IMPROVEMENTS IN “ DEVICES FOR HOLDING AND GUIDING THE FINGERS IN WRITING
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
:
I IGNAZ BERGMANN of Fort Madison in the County of Lee and State of Iowa.
one of the United States of America, Teacher, do hereby declare the nature of
my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN “ DEVICES FOR HOLDING AND GUIDING THE
FINGERS IN WRITING" and in what manner the same is to be performed to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This Invention relates to devices for holding and guiding the fingers in writing
and is an improvement on Letters Patent N° 282,948, granted to mo in the
United States undor date of Aug. 14, 1883.
The object of the present Invention is to provide an improved device for the
use of experienced penmen, and also for the use of those beginning the study of
penmanship said device eradicating the habit of allowing the hand to roll over
too much on one side and also preventing the habit of doubling under the third
and fourth fingers thereby ensuring an casy and correct position of the hand while
writing.
-
L
My improvement consists first in providing a ball or other suitable contrivance
at the upper end of the rod to prevent the sliding ring from slipping off the said
rod, and thus being lost; second in swiveling or pivoting the ring at the lower
end of the rod, so as to permit the third and fourth fingers to have a free and casy
movement; third in providing a ball at the lower extended end of the rod to serve
as a light support and permit the hand to have a free sliding motion over the
paper this ball being designed to be used by experienced penmen.
It further consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts as
hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.
.
In the accompanying Drawings-Fig. 1, is a perspective view of my improve-
ment applied to the hand of a penman.
Fig. 2, is a detached view of the device used by beginners.
Referring to the Drawings, A designates a rod constructed of metal ivory, bone,
pearl, wood or other suitable material and preferably formed about two inches
longer than the width of the hand, said rod passing under the hand at the point
shown in the Drawing, and provided at the lower portion about one inch from the
lower end with a ring or loop B, which encircles the fourth finger and is swiveled
to the rod so as to allow the free motion of said finger. C, designates the sliding
finger loop or ring, formed or provided with a cylindrical extension¨c, through
ID 1

page_text: which the rod A, is passed, said extension being shaped to conform to the general
shape of the rod which is likewise cylindrical. The ring or loop C, encircles the
fore finger and by means of the cylindrical extension fitting around the rod, a
loose sliding attachment is formed which will permit the adjustment of the device
to liands of different sizes and also permit free movement of the fingers so that
the hand will not become cramped in writing.
At the end of the extended portion E of the rod A, is fitted a ferrule G, provided
with a screw threaded extension H, to receive a cap, ball or other contrivance I,
said cap or ball serving to prevent the ring C, from sliding off the rod and thus
accidental displacement of the same will be avoided.
At the lower end D of the rod A, is fitted a similar ferrule J, having a similar
threaded extension K, to receive a ball L, the latter resting on the paper or desk
and arranged to permit the free sliding movement of the hand while writing.
This ball is specially designed to be used by experienced penthen and may be
swiveled to the lower end of the rod, as found desirable and serves as a light
support for the hand which will become less tired and remain constant in the
correct elevated position.
In Fig. 2, I have shown the device when arranged and adapted to be used by
beginners in the study of penmanship the lower extended end D of the rod A,
being pointed as shown, to catch in the paper or desk if the writer becomes
careless and thus cause him to assume the proper position. The operation-of-my-
Invention will be readily-understood from the foregoing_description-taken-in
connection with the annexed Drawings and with my aforesaid Patent.
In adjusting my device for use, the first and fourth fingers are inserted through
the rings C, B, respectively the second and third fingers occupying the space
between the two rings the ends of the rod extending out as shown at D, E. The
lower end D with its ball forms a rest for the hand in writing,-the-pen-or-pencil
resting-on-the-upper end of the rod between the said ond and the ring O. When
used by beginners and pointed as shown, the end D will not obstruct the free use
of the hand so long as a correct position is maintained but when_the_hand_is_
turned too much to the right-the-extremity of said end catching in the table or
desk will cause the front of the hand to bo elevated or lifted from the paper. Of
course, the penman cannot write until he has assumed the proper position of the
hand and thus all tendency to carelessness on the part of the pupil will be avoided.
When the ball is used at the lower end of the rod it does not catch in the desk or
paper but serves as a light support for the hand to retain the latter in correct
position.
I do not confine myself to the use of a ball at the upper end of the rod to
prevent the ring C, from accidentally slipping off, as a cap or any suitable licaded
contrivance may be employed to effect the same end.
My improved device is simple, inexpensive and efficient and will prove of great
utility for the purposes intended. It does not cramp or bind the fingers, similar to
other devices of this class, while the loose connection of the parts permit the free
use of the hand and fingers so that the latter will not become cramped by constant
writing. The device may be constructed of any suitable material or combination
of materials, ornamented nickle plated or otherwise finished to present an attractive
appearance to suit the fancy of the writer.
It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the foregoing
without departing from the spirit or scope of my Invention, for instance the lower
extended end of this rod may be curved as found desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a device for holding and guiding the fingers in writing, a rod provided
with a swiveled ring and a sliding ring and a ball at the lower end adapted to rest

page_text: 2. In a device for holding and guiding the fingers in writing the rod A, having
a ring swiveled thereon to receive one of the fingers said ring turning in various
directions to accomodate itself to the position of the fingers in writing as set forth.
3. In a device for holding and guiding the fingers in writing, a rod provided
with a sliding ring, and a swiveled ring as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a device for holding and guiding the fingers in writing a rod provided
with a sliding ring and a swiveled ring and a headed cap or ball at the upper end
of the rod as set forth.
5. In a device holding and guiding the fingers in writing, a rod provided with a
sliding ring, and a swiveled ring, a headed cap or ball at the upper end of the rod
and a ball at the lower end as set forth.