form, is shown on the drawings and hereinafter more fully described:

n the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a pencil point cleaner embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of such pencil point cleaner Figure 3 is a section on line III-III of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing the invention as converted for use as a pen point cleaner.

As shown on the drawings, reference numeral designates a frusto-conical base portion which carries upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 11 that may be integral therewith. The base portion 10 with its upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 11 may be formed integrally of molded plastic, cast metal, or a block of wood or Wood laminate. As shown on the drawing, the cylindrical portion 11 is open at its upper end and has lip structure or a circumferential lip 12 extending inwardly and surrounding the opening, or throat thereof, so as to provide overhanging retaining means for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The upper face of the base member 10 is provided with a rounded dome-like protuberance 13 which extends upwardly into the recess provided by the cylindrical member 11 defined at its upper end by the overhanging lip 12 (see Figures 3 and 4).

-It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to Patented Aug. 18, 1959 2 Y The pencil cleaner pad consists of a cylindrical memberof foam rubber or similar material to which graphitic particles will adhere, said-cylindrical member having a diameter considerably exceeding its thickness and being designated by the reference numeral 14. V The cylindrical member 14, being resilient and flexible, may be secured in association with the recess provided between the inner wall of the cylindrical member 11, the lower side of the overhanging lip 12, the dome-like protuberance 13, engaging the edges of said member 14 under the overhanging lip 12. When so inserted, the dome-like protuberance 13 causes the rubber pad 14 to assume a generally spherical form as to its upper surface and it is this upper surface which provides the surface against which the pencil point may be wiped for cleaning graphitic particles, etc. therefrom. In view of the foregoing dee scription it is apparent there is here provided a novel one: piece holder comprised of the

elements

10, 11, 12 and 13 for holding the pad 15 in assembly therewith.

In a modification of the invention shown in Figure 4, means are provided for utilizing the device of this invention as a pen point cleaner for cleaning draftmens pens, etc. Toaccornplish this, a generally circular sheet of chamois or chamois-like material is spread over the surface of the pad 14 and engaged under the overhanging lip 12 between such upper surface of the pad and the under: side of the lip. a

1 ,Either, with or without the chamois-like covering, the cleaning pad (and its covering if and when the same is used) readily may be removed from the base by merely bending the same upwardly and inwardly and withdrawing it from underneath the overhanging lip 12.

The pencil cleaning pad being made of foam rubber or similar resilient and flexible material may be washed or otherwise cleaned and reused or may be replaced by a new pad. The same is true of the chamois-like material 15 made for pen point cleaning purposes.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the device of this invention provides a pencil point cleaner which may be positioned on the draftsmans desk or table in a convenient position for use. The resilient character of the cleaning pad 14 enables the draftsman to clean the pencil point after sharpening Without danger of breakage thereof. This advantage also accrues to use of the device as a pen point cleaner since the resilient support for the chamois-like material afforded by the pad 14 prevents injury to the delicate, carefully sharpened pen points used by draftsmen.

The easy removal and replaceability of the cleaning pad (and the cover 15, when used) makes it possible to keep the device in operative condition with a minimum of inconvenience.

I am aware that numerous details of this invention may be varied without departing from the principles hereof and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pencil point cleaner, a one-piece holder comprised of a frusto-conical base, a cylindrical extension projecting upwardly from the top of said base and having an open upper end, an inwardly projecting lip upon the upper end portion of said cylindrical extension providing an open throat portion, a dome-like projection centrally and integrally arranged with the upper surface of said base extending upwardly and spaced from the inner side wall of said cylindrical extension and terminating substantially at the throat portion thereof, a circular groove of semi-circular configuration in the upper surface of said base between said dome-like projection and the side wall of said extension and below said lip, a circular cleaning pad with cylindrical side portions composed of resilient foam rubber engaged between said lip and said circular groove at its circumference and with its base portion pressing against the upper surface of said dome-like projection of said base so that the upper surface, of said pad forms adome-like rubber projection which projects through and above said throat and above said npur said cylindrical extension and an ink cleaning pad comprised of a suitable material such as chamois covering; the upper surface of said circular cleaning pad and removably arranged between the outer peripheral surface of said circular cleaning pad and the underside of said lip,-thecleaning pads both being removable from assembly with the one-piece holder by merely bending the pads'upwardly and inwardly and Withdrawing them from underneath the lip.

2, In a pencil point cleaner, a one-piece holder comprised of frusto-conical base, a cylindrical extension projecting upwardly from the top of the base and having an open upper end, an inwardly projecting lip on'said cylindrical extension at said open upper end thereoffa dome-like projection centrally arranged on the base and extending upwardly within said cylindrical projection and spaced from the inner surface thereof and terminating substantially at the open end of said cylindrical extension, a circular groove of semi-circular configuration in the top surface of said base between said dome-like projection and the cylindrical extension, and a circular cleaning pad with a cylindrical side wall composed of resilient foam rubber engaged between said lip and said circular groove and secured solely by said lip at its outer'circumference and said pad having its base pressing against the said dorne-like projection of said base imparting a spherical formto the upper surface of said pad which upper surface projects above the open end of said cylindrical side wall of said base, the cleaning pad being removable from assembly with the one-piece holder by merely bending the pad upwardly and inwardly and withdrawing it from underneath the lip.

3. In a cleaning device for pencils and the like, aonepiece holder and a resilient cleaning pad comprised ofre silient foam rubber and the like, the one-piece holder hav ing holder means maintaining the pad in removable assembly therewith, said holder means including a base and an annular extension projecting above the base, the eX- tension having lip structure extending inwardly over the base which defines a central opening for receipt of the pad With the outer margin of the pad being underlapped under the lip structure in assembly with the holder structure, said holder having means comprising a dome-like rounded projection on said base disposed centrally of said annular extension and said lip structure which dome-like rounded projection cooperates with the annular extension in maintaining the outer margin of the resilient pad bottomed against the underside of the lip structure to prevent accidental disassembly of the holder and the pad and which dome-like rounded projection is bottomed against l the underside of the pad with a central areaof the pad assuming a dome-like rounded configuration projecting substantially above the lip, the pad being removable'froni assembly with the holder by merely grasping the central area of the pad having the dome-like rounded configure-1 tion and bending the pad upwardly and inwardly and withdrawing it from underneath the lip structure;

References Cited in the file of this patent NI ED T T S VBATENIS Lloberes Dec. 3, 1935