Elastomeric hand exerciser writing implement and amusement device

• US 6,422,974 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Option Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Option Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Schimmel, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amerson, Lou Bala
• Application Number:
  US09/459,669
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 482/44, D19/56, D19/35, D19/81, D19/42, D19/98, 446/15-21, 446/24, D21/61
• US Class Current: 482/44
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/028 made of material having high internal friction, e.g. rubber, steel wool, intended to be compressed resistance provided by plastic deformable materials A63B21/00189
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/08 with writing point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/16 for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/28 Soap-bubble toys; Smoke toys blowing smoke rings A24F13/30

Abstract

A writing implement that includes an elastomeric hand exerciser object and integral amusement device. The elastomeric exerciser, preferably a shaped ball, has a diameter that allows the ball to fit between fingers and a palm of a closed hand of a user such that manual gripping and releasing of the ball exercises hand, finger and forearm muscles/ligaments of the user and thereby diminishes repetitive stress states of muscles/ligaments of the hand, fingers and forearm. The shaped ball is secured to one end of a transparent barrel that has a writing implement secured to the other end. An amusement device is positioned within the transparent barrel.

Claims

1. An elastomeric hand exerciser and writing implement includes in combination:

an elastomeric shaped object having a dimensional configuration that allows it to fit between fingers and a palm of a closed hand of a user thereby enabling manual gripping and releasing of the object to exercise hand, finger and forearm muscles/ligaments of the user and thereby diminish repetitive stress states of the muscles and ligaments of hand and forearm;

the object having secured thereto at one end thereof an elongated barrel that includes a writing implement integral with the barrel at the other end of the barrel remote from the object to thereby provide an elastomeric hand exercise object and writing implement, and the overall length of the object, barrel and writing implement enabling the writing implement to be grasped by fingers and palm of a hand of a user preparatory to writing, with the barrel and integrally secured exerciser object resting upon an upper surface of the hand of the user at a point on the hand where the thumb and index finger of the user join the hand thereby providing support for the object by the hand of the user to facilitate the application of thumb and index finger pressure that grip the writing implement during writing activities induced by movement of the writing implement by the user fingers and hand;

the elongated barrel being comprised of transparent material and includes therein an amusement device;

the transparent barrel having a cavity therein in which the amusement device is visibly positioned;

said transparent barrel being provided with a removable cap at the end adjacent the object and the object being adapted to accommodate the cap securely therewith,

said amusement device in the barrel cavity being secured to the removable cap such that movement of the object and attached cap away from the barrel allows the amusement device to be removed from the barrel along with the elastomeric exerciser,

and said amusement device including a wand secured to the cap, the wand having a ring structure that cooperates with a bubble making solution in the barrel that forms a thin film layer of liquid across an opening in the ring structure when the wand and ring structure is removed from the bubble making solution such that the application of a moving body of air relative to the ring and thin film produces bubbles and amuses the user.

2. The hand exerciser and writing implement of claim 1 wherein the object is a ball shape.

3. The hand exerciser and writing implement of claim 2 wherein the ball simulates a globe with raised land masses around its periphery.