UNIVERSAL PENCIL MECHANISM

A pencil mechanism replaces a ballpoint pen refill and has an actuator for containing lead. A point of the mechanism is slidably mounted to the actuator and has a shoulder to engage a step in the pen when an end of the point projects from a writing end of the pen. The point has an open end for projecting the writing tip of the lead and a bushing for frictionally engaging the lead in the point to allow for, but resist axial movement of the lead. A point spring between actuator and point biases them apart and a clutch is slidably mounted to the actuator and point. The clutch has fingers for receiving lead and the actuator engages the clutch to close the fingers and fix the lead. Further forward movement of the actuator projects a writing tip of the lead from the pen as the shoulder engages the step to fix the writing tip in a writing position. The actuator is movable rearwardly for releasing the clutch and the lead and allowing the clutch to move rearwardly in the pen for a repeat of the lead feeding cycle.