US2287384A - Pencil - Google Patents

Description

Jme 23, .1942. R. MARTINEs 2,287,384

l Y PENCIL Filed Jan. 25, 1942 BWM ATTORN EYS Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES reTENT OFFICE PENCIL Rene Martines, Cranston, R. I.

Application January 23, 1942, Serial No. .427,975

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a pencil, and particularly to a means for feeding lead outwardly from the pencil.

Pencils of the so-called mechanical type usually provide some positive action for feeding the lead through the barrel so as to supply lead at the end thereof as the same becomes worn in use. Such positive feeding usually takes the form of a screw action or some ratchet or friction type reciprocating action relying on a positive movement or relative movement of two parts for such feeding action. A mechanism of the character above suggested requires a number of parts usually of metal which need either mechanical or screw machine operations and assembly operations running into a substantial amount of labor.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple feed for the lead of the pencil which will eliminate the more expensive mechanical action of the type heretofore referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small diameter lead which itself is of insufiicient weight to be fed by gravity, with a weighting means which will be of sufficient weight so as to feed the pencil lead forward by the action of gravity when the same is released.

Another object of this invention is to attach such Weighting means xedly to the lead enabling a long lead to be fed through the pencil by a mere shaking of the pencil when a clutch at the end thereof is released for permitting the lead to feed forward.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which with the exception of the weighting means may be all made of a plastic and thus economize on metal parts which are usually used in connection with a pencil of the mechanical feed type.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through the pencil.

Fig, 2 is a sectional view of the point end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a fragmental portion of the barrel showing the clutch portion at the end thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the weighting means.

Fig. 5 is a section online of 5 5 of Fig. 1.

secured to the lead and acting as a weight toenable it to be slidable by gravity. The weight will be of sufficient mass so that by the action of gravity the lead will feed forward through the barrel when not gripped. A clutch or some grip is provided at the end of the barrel so that when the lead has received proper position which it is desired the same shall take for writing operations the lead maylbe gripped in this p'osition and held in this position until worn sufficiently so that it is desired to feed the same forward.

With reference to the drawing, I0 designates the barrel which may be formed of Celluloid or some plastic material and this is provided with a bore II extending axially therethrough from one end to the other. The bore will be reduced along the portion I2 and the end of the barrel will also be reduced as at I3 and pointed as at I4 in a conical manner. This reduced portion of the barrel will be split as at I5 dividing the same into four sections, I6, see Fig. 5, and the lead II which is used will be of a size to closely lit the still further reduced portion of this bore I2 along the split portion.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated at I8 a point end comprising a cylindrical portion I9 and a conical portion 20 having an internal conical portion 2| and an opening 22. The cylindrical portion is threaded as at 23 to engage the threads 24 on the reduced portion I3 and when this point end I8 is threaded onto threads 24 its surface 2| will engage the tapered portion I4 so as to force the Various sections or jaws I6 toward each other t0 tightly grip the lead and hold it in such position as it may assume at the time that the point end is threaded tightly into position.

The lead II is ordinarily of such small diameter that it does not possess suflicient weight so as to itself drop through the jaw portion of the bore I2 nor does it possess sufiicient weight so that by shaking the pencil it may be forced through this bore. Accordingly in order to propel this lead by releasing the clutch such for instance as unscrewing the point end I8 I have provided a weighting member designated 25, see Fig. 4, which consists of Vsome heavy material usually metal such for instance as the metal lead, or most any of the heavy metals, and which is produced to provide the same with a friction grip as at 26 and split as at 21 into tWo parts 28 and 29 so as to grip the Writing lead l1 in the bore 3U. Preferably I may have some resilience in this portion 26 so that the lead l1 may be forced therein and tightly held. The bore in member 25 is continued although in somewhat restricted manner as at 3| so that should a lead become broken off in the socket portion 30 it may be, by means of a pin, forced from position so that the end of a long lead may be inserted therein.

This Weighting member 25 when attached to the lead as shown in Fig. 6 is inserted in the bore Il Where the Weight is supported although freely slidable in this bore. The Weight is sufficient so that when the clutch is released the lead Will feed forward by gravity or it may be shaken somewhat so as to propel the lead just the right amount which in practice is readily acquired by the user. After fed forward a sufficient amount the point end member I8 is screwed into position to hold the lead firmly in place.

Some eraser such as rubber 32 may be inserted in an enlarged portion 33 of the bore and a cap 34 may be positioned over this rubber eraser at the rear end of the pencil on a reduced portion 35 to close the eraser and provide a nish at the end of the pencil.

I claim:

1. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough, a lead of small diameter in said bore, clutch means at one end of the barrel for gripping and holding said lead, and weighting means attached to said lead and freely axially movable in said barrel bore to serve as the sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of the lead through the barrel.

2. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough of different diameters, a lead of small diameter in the portion of said bore of the smaller diameter, clutch means at one end of the barrel for gripping and holding said lead, and Weighting means in the portion of the bore of larger diameter attached to said lead and freely axially movable in the portion of said barrel bore of larger diameter to serve as the sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of the lead through the barrel.

3. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough, a lead of small diameter in said bore, clutch means at one end of the barrel for gripping and holding said lead, and weighting means attached to said lead and freely axially movable in said barrel bore t0 serve as the sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of the lead through the barrel, said Weighting means having a recess providing a friction grip With said lead.

4. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough, a lead of small diameter in said bore, clutch means at one end of the barrel for gripping and holding said lead, and Weighting means attached to said lead and freely axially movable in said barrel bore to serve as the sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of the lead through the barrel, said weighting means having a split socket providing a friction grip with said lead.

RENE MARTINES.

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