Patent Publication Number: US-6712538-B1

Title: Finger mounting system for writing instruments

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a system for mounting a writing instrument to a user&#39;s hand. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a device for releasably mounting a writing instrument on a finger of a user&#39;s hand, allowing the user to manipulate the writing instrument without losing grip on or dropping the writing instrument. 
     People have been using writing instruments for thousands of years. However, there has been a longstanding desire on the part of many to attach a writing instrument to the hand of a user without fear of the user&#39;s losing grip on or dropping the instrument. 
     Additionally, many patents have been issued relating to such writing instrument retention. Sometimes, the motivation for inventing in this area is to aid those who have difficulty in maintaining an adequate grip on a writing instrument due to health or other restrictions. Others invent in this area to lessen the likelihood that one would drop the instrument in a place where dropping the instrument would be inconvenient, such as into water or from an elevated position. 
     However, previous writing instrument retention devices do not allow for retainable attaching of a writing instrument to a user&#39;s hand in such a way that the user may adjust the retaining attachment to a discrete number of positions along the length of the writing instrument according to the personal preference and comfort of the user. Known writing instrument retention devices provide a finger ring joined to a writing instrument retention sleeve, and the writing instrument is slidably inserted into the sleeve in the practice of the invention. Unfortunately, one using such inventions is hampered by the fact that there is no way to reliably and consistently fix the writing instrument to writing instrument retention sleeve so that the writing instrument can be securely held therein. 
     What is needed, then, is a writing instrument retention system that adjustably allows a user to comfortably and securely hold a writing instrument. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to writing instrument retention devices. More specifically, the present invention is a device that allows a person to releasably secure a writing instrument to the person&#39;s hand. The device is made by attaching one or more sockets to a writing instrument, then by fixing a ring to the writing instrument by inserting a snap ball or similar device into one of the sockets. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a writing instrument retention system that allows a user to releasably secure a writing instrument to the user&#39;s hand. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that allows a user to securely hold a writing instrument in the position that is most comfortable for the user. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that allows a writing instrument to be securely connected to a writing instrument retaining apparatus. 
     It is a further object of the invention to increase the pleasure of writing by physically supporting the finger that is used to secure the writing instrument. 
     In addition to the foregoing, further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention should become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings, wherein there are shown and described illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the system of the invention being used by a user to manipulate a writing instrument. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a writing instrument to be used in the practice of the invention, showing a row of sockets or mortises attached or integral to the writing instrument. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 2 along section line aa. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a writing instrument fitted with the system of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the system of the invention shown in FIG. 4 along line bb. 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of a portion of the connecting member of FIG. 5 used in the system of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting member of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the system of the invention shown in FIG. 5 with the connecting member of FIG. 6 removed. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the system of the invention as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of a second embodiment of the connecting member of the system of the invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the connecting member of FIG. 10, with internal contours shown in ghost view. 
     FIG. 12 is an end view of the connecting member of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a view of the connecting member of FIG. 12, with internal contours shown in ghost view. 
     FIG. 14 is a top view of the connecting member of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 15 is a view of the connecting member of FIG. 14, with internal contours shown in ghost view. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the system of the invention is shown being employed by a user. The user&#39;s hand  5  is shown grasping writing instrument  10  in a conventional manner with the user&#39;s finger  6  inserted through a ring portion or ring member  11 . Ring member  11  is preferably adjustable in circumference, so that ring member  11  can be sized to fit many different sizes of fingers, depending upon the user involved. Ring member  11  is of a poly waistband elastic braid construction such as that manufactured by Rhode Island Textile Co. of Pawtucket, R.I. Writing instrument  10  may be a pen, a pencil, or any known writing instrument. Connecting member  12  extends between ring member  11  and writing instrument  10 , thereby allowing finger  6  to have a range of bending motion normally and naturally away from writing instrument  10 . Connecting member  12  may be a fabric band, or may be a housing having internal supporting structures within it. Ring member  11  further is designed to receive finger  6  of the user slidably such that a user inserts finger  6  forwardly through ring member  11  toward the marking end of writing instrument  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, writing instrument  10  is shown with a number of female-type sockets  13  (also called “mortises”) which are positioned on the side of writing instrument  10 . Sockets  13  could be combined in a single panel  18  that is adhered, inset, or otherwise fixed to writing instrument  10 . Alternatively, each socket  13  may be attached to the surface of writing instrument  10  or may be integrally formed therein. Furthermore, sockets  13  could be placed in various locations along the side of writing instrument  10  to accommodate the attachment thereto of ring member  11  and connecting member  12 . In a preferred embodiment, panel  18  is made of a solid, one-piece construction, and is made of any of the following materials: plastic, acrylic, ABS plastic, SAN plastic, or easter copolyester, any of which may be procured from a company such as Eastman Chemical Co., Kingsport, Tenn. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, writing instrument  10  is shown in cross sectional view along line aa of FIG. 2, with panel  18  inset. Panel  18  includes socket  13 , and panel  18  is inset into writing instrument  10 . While panel  18  is shown as being inset into the side of writing instrument  10 , panel  18  could be attached to the exterior of the side of writing instrument  10  by any of a number of means, such as adhesive or a set of hook-and-loop fasteners. Any suitable attachment means could be employed to either releasably or non-releasably attach panel  18  to the side of writing instrument  10 . Releasably attaching panel  18  to the side of writing instrument  10  would enable an embodiment of the invention to be sold as a kit for attaching a retention system to a writing instrument. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, writing instrument  10  is shown having ring member  11 , connecting member  12  and connecting means (or attaching portion)  15  connected to writing instrument  10 . Specifically, a male member-shaped snap ball  16  of connecting means  15  is inserted into one of sockets  13  on writing instrument  10 . Snap ball  16  can be inserted into any of sockets  13 . In the alternative, connecting member  12  could be attached to writing instrument  10  via a hook-and-loop connection. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, ring member  11  is shown in cross-sectional view along line bb of FIG. 4, attached to the side of writing instrument  10  via connecting member  12  and connecting means  15 . The connecting member  12  is comprised of a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the connecting member  12  attaches to the ring member  11 . A male coupling member  16  is secured to the distal end for releasably connecting the coupling member  16  to one of the plurality of sockets. In a preferred embodiment, ring member  11  is sewn to a fabric braid  20  of the same manufacture as the fabric of ring member  11 , although thinner (approximately ⅜″). Braid  20  may be made of any type of fabric or elastic suitable to provide a flexible connection between member  11  and writing instrument  10 . Connecting member  12  may be of a solid construction, providing support for finger  6  as writing instrument  10  is being employed. Connecting member  12  may alternatively be made of cushion foam or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) sponge material, which may be procured from companies such as Glolink Corporation of Taipei, Taiwan. 
     Further referring to FIG. 5, a supporting structure such as coil spring  14  may be housed within braid  20  to provide structural support for finger  6  during the practice of the invention. A recommended coil spring is a {fraction (3/16)}″×1″ 0.016″ utility compression spring such as that manufactured by Century Spring Corp. of Los Angeles, Calif. Washer  19  is used to pinch and thus retain opposing sides of connecting means  15  together near ring member  11 . A typical washer that is suitable as washer  19  is a #4 stainless steel washer ({fraction (5/16)}″×⅛″ dia.) such as that made by Atlantic Yuki Thailand Company of Samutrapakarn, Thailand may be used for such purpose. A male member  16  (also referred to as a “tenon” or “snap ball”) is used to connect ring member  11  and connecting member  12  to writing instrument  10 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, male member  16  is a brass snap and studded post such as that manufactured by Grand Metal Works of Kowloon, Hong Kong. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, connecting member  12  may be of a solid construction. Connecting member  12  serves the function of supporting finger  6  comfortably, and may be made of the materials described above. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, connecting member  12  may be a housing made of the same material as above, with a hollowed-out inner portion sufficient to hold a further supporting member such as supporting structure  14  within. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the system of the invention is shown as applied to writing instrument  10 , with ring member  11  being woven to braid  20 , braid  20  forming a housing around coil spring  14 . Male member  16  is fixed to the end of connecting means  15  and, being inserted into a socket  13  of writing instrument  10 , releasably connecting ring member  11  to writing instrument  10 . All elements taken together, FIG. 8 discloses a writing system to be employed by the hand of a user, comprising a writing instrument  10 , a ring portion being a braid  20 , at least one mortise portion integral to a side of the writing instrument being one of the sockets  13 ; and a holding portion. The holding portion comprises the ring portion and an attaching portion. The ring portion being adapted to slidably receive and retain a finger of the user&#39;s hand. The attaching portion comprising a tenon, the tenon being the male member  16 . The tenon is adapted to be releasably attached to the mortise portion. The attaching portion of the writing system further comprising a connecting member  15  for connecting the ring portion to the attaching portion. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, ring member  11  is shown, fixed to connecting means  15  and braid  20  by sewing or other fixing method, washer  19  holding sides of connecting means together, and male member  16  is shown inserted into socket  13 , which is integral to writing instrument  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, a second embodiment of connecting member  12  is shown. In a preferred embodiment, connecting member  12  is made of a resilient material such as EVA sponge. Connecting member  12  further has an upper end  25  suitable to receive ring member  11 , and a lower end  26  to be attached to a male member  16 , which is to be inserted into any of sockets  13 . 
     Referring to FIG. 11, connecting member  12  as shown in FIG. 10 is shown, with inner contours shown in ghost view. In FIG. 11, it can be seen that an inner space  30  is provided within upper end  25  for receiving ring member  11 , and that a lower space  31  is shown of dimensions sufficient to receive male member  16 . In short, the system of the invention shown in FIG. 8 may be inserted into connecting member  12  and secured there in the practice of the invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 12, connecting member  12  as shown in FIG. 10 is shown in end view. In FIG. 12, it can be again seen that an inner space  30  is provided within upper end  25  for receiving ring member  11 , and that a lower space  31  is shown within lower end  26  of dimensions sufficient to receive male member  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 13, connecting member  12  as shown in FIG. 12 is shown, with inner contours shown in ghost view. In FIG. 13, it can be seen that an inner space  30  is provided within upper end  25  for receiving ring member  11 , and that a lower space  31  is shown within lower end  26  of dimensions sufficient to receive male member  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 14, connecting member  12  as shown in FIG. 10 is shown in top, view. In FIG. 14, it can be again seen that a lower space  31  is shown within lower end  26  of dimensions sufficient to receive male member  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 15, connecting member  12  as shown in FIG. 14 is shown, with inner contours shown in ghost view. In FIG. 15, it can be seen that a lower space  31  is shown within lower end  26  of dimensions sufficient to receive male member  16 . 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful “Finger Mounting System for Writing Instruments”, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.