U.S. patent application number 09/761380 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-31 for finger tip protectors.
Invention is credited to Wanzenried, Ernest.
Application Number | 20010001883 09/761380 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31713900 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010001883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wanzenried, Ernest |
May 31, 2001 |
Finger tip protectors
Abstract
A fingertip protector comprises a sleeve adapted to fit over a
finger of a wearer, and a flexible strip. The sleeve has an opening
for the insertion of a finger, and a portion of strip is attached
to the part of the circumference of the opening. An adhesive
backing on the inner surface of the strip is present to secure the
protector to the finger and the remainder of the circumference of
the opening, and a release liner is releasably affixed to the
adhesive backing, which is designed for removal before use. In an
alternative embodiment, the fingertip protector is snugly secured
to the finger by strips of hook and loop fastening material
disposed about the circumference of the open end of the sleeve.
Inventors: |
Wanzenried, Ernest; (New
Castle, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Craig G. Cochenour
One Oxford Centre, 38th Floor
301 Grant Street
Pittsburgh
PA
15219
US
|
Family ID: |
31713900 |
Appl. No.: |
09/761380 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09761380 |
Jan 16, 2001 |
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09394035 |
Sep 13, 1999 |
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60102683 |
Oct 1, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/21 ; 2/163 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/087
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/21 ; 2/163 |
International
Class: |
A41D 019/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A fingertip protector comprising: a) a sleeve having a
predetermined length and adapted for fitting over a fingertip of a
wearer, said sleeve having: i) an open end; ii) a closed end; iii)
an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a
smooth, textured surface whereby a finger may slide easily into the
sleeve; and b) finger attachment means for attaching said sleeve to
a finger of a wearer.
2. The fingertip protector according to claim 1, wherein said
finger attachment means comprises a flexible, rectangular,
elongated strip having: a) an adhesive backing; b) a proximal end
attached to said sleeve at the open end of the sleeve, about
one-half the width of the proximal end of said strip being attached
to said sleeve and the other half of the width of the proximal end
of said strip extending above the open end of said sleeve; and c) a
distal end, the distal end being elongated and aligned for wrapping
about the circumference of the open end of said sleeve.
3. The fingertip protector according to claim 2, further comprising
a release liner affixed to the adhesive backing of said strip.
4. The fingertip protector according to claim 1, wherein said
sleeve has a non-skid pattern embossed on the outer surface of said
sleeve.
5. The fingertip protector according to claim 1, wherein said
finger attachment means comprises: a) a first strip of hook and
loop fastening material fixedly attached to the outer surface of
said sleeve, the first strip having a first end and a second end,
the first strip extending about 270.degree. about the circumference
of the sleeve adjacent the open end of the sleeve, the first strip
having an outer surface with hook and loop fastening material
disposed thereon; and b) a second strip of hook and loop fastening
material, the second strip having a inner surface having hook and
loop fastening material disposed thereon for releasably attaching
said second strip to said first strip, the second strip having a
third and a fourth end, the third end being fixedly attached to
said sleeve between the first end and the second end of said first
strip, the fourth end being elongated and aligned for wrapping
about the circumference of the open end of said sleeve in order to
fasten said second strip to said first strip and snugly secure the
protector to a finger of a wearer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/102,683, filed Oct. 1, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to fingertip protectors and,
more particularly, to fingertip protectors that may be removably
and adhesively affixed about a wearer's finger; I prefer to name
these "Clean Tips" fingertip protectors.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Protective devices that are affixed to a user's fingertips
are taught in the related art. One such invention is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 2,379,624 which issued to J. B. Chisnell on Jul. 3,
1945. This invention teaches an elastomeric finger guard for
receiving on a finger, but does not teach an adhesive material for
affixing the guard on the finger.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,389,831 which issued to S. J. Welsh on Nov.
27, 1945, discloses a prophylactic sheath or envelope with a band
of adhesive coating arranged about the open end thereof. The
invention additionally has a strip of gauze releasably affixed to
the band of adhesive coating. The sheath or envelope is described
as being elastic. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,474,535 which issued
to S. J. Krannak on Jun. 28, 1949, discloses a protective cot for
attachment over a nose or finger. A strip of adhesive encircles the
open end thereof for attachment to the desired body part.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,033 which issued to Ames et al. on Jan.
11, 1966, discloses a one-piece guard for use on a user's two
fingers for preventing puncturing of a baby's skin when the user is
pinning diapers on a baby.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,682 which issued to B. Rosenfield on
Aug. 2, 1966, discloses a rolled finger bandage having a proximal
and a distal end and intermediate twist, wherein the distal end may
be retroverted over the proximal end to create a double-ply
bandage.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,541 which issued to G. J. Loebeck on
Oct. 29, 1965, discloses a finger bandage having a sterile lining
and an adhesive flap for securing to the finger.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,302 which issued to Davis et al. on Jan.
10, 1989, discloses a finger and thumb protector for use when
hammering nails. The invention comprises a pair of longitudinal
sheaths pivotally connected, each sheath having a depression for
holding a nail.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,692 which issued to J. Wunderlich-Kehm
on May 21, 1996, discloses flexible devices that protect a
manicurist's thumb and finger from chafing and irritation from
repeated contact with a nail file. Each device attaches about a
finger with hook-and-loop-type fastening fabric.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,272 which issued to O. C. Fisher on May
30, 1996 disclose finger sleeves of varying length that extend
beyond a user's finger in order to facilitate one-handed basketball
dunks.
[0013] Lastly, British Patent No. 22,069, published Jan. 11, 1906,
discloses a rubber finger sheath having thin walls near the
finger-joint portion thereof.
[0014] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention
as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention provides a fingertip protector to
protect the fingertips of a wearer engaged in dirty or abrasive
environments. When working in gardens or on automobile engines,
dirt or grease tends to become trapped under the fingernails or
cuticles of the wearer. When using the fingertip protectors of the
present invention, dirt and grease are prevented from soiling the
wearer's fingers.
[0016] The fingertip protector comprises a sleeve adapted to fit
over a finger of a wearer, and a strip. The sleeve has an opening
for the insertion of a finger, and one end of the strip is attached
to a portion of the circumference of the opening. An adhesive
backing on the inner surface of the strip is present to secure the
protector to the finger and the remainder of the circumference of
the opening of the sleeve, and a release liner is releasably
affixed to the adhesive backing, which is designed for removal
before use. Once used, the protectors may be discarded.
[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve has a strip of hook
and loop fastening material extending about three-quarters of the
circumference of the opening of the sleeve with the fastening
material facing outward, and a second strip of hook and loop
fastening material attached to the sleeve between the ends of the
first strip. The second strip of hook and loop fastening material
has the fastening material facing inward, and is elongated so that
it may be wrapped snugly around the outside of the sleeve in order
to take up any slack between the sleeve and the finger, being
fastened to the first strip of hook and loop material.
[0018] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide a fingertip protector that prevents a wearer's finger from
buildup of dirt and debris under the wearer's fingernails.
[0019] It is another object of the invention to a fingertip
protector that protects a wearer's fingertip from damage due to the
handling of sharp or abrasive material.
[0020] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
fingertip protector that may be securely fastened to a wearer's
fingertip.
[0021] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
fingertip protector is reusable by providing the protector with
hook and loop fastening material.
[0022] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes
described which is inexpensive, safe, dependable and fully
effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0023] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fingertip protector
according to the present invention, showing the release liner
partially pulled away to expose the adhesive backing.
[0025] FIG. 2A is an environmental perspective view of the present
invention prior to its placement over a finger.
[0026] FIG. 2B is an environmental perspective view of the present
invention showing a finger in phantom lines.
[0027] FIG. 2C is an environmental perspective view of the present
invention shown placed over a finger.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a section view of the present invention, drawn
along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the fingertip protector.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.
[0031] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals
represent like elements, FIG. 1 shows a fingertip protector 10
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The
protector 10 comprises an elastomeric sleeve 12 having an open end
15 and a closed end 13. A flexible, elongated, generally
rectangular strip 14 has a proximal end and a distal end, the
proximal end being fixedly attached to the exterior of the sleeve
12, the strip 14 being elongated and aligned to wrap about the
circumference of the open end 15. The sleeve 10 has an outer
surface which may be embossed with a non-skid pattern 25 to assist
in gripping of objects. The sleeve 12 is ideally constructed of
latex, but may be made from other thermoplastic material. For
example, rubberized canvas may be used for working with abrasive
materials such as concrete. The inner surface 30 is textured,
having a low coefficient of friction, so that a finger may slip
easily into the sleeve 12.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the strip 14 has an inner surface
that has adhesive backing 16 affixed thereto, which serves to
fixedly attach the proximal end of the strip to the sleeve 12. The
width of the strip 14 is such that approximately one-half of the
strip 14 is below the open end 15, and the other half extends above
the open end 15 of the sleeve 12. The strip 14 is supplied with a
release liner 18 removably affixed to the adhesive backing 16 of
the distal portion of the strip 14.
[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 2a-2c, the method of affixing the
protector 10 to a finger 20 will be described. The wearer first
inserts a finger 20 into the open end 15 of the sleeve 12. The
wearer then removes the release liner 18 from the strip 14, thereby
exposing the adhesive backing 16 thereof. The wearer then wraps the
distal portion of the strip 14 about the finger 20 and the rest of
the circumference of the open end 15, ensuring that one half of the
adhesive backing 16 of the strip contacts the sleeve 12 and the
other half of the adhesive backing contacts the finger. The wearer
then presses the adhesive backing 16 to the finger 20 and the
sleeve 12, thereby securing the protector 10 to the finger. To
ensure a tight fit, there should be a one-quarter overlap of the
strip 14 when secured. The wearer may then work in dirty
environments without concern of dirt being trapped in fingernails
or cuticles. After use, the protectors 10 may be discarded.
[0035] Advantageously, the smooth, textured inner surface makes it
easier for the wearer to place the protector 10 on his finger,
unlike sleeves which rely upon an elastic fit, or which have a
layer of adhesive affixed to the inner surface of the sleeve.
[0036] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the
fingertip protectors 10 intended for more heavy duty applications,
such as masonry work. In this embodiment, the sleeve 12 is equipped
with a first strip 40 of hook and loop fastening material which is
fixedly attached (by adhesive, thermal bonding, or other means) to
the exterior surface of the sleeve 12 and extends about 270.degree.
about the circumference of the sleeve 12 adjacent the open end 15
of the sleeve 12. The outer surface of the first strip 40 may bear
either hook material or loop material 42. The sleeve 12 is also
equipped with a second strip 44 of hook and loop fastening material
which is elongated and generally rectangular in shape. The second
strip 44 has a first end which is fixedly attached to the sleeve 12
(also by adhesive, thermal bonding, or other means) between the
ends of the first strip 40. The second end of the second strip 44
is free, and the second strip 44 is sufficiently elongated that the
strip may be pulled taut about the open end 15 of the sleeve 12 in
order to reduce or eliminate any slack between the open end 15 of
the sleeve 12 and the wearer's finger. The inner surface of the
second strip 44 bears either loop or hook fastening material 46 so
that it may be releasably fastened to the first strip 40. The outer
surface of the second strip is preferably smooth. In this manner,
the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is reusable,
being releasably secured to the wearer's finger by hook and loop
fastening material.
[0037] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *