Patent Application
20250000219
A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates to a finger sleeve. In particular, it relates to a finger sleeve designed to promote a user's interest to a charity, school, team, character graphics, logo, words, imagery, and the like.
The use of various articles, many clothing related, to promote a particular interest of an individual is well known. Examples include blankets, mugs, giant foam hands with a pointed finger, bracelets, key chains, and the like. They have the ability to express a wide variety of user interest messages that are not for advertising, but rather to show support for a particular theme, logo, school, charity, sport, person, message, reminder, and the like. The one thing that all of these items have in common is that the message is visible to others.
While these items have their place at schools, events, and the like, they all have the common problem of the element of size, which are fairly large in most cases, making storage a difficulty when an individual(s) has concluded use of the item. This is especially true when moving from an appropriate venue to one that such a support item of interest is inappropriate. Accordingly, having a smaller device for a show of such support of an interest is needed. While medicated sleeves are known, they are impractical and costly to use just for a user interest message, and the like. One product is a two-piece device that has a closed top and can't be placed such that the top is below the fingernail. The closed top can fold back temporarily, but prevents placement of the top opening first.
The present invention relates to a device for placement on a single finger with one or more user interest items/messages placed on the device. In particular, it has been discovered that a finger sleeve that fits snuggly, is tubular in shape, and is elastomeric, and the like, with an open top and bottom solves the problems noted above due to its size, and complication of the prior art.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, there is a device for displaying a user interest message on a finger of the user consisting of:
In another embodiment, there is a method for displaying a user interest message on a finger of the user consisting of:
While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10 percent.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.
Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The term “or”, as used herein, is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B, or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps, or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.
As used herein, the term “displaying” refers to positioning the device on a single finger of a user in a manner that the user interest message placed thereon can easily be seen. For example, positioning it with the user interest message on the upper part of the finger sleeve as shown in the Figures, as opposed to positioning the user interest message on the underside of the finger sleeve where it can't be seen. Of course, where a user has an open hand, the palm side may be preferred. In one embodiment, there are 2 or more messages placed on the sleeve. In other words, placement depends on the user and how the user moves his or her hand.
As used herein, the term “user interest message” refers to a message (word, phrase, logo, and the like) that represents the user/wearer's interest or support in a particular subject. An individual observing the device would be aware of a user's likes, dislikes, interests, or preferences. As used herein, the user's interest message does not include advertisements to sell a product or service for a business or entity or transactional information. Embodiments include a particular theme, logo, school, charity, sport, person, message, reminder, and the like which expresses a preference, interest, or support of the message.
As used herein, the term “single finger of a user” refers to the design of the device being such that it will only fit on one finger at a time. It is not designed to be used on toes and is not medicated. The device, in general, has a height from about 0.5 to about 3.5 inches and of a length to be placed between the fingernail and the first knuckle of the finger. The functionality of this design is so the device does not interfere with use of the hand, unlike devices that attach to two or more fingers or that cover the tip of the finger. It fits on a select user's finger (e.g., the pinky finger) and is sized to fit snuggly on a single finger. The sleeve can be placed on a finger starting with either the top or bottom opening, to be placed between the fingernail and first knuckle and be wide enough to display the desired message.
As used herein, the term “snuggly” refers to the sleeve fitting in a close-fitting manner or a manner so as to not fall off a finger. The sleeve can be elastomeric, or the like. The sleeve can be placed on a single finger starting with either the open top or the open bottom.
As used herein, the term “selecting a user interest message finger sleeve” refers to the user choosing a device with the user interest message placed thereon (normally on the outside). However, if the sleeve can be turned inside out, a message could be placed on both the inside and/or outside of the finger sleeve.
As used herein, the term “placing the finger sleeve” refers to the method of taking the finger sleeve and sliding it on the selected finger. The sleeve will either expand upon putting the sleeve on or it can be expanded in a manner that allows the user to slip the sleeve onto a finger. In one embodiment, the finger is the pinky finger.
As used herein, the term “tubular sleeve” refers to a tubular shaped item made from a single piece of stretchable material that can have a message, image, or the like placed upon and fit snuggly on the finger (and not toes). It is made from a single piece of stretchable material. In one embodiment, it is an elastomer, such as neoprene, polychloroprene, elastic, or it can be made of stretchable cloth. In general, the material will be a cloth type material which is sewn, bound, molded, glued, or the like, together to form a tube. The sleeve could also be molded where needed. In one embodiment, the sleeve is sized to fit about between the first and third knuckle of the finger (just underneath the fingernail). In one embodiment, it is approximately from about 0.5 to about 3.5 inches in height.
As used herein, the term “placed on the sleeve” refers to using normal printing or sewing techniques to put the desired user interest message on the surface of the sleeve. Such printing methods are well within the skill in the art, in view of this disclosure. As an example, a red sleeve can be created and the message “Go NC State” placed thereon or sewn/created/printed on the fabric.
Now referring to the drawings,
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials, and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 17/357,126 filed on Jun. 24, 2021, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17357126 | Jun 2021 | US |
| Child | 18885081 | US |
