Feather pointer
An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer includes an extension member having a spine to support a flexible member, a handle for a user to point the extension member at the computer screen and a hanger to hold the handle on the computer.
The present invention relates to computers and computer displays.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCleaning aids and devices such as brushes, squeegees, ice and snow scrapers are known to those who use these devices for cleaning. These devices may be used widely to clean windows and other areas in all types of buildings and can be used to clean and scrape windshields or other windows in vehicles.
However, these types of devices are not suitable for cleaning and removing dust, grime and finger prints from computer screens. Different types of screens such as CRT screens are used with for example computer monitors, television sets and other video display devices.
Flat panel displays are becoming increasingly commonplace in today's commercial electronic devices. These flat-panel displays are finding widespread use in many new products such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants, camcorders and laptop personal computers. The generation of these hand-held electronic devices places stringent demands on their displays. The flat-panel displays in these devices are expected to be lightweight, portable, rugged, low-power and have high resolution. Displays having all these attributes will enable a wide variety of commercial applications in the future. Active-liquid-crystal displays are the leading flat-panel display technology. These displays are ubiquitous in laptops. The display is composed of a grid or matrix of picture elements known as pixels. Thousands or millions of these pixels together create the image on the display. Thin-film transistors turn each pixel on for light or off for dark.
With the CRT monitor, glass is used as the starting material in the display fabrication process. Glass has excellent optical clarity and is compatible with chemicals used in standard semiconductor processing. As a result, the displays must be handled carefully to avoid breakage. However, if plastic is employed as the starting material for display fabrication, the display can be lightweight, rugged and also flexible. However, using plastic as a display has problems. A user and his/her friends will eventually touch the screen. It is a natural tendency in the course of a meeting for someone to express his/hers opinion by pointing and poking at the screen. This is something that happens every day and will continue to happen every day. Cleaning glass is straightforward in that if a smudge or fingerprint is left on the glass display, cleaning can be perform by many chemicals without harming the glass display. Flat panel displays are sensitive and can be damaged very easily by pushing and poking the screen. A plastic screen should not be cleaned with anything other then a dry soft cloth. It is important to keep user's hands off the computer screen.
SUMMARYThe present invention allows people to point, poke, and push at the screen without damaging or leaving marks on the screen. Because a soft pliable material is used to touch the screen, touching the screen does not affect the operation of the screen and does not leave marks on the screen. The apparatus of the present invention does not create static electricity and can be used as a tool for cleaning and dusting the flat-panel display without affecting the operation of the screen. Additionally, the apparatus of the present invention can be used for cleaning the keyboard without creating static electricity. The present invention includes a space saving side mounting hanger for the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention has a handle and hanger which could be made out of wood, molded plastic, aluminum or metal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Claims
1. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer, comprising:
- an extension member having a spine to support a flexible member;
- a handle for a user to point said extension member at said computer screen;
- a hanger to hold said handle on said computer.
2. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 1, wherein said flexible member includes pliable material.
3. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 2, wherein said pliable material is a feather like material.
4. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 2, wherein said pliable material is feather material.
5. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 1, wherein said hanger includes arms to hold said pointer.
6. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 5, wherein said handle includes a recessed cylinder to engage said arms.
7. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 1, wherein said hanger includes adhesive to mount said pointer on said computer screen.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 22, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 26, 2006
Inventor: Ed Spinella (Fairfield, IA)
Application Number: 11/112,069
International Classification: A47L 13/38 (20060101);