Finger Pen

The present invention relates to a finger pen which is removably attachable to a finger.

It is well known that writing and drawing pens have traditionally been designed as rod-like structures which contain graphite, ink, paste and similar substances and have tips which produce a stroke or line or the like when the tip is brought into contact with and moved along a paper or similar surface. The rod shape was the same with the predecessors of modern pens such as brushes, gas pens, steel pens, and the like. In the manufacture of early rod-shaped pens, industry had insufficient means, both technologically and in terms of material, of producing other types of pens. There is no doubt that today's state of the art enables a new approach aiming at a more efficient design. However, there is a continued emphasis upon the traditional notion that pens must be rod-shaped, in spite of the fact that such shape makes unnecessarily stringent demands on the fine-motor function of the user. We understand the problem most readily by studying the fine-motor development of a child. In particular, when considering the fine-motor function of an individual, the brain of a child is normally not sufficiently developed to allow for the so-called semi-supine holding of a traditional rod-like pen or pencil until the child is 6 to 7 years of age. By semi-supine is meant that the palm of the hand is turned to the side.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problem in such a way that by using modern technology and materials an alternative to the traditional rod-like design of pens is provided which allows for holding the pen in a manner which subjects the user to less stringent fine-motor demands and in a manner which can be achieved at an earlier stage of fine-motor development.

The present invention relates to a finger pen and is based upon the holding of the pen in a prone position by which is meant that the pen is held with the palm of the hand turned downward as opposed to a supine position wherein the palm of the hand is turned upward. A human being with normal fine-motor development can use a pen in this manner at 2 to 3 years of age. Hence the invention provides for a generally simplified holding of a pen, the possibility of children handling a pen in a functionally correct manner at an early age, easier learning of writing and drawing by school children, and a greater possibility for adults with inadequate fine-motor function to control their pens. A secondary advantage of the finger pen of the present invention is that one obtains a much better view of one's writing, which is especially true in the case of a left-handed person. Holding of the finger pen of the present invention in a prone position works best if the pen tip projects from or in the vicinity of the sensible center of feeling of the writing/drawing finger and faces away from the latter at such an angle that the pen tip is visible to the eye of the user down to the surface at which the stroke of the finger pen is to be produced. The sensible center of feeling is that point on the writing/drawing finger which, when gripping a very small object against the thumb, balances the object in a controlled position.

This invention may be clearly understood by reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the finger pen of the present invention in use, the pen being held in a prone position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an open-type finger pen of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of an open-type finger pen of the present invention; I

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a closed-type finger pen of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a closed-type finger pen of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an open-type finger pen of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a closed-type finger pen of the present invent;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the finger pen of the present invention in use, the pen being held in a prone position;

FIG. 9 is a view of a finger pen of the present invention having a contoured shape;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the finger pen of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view of a guard for the pen tip of the finger pen of the present invention.

Generally, finger pens 2, 3 and 4 each have a pen tip 5 which is towards the users finger 6. The extension of each pen tip 5 emanates from or in the vicinity of the sensible center of feeling 7 of finger 6 and is angled as shown in the attached drawings; that is, it is angled to correspond with the normal pen angle which exists when using a traditional rod-shaped pen being held in a semi-supine manner. As a result, the point at which tip 5 of the writing implement contacts the writing/drawing surface 8 will be visible to the user. If finger pens 2, 3 and 4 are not in use, a guard 9 may be placed over tip 5 of the pen. The different finger pens 2, 3 and 4 comprise a container 10 which contains paste, ink, etc. and is directly connected with tip 5 of the pen, the size of container 10 being maximized irrespective of whether finger pens 2, 3 and 4 are designed without support grip 11.

Finger pen 2 of FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 is an open-type, the opening being designated 12, and finger pen 3 of FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 is a closed-type, no such opening being provided. In either case, the finger pen 2, 3 is designed such that inner surface 13 abuts, in an ergonomically correct manner, the user's finger 6 and is retained in place by means of the pressure and friction between inner surface 13 and the user's finger 6 brought about by the characteristics of the material and the design of finger pen 2 and 3. The closed finger pen 3 may be complemented with a clip, buckle, etc. 14.

Fingers 8, 9 and 10 show a finger pen 4 of contoured shape having a length identified by arrow 15 which provides a contact face which is made to fit the lower part of the user's finger 6. The extension of contact face 15 constitutes a support grip 11 resting against the user's finger 6, by means of which the user retains finger pen 4 relative to finger 6. Finger pen 2, 3 can also be complemented with a support grip 11 in which case the pen may be retained relative to the finger in the manner described above or with the aide of support grip 11, in which case it will be possible to dispense with the above method of retention.