THUMB OR FINGER ATTACHMENT FOR USE WITH PORTABLE HAND HELD DEVICES

Abstract

A thumb or finger attachment which can provide for easier typing on keyboards of portable hand held devices. The thumb or finger attachment has a body portion, which consists of an integrally connected bottom portion and arcuate portion formed above the bottom portion. The arcuate portion is configured to extend at least partially around the thumb or finger of a wearer when coupled thereto so as to substantially enclose the thumb or finger of the wearer within the arcuate portion. The bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging the keyboard of a handheld portable device.

Description

This invention relates generally to a thumb or finger attachment, and, more particularly, to a thumb or finger attachment for people with large thumbs or fingers to use which can provide for easier typing on their keyboards, such as on a RIM Blackberry™ or similar type of portable hand held devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Portable hand held devices, which generally have smaller keyboards positioned thereon, are extremely popular and heavily utilized items in today's society. However, one persistent problem in utilizing such a device having a smaller keyboard or other keys positioned thereon is that it can be difficult to select the desired keys without inadvertently selecting another undesired key, particularly when the user of the device possesses large thumbs or fingers.

Thus, there is a need for an improved thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing for people with large thumbs on a keyboard of portable hand held devices, and which is simple, easy to manufacture, and which is semi-adjustable. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing on a keyboard of portable hand held devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing for people with large thumbs on a keyboard of portable hand held devices, and which is simple, easy to manufacture, and which is semi-adjustable.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thumb or finger attachment comprising thumb engaging means for coupling said thumb attachment to a distal portion of a thumb or finger of a user, the thumb engaging means comprising a bottom portion and an arcuate portion having a substantially frusto-conical cross-section formed above the bottom portion, the arcuate portion substantially encircling the distal portion of the thumb or the finger of the user when coupled thereto, and wherein the bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or the finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging a handheld portable device, and wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a flexible material which can be deformed by the user so as to modify a shape of the bottom portion and the arcuate portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing on a keyboard of portable hand held devices, the thumb or finger attachment comprising a body portion comprising a bottom portion and an arcuate portion formed above the bottom portion, wherein the arcuate portion is configured to extend at least partially around the thumb or finger of a wearer when coupled thereto so as to substantially enclose the thumb or the finger of the wearer within the arcuate portion, and wherein the bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or the finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging a handheld portable device, and wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a flexible material which can be deformed by the user so as to modify a shape of the bottom portion and the arcuate portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing on a keyboard of portable hand held devices, the thumb or finger attachment comprising a body portion of flexible material comprising a bottom portion and an arcuate portion having a substantially frusto-conical cross-section formed above the bottom portion, wherein the arcuate portion is configured to extend at least partially around a thumb or a finger of a wearer when coupled thereto so as to substantially enclose the thumb or the finger of the wearer within the arcuate portion, and wherein the bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or the finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging a handheld portable device, and wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a flexible material which can be deformed by the user so as to modify a shape of the bottom portion and the arcuate portion.

The advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing on a keyboard of portable hand held devices.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing for people with large thumbs on a keyboard of portable hand held devices, and which is simple, easy to manufacture, and which is semi-adjustable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the thumb or finger attachment of the present invention positioned on the thumb of a user; and

FIG. 2 is a top view of the thumb or finger attachment of the present invention shown positioned on the thumb of a user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the present invention essentially comprises a thumb or finger attachment which can provide for easier typing on keyboards or keys of portable hand held devices, such as on a RIM Blackberry™ or similar type. The thumb or finger attachment has a body portion comprises a body portion 1 having a bottom portion 5 and an arcuate portion 7 integrally formed above the bottom portion 5, wherein the arcuate portion 7 is configured to extend at least partially around the thumb or finger 3 of a wearer when coupled thereto so as to substantially enclose the thumb or the finger of the wearer within the arcuate portion. With reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or the finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging a handheld portable device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the thumb or finger attachment of the present invention can be made from a moldable clay, that is baked in the oven. Once baked, it has the consistency of a firm pencil eraser, and, in this way, is still flexible, but at the same time, provides grip for contacting the keys of the handheld portable device. In this maimer, be being flexible, the thumb or finger attachment of the present invention can be deformed slightly, so as to be semi-adjustable, or whereby, for example, the wearer can modify a shape of the bottom portion 5 and the arcuate portion 7. As a further example of this, a wearer might desire to deform the outmost end of the bottom portion 5 of the thumb or finger attachment so as to provide for a narrower surface for contacting the keys of the handheld portable device.

Of course, it will also be understood that the thumb or finger attachment of the present invention can be made from plastic, or other suitable thermoplastic compositions. Preferably, the thumb or finger attachment of the present invention will be a one-piece design, though it will be readily understood that variations to this are conceivable.

With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the arcuate portion 7 provides for a partial ring, configured to extend at least partially around a thumb or a finger of a wearer when coupled thereto so as to substantially enclose the end of a thumb (or finger) of the wearer within the arcuate portion.

The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A thumb or finger attachment comprising:

thumb engaging means for coupling said thumb attachment to a distal portion of a thumb or finger of a user, the thumb engaging means comprising a bottom portion and an arcuate portion having a substantially frusto-conical cross-section formed above the bottom portion, the arcuate portion substantially encircling the distal portion of the thumb or the finger of the user when coupled thereto, and wherein the bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or the finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging a handheld portable device, and wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a flexible material which can be deformed by the user so as to modify a shape of the bottom portion and the arcuate portion.

2. A thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing on a keyboard of portable hand held devices, the thumb or finger attachment comprising:

a body portion comprising a bottom portion and an arcuate portion formed above the bottom portion, wherein the arcuate portion is configured to extend at least partially around the thumb or finger of a wearer when coupled thereto so as to substantially enclose the thumb or the finger of the wearer within the arcuate portion, and wherein the bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or the finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging a handheld portable device, and wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a flexible material which can be deformed by the user so as to modify a shape of the bottom portion and the arcuate portion.

3. A thumb or finger attachment for providing easier typing on a keyboard of portable hand held devices, the thumb or finger attachment comprising:

a body portion of flexible material comprising a bottom portion and an arcuate portion having a substantially frusto-conical cross-section formed above the bottom portion, wherein the arcuate portion is configured to extend at least partially around a thumb or a finger of a wearer when coupled thereto so as to substantially enclose the thumb or the finger of the wearer within the arcuate portion, and wherein the bottom portion extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the thumb or the finger and terminates in a substantially narrow end for engaging a handheld portable device, and wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a flexible material which can be deformed by the user so as to modify a shape of the bottom portion and the arcuate portion.

4. The thumb or finger attachment of claim 1, wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a thermoplastic composition.

5. The thumb or finger attachment of claim 1, wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of a moldable clay which is baked.

6. The thumb or finger attachment of claim 1, wherein the thumb or finger attachment is made of plastic.

7. The thumb or finger attachment of claim 1, wherein the thumb or finger attachment is semi-adjustable.

8. The thumb or finger attachment of claim 1, wherein the narrow end of the bottom portion engages a keyboard of the handheld portable device.

9. The thumb or finger attachment of claim 1, wherein the thumb or finger attachment is of a one-piece, unitary construction.