Abstract:
A writing assistance device including a hand support and at least one writing instrument holder. The hand support includes a base member adapted for contacting a surface upon which a user intends to write, and an upper member movably connected to the base member. The upper member is preferably dimensioned to accommodate a substantial portion of a user&#39;s hand and the writing assistance device is designed such that manipulation of the device is accomplished, in part, by downward force generated by the weight of a user&#39;s hand and forearm on the hand support rather than gripping of the hand support. The device includes resilient biasing structure to achieve effective separation of the upper member from the base member in order to raise a writing instrument when a user lifts his or her hand (or causes his or her hand to be lifted) from the upper member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/660,569, filed Mar. 11, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates in general to physically handicapped persons&#39; assistance devices and in particular to writing instrument (defined infra) assistance devices. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many persons have hereditary, congenital or acquired handicaps that inhibit their ability to effectively hold and manipulate writing instruments of any and all types, which include, by way of example but not limited to the following, pens, pencils, markers, stylus&#39;, and the like (for each and every type of use, including each and every type of traditional use and each and every type of digital, electronic and computer use and the like) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “writing instruments”). Examples of hereditary and congenital handicaps include neuromuscular disorders that manifest themselves at various stages of life, syndactyly (“webbing” of the fingers) or other deformities. Acquired handicaps may arise from a wide array of factors such as repetitive injury (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), infection, poisoning, trauma, amputation, and drug and alcohol abuse, among others. In addition, arthritis and rheumatism are painful conditions afflicting a substantial portion of the population that may inhibit comfortable and proper use of writing instruments. 
   A number of solutions have been proposed for this problem, an assortment of which are offered for sale on the Internet by The Society for the Physically Disabled based in Singapore. Examples include enlarged pens and devices that are either grasped by and/or fastened to a user&#39;s hand (or forearm). A disadvantage of such devices is that they require a certain minimum level of user dexterity and strength merely to grasp the device or fasten it to the user&#39;s body. Likewise, the user is disadvantaged by the fact that such devices may not provide the user with the necessary support base (for operation of a writing instrument) and/or may not provide the user with the necessary latitude and flexibility when using such writing instrument. Many people may not be able to perform these seemingly simple tasks. Other examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,391,010; 5,470,162 and 5,785,443. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,517 describes an ambidextrous writing assistance device including a hand support formed in the shape of the body of a bird and a set screw clamp for securing a writing instrument to the hand support. When a user wishes to raise the tip of the writing instrument, such as at the end of a line or word, he or she must flex the wrist to apply a downward rotational force to the rear or “tail” portion of the hand support. This may not be reasonably possible for users who are incapable of performing such motion or find it painful, impractical or unreasonable to do so. The hand support is also configured such that it is grippingly embraced within a user&#39;s palm and fingers. Such a design is essentially useless to persons with disabilities or deformations that might prevent them from reasonably and effectively gripping the hand support. In addition, the set screw clamping mechanism may be unreasonably difficult for some users to effectively tighten and loosen, possibly even requiring the assistance of another person to insert or remove a writing instrument from the device. 
   An advantage exists for a comfortable and easy to use writing instrument assistance device (hereinafter, a “writing device”) that does not require attachment to a user&#39;s body; that does not require the unreasonable flexing of the wrist or other like hand, wrist and/or arm movements; and, that does not requires the user to engage in unreasonable gripping motions to effectively operate the writing assistance device. 
   A further advantage exists for a writing assistance device that permits easy insertion and withdrawal of a writing instrument. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a writing assistance device including hand support means, at least one writing instrument holder, and writing instrument raising means. The hand support means comprise a substantially planar base member adapted for contacting a surface upon which a user intends to write, and an upper member movably connected to the base member and configured to substantially conform to the inner surfaces of a user&#39;s hand. The upper member is preferably dimensioned and contoured to accommodate a user&#39;s hand such that manipulation of the device is accomplished, in part, by downward force generated by the weight of a user&#39;s hand and forearm on the hand support rather than gripping of the hand support means by the user. Indeed, the user need not grip the hand support means at all in order to manipulate the device. Resting of the user&#39;s hand on the upper portion and moving his or her arm (which may be accomplished by the user merely moving or shifting his or her torso and the like)in a desired direction is all that is required. 
   According to presently contemplated embodiments, the upper member is movable, preferably pivotable, with respect to the base member in order permit raising of a writing instrument when a user lifts his or hand from the upper member. To achieve effective separation of the upper member from the base member, if the base and upper members are discrete components, the writing instrument raising means preferably comprise resilient biasing means such as one or more springs or elastomeric means. If the base and upper members are constructed as an integral unit the resilient biasing means may be a living hinge formed at the contiguous juncture of the base and upper members. Thus, when it is desired to raise the tip of the writing instrument, the user simply lifts (or causes to be lifted) his or her hand from the device and the writing instrument raising means raises the upper member and the writing instrument carried thereby. 
   According to a first embodiment, the writing instrument raising means is a spring situated near a forward end of the device and disposed between the base and upper members. In the inoperative state of the device, the spring biases the upper member upwardly about a hinged connection near the rear of the device. When a user places his or hand on the device, the spring is depressed by the weight of the user&#39;s hand and forearm, thereby rotating the forward end of the upper member downwardly until the tip of a writing instrument carried by the device contacts the surface upon which the user desires to write. According to this embodiment, the device further includes a writing instrument holder that is easily detachable from the device by a depression of a button. 
   According to another embodiment, the writing instrument holder comprises a one-way gripping arrangement whereby a writing instrument is withdrawn from the device in the direction of its insertion into the device. In utilizing such a gripping arrangement, a writing instrument is initially inserted into the upper member of the device to an extent sufficient whereby its tip contacts a writing surface when the user rests his or her hand on the upper member. When it is desired to remove the writing instrument from the device, the user simply continues to push the writing instrument through the upper member. Such an arrangement is beneficial because it eliminates physical acts requiring considerable gripping strength, twisting, turning and the like which may be difficult and unreasonable for some users. 
   Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the invention proceeds. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an upper member of a writing instrument assistance device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the upper member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the upper member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a left side elevation view of the upper member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the upper member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a base member according to the first embodiment of the writing instrument assistance device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of a base member of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a writing instrument holder capture and release button according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a writing instrument holder according to the first embodiment of the writing instrument assistance device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the writing instrument assistance device of the present invention in assembled condition; 
       FIG. 11  is an elevational cross-section view taken along line XI-XI of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is an elevational cross-section view taken along line XII-XII of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a writing instrument assistance device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a left side elevation view of the writing instrument assistance device of  FIG. 13  in an inoperative state; and 
       FIG. 15  is a left side elevation view of the writing instrument assistance device of  FIG. 13  in an operative state. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings wherein like or similar references indicate like or similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-5  are various views of an upper member  12  of a writing assistance device, identified generally by reference numeral  10 , constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Upper member  12  is preferably ergonomically shaped to comfortably support a user&#39;s hand. And, although it may manufactured exclusively for left or right handed persons, it is preferably ambidextrous in design in order to accommodate both left and right handed users. The upper member  12  is generally convex in shape and contoured to substantially mate with the various portions of the undersurface of the human hand, and it may be sized to fit users ranging from small children to large adults. In particular, upper member  12  desirably includes symmetrically arranged first side regions  14  adapted for receiving either one of a user&#39;s thumbs. Regions  14  transition rearwardly into second side regions  16  adapted for receiving the area of a user&#39;s palm closest to the thumb. Regions  14  and  16  in turn merge into a generally convex central region which is adapted to receive the remainder of the user&#39;s palm and fingers. A substantially vertical wall  20  defines the periphery of the upper member. The bottom of wall  22  is preferably planar so as to closely abut the upper surface of a base member, described below. Upper member  12  may be fabricated from any suitable material such as wood, metal plastic, or the like. However, for ease and economy of manufacture, the upper member is preferably formed from any conventional durable thermoplastic material. 
   At its forward end (the upper end of  FIG. 1 ) central region  18  includes an opening  24  for receiving a screw or similar fastener whose function is described in connection with  FIG. 12 . At its rearward end the central region is provided with a recess or notch  26  and a pair of coaxial circular passageways  28  which, along with cooperating structure provided on a base member (described below), establish a hinged connection between the upper and base members.  FIGS. 2 and 4  reveal that the forward end of wall  20  is formed with external opening(s)  30  of at least one or, preferably, two channels adapted to receive a writing instrument holder, which channels and holder are discussed below. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the operative internal structures of the upper member  12 . As seen in that figure, the upper member is preferably generally hollow with the exception of one or, more preferably, two writing instrument holder channels  32  whose external openings  30  are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  as noted above. Channel(s)  32  extend radially inwardly toward and communicate with a generally centrally located hub  34 . The hub includes a socket  36 . Preferably, at least one slot  38  radially projects from socket  36  for enhancing guidance of the motion of a later-described writing instrument capture and release button with respect to socket  36 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a base member  40  adapted for connection with upper member  12 . Base member  40  is also preferably made from any suitable material, although thermoplastics are preferred. The base member includes a peripheral wall  42  preferably corresponding in size and shape to that of wall  20  of upper member  12 . At its forward end the base member includes a threaded hole  44 . Hole  44  cooperates with hole  24  of upper member  12  and a spring  86  ( FIG. 12 ) as described hereinafter. A hinge component  46  projects upwardly from the rear edge of the base member. Passing longitudinally through the hinge component  46  is a passageway  48  which is adapted for alignment with passageways  28  of upper member  12 . Together passageways  28  and  48  and an unillustrated hinge pin cooperate to form a hinged connection between the upper and base members  12  and  40 . Base member  40  also includes a generally centrally located opening  50 . The base and upper members are arranged such that opening  50  aligns with socket  36  of hub  34  of the upper member such that they cooperate to receive a writing instrument capture and release button described in connection with  FIG. 8 . 
     FIG. 7  shows the bottom surface of base member  40 . Optionally, and preferably, the bottom surface of the base member is provided with one or more raised friction-reducing skid pads  52 . The skid pads serve to reduce the contact area of the bottom surface of the base member and thereby the frictional resistance experienced by a user when moving the writing device across a writing surface. Skid pads  50  may be of the same or different material as the remainder of base member  40 . They may formed integrally with the base member or attached thereto after its formation by suitable adhesives, thermal bonding, mechanical fasteners, or any combination thereof. 
     FIG. 8  depicts a writing instrument holder capture and release button  54  according to the present invention. The outer wall of button  54  is provided with at last one radially projecting spline  56  corresponding in arrangement and number to the slots  38  of socket  36  of upper member  12 . The mating relationship of splines  56  and slots  38  avoids undesirable rotation between the button  54  and channels  32  that might hinder proper capture and release of the writing instrument holder described in connection with  FIG. 9 . 
   The outer wall of button  54  is also provided with at least one, preferably two, writing instrument holder capture and release slots  58 . Each slot  58  is comprised of a narrow upper slot portion  60  and a wide lower slot portion  62 . In addition, button  54  has an actuator end  64  and a spring receiving end  66 , the functions of which will be understood from the description of  FIG. 11 . 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a writing instrument holder  68  according to the invention. Holder  68  includes an enlarged first end  70  having an aperture  72  for receiving an unillustrated writing instrument. Optionally, the inner surface of aperture  72  may be provided with a friction-enhancing material such a rubber, a resilient foam, an elastomer, or the like, to increase the gripping force exerted by the aperture to the writing instrument. Additionally, the writing assistance device of the present invention may use a plurality of holders  68  having differently sized apertures  70  to accommodate the various diameters of conventional writing instruments. Holder  68  also includes an intermediate region  74  and a second end  76 . The lateral edges of second end  76  are preferably provided with a pair of notches  78  and pair of flanges  80 . The width of second end  76  at notches  78  is narrower than both the upper and lower slot portions  60  and  62  of the writing instrument holder capture and release slot  58  of writing instrument release button  54 . In contrast, the width of second end  76  at flanges  80  is wider than upper slot portion  60  and narrower than lower slot portion  62 . As a result, the writing instrument holder  68  may be selectively captured and released by button  54  in the manner described in connection with  FIG. 11 . 
     FIG. 10  is a plan view of device  10  as it would appear when writing instrument holder  68  is captured in upper member  12  for use by a right handed user. If device  10  is ambidextrous in design, the holder  68  may be similarly captured in the corresponding channel for a left handed user. 
     FIG. 11  illustrates the interaction of the components that permit capture and release of the writing instrument holder  68  (shown holding a writing instrument  82 ). A biasing means  84  such as a compression spring or the like is disposed in the interior of device  10  in abutting contact with an inner surface of upper member  12  and the spring receiving end  66  of writing instrument holder capture and release button  54 .  FIG. 11  shows spring  84  in its uncompressed state. In this position (while referring also to  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) spring  84  presses button  54  downwardly with respect to the hub socket  36  such that the notched area  78  of writing instrument holder  68  is captured within the upper slot portion  62  of a writing instrument holder capture and release slot  58  by virtue of the flanged area  80  of the holder being wider than the upper slot portion  62 . When it is desired to release holder  68 , the user presses button  54  upwardly until the notched area of the holder passes beneath upper slot portion  62  and into lower slot portion  64  whereby the holder may be withdrawn. To insert a new holder  68 , button  54  is again depressed a sufficient distance such that the flanged area  80  thereof may be inserted fully into the lower slot portion  62 . The user then releases button  54  and spring  84  pushes the button downwardly to interlock holder  68  with upper portion  12 . It will be understood that spring  84  should be selected to effectively perform its intended biasing function yet require little user effort to displace button  54 . 
     FIG. 12  illustrates writing assistance device in its inoperative position. To achieve this state, a biasing means  86  such as a compression spring or the like of sufficient length to separate the forward ends of members  12  and  40  in its uncompressed state is disposed between those members. More particularly, spring  86  is disposed in the interior of device  10  in abutting contact with an inner surface of upper member  12  and the upper surface of base member  40  in alignment with hole  24  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ) and threaded hole  44  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). A screw  88  is passed through hole  24 , spring  86  and threaded into threaded hole  44 . The force of spring  86  should be selected such that it effectively separates members  12  and  40  yet readily compresses under the weight of a user&#39;s hand and forearm so as to bring the tip of the writing instrument into contact with the writing surface. Fine tuning of compressive force of spring  88  may be achieved by selectively threading screw to a desired depth into threaded hole  44 . 
   It will be understood that, as an alternative to compression spring  86 , a torsion spring may be arranged coaxially with the hinged connection between upper and base members  12  and  40  to achieve the desired upward biasing of the upper member in relation to the base member. 
     FIGS. 13-15  illustrate a writing assistance device  110  according to a further embodiment of the invention. Device  10  may be provided with the surface contours and skid pads described above with regard to device  10 . Device  110  comprises an upper portion  102  hingedly connected to a base portion  104 . The upper portion includes at least one, preferably two, apertures  108  for releasably holding a writing instrument  110 . Unlike device  10 , device  110  is formed as a one-piece, unitary object. And, rather than a multi-piece hinge, the upper and base members are joined to one another by an integral contiguous region of reduced thickness material known in the art as a living hinge  106 . Any resilient foamed and semi-rigid unfoamed plastic or elastomeric material capable of producing a durable living hinge of low spring force may be used to fabricate device  110 . In addition, apertures  108  should be such that they enable a writing instrument to be easily inserted into and withdrawn from upper member  102  while reliably gripping the writing instrument during operation. For example, if device  110  were formed of resilient foam, then the resilient nature of the foam would cause a writing instrument of slightly larger diameter than openings  108  to be gripped simply upon its insertion into the openings. In such case, the user may withdraw the writing instrument by pulling it from the opening. However, for users with limited gripping ability, the writing instrument can simply be pushed through the opening in the direction of its insertion by the weight of a user&#39;s hand. 
   If device  110  is formed from more rigid, yet still somewhat flexible material, then the inner walls of the openings may be formed to define flexible teeth or flaps that firmly grip a writing instrument during operation but permit its ready withdrawal in the manners described above. 
   Additionally, all of embodiments of the writing assistance device described herein relate to members that are pivotally connected to one another. However, the present invention is not so limited. Instead of a pivotal connection, the base and upper members may be movably connected to one another in other ways. By way of example but not limitation, rather than being physically connected by a hinged connection, the base and upper members may be separate, disconnected members. For instance, the base and upper members may be linked by a plurality, such as, for example, three equiangularly arranged spring and screw arrangements similar to the spring  86  and screw  88  arrangement shown in  FIG. 12 . So constructed, the weight of a user&#39;s hand and forearm may easily depress the upper member into contact with the base member to bring a writing instrument into contact with the writing surface. 
   Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed herein.