A. P.

LYNN 2,525,229
STEP-BY-STEP TYPE PENCIL
Filed April 20, 1945

INVENTOR.
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BY
Patented Oct. 10, 1950 2,525,229

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,525,229

sTEP-BY-STEP TYPE PENCIL
Anthony P. Lynn, Elmhurst, Ill.
Application April 20, 1945, Serial No. 589,310
O Claims. (C. 120-1)
2
In mechanical pencils much thought has been of the barrel. This mechanism includes a maga
devoted to the purpose of producing Such pen zine 6, a feed tube 7, a clutch housing tube or
cils economically, but with reliable operation. clutch case 8, and a clutch ring 9. The inward
One of the most popular types has been the re movement of clutch case 8 into barrel is
peater type pencil, in which the lead is fed by limited by engagement of bead 20 with shoulder
pressing on the top of the pencil. This may also 4. The magazine 6 or some member such as
be called a ? . step-by-step type of mechanical eraser 2 carried thereby, projects from the
pencil. " ": r
upper end of the tube and is normally held in
According to the present invention a thorough this position by Spring 22 which is compressed
ly reliable repeater type of pencil is provided in 0 between the magazine and the clutch housing
which manufacturing costs are extremely low, case 8. When the user presses the eraser 2
lower than the manufacturing costs of Such downwardly, this moves the magazine 6, the feed
pencils known heretofore. tube fl, and the clutch ring 9 downwardly until
In addition, a new and simplified form of an the clutch 9 strikes shoulder 23 in the clutch
adjustable pencil eraser is provided, and also a 5 case. Further pressure on the eraser 2 presses
new, simplified and rugged form of clip. the feed tube 7 further downwardly until clutch
Additional objects and advantages of the lugs 24 thereon are entirely free of the clutch
invention will become apparent from the follow ring 9 so that the jaws 25 forming the end of
ing description and from the drawings, in which: the feed tube can expand toward the position
Figure 1 is a longitudinal Sectional view of the 20 shown in Fig. 6. This will permit a lead 26 to
form of pencil chosen for illustration of this drop until it engages the tip 27 of the clutch case.
invention; If a lead is already in place in the tip 27 the
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a some downward movement of the parts will move the
what larger scale showing the eraser in a raised lead downwardly through the tip 2 into writing
position; 25 position prior to release of the lead by the ex
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal Sectional panding jaws 25 at which time the tip 2 would
view on a larger Scale than Fig. 1; hold the lead in this position. The tip 2 is
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on preferably Split So as to grip the lead resiliently.
line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Upon release of the operating pressure from
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view of the 30 the eraser 2, the Spring 22 raises the magazine
bayonet clamp for the feed tube; 6, the feed tube 7, and the clutch 9. The
Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view of the feed tube; clutch 9 rides idly above the lugs 24 until the
Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the clip and the clutch engages a shoulder or constriction 28 in
securing means therefor; and the clutch case, 8 at which time the continuing
Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken ap 35 pressure of spring 22 would cause the lugs 24 to
proximately on line 8-8 of Fig. i. be drawn partly into the clutch 9 to clamp the
Although the law requires a full and exact jaws 25 against the lead 26; thus firmly holding
description of at least one form of the invention, the lead for writing purposes and for feeding on
such as that which follows, it is, of course, the the next operation of the mechanism.
purpose of a patent to cover each new inventive 40 Upon the next operation, all of the movable
concept therein no matter how it may later be parts, including the lead 26, move in unison
disguised by variations in form or additions of until the clutch 9 again strikes the shoulder 23.
further improvements; and the appended claims Thus the lead would be further advanced by the
are intended to accomplish this purpose by par distance that the clutch 9 reciprocates.
ticularly pointing out the parts, improvements, 45 When the feed tube 7 is empty, movement of
or combinations in which the inventive concepts the parts is limited by the engagement between
are found. lugs 3 and slotted washer. 32 which may be se
In the form of the invention chosen for illus cured at the upper end of the clutch case 8 in
tration, the pencil includes a barrell which may the manner seen in Fig. 3. The slots 33 in
desirably be formed of a plastic. It includes a 50 Washer 32 are preferably slightly displaced from
large bore 2 communicating at its lower end . 180 displacement so that the lugs 3 can only
with a smaller bore f3, a shoulder 4 being Slip past then in one position. The lugs, Of
formed between the two bores. The bores may course, are correspondingly displaced from 180
be formed by molding or drilling. separation. The purpose of this is so that it will
Within the barrel , a magazine and feeding 55 be extremely rare for the parts to be in such
mechanism is inserted from the open upper end position that they will come apart accidentally
 2,525,229
3 4.
by passage of the lugs 3 through the slots 33.
Of course this would only happen in the rare
instances when the parts are in just the right
relative position and when there is no lead in
the feed tube .
If this is found to happen objectionably often,
the slots 33 may be slightly undersize so that the
lugs 3 can only be drawn therethrough with
considerable force. Complete separability of the
parts is desirable, however, for the purposes of
facilitating repair. The feed tube is secured to
the magazine 6 in any suitable manner but is
preferably readily removable. At this end the
feed tube T may be provided with lugs 36 which
engage bayonet clamp members 37 formed On a
depending portion 38 forming an extension of
magazine 6; the bayonet members 3 are pref
erably provided with humps 39 which tightly en
gage the lugs 36 as the lugs are turned past them
so that once they have been turned past the
humps, they will not be accidentally turned to
the releasing position. In other words, the bayo
net clamp members must be sprung to get the
lugs 36 past the humps 39.
Feed tube
One of the important features of the invention
is the simplicity of the feed tube 7 and the ease
with which it may be manufactured.
First a simple straight length of tubing is cut;
next the three sets of lugs. 24, 3 and 36 are
formed thereon simultaneously in a press Which
merely pinches this metal from the body of the
tube by external pressing. NeXt a simple swag
ing operation reduces the end of the tube against
a threaded mandre of Smaller diameter than
the inside of the tube which places threads there
in, after which the mandrel is rotated to release
it from the threads. The swaging member may
be in the form of a collet moving longitudinally
of the tube and very slightly reducing the di
ameter at the end of the tube as seen at 42.
Next the lower end of the tube is slit with a fine
saw which makes a cut about .010 of an inch
to form the slots 4 between jaWS 25.
It will usually be desirable to spread the jaWS
25 apart so that they will naturally assume, the
position shown in Fig. 6 in order to be sure that
the threads on the inside of the jaw will give
adequate clearance for a lead passing there
through when the jaws are not clamped against
the lead by the clutch ring 9.
The feed tube is now reamed from the upper
end to remove any burrs or objectionable con
strictions. With these simple operations the feed
tube is ready for use.
The lugs 24 should be tapered, lower at their
upper ends so as to provide a progressive clamp
ing action as they are drawn into the clutch. If
their upper edges are not flush with the Walls
of the tube, they should be smoothly rounded
toward it so they will not catch on the lower
edge of the clutch 9. This permits cutting the
clutch square at its lower end, although, of
course, it could be internally bevelled if preferred.
Preferably the upper end of the clutch is bevelled
internally, as seen at Fig. 3, so as to facilitate the
insertion of the feed tube therethrough.
Clutch case
The clutch case 8 can also be formed eco
nomically. It could be drawn from sheet Stock
or SWaged from a tube. In either case a stepped
mandrel would be used to produce the shoulder
23 and the converging tip portion. If sheet stock
has been used, the next step would be to punch
or drill a hole at the tip. Next a slot 44 is cut
to provide a resilient gripping of the lead. Next
the upper end is shaped to provide annular bead
2O and to receive the Washer 32. Thereafter the
5 clutch 9 is inserted and the annular internal
bead 28 is formed to limit movement of the
clutch. Then the washer 32 is inserted and the
fange of tube or case i 8 rolled over to maintain
the washer in place.
O
The magazine 6 may also be formed by a simple
process. A tube of the full diameter of this
magazine would first be swaged at One end or
otherwise reduced to provide the sloping portion
46 and the extension 38 of Smaller diameter. The
bayonet slots would be cut preferably by punch
ing, and a bead 46 (Fig. 1) would be formed to
limit the movement of the eraser assembly into
2) the magazine. The sloping portion 46 is inclined
approximately as shown so that the leads 26 Will
have a slight tendency to move toward the tube
7, but not enough to cause jamming. In Or
der that no lead Will catch on the upper end of
tube 7, it is preferred that a cupped washer 45
be positioned as shown, having a press fit With
the walls of the magazine 6 So as to Stay in
place.
Eraser assembly
30
The eraser assembly may include, in addition
to the eraSer 2, a StirrUp 4 by which it is di
rectly carried and a cup 48 which receives the
stirrup 47 and holds it. With resilient friction,
It is very desirable that some way be provided
to adjust the eraser 2 upWardly as it Wears
down. According to the present invention this
is accomplished by the very Simple expedient by
providing parallel saw cuts 49 in the wall of cup
48, thus forming deformable bands 5?. There
may be two sets of these bands on opposite Sides
of the cup, or there may be more than tWO Sets
equally spaced around the cup. One Set Would
do, but more than one is preferred.
When the eraser has been worn down it may
be pushed up in the cup. 48 and the bands 5 in
mediately below its raised position are pressed
in with a fingernail, to support the eraser in its
new position. A hole 52 is preferably provided
50 in the bottom of cup. 48 so that if the eraser has
been worn down too much to be gripped, it may
easily be pushed out from the bottom.
Clip
Clips made with the simple shape illustrated
in Figs. and 8 have not been very satisfactory
heretofore, because the Split collars 56 would yield
too easily and allow the clip arm 5 to be pulled
SO
laterally from the pencil. According to the preS
ent invention this is overcome by providing a
ferrule 58 which Surrounds the collars 56 and
reinforces them. The ferrule 58 is preferably
provided with annular internal recesses 59 adapt
ed to receive the collars 56. Upon application
the clip is first placed within the ferrule 58 with
the collars in place within the recesses 59. This
assembly is then slipped over the end of the bar
rel f. The split collars 56 are shaped to grip
()
the barrel so as to hold the parts in place.
The ferrule 58 prevents their being sprung by a
lateral force which they are not well adapted to
resist. To apply the assembly to the barrel i,
the collars 56 may be spread temporarily within
75
the recesses 59 by a suitable spreading tool or
mandrel which will hold each collar spread until
 5
2,525,229
6
it has passed over the end of the barrell. If a shoulder between the larger and smaller por
the barrel is sufficiently rounded or tapered at its tions; of the bore and an internally extending
end, this will not be necessary. -- - bead formed in the tube at a point spaced along
The parts may be made of any suitable mate the larger bore from the shoulder, a clutch ring
rials. At present brass is preferred for most of confined within a larger bore between the
the metal parts, including magazine 6, feed tube shoulder and the bead, being longitudinally mov
fT, clutch case 8 and clutch ring 9 because of able between them, an externally projecting
ease of reshaping, and resistance to excessive. bead forming a shoulder for limiting the move
corrosion. - ment of the clutch case within a pencil barrel
From the foregoing it is seen that a pencil is io and a retaining member aSSociated with said last
provided which can be manufactured very eco named bead and rigid with the clutch case to
nomically and which is, nevertheless, thoroughly receive and restrain a feed tube extending into
reliable when properly handled. In case improp the clutch case.
er handling causes a pencil to get out of order, it 6. The method of forming a feed and clutch
may easily be taken apart for repairs or replace 15 tube for step-by-step pencils which includes the
ments. Steps of pressing the outside walls of a tube to
I claim: pinch at least one set of externally projecting
1. A pencil including a magazine, a feed tube lugs on the tube, swaging the end of the tube
secured to and communicating with the maga against a roughened mandrel of Smaller diam
zine, a clutch case into which the feed tube ex 20 eter than the inside of the tube, and slotting the
tends, a clutch ring slidable within the clutch tube from the Swaged end to provide a plurality
case and through which the feed tube extends, of jaWS each including an internally roughened
said feed tube being slotted at its lower end to grip portion and a lug.
form jaws and having a plurality of sets of lugs 7. A clutch assembly for step-by-step type
pressed therefrom, one set cooperating with the pencils including a clutch case in the form of a
clutch ring to progressively clamp the jaws of the tube having a bore therein shaped with portions
feed tube against a lead, another set cooperating of larger and Smaller diameter and an internally
with the clutch case to limit the movement of the extending bead formed in the tube at a point
feed tube from the case and another cooperating Spaced along the larger portion from the smaller,
with securing means on the magazine for Secur 3) a clutch ring confined within the larger portion
ing the feed tube to the magazine. between the Smaller portion and the bead, being
2. A pencil including a magazine, a feed tube longitudinally movable between them, an ex
secured to and communicating with the maga ternally projecting bead forming a shoulder for
zine, a clutch case into which the feed tube ex limiting the movement of the clutch case within
tends, a clutch ring slidable within the clutch 3 a pencil barrel and a slotted retaining member
case and through which the feed tube extends, asSociated with said last-named bead and rigid
said feed tube being slotted at its lower end to With the clutch case to receive and restrain a
form jaws and having a plurality of Sets of lugs feed tube extending into the clutch case.
pressed therefrom, one set cooperating With the 8. A clutch assembly for step-by-step type
clutch ring to progressively clamp the jaws of 40 pencils including a clutch case having spaced
the feed tube against a lead, and another cooper constrictions, a clutch ring confined within the
ating with securing means on the magazine for clutch case and movable longitudinally between
Securing the feed tube to the magazine. Said constrictions therein, a slotted retaining
3. A pencil including a barrel having a large member rigidly associated with the clutch case,
a feed tube extending through the slotted re
bore, a smaller bore projecting downwardly 45 taining
therefrom, a clutch case in the Small bore and member and into the clutch ring, said
extending from the barrel to form the tip of feed tube having lug means thereon engaging the
the pencil and having an enlarged portion limit Slotted retaining member for restraining the
ing the movement thereof into the Small bore, feed tube from movement out of the clutch case
a clutch ring slidably positioned in the clutch 50 except upon a Special relationship of the lug
case, a feed tube extending into the clutch case means to the slot of the retaining member angu
and into the clutch ring, a magazine carried larly about a common axis.
by the feed tube and communicating thereWith 9. A feed and clutch tube for step-by-step type
and a Spring compressed between the magazine pencils comprising a length of tube slotted at
and the clutch case, said pencil including means one end to form jaws, and a plurality of sets of
restraining the feed tube within the clutch case lugs pressed out from said tube including one
to maintain Said Spring compressed. set disposed near the ends of said jaws to co
4. A clutch assembly for step-by-step type operate with a clutch ring for clamping the
pencils including a clutch case in the form of a jaws against a lead therebetween, another set
tube having a bore therein shaped with portions 60 disposed adjacent the other end of the tube to
of larger and Smaller diameter and an internally secure the tubing to a lead magazine, and an
extending bead formed in the tube at a point intermediate set for limiting the movement of
spaced along the larger bore from the Smaller, the feed tube within a clutch case.
a clutch ring confined within a larger bore 10. A feed and clutch tube for step-by-step
between the smaller and the bead, being longi type pencils, comprising a length of tube slotted
tudinally movable between them, an externally at one end to form jaws, and a plurality of sets
projecting bead forming a shoulder for limiting of lugs pressed out from said tube including one
the movement of the clutch case Within a pencil set disposed near the ends of said jaws to co
barrel and a slotted retaining member aSS0 operate with a clutch ring for clamping the
ciated with said last named bead and rigid with jaws against a lead therebetween, and another
the clutch case to receive and restrain a feed set disposed adjacent the other end of the tube
tube extending into the clutch case. to secure the tubing to a lead magazine.
5. A clutch assembly for step-by-step type ANTHONY EP. TYNN.
pencils including a clutch case in the form of (References on following page)
a tube having a stepped bore therein to form 75
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7 8
REFERENCES. CTED, Number Name Date . . .
The following references are of record in the 1,605,151 Wahl -------------- Nov. 2, 1926.
file of this patent: 1,646,371 ShOernaker ------------ Oct. 18, 1927
2,177,466 Stempel ---------- Oct. 24, 1939
UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,243,109 Lynn ------------- May 27, 1941
Number Name Date 2,287,894 Lynn ------------ June 30, 1942
381,612 Bussler ----------- Apr. 24, 1888 FOREIGN PATENTS
481,462 Benson ------------ Aug. 23, 1892 Number Country Date
638,962 Frank ------------ Dec. 12, 1899 Germany ---------- Jan. 3, 1902
1,597,520 Fischer ------------ Aug. 24, 1926 10 126,578