Abstract:
The present invention to be personalized is fitted with a sealed chamber. The chamber is defined by an object and a thin, flexible member. When it is desired to personalize the object, the sealed chamber is filled with uncured paste having predetermined characteristics. The object to be personalized then is brought into contact with a human; thereafter, the paste cures in place to complete the personalizing process.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This patent application is related to Provisional patent Application No. 60/402,934, filed Aug. 14, 2002, and claims priority therefrom. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a structure and technique for developing a formable region between two physical objects and more particularly, a technique and structure for personalizing a region that contacts an individual. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a widely recognized fact that no two individuals have identical shapes. Some people are tall, some are small. Some people are overweight, some are thin. Besides being right or left handed, we hold tools, writing instruments and sports equipment differently. Even our fingers are not shaped exactly as another person with the same weight. Our ears, noses, feet, mouth, face and knees for example, are constantly being formed into an unnatural shape by designed products made to fit to an average human. Therefore, the structure and technique of the present invention is useful adapting a personal feature to an object. 
   According to the following inventions, 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,924 to Southey dated Feb. 5, 1980 describes a molded golf club grip with three different radian widths along its longitudinal axis to facilitate the hand of a user. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,569 to Hashimotto et al. dated Mar. 27, 1990, describes a writing instrument formed of a fluid enclosed body that is axially displaced by a writer&#39;s fingers that is restored to its original shape when released. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,570 to Bar et al. dated Mar. 17, 1992, describes making an insole for a foot by enclosing an uncured expandable resin along with a container of a curing agent with at least one hole in the container to activate the resin and to allow the resin, when hardened, to preserve the contour of the bottom of the foot. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,868 to Dellis dated Oct. 20, 1992, describes a moldable hand grip formed of an inner thermoplastic layer and an outer layer which, by heating both to a temperature of boiling water and cooling quickly; grasping before cooling will cause the thermoplastic inner layer to retain the hand shape. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,847 to Scarberry et al. describes a seal and face mask formable to a user&#39;s facial features but is non functional with shear forces of any kind and it can be reformed back to its original shape with heat. 
   While the structural arrangements and the steps described to achieve these prior arrangements, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail presently, are important for the effective use of the invention to achieve its advantages. 
   Several attempts have made to adapt an average human to relatively hard objects. Car steering wheels are formed on the backside for the average person&#39;s fingers. Bicycle hand grips are formed much the same way. A computer mouse is shaped for the average person, yet it fits no one perfectly. Most keys on keyboards have concave top surfaces in an attempt to fit the ends of most fingers, so they don&#39;t slip to another key when typing. 
   The softness of an object is another way to attempt to adapt a person to an object. The range has varied from hard rubber to soft silicone gel where the fingers contact a writing instrument, for example. Earphones are generally made out of soft material or forms to approximately fit a person&#39;s ear canal to the sound making structure. Soft, pliable foam materials are found in pens, bicycle grips and on some golf club grips. The shortcoming is they do not adapt a person&#39;s features to an object. The features are simply temporarily displacing or compressing those materials. There is little or no lateral support, other than friction, to prevent the object from slipping out of your fingers. The goal is to perfectly fit a person&#39;s features to drastically reduce stress or fatigue. 
   The present invention is adaptable for use in connection with several different objects such as power tools, weapons, writing instruments, foot inserts, ballerina slippers, hearing aids, lifting weight grips and bicycle grips. Other objects with a handle include, for example, a hammer, baseball bat, or a golf club. Any of these things can be personalized for any particular individual by using the structure and technique of the invention. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a structure and technique for adapting any physical object to any other physical object. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a structure and technique for personalizing office articles, sports equipment, tools and medical devices. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a structure and technique for developing a formable region between two physical objects and, more particularly, a technique and structure for personalizing a region that perfectly fits an individual to an object. 
   Briefly, the physical object to be personalized has a forming area that is filled with uncured paste material having predetermined characteristics. The forming area is defined by a flexible member. When it is desired to personalize the object, it is brought into contact with a living entity; thereafter, the paste cures in place to complete the personalizing process. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent as a detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment proceeds. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a pen with a personalizing area defined in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a pen for use in describing the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a pen that is in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a paste package built into the writing instrument; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of an external form adapted to a writing instrument; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a different way to achieve the technique of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of an article to which the technique of the present invention is applicable; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of an article to which the technique of the invention is applicable; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of an aid in describing how the technique of the invention is applicable in still another arrangement adapted to perform according to the invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of a personalized foot insert that describes the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of a personalized tape as described in the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of a personalized golf club grip as described in the present invention. 
   

   For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the FIGURES. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a physical object  10 , or in this drawing a writing instrument, is used for the purpose of describing the features of the invention. It should be understood that many other objects could be the subject of this invention which include but are not limited to writing instruments, sports handles, tools and foot inserts. 
   The characteristics of silicone paste  16 , in accordance with the present invention, includes an uncured thixotropic viscosity ranging from 50,000 to 250,000 centipose that (1) permits uncured material flow when forced to do so, (2) is not brittle after it is cured or set, which may range from 0–100 on the Shore A hardness scale, (3) is preferred to be a single substance not requiring mixing materials, (4) cures readily at room temperature after it is in place and formed, (5) will withstand compressive and shear forces, (6) will adhere to all materials it is in contact with, and (7) will not chemically degrade or cause any corrosive actions on any materials it is in contact with. A silicone based paste  16  made by General Electric, item #TSE392, has been found to be entirely satisfactory to function as the paste  16  called for by the invention. Even though a one part paste  16  is preferred because of ease of use, two and three part pastes such as silicone, urethane and epoxy formulations, could be mixed inside the cure space  22  of the physical object  10  prior to personalization. 
   Also, it must be noted that as the severity of application is increased with physical objects such as tools and sports equipment, the material strength must increase and the softness may decrease. One part, air curing, non sticky, putty like materials could be used as the forming paste  16 , which may be acceptable for severe tool or sports applications. For example, uncured pastes with a viscosity ranging from 250,000 to 100,000,000 centipose could be used with or without a membrane  24  to separate one object, such as a finger, from another object, such as a hammer. The hardness of the resulting cured, personalized object may be up to 90 on the Shore D hardness scale. 
   In the case of one part silicone pastes, it is crucial that the silicone material be repackaged in a dry environment to keep the silicone chemical curing action from initializing. The storage package  12  is made from either bonded and sealed 0.0005″ to 0.010″ thick coated aluminum foil or 0.0005″ to 0.010″ thick high density polyethylene packaged inside an aluminum foil container with a desiccant. Both will allow a user to manipulate and keep the paste  16  cure-proof for approximately one year while stored in either container. Other thick walled containers can also be used to keep the storage packages from curing for up to one year before use. Several of the following embodiments require such packaging because a thin or open celled membrane  24  will allow the paste  16  to cure. 
     FIG. 1  shows the storage package  12 , which contains the uncured silicone paste  16 , disposed within the physical object  10 . The physical object  10  comprises a piston  14 , a threaded lock  25 , piercing points  18 , a passage way  20 , a membrane  24  and a cure space  22 . 
     FIG. 2  consists of a physical object  10  comprising a threaded lock  25 , a piston  14 , silicone paste  16  and the form  26 . 
     FIG. 3  consists of physical object  10  comprising piston  14 , paste  16 , a valve seal  27 , and a passage way  20 . 
     FIG. 4  consists of a physical object  10  with removable storage package  12  that is kept inside a sealed container  38  prior to personalization. The storage package  12  comprises a stiffener, paste  16  and membrane  24  that is held in place on the physical object  10  by a threaded pen tip  28 . 
     FIG. 5  consists of physical object  10  comprising flexible, hollow, membrane  24 . 
     FIG. 6  consists of physical object  10  comprising open celled foam coated internally with paste  16  and covered by membrane  24 . 
     FIG. 7  consists of handle  34  comprising a dispenser  36 , paste  16 , cure space  22 , and membrane  24 . 
     FIG. 8  consists of handle  34  comprising storage package  12 , paste  16 , check valve  40  and an air vent  42 . 
     FIG. 9  consists of handle  34  comprising screw  50 , spring  46 , latch  48 , piston  14 , paste  16  and cure space  22 . 
     FIG. 10  consists of a foot insert  58  that comprises storage package  12 , paste  16 , membrane  24  and bond  56   
     FIG. 11  consists of physical object  10  that comprises storage package  12 , paste  16 , membrane  24 , adhesive  60 , form  26 , bond  56  and sealed container  38 . 
     FIG. 12  consists of handle  34  that comprises storage package  12 , paste  16 , membrane  24 , adhesive  60  and form  26 . 
   As pointed out previously herein, the technique of the invention can be adapted readily for use with any item or object that comes in contact with an individual when used. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the physical object  10  is to be personalized to an individual, the piston  14  is pushed left (as viewed in the figure) to force the storage package  12  against piercing points  18 , creating holes in the storage package  12 , forcing the paste  16  out of the storage package  12  and through the passage way  20  into a cure space  22  under a soft, tough, flexible membrane  24 . The membrane  24  may be made from a variety of materials such as polyurethane, latex, neoprene, silicone, open or closed cell polyurethane foam, for example. The membrane  24  material may be replaced by molding the paste  16  to the desired shape and partially curing it to create a “thin skin” of cured paste  16  on the outside to mimic the preferred membrane  24 . 
   In  FIG. 2 , the piston  14  is shown fully left, after the above described steps are completed. A threaded lock  25  will secure both halves of the pen (physical object) together with a clockwise twist of one part to the other. Threads are preferred type of fastening. After the physical object  10  is locked together, the form  26  will personalize the uncured paste  16  to a perfect fit between both the physical object  10  and the form  26 . The forming area  15  must not be touched until the paste  16  is cured to eliminate other features from being formed within the forming area  15 . The physical object  10  may be placed in a vertical position so the paste  16  can be fully cured without touching any other object. 
   In  FIG. 3  of the drawings, an arrangement without a separate sealed paste  16  storage package  12  is illustrated. The silicone paste  16 , however, is stored and sealed within the writing instrument or physical object  10 . When the piston  14  is moved towards the left, the O ring valve seal  27  moves left and exposes holes in the passage way  20 . The paste  16  moves into the cure space  22  as described above for completing the personalizing process. 
     FIG. 4  depicts another type of storage package  12  that can be easily attached to the physical object  10 . The storage package  12 , consisting of a stiffener, paste  16  and membrane  24  slides on or off the physical object  10 . Since the thin membrane  24  could expose the paste  16  to humidity and start the curing action, before it is desired to do so, it must be transferred and kept under low humidity conditions then stored in a sealed container  38  that is cure-proof. The storage package  12  will have a sealed cap  30 , if it is a rigid container. Metallic foil packages that can be easily opened by ripping could also be used to store the storage package  12 . The pen tip  28  is threaded and as such, securely fastens the storage package  12  to the physical object  10 . If the final personalized impression is not correct, the cured package can be easily removed and replaced by an uncured package and reformed when it is in position. 
     FIG. 5  depicts another way to personalize a physical object  10 . Here, flexible, hollow, sealed membrane  24  is filled with silicone paste  16 . Such a sealed membrane  24  is pushed and rolled onto a physical object  10  as shown by the placement direction  32  arrows. As in  FIG. 4 , this must also be stored in a cure-proof sealed container  38  before use. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a personalization alternative by using an open cell foam. After first thinly coating the cells with silicone paste  16 , the entire outside of the open celled filled foam  33  would have a membrane  24  to avoid any external stickiness. The form  26  compresses the open cells together and the thinly coated paste  16  keeps all the cells compressed together where contact occurs, forming a perfect fit. The package is vented to allow air to escape as it is formed. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a personalized handle  34  that is representative of other, different types of handles such as, for example, a baseball bat, a golf club, bicycle grip, ski poles, etc. that are held in one position by a user. By moving the dispenser  36  left, the paste  16  is passed into the cure space  22  between the handle  34  and the membrane  24 . 
     FIG. 8  is an arrangement illustrating the paste  16  material being retained in a separate cure-proof storage package  12 , with a check valve  40  to ensure one-way flow of the paste  16  material. An air vent  42 , permits entrapped air to escape as the paste  16  is moved into the cure space  22  to eliminate air in the paste  16 . 
   In  FIG. 9  of the drawings, the arrangement of the invention shows the paste  16  stored inside the handle  34 . By turning a screw  50 , a latch  48  releases a spring  46  to force the piston  14  and the paste  16  material into the cure space  22  for personalization. 
     FIG. 10  is a cross section view of a foot insert  58  that is to be personalized by using the technique of the invention. The silicone paste  16  material is enclosed within a storage package  12 , and is placed accordingly. The membranes  24  have a bond  56  between each other on the periphery of the foot shaped membrane  24 . Weight applied by the person&#39;s heel  52  will burst the storage package  12  to release the paste  16  to fill the space between the membranes  24  and produce a perfect fit between the foot bottom  54  and the top inside of the footwear. The paste  16  material is preferably of a silicone extraction, according to the present invention, since that material is both soft and flexible when cured. 
     FIG. 11  is a cross section of a storage package  12 . The storage package  12 , including paste  16 , would be stored in a sealed container  38  to prevent premature curing. The membrane  24  has a bond  56  all around the periphery of the membranes  24 . The paste  16  is stored between the membranes  24 . A pressure sensitive adhesive  60  is exposed on the entire surface thereof. The storage package  12  would be placed on a physical object  10  and pressure would be applied evenly over the entire storage package  12  to adhere it properly to the physical object  10 . The form  26  would then personalize the storage package  12  which would then be left untouched as it is cured. This storage package  12  could also be a long, narrow tape, depending on the application. 
   In  FIG. 12  the storage package  12  could be a hollow, cylindrical shape with water soluble adhesive  60  inside of the storage package  12 . Storage package  12  could be slid laterally into position, on the handle  34 , such as in a golf club, not shown. The outer membrane  24  may be made from open or closed cell polyurethane foam, which would be flexible as needed, and have a high coefficient of friction for a secure grip of the golf club. The inner membrane  24  may be thicker or stiffer for ease of sliding the grip laterally into position. The form  26  would then personalize the storage package  12  as mentioned herein. 
   Therefore, an important feature of the invention is the particular paste  16  material in its final formulation that is personalized by touch and then is allowed to cure. 
   Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
   Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.