US527803A - Pencil-sharpener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Y

" J. C. MGCLLUM.

PENCIL SHARPENER.

o. 527,803. Patented ont. 2s, 1894.-

W il gasses UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. MCCOLLUM, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- TI-IIRDS TO ALERT I-I. JUDSON, OF SAME PLACE, AND CHARLES K. JUD- SON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PENCIL-SHARPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent NO.- 527,803, dated October 23, 1894. Application filed February 23, 1894. Serial o. 501,207. (No model.)

State of California, have invented a new and useful Self-SharpeningPencil, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates Yto that class of pencils in which the lead is arranged in a tubu- 1o.4 lar barrel and adapted to pass through a feed cap, whereby it is'sharpened as fast as presented to the paper; and the object ofthis invention is to improve the. construction of these devices, so that the lead will be fed with more regularityand sharpened without wasting.

A further obj ect is to improve the construction of the cap or head of the device, whereby it may be produced at a smaller cost than or- 2o dinarily, and will be more effective in operation.

To these ends my invention consists of certain improved features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts that z 5 will be more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:--Figure l represents a perspective view of a pencil, constructed after the manner of my invention;

3o Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3, a cross section on the line of Fig. 2; Fig. 4., an enlarged perspective view of the cap or head; Fig. 5, a cross section on the line 'y-fy of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a cross section on line w-w of Fig. 2.

The reference letter a indicates the barrel or body of my invention,which is preferably of metal and has the longitudinal passage b formed therein.

the rear end thereof in the round screwthreaded aperture c. With the exception of this aperture c, the passage b is square throughu out its length and is provided with the longitudinally movable follower-block el, which is capable of movement from end to end in the passage andwhich is given a normal tendency toward the front or head of the body by means of the spiral spring e. This device,

This passage-b extends the 4o entire length of the body and terminates at whenextended will occupy the major portion of the passage, but may be compressed so as to occupy but a small portion thereof, while its rear end is engaged and held in place by means of the screw-cap f which fits within the threaded aperture c of passage b. The purpose of the follower block d is to give the lead g a normal tendency toward the head, and the lead must be formed square in cross-section so as to prevent axial movement. The reason for this will be apparent later on.

The forward end of the body a, is reduced ath, and the reduced portion is provided with an annular rib or flange z', which operates to hold the cap k on the reduced portion and to allow it rotary movement thereon. The cap lc consists of a cylindrical section having an open rear end, which is formed with the lon` gitudinal slots Z, whereby the end is given a spring tendency. Formed on the interior of the cap lo and near its rear end yis the annular groove m, which is so constructed that it will fit over the rib 1', and by this means the cap is prevented from longitudinal movement but allowed to turn .on the reduced portion h, the rearend of the cap being arranged to fit snugly against the shoulder of the reduced portion.

Cap Zo is formed so that its forward end will project over the front end of the body a, and is provided at such forward end with the fingers n, preferably four, and projecting slightly inwardly, their ends meeting opposite each other and leaving a space between them of a size equal to the size of the point which it is desired to give the lead. These fingers, fn, are formed on their inner sides with the sharp knife edges n', which slope outwardly and inwardly parallel with the outer faceof the fingers, thus making the circular line within which the edges n lie describe substantially a cone, as shown in Fig. 2. This imaginary cone is of a size at its base equal to the thickness of the lead, and decreases in size until its apex (forward end of lingers) is of a size equal to lthe point which it is desiredto give the lead. By this means the lead is sharpened as advanced, since it is under continual pressure by reason of spring e, and this will push 5o spring e, is arranged in the passage g and its forward end into the space between the roo fingers n of cap 7s. Now, owing to its size, the lead will be able tolgo no farther, at first, but upon revolving the cap 7c, and this may be readily done by the milled surface 7c', the knives n will act on the lead and cut it away sufficiently to allow it to pass farther into the cone between the knives. Thisis continued until the lead is cut away suificiently to allow it to pass out the opening between the forward end of the fingers, whereupon the pencil may be used. When the point thus formed wears away, a new one may be formed by repeating the operation just described, and so on until the lead is used, when it will bc necessary to provide a new piece.` This .may be done by overcoming the tendency which the rear end of the cap 7o has to clasp the reduced portion h and drawingit out of engagement with the rib i, whereupon-a fresh piece of lead maybe inserted in place of the old, the

cap replaced, and the device used as before. The follower-block-,`d, may be a block prop# erly, or may be a short rod performing the function of afollower-block. This latter form is preferred, though'either maybe used.`

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecu re by Letters Patent, is-

1. A lead pencil consisting of a body por-` tion having a longitudinal passage adapted to receivethe lead and to hold it incapable of rotary movement, aspring-pressed follower` block in the passage, and adapted to give the lead a normal tendency out of the body, and a revoluble cap fitting on thebody and into which the lead is pressed, the cap having on its interior a series of longitudinal and parallel knives arranged obliquely and adapted to engage the end of the lead and to form a point thereon by revolving the cap, substantiallyas described.

2. A lead pencil consisting of a` body portion having a longitudinal passage therein, adapted to contain and hold the lead incapable of rotary movement, a spring pressed follower arranged in the passage and operating to push the lead out of the passage, a cap havinga flexibleV tubular end adapted to fit over the front end of the body and to be held thereon capable of rotary movement by a rib and groove connection, and a series of longitudinal fingers formed integral with the for wardZ end-ot the cap and extending inwardly and outwardly therefrom, the fingers having their inner edges formed with knife edges thereon and adapted toengage the end of the lead and to form-a pointthereon by revolving the cap, substantially as described.`

. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I havevhereto affixedr my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES C. .MCCOLLUMp Witnesses:

A. H. JORDAN, R. K. Woon.

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