Coating implements with material supply – With means to attach or conform to body of user
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-12-11
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
With means to attach or conform to body of user
C040S334000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328493
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to instruments having an ergonomic configuration for the gripping and comfort of a user's thumb and fingers; in particular, hand-held instruments, such as writing instruments. In addition, such ergonomic configuration allows a compact design that readily allows the instrument, such as a writing instrument, to fit into a pocket or small bag or serve as a key chain.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ergonomics is a field of study on the relationship between people and their working environment. Numerous type of ergonomically compatible products are directed to the comfort and well-being of different portions of a user's body.
Writing instruments have been ergonomically designed to allow a firm gripping and to alleviate the pressure exerted upon the gripping fingers to minimize calluses or fatigue. An ergonomic writing instrument also facilitates its handling by children, senior citizens who may suffer from arthritis or people with handicap.
There are generally two categories of prior art ergonomic writing instruments. The first type of prior art ergonomic writing instruments deviate from the structure of traditional cylindrical writing instruments. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,564,849 to Joseph M. Greer, Jr. discloses a curved ergonomic pen that facilitates writing on both vertical and horizontal surfaces and U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,324 to Michael A. Hochstetler, which discloses an ergonomic instrument having along its length a spiral groove. A disadvantage of this first type of prior art ergonomic writing instrument results from the deviation from the traditional cylindrical structure because a user must adjust and adapt to gripping the non-uniform structure.
The second type of prior art ergonomic writing instruments include a foam or rubber cushioning placed over the traditional cylindrical structure at the position where the user's thumb and fingers grip. U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,945 to Gerald J. Klodt illustrates one such cushioning grip for writing instruments. A limitation on this second type of prior art ergonomic writing instruments is that the comfort of the user cannot be fully ergonomically realized by the mere addition of a tubular cushioning over the underlying cylindrical structure of the writing instruments.
Therefore, there is a need for an instrument that is ergonomically designed for the comfortable gripping by the user in the natural positioning of the user's thumb and fingers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an instrument that is ergonomically designed for the comfortable gripping by a user.
The instrument of the present invention, in particular, relates to a writing instrument having an ergonomic configuration for the firm gripping and comfort of the user's thumb and fingers.
The writing instrument of the present invention comprises an axially elongated body having a uniform rear portion that diverges into two arms to form a bulbous front portion along a plane parallel to the axis of the elongated body. The two arms are then merged at the front writing end, forming a loop opening at the front portion of the writing instrument. The loop at the front portion of the writing instrument allows a user to position the pad of his/her thumb against one side of the loop opening and the side of his/her middle finger against the opposite loop opening, with the index finger resting along the curvature of the bulbous front portion. The loop opening and the bulbous front portion provide an enlarged area to facilitate gripping and additional comfort of a user's thumb and fingers over conventional writing instruments.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the two arms are helically twisted prior to merging at the front writing end, advantageously allowing a user's thumb to be positioned against the opening of the helical bulbous portion for additional gripping comfort and stability.
In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the uniform rear portion of the elongated body diverge into three arms to form a triangular bulbous front portion. The three arms are then merged at the front writing end. The three openings formed between adjacent arms allow a user to position the pad of his/her thumb against the first opening, the pad of the index finger against the second opening and the side of the middle finger against the third opening, enhancing the gripping comfort and stability.
Another alternative embodiment of the present invention comprises a generally teardrop shaped annular body having a writing end adjacent to the generally pointed end of the body. One surface of the annular body is generally concave and the opposite surface generally convex. The curvature on the concave surface is more pronounced along an axis where a user would naturally positioned his/her thumb on a writing instrument. Similarly, advantageously a slightly concave channel on the convex surface is provided along an axis where a user would naturally positioned his/her middle finger on a writing instrument. The pad of a user's thumb is placed against the opening on the generally concave side of the body, the side of the middle finger against the opening against the generally convex side of the body, with the pad of the index finger resting along the curved periphery of the teardrop shaped body. An additional advantage of this teardrop shaped embodiment is its compactness and portability, making it a particularly attractive promotional item that readily fits into a pocket or pocketbook or serve as a key chain.
The elongated or teardrop shaped body of the writing instrument of the present invention may be covered with a soft material to cushion the contact with the thumb and fingers. Furthermore, the openings formed between the arms of the elongated body or the annular body may be filled with a soft or pressure- or heat-conforming gelatinous-like material for additional ergonomic fitting and comfort of the thumb and middle finger. In addition, as writing instruments are often given away as promotional items, the openings formed between the arms of the elongated body and the annular body provide the spacing for placing an indicia therebetween.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 359508 (1995-06-01), Debbas
patent: 586143 (1897-07-01), North
patent: 1291972 (1919-01-01), McGuigan
patent: 1678505 (1928-07-01), Gregory
patent: 3994605 (1976-11-01), McKnight
patent: 4037975 (1977-07-01), Huffman
patent: 5391010 (1995-02-01), Gorbunov
patent: 5590971 (1997-01-01), Melnick
patent: 03292200A (1991-12-01), None
Advertisement for an ergonomic pen, Dec. 1998.
deVore Peter
Miskin Howard C.
Tsui-Yip Gloria
Walczak David J.
LandOfFree
Instruments with ergonomic gripping does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Instruments with ergonomic gripping, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Instruments with ergonomic gripping will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2602115