Abstract:
A writing utensil for helping a user learn to properly hold the utensil. The writing utensil includes three notches that properly align the first finger, middle finger, and thumb of the user. The notches can be color-coded to further encourage proper placement of the utensil in the user&#39;s hand.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/471,354, filed Apr. 4, 2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a writing utensil and, more specifically, to a writing utensil for helping a user learn to write. 
         [0004]    2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
         [0005]    Writing utensils such as pencils, pens, markers, and crayons are everyday items throughout most of the world. Learning to use these utensils are an essential part of early education, with many hours of kindergarten-level education spent learning how to properly write letters and numbers. Often, learning how to hold these utensils can be one of the most difficult steps in the process. Learning how to properly hold a writing utensil can be even more challenging for students or children with learning disabilities or physical disabilities. As a result, there is a demand for improved methods of teaching students or children how to properly hold or use writing utensils. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a writing utensil that helps the user properly hold the utensil. 
         [0007]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a writing utensil comprising: (i) a first notch which receives the end of a user&#39;s first finger; (ii) a second notch which receives the end of the user&#39;s thumb; and (iii) a third notch which receives a portion of the user&#39;s middle finger, wherein the first, second, and third notches are positioned such that when the user properly engages the notches, the user is properly holding the utensil. In further embodiments, one or more of the notches are color-coded to further encourage proper placement of the utensil in the user&#39;s hand. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0009]    The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1-5  are photographs of the writing utensil according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in  FIG. 1  a writing utensil  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The writing utensil can be any utensil that must be held during use, including pencils, pens, highlighters, crayons, markers, etc. In a preferred embodiment, writing utensil  100  comprises approximately six sides, although any number of sides are possible. A crayon, for example, does not have “sides,” but rather has a single, smooth, rounded exterior. 
         [0012]    Device  100  preferably has a set of three “notches”—notch  110 , notch  120 , and notch  130  —formed in the device and located around its exterior, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . There are a series of these set of notches located along the device anywhere from the bottom  140  of the device to the top  150  of the device. In  FIGS. 1-5  for example, writing utensil  100  has a series of three sets of five notches each extending from the bottom to the top of the device in spaced relation to one another along respective axes, each parallel to the other as well as to the utensil&#39;s longitudinal axis X-X. Thus, as the writing utensil is used and is progressively shortened, in the case of a pencil for example, the user has a set of new notches to use. Each corresponding notch in each set lies in a plane A-A that is transverse to axis X-X. If the writing utensil itself is not degraded as it is used, in the case of a pen or highlighter, for example, only one set of notches may be necessary. 
         [0013]    The notches are designed to comfortably fit a wide range of hand and/or finger sizes, and are designed to guide the user&#39;s hand and the utensil into proper alignment for writing or other use. For example, notch  110  is preferably used for the first finger. The tip of the user&#39;s first finger fits comfortably into notch  110  regardless of the size of the finger. Notch  120  is preferably used for a portion of the thumb. Lastly, notch  130  receives a portion of the user&#39;s middle finger. In a preferred use, the portion of the user&#39;s middle finger received by notch  130  is the portion located on the side of the distal phalanges, next to the fingernail. For a right-handed user, the left side of the middle finger&#39;s distal phalanges will fit into notch  130 , while for a left-handed user the right side of the middle finger&#39;s distal phalanges will fit into notch  130 . 
         [0014]    As suggested above, the use of the notches will vary depending on whether the user is right- or left-handed. The description provided above is for a right-handed user. If the user is left-handed, notch  110  receives a portion of the thumb, notch  120  receives a portion of the first finger, and notch  130  receives a portion of the middle finger. 
         [0015]    Further, the descriptions provided above are for using writing utensil  100  to write. If the user is using the utensil to erase, the device is held upside-down, and notches  110  and  120  are reversed. The middle finger, however, usually fits into notch  130  regardless of right- or left-handedness, or whether the device is upside-down. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, the notches are color-coded, numbered, properly shaped, or otherwise coded for proper orientation of the fingers and the notches. For example, in  FIGS. 1-5 , notches  110  and  120  are roughly round to properly receive a portion of the ends of the first finger and thumb. Notch  130 , however, is slightly elongated to properly receive a portion of the side of the middle finger. That is, the tip of the user&#39;s middle finger—which would result in an incorrect usage of the writing utensil—does not comfortably fit into notch  130  because it is elongated rather than round. 
         [0017]    Also in  FIGS. 1-5 , notches  110  and  120  are color-coded. Notch  110  is green, while notch  120  is red, although any combination of colors can be used. Alternatively, the notches could be labeled “1” “2” and “3,” or can be labeled with “first” “thumb” and “middle,” for example. Any system of notation that adequately informs the user of the proper orientation can be used. 
         [0018]    Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that modifications, alterations, and additions can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.