US2087519A - Mechanical pencil - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937. J. P. LYNN MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed June 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G mm mm Tv Nw @1T h w J. P. LYNN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @IMMWW y July 20,1937.

MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed June 27, 1936 Patented July 20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE- MECHANICAL PENCIL John P. Lynn, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Melrose Products Co., Inc., Melrose Pai-k; Ill.. a corporation o! Illinois Application June 27, 1936, Serial No. 87,705

20 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical pencils characterized as having a body and a removable tip together with means immovably mounted within the body and actuated by rotation of the tip relative to the body for propeiling the lead, and further characterized as having a frictional gripping means in the extreme end of the tip for engaging the lead so as to control the projection of the lead by the propelling means, and as having the lead-propelling means operable by rotation of the tip with respect to the body.

Mechanical pencils have been of several types, each of which has possessed certain characteristic features different from the others. One type has been those which have a removable tip and which require the removing of the tip when the pencil is re-loaded with a fresh piece of lead.

Pencils of this type all have vat least a part of the lead-propelling mechanism carried by the tip itself so that upon removal of the tip such part is exposed and presented ior the re-loading operation. In some instances a lead-carrying tube with a suitable plunger is attached to the tip and removable therewith, whereas in other instances, the plunger remains in the body of the pencil while the lead-carrying tube is removed with the tip.

Another type of pencil is that which has a xed or non-removable tip. With pencils of this type all of the lead-propelling mechanism is usually contained in the body of the pencil and is 'not subject to removal therefrom. With this type, the lead was usually fed in from the tip, or from the opposite end, depending upon the construction, and the inner end of the lead is usually held by a gripping means within the pencil, which causes the leadto feed positively with the movement of the plunger without depending upon frictional lead-engaging means in the tip.

With this understanding of certain prior pencil constructions, it may now be understood that it is an object of the present invention to provide a pencil in which the propelling mechanism is immovably secured within the body of the pencil and which nevertheless has a removable tip provided-with lead-gripping means at its end. The tip in this case does not carry any of the leadpropelling mechanism and thus when removed from the body of the pencil, it carries with it only the lead.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pencil of the type referred to which has a removable tip held to the body of the pencil by means of suitable friction or other holding en- (Cl. 1Z0-18) gagement through which a driving connection is established so that by rotation of the tip relative to the body of the pencil, the lead-propelling means is given a rotary movement by the rotation of the tip itself, whereby the lead is propelled in the usual manner.

This invention is not restricted to any particular type of propelling means and consequently itmay be embodied in various forms, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, from which a better understanding of the invention may be obtained.

By referring tothe drawings, it will be noted thatv Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a mechanical pencil constructed in accordance with the present invention; Y

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in cross section of a portion of the lead-propelling mechanism illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational ,view of the guide member contained within the body of the pencil;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the, arrows;

Figure 5 is an end view as seen from the right of the pencil illustrated in Figure 1 and as represented by the line 5 5 thereon;

Figures 6 and 7 are cross sectional views taken respectively on the lines 6 6 and 1 1 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8-is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8 and looking in the directionv of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a further modied form of the present invention;

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view taken on the line Il ll of Figure 10 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 12- is an elevational view partly in cross section of a modified form of tip in which a modified .frictional gripping Vand driving means is provided between the tip and rotary portion of the lead-propelling mechanism;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a still further modied form of the present invention;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lead-propelling mechanism'illustrated in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an enlarged elevational View of the lili split bearing ring employed in the construction illustrated in Figure 13;

Figure 16 is an end view of the split ring illustrated in Figure 15;

Figure 17 is anenlarged side view of a modified form of lead-propelling plunger suitable for use with open spiral tubes of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, respectively; and

Figure 18 is an end view of the plunger illustrated in Figure 17.

By referring to Figure l it will be noted that this form of the invention comprises a body portion designated generally as 22 and a removable tip referred to generally as 2|. The body comprises an outer shell or casing 22 which may be of any suitable material and which gives to the pencil the desired iinished appearance. This casing may be of polygonal external cross section or it may be round, or any other suitable shape. It is clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 as having a hexagonal exterior. Mounted within the casing is a guide member 22 which, in this form. is somewhat triangular in its cross sectional shape whereby it has a centrally disposed tube-like portion 22 and three grooved guide members 26 spaced apart.4 Thus the guide member has a three-point contact 'within the casing 22 for frictionally holding it therein.v all as clearly shown in Figure 4. This is a' particularly desirable constructionbecause the central tube 22 of the guide member is suitably disposed and designedv for rotatably receiving `a. lead-carrying tube 22 which in this form of the invention is an open spiral. The grooved guide members 26 constitute suitable guide tracks for the end of a lead-propelling plunger ..21 which has a portion 22 extending through the spiral opening and is held in one of the grooved members 26.

By referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the end of the open spiral 26 is reduced in diameter and formed into a tube 22 adapted to extend beyond the body oi' the pencil. On the reduced end 20 there is mounted a sleeve or bearing member 2| and a connector 22. 'Ihe'connector preferably has an extension 22 which extends into and has bearing engagement with the inside surface of the 'bearing member 2|. The connector further has an enlarged portion 22 which serves as a collar or holding abutment for the bearing member 2| so that the same is held against outward movement. It will be further noted that the bearing is held against inward movement by means of the shoulder provided by the unreduced portion 25 of the spiral tube 22. The connector is rigidly secured to the tube extension 2li by any suitable means, such as the prick punch connection 26. It will be seen from Figure 2 that this construction provides a connector non-rotatably secured to the reduced end of the spiral tube and a bearing member 2| mounted for rotation on the connector, and held against axial displacement.

As more clearly shown in Figure l, the bearing member 2| is preferably provided with a roughened outer surface 21 so as to have a tight holding fit at 22 with the reduced end portion of the casing 22. Thus the bearing member 2| is rigidly held by its outer surface in the body of the pencil and the tube member 20 is free to rotate therein while being held against axial displacement.

Mounted within the tube is a suitable plunger 21 which, as here illustrated, has the reduced end portion 20 having a diameter which will project through the end of the tip without distorting the friction gripping fingers thereof and a larger portion 2| which is adapted to give to ent therefrom for purposes of contrast.

-tip further comprises a lower portion 52 which vis preferably of metal and which has an upper the plunger a freely moving, but non-wobbling fit within the open spiral tube. 'I'he lateral projecting end 22 thereof, which is more clearly shown in Figure 4, extends into the grooved guide member 22 so that the same is held against rotation relative to the guide member 22. It will thus be apparent that upon rotation of the tube 22 the plunger will be forced to move axially of the pencil so that it will `propel the lead placed therein. As previously mentioned, the reduced portion 22 of the spiral tube 2l and its iixedly attached connector 22 project beyond the bearing and thus beyond the body of the pencil and into the tip member 2|. It will be noted that none of the parts which` propel the lead arev removable from the body 4of the pencil but that the end referred to merely extends into the tip and has holding engagement therewith both to prevent the tip from being inadvertently removed and at the same time establish a driving connection between it and the tip, so that the tube may be rotated relative to the body when the tip is so rotated.

In the form shown in Figure l. the tip consists of two parts, namely, an upper part il which may be made of celluloid or any suitable resin, composition, or similar material so as to be either `similar to the body tube 22 or perhaps diier- The integral extension 62 secured to the upper part 6| of the tip. The'lower portion 62 is preferably slotted as at 54 and is provided with an end Vopening 66 which isadjusted in diameter to properly engage the lead 66. This provides a lead engaging tip of a `construction now known and used in pencils of this type. The tip next has a slightly enlarged bore 61 which receives the end portion of the tube 22 and the connector 22 and finally a still larger bore 52 which, in this case, as shown in Figure 7, is hexagonal. In this construction the portion 22 of the connector is provided with an external hexagonal shape to t the hexagonal bore so that a rotary drive connection is established between the tip and the tube. The tip is further provided with a slightly enlarged opening 62 for receiving the end of the bearing member 22 and finally with end portions 60 which abut the end of the shell or casing ofthe body. 'I'his provides a flush, nice-appearing connection between the tip and the body. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many of the features of this form o.' tip are not essential to the practice of this invention and thus vthey may take various forms. For instance, the

tip may be made entirely of metal or in one piece, as may be desired. y Furthermore, the rotary drive connection may be established through various constructions as hereinafter more fully explained.

At the oposite end of the pencil, a cap 6| is preferably provided which is constructed to hold an eraser 62. The cap may be crimped or rolled as at 62 to form a shoulder for arresting the inward movement of the eraser and may have an extension which surrounds the upper portion of the 'guide member 22. As here illustrated, the guide member 22 extends somewhat beyond the upper end 64- of the tube 22 and consequently serves as a three-point support for the eraser cap 6|, all as more clearly represented in Figures l and 5. These figures also illustrate the fact that this form of guide provides spaces 65 which constitute compartments for spare leads 66. These leads may be made available by removing the eraser cap and slightly tipping the pencil so that the leads will be projected outwardly by-theaction of gravity. The upper end of the guide is preferably closed, as shown in Figure 5, by a suitably shaped end plate 61 which is held,

against displacement by any suitable means. It may be attached by crimping or by solder, or any other suitable means.

In assembling the pencils constructed as shown in Figure 1, it will be apparent that the tube and bearing member can be made up as a unit as shown in Figure 2. Thereafter the guide member and the shell or casing 22 may be assembled by pressing the guide into the casing. These parts are preferably formed so as to have a tight frictional fit. Thereafter the two units so assembled may be put together so that the reduced collar 68 at the end of the guide member 23 will be within the groove in the end of the bearing member 3|. that the spiral tube 26 is so designed as to have a rotary fit within the cylindrical portion 24 of the guide, member 23. Thereafter the plunger is inserted from the upper end and after the same is introduced the cap 61 is placed on the end of i the guide member. Finally the tip and erasercarrying cap may be added by merely forcing the same into position.

A characteristic of this construction is that the lead-propelling mechanism is immovably held within the body of' the pencil and at the same time the lead is held by a frlctional gripping means provided on the end of the tip. Furthermore, the lead is advanced by relative rotation between the tip and the body and yet when the tip is removed, no part of the leadpropelling mechanism is removed with the tip but merely the lead itself, which is frictionally held against axial displacement by the tip and is free to slide axially within the opening of the lead-propelling mechanism carried by the body. It will be further noted that the tip as here illustrated may be held against axial displacement by engagement with a portion of the leadpropelling mechanism and that a driving connection is established therebetween by any suitable means, such as the non-round cross sectional shape of the parts as here illustrated, or by a frictional nt or other suitable means.

A somewhat modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 8 in which the body is formed of a solid or molded piece of material or composition 18 which has any suitable cross sectional shape but is here illustrated, in Figure 9, as hexagonal and as having a centrally disposed cylindrical bo-re 1| and a groove 12. Mounted within the bore is an open spiral lead-carrying tube 13 somewhat similar to the tube illustrated in Figure 1. The end of the tube is reduced in diameter as at 14, the same as in the other form and serves as a means for holding a connector 15. The connector 15 is adapted to overlie the reduced portion 14 of the tube and extend to the enlarged portion 16 thereof so that it cannot move further inwardly. Furthermore, it is held in such position by means of a prick punch connection 11 or by crimping or other suitable means so as to be rigid with the reduced portion of the tube. Centrally of the connector, as at 18, it is enlarged by means of spring bowed sections 18 lying between the slots 88 which extend longitudinally thereof. 'Ihe bore of the body 10 has a'reduced diameter 8| at its end and a metal bearing sleeve 82 xed therein, preferably It is of course understood anchored by some suitable means as the member 83. This construction will be readily understood to those skilled in the art. The body may be formed of molded resin or composition'or of wood or any other suitable material. Furthermore the bearing lining may be'made of various materials or in someinstances may be omitted altogether, vthe essential features being that the tube is held with a bearing engagement at thel end of the body of the pencil so that it may freely rotate but atY the same time be held against axial displacement with the result that heldwithin the body of the pencil.

Referring again to Figure 8, the bearing sleeve 82 is preferably provided with a flange or collar 84 attached by solder or other suitable means to provide an abutment against the end of the body 18. In this case the tip 85 is likewise formed in two parts 86 and 81, which are preferably attached to a tube 88 having a roughened outer surface to tightly hold the parts in assembled relationship. -The tube 88 also provides at its inner surface a cylindrical opening into which the bowed spring sections of'the connector 15 may frictionally engage. This provides ameans for holding the tip against axial displacement and at the Sametime establishes a driving connection between the tip and connector. In this case the llead-propelling mechanism is held within the rotary end of the lead-carrying tube. Here the body of the pencil |08 is provided with a rotary projecting tube and connector |8| which is held by means of a washer |82 which is similar to the Washer 98 in Figure 8. The tip is here illustrated as formed in two parts having a slotted leadgripping end and an upper portion |83 formed of any suitable material and having a metallic tube |84 therein. This tube is provided with slots |85 and the portions of the metal |86 between the slots are bowed inwardly to form spring bowed sections for frictionally engaging the cylindrical portion |8| of the connector on the rotary tube. It will thus be seen that a reversed construction is provided from that shown in Figure 8 but with substantially the same result.

The form of invention illustrated in Figure is slightly different in that the body portion H8, which is formed of molded resin or any other suitable material, has only a cylindrical opening I therein as shown in Figure 11.A Mounted within this opening there is a slotted lead-receiving tube ||2 and on the outside thereof an open spiral tube |I3. The spiral tube is rigidly held within the body I I8 and the slotted tube is mounted for rotation within the open spiral tube. The inner slotted tube has washers or holding flanges H4 and l5 for holding the mechanism at its two ends within the body of the pencil, and-also a projecting end ||6 which is slotted as at ||1 to form a frictional holding means for engagement with the tip. The plunger ||8 is of substantially the same construction as that employed in the other forms of the invention except that its the lead-propelling mechanism is immovably I laterally projecting end ||6 is somewhat shorter whereby the same is adapted to cooperate with this particular construction. Thus the parts are in effect reversed with the result that the slotted tube rotates and the spiral tube is held rigidly in the body of the pencil. This will be clearly seen from an inspection of Figures 10 and 11. I'he tip in this construction can be of any suitable type, but as illustrated, it has a straight cylindrical opening |20 and it may be formed in one part or two parts. as desired. The projecting portion ||6 of the slotted tube is provided with a beveled end |2| so that the sprung portions thereof may be readily inserted in the cylindrical opening |20 of the tip and by forced onward movement, the tip can be brought into its assembled position where it is frictionally held against axial displacement. It will be noted that the onward movement of the tip will cause a contraction of the spring members of the tube which will then exert an outward frictional force which establishes a driving connection between the tip and the tube. 'I'his form may also have a suitable eraser-holding cap at its opposite end.

The modification illustrated in Figure 13 involves a different type of lead-feeding mechanism. Instead of the open spiral lead-receiving tube, a closed tube |50 is rotatably mounted in the bore |5| of the body |52 of the pencil. In this case the bore |5| has an elongated extension |53 provided with a non-round opening for holding the screw-threaded plunger |54 against rotation.

This opening engages the flattened end of the plunger.

The closed tube is preferably -constructed as shown in greater detail in Figure 14, in which case it has the central recess |55 which is adapted to receive the split bearing ring |56, illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. This bearing ring has a roughened outer surface as at which provides a tight holding t |58 in the bore of the body of the pencil. 'I'he reduced portion |55 of the tube |50 is so shaped as to have a free rotary nt with the bearing provided on the inside of the split ring |56. 'I'hus the tube is free to rotate but held against axial movement by means of the shoulders |59 engaging the opposite edges of the split bearing ring. It will thus be seen that the plunger can be threaded into the tube, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, and then the assembly inserted into the body of the pencil until the split ring |56 is brought into holding engagement in the end of the bore of the body. This leaves the portion |6001' the tube |50 projecting outwardly from the body of the pencil for receiving the pencil tip. The tip |6| is here illustrated as made of two parts and having a lower portion |62 of metal formed with a split endfor frictionally engaging the lead, and an upper part |53 formed of molded resin or other suitable material. With.- in the upper portion |63 there is a metal lining element |66 provided with the arcuate or other suitable slot |65 which provides a spring wing or portion |66. Any number of these wings may be employed. The lining member |65 has an inner diameter which closely fits the cylindrical extension |60 of the tube |50 so that the tip is snugly held thereon by means of the pressure exerted by the spring wings |66. In this way the tip may be removed while at the same time it is held against accidental axial displacement. Furthermore, the friction t between the tip and the cylindrical extension |60 provides a rotary driving connection between the tip and the lead tube. It will thus be seen that rotation of the tip will cause the plunger to feed forward and propel the lead in the desired manner.

In the form ofthe invention employing the open spiral tube, a plunger is employed which has a projection extending outwardly through the spiral opening. This type of plunger, when employed with pencils having a lead-gripping tip, is preferably provided with two diameters, the

end one of which is sumciently small to project into the lead-receiving opening at the extreme tip of the pencil without destroying the frictional pressure thereof, and the larger of which occupies the main length of the plunger and is of such size as to freely slide within the tube without undue wobbiing. Heretofore it has been customary in producing plungers of this sort to utilize a wire or stock of the larger diameter and then to form the reduced diameter by suitable swaging or other machine operation. An improvement is now provided in the form of plunger illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 wherein it will be noted a plunger is provided formed from wire or stock of the smaller diameter, as represented by the tip portion 200. Beyond the end portion the main body thereof is formed by a suitable punch press or other operation with a triangular cross section as at 20| whereby a three-point contact is formed for engagement within a bore of larger diameter, than the diameter of the smaller end. Finally, the head is formed with an upstanding portion 202 which may or may not have a tail piece 200 adapted for sliding engagement within a guide groove within the body of the pencil. The feature of novelty, however, reside in the construction of the plunger with two diameters formed from stock of the smaller Vdiameter and having the larger portion adapted for engagement in a tube of larger diameter which is produced by converting the smaller round cross section into a triangular cross section giving a threepoint guiding contact.

Referring now to all of the various modiiications of this invention, disclosed in this application, all of which have been given by wav of illustration, it will "be noted that each of them provides a pencil body in which a lead-propelling mechanism of one sort or another is immovably mounted and in connection with which a removable tip is employed. The tip in all cases is held by suitable means against accidental axial displacement and so as to provide a driving connection between the tip and a portion of the lead-propelling mechanism whereby rotation of the tip relative to the body causes the lead to be propelled by the corresponding rotation of the lead-propelling mechanism. It will be further noted that upon removing the tip from the body of the pencil, only the lead., is removed with the tip, and that in no case is any other portion of the lead-propelling mechanism removed therewith.

From the above description it will be apparent that the pencils of this invention may be re-loaded by merely removing the tip from the pencil body and thereupon inserting within the projecting portion of the lead-receiving tube a new piece or pieces of lead after the same has been rotated in such manner as to position the plunger in the upper portion of the body of the pencil. When the tip is removed, the projecting end of the tube is conveniently presented for gripping between the fingers whereby it may be rotated and the plunger positioned in the desired retracted position. With the plunger so positioned the tube is free to hav-2 the lead inserted therein. Ii' desired, the lead may be inserted into the tip where it will be frictionally held by the spring fingers at the extreme end of the tip. Thereafter; the tip may be applied to the body of the pencil in a manner to cause the lead to enter the end of the tube and to thus complete the assembly of the pencil. It is apparent that one long piece of lead may be employed or a number of shorter pieces, as maybe desired,

Although this invention has been described in connection with pencils having friction means in the tip for holding the lead, the invention is equally applicable to pencils of the so-called propel-repel-expel type which employ a lead clutch or gripping means within the body of the pencil. With this type of pencil the present invention has particular usefulness in that the lead holding lclutch may be made readily available by the removal of the tip, for accurate adjustment so that the same may be made to properly hold and actuate the lead at all times. This would be impractical vunless the tip'is removable and as applied to the present invention, the removable tip also serves as the means for driving the lead actuating mechanism through the instrumentality of the driving connection located between the tip and the portion to which the tip is attached.

I claim: f

1. A pencil comprising a body having a leadl actuating mechanism immovably mounted therein, said lead actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable lead guide tube member having a portion adapted for engagement with a removable tip, a tip removably associated with said pencil body and having a driving connection with said portion and further having means for gripping and guiding apiece of lead.

2. A pencil comprising a body having a lead actuating mechanism immovably mounted therein, said lead actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable lead guide tube member having a portion adapted for engagement with a. removable tip, a tip associated with said pencil body and removable therefrom by an endwise pull and having a driving connection with said portion of said lead guide tube member.

3. A pencil comprising a body having a lead actuating mechanism immovably mounted therein, said lead actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable lead guide tube member having a portion adapted for engagement with a removable tip, a tip associated with said pencil body and removable therefrom by an endwise pull in any adjusted position of the lead actuating mechanism and having a driving connection withV said portion of said guide tube member.

4. A pencil comprising a body having a lead actuating mechanism immovably mounted therein, said lead actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable lead guide tube member having a portion adapted for engagement with a removable tip, a tip having means for frictionally gripping the lead at the end thereof, removably associated with said pencil body and having a driving connection with said portion of said guide tube member.

f5.' A pencil of the character described comprising a body portion and a. removable tip, said body including' means permanently mounted therein for feeding a lead through said body and tip and expelling the same from said tip, said last-named means including a lead guide tube having a part rotatable relative to and projecting from said body, means for removably mounting said tip in operative association with said body portion and for establishing a driving connection with said projecting part.

6. A pencil of the character described comprising a body portion and a removable tip, said body including means permanently mounted therein for feeding a lead through said body and tip and expelling the same from said tip, said last-named means including a lead guide tube having a part rotatable relative to and projecting from said body, said tip having means for frictionally gripping saidlead, and means for removably mounting said tip in operative association with said body portion and for establishing a driving connection with said projecting part.

7. A pencil comprising a body and a removable tip, said body having lead actuating means immovably mounted therein, said lead actuating means comprising a lead guide tube member provided with a portion rotatable relative to said pencil body and having an end projecting from said body, said end being adapted to be readily grasped for rotation when the tip is removed, means for frictionally holding said body and tip in operative association and for establishing a driving connection between said tip and projecting end.

8. A pencil comprising a body and a removable tip, said body having lead actuating means immovably mounted therein and comprising a lead carrying tube and a plunger disposed within said tube, said tube being mounted for rotation relative to said pencil body and having a projecting end adapted to be readily grasped for rotary movement when said tip is removed, said tip and projecting end having means for establishing a drive connection between said tip and projecting end and means for frictionally holding said tip in operative association with said pencil body.

9. In a pencil of the character described, the combination of an elongated grooved pencil body having a longitudinal opening therein, a slotted lead carrying tube mounted in said opening and having a portion projecting beyond the end of said body portion, means for permitting the rotation of said tube but preventing axial displacement thereof, a plunger associated with said tube adapted to actuate a lead upon rotation of said tube relative to said body and a removable tip for said pencil frictionally held in operative association with said pencil body and having a driving connection with the projecting end of said tube.

10. In a pencil of the character described, in combination with an elongated grooved pencil body having a longitudinal opening therein, a

slotted lead carrying tube rotatably mounted in said opening and means for holding the same against axial displacement relative thereto,` a plunger in said tube for actuating a lead upon rotation of said tube, said tube having an end projecting beyond said body portion in a manner to b readily grasped when the pencil tip is removed for the purpose of actuating said plunger and relling said tube, and means for frictionally holding a removable tip in operative association with said pencil body and for establishing a driving connection between said tip and projecting end.

11. A pencil of the character described having in combination, an elongated slotted lead carrying tube, a pencil body portion having a groove permanently mounted for rotation on said tube and intermediate the ends thereof, a plunger within said tube having cooperating engagement with said tube and body portion for actuating a lead upon relative rotation between said tube and body portion and a tip removably mounted in operative association with said pencil body and having a driving connection with one of the projecting ends of said tube.

12. A pencil comprising a body portion and a removable tip, said body portion including a lead actuating mechanism immovably mounted therein and a rotatable portion oi' said actuating mechanism adapted for receiving said removable tip, spring bowed sections associated with said rotatable portion and said tip i'or holding said tip on said rotatable portion and i'or establishing a driving connection therebetween.

13. A pencil comprising a body portion and a removable tip, said body portion including a lead actuating mechanism immovably mounted therein and a rotatable portion of said actuating mechanism adapted for-receiving said removable tip, spring bowed sections on said rotatable portion for removably holding said tip thereon and establishing a rotary driving connection therebetween.,

14. A pencil comprising a body portion and a removable tip, said body portion including a lead actuating mechanism immovably mounted in said body portion and having a rotatable rportion adapted for driving connection with said removable tip, spring bowed sections on said tip for holding said tip in driving connection with said actuating mechanism and in operative association with said body portion.

15. A pencil comprising a body portion and a removable tip, said body portion including a lead actuating mechanism immovably mounted in said body portion and having a rotatable portion adapted for connection with said removable tip, spring means associated with said body portion and said tip for holding said tip in operative association with said body portion and in driving relation with said rotatable portion.

16. A pencil of the character described comprising a removable tip, 'a body portion having a xed spiral guide therein, a slotted rotatable tube within said guide and a plunger mounted for axial movement in said tube having a portion projecting through the slot and cooperating with said spiral guide, said tube having an end extending beyond the body portion and having means associated therewith i'or removably holding said tip thereon and for establishing a driving connection between said tip and tube. 5

17. In a pencil, operating mechanism including a lead guide tube unremovably ilxed in the pencil body, a driving tip in removable association with the pencil body andI releasably connected with said operating mechanism, said tip comprising a l0 non-metallic portion and a metal point portion, said metal point portion having spring jaws i'or i'rictionally engaging a lead, said tip having frictional means for holding it in operative association with said pencil body. 15

18. A pencil oi' the character described comprising a body portion, lead actuating mechanism including a lead guide tube unremovably mounted in said body portion and a removable tip for said pencil, said' tip having means for gripping 20 and guiding a lead and means for frictionally holding the tip in operative association with said body vportion and in driving connection with said lead actuating means.

19. A pencil of the character described com- 25 prising a body portion, lead actuating mechanism including a lead guide tube unremovably mounted in said body portion and a removable tip for said pencil, said tip comprising a metallic portion having a lead gripping point and a non- 30 metallic portion, said metallic portion being provided with frictional means for holding said tip in operative association with said pencil body and in driving association with said lead actuating mechanism. 35

20. A pencil of the character described comprising a body portion, lead actuating mechanism including a lead guide tube unremovably mounted in said body portion and a removable tip for said pencil, said tip comprising a non-metallic 40 portion and a metallic portion, said tip having a lead gripping point and means for frictionally holding the tip in operative association with said pencil body and further having means providing a driving connection between said tip and said 45 lead actuating mechanism.

JOHN P. LYNN.

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