US217499A - Improvement in devices for teaching penmanship - Google Patents

Description

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0. R. WELLS. Device for Teaching Penmanship. No. 217,499. Patented Ju|y15,1879.

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G. R. WELLS. Device for Teaching Penmanship.

No. 217,499. Patented July 15,1879.

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T ES- AT NT OFFICE,

CHARLES R. WELLS, 0F CLIFTON SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENTJN'DEVICES FOR, TEACHING PENMANSHIP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2l7,499, dated July 15, 1879; application filed January 9, 1879.

' ship by assuring the retention of the correct position of the hand when writing.

In the present instance the invention consists of a curved body, which is one-half of an ellipsoidal-shaped piece or body, formed of wood, rubber, or other suitable material, the curved upper surface of which assimilates to the shape of the palm of the hand when closed,

such body being provided with two attached rings arran ged to receive and hold the third and fourth fingers in position, so that they rest upon the tips of the nails, and to prevent them from being straightened While writing. Such block is also provided with a bifurcated metal band or brace and an adjustable flexible strap, by means of which the apparatus is secured in the hand, the lower arm of such brace projecting outwardly from the base of the ellipsoidalshaped body to prevent the hand from turning, and also acting as a movable rest for the hand while writing, all of which, together with the details of construction and operation, will be fully pointed out and described.

In the drawings, which form an essential part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete apparatus in which my invention is fully embodied. Figs. 2 and 3 are views showing its application to the hand when in use and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are reverse views of the apparatus, showing modifications in construction.

' The same reference letters marked on the various figures of the drawings will locate and point out corresponding parts.

This invention is designed as an aid to teachers of penmanship as well as to the pupils; and its object is to insure the perfect and correct position of the hand while writing, and to prevent any tendency on the part of the pupil to lose the position by carelessness or otherwise.

Attempts have been made to produce an apparatus of this nature; but, owing to the lightness of parts and ill-fitting shapes, they have proven failures.

The apparatus here shown not only fits the shape of the hand perfectly, but, what is more It has the further advantage of sideratum. The shape of the body insures steadiness as it is grasped by the hand. This is important, and cannot be accomplished by:

the use of a bent-wire hand-rest.

A represents the body of the apparatus, which is practically one-half of an ellipsoidalshaped block of equal proportions, the hyperbolic shape of the upper face approximating closely to the shape'of the palm of the hand when it is closed upon it, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This block or body may be formed from wood, rubber, paper-pulp, or from any other similar suitable material.

B B are two rings, bent from a single piece of wire of suitable. shape, such rings projecting from one or the front side of the body A, and on the same plane as the flat bottom thereof, and to which they are rigidly secured in any approved manner. 0 is a bifurcated flat band or brace and rest, secured to the flat bottom of the body A, and projecting from the right-hand end thereof, the upper arm, 0, being raised and curved to the left to overr-each the body A and the hand of the writer, as shown in Fig.2, its extreme end being shaped to form a hook, c, for the purposes as will presently be fully described.

The lower arm, d, of the band or brace 0 projects outwardly to the right from the bottom of the body A, on the Same plane, its extreme end being slightly curved, thus forming a movable yielding rest, assisting the writer in the movement of his hand, besides preventing the hand from turning over to the right. To the left-hand end of the body A is attached an adjusting flexible strap, D, which, after the apparatus is clasped in the hand, is brought over and secured to the book a of the arms a,

the band being provided with a series of eye lets or holes, 6, for the purpose of adjustment.

It will thus be seen that, although the apparatus is firm in the hand, it is not rigid or unyielding in its other parts, the hand being left free in its movements.

Thebody A is of such shape that it will fit nearly all hands, while the adjustable securingstrap will adapt itself to all sizes and shapes of hands.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, which show modifications of my invention as applied to the body A, heretofore described, it will be seen that the rings B B can be simple rings, and secured to the bottom of the body by means of elastic cords or bands f,- or aflat plate, g, may project from the bottom of the body, and be provided with two holes, h h, which correspond to the two rings B B; or, the body A might be dispensed with, and the plate g only used, the rear face of such plate being shaped to the contour of the hand, as shown in Fig. 6; but

, in all these cases the bifurcated band or brace O and the flexible strap D form an essential element.

I claim as my invention 1. In a combined hand brace, guide, and rest for penmen, the combination of a body having its uppper face shaped to conform to the shape of the hand when closed upon it, two rings projecting from the face of the body for receivin g and controlling the position ofthe third and fourth fingers of the hand, a rest projecting from the right-hand end of the body, a

spring brace or band projecting from the righthand end of the body and curved to the left to overreach the body and hand when in use,

and aflexible adjusting-strap attached to the left-hand end of the body, and provided with a means of attachment to the overreaching brace or band, all substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and set forth.

2. The combination of the ellipsoidal body A, rings B B, projecting rest 41, overreaching spring-brace 0, and adjusting flexible strap D, all arranged, applied, and adapted to be operated as and for the purposes herein shown and set forth. a

3. As a modification, the. combination of the ellipsoidal body A, rings B B, elastic cords or hands f f, projecting rest d, overreaching spring-brace 0, and adjusting flexible strap D, all arranged, applied, and adapted to be operated as and for the purposes herein shown and set'forth.

4. As a modification, the combination of the ellipsoidal body A, plate g, having openings h h, projecting rest d, overreaching springbrace 0, and adjusting flexible strap D, all arranged, applied, and adapted to be operated substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and set forth.

5. As a modification, the combination of the fiat plate g, conformed to the shape of the hand, and provided with openings h h, proj eetin g rest d, overreaehin g spring-brace c, and adjusting flexible strap D, all arranged, applied, and adapted to be operated as and for the purposes substantially herein shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of December, 1878.

. CHARLES R. WELLS.

Witnesses:

D. M. WELLs, H. A. WELLS.

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