US1718831A - Attachment for writing instruments - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1929. G. H. NORDRUM ATTACHMENT FOR WRITING iNSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 10, 1928 glwuento o Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. NORDRUM, OF ST.. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A SSIG'NOR F ONE-THIRD TO HENRY G. NOR-DRUM AND ONE-THIRD TO J. W. HAMILTQN, BOTH. OF ST. PAUL, MINNE- SOTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR WRITING INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed February 10, 1928. Serial 1T0. 52,53,293.

As is well known, writing with apen or pencil for long periods at time often results in painful strain or even temporary paralysis ot the writefs torearm or wrist. It is the ob ject (it this invention to relieve such strainv or paralysis by providing resiliently supported rests tor those fingers of the writer which grip the writii'ig instrument.

More particularly it is my object to provide an attaclnnent with rests for the il'iorelingcr and. thumb of the writer supported upon metallic lest springs which normally project obliquely from the shatt of the instrument together with means tor quickly and easily retracting said rests when the device not in use. J-Xnother object to provide a device o't this kind adapted to he quickly and easily attached to a writing instrument of common term.

The invention will be best underslnod by rt-rterenee to the accompanying drawings in. which. Figure l. is a side elevation of my device attached to a pencil o'l eon'unon. type an d with the finger rests in extended position; Fig. 2 is a plan view ot the same; Fig. is an enlarged section taken on the line 53-43 of Fig. 1 andv with the rests retracted and Hi 4; is an enlarged section talren on the line l l of Fig. 1..

As shown in the drawings, where the device is to be attached to pencils oil: the more or less standard type I provide a sleeve 5 adapted to lit upon and encase the shaft 6 of the pencil. Secured to one side of the sleeve 5 is a lea'l spring which normally projects obliquely downward therefrom. Upon the movable end ot this spring 7 is a rest 8 tor the forefinger of the writer. This rest is preteraliily termed with a depression to retain the finger in pl ace thereon and an outwardly bent :tl an go 9 to prevent the linger from sliding off the end ot the rest. Registering with the rest 8 in the side of the sleeve 5 is an. opening 10 into which the rest is retracted when not in use. Another rest 11 for the thumb of the writer provided on the side of the sleeve 5.

This rest 11 is also resiliently supported so as to project from the side of the sleeve upon an oblique spring 12. An opening 13 in the sleeve 3 is arranged to register with the rest 11 to receive the same when it is retracted as hereinafter described.

To retain the sleeve 5 upon the shaft 6 when the attachment is in use, I provide a pair of dogs 1/1. These dogs normally project from opposite sides of the sleeve 5 and are arranged to be pressed inward upon the pencil shaft 6 through openings in the sleeve. The dogs 1-4. in the embodiment shown are liorn'ied integral with the sleeve 5 at the lower end of the open in 15 as clearly shown. inFig. 1. Slidable longitudiually on the sleeve is a ring 16 ad apted to he moved to the right from the position shown in l 1. to press the dogs 14 inward through. the opening 15 and against the shaft This ring 16 is also movable toward the lel't from the position. shown in Fig. 1 to the dotted. line position where it retains the rests 8 and '11 in retracted position. W hen in retracted position the rests S and 11 n'oject through the openin spectively intoengagement with the shaft 6 and thereby retain the sleeve 5 in place. A stop 17 projects from the sleeve5 to limit movement of the ring 16 in one direction and a small pro ection 18 hunts movement in the other d ireetion.

The 'o unfation of the device will now be readily iuiderstood. To attach the device to the pencil the sleeve is merely slipped over the shatt 6 to the desired position. and then the ring 16 drawn overthc dogslq-fl into engagement with the stop 1.7. This presses the dogs 14: into gripping engagement with the shatt 6 and retains the sleeve thereon. Now the writer places the forefinger (or second tinon the rest 8 and tl'u'unh on the rest 11. so that a resilient grip is established. I have liouud that this device greatly relieves muscle strain and :liacilitates writing for long pcriods of time.

hen the pen or pencil isnot in use the ring 16 moved to the dotted line position. indicnted in Fig. 1. This confines the rests 8 and 11 to eompact'position against the shaft of the instrument and at the same time retains the sleeve 5 in place by pressing the rests 8 and ll. into firm frictional contact. with the shaft 6. hen so retracted the rests offer no obstruction to inserting the instrument in a pocket or other receptacle.

It will be evident that the springs 7 and 12 may be attached directly to the pen or pencil shaft and numerous other modifications are considered to be within the spirit of my invcntion.

Having described my invention what I claim is new and desire to protect; by Letters Patent is:

1. An attachment for a writin instrument 's 10 and 141: re-

having a shaft comprising a sleeve adapted to receive said shaft, finger rests normally projecting from the sides of said sleeve, resilient supports for said rests adapted to nor inally maintain the same in extended position, means for securing said sleeve on said shaft and means for retracting said rests against the action of said supports.

2. An attachment for a writing instrument having ashaft comprising a resilient support projecting obliquely downward from the side of said shaft, a rest supported on the outer end of said resilient support, a second shorter resilient support projecting obliquely from the side of said shaft, a thumb rest carried on said second spring and a ring slidable along said shaft and movable from a position clear of the upper ends of said supports to a position overlapping and confining said supports closely adjacent to said shaft to retract said rests against the sides of said shaft.

3. An attachment for a writing instrument having a shaft comprising a sleeve adapted to receiversaid shaft, finger rests normally projecting obliquely downward from the sides of said sleeve and permanently secured thereto at their upper ends, resilient supports for said rests adapted to normally maintain the same in extended position, means for securing said sleeve on said shaft and a ring slidable along said sleeve from a position clear of said supports to another position overlapping said supports for retracting said rests against the action of said supports.

.4. An attachment for a writing instrument having a shaft, comprising a sleeve. adapted to .receivesaid shaft, finger rests normally projecting in spaced: relation to the sides of said sleeve, resilient supports for said rests permanently secured to said sleeve and projecting obliquely therefrom to normally maintain said rests in extended position, said sleeve being formed with an opening, a dog secured to said sleeve and arranged to be extended inward through said opening to engage said shaft, and a ring slidable along said sleeve and adapted in one position to confine said dog in engagement with said shaft for securing said sleeve thereon and adapted in another position to confine said rests closely adjacent to the sleeve.

5. An attachn'ient for a writing instrument having a shaft, comprising a sleeve adapted to receive said shaft, finger rests normally projecting in spaced relation to the sides of said. sleeve, resilient supports for said rests permanently secured to said sleeve and projecting obliquely therefrom to normally maint ain said rests in extended position, said sleeve being formed with an opening, a dog secured to said sleeve and arranged to be extended inward through said opening to engage said shaft, said sleeve having a second opening arranged to receive one of said rests when in retracted position and a ring slidable along said sleeve and adapted in one position to confine said dog in engagement with said shaft for securing said sleeve thereon and adapted in another position to confine said rests closely adjacent to the sleeve and to extend one of said rests into frictional engagement with the shaft through said second opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this speciticati on.

GEORGE H. NORDRUM.

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