Abstract:
The present invention contemplates a variety of methods, systems, techniques, and apparatuses for creating a point protection device. The point protection device attaches at the tip of a point that is sharp, rough, or otherwise likely to cause harm or damage. The point protection device prevents the point or tip from causing physical damage or pain by eliminating its ability to puncture or scratch skin. Additionally, the point protection device prevents the point from damaging material or surfaces with which the point may come in contact. The point protection device can also be used for ornamentation and allows for variations in point diameters.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to protective devices and more specifically to a point protection device used to cover a sharp or rough point or tip of an object. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Exposed tips or points of objects have the potential to cause pain and possibly infection if they are allowed to puncture skin. Exposed tips or points of objects also have the potential to scratch or mar an object that the point was not meant to come in contact with. A typical example is a sewing needle. The point of a sewing needle is sharp. There exist pin cushions to protect the point and keep it from being touched while not in use, as well as thimbles that are used to protect the fingers while sewing. Another example is the medical needle, which is protected before and after use by a variety of different methods, such as a plastic encasing. 
         [0003]    However, present methods used to cover certain tips/points are not practical for other tips/points of objects. The present invention addresses a method to cover rough and sharp tips/points of guitar strings, for example. Guitar strings are stainless steel and range from approximately 0.010″ to 0.055″ in diameter. When a guitar is “strung”, the string is attached at the bridge of the guitar, run up the neck, pulled over the nut, and spun through and around a tuning peg. Once this string is tightened, the excess string can be curled up upon itself, or cut. Usually the string is cut, but either way, there is left an excess of string with a sharp point. These sharp points can cause pain and injury when someone is accidentally punctured with them. These sharp points may also cause damage to surfaces with which they come into contact. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention contemplates a variety of methods, systems, and apparatuses for a point protection device. The point protection device attaches at the tip of a point that is sharp, rough, or otherwise likely to cause harm or damage. The point protection device prevents the point or tip from causing physical damage or pain by eliminating its ability to puncture or scratch skin. Additionally, the point protection device prevents the point from damaging material or surfaces with which the point may come in contact. The point protection device can also be used for ornamentation and allows for variations in point diameters. 
         [0005]    A first aspect of the present invention provides a point protection device, comprising an open protective shell and a soft core, capable of holding a point, positioned essentially inside the protective shell. 
         [0006]    A second aspect of the present invention provides a point protection device, comprising a protective shell capable of receiving a tip and an adjustable fastening piece. 
         [0007]    A third aspect of the present invention provides a method of preventing injury and damage from points, comprising: identifying a point that is one or more of: sharp, rough, and likely to cause damage or injury; and securing a point protection device over the point. 
         [0008]    A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a system for preventing injury and damage from points, comprising: a tough protective shell and a soft, easily punctured, slip-resistant core positioned substantially inside the protective shell. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of a point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates an angled view of a point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a point protection device with a point inserted in the device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of a shaped point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a shaped point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  illustrates a bottom view of a shaped point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a shaped point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  depicts a method flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a point protection device with a point inserted in the device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. When used, like numbering represents like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention solves the problem of covering up tips or points of varying diameters in a fast, convenient, and durable way. The inspiration for this invention comes from the guitar or, more specifically, guitar strings. When a guitar is “strung”, a stainless steel string or wire is stretched from the bridge of the guitar to a tuning peg, around which the string/wire is wound. Excess string/wire is cut or tightly wound and tucked next to the tuning peg. This leaves a sharp point or tip on which a user, player, or handler can injure him/herself should the point/tip puncture, prick, or scratch the skin of the user, causing pain and/or a wound. Furthermore, a sharp point/tip can damage a surface with which it comes in contact, such as a table or wall, should the head of the guitar rub against such a surface. 
         [0025]    By using point protection devices, guitarists will shield their fingers from accidental puncturing by their guitar strings. These point protection devices will also make a guitar, or any stringed instrument that uses them, safer for children. The point protection device may also be used on non-stringed instruments having sharp points. For example, several varieties of wind instruments, including saxophones and clarinets, have sharp springs that can be capped with the point protection device. 
         [0026]    In addition, the point protection device can also be used for ornamentation and may be made in a large variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and designs. For example point protection devices can be shaped as bullets, skulls, peace signs, flowers, etc. 
         [0027]    Although inspired by the guitar, the present invention can also be used for any point or tip and allows the covering up of tips/points of varying diameters in a fast, convenient, and durable way. 
         [0028]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms “a”, “an”, etc., do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The terms user, player, handler, and guitarists are utilized interchangeably throughout this discussion. It should be understood that these terms refer to any person handling an object, such as, but not limited to, a guitar having sharp or rough points or tips. The terms point and tip are also used interchangeably throughout this discussion. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , a top, side, bottom, and angled view of a point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention are illustrated, respectively. Protective shell  100  encases soft core  110  in this embodiment of the point protection device. In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , protective shell  100  is cylindrical, covering the top and sides of soft core  110 , and open on one end of said cylinder. This opening exposes soft core  110 , which may receive points or tips of varying diameters. It is not necessary that the entirety of soft core  110  be placed within protective shell  100 , only that a sufficient portion of soft core  110  be within protective shell  100  to prevent a tip/point lodged in soft core  110  from causing injury or damage by poking all the way through soft core  110 . Therefore, in preferred embodiments, soft core  110  is mostly, essentially, or substantially in protective shell  100 . Protective shell  100  may also be called a shield or guard. 
         [0030]    Protective shell  100  comprises material not readily or easily punctured by a point. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, break-resistant glass, and various hard materials. Soft core  110 , however, is readily punctured by the point, but holds the point in place once the point has been inserted into soft core  110 . Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, rubber, glue, cork, elastic substances, hyperelastic substances, viscous substances, and adhesive materials. Once in place, a point or tip cannot slip or move out of soft core  110  unless manually forced out by a user. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a cross sectional view of a point protection device and a cross-sectional view of a point protection device with a point inserted in the device according to an embodiment of the present invention, are illustrated. Point  200  is inserted into soft core  110 , which is penetrated with ease. However, protective shell  100 , encircling soft core  110 , is not able to be penetrated by point  200 . Once point  200  enters soft core  110  inwards, point  200  becomes wedged, anchored, adhered, stuck, or otherwise fastened within soft core  110 , such that the point protection device will not slip off point  200  or otherwise become easily detached. The assembly of an obscured point and point protection device prevents injuries to skin and fingers such as pricks, punctures and scratches, as well as physical damage such as marred surfaces. Soft core  110  accommodates points  200  in a variety of diameters or widths, ranging from very small to just short of the diameter of soft core  110  itself. The soft, pliable nature of the material used for soft core  110  also allows the point protection device to be reused if desired. 
         [0032]    An adjustable fastening piece may also replace soft core  110  and be used to secure point  200 . A sufficient portion of the adjustable fastening piece is contained within protective shell  100  such that when point  200  is secured within protective shell  100 , the possibility of skin-to-point  200  contact is blocked by protective shell  100 . Furthermore, because the fastening piece is adjustable, a point protection device having the adjustable fastening piece may be adjusted to accommodate tips/points of various diameters. 
         [0033]    An example of an adjustable fastening piece may include, for example, but is not limited to, a miniature clothespin-like piece within protective shell  100  which pinches point  200  in order to keep point  200  in place and whose sides move to accommodate points of varying diameter or width. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in some embodiments, the adjustable fastening piece may comprise three identical arms  510  attached to a center point  540  of a ceiling of the shell  500 . The arms may extend outwardly from the center point  540  at a distance of  120  degrees apart from one another (this distance will vary if more or fewer arms are provided in an implementation of the invention, and the scope of the invention includes any such angle). The arms may be configured to each have two joints (or bends)  520  and  530 , one bending inwardly (shown as  520 ) and one outwardly (shown as  530 ) in relation to a longitudinal axis  550  of the shell  100 , such that the joints  530  of the arms  510  are disposed in close proximity, i.e. substantially together, at longitudinal axis  540  to grasp an inserted tip  200 . When a tip  200  is inserted along the longitudinal axis  540  between the arms  510 , the arms  510  open around the tip  200 , and joints  530  engage the tip  200  due to the pressure from the arms  510  against the inserted tip  200 . In some embodiments, the arms  510  may be attached to the side wall of the shell  100  at joints  520 . The arms  510  may be made of any substantially pliable material, such as aluminum, plastic, and any other metal or other material which will allow the arms  510  to open slightly around an inserted tip  200 , thereby adjusting to the width of an inserted tip  200 . It will be recognized that in some embodiments, the point protection device may comprise more or fewer arms, and the arms may comprise more or fewer joints. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 , a top, side, bottom, and cross-sectional view of a shaped point protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Shell  300  may be designed for ornamentation as well as for protection. In the depicted embodiment, shell  300  has the shape of a bullet, although any cast or molded shape can be used. For example, shell  300  can also be shaped as, but not limited to: skulls, peace signs, flowers, sports items and so forth. In some embodiments, the ornamentation is hollowed out and filled with soft core  310 , which may be molded to fit the size and shape of shell  300 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a method flow diagram for a method of preventing injury and damage from points according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In step  51 , a point that is one or more of: sharp, rough, and likely to cause damage or injury is identified. In step S 2  a point protection device is secured over the point. 
         [0036]    In addition to the above mentioned examples, various other modifications and alterations of the present invention may be made without departing from the present invention. While the invention has been particularly shown and described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above disclosure is not to be considered as limiting, and the appended claims are to be interpreted as encompassing the true spirit and the entire scope of the invention.