Ergonomic writing instrument

• US 6,637,962 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colin Roche, Robert Ronsse
• Original Assignee: Colin Roche, Robert Ronsse
• Inventors: Ronsse, Robert, Roche, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/106,667
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 401/7, 401/6, 401/195, 401/48, 401/107, 401/117, 164/30, D19/35, D19/41, D19/46
• US Class Current: 401/7
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/004 Holders specially adapted for assisting handicapped or disabled persons to write B43L15/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/008 Holders comprising finger grips B43K23/004, B43K23/012 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 5/005 Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/005 Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 8/003 Pen barrels

Abstract

A writing instrument is comprised of an elongated body with a writing point at the lower end, and an upper end for supporting the base of the index finger. Arcuate arms extending up from the upper end of the body are arranged for being positioned on the sides of the index finger. A concave front groove is arranged along the front side of the body for cradling the tip of the index finger. Concave side grooves are arranged along the sides of the body for cradling the tips of the thumb and middle finger. Forwardly protruding ears are arranged between the front and respective sides for being pinched between the index finger and the thumb, and between the index finger and the middle finger. A knob on the rear of the body is movable for retracting or extending a cap to expose or cover the writing point.

Claims

1. A writing instrument, comprising:

an elongated body for being held in a hand, wherein said body includes a longitudinal axis, a front for facing away from said hand, a rear for facing said hand, a lower end for positioning adjacent a writing surface, and an upper end for supporting a base of an index finger, said body having a generally trapezoidal cross section wherein said front is wider than said rear, and said opposite sides taper toward said rear;

a writing point at said lower end of said body for being pressed onto said writing surface by said base of said index finger; and

a pair of arms extending up from said upper end of said body for being positioned on opposite sides of said index finger.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said body is about as long as said index finger, so that said upper end of said body is positioned for supporting said base of said index finger.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said arms are curved about axes generally perpendicular to said axis of said body.

4. The writing instrument of claim 1, further including a movable cap attached to said lower end of said body, and a movable knob on said body connected to said cap, wherein said knob is movable upward to retract said cap and expose said writing tip, and movable downward to extend said cap to cover said writing tip.

5. A writing instrument, comprising:

an elongated body for being held in a hand, wherein said body includes a longitudinal axis, a front for facing away from said hand, a rear for facing said hand, a lower end for positioning adjacent a writing surface, and an upper end for supporting a base of an index finger;

a writing point at said lower end of said body for being pressed onto said writing surface by said base of said index finger;

a pair of arcuate arms extending up from said upper end of said body for being positioned on opposite sides of said index finger, wherein upper ends of said arms are disconnected from each other for facilitating said index finger to move in between said arms, said arms are generally coplanar with said body;

a concave front groove with an arcuate cross section arranged along said front of said body, and curved about an axis parallel to said axis of said body for cradling a tip of said index finger and preventing sideways slippage, wherein an upper end of said front groove includes a flared portion for cradling a lower side of said base of said index finger, and a lower end of said front groove includes a rounded portion for preventing said index finger from slipping downward toward said lower end of said body;

a concave left side groove and a concave right side groove with arcuate cross sections arranged along opposite sides of said body, and curved about axes parallel to said axis of said body for cradling respective tips of a thumb and a middle finger to prevent forward slippage toward said index finger; and

a protruding left ear and a protruding right ear respectively arranged between said front and said opposite sides of said body for being pinched between said thumb and said index finger, and between said middle finger and said index finger.

6. The writing instrument of claim 5, wherein said body is about as long as said index finger, so that said upper end of said body is positioned for supporting said base of said index finger.

7. The writing instrument of claim 5, wherein said arms are curved about axes generally perpendicular to said axis of said body.

8. The writing instrument of claim 5, wherein said body has a generally trapezoidal cross section wherein said front is wider than said rear, and said opposite sides taper toward said rear.

9. The writing instrument of claim 5, further including a movable cap attached to said lower end of said body, and a movable knob on said body connected to said cap, wherein said knob is movable upward to retract said cap and expose said writing tip, and movable downward to extend said cap to cover said writing tip.

10. A writing instrument, comprising:

an elongated body for being held in a hand, wherein said body includes a longitudinal axis, a front for facing away from said hand, a rear for facing said hand, a lower end for positioning adjacent a writing surface, and an upper end for supporting a base of an index finger;

a writing point at said lower end of said body for being pressed onto said writing surface by said base of said index finger;

a pair of arcuate arms extending up from said upper end of said body for being positioned on opposite sides of said index finger, wherein upper ends of said arms are disconnected from each other for facilitating said index finger to move in between said arms, said arms are generally coplanar with said body, and are curved about axes generally perpendicular to said axis of said body;

a concave front groove with an arcuate cross section arranged along said front of said body, and curved about an axis parallel to said axis of said body for cradling a tip of said index finger and preventing sideways slippage, wherein an upper end of said front groove includes a flared portion for cradling a lower side of said base of said index finger, and a lower end of said front groove includes a rounded portion for preventing said index finger from slipping downward toward said lower end of said body;

a concave left side groove and a concave right side groove with arcuate cross sections arranged along opposite sides of said body, and curved about axes parallel to said axis of said body for cradling respective tips of a thumb and a middle finger to prevent forward slippage toward said index finger;

wherein said body has a generally trapezoidal cross section wherein said front is wider than said rear, and said opposite sides taper toward said rear;

a protruding left ear and a protruding right ear respectively arranged between said front and said opposite sides of said body for being pinched between said thumb and said index finger, and between said middle finger and said index finger;

a movable cap attached to said lower end of said body; and

a movable knob on said body connected to said cap, wherein said knob is movable upward to retract said cap and expose said writing tip, and movable downward to extend said cap to cover said writing tip.

11. The writing instrument of claim 10, wherein said body is about as long as said index finger, so that said upper end of said body is positioned for supporting said base of said index finger.