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US3576374A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pencil operating mechanism

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-03-10
•
Granted: 1971-04-27
•
Expires: 1989-03-10
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Abstract

Abstract A pencil having a hollow body containing a movable piston secured at one end to the pencil lead and at the opposite end to an external spherical helium-filled balloon or elastic container. The piston is spring biased to retract the lead within the body. The container causes the pencil to float in air and when squeezed, displaces the piston for extending the lead out of the pencil body.

Inventors

  • 👤 Leila J Lile

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 20:10
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43K; B43K21/00; B43K21/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
A pencil comprising a hollow body conically tapered at one end portion and having an internal shoulder, a piston slidable within said body, a pencil lead having one end adapted to extend outwardly from said tapered portion of the body and secured at the opposite end to said piston, a compression spring between said shoulder and said piston normally urging the latter to retract the lead inwardly into the body, a depressible heliumfilled container having a hollow integral closed neck disposed in said body opposite said one end and having against the side of the piston opposite from the lead, and a tether cord secured to the pencil body for anchoring same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
A pencil comprising a hollow body conically tapered at one end portion and having an internal shoulder, a piston slidable within said body, a pencil lead having one end adapted to extend outwardly from said tapered portion of the body and secured at the opposite end to said piston, a compression spring between said shoulder and said piston normally urging the latter to retract the lead inwardly into the body, a depressible heliumfilled container having a hollow integral closed neck disposed in said body opposite said one end and having against the side of the piston opposite from the lead, and a tether cord secured to the pencil body for anchoring same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 110 words
A pencil assembly comprising a hollow elongated body, a member movable longitudinally within said body, a pencil lead secured at one end to said member and movable therewith between a retracted position wholly within the body and an extended position projecting from one end of the body, spring means within said body engaging said member for normally biasing same to the lead retracted position and an elastic container inflated with a gas and secured to said body opposite said one end thereof, a portion of said container being disposed proximate to said member for exerting a force thereagainst when squeezed whereby to move said member to the lead extended position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 110 words
A pencil assembly comprising a hollow elongated body, a member movable longitudinally within said body, a pencil lead secured at one end to said member and movable therewith between a retracted position wholly within the body and an extended position projecting from one end of the body, spring means within said body engaging said member for normally biasing same to the lead retracted position and an elastic container inflated with a gas and secured to said body opposite said one end thereof, a portion of said container being disposed proximate to said member for exerting a force thereagainst when squeezed whereby to move said member to the lead extended position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The pencil assembly according to claim 2 in which said gas is lighter than air whereby to exert a bouyant force on said body greater than its weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The pencil assembly according to claim 3 in which a tether cord is secured to said body, and anchoring means attached to the free end of said tether cord.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US258005A Cited
US496177A Cited
US969732A Cited
US2882645A Cited
GB908437A Cited
US3270895A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-04-26 1974-10-26 1975-04-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-04-26 1978-10-26 1979-04-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-04-26 1982-10-26 1983-04-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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