FINGER SLEEVE FOR USE WITH A TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
A finger sleeve (105) for use with a touch screen (103) of an electronic device (101) includes a cloth material forming a sleeve having a lower surface and upper surface. A cleaning pad (107) is attached to the upper surface of the sleeve (105). The cloth material is worn on a user's index finger for contacting the surface of an electronic display (103) without depositing residue therein.
This patent application claims the benefit of, and priority under 35 USC §119(e) to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/590,918 filed Jan. 26, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a finger sleeve and more particularly to a device for preventing oils and other residue from remaining on a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch screen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOne problem in using electronic devices with LCD touch screens is the residue from the user's hands and face that is deposited on the surface of the screen. With use, oils, creams and/or makeup from the user's body can remain on the touch screen. This can cloud the display or cause unwanted reflection making the screen difficult to view. This residue often forms fingerprint marks and/or streaks across the screen which can also make the screen unsanitary.
One common complaint with these types of display devices is that users must continually clean the LCD touch screen either using their own clothing or sometimes a tissue. Not only is this cleaning process burdensome, but depending on the materials used, the screen or its associated screen cover can be easily scratched. Accordingly, a device is needed to prevent the deposit of residue on the screen and to easily clean residue from the screen when necessary.
The prior art includes finger cots and finger tip covers for protecting the finger as well as capacitive sensor gloves and finger stylist. These devices do not offer the ability to easily clean and/or allow the user to utilize the touch screen in a manner to prevent residue from collecting on the screen surface.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSBefore describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a finger sleeve. Accordingly, the apparatus components and/or method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
In order to utilize the touch screen 103 without leaving residue on the screen's surface, a finger sleeve 105 is positioned and/or placed on the index finger 111 of the user. The finger sleeve 105 is oriented on the finger to a point so that it extends over the second knuckle. In this embodiment, the finger sleeve 105 is a split design having a seam 106 extending longitudinally at the midsection along the length of the finger sleeve 105. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various materials may be used in construction of the finger sleeve 105 and each may have a differing thickness. As seen in both
Thus, the present invention is a finger sleeve manufactured of a soft cloth material for allowing the user to contact the surface of a touch screen without leaving fingerprints or other residue. The finger sleeve may also include a cleaning pad located over the user's second knuckle for allowing the user to easily clean residue from a touch screen without soiling the contact area of the finger sleeve. The finger sleeve is easy to use relieving the user of the burden of constantly cleaning the touch screen surface.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Claims
1. A finger sleeve for use with a touch screen of an electronic device comprising:
- a cloth material forming a sleeve having a lower surface and upper surface;
- a cleaning pad attached to the upper surface of the sleeve; and
- wherein the cloth material is worn on a user's index finger for contacting the surface of an electronic display without depositing residue therein.
2. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, wherein the soft cloth material is at least one from the group of cotton, rayon, nylon or spandex.
3. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning pad is positioned over the user's second knuckle.
4. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning pad is used to clean residue from the touch screen.
5. A finger sleeve as in claim 4, wherein the residue are at least one from the group of fingerprints, facial oils and makeup.
6. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, further comprising a conductive thread sewn within the tip of the sleeve for facilitating use of the sleeve with the touch screen.
7. A finger sleeve as in claim 6, wherein the conductive thread forms a conductive pad.
8. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, further comprising an elastic band attached at the base of the finger sleeve for holding the finger sleeve to the user's finger.
9. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, wherein the finger sleeve is comprised of a two-ply material.
10. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, wherein the two-ply material includes an elastic layer for holding the finger sleeve to the user's finger.
11. A finger sleeve for use with an electronic device touch screen comprising:
- a cloth sleeve having an upper surface and lower surface and a first end and a second end;
- a cleaning pad attached to the upper surface of the cloth sleeve near the first end thereof;
- an elastic band positioned at the second end for holding the finger sleeve about the user's finger; and
- wherein the cloth sleeve is warn on the user's index finger for touching the surface of the touch screen with the lower surface of the cloth sleeve for preventing residue from the user's finger from transferring to the touch screen.
12. A finger sleeve as in claim 11, wherein the cloth sleeve material is at least one from the group of cotton, rayon, nylon or spandex.
13. A finger sleeve as in claim 11, wherein the cleaning pad is positioned over the user's second knuckle.
14. A finger sleeve as in claim 11, wherein the cleaning pad is used to clean residue from the touch screen.
15. A finger sleeve as in claim 11, wherein the residue are at least one from the group of fingerprints, facial oils and makeup.
16. A finger sleeve as in claim 11, further comprising a conductive thread sewn within the tip of the sleeve for facilitating use of the sleeve with the touch screen.
17. A finger sleeve as in claim 6, wherein the conductive thread forms a conductive pad.
18. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, wherein the finger sleeve is comprised of a two-ply material.
19. A finger sleeve as in claim 1, wherein the two-ply material includes an elastic layer for holding the finger sleeve to the user's finger.
20. A touch screen actuation device warn about a user's finger comprising:
- a cloth sleeve having an upper surface, a lower surface and an open end;
- a cleaning pad attached to the upper surface of the sleeve;
- a conductive thread sewn within the tip of the cloth sleeve for facilitating use of the sleeve with the touch screen; and
- wherein the cloth sleeve is worn on the user's index finger so as the lower surface is used to contact the surface of the touch screen for preventing residue from being transferred thereto.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 25, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 1, 2013
Inventor: Katina Clausen (Rockford, MI)
Application Number: 13/749,937