US5078692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article gripping device
Assignee: Sci Worx GmbH
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Filing: 1989-08-10
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2009-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A device for gripping, holding or stabilizing an article, object or item and more particularly an article gripping device in the form of an annular member adapted to encircle and receive the article to be gripped with the annular member including a hollow or tubular stem which tapers to a graduated or stepped smaller tubular end or lumen toward the bottom with a flexible, resilient, spiral tail extending from the bottom end to facilitate various sized articles, objects or items being held by the non-dominant hand while performing certain work functions with the dominant hand thereby inadvertently protecting the non-dominant hand while performing such work functions with the dominant hand. The gripping device is of one-piece construction from flexible, resilient, rubber or plastic material and in one embodiment includes a longitudinal slit extending from top to bottom to enable the gripping device to be opened and laterally receive or be placed on an article to be held or gripped with other embodiments of the invention including a peripherally continuous annular member and stem into which articles to be held or gripped can be inserted.
Inventors
- 👤 Raynette M. Cuprak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/32; A61M5/3205; A61M5/321; A61M5/3213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
An article gripping device comprising an annular member of an elongated tapering configuration forming a large end and a small end, an outwardly inclined skirt on the large end of the annular member with the free end of the skirt extending toward the small end of the annular member, the length of the skirt being substantially less than the length of the annular member and defining an annular open area included between the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the annular member for receiving the thumb and opposing finger of a user gripping the annular member as well as protecting the thumb and finger when the annular member is utilized to grip an article positioned in the annular member when performing a work operating on the gripped article, said annular member and skirt being of unitary construction and constructed of resilient, flexible material to enable opposed lateral forces exerted inwardly on the annular member to collapse the annular member inwardly into gripping engagement with an article being gripped, said annular member being in the form of a tapering stem extending from said large end to said small end, said large end of the stem being joined with a smaller end of the outwardly inclined skirt with the free end of the skirt being larger than the large end of the stem and extending toward the small end of the annular member, and an elongated, flexible tail connected with the small end of the annular member for wrapping around and gripping engagement with an article to be gripped when opposing lateral forces are exerted by the thumb and fingers on the external surface of the tail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
An article gripping device comprising an annular member of an elongated tapering configuration forming a large end and a small end, an outwardly inclined skirt on the large end of the annular member with the free end of the skirt extending toward the small end of the annular member, the length of the skirt being substantially less than the length of the annular member and defining an annular open area included between the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the annular member for receiving the thumb and opposing finger of a user gripping the annular member as well as protecting the thumb and finger when the annular member is utilized to grip an article positioned in the annular member when performing a work operating on the gripped article, said annular member and skirt being of unitary construction and constructed of resilient, flexible material to enable opposed lateral forces exerted inwardly on the annular member to collapse the annular member inwardly into gripping engagement with an article being gripped, said annular member being in the form of a tapering stem extending from said large end to said small end, said large end of the stem being joined with a smaller end of the outwardly inclined skirt with the free end of the skirt being larger than the large end of the stem and extending toward the small end of the annular member, and an elongated, flexible tail connected with the small end of the annular member for wrapping around and gripping engagement with an article to be gripped when opposing lateral forces are exerted by the thumb and fingers on the external surface of the tail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular member and skirt are peripherally continuous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said tail is of tapered configuration and adapted to be spirally wound on the article to be gripped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular member and skirt include a radially extending longitudinal slit extending throughout the length thereof to enable the annular member and skirt to be opened to enable lateral insertion of an article or enable the gripping device to be laterally inserted onto an article to be gripped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
305 words
An article gripping device comprising an annular member of an elongated tapering configuration forming a large end and a small end, an outwardly inclined skirt on the large end of the annular member with the free end of the skirt extending toward the small end of the annular member, the length of the skirt being substantially less than the length of the annular member and defining an annular open area included between the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the annular member for receiving the thumb and opposing finger of a user gripping the annular member as well as protecting the thumb and finger when the annular member is utilized to grip an article positioned in the annular member when performing a work operating on the gripped article, said annular member and skirt being of unitary construction and constructed of resilient, flexible material to enable opposed lateral forces exerted inwardly on the annular member to collapse the annular member inwardly into gripping engagement with an article being gripped, said annular member being in the form of a tapering stem extending from said large end to said small end, said large end of the stem being joined with a smaller end of the outwardly inclined skirt with the free end of the skirt being larger than the large end of the stem and extending toward the small end of the annular member, said annular member and skirt including a radially extending, continuous, longitudinal slit extending throughout the length of the skirt and annular member to enable the edges of the slit to be moved apart to define a longitudinally continuous opening extending from end-to-end of the annular member and skirt to enable lateral insertion of an article or enable the gripping device to be laterally inserted onto an article to be gripped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
305 words
An article gripping device comprising an annular member of an elongated tapering configuration forming a large end and a small end, an outwardly inclined skirt on the large end of the annular member with the free end of the skirt extending toward the small end of the annular member, the length of the skirt being substantially less than the length of the annular member and defining an annular open area included between the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the annular member for receiving the thumb and opposing finger of a user gripping the annular member as well as protecting the thumb and finger when the annular member is utilized to grip an article positioned in the annular member when performing a work operating on the gripped article, said annular member and skirt being of unitary construction and constructed of resilient, flexible material to enable opposed lateral forces exerted inwardly on the annular member to collapse the annular member inwardly into gripping engagement with an article being gripped, said annular member being in the form of a tapering stem extending from said large end to said small end, said large end of the stem being joined with a smaller end of the outwardly inclined skirt with the free end of the skirt being larger than the large end of the stem and extending toward the small end of the annular member, said annular member and skirt including a radially extending, continuous, longitudinal slit extending throughout the length of the skirt and annular member to enable the edges of the slit to be moved apart to define a longitudinally continuous opening extending from end-to-end of the annular member and skirt to enable lateral insertion of an article or enable the gripping device to be laterally inserted onto an article to be gripped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said longitudinal slit is of zig-zag configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
233 words
An article gripping device comprising an annular member, an outwardly inclined skirt mounted on one end of the annular member with the free end of the skirt extending toward the other end of the annular member and defining an annular space included between the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the annular member with the space opening toward the free end of the skirt and the other end of the annular member for receiving the thumb and opposing finger of a user gripping the annular member as well as protecting the thumb and finger when the annular member is utilized to grip an article positioned in the annular member when performing a work operation on the gripped article, said annular member and skirt being of unitary construction and constructed of resilient, flexible material to enable opposed lateral forces exerted inwardly on the annular member to collapse the annular member inwardly into gripping engagement with an article being gripped, said annular member and skirt including a single radially extending, continuous longitudinal slit extending throughout the length of the skirt and annular member to enable the edges of the slit to be moved apart to define a longitudinally continuous opening extending from end-to-end of the annular member and skirt to enable lateral insertion of an article or enable the gripping device to be laterally inserted onto an article to be gripped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
233 words
An article gripping device comprising an annular member, an outwardly inclined skirt mounted on one end of the annular member with the free end of the skirt extending toward the other end of the annular member and defining an annular space included between the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the annular member with the space opening toward the free end of the skirt and the other end of the annular member for receiving the thumb and opposing finger of a user gripping the annular member as well as protecting the thumb and finger when the annular member is utilized to grip an article positioned in the annular member when performing a work operation on the gripped article, said annular member and skirt being of unitary construction and constructed of resilient, flexible material to enable opposed lateral forces exerted inwardly on the annular member to collapse the annular member inwardly into gripping engagement with an article being gripped, said annular member and skirt including a single radially extending, continuous longitudinal slit extending throughout the length of the skirt and annular member to enable the edges of the slit to be moved apart to define a longitudinally continuous opening extending from end-to-end of the annular member and skirt to enable lateral insertion of an article or enable the gripping device to be laterally inserted onto an article to be gripped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure as defined in claim 7 together with an elongated, flexible tail connected with the other end of said annular member for wrapping around and gripping engagement with an article to be gripped when opposing lateral forces are exerted by the thumb and fingers on the external surface of the tail.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |