Abstract:
A marking implement has a body that has a marking device on one side of the body. The marking device is designed for leaving a mark on a surface. On a distal second side of the body is a strap or straps for removably affixing the body to an appendage/digit of a user (e.g., a single finger or fingers) so the marking implement does not require pressure from another appendage of the user to work. Movement of the marking device across a surface deposits a mark on the surface such as a pen line pencil line, highlighter line, strip of pain, ink line.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of writing and more particularly to a device for writing using a single digit or other appendage. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are many circumstances when the use of a standard pen, pencil, paint brush, or other writing system is difficult or less desirable to use. For example, after writing several pages, some people develop cramps in their hands to the point where they can no longer write making it less desirable to write with such instruments. Other times such instruments are less useful when the person writing has difficulty holding and/or maneuvering a pen, pencil, paint brush, etc. In particular, using a pen/pencil/paintbrush is difficult or impossible for those with certain disabilities such as the loss of one or more fingers and for those who are very young and/or have coordination and control difficulties. Imagine trying to write a page of notes when an accident has left you with only one finger. 
         [0003]    Existing writing instruments are typically elongated shafts having a marking device at an end of the elongated shaft (e.g., pen tip, pencil tip, brush . . . ). To use such writing instruments, one must position the elongated shaft between two or three fingers and hold the writing instrument steady while moving the marking device across a medium such as paper, etc. This is difficult for small children and impossible for many individuals who have difficulties with muscle movement and/or control and very difficult to impossible for those who are missing one or more fingers. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a writing device that is useful for a range of individuals of very young age or those with various disabilities. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one embodiment, a marking implement is disclosed including a body that has a marking device on one side of the body. The marking device is designed for leaving a mark on a surface. On a distal second side of the body is a strap or straps for removably affixing the body to an appendage of a user so the marking implement does not require pressure from another appendage of the user to work. Movement of the marking device across a surface leaves a mark on the surface such as a pen line pencil line, highlighter line, strip of pain, ink line. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a method of marking a surface using a single digit of a hand is disclosed including attaching a marking implement to a single digit of a hand then using the single digit to position a marking device of the marking implement on a surface. Moving of the single digit and, therefore, moving of the marking implement across the surface results in leaving a mark on the surface by the marking device. After leaving the desired mark, the marking implement is removed from the single digit. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a marking implement is disclosed including a body that has a marking device for leaving a mark on one side and a strap made of a resilient material on a distal second side. The strap removably affixes the body to an appendage of a user (e.g., a finger). Movement of the marking device across a surface leaves a mark on the surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a marking implement being worn on a finger. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the marking implement with a snap form of wearing. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the marking implement with a hook/loop form of wearing. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of the marking implement with interchangeable tips. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the marking implement being used to write. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0015]    Described is a marking implement that removably attaches to, for example, a finger or other part of a person, or to any object. By removably attaching, the marking implement is donned when marking is to be performed and then removed when finished. Removal is performed without tools as would be done with a watch or ring. The term marking means any form of depositing of a material on the surface including, but not limited to, drawing, writing, smudging, painting, finger painting, highlighting, etc. The material left on the surface is often known as writing, scribbling, painting, artwork, signage, a signature, doodling, etc. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a marking implement  10  being worn on a finger  2  is shown. In this view, the marking implement  10  is removably attached to a finger  2  by a band of resilient material  14  that is any type of resilient material as known in the industry such as a material having elastic properties or imbedded strands of elastic material, etc. In the example shown, the band of resilient material  14  passes through openings  18  in the body  12  of the marking implement  10 , though any form of attachment of the band of resilient material  14  to the body  12  is anticipated, including affixing ends of the band of resilient material  14  to the body by enlarged ends, an adhesive, welding, melting or molding the body  12  around the band of resilient material  14 , etc. The net results is a marking implement  10  in which, when a finger  2  is inserted into the resilient material  14 , the marking implement  10  holds onto the finger  2  by resilient force of the band of resilient member  14  until another force of removal urges the marking implement  10  off of the finger  2 . 
         [0017]    On the marking implement  10 , at a location distal from the band of resilient material, is a marking device  16 . As will be shown, the marking device  10  is any device capable of depositing a material on a surface such as a pencil point, pen point, felt-tip marker point, crayon, chalk, paint brush, paint sponge, etc. Marking is performed by depositing the material onto the surface as lead from a pencil point, ink from a pen point, wax from a crayon, paint from a paint brush, etc. 
         [0018]    In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the marking device  10  is a felt-tip marker point. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the marking implement  10  is removably attached to the finger  2  and ready to be used in writing, painting, or any marking activity that is normally possible with a pencil, pen, crayon, marker, chalk, finger-paints, etc. In some embodiments, the marking device  16  has an integral source of marking material such as ink, lead, paint, etc. For example, the marking device  16  has a well of ink or paint. In some embodiments, the ink/paint is refillable. In some embodiments, the marking device  16  has no integral ink/paint source and is dipped or coated with ink or paint before use. As an example of the latter, a marking device  16  is a brush and the brush is dipped into paint and then the brush transfers the paint to a surface  17  (see  FIG. 5 ) such as a canvas, paper or a wall, etc. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the marking implement  10  with a snap form of engaging is shown. In this, instead of a resilient member  14 , a pair of straps  24   a / 24   b  are used to hold the marking implement  10  to the finger by way of snap system. In this example, a female snap  25   a  mates with any of three different male snaps  26   a  to provide three degrees of comfort and holding strength, depending upon the diameter of the user&#39;s finger  2 . Although one configuration of snaps  25   a / 26   a  is shown, any configuration, type of snaps  25   a / 26   a , and number of snaps  25   a / 26   a  is anticipated. Further, it is equally anticipated that the straps  24   a / 24   b  are stiff, have no snaps, and at least partially curved inwardly to hold to a finger with a force of slightly bending the straps  24   a / 24   b , as for example, a toy ring would be held on a child&#39;s finger. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the marking implement with a hook/loop form of engaging is shown. In this, instead of a resilient member  14 , a pair of straps  28   a / 28   b  is used to hold the marking implement  10  to the finger by way of hook and loop material  27   a / 27   b . In this example, hook material  27   b  is on a surface of one strap  28   b  and loop material  27   a  is on a surface of the other strap  28   a . The hook material  27   b  mates with the loop material  27   a  at any relative position, providing various degrees of comfort and holding strength, depending upon the diameter of the user&#39;s finger  2 . Any size, shape, and/or position is anticipated for the hook material  27   b  and the loop material  27   a.    
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a plan view of the marking implement  10  with interchangeable tips  38 / 39 / 40 / 41  is shown. Although it is anticipated that the marking implement  10  include a fixed tip (e.g., the fixed felt-tip  16  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , or any other fixed tip such as a paint brush, chalk, pen, pencil, magic marker, highlighter, sponge, etc.), in some embodiments, the base  12  has a threaded receiver  36  into which any available tip  38 / 39 / 40 / 41  is inserted as needed. Although a threaded receiver  36  is shown, any form of removable insertion is anticipated such as a snap receiver, a frictionally-held receiver, a twist-to-lock receiver, etc. In the examples shown, interchangeable tips  38 / 39 / 40 / 41  include a felt tip  38 , a highlighter tip  39 , a paint brush  40 , and a crayon  41 , though any type of tip is anticipated. In the removable crayon tip  41  that is shown, the crayon portion  41   a  (that which is typically made of a colored wax material) has threads that mate into a barrel  41   b . The barrel  41   b  has outer threads that mate into the threaded receiver  41   b . In this way, any standard crayon can be threaded into the barrel  41   b  by creating threads on the standard crayon as the standard crayon is rotated into the threaded receiver  41   b.    
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of the marking implement  10  being used to write on a surface  17  is shown. The marking implement  10  is shown held to a finger  2  of a user by a band of resilient material  14 . The tip  16  extends from the body  12  of the marking implement  10  and is shown leaving a mark  19  on a surface  17  (e.g., a wall, paper, canvas, etc.). Note that although a thin line  19  on a surface  17  is shown, it is anticipated that the marking implement  10  have various sizes and styles of marking devices  16 , including tips  16  for finger painting, brush tips, felt tips, marker tips, highlighter tips, sponge tips, smudging, etc., for leaving any known type of mark on any surface  17  (e.g., paper, canvas, walls, model toys, etc.), not limited in any way to a particular surface  17 . 
         [0023]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0024]    It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.