Patent Application
20240298724
A finger or thumb protection apparatus provides protection for a user's fingers or thumb when pressing a plate of glass into a glass grinder. Methods of using the same are further provided.
Glass grinders are utilized for shaping a panel or plate of glass. A user typically manipulates the glass panel or plate on a surface against a rotating glass grinder such that the glass grinder grinds the edges of the panel or plate until the panel or plate has a shape desired by the user. Typically, the user must utilize his fingers to hold the panel or plate and press his thumb or thumbs into the panel or plate to push the edges of the panel or plate against the rotating grinder.
The edges of a glass panel or plate are typically sharp. A user who manipulates the glass panel or plate against the rotating glass grinder oftentimes injuries his or her fingers and, especially, thumbs as he or she presses the panel or plate against the glass grinder. Users fingers and thumbs may receive cuts and lacerations caused by the edges of the glass panel or plate.
A need, therefore, exists for an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus for use with a rotating glass panel or plate grinder. Specifically, a need exists for an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that prevents injuries to a user's fingers or thumbs. More specifically, a need exists for an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that minimizes cuts and/or lacerations to a user's fingers or thumbs as the user presses glass panels or plates against a rotating grinder.
In addition, a need exists for an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that easily slides on a surface. Specifically, a need exists for an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that has a gripping surface that prevents slipping of the apparatus against the edges of a glass panel or plate when pressing the same against a rotating glass grinder. More specifically, a need exists for an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that fully encloses the user's finger or thumb, thereby more fully protecting the same when used with a glass grinder.
A finger or thumb protection apparatus provides protection for a user's fingers or thumb when pressing a plate of glass into a glass grinder. Methods of using the same are further provided.
To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a finger or thumb protection apparatus is provided. The finger or thumb protection apparatus comprises: a body having first and second side walls, a front wall, a top, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is flat; a cavity within the body having a size and a shape to hold a user's thumb or finger therein; and a grip surface disposed around a periphery of the bottom surface, the grip surface configured to prevent slipping of the body from an edge of a glass panel or plate when the glass panel or plate is pressed by a user against a glass grinder.
In an embodiment, a first side wall has at least one vent slot disposed therein.
In an embodiment, the first side wall has a first vent slot disposed therein and the second side wall has a second vent slot disposed therein.
In an embodiment, the grip surface is a ring disposed around the bottom surface of the body.
In an embodiment, the grip surface is made from an elastomeric material.
In an embodiment, the grip surface is removable from the body.
In an embodiment, the bottom surface is configured to slide along a second surface.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a method of using a finger or thumb protection apparatus is provided. The method comprises the steps of: providing a body having first and second side walls, a front wall, a top, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is flat; a cavity within the body having a size and a shape to hold a user's thumb or finger therein; and a grip surface disposed around a periphery of the bottom surface, the grip surface configured to prevent slipping of the body from an edge of a glass panel or plate when the glass panel or plate is pressed by a user against a glass grinder; disposing a finger or thumb within the cavity; pressing the body against an edge of a glass panel or plate; and pushing the glass panel or plate against a rotating glass grinder.
In an embodiment, a first side wall of the finger or thumb protection apparatus has at least one vent slot disposed therein.
In an embodiment, the first side wall of the finger or thumb protection apparatus has a first vent slot disposed therein and the second side wall has a second vent slot disposed therein.
In an embodiment, the grip surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus is a ring disposed around the bottom surface of the body.
In an embodiment, the grip surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus is made from an elastomeric material.
In an embodiment, the grip surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus is removable from the body.
In an embodiment, the bottom surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus is configured to slide along a second surface.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a system of using a finger or thumb protection apparatus is provided. The system comprises: a finger or thumb protection apparatus comprising a body having first and second side walls, a front wall, a top, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is flat; a cavity within the body having a size and a shape to hold a user's thumb or finger therein; and a grip surface disposed around a periphery of the bottom surface, the grip surface configured to prevent slipping of the body from an edge of a glass panel or plate when the glass panel or plate is pressed by a user against a glass grinder; a surface wherein the bottom surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus is slidably disposed on the surface; a rotating glass grinder extending from the surface; and a glass panel or plate having an edge wherein the edge of the glass panel or plate is configured to be pushed by the finger or thumb protection apparatus so that the glass panel or plate contacts the glass grinder.
In an embodiment, the first side wall of the finger or thumb protection apparatus has at least one vent slot disposed therein.
In an embodiment, the first side wall of the finger or thumb protection apparatus has a first vent slot disposed therein and the second side wall has a second vent slot disposed therein.
In an embodiment, the grip surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus comprises a ring disposed around the bottom surface of the body.
In an embodiment, the grip surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus is made from an elastomeric material.
In an embodiment, the grip surface of the finger or thumb protection apparatus is removable from the body.
It is, therefore, an advantage and objective of the present invention to an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus for use with a rotating glass panel or plate grinder.
Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that prevents injuries to a user's fingers or thumbs.
More specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that minimizes cuts and/or lacerations to a user's fingers or thumbs as the user presses glass panels or plates against a rotating grinder.
In addition, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that easily slides on a surface.
Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that has a gripping surface that prevents slipping of the apparatus against the edges of a glass panel or plate when pressing the same against a rotating glass grinder.
More specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an improved finger or thumb protection apparatus that fully encloses the user's finger or thumb, thereby more fully protecting the same when used with a glass grinder.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.
The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.
A finger or thumb protection apparatus provides protection for a user's fingers or thumb when pressing a plate of glass into a glass grinder. Methods of using the same are further provided.
Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts,
The body 12 may be preferably made from a rigid and hard thermoplastic material that may protect the user's finger or thumb when disposed within the cavity 14. However, it should be noted that the body 12 may be made from any material that may be utilized to protect a user's finger or thumb when disposed therein. The bottom surface 22 may also be made from rigid and hard thermoplastic material and may further easily slide along a surface. The finger or thumb protection apparatus 10 may further have one or more vent slots 24 disposed in one or both of the side walls 16, 18.
Disposed around a perimeter of the bottom surface 22 may be a grip ring 26 of a gripping material, such as a rubbery or elastomeric material, or may otherwise have a texture thereto that allows a user to push a glass panel or plate without slipping. Specifically, the grip ring 26 may contact an edge of a glass panel or plate and may allow a user to push the glass panel or plate without slipping therefrom.
The grip ring 26 may be removably disposed around the periphery of the bottom surface 22 so that the same may be removed and replaced as needed. Specifically, pressing the grip ring 26 into an edge of a glass panel or plate may cause damage to the grip ring 26. After the grip ring 26 is damaged, it may be removed from the body 12 and replaced with an undamaged grip ring 26.
It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, references throughout the specification to “the invention” are nonlimiting, and it should be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
