US653733A - Lead-pencil. - Google Patents

Description

No. 653,733. Patented .Iuly I7, I900. P. A. HAGY.

LEAD PENCIL.

(Application filed Feb. 7. 1900) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL ALTHOUSE HAGY, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

LEAD-PENCIL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 653,733, dated July 17, 1900.

Application filed February 7, 1900. Serial No. 4,313. (No model.)

To all whom it may GUN/6677b.

Be it known that I, PAUL ALTHOUSE HAGY, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Lead-Pencils, of which .the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lead-pencils of that class which embody a longitudinallymovable lead or graphite strip and means for forcing the same into operative position at the front end of the penoi The object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved lead-pencil of this char acter which can be manufactured at a comparatively-small eXpense,can be conveniently operated, and will effectively perform all the offices for which it is intended.

In the accompanying drawings,for1ning part of this specification, in which like reference characters denote like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side view of a pencil embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the pencil with one of its bisections adjusted forwardly and illustrating the first movement in the operation of feeding the lead. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the con- .dition of the parts when the bisections have been returned to their normal position and the lead remains in its advanced position. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body or barrel of the pencil, which is divided into sections which are longitudinally slidable with relation to each other and collectively inclose the lead orgraphite strip B. The body A preferably consists of two longitudinal sections, one of which I will term the upper section, as represented at 0, while the other I term the lower section, (represented at d.) These bisections c and 61 may be secured .together in any suitable or adapted manner which will enable a longitudinal slid-able movement relatively in a manner hereinafter described; but I prefer to employan ordinary dovetail connection, which may be formed by a longitudinal tongue 6 on the section 0 entering a longitudinal groove f in the section d. (See Fig. 4.) are respectively provided with semi boresor grooves at the center of the body A, as at g and h, respectively, ,(see Fig. 4,) which conjointly form a longitudinal bore, in which the lead or graphite strip 13 is contained. The bore thus conjointly formed by the bisections c and (1 corresponds in its transverse contour to the cross-sectional contour of the lead or graphite strip B, and both the lead and said bore are preferably of cylindrical contour in cross-section, though they may be of any other suitable or adapted form. The baseline of the tongue 6 and groovef of the bisections 0 and d is preferably on a plane which intersects a central transverse plane through the lead B, as shown in Fig. 4:, which relative construction and arrangement is best adapted for the employment of the cylindrical lead or graphite and is conducive to the great est strength in this connection and best frictional lead-retention results in the operation of the pencil.

It will be understood that the lead or graphite is frictionally maintained within its bore, which is formed conjointly by the relativelyslidable bisections c and d, and that the frictional contact of the surface of said lead or graphite with the bore-surface will be suffi- I cient to prevent the lead from dropping out from the bore at the front or pointed end of the pencil. In this connection the dovetail joint, as herein illustrated and described, between the bisections c and d enables in practical manufacture an effective relative adjustment by which this frictional retention of the lead can be effected without any occasion forthe provision of supplementary means for preventing the lead from being dropped from its bore in the stem or body of the pencil. The combination, with the frictionallyretained lead or graphite, of two initiallyseparable and relatively-slidable bisections which conjointly form the bore for the lead will, for instance, enable the employment of a lead of slighly-larger diameter than the normal diameter of the bore, whereby positive friction will be insured when the bisections are connected together with the lead in position; but this relative size and arrangement The bisections c and d.

would be impossible in connection with a sliding lead or graphite strip contained within a pencil-bore if the body of the pencil were of a solid construction and not made up of relatively-slidable sections.

It will be understood that the bore opens at the front end of the pencil and that the lead or graphite normally projects from the bore at said front end. This front end may be sharpened or tapered, as represented at 2', which sharpening or tapering may be initially provided in the manufacture of the pencil, or said sharpening of the body or barrel end may be initially done by the user in themdinary manner, or the pencil may be sharpened at'any time in the ordinary manner, if desired, without in any way affecting its operation or function as a self-feeding and self-sharpening pencil.

In the bore of the pencil, in rear of the lead or graphite strip, is provided a device whereby the lead or graphite when it is advanced into projecting position at the front end of the pencil will be retained against inward movement or displacement. This stop device preferably consists of a spring-clip J, formed of wire, as herein shown, and embodying a central loop is, the ends of which project divergently outwardly and rearwardly, as at l. The spring-clip, as herein shown and described, performs a double office. It not only prevents the return movement of the lead or graphite strip, but it is also the means whereby the lead is pushed forward or advanced when the bisection c is moved forward, said clip being moved by said bisection to cause it to bear upon the rear end of the lead and carry the same forward in a movement corresponding to that made by the clip. The spring-clip is entirely retained within the pencil-bore, and to prevent turning of the clip within the bore the points of the loop ends Z are respectively accommodated in longitudinal grooves, as at m and n, formed in the walls of the semibores gand hof the bisections a and d,which grooves are in a diametrically-opposite relative position and in which the ends Z Z will be retained during the advancing movement of the clip. The grooves m and n preferably terminate at a point within the pointed or tapered body end 2'; but they may, if desired, extend entirely through the bore at the front end. The points of the clip ends Zare preferably pointed,as at 0,whereby they will effectively engage the respective bisections in the operation of the pencil, as hereinafter described.

To insure a uniform registering position between the bisections when, after having been relatively slid in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, they are returned to normal position, as represented in Fig. 3, I provide, preferably upon the under bisection d, a stop means whereby the return slidable movement of the upper section 0 will be governed. This stop means may consist simply of a pin P, of rightangular construction, having one arm or tang driven into the rear end of the bisection d,

as at q, while its main portion will project upwardly and transversely with respect to the rear end of the pencil and form a stop, against which the rear end of the upper bisection 0 will contact when said section is returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

The bisections may be constructed of wood or any other suitable or adapted material, and I may provide upon the upper section a a projecting pin or end piece, as shown at T, which will project within the bore and grooves m and n and close the end of the same in rear of the clip J; but this piece ris not essential to the effective operation of my improved pencil.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

When the end of the lead or graphite projecting at the front end of the pencil is worn or broken or for any other reason it is desired to project the lead, it is simply necessary to relatively slide the bisections so that the bisection 0 moves forwardly with respect to the bisection d. This movement may be accomplished by simply placing the thumb on the upper section 0 and the fingers on the lower section d and then pushing the thumb forward and carrying the fingers backward,which will relatively slide said bisections so that one is advanced upon the other. In the movement just described one projecting end Z of the spring-clip will securely engage the upper bisection 0 and the clip will be carried forward with said section, in which movement the other end Zof the clip will slide over the lower bisection d, because the latter is moving in a direction which is not against the spring. In the advancing movement of the clip just described it bears against the rear end of the lead or graphite strip and of course carries the same forward in a corresponding advancing movement, so that the front end of the lead is projected to the desired extent at the front end of the pencil-body. (See Fig. 2.)

It is now desirable to return the bisections to their normal relative position, as represented in Fig. 3, it being necessary to bring the upper section 0 rearwardly upon the lower section d. This return sliding movement of the section 0 may be accomplished by simply moving the thumb backwardly. In this movement one end Z of the clip will firmly engage the under section d, while the other end I of the clip will slide over the upper section c, inasmuch as the direction of movement of said upper section is not then against the spring. The return of the section 0 is stopped at its proper normal position by the pin or stop means Pupon the lower section d. When the movement just above described has been completed, the lead or graphite is projected in a normal manner at the front of the pencil and the spring-clip J remains in the posi'- tion to which it has been advanced and bears against the rear end of the lead, thus efiectstates undesired advancing movement of the lead is prevented by its frictional engagement with the bore, as hereinbefore fully set forth. It

is only necessary to repeat the simple slidable operation, as just stated, when it is desired to again advance the lead.

It will be noted that in the practical operation of the pencil the spring-clip is adapted by its features of construction and relative arrangement with respect to the bisections to operate in an alternate manner, first engagin g one bisection and then en gaging the other bisection, (as they are relatively slid in the complete operation of advancing the lead,) so that said clip is advanced in a series of alternate step movements and carries the lead with it. If myimproved pencil is used in connection with a metallic ferrule at its rear end for the purpose of holding a rubber eraser or when any other cap device is used at said rear end,the stop means carried upon thelower section at for the limitation of the return movement of the upper section 0 will not benecessary, said auxiliary end device being adapted to perform the full olfices of such stop means. This stop means is not absolutely necessary to the effective operation of the pencil in the movement for advancing the lead, and it may be entirely dispensed with, if desired; butI prefer to employ it as a means of closure for the rear end of the bore of the pencil to protect the clip and bore from accumulations of dust or other matter from the pocket, and in like manner the end piece r upon the upper section 0 would serve to always keep said bore clear from accumulation of dust or other matter by reason of the fact that it intersects the bore and guide-grooves and would partially clean the same in a return movement of the upper section 0.

It will be noted that my improved pencil is virtually a self-sharpening pencil, it being merely necessary to relatively slide the sections of the body to advance the lead into operative position, and it further avoids any necessity or occasion for sharpening the wooden body of the pencil. The general construction and arrangement of my improved pencil are such that it is entirely unnecessary to remove or cut any parts, such as the peeling off of paper or the dislodgment of sharpeningsections,in the operation of sharpening. However, if desired, the sectional wooden body of my improved pencil may be cut or pointed in the ordinary manner with a knife, and by simply resting the end of the lead or graphite against the thumb or a suitable support the projecting portion thereof may be sharpened or pointed in the usual manner. The device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive and is adapted for most effective and convenient operation in use.

I do not desire to be understood as restricting myself to the exact details of construction and arrangement as herein shown and described, it being manifest that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations or modifications in the various parts or in the general construction and arrangement as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims. It is to be understood that any core of writing material, whether lead, graphite, crayon, or other material, may be employed, according to the purpose of the pencil.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body made up of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidable in said bore and unsecured to the body sections, and means for operating said lead in an advanc ing movement by the sliding movement of one of said body-sections with relation to the lead.

2. An improved lead-pencil, comprising the body made up of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidably operating in said bore, and means contained within the bore in rear of said lead or graphite and operating to advance the latter, said means having an operative connection with the slidable body-sections.

3. An improved pencil, comprising a body made up of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore, and means carried by one of said sliding body-sections and projecting therefrom into engagement with the lead.

4. An improved lead-pencil comprising a body made up of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or a graphite strip slidable in said bore, and unsecured to the body-sections, means for operating said lead in advancing movement by the sliding movement of one of said body-sections with relation to the lead, and means for retaining the lead in advanced position independent of the return movement of said slidable body member.

5. In a lead-pencil of the class described, a body formed of bisections slidably mounted and connected by a dovetailjoint the base line of which intersects the bore for the lead or graphite; and means whereby the lead or graphite may be moved by said slidable sections.

6. In a lead-pencil of the class described, a body formed of bisections having a relative sliding movement with respect to each other and connected by a longitudinal dovetail joint, each of said sections having a semi groove or bore whereby the bore for the lead or graphite is formed and the base of said dovetail connection intersects a transverse plane comprised within said bore, and means whereby the lead orgraphite may be moved by said slidable sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ICC

r 7. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip mounted in said bore, and means intervening the two slidable sections and adapted to alternately engage said slidable body-sections and carry said lead in its advancing movement.

8. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead slidably mounted within said bore, means contained within said bore and adapted to be operated by said sliding body-sections to advance the lead, and means for guiding said advancing means in its operative travel within the bore.

9. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a .body formed of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or strip of graphite slidably mounted in said bore, said sections havinglongitudinal guide-grooves on their interiors and intersecting said bore, and a device operating in said bore in an advancing movement by action of said sliding body members and projecting Within said grooves and guided thereby.

10. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore, and a spring device arranged within the bore and alternately engaging said slidable body-sections in a series of steps for the advancement of the lead.

11. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable with respectto each other, a lead or graphite strip inclosed by said sections and operatively slidable Within the same, and independent means bearing against said lead and engaging the sliding sections in a series of steps corresponding to the successive sliding movement of said sections.

12. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable and reciprocating with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip having a slidable operative movement Within said bore, and a device bearing against the lead and having divergent engaging means adapted to engage the reciprocating bodysections on their advancing stroke and to release the same on their return stroke.

13. An improved pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore anda spring-clip mounted in said bore in rear of the lead and having divergent arms adapted to alternately engage the slidable body-sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. An improved pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore and guideways', a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore, a spring-clip having arms adapted to engage said sliding sections in their advancing sliding movement, and entering said guideways.

15. An improved pencil, comprising a body made up of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore, said sections being provided with guidegrooves which intersect said bore, and a spring-clip arranged in the bore and rearwardly of the lead and having arms adapted to engage the body-sections and received by and guided in said grooves.

16. An improved pencil, comprising a body made up of sections relatively slidable and reciprocating with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slid ably mounted in said bore, means for advancing said lead in the outward movement of the reciprocating body-section, and means for limiting the return stroke of said reciprocating body-section with respect to the normal relative position of said body-section.

17. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body formed of biseetions relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, the upper body-section havinga reciprocating movement, a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore, means carried in the bore and operated on the advancing stroke of said reciprocating body-section to advance the lead, and means carried by the under section to limit the'return stroke of said recip rocating body-section at its normal position.

18. An improved lead-pencil, comprising a body formed of sections relatively slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted within said bore, means for advancing the lead by the sliding action of the body-section, and means carried by said body-section for conjointly closing said bore and limiting the return stroke of the sliding body-section.

19. An improved pencil, comprising a body formed of sections slidable with respect to each other and having a bore, a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore, means contained within the bore and operated bythe slidable body-section in its advancing movement to advance the lead, and means carried by the body-section for partially clos ing and partially cleaning the bore during the sliding movement, substantially as shown and described.

20. In a pencil of the class described, abody formed of longitudinal bisections slidably mounted with respect to each other and having a bore, and means for retaining said rela-, tivelysliding body-sections in connection during their sliding movement, in combination with a lead or graphite strip slidably mounted in said bore and normally retained by frictional pressure between said body-sections by action of the connection means, and

means for advancing said lead against its against the lead strip, means for engaging frictional resistance by the sliding action of and moving said latter means by the advance the body-sections. movement of the sliding body-sections.

21. As an improved article of manufacture, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as I 5 5 a lead-pencil having its body formed of lonmyinvention I have signed my name, in presgitudinal bisections relatively slidable with ence of the subscribing witnesses, this 2d day respect to each other and forming conjointly of February, 1900.

a longitudinal bore, the front end of said body PAUL ALTHOUSE HAGY. being pointed or tapered, a lead or graphite Witnesses: V 1o strip slidably mounted Within said bore, GEORGE S. WHITNER,

means contained within the bore and bearing LEVI QUIER.

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