Conical Finger Grip with Raised Projections for Tactual Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing finger grip devices do not effectively provide increased tactual and visual sensory awareness of finger and hand alignment for left-handed users, leading to potential discomfort and increased risk of writer's cramp and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Innovation Solution
A conically shaped finger grip device with raised surface projections and visual alignment indicia that enhances tactual friction and visual awareness, allowing users to adjust finger pressure and alignment naturally, reducing discomfort and promoting proper hand positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional finger grip devices are used, then finger placement guidance is provided, but tactual sensory awareness of finger pressure and alignment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The grip device incorporates localized raised surface projections at specific positions corresponding to finger contact areas. These projections create localized zones of increased friction and tactile feedback, enabling users to detect finger pressure and alignment through enhanced local tactual sensation rather than uniform surface treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised surface projections act as intermediary elements between the finger and the writing instrument. These projections transmit and amplify tactile information, serving as a mediator that converts subtle finger pressure variations into detectable tactile feedback, thereby improving sensory awareness without requiring complex sensing mechanisms.
2Reliability
If finger grip devices provide structural support, then writing stability is improved, but discomfort and writer's cramp risk increase due to improper pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The device modifies the friction parameter by introducing raised surface projections that create variable friction zones. This changes the interaction between the finger and grip device, providing stability through controlled friction while allowing natural pressure distribution to prevent discomfort and writer's cramp.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised surface projections provide continuous tactile feedback to the user about finger pressure and alignment. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of grip pressure, maintaining writing stability while preventing excessive pressure that causes discomfort and writer's cramp through natural sensory-guided correction.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If conventional grips are used, then basic holding function is achieved, but visual and tactual alignment awareness is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual indicia (such as colored markings or contrasting surface patterns) on the grip device to provide visual alignment guidance. These visual elements create contrast that enhances alignment awareness without adding mechanical complexity, allowing users to simultaneously achieve tactual and visual alignment feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges visual indicia with the tactual surface structure, combining two sensory guidance systems into a single integrated grip device. The raised surface projections and visual markings work together to provide both tactual friction feedback and visual alignment cues, enhancing overall alignment awareness without requiring separate devices.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enhances tactile perception, allowing users to modify finger pressure and alignment, reducing the risk of discomfort and injury by promoting natural hand and finger positions, particularly beneficial for left-handed writers.
Implementation Method 1
A conically shaped finger grip device with raised surface projections and visual alignment indicia that enhances tactual friction and visual awareness
Data Source
AI summary
A tactual finger grip device and method provides increased tactual and visual sensory awareness of finger pressure and alignment especially for the left-handed user. The grip device provides a conically shaped sleeve of resilient material for inserting and adjustably securing a hand-held implement, such as a writing implement. A plurality of raised surface projections circumferentially positioned about the grip device outer surface provide tactual friction with a user's fingers, enabling user tactile sensory awareness, causing the user to adaptably minimize the tactual friction by conforming fingers and hand to natural placement, when the user grasps the sleeve secured to the hand-held implement. The device provides visual indicia for the forefinger, index finger, and thumb placement forming a natural hand position. Alternatively, the raised surface projections positioned about the inner surface create tactual friction or pressure between the device and a wearer's received finger when pressure is applied to a surface.