Fidget Knob Toy
The Fidget Knob is a compact, handheld device designed to provide tactile stimulation and promote focus and relaxation. Consisting of two rotating knobs, possibly with textured surfaces, it offers a satisfying tactile experience for users to fidget with during moments of stress or boredom. The Fidget Knob's ergonomic design allows for easy manipulation and discreet use in various settings, such as classrooms, offices, meetings, and public spaces. The Fidget Knob's reasonably silent behavior allows it to be used & felt by the user without distracting nearby people. Research suggests that fidgeting can help improve concentration and reduce stress levels by providing sensory input and promoting a sense of calm. The Fidget Knob offers a convenient and socially acceptable way for individuals to engage in fidgeting behavior, potentially enhancing cognitive performance and well-being.
Many people like to do something with their hands such as play with coins, pens, fidget toys, . . . Many people also like to carry some “special item” with them in their pocket. There were many different fidget toys designed in the past, the most notable being variations of “fidget spinners” such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,062A or U.S. Pat. No. 9,914,063B1.
More recently, “pop toy” fidgets became popular because they provide a popping/clicking sensation to fingers just like pressing a very nice button. Examples U.S. Pat. Nos. D969,222S1 D924,980S1 D941,398S1. The most important “pleasure effect” of these toys is that something can be held in users' hands, and allow for rotation, spinning or pressing with user's fingers thus providing sensory feedback to the user. Some people even attempted to do “circular pressing toys” like this: US20190160388A1.
This invention solves the same problem in a very small and convenient device that can be held in users pocket to be used at any time. This device can be easily held, rotated or pressed in one hand while in your pocket. It can be played with both hands. It's not as noisy as typical fidget spinners, thus not as distracting to nearby people. It provides multiple “sensory feedbacks” to users fingers. First is a “silent clicking” while being rotated like a knob. Second is a “fast clicking” while being rotated/spinned fast and third is a “pop” or “click” sensation or both sent to users fingers when the device is pressed like a button. To younger audience this device feels like a nice and tangible toy, while to an older audience this device feels like a very nice button/knob typically seen in their car's audio equipment.
SUMMARYThis device embodies 3 basic elements: 1) Top button/knob, 2) bottom button/knob, and 3) connection shaft/mechanism.
Top and Bottom buttons may be rounded, oval, square, polygonal or any other shape that feels good in hands/fingers. They may be same or different sizes, same or different designs, be symmetrical or asymmetrical, and may have grooves, patterns or cavities on the outside in any way to provide more sensation to users' fingers.
Connection shaft/mechanism can be designed as having a small or large diameter and provide spinning, friction, tension or clicking sensation into fingers just as a variable resistor or a rotary encoder would in a typical car radio or temperature knob.
Shaft may also provide pressing, clicking, toggling, haptic or popping effect when pressed. Just like a typical button, computer key, a pop toy, a typical variable resistor, or a typical rotary encoder in car radios would. Shaft can also be designed using magnets, springs, gears, weights, balls, cavities, grooves, tension elements or any other elements providing linear or non-linear force, friction or inertia to control either the spinning sensations or the press effects.
DESCRIPTION OF IDEAThis device embodies 3 basic elements: 1) Top button/knob, 2) bottom button/knob, and 3) connection shaft/mechanism.
Top and Bottom buttons may be rounded, oval, square, polygonal or any other shape that feels good in hands/fingers. They may be same or different sizes, same or different designs, be symmetrical or asymmetrical, and may have grooves, patterns or cavities on the outside in any way to provide more sensation to users' fingers.
Connection shaft/mechanism can be designed as having a small or large diameter and provide spinning, friction, tension or clicking sensation into fingers just as a variable resistor or a rotary encoder would in a typical car radio or temperature knob.
Shaft may also have pressing, clicking, toggling, haptic or popping effect when pressed. Just like a typical button, computer key, a pop toy, a typical variable resistor, or a typical rotary encoder in car radios would. Shaft can also be designed using magnets, springs, gears, weights, balls, cavities, grooves, tension elements or any other elements providing linear or non-linear force, friction or inertia to control either the spinning sensations or the press effects.
The Fidget Knob is a compact, handheld device designed to provide tactile stimulation and promote focus and relaxation. Consisting of two rotating knobs, possibly with textured surfaces, it offers a satisfying tactile experience for users to fidget with during moments of stress or boredom. The Fidget Knob's ergonomic design allows for easy manipulation and discreet use in various settings, such as classrooms, offices, meetings, and public spaces. The Fidget Knob's reasonably silent behavior allows it to be used & felt by the user without distracting nearby people. Research suggests that fidgeting can help improve concentration and reduce stress levels by providing sensory input and promoting a sense of calm. The Fidget Knob offers a convenient and socially acceptable way for individuals to engage in fidgeting behavior, potentially enhancing cognitive performance and well-being. Its compact and silent design makes it suitable for use in classrooms, offices, and public spaces. Further studies are needed to evaluate its effectiveness and explore its applications in different contexts.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURESClaims
1. A device designed to rotate in user's hands or fingers comprising:
- Two buttons/knobs opposite to each other for holding the fidget.
- A shaft or a mechanism connecting those two buttons.
2. The device of claim 1, where rotation provides sensory/tactical feedback into user's fingers.
3. The device of claim 1, where buttons can be pressed, pushed or toggled.
4. The device of claim 1, where button action provides sensory/tactical feedback into user's fingers.
5. The device of claim 1, where buttons are shaped in the same way; buttons may be rounded, or any other polygonal shape, have sharp or smooth corners or edges, and may have grooves, patterns or other elements also providing sensory feedback into user's fingers.
6. The device of claim 1, where buttons are shaped differently; buttons may be rounded, or any other polygonal shape, have sharp or smooth corners or edges, and may have grooves, patterns or other elements also providing sensory feedback into user's fingers.
7. The device of claim 1, where the shaft is a simple variable resistor or a rotary encoder, which may or may not have button press effect.
8. The device of claim 1, where the buttons or the shaft is designed with magnets, springs, gears, weights, balls, cavities, grooves, tension elements or any other elements providing linear or non-linear force, feedback, friction or inertia.
9. The device of claim 1, where the shaft can be smaller, larger or seamless with the buttons.
10. The device of claim 1, where one button overlaps another so that the shaft is hidden inside.
11. The device of claim 1, which contains any electronics to help with spinning, friction, counting, lights, flashing, wireless communication, or for any other purpose.
12. The device of claim 1, which contains any electronics or sensors to measure and count the device performance, speed, or user interaction.
13. The device of claim 1, which contains any electronics that wirelessly connects to the Internet, or any other device such as a mobile phone or a docking station.
14. The device of claim 1, which contains any batteries, capacitors, coils for self-charging, coils for wireless charging.
15. The device of claim 1, which contains any gears or weights to accumulate energy while rotating and provide inertia into user's fingers.
16. The device of claim 1, which communicates with mobile, phone, tablet or computer applications.
Type: Application
Filed: May 20, 2024
Publication Date: Nov 20, 2025
Inventor: Nikolai Petrov (South Jordan, UT)
Application Number: 18/668,256
