Ventilated and swing away finger cot for handling paper documents

Abstract

A rubber finger cot for handling paper sheets. The cot has an elastic hinge means for swinging the working tip away from the finger tip to a parked position on the top of the finger. Thereby, permitting the finger to be used for tasks requiring tactile feel or the natural shape of the finger tip such as typing and keyboarding while the cot remains installed on the finger.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] None. U.S. GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN THE INVENTION [0002] None BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of Invention [0004] This invention relates to finger cots to provide a friction surface to a human finger. In particular, for manipulating sheet paper stock. [0005] 2. Description of Prior Art [0006] The arts utilizing finger cots to modify or protect the surfaces of the fingers from damage, hold tools, or enhance the natural properties of the fingers have been practiced for many years. Indeed, examples of finger protectors and / or / tools are to be found in the US Patent collection as far back as 1865. U.S. Pat. No. 48,354 and in particular U.S. Pat. No. 87,856 are representative of finger mounted protection and tool devices. Finger cots in contrast to gloves are applied to individual fingers instead of multiple fingers and / or the whole hand. [0007] The present invention is specifically related to the use of finger tip friction enhanci...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] It is another object of the invention to reduce the potential for allergic reaction to the material commonly used in “rubber” finger cots.

[0018] It is another object of the invention to permit wearing of the inventive embodiment of the cot for extended periods of time.

[0021] A tubular truncated cone comprised of elastic material is adapted to cover the distal phalange from a position just below the nail to approximately the last joint of the finger. The tubular cone is cut away on the top and underside in the region of the last finger joint thereby forming an elastic retaining band to encircle the middle phalange. A third cut-away is made in the region of the fingernail which leaves a covering for the underside of the distal phalange. This underside covering has an outer surface with a coefficient of friction significantly larger than the coefficient of friction of a bare fingertip. The coefficient of friction of the covering may be enhanced by the addition of a friction layer or by the addition of mechanical means such as bumps or roughening the contact surface.

Problems solved by technology

Some modern office procedures require an office worker to quickly move between several tasks, some of which benefit from having a rubber finger tip installed, and others where such rubber tip interferes with finger function.

Removing and re-installing the tip(s) is time consuming.

Another shortcoming of the cited prior art is that it can become uncomfortable and unsanitary as it is hot and holds perspiration.

This also can contribute to adverse allergic reactions to the latex material usually used in their construction.

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