ADD-ON CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN AID

• US 20130268094A1
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/443,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268094A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/54 Artificial arms or hands or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/583 Hands; Wrist joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/586 Fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/588 Hands having holding devices shaped differently from human fingers, e.g. claws, hooks, tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5001 Cosmetic coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5061 the sense of touch
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/543 Lower arms or forearms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68

Abstract

An apparatus that allows a glove wearer or the wearer of a prosthetic limb to operate a device having a capacitive touchscreen is disclosed. The first embodiment of the disclosed invention is a conductive finger sock that can be applied to the tip or all of a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The second embodiment is an adhesive element having a conductive material such as conductive thread or a conductive sponge material. The adhesive element can be attached to a glove or to a prosthetic limb or may be used as an actual bandage. The third embodiment is directed to a factory integrated conductive tip that is part of a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The conductive element may be attached to the wearer'"'"'s skin by a conductive line or may be used without the conductive line and thus may function in isolation.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. An adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen, the adhesive attachment comprising:

a flexible body;

an adhesive surface formed on at least part of said flexible body; and

a conductive portion composed of a conductive material, said conductive surface being operatively associated with said flexible body.

10. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 9 wherein said conductive portion is formed through said flexible body.

11. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 9 wherein said conductive portion is formed on said flexible body.

12. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 11 further including a conductive line.

13. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 12 further including an adhesive patch connected to said conductive line.

14. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 13 wherein said adhesive patch includes a conductive portion, said conductive line being connected to said conductive portion.

15. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 9 wherein said flexible body includes a first extension, a second extension, and a third extension.

25. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 23 further including for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 12 further including an adhesive patch connected to said conductive line.

32. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 30 further including for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 12 further including an adhesive patch connected to said conductive line.

16-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An adhesive attachment for placement on a finger for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen, the adhesive attachment comprising:

a body;

an adhesive surface formed on at least part of said body; and

a conductive portion composed of a conductive material, said conductive surface being operatively associated with said body.

22. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 21 wherein said conductive portion is formed through said body.

23. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 21 wherein said conductive portion is formed on said body.

24. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 23 further including a conductive line.

26. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 24 wherein said adhesive patch includes a conductive portion, said conductive line being connected to said conductive portion.

27. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 21 wherein said body includes a first extension, a second extension, and a third extension.

28. An adhesive attachment for placement on a finger for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen, the adhesive attachment comprising:

a body having a central portion and an underside;

an adhesive surface formed on at least part of said underside of said body; and

a conductive portion composed of a conductive material, said conductive surface being operatively associated with said central portion of said body.

29. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 28 wherein said conductive portion is formed through said central portion of said body.

30. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 28 wherein said conductive portion is formed on said central portion of said body.

31. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 30 further including a conductive line.

33. The adhesive attachment for use in the operation of a capacitive touchscreen of claim 31 wherein said adhesive patch includes a conductive portion, said conductive line being connected to said conductive portion.