Electric Sharpener For Writing Instruments

An electric sharpener for sharpening an end of a writing instrument comprising:

• an electric motor having an electric circuit for delivering power thereto;
• a switch operatively coupled to said electric circuit and being operable by the writing instrument for activating the electric motor;
• a cutting member driven by said electric motor for rotating the cutting member to cut and sharpen an end of the writing instrument received therein;
• a circuit opening arrangement operatively coupled to said electric circuit, said circuit opening arrangement having a movable body member supporting a pair of contacts, at least one contact being movable into or out of engagement with a second contact, engagement of the contacts opening the electric circuit to cease operation of said electric motor to halt further sharpening;
• a pin movably disposed adjacent an end of the cutting member, the pin being displacable, to a pre-determined length corresponding to a sharpened length of said writing instrument, by the cut end of said writing instrument received within the cutting member;
• an operating member being in contact with the pin and being driven thereby for moving the movable contact of the circuit opening arrangement into contact with the second contact of the circuit opening arrangement when the pre-determined length is reached, and
• an adjustment member engaged with the movable body member and being operable to change an orientation of said body member of the circuit opening arrangement, to vary a location of the circuit opening arrangement relative to the operating member, for varying a length of travel of the operating member relative to a position at which the electric circuit will be opened, said adjustment member thereby adjusting said pre-determined length to adjust a sharpened length of said writing instrument.