Stylus for a touch-screen device

• US 8,243,050 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gordon K. Adkiins
• Original Assignee: Gordon K. Adkiins
• Inventors: Adkiins, Gordon K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, NELSON C
• Application Number:
  US12/154,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20080297493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A stylus for use in operating any small device requiring contact for inputting commands. The stylus is comprised of a wrap and a tip. The wrap encircles and engages a user'"'"'s digit. The tip is positioned to easily contact a touch-screen device when the wrap is placed on a user'"'"'s digit. The stylus is made of a conductive material such that a conductive connection is made between the user'"'"'s digit and the touch-screen device.

Claims

1. A stylus allowing a user to operate a hand-held device having a capacitive touch screen user-interface responsive to physical contact by human skin, said user having a digit with a central axis, comprising:

a. a wrap configured to at least partially encircle said digit and frictionally engage said digit, said wrap having a central axis which is approximately aligned with said central axis of said digit when said wrap is installed on said digit;

b. at least one tip connected to said wrap, said at least one tip extending away from said wrap;

c. said tip having a proximal extreme proximate to said wrap and a distal extreme distal to said wrap;

d. said distal extreme of said tip being sufficiently pliable to form a flat surface covering an area of said capacitive touch screen when pressed against said capacitive touch screen;

e. said tip being made of conductive material; and

f. a conductor path passing from said tip to said wrap, said conductor path permanently connecting said tip to said wrap.

2. A stylus as recited in claim 1, wherein said connection between said at least one tip and said wrap comprises a tongue extending away from said wrap in a direction which is approximately parallel to said central axis of said wrap.

3. The stylus of claim 1, wherein said wrap includes a lanyard hole for attachment to a lanyard.

4. The stylus of claim 1, wherein said at least one tip is laterally offset from said tongue.

5. The stylus of claim 1, wherein said at least one tip extends downward from said central axis of said wrap at an acute angle.

6. The stylus of claim 1, wherein said at least one tip extends downward from said central axis of said wrap at an obtuse angle.

7. A stylus allowing a user to operate a hand-held device having a capacitive touch screen user-interface responsive to physical contact by human skin, said user having a digit with a central axis, comprising:

a. a wrap configured to at least partially encircle said digit and frictionally engage said digit, said wrap having a central axis which is approximately aligned with said central axis of said digit when said wrap is installed on said digit;

b. at least one tip connected to said wrap, said at least one tip extending away from said wrap;

c. a conductive contactor, located on said at least one tip in a position distal to said wrap, said conductive contactor being conductive, being sufficiently pliable to form a flat surface covering an area of said capacitive touch screen when pressed against said capacitive touch screen, and being electrically connected to said at least one tip; and

d. wherein said wrap and said at least one tip are made of conductive material and are permanently electrically connected to each other.

8. The stylus of claim 7, wherein said conductive contactor comprises a core of resilient material covered by a pliable conductive layer.

9. The stylus of claim 7, wherein said conductive contactor comprises a mass of pliable conductive wires.

10. A stylus as recited in claim 7, wherein said connection between said at least one tip and said wrap comprises a tongue extending away from said wrap in a direction which is approximately parallel to said central axis of said wrap.

11. The stylus of claim 7, wherein said at least one tip extends downward from said central axis of said wrap at an acute angle.

12. The stylus of claim 7, wherein said at least one tip extends downward from said central axis of said wrap at an obtuse angle.

13. A stylus allowing a user to operate a hand-held device having a capacitive touch screen user-interface responsive to physical contact by human skin, said user having a digit with a central axis, comprising:

a. a wrap configured to at least partially encircle said digit and engage said digit, said wrap having a central axis which is approximately aligned with said central axis of said digit when said wrap is installed on said digit, said wrap being pliable and conductive;

b. a tongue, having a proximal end attached to said wrap and a distal end extending away from said wrap, said tongue being electrically conductive;

c. at least one tip, having a first end connected to said distal end of said tongue and a second end extending away from said tongue, said at least one tip being pliable and conductive, and said tip being permanently electrically connected to said tongue;

d. a spring attached to said second end of said at least one tip, said spring being conductive;

e. a contact disc, attached to said spring, said contact disc being conductive and being large enough to cover a circular area of said capacitive touch screen having a diameter between 2 mm and 20 mm.

14. A stylus as recited in claim 13, further comprising a joint having a ball and a socket, wherein said joint connects said contact disc to said second end of said at least one tip.

15. A stylus as recited in claim 13, wherein said tip is laterally offset from said tongue.

16. A stylus as recited in claim 13, wherein said tongue extends away from said wrap in a direction which is approximately parallel to said central axis of said wrap.

17. A stylus as recited in claim 13, wherein said wrap and said tip are coated in a conductive material.

18. A stylus as recited in claim 17, further comprising a pliable and conductive contactor placed on said distal extreme of said tip.

19. A stylus allowing a user to operate a hand-held device having capacitive touch screen user interface responsive to physical contact by human skin, said user having a digit with a central axis, comprising:

a. a wrap configured to at least partially encircle said digit and frictionally engage said digit, said wrap having a central axis which is approximately aligned with said central axis of said digit when said wrap is installed on said digit;

b. at least one conductive tip connected to said wrap, said at least one tip having a pliable bridge surface covering an area of said capacitive touch screen when pressed against said capacitive touch screen;

c. a conductive ribbon;

d. wherein said conductive ribbon attaches to said stylus such that said conductive ribbon covers said at least one tip at said bridge surface and extends around said at least one tip to come into contact with said digit of said user.

20. A stylus as recited in claim 19, wherein said at least one tip has a central bore, wherein said conductive ribbon extends from said bridge surface of said at least one tip through said central bore of said at least one tip to said wrap.