Patent Application
20190041053
The present invention relates to mechanical devices, and more particularly to a device to sharpen carpenter's pencils.
Common pencils have a cross section in the shape of a polygonal-sided cylinder. Carpenter pencils have a cross section as a rectangle. Hence, the pencil sharpeners for the former are not suited to the latter. Instead, carpenter's pencils have to be sharpened by a hand, often with a knife or razor blade, and this often results in an irregular point.
Also, much waste is created in whittling the wood away from the core. The present device will allow a pencil to be sharpened faster and have a more precise shape. It can also sharpen other pencils when the cutting head is pulled out of the cutting chamber and replaced with the cutting head appropriate for the pencil being sharpened. Not only is this a universal pencil sharpener, it also is a portable universal power tool, capable of being used as a power screwdriver, sander, drill, or wrench. While working on any object the added benefit, besides the various power tool use, is the illumination of the work area by the flashlight.
The above and other shortcomings of existing pencil sharpeners can be overcome by a pencil sharpening device capable of sharpening a pencil with a circular, polygonal, elliptical or rectangular cross-section that can include:
A battery can provide power to the motor and light. In some embodiments, a battery meter can indicate the power level of the battery. The battery can be charged via a charging port.
In some embodiments, a filing surface can be included on the outer shell to file a pencil to a finer point. The filing surface can be made out of metal, sandpaper or other suitable materials.
The pencil sharpener can include switches to operate the motor and the flashlight head.
The cutter head can include a recess with a plurality of teeth to sharpen a pencil inserted through the opening in the top of the sharpener.
In some embodiments, interchangeable sleeves can be inserted into the opening of the top. The sleeves can be used to accept and sharpen a standard No. 2 pencil and/or a carpenter's pencil.
In some embodiments, the pencil sharpening device can include a compressible release tab to remove the cutter head from the device and facilitate attachment of other tools such as a screwdriver, sander, grinder, drill or wrench to the motor. In these embodiments, the motor of the device can be used to drive rotation of such tools.
The above and other shortcomings of existing pencil sharpeners can be overcome by a portable cordless heavy duty universal pencil sharpening device and power tool with flashlight. The device can comprise:
In certain embodiments, opening 112 is a ⅜-inch (0.95 cm) round slot formed from two semicircles. The ends of each semicircle extend outward and connect to create a slot with a length of ⅝-inch (1.6 cm). In these embodiments, opening 112 can sharpen both large (wider than a standard No. 2 pencil) and carpenter's pencils.
Outer shell 2 can house motor 18 that powers cutter head 6. In some embodiments, motor 18 is a DC motor. In at least some embodiments, outer shell 2 is cylindrical. Gasket 40 can be used to seal cutter head 6 and motor 18.
In some embodiments, sharpener 1 can include flashlight head 20 with light(s) 22. In at least some of these embodiments, sharpener 1 can include battery 24 that powers light(s) 22. In some preferred embodiments, battery 24 can be a 12-volt lithium ion battery. In certain embodiments, light(s) 22 are LED lights. In some embodiments, the power or charge level of the battery can be monitored by battery meter 26 present on an exterior surface of pencil sharpener 1. In the embodiment shown in
In certain embodiments, sharpener 1 includes charging port 28 that functions to charge battery 24 via power cord 30 (
In some embodiments, sharpener 1 can include filing surface 32 that functions to sharpen a pencil or tool to a finer point and/or desired shape. Filing surface 32 can be made out of suitable material including but not limited to metal and/or sandpaper. In some embodiments, filing surface 32 can be 2 inches (5.08 cm) in length and a ½-inch (1.27 cm) in width.
In some embodiments, light(s) 22 of flashlight head 20 are operated by flashlight on/off switch 34.
In some embodiments, motor 18 is operated by sharpener on/off switch 36.
In some preferred embodiments, the height of sharpener 1 can be 7 inches (17.8 cm) and the diameter of flashlight head 20 can be 1⅜ inches (3.5 cm).
In some embodiments, top 4 and/or cutter head 6 are removable and interchangeable with other suitable attachments, such as other cutter heads or tools. Top 4 can be removed and cutter head 6 can be released using compressible release tab 38 (indicated by the dashed arrow in
Turning to
Outer shell 102 can house motor 118 that powers cutter head 106. In some embodiments, motor 118 is a DC motor. In at least some embodiments, outer shell 102 is cylindrical. In some embodiments, cutter head 106 is configured to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by drive shaft 140 and motor 118. The directionality of cutter head 106 rotation can be controlled by forward/reverse motor switch 142. In some embodiments, drive shaft 140 is a ¼-inch (0.64 cm) square drive shaft.
In some embodiments, sharpener 100 can include flashlight head 120 with light(s) 122. In at least some of these embodiments, sharpener 100 can include battery 124 that powers light(s) 122. In a preferred embodiment, battery 124 can be a 12-volt lithium ion battery. In certain embodiments, light(s) 122 are LED lights. In some embodiments, the power or charge level of the battery can be monitored by battery meter 126 present on an exterior surface of pencil sharpener 100. In the embodiment shown in
In certain embodiments, sharpener 100 includes charging port 134 that functions to charge battery 124 via power cord or USB cable. In some embodiments, charging port 134 is a USB port.
In some embodiments, sharpener 100 can include filing surface 132 that functions to sharpen a pencil or tool to a finer point and/or desired shape. Filing surface 132 can be made out of suitable material including but not limited to metal and/or sandpaper.
In some embodiments, light(s) 122 of flashlight head 120 can be operated by flashlight on/off switch 136.
Certain components of the sharpener, such as the outer shell, cutter head and/or top can be made of conventional materials including, but not limited to, plastic, aluminum or metal.
The components of the present device can include:
(k) A file that functions to sharpen the pencil lead to a finer point. It can be located on the side of the outer shell. The shape can be rectangular and/or rounded. In some embodiments, the file surface has a length of 2 inches (5.1 cm) and a width of ½ inch (1.3 cm). The file can be made of suitable materials such as metal or sandpaper.
Like an ordinary motor-driven pencil sharpener, a user inserts a pencil into the slot at the top of the present device, and the motor turns on, driving the sharpening head around the pencil. To use the present device for an ordinary pencil, a user can interchange cutting heads by pulling out the head last used and inserting the one desired for any sized pencil. The cap is periodically unscrewed to empty out the shavings. To be used as other than a pencil sharpener, a user can actuate the release mechanism (see
In one modality there are other uses for the present device when the appropriate adapters are installed. For example, the motor, with the flashlight attachment, can be used to drive other tools, including but not limited to screwdriver blades, wrench sockets, abrading stones, or sanders.
This includes but is not limited to the type of material, configuration, color, weight, size, shape, or other form, as well as use, so long as the central purpose described above is preserved.
While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority benefits from U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 15/820,394 filed on Nov. 21, 2017, entitled “Portable Cordless Heavy Duty Universal Pencil Sharpener and Power Tool with Flashlight” which, in turn, claims priority benefits from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/425,050 filed on Nov. 21, 2016, also entitled “Portable Cordless Heavy Duty Universal Pencil Sharpener and Power Tool with Flashlight”. The '394 and '050 applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62425050 | Nov 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15820394 | Nov 2017 | US |
| Child | 16144157 | US |
