US3229670A - Lead pointer - Google Patents

Description

G. A. MOURRA Jan. 18, 1966 LEAD POINTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. '7, 1964 INVENTOR. 6502 25 A. Moulzaa G. A. MOURRA Jan. 18, 1966 LEAD POINTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1964 INVENTOR. sol-acres A. MouaaA ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,229,670 LEAD POINTER Georges A. Mourra, R0. Box 1282, Blvd. JN-Jacques,

This invention relates to motor-driven means for sharpening the leads of pencils and mechanical equipment normally used by draftsmen, engineers, artists and architects. More specifically, the instant invention is designed to provide an automatic motor-driven pencil sharpener which may be used by any craftsman to form a fiat, chiseled point and wedge points on the leads of the equipment it is proposed to use.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide power-driven means for sharpening the leads of mechanical pencils into any desired configuration.

A further object of this invention is to provide powerdriven means for sharpening the leads of mechanical pencils while, at the same time, providing means for pre venting the graphite dust from coming into contact with the users hands.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the type generally described above which will constantly produce the desired lead point efiiciently and which is serviceable over a long period of time without necessitating any replacement parts.

This invention contemplates, as a further object thereof, the provision of a power-driven automatic pencil sharp ener as referred to supra, the sharpener being noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a power-driven automatic pencil sharpener constructed according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail, cross-sectional view, FIGURE 2 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 22 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, partly in cross-section, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view of the electric switch means, FIGURE 6 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the cover member, partly in cross-section, FIGURE 7 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 7-7 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away and illustrating the utility of the sharpener to form a chisel-type edge on the lead of a mechanical drafting instrument; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective schematically illustrating the wiring diagram utilized to energize the motor for driving the automatic pencil sharpener.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, ref- 3,229,670 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 ice erence numeral 10 designates, in general, a power-driven automatic pencil sharpener constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The sharpener 10 is seen to comprise a self-contained unit which includes a substantially hollow rectangular housing 12 preferably formed of plastic material, but other desirable substantially rigid materials may be employed. Housing 12 is formed with a normally horizontal substantially rectangular base wall 14 from the peripheral marginal edges of which rise connected and opposed pairs of substantially rectangular and parallel sidewalls 16, 18 and 20, 22, respectively. The walls 16, 18, 20, 22, at each corner formed thereby at the junction of each adjacent pair of sidewalls is provided with an inwardly-extending integrally-formed vertically-elongated and internally-threaded boss 24 adjacent the upper ends thereof. The upper ends of the sidewalls 16, 18, 20 and 22 are spanned and support thereon a substantially rectangular closure member 26 comprising a substantially rectangular top wall 28 from which depend an opposed pair of substantially rectangular sidewalls 30, 32 and an opposed pair of substantially rectangular parallel sidewalls 34, 36, the latter being inset at 36A and connected therewith by means of a V- shaped flange 38 (see FIGURE 8) which extends between the sidewall 36- and the inset sidewall 36A at substantially right angles relative thereto. The flange 38 includes the depending and converging arms 40, 42, and to the arm 42 is secured a substantially rigid rectangular backing member 44'for a plurality of bristles 46 of a cleaning brush designated generally by reference numeral 48. Connected with the inset sidewall 36A and projecting laterally and outwardly from the lower longitudinallyextending marginal edge thereof is an elongated substantially rectangular flange 50 having an opening 52 formed therein adjacent its inner end. As is seen in the drawings, the flange 50 has an upper planar surface 50A which tapers downwardly toward the opening 52. The flange 50 is seen to continue inwardly in an elongated substantially rectangular rig 50B until it integrally joins with the sidewall 36 (see FIGURE 1).

The upper ends of the sidewalls 16, 18, 20 and 22, and the lower ends of the sidewalls 30, 32, 34, 36, and the flange 50 together with its rib 50B are rabbeted at 54 throughout their continuous peripherie to permit interfitting and mating therebetween.

At the junction of adjacent pairs of sidewalls 30, 32, 34 and of the flange 50 with the sidewall 30, the inner corners thereof are formed with integral inwardly-extending hollow bosses 56 which are adapted to be aligned with the bosses 24 whereby screws 58 may be passed through the bosses 56 for threaded engagement with the bosses 24, whereby the cover member 26 may be releasable secured to the upper ends of the sidewalls 16, 18, 20 and 22.

The top wall 28 is provided with an elongated substantially rectangular slot 60 which extends inwardly from the sidewall 32 toward the sidewall 30 and terminates proximate to, but spaced from the latter. The oppositelydisposed laterally-spaced and substantially parallel sidewalls 62, 64 are formed with inwardly-extending longitudinal grooves 66, 68, respectively, in which are disposed elongated substantially rectangular electrical current conducting bars 70, 72. The bars 70, 72, at a pair of adjacent ends thereof are formed with laterally-projecting and diverging centrally-tapped flanges 74, 76, respectively, which seat in cut-outs 78, projecting laterally from the walls 62, 64 adjacent the outer open end of the slot 60.

Reference numeral 82 denotes an elongated substantially rectangular carriage having a depending integral pad 84 at one end thereof. As is seen in the drawings, the pad 84 is formed with an arcuate abutment end 86 which is adapted for engagement with the arcuate end 88 of the slot 60 when the carriage 82 is moved in the direction of the'arrow shown in FIGURE 7, thereby limiting the movement of the carriage 82 in one direction.

Reference numeral 83 designates a metallic U-shaped switch having a bight section 83A from which project a pair of arms 83B, 830, the latter being adapted to slide between the bars 70, 72 and out of contact therewith to make and break an electrical circuit to be described.

:The switch 83 is adapted to embrace, and is secured to,

the sides and an end of the carriage 82.

A normally vertically-extending substantially hollow boss is indicated at 90, the boss 90 including a substantially hollow cylindrical wall 92 which projects upwardly from the carriage 82 at the pad end thereof, and which is 96, 98 spaced 180 apart. As is seen in FIGURES 1 to 3, inclusive, the boss 92 is shown as receiving the lead end of a mechanical pencil 100, the knurled finger- :grasping end 102 being substantially embraced by the cylindrical casing 92 while the conical chuck end 104 is surrounded by the conical casing 94 with the lead 106 engaged between and being supported by the tines 96, 98.

Reference numerals 107 designates a pair of elongated downwardly-converging, integrally-formed substantially rectangular hanger brackets, the upper ends of the brackets each having an offset end 108 secured to the underside of the top wall 28 by screws 110. The other or lower ends of the brackets terminate in brushes 112 disposed adjacent the inner end of the slot 60 in the path of movement of the lead 106 and tines 96, 98 as the carriage 82 is reciprocated in the slot 60. Reference numeral 114 denotes a cylindrical bearing seat formed in the top wall 28 adjacent a side thereof, the opening 114 receiving therein a bearing 116 of conventional design. Any conventional bearing retention means may be employed to retain the bearing 116 within its seat 114. The bearing 116 is Welded at 118 to the hub 120 of a depending sprocket gear 122, see FIGURES 1, 2 and 5.

Surrounding the bearing seat 114 at the circumferential marginal edge thereof is an internally-threaded collar 124 secured to'the upper side of the top wall 28 by screws 126. Reference numeral 128 refers to a housing including a cylindrical sidewall 130 having a closure wall 132 at one end thereof and an opposed externally-threaded open end. The closure wall 132 is centrally-apertured at 134 and the cylindrical sidewall 130 is provided with diametricallyopposed substantially rectangular axially-extending slits 136. As is seen in FIGURE 2, the open threaded end of the housing 128 is threaded intothe collar 124.

Disposed within-and axially-aligned with the housing 128 is an axially-elongated hollow cylindrical member 138 having an outwardly-extending cylindrical flange 140 which forms a first bearing race at the upper end thereof. As is clearly seen in FIGURE 2, the inner side of the sidewall 138 is substantially circular in transverse crosssection over a major portion of its length, but the lower end portion 142 tapers downwardly and inwardly to take a hollow inverted frusto-conical configuration. The cylindrical member 138 carries a washer 144 loosely thereon adjacent the flange 140 to forma second bearing race. The cylindrical member 138 is keyed to the hub 120 by means of a pair of diametrically-opposed keys 146, the upper ends of the latter abutting the washer 144. Surrounding the cylindrical member 138 axially thereof is a helicoidal spring 148 under compression. The uppermost one of the convolutions of the spring 148 abuts the washer 144 while the lower end thereof abuts the bearing and hub assembly 116, 120. The spring 148 constantly biases the cylindrical member 138 for movement in a direction away from the hub 120. A flat cylindrical plate 150'is juxtaposed with respect to the closure wall 132 and forms a third bearing race.

The plate 150 is centrally-apertured as at '152,'the aperture 152 being concentric with respect to the aperture 134. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, a pair of substantially rectangular levers 149 project diametrically and laterally away from the plate 150 and through the slots 136. Bearings 154 are inserted between the flange and washer 144, and between the flange 140 and the plate to serve a function to be described.

Shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 are a plurality of leaf springs 156 having one of their respective ends fixedly secured to the upper flanged end of the cylindrical member 138 and the other ends thereof extend through the aperture 150 and the opening 134 formed in the closure wall 132 and project beyond the latter. Each of the leaf springs 156 is formed, intermediate their respective ends, with an outwardly-bowed portion 157 to serve a function to be described infra. 7

Reference numeral 158 indicates an elongated cylindrical rod having one of its ends threaded into one of the levers 149, the other end thereof being reciprocable through the collar 124 and the top wall 28. To the lower or the aforementioned other end of the rod 158 is secured a bight member 160 (see FIGURES 2 and 7) from the opposed ends of which depend a pair of downwandly-diverging prongs 162, respectively, (see FIGURES 3 and 7) the prongs 162 serving a purpose to be described.

Adjacent to but spaced inwardly from the prongs 162 is a bracket 164 connected to the top wall 28 as by screws 166. The bracket 164 includes a subtended bight element 168 on which are pivotally connected on a pivot pin 170 a pair of arms 172. The arms 172 are crossed, and are pivotally connected intermediate their respective ends in scissors-fashion to provide arm extensions 174. A brush 176 is mounted on the outer terminal end of each arm 172, and the prongs 162 are adapted to engage the remotely-disposed sides of the arm extensions 162, whereby, as the rod 158 moves downwardly, the arms 172 are caused to move toward each other to bring the brushes 176 into confronting relation.

As shown, the cylindrical member 138 receives the major portion of the knurled finger-gripping section 178 of a mechanical pencil 180. The chuck end 182 thereof is, of course, seated in the inverted frusto-conical portion 152.

An inverted Y-shziped yoke 184 has its stem 186 fixedly secured to the underside of the top wall 28. The depending arms 188, 190 engage on opposite sides of the stem 192 of a U-shaped yoke 194. The 'stem 192 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the arms 188, 190 by a pivot pin 196. The yoke 194 is formed of an electrical conducting material and includes switch arms 198 which project laterally from each end of a crossbar 200, respectively, to which the stem 192 is also connected. The outer end of the stern 192 is connected with one end of a rod 202 of electrical insulating material having a wear ball 204 at its outer end. As is seen in the drawing, the wear ball 204 is disposed in the downward path of movement of one of the prongs 162 whereby upon engagement of the prong 162, the switch arms 198 pivot upwardly as is indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 6. The router ends of the switch arms 198 each carries outwardly-facing switch contact points 206.

Fixedly mounted on the top wall 28, as by screws 208, are a pair of depending fixed switch arms 210, the switch arms being substantially rectangular in configuration and diverging from one another. The switch arms 210 are disposed in the path of movement of the-switch arms 206, as is indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 6, and when contact is made therebetween an electrical circuit is established which will be described below.

Fixedly mounted on the base wall 14 is a conventional electric motor 208 having its drive shaft (not shown) connected with a conventional gear box 210 having an output shaft 212 on which is keyed a bevel gear 214. An inverted substantially U-shaped bracket 216'is provided, the bracket 216 comprising a'bight portion 218 from each end of which depends a side arm 220 the latter being secured to the sidewalls 16, 20 as by screws 222.

Reference numeral 224 denotes a second bevel gear in mesh with the first bevel gear 214, the bevel gear 224 having a hub 226 integral therewith which bears against the underside of the bight 218. The bight 218 is apertured to receive therethrough the lower end of a shaft 228 which is keyed, or otherwise secured within the hub 226. Reference numeral 230 denotes a spur gear having a hub 232, the hub 232 bearing against the upper side of the bight 218. Thus, it is seen that the shaft 228 is locked against axial shifting movement. The central portion of the shaft 228 is squared, as at 234, and the upper end thereof denoted by reference numeral 236 is cylindrical and is housed for rotation within a journal 238 which depends from the top wall 28. Mounted on the squared portion 234 of the shaft 228 is a grinding or abrasive wheel 240 having a top and bottom abrasive surface 242, 244, respectively, a substantially cylindrical abrasive surface 246 and a frusto-conical abrasive surface 248.

As is seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the shaft 228 extends upwardly through an opening 250 formed in the bottom wall 252 of an elongated substantially rectangular dust collecting receptacle 254. The dust-collecting receptacle 254 includes the opposed pairs of substantially rectangular sidewalls 256, 258 which are substantially parallel to one another and which rise from the bottom wall 252, and the opposed pairs of sidewalls 260, 262 which are also substantially rectangular and extend parallel with respect one another.

The receptacle 254 is supported over the bight 194 by means of lugs 264 which project from the sidewalls 16, 18.

A second shaft 266 has its lower end journaled for rotation within the bight 218, the shaft 266 being reduced at 268 to receive from the groove formed thereby a lock washer 270. The lock washer 270, as shown in FIG- URE 2, is adapted to bear against the underside of the bight 218. Reference numeral 272 indicates a second spur gear which meshes with the spur gear 230, the second spur gear 272 being keyed, as at 274, to the shaft 266. The shaft 266 extends upwardly from the bight 218 through an opening 276 formed in the bottom wall 252 of the receptacle 254, and on the upper end thereof is squared, as at 278. The shaft 266 is provided with a circumferential flange 280 immediately adjacent the lower end of the squared portion 278. The squared portion 278 terminates at its outer end in a cylindrical section 282 which, in turn, terminates in a squared section 284. Telescoped over the end sections 282, 284 is an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical cap 286 having an internal bore complementing the sections 282, 284. Thus, the cap 286 is locked to the end section 284 of the shaft 266 and will rotate therewith. The upper end of the cap 286 terminates in a cylindrical projection 288 at a spur gear 290 as keyed thereto for rotation therewith. The spur gear 290 is disposed within a substantially cylindrical housing 292 having opposed sidewalls 294, 296, a top wall 298, and a bottom wall 300. As is seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the sidewall 296 is provided with a substantially rectangular aperture 302 through which projects a portion of the spur gear 290. The spur gear 290 meshes with the spur gear 122, as shown.

Any suitable means such as screws 304 (see FIGURE 2) may be used to secure the housing 292 to the top wall 28. In this instance, the screws 304 are threaded into the top wall 298.

Mounted on the squared portion 278 of the shaft 266 and supported on the flange 280 is a second abrasive wheel 308. The abrasive wheel 308 is substantially hollow and includes a centrally-located discoidal member 310 which receives the squared portion 278 of the shaft 266, a substantially cylindrical external abrading surface 312 and an exterior frusto-conical abrading surface 314. The inner surface 315 is substantially frusto-conical in configuration at each side of the discoidal member 310 with the apex ends thereof facing one another and joining with the discoidal member 310 substantially at the plane of their respective frustums.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 7 and 9 of the drawings, an electric circuit to the motor 208 is schematically illustrated.

Reference numerals 320, 322 indicate wire leads extending from a conventional source of E.M.F. As is seen in FIGURE 9, the lead 320 connects with one side of the motor 208, while the other side of the motor connects through wire 324 the flange 76 of the conducting bar 72. Wire 326 has one of its ends also fixedly connected to the flange 76 and its other end fixedly connected to one of the switch arms 210. The other of the switch arms 210 is connected to one end of the wire 328, and the other end of the wire 328 connects with the flange 74 of the conducting bar 70. As is seen in FIGURE 9, the flange 78 is connected through the wire 322 with the other side of the source The motor 208 may be energized through either one of two circuits. First of these circuits includes the wire 320, motor 208, wire 324, conducting bar 72, the switch arm 83C, when the U-shaped switch arm 83 is moved into contact therewith, the bight 83A, the switch arm 83B, the conducting bar 70 and the wire 322. The circuit is, of course, de-energized when the carriage 82 is moved in such direction as to cause the switch arms 83B, 83C to move out of contact with the conducting bars 70, 72. The second of these circuits is energized by depressing the rod 158, causing one of the prongs 162 to engage against the wear head 204 of the yoke 194. This causes the switch arms 198 to pivot upwardly and into engagement with the fixed switch arms 210. The circuit then reads wire 320, motor 208, wire 324, and wire 326 to one of the switch arms 210 (FIGURE 9). Current then passes through one of the switch arms 198, the bight 200 and through the other of the switch arms 198. From this point the current travels through the other of the switch arms 210, and wires 328, and 322, back to the source of The mechanical arrangement of the described component elements of this invention facilitates the grinding of any desired surface on the leads of the mechanical pencils 100, 180. For example, in order to sharpen the lead 106 flat the abrasive wheels 240, 308 are reversed from the position shown in several of the figures of the drawings so that the cylindrical surfaces 246, 312 are uppermost, and the mechanical pencil 100 is held in the boss and is pushed downwardly therein to bring the lead 106 into contact with the tines 96, 98. In this position as shown in the drawings, the tines 96, 98 are disposed between the grinding surfaces of the abrasive wheels 240, 308 and since they are smaller than the opposed sides of the lead 106, the lead will be ground flat when the carrier 82 is reciprocated. It is assumed, of course, that the necessary current is supplied to the wires 320, 322 so that the motor 208 is energized to drive the wheels 240, 308.

The driving of the wheels 24!), 308 is accomplished, of course, through the gears 214, 224, the shaft 228, the gear 230, the gear 272, and the cylindrical member 138 is rotated by shaft 266, and the shaft portions 278, 282, 284, the cap 286 and the cap end section 296, gear 290, and gear 122.

As the carriage 84 is move-d to its original starting position as is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the lead 106 engages against the bristles 112 and all graphite is brushed from lead 106 and the pencil is ready for use. In restoring the carriage 84 to its original position, contact is broken between the bars 70, 72 and the switch arms 83B, 83C, thereby de-energizing the motor 208.

To give the mechanical pencil leads a chisel configuration, the abrasive wheels 240, 308 are mounted on their respective shafts in the manner illustrated in the drawings and the mechanical pencil 100' is again inserted in the boss 90, and the carriage 84 is moved forwardly in order to establish the circuit to the motor 208. The lead 106 is then moved between the abrastive wheels 240, 308 and the device is operated as before.

In order to provide a pencil lead having a wedge configuration, one of the abrasive wheels is turned upsidedown from its position shown in the drawings, and the same operations are carried out as before.

In using the cylindrical member 138, the mechanical pencil 180 is inserted therein, after which the user exerts pressure on the levers 144, forcing the cylindrical member 138 downwardly against the tension of the spring 148. As the prongs 167. descend, the switch arms 198 are caused to swing upwardly into contact with the switch arms 210 by virtue of the engagement of the wear head 204 with one of the prongs 162, thereby establishing the motor circuit. The downward movement of the cylindrical member 138 causes the lead 179 to engage against the abrasive inner side 315 of the wheel 308. It will be understood, of course, from the describe-d gearing, that the gear 122 and the cylindrical member 138 rotate in a direction contra to the direction of the rotation of the abrasive wheel 308. As the cylindrical member descends, the prongs 162. also engage the extension arms 174 causing the arms 172 to move away from each other and draws their respective brushes 176 in the same direction.

The downward movement of the cylindrical member 138 causes the bowed portions 157 of the leaf springs 156 to lock under the plate 154, thereby holding the cylindrical member in its grinding position. The pencil 180 is, of course, released from the fingers of the user as soon as the springs 156 lock under the plate 154 to permit the cylindrical member to freely rotate.

When the sharpening has been completed, it is only necessary for the user to release the levers 144, whereby the cylindrical member 138 and the prongs 162 are alsomoved upwardly under the force of the springs 148. As this upward movement takes place, the rod 158 is also moved upwardly, whereby the prongs 162 are disengaged from the wear head 204, permitting the motor circuit to be broken and, simultaneously, the leaf spring 175 forces the arms 172 to move toward one another, moving the brushes 176 into contact with the lead 179. This action is permitted since the prongs 162 no longer engage the arm extensions 174.

FIGURE 8 ilustrates still another use of this sharpening means wherein reference numeral 400 denotes the leg of a mechanical drafting instrument, such as the leg of a drafting compass wherein is mounted a conventional drafting lead 402. As is seen in FIGURE 8, the lead 402 is inserted through the opening 52 to engage against the upper end 242 of the abrasive wheel 240. When the desired point has been ground, the lead 402 may be brushed against the bristles 46.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pencil sharpener comprising a substantially hollow rectangular housing having a base wall, opposed top wall, and pairs of opposed sidewalls, said top wall having an opening extending transversely therethrough, bearing means disposed within said opening, a spur gear disposed within said housing adjacent said top wall, said spur gear having a hub journaled for rotation in said bearings, an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical member having an end thereof fixedly secured within said hub for rotation therewith, said cylindrical member, at its other end, having a centrally-apertured cylindrical plate .projecting outwardly therefrom, said plate having a pair of outwardly-extending diametrically-opposed levers projecting therefrom, a washer mounted on said cylindrical member, said plate and washer being disposed on opposite, sides of said flange, a resilient means surrounding said cylindrical member and bearing against said washer, and said hub, bearings interposed between said washer and said flange and said plate, a substantially hollow elongated cylindrical casing having a pair of opposed open and closed ends, means connecting said open end of said casing to said top wall at the circumferential marginal edge thereof, said closed end of said casing having a centrally-located aperture extending transversely therethrough, said casing having a pair of axially-extending diametrically-opposed substantially rectangular slots formed therein to receive said levers for reciprocation, said levers projecting beyond the sidewall of said casing, a shaft mounted on said base wall, a substantially hollow abrasive wheel mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means engaging with said spur gear to drive said abrasive wheel and said cylindrical member.

2. A pencil sharpener as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner side of said hollow abrasive wheel comprises a pair of frusto-conical surfaces with said frusto-conical surfaces meeting substantially at the plane of their respective frustums.

3. A pencil sharpener comprising a substantially hollow rectangular housing comprising a base wall, opposed top wall, and pairs of opposed sidewalls, said top wall having a slot formed therein extending transversely therethrough, a carriage mounted for reciprocation within said slot, said carriage having a substantially hollow upright boss projecting therefrom, said boss being in open communication with an inverted frusto-conical'casing depending from said carriage and fixedly connected thereto, said boss and frusto-conical casing being adapted to receive a lead pencil therein thelead of which is to be sharpened, a platform, extending between and fixedly secured to a pair of opposed sidewalls, a pair of vertically-extending shafts having one of their ends journaled for rotation in said platform, an abrasive wheel mounted on each of said shafts for rotation therewith, said abrasive wheels being disposed in close proximity relative to one another, said carriage being reciprocable in said slot to move said lead between said abrasive wheels and thereby sharpen the same, a gear on each of .said shafts adjacent said one ends thereof, said gears being in mesh with each other, a second gear on one of said shafts, said top wall having an opening extending transversely therethrough, bearing means disposed within said opening, a spur gear having a hub, said hub being secured within said bearing means, an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical member extending through said opening and having an end thereof fixedly secured to said hub, said cylindrical member being substantially hollow and being substantially open throughout its length to receive a pencil therein, said cylindrical member on the exterior end thereof having an outwardly-extending substantially circumerential flange fixedly'secured thereto, a substantially cylindrical disc having a central aperture formed therein, said plate being mounted on said cylindrical member and having diametrically-opposed levers projecting laterally therefrom, a substantially cylindrical casing fixedly secured to said top wall at the circumferential marginal edge of said opening, said casing having a pair of diametricallyopposed axially-extending slots formed therein to receive said levers therethrough, said casing having a centrallyapertured end wall at its upper end, a washer on said cylindrical member, saidplate and said washer being disposed on opposite sides of said flange, a helicoidal spring surrounding said cylindrical member and having an end thereof abutting against said Washer and its other end abutting said hub, a plurality of bearings interposed between said washer and said flange and said plate and said flange, and motor-driven gear means mounted on said base and engaging with said second gear.

4. A pencil sharpener as defined in claim 3, and brush means depending from said top wall and disposed'in the P Of movement of said cylindrical member.

5. A pencil sharpener as defined in claim 4, and brush means depending from said top wall, said brush means being disposed in the path of movement of said cylindrical member and comprising a pair of confronting brushes, and means operable for movement of said cylindrical member in one direction against the tension of said spring to effect movement of said brushes away from one another and to simultaneously energize said motor-driving means.

6. A pencil sharpener as defined in claim 5, and means for returning said brushes to their confronting positions when said last-named means has been rendered inoperative.

7. A pencil sharpener as defined in claim 6, and said top Wall having an opening extending transversely therethrough adjacent one of said abrasive Wheels to permit the sharpening of leads on the upper abrasive end thereof.

8. A pencil sharpener as defined in claim 7, and means cooperating with said last-named means to effect energization of said motor-driving means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,546,538 7/ 1925 Fisher 12096 1,611,141 12/1926 Fisher 12096 2,179,140 11/1939 Theobald 12096 2,615,427 10/ 1952 Liehmann 12096 2,664,071 12/1953 Guhc 12096 2,713,849 7/1955 Consentino 12094 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,101,219 3/1961 Germany.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A PENCIL SHARPENER COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW RECTANGULAR HOUSING HAVING A BASE WALL, OPPOSED TOP WALL, AND PAIRS OF OPPOSED SIDEWALLS, SAID TOP WALL HAVING AN OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH, BEARING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OPENING, A SPUR GEAR DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID TOP WALL, SAID SPUR GEAR HAVING A HUB JOURNALED FOR ROTATION IN SAID BEARINGS, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL MEMBER HAVING AN END THEREOF FIXEDLY SECURED WITHIN SAID HUB FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, AT ITS OTHER END, HAVING A CENTRALLY-APERTURED CYLINDRICAL PLATE PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF OUTWARDLY-EXTENDING DIAMETRICALLY-OPPOSED LEVERS PROJECTING THEREFROM, A WASHER MOUNTED ON SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, SAID PLATE AND WASHER BEING DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FLANGE, A RESILIENT MEANS SURROUNDING SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND BEARING AGAINS SAID WASHER AND SAID HUB, BEARINGS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID WASHER AND SAID FLANGE AND SAID PLATE, A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL CASING HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED OPEN AND CLOSED ENDS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID OPEN END OF SAID CASING TO SAID TOP WALL AT THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF, SAID CLOSED END OF SAID CASING HAVING A CENTRALLY-LOCATED APRETURE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH, SAID CASING HAVING A PAIR OF AXIALLY-EXTENDING DIAMETRICLLY-OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SLOTS FORMED THEREIN TO RECEIVE SAID LEVERS FOR RECIPROCATION, SAID LEVERS PROJECTING BEYOND THE SIDEWALL OF SAID CASING, A SHAFT MOUNTED ON SAID BASE WALL, A SUBSTANIALLY HOLLOW ABRASIVE WHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, AND MEANS ENGAGING WITH SAID SPUR GEAR TO DRIVE SAID ABRASIVE WHEEL AND SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER.

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