FINGER TIP COVERS FOR USE WITH TOUCH DISPLAY SCREENS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority filing date of U.S. design patent application No. 29/378,739 filed on Nov. 9, 2010

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to touch display screen accessories, in particular, a finger tip cover designed to be used with touch display screen both as a fashion accessory and as a means to prevent dirt, oil, and bacteria exchange between a finger and a touch display screen.

Many accessories exist for cell phones, personal digital assistants, and other consumer electronic devices. Some of these accessories serve a functional purpose such as a cell phone cover and cases, and touch screen plastic protectors. Others are designed merely to make cell phones more fashionable, such as mobile telephone antenna charms. [U.S. patent application No. 10/978,262 by Alessandrino].

Moreover, as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and other consumer electronic devices with touch display screens (e.g., computer kiosks) become more widely in use, consumers become concerned with the possible exchange of bacteria, germs, and dirt, as well as preserving the quality of the touch display screen.

Protective membranes for touch screen devices are known [U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,976 by Richardson]. However, while touch screen plastic covers help to preserve the quality of touch display screens, there is nothing to prevent dirt, germs, and bacteria on touch screen plastic covers from being transferred between a plurality of users.

Users may use gloves to prevent the transmission of dirt, germs, and bacteria among users of touch display screens, however, gloves tend not to be practical in warm weather environments and many gloves are either too bulky or not comprised of material designed to interact with a touch display screen. It is difficult to type on a touch display screen when using, for example, leather or cotton gloves.

The present invention serves both as a fashion accessory for cell phones, personal digital assistants, and other consumer electronic devices, as well as a functional accessory to prevent the transmission of dirt, germs, and bacteria among users who share a device having a touch display screen.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises finger tip covers comprised of soft, thin material for the fingers and thumb, for use with touch-display screens, both as a fashion accessory and as a functional accessory to minimize the transmission of dirt, germs, and bacteria among users. The finger tip cover may comprise thin, soft material that interacts with a touch display screen. The finger tip cover may also comprise elastic material to fit snugly over a finger, a rim or tab to assist in pulling the finger tip cover over a finger, or a band to add elasticity to the finger tip cover to keep it from falling off.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finger tip cover which may be used on a finger and which may comprise soft material. The inseam is visible.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the finger tip covers on a hand, also featuring a pull down tab to assist with pulling the finger tip cover over a finger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of the present invention, a finger refers to either a finger or a thumb. Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a finger tip cover for use with a finger or thumb, comprised of elastic, soft material sufficient to interact with a touch display screen, while at the same time preventing the transmission of dirt, germs, or bacteria between a user's finger or thumb and the touch display screen. The finger tip cover may have a rim (100) to assist the user in pulling the finger tip cover down the finger/thumb, or simply to serve as a band to prevent the finger tip cover from slipping off. FIG. 1 also shows an inseam (102).

FIG. 2 features alternative embodiments of the present invention. On the thumb (103), a finger tip cover features a wide band (104) to hold the finger tip cover in place in order to keep the finger tip cover from slipping off. A band (104) may be necessary if the material used for the finger tip cover is not sufficiently elastic to fit snugly onto a finger or thumb. It also features a tab (105) to assist a user in pulling the finger tip cover over the finger or thumb.

Still referring to FIG. 1, on the index finger (106), a finger tip cover is featured without a band, but with a tab. In the middle finger (107), a finger tip cover may be comprised of material sufficiently elastic that a band is not necessary.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.