US3288113A

US3288113A - Self-sharpening pencil

Info

Publication number: US3288113A
Application number: US458900A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gabler Josef
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-05-26
Filing date: 1965-05-26
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

NOV. 29, 1966 1 GABLER SELF-SHARPENING PENCIL Filed May 26 1965 1NVENTOR.

JOSEF GABL 12 BYGLMJAQSQLM United States Patent O 3,288,113 SELF-SHARPENIN G PENCIL Josef Gabler, Mainaustrasse 44, Zurich, Switzerland Filed May 26, 1965, Ser. No. 458,900 1 Claim. (Cl. 120-15) This invention relates to a pencil and refers more particularly to pencils of the propelling lead type which contain a lead sharpening device.

Prior art pencils of this type consist of a large number of parts and had to be made on so-called decolletage machines, so that they are rather expensive in manufacture. These pencils were provided with rotary leads and the sharpening of the leads was time consuming. The assembly of these pencils was rather complicated due to the extensive use of screw threads.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a pencil of the described type which will avoid the drawbacks of prior art constructions.

Another object is the provision of such a pencil which contains substantially less parts than prior art pencils and which can be made inexpensively on pressing machines.

Yet another object is the provision of a pencil of the described construction the lead of which can be slid directly without being rotated and the sharpening device of which carries out a better and faster sharpening operation than was possible with prior art constructions.

A still further object is the provision ofa pencil of this type the parts of which can be assembled quickly and easily by tting them one into the other, without extensive use of screw threads.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following speciiication.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found advisable to provide a pencil having a tubular case with a cap slidably mounted upon one end of the case. The other end of the case is engaged by a conical tip member which is screwed upon an inner tubular member capable of a slidable movement limited by the engagement of its flange with a flange of an inner sleeve iixed within the case. The sharpening of the lead takes place in the withdrawn position of the inner tubular member by engagement of the lead with blades extending at an acute angle to the axis of the pencil and located upon an inner surface of the conical tip member. The lead located within the pencil can slide without being rotated by pressing the cap which then moves a tube out of engagement with segments normally holding the lead. However, further inner sleeves are also provided permitting a forward movement of the lead when the cap is rotated.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a pencil constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown in its working position.

FIGURE 2 is a similar section, but shows the pencil in its lead-sharpening position.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section along the line III-III of FIGURE 1.

rThe drawing shows a pencil case 1 having at the front end a conical tip 2. The tip 2 has a cylindrical portion which is substantially in alignment with the case 1 and which is screwed upon an inner tubular member 4. A lead 3 extends through the tip 2. At the other end of the case 1 there is provided a cap 7 having a skirt portion 8 which slidably tits over the rear end of the case 1. The cap 7 which is adapted to move longitudinally has an 3,238,113 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 inner annular flange enclosing a sleeve 11 which in turn encloses a pin 24. The sleeve 11 is provided with a longitudinal slot 12 into which extends a projection 25 constituting a part of the pin 24. The pin 24 engages the top of the lead 3.

Substantially in the center of the case 1 is provided a bush 10. A pressure spring 9 extends between the bush 10 and the cap 7 and around the sleeve 11.

A further sleeve 19 surrounds the sleeve 11; its top is spaced a short distance from the ange of the cap 7 and it extends through the bush 10 ending somewhat below the top edge of the tip 2. The sleeve 19 has a slot receiving the projection 25 and is provided with a helical groove or threads 18. Another sleeve 22 encloses the sleeve 19. The sleeve 22 has a rear end fitting into a recess of the bush 10, and an outwardly curved ilange 23 which is adapted to engage an inwardly curving end ange of the tube 4. The sleeve 22 ends in a conical portion 17.

A short sleeve 13 is mounted upon the tube or sleeve 11 and is connected with a tube 14 embracing the lower end of the lead and terminating in resilient segments 15 which have a tendency to extend outwardly and which are provided with curved portions 16.

The inner surfaces of the conical end piece 2 carry a conical sleeve 5 provided with cutting blades 6 which are inclined at an acute angle relatively to the pencil axis.

FIGURE 1 shows the pencil ready for use; the lead extends out of the tip 2 and is rmly held in place by segments 15 which are pressed against the lead by the conical member 17 the edge of which engages the curved portions 16.

To remove the lead the user merely presses down the cap 7 which will slide along with its skirt portion 8 upon the case 1, thereby compressing the spring 9. This sliding movement will be transmitted to the tube 14; its segments 15 will move beyond the edge of conical member 17 and will open, thereby releasing the lead 3. The lead 3 can then slide outwardly without rotating, due to the provision of the sleeve 13 along with the tube 14. However, the user can also shift the lead 3 forward gradually in the usual manner by rotating the cap 7, due to the provision of the described tubular members. To provide a return movement of the lead, the lead must be released by pressure against the cap 7, as has just been indicated.

To sharpen the lead, the user must pull the conical tip 2 along with the tube 4 until the inwardly curving end of the tube 4 is brought into engagement with the outwardly curving flange 23 of the sleeve 22. Then the tip 2 along with the tube 4 can carry out a limited swinging movement relatively to the lead 3 engaged by the tube 14, so that the lead 3 can be pressed against the blades 6 of the conical sleeve 5, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Then the end of the lead 3 can be sharpened by turning the tip. After the sharpening operation has been completed the tip 2 is moved back into the position shown in FIG. 1.

It is apparent that the described construction has comparatively few parts which can be easily stamped out of metal sheets. These parts can be easily assembled merely by fitting them one over or one into each other. The possibility of sliding the lead in and out without rotating it, greatly facilitates handling and preserves the lead from breakage. The inclined arrangement of the cutting blades improves and expedites the sharpening of the lead tip.

It is apparent that the example described above has been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that it is subject to many variations and modications within the scope of the present invention. All such Variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

A self-sharpening pencil, comprising, in combination, a tubular ca se, a cap mounted upon one end of said case and slidable thereon, a tubular member within said case, a conical tip member screwed upon one end of said tubular member and having an end portion substantially aligned with the other end of said case, lead engaging segments within said case, a tube integral with said segments, another tube having an end contacting an end of the rstmentioned tube and another end engaging a cavity in said cap, a sleeve interconnecting said two tubes adjacent the contacting edges thereof, another sleeve enclosing the second-mentioned tube and having helical threads thereon, a third sleeve enclosing the second-mentioned sleeve and having an outwardly projecting annular ilange, a bush fixed within said lcase and engaging an end of the third-mentioned sleeve, a pin having one end engaging said cap cavity and enclosed by the second-mentioned tube, said pin having a projection extending through a slot formed in the second-mentioned tube and an aligned slot formed in the second-mentioned sleeve, a coiled spring engaging said bush and an inner surface of said cap, said tubular member having an inwardly projecting annular ange adapted to engage the outwardly projecting annular flange of the third-mentioned sleeve when said conical tip member and said tubular member are pulled away from said case, and lead sharpening means upon an inner surface of said conical tip member, said lead sharpening means having blades extending at an acute angle to the axis of the pencil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,445,856 2/1923 Sonneborn 120-22 X 1,585,843 5/1926 Fitch 120-18 X 1,780,581 ll/1930 Dillier 120-15 2,507,089 5/1950 Bridges 1Z0-15 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.