Abstract:
A screen operator or artificial finger tip for entering commands and data into a personal data device, such as an electronic notebook, by contacting the screen of the personal data device. The screen operator comprises a partially rigid base that encircles the finger, generally conforming to the finger, and a rigid tip member which projects forwardly from the base to contact the screen. The extreme tip of the tip member is of reduced diameter at the point of contact with the screen. The base is tubular (preferably with a gap) and resiliently grips the finger. A hook member extends downwardly and back from the tip member to engage the underside of the user&#39;s finger tip. The hook member functions to retain the screen operator on the user&#39;s finger tip.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/579,426, filed May 26, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,988, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/020,854, filed Feb. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,189. The Ser. No. 09/020,854 application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to devices for operating touch screens. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for fitting to an appendage of a person so as to adapt the appendage for operating controls on a screen of an automated data device. 
     2. Background Information 
     Personal data devices for storing and handling information have come into widespread use in recent years. Some devices have been developed that are intended to assist individuals as automated secretaries (also known as “personal digital assistants” or PDAs). An example is a device known as an electronic notebook. An electronic notebook is a data processing device that has a microprocessor and a display screen, and is adapted to store information and to categorize or otherwise handle the information. Personal data devices may be programmed to enable a user to enter data and control commands that determine how the data is entered, stored, and manipulated. Examples of personal data devices include the Palm series, marketed by Palm, Inc. (formerly 3Com Corp.) of Santa Clara, Calif. Apple Computers initiated the handheld computing market with the Newton line of products. Other similar products are available on the market. Applications for these devices are growing on a daily basis. 
     Typically, such devices receive control commands via very small electrical switches, called microswitches, which are integrated into the display screen. A user inputs commands and information into the device by touching a portion of the display screen where a microswitch is located. A display portion of the display screen portrays images corresponding to screen positions that are associated with available input selections (commands or information). The display portion may also show a screen position being contacted, as a visual feedback to the user that an entry has been made. 
     As personal data devices may be quite small and compact, it follows that the screens are also small. Accordingly, each of the microswitches on the screen is quite small and they may be crowded quite closely together. Successfully entering a command is dependent upon having a suitable utensil for contacting the screen in a limited area in a manner that will operate a selected microswitch, but will not operate other, adjacent microswitches inadvertently. Typically, the personal data device is provided with an elongated stylus that is held in the user&#39;s hand and that may be placed in contact with the screen at a selected position to operate a microswitch to carry out a particular command or to enter data. 
     Although a conventional stylus can operate its personal data device, it is slightly unwieldy for its purpose. A smaller device that does not require grasping by the palm or by several fingers or both may actually expedite operation of the personal data device. 
     Devices worn upon a single finger and having forward projections for operating equipment are known. Picks for stringed musical instruments offer examples. U.S. Pat. No. 1,444,982, issued to Harold Orth on Feb. 13, 1923, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,677, issued to John A. Knutson on Jun. 28, 1994, each illustrate picks for musical instruments. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,184,710, issued to Charles Baumann on May 30, 1916, shows a guard to protect a user while slicing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,759, issued to Jurgen Seebach on Sep. 26, 1995, illustrates a communications device worn on the finger. The device of Seebach is not intended to make contact with other objects. 
     Concept Kitchen, Inc. markets a device known as the finger Tip™ stylus that is intended to be worn on a finger tip for use in operating the touch screen of a personal digital assistant. The device, as sold, does not securely grip the finger tip of a user and is prone to falling off. 
     These known devices all mount on the tip of a finger for accomplishing various tasks. None of these devices provides a finger tip worn device that can operate a touch screen and remains securely on the linger tip. 
     Thus, what is needed is a finger tip worn implement that can operate a touch screen and remains securely on the finger tip. 
     Furthermore, the know devices lack removable and interchangeable projections that may be used with a variety of touch screens having different actuation specification. 
     Thus, what is also needed is a finger tip worn implement that has removable and interchangeable projections. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a finger worn artificial finger tip, or screen operator, suitable for operating microswitches formed in touch screens of personal data devices. Tile screen operator envelops and is retained on a finger of the user. The user obstructs less of the visual field of the screen and more dexterously controls contact of the screen when employing the novel screen operator, thereby expediting entering of commands to the personal data device. 
     The screen operator comprises a flexible base for securement to the finger and a removable rigid projection for contacting the screen of the personal data device. The base may be manipulated into comfortable and effective engagement conforming to and cooperating with the finger. The projection snap fits or otherwise removably engages the base. Several points of connection of tip to base are provided, so that attachment is dependable and reliable, and also steady in that the geometric position of the tip relative to the base remain constant and predictable in use. 
     Preferably, a selection of projections are provided, each having a hard tip different in dimensions from the others. The different dimensions or sizes corresponds to fine, intermediate, and coarse sized tips. Thus the user is afforded an opportunity to select among several sizes a tip that is convenient and effective for him or her. The decision is based upon ease of visual access to the screen, dimensions of the switching area of the screen, and other considerations that affect effectiveness of any particular selected tip. 
     Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide a screen operator worn on a finger for contacting the screen of a personal data device to effect commands and to enter data. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a finger tip worn implement that can operate a touch screen and remains securely on the finger tip. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a finger tip worn implement that has removable and interchangeable projections. 
     The above objects are achieved by a screen operator for effecting operative contact with a touch screen. The screen operator includes a flexible base, a tip member and a retention hook. The flexible base includes a pair of opposed arcuate members sized to resiliently grip a finger, each of the arcuate members terminating in an extreme end, the extreme ends being spaced apart from one another by a gap. Tile tip member is engaged with the base and has a slender rigid projection with a tip end, the tip end being sized as a touch screen stylus tip. The retention hook extends away from the tip member to grip an underside of the finger. 
     According to one embodiment, the tip member is engaged to the base via frictional engagement to permit exchange of different size tip members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional objects and advantages of tile present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a screen operator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the screen operator of FIG. 1, with a user&#39;s finger shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a screen operator according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an exaggerated, environmental, side elevation view of the device of FIG. 3 drawn partly in cross section. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the device of FIG. 3 illustrating a plurality of components shown at the left of FIG. 3, wherein each such component differs in dimensions from the others to afford a selection of sizes. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As utilized in this description, personal data devices include small electronic devices utilized as a portable personal computer capable of storing and retrieving information such as calendars, phone books, and the like. Examples include devices such as the Palm series, produced by Palm, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., the Jornada series, produced by Hewlett-Packard, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., and the Visor series, produced by Handspring, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., to name a few. These devices include a screen to manipulate its functions. Various sections of the display screen are touched by a screen operator to manipulate the functions of the instrument. A screen operator is usually an instrument in the shape of a pen or a pencil, having a point of small enough size to allow the user to select the various functions of the personal data device. 
     A screen operator according to the present invention provides operative contact with a touch screen. Characteristic of such a screen operator are a flexible base, a tip member, an elongate member, and a retention hook. The flexible base includes a pair of opposed arcuate members sized to resiliently grip a finger. Each of the pair of opposed arcuate members is shaped to engage a surface of the finger. Also, each of the arcuate members terminates in an extreme end, the extreme ends being spaced apart from one another by a gap. The tip member has a slender rigid projection with a tip end, the tip end being sized as a touch screen stylus tip. The elongated member connects the flexible base to the tip member. The retention hook extends away from the tip member to grip an underside of the finger. The flexible base, the tip member, the elongated member, and the retention hook are preferably unitarily formed together as a single piece. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a screen operator  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The screen operator  100  has a base  112  dimensioned and configured to engage the finger  2  of a user (as shown in phantom in FIG.  2 ), and a tip member  114 . The tip member  114  has a slender projection that terminates in a tip end  115 . The tip end  115  is sized for use as a touch screen stylus tip. 
     The base  112  engages the finger  2  by full or partial encirclement. Preferably, the base  112  is generally tubular, other than having a gap  116 . The tubular configuration promotes axial alignment of the screen operator  100  with the finger  2  of the user. The base  112  may be viewed as including a pair of opposed arcuate members  112 ′,  112 ″. Together the opposed arcuate members  112 ′,  112 ″ encircle at least halfway around the finger  2 . 
     The base  112  is fabricated from a material or materials providing partial rigidity. That is, the base  112  is sufficiently flexible to deform under manual pressure, yet sufficiently rigid to maintain its configuration after deformation in the absence of manual pressure. The gap  116  allows the circumference of the base  112  to be adjusted for different fingers. After the base  112  is placed over a finger (as shown in FIG.  2 ), it conforms to the finger and maintains its grip by rigidity. Any suitable material exhibiting the above characteristics will be adequate. It is, however, preferred that the base  112  be somewhat flexible and resilient at least at its surface for comfort. One suitable construction is to use a core of bendable metal (not shown) surrounded by flexible rubber-like material, such as soft or foamed synthetic resin (not shown). 
     One aspect of tile base  112  is that the opposed arcuate members  112 ′,  112 ″ flex from a connection point of the base  112  to the elongated top member  122 . This is distinct from a structure where finger-gripping members flex from a connection point at a tip member. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a plan view of the screen operator  100  of FIG. 1, with a user&#39;s finger  2  shown in phantom, is illustrated. The screen operator  100  is slipped over a finger  2  of a user, and may then be placed in contact with screen of a personal data device (not shown). Contact of the tip of the screen operator  100  with the screen compresses the screen, thereby causing microswitches to close and complete electrical circuits for entering data and carrying out commands. The screen operator  100  may be placed as desired on a finger  2 , within limits imposed by length of the elongated top member  122 , which connects the base  112  to the tip member  114 . A retention hook  118  extends downwardly and back from the tip member  114  to grip the underside  2 ′ of the finger  2  of the user. The retention hook functions to substantially enhance retention of the screen operator  100  on the finger  2  of the user. 
     According to this embodiment, the screen operator  100  is preferably formed as a unitary single piece. It is also preferable to form the screen operator  100  from a plastic composition. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a screen operator  10  according to an alternate embodiment is seen to comprise a base  12  dimensioned and configured to engage the finger of a user (as shown in FIG.  4 ), and a separate tip member  14  which is removably and manually attachable to the base  12 . The base  12  engages the finger by full or partial encirclement. Preferably, the base  12  is generally tubular, other than having a gap  16 . As contrasted to a ring that lacks the overall length of a tube, a tubular configuration promotes axial alignment of screen operator  10  with the finger of the user. The central longitudinal axis  18  of the base  12  is shown in FIG.  4 . The axis  18  need not necessarily be coaxial with the finger of the user. This characteristic is very helpful in maintaining accuracy of screen operator  10  when in use. 
     The base  12  is fabricated from a material or materials providing partial rigidity. That is, the base  12  is sufficiently flexible to deform under manual pressure, yet sufficiently rigid to maintain its configuration after deformation in the absence of manual pressure. The gap  16  allows the circumference of the base  12  to be adjusted for different fingers. After the base  12  is placed over a finger (as shown in FIG.  4 ), it conforms to the finger and maintains its grip by rigidity. Any suitable material exhibiting the above characteristics will be adequate. It is, however, preferred that the base  12  be somewhat flexible and resilient at least at its surface for comfort. One suitable construction is to use a core of bendable metal (not shown) surrounded by flexible rubber-like material, such as soft or foamed synthetic resin (not shown). 
     The tip member  14  has a connector  20  and a relatively slender rigid projection  22 . The connector  20  comprises three male members  24  of a snap-fitting device that cooperate with an equal number of sockets  26  formed in the base  12 . Snap fitting devices are manually connectable and detachable, but have sufficient frictional mutual adherence to assure that the tip member  14  will not spontaneously lose operable engagement of base  12 . The male members  24  and the sockets  26  are arranged parallel to the axis  18  so that when the tip member  14  is fitted to the base  12 , the projection  22  projects forwardly in a direction parallel to the axis  18 . It is preferred that plural male members  24  and the sockets  26  be provided, so that plural points of connection are present between the base  12  and the tip member  14 . This arrangement assures firstly, that should one male member  24  break off, the screen operator  10  will still be operable, and secondly, that the tip member  14  be predictably and reliably maintained in its forwardly projecting orientation relative to base  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a screen operator  10  is illustrated in use. The screen operator  10  is slipped over a finger  2  of a user, and may then be placed in contact with screen  4  of a personal data device (not shown in its entirety). Contact at  6  compresses the screen  4 , thereby causing microswitches (not separately shown) to close and complete electrical circuits for entering data and carrying out commands. The screen operator  10  may be placed as desired on a finger  2 , within limits imposed by length of projection  22 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a screen operator  10  is seen to include a plurality of tip members  14 ,  28 ,  30 . The tip members are alike in that each has male connection members  24  matingly compatible with sockets  26  of the base  12 . Each tip member  14 ,  28 , or  30  has a first diameter  42  proximate male connection members  24 . The diameter  42  is identical or nearly so among all tip members  14 ,  28 , or  30 , so that the tip members  14 ,  28 , and  30  are interchangeable. 
     The tip members  14 ,  28 , 30  differ from one another in that dimensions and configurations of their respective projections  22 ,  32 ,  34  are not identical. Each tip member  14 ,  28 , or  30  has a diameter  36 ,  38 , or  40  (respectively) differing in magnitude from those of the other tip members. This difference in diameter provides different areas of contact with the screen  4  (see FIG. 4) corresponding to fine, intermediate, and coarse. All the tip diameters  36 ,  38 , and  40  are smaller in magnitude than that of the first diameter  42 . This relationship assures that fine, intermediate, and projections  34 ,  32 ,  22  are slender relative to the first diameter  42 , so that visibility of the screen  4  is not affected by undue thickness of a projection  22 , 32 ,  34 . The projections  22 ,  32 , and  34  may also vary in length independently of variation in relative diameters, if is to be understood that the present invention limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of various embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that various modifications and improvements may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.