An Apparatus for Attaining the Correct Position of the Pen when Writing.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 1st Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Attaining the Correct Position of the Pen when
Writing.
I, JOHANN FIBRIG, of Unter-Thörl, Kärnten, in the Empire of Austria, Book-
keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mechanical aids in the teaching of penmanship, and
its object is to provide a device which will hold. the pen in any required position
until the proper holding becomes automatic and the use of the device can be
dispensed with.
Broadly speaking the invention consists in the construction and use of three
elastic bows or their equivalents in such a position upon the hand that the thumb,
The pen is
forefinger and pen are held together at the correct relative distances.
thus kept at the proper slope and the writing is thereby facilitated.
In one method of carrying the invention into effect a band of elastic material
forms three bows or rings. These bows or rings are relatively disposed to one
another so that two small bows form what might be called a flattened figure 8
while a larger bow is attached at the centre of this 8 and envelopes one half of
it. The forefinger and the thumb are thrust respectively through the two small
bows while the remaining fingers are passed through the larger bow, that is to
say, between it and the smaller bow which it envelopes.
The bows are preferably pulled back over the second joints of the fingers and
the pen is placed through the loop enveloping the forefinger in such a position
that it is near the junction of the figure 8 herein before mentioned. The pen thus
lies between the thumb and forefinger at a constant angle and the elastic rings
or bows are of such dimensions that the fingers are slightly pulled together so
that the pen is thus held in one constant predetermined position. It is evident
that the point of junction of the three bows can be altered and thus with it the
angle of the pen and it is to be clearly understood that these three bows may be
made of one continuous strip of material suitably stitched or fastened or of
separate stitches as may be convenient. Again, the pen may be inserted within
the loop through which the thumb, passes and another constant angle or position
of the pen thus provided for.
In carrying the invention into effect according to another modification, four
bows or rings of elastic material may be used arranged in the following manner,-
A large and small bow forming an unequal sided figure 8 are provided and this
figure 8 has attached to it on its outer surface at or about the junction of the 8
two small bows. The thumb is thrust through the smaller bow of the figure 8,
the forefinger respectively through the two external smaller bows and the remain-
ing fingers through the larger bow of the 8. It is evident that by suitably con-
structing these four bows at proper relative distances the angle of the pen and the
position of the fingers may be predetermined. In this modification it is also
evident that the two exterior small bows could be constructed of such dimensions
and in such a position that the forefinger may be thrust through both bows. The

page_text: bows or rings are pulled into position upon the hand into a similar place to the
modification last described and the joining together of these four rings or bows
may be varied without departing from the subject matter of the invention.
In carrying the invention into effect according to a third modification a double
how is arranged in the shape of an unequal sided figure 8. Attached to the
junction of the figure 8 is a small metal plate carrying a pen clamp rotary thereon.
This pen clamp consists of a staple embracing the pen with one leg fixed upon
an arm which rotates upon the metal plate and the staple is capable of a limited
amount of horizontal movement. The metal pen holder has a rotary fastening
so constructed that when the angle has been adjusted it is locked by a nut or other
suitable device, and when in use the thumb is inserted in the smaller side of the 8
while the remainder of the fingers including the forefinger is inserted in the
larger side of that figure.
The arrangement with the metal pen holder is attached upon the hand in a
similar position to the modifications herein before described and this device for
beginners learning to write may have an additional bow within the larger half
of the figure 8 which as the writer progresses can be dispensed with.
A special advantage of an external metal pen holder or external pen holding
elastic bows is that when the device is taken off the hand the angle is not lost
as in the arrangement when the angle depends upon the pressure and position of
the pen between the elastic loop and the forefinger. Thus the teacher is not put
to the trouble of adjusting the position of the pen each time the writer uses it.
Dated this 17th day of November 1897
An Apparatus for Attaining the Correct Position of the Pen when
Writing.
I, JOHANN FIBRIG, of Unter-Thörl, Kärnten, in the Empire of Austria, Book-
keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:--
This invention relates to mechanical aids in the teaching of penmanship, and
its object is to provide a device which will hold the pen in any required position
until the proper holding becomes automatic and the use of the device can be
dispensed with.
Broadly speaking the invention consists in the construction and use of three
elastic bows or their equivalents to such a position upon the hand that the thumb,
forefinger and pen are held together at the correct relative distances. The pen is
thus kept at the proper slope and the writing is thereby facilitated.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings,
Figure 1 is a view showing the device in one form of construction; and
Figure 2 is a view of the same when in use on the hand, a penholder being in-
serted through the forefinger bow.
Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of the device in which a special loop or
bow is provided through which the penholder passes.
Figure 4 shows the device provided with an exterior metallic staple for the
holder, but without a bow for the forefinger as in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
pen-

page_text: In one method of carrying the invention into effect a band of elastic material
forms three bows or rings a b and c as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. These
bows or rings are relatively disposed to one another so that two small bows a, b,
form what might be called a flattened figure 8 while a larger bow c is attached at
the centre of this 8 and envelopes one half of it. The forefinger and the thumb
are thrust respectively through the two small bows a while the remaining fingers
are passed through the larger bow c that is to say between it and the smaller bow
which it envelopes.
The bows are preferably pulled back over the second joints of the fingers as
shown in Figure 2 and the pen is placed through the loop enveloping the fore-
finger in such a position that it is near the junction of the figure 8 herein before
mentioned. The pen thus lies between the thumb and forefinger at a constant
angle and the elastic rings or bows are of such dimensions that the fingers are
slightly pulled together so that the pen is thus held in one constant predetermined
position. It is evident that the point of junction cl of the three bows a b c can
be altered and thus with it the angle of the pen and it is to be clearly understood that
these three bows may be made of one continuous strip of material suitably stitched
or fastened or of separate strips as may be convenient. Again the pen may be
inserted within the loop a through which the thumb passes and another constant
angle or position of the pen thus provided for.
In carrying the invention into effect according to the modification illustrated
in Figure 3 four bows or rings be of elastic material may be used arranged
in the following manner, a large and small bow a and c respectively forming an
unequal sided figure 8 are provided and this figure 8 has attached to it on its outer
surface at or about the junction of the 8 two small bows b and e. The thumb is
thrust through the smaller bow a of the figure 8, the forefinger through the
external larger bow b and the remaining fingers through the larger bow c while
the penholder passes through the external small bowe. It is evident that by
suitably constructing these four bows a c be at proper relative distances the angle
of the pen and the position of the fingers may be predetermined. In this modifica-
tion it is also evident that the two exterior small bows be could be constructed
of such dimensions and in such a position that the penholder may be thrust
through both bows. The bows or rings are pulled into position upon the hand
into a similar place to the modification last described and the joining together
of these four rings or bows may be varied without departing from the subject
matter of the invention.
The
Figure 4 shows the device constructed in accordance with a third modification
in which a double bow a c is arranged in the shape of an unequal sided figure 8.
Attached to the junction of the figure 8 is a small metal plate e carrying the pen
clamp e rotary thereon. This pen clamp el consists of a staple or bow e embrac-
ing the pen, with one leg fixed upon an arm which rotates upon the metal plate
and the staple is capable of a limited amount of horizontal movement.
metal staple or how for the penholder has a rotary fastening so constructed that
when the angle has been adjusted it is locked by a nut or other suitable device
and when in use the thumb is inserted in the smaller side a of the while the
remainder of the fingers including the forefinger are inserted in the larger side c
of that figure.
The arrangement with the metal bow for the penholder is attached upon tho
hand in a similar position to the modifications hereinbefore described, and this
device may have an additional bow for the forefinger within the larger half of
the figure 8.
In all modifications described above the separate bow C is particularly
advantageous for beginners learning to write, and can be dispensed with as the
writer progresses and has acquired the necessary practice.
A special advantage of an external metal bow for the penholder (Figure 4) or
external penholding elastic bows (Figure 3) is that when the device is taken off
from the hand the angle is not lost as in the arrangement when the angle depends

page_text: upon the pressure and position of the pen between the elastic loop and the fore-
finger. Thus the teacher is not put to the trouble of adjusting the position of
the pen each time the writer uses it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
1. A device for attaining the correct position of the pen when writing consist-
ing of three elastic bows or loops the two smaller bows being somewhat in the
form of a flattened figure 8, while the third bow envelopes one of the two smaller
bows and is attached to the other bows at or about the centre of the said figure 8,
the two smaller bows serving to receive the thumb, and forefinger and penholder
respectively, while the third and largest bow receives the remaining fingers, all
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of
the drawings.
2. In a device for attaining the correct position of the pen when writing the
construction of two bows or loops in the form of an unequal sided figure 8, to
which are exteriorly attached on one side two smaller bows at or about the centre
of the said figure; the two large bows for receiving the thumb and three fingers
while the two small exterior bows receive the forefinger and penholder respec-
tively, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. A device for use in attaining the correct position of the pen when writing,
consisting of two elastic bows formed in the shape of an unequal sided figure 8
and having attached at or about the centre of such figure a metal plate carrying
an adjustable pen clamp or bow; the two sides of the elastic figure 8 shaped device
serving to receive the thumb and four fingers respectively, while the adjustable
pen clamp is arranged to receive the penholder and to secure it at any desired
angle, substantially as herein before described, and as illustrated in Figure 4 of
the accompanying drawings.
4. The apparatus for use in attaining the correct position of the pen when
writing substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 20th Je of Nambo
1907
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.