US3700835A — Hand held, finger controlled switch device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 162 words

A control device adapted for support in the palm of the hand of an operator, comprising a housing having a contoured shape to fit snugly in the outer edge of the palm of the hand while extending longitudinally thereof and of a size spanning but the third and fourth fingers thereof; a loop-like structure extending outwardly of one end of the housing for receiving and containing at least one of these fingers of the hand over the outer finger joints and adjacent to the knuckle joint with the hand; and a control unit in the housing having an operating member extending upwardly from the housing and in longitudinal axial alignment with the loop-like structure and at a location for engagement of and operation by the free end of said fourth finger, whereby the thumb, first, second and third fingers of the hand are left completely free for engagement with the palm and other fingers to grip instruments and for performing other operations.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 162 words

A control device adapted for support in the palm of the hand of an operator, comprising a housing having a contoured shape to fit snugly in the outer edge of the palm of the hand while extending longitudinally thereof and of a size spanning but the third and fourth fingers thereof; a loop-like structure extending outwardly of one end of the housing for receiving and containing at least one of these fingers of the hand over the outer finger joints and adjacent to the knuckle joint with the hand; and a control unit in the housing having an operating member extending upwardly from the housing and in longitudinal axial alignment with the loop-like structure and at a location for engagement of and operation by the free end of said fourth finger, whereby the thumb, first, second and third fingers of the hand are left completely free for engagement with the palm and other fingers to grip instruments and for performing other operations.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 73 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is hollow; and a cover plate removably attached to said housing, said loop-like structure extending forwardly from the cover plate, the bottom and palm-engaging surface of the housing tapering to wedge shape with the cover plate and toward the loop-like structure so as to accommodate the inner surface of the fourth finger below the finger joints and adjacent to the hand palm.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said loop-like structure is defined by a U-shaped member adjustably secured to the housing and positionable to adjust the loop for receiving fingers of different sizes.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the housing and overlying said operating member for operation of same, said lever being disposed in alignment with said loop-like structure longitudinally of said housing for operating engagement by the free end of the fourth finger of the hand.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, further comprising another control unit operating member extending upwardly of the housing for operation by the third finger of the hand.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

A control device as defined by claim 4, further comprising finger grip means on said lever arranged to prevent lateral displacement of the fourth finger with respect to said lever, and to prevent rotational movement of said housing around said fourth finger.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

A control device as defined by claim 1, further comprising a lateral extension at one side of said loop-like disposed for contact and engagement by third finger of the hand to prevent rotational movement of the housing around the fourth finger.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

A control device as defined in claim 7, further comprising another control unit operating member disposed laterally of the first named operating member and extending upwardly of the housing for operation by the third finger of the hand.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 45 words

A control device as defined in claim 8, further comprising a pair of levers pivotally mounted on the housing and overlying the first named and other operating members respectively for selective operation of the same by the fourth and third fingers respectively of the hand.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, comprising further control unit operating members extending laterally outwardly of the housing for engagement by the upper palm area of the hand and squeezable thereby to operate the unit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A control device as defined in claim 4, wherein said housing comprises a hollow base, and a cover plate removably attached to said base, said operating member extending upwardly from said cover plate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control unit is an electrical switch.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein the contoured housing is formed with bottom concave and convex portions to fit snugly in and conform to the area of the palm surface of the hand and the adjacent surface of said fourth finger.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is hollow; and a cover plate removably attached to said housing, said loop-like structure being integrally formed with the cover plate said housing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 65 words

A control device as defined in claim 14, wherein said loop structure defines an open loop formed by a pair of projecting end portions of said cover plate, one of the end portions being laterally bent to engage the fourth finger of the hand and the other end portion being bent downwardly away from the cover plate to engage between the third and fourth fingers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

A control device as defined in claim 15, wherein the contoured housing is formed with concave and convex portions to fit snugly in the palm of the hand and to engage said fourth finger.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 83 words

A control device as defined in claim 14, wherein said loop structure defines open loops formed by a projecting end portion of the cover plate and adjacent concavely curved edge portions of the cover plate for respectively receiving and engaging the third and fourth fingers, said prOjecting end portion of the cover plate having a downwardly bent portion for engaging between the third and fourth fingers, said downwardly bent portion having lateral wings for engaging inner sides of the third and fourth fingers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

A control device as defined in claim 14, further comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the housing and overlying said operating member for operation by said fourth finger.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 41 words

A control device as defined in claim 18, further comprising another operating member extending upwardly from said housing; and another lever pivotally mounted on the housing and overlying said other operating member for operation by the third finger of the hand.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 167 words

A control device adapted for support in the palm of the hand of an operator comprising a housing having contoured bottom surface conforming to the outer edge area of the palm of the hand and to the inner face of the finger while extending longitudinally thereat and of a size spanning but the third and fourth fingers thereof, a loop-like structure extending outwardly from the forward end of the housing for receiving at least one of these fingers for the support of the housing within the palm of the hand at the outer edge thereof, and a control unit within the housing and having an operating push member extending outwardly therefrom and engageable by the palm of the hand upon the housing being squeezed by the third and fourth fingers of the hand whereby the thumb, first and second fingers of the hand are left completely free for engagement with the palm of the hand and the other fingers to grip instruments and for performing other operations.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 167 words

A control device adapted for support in the palm of the hand of an operator comprising a housing having contoured bottom surface conforming to the outer edge area of the palm of the hand and to the inner face of the finger while extending longitudinally thereat and of a size spanning but the third and fourth fingers thereof, a loop-like structure extending outwardly from the forward end of the housing for receiving at least one of these fingers for the support of the housing within the palm of the hand at the outer edge thereof, and a control unit within the housing and having an operating push member extending outwardly therefrom and engageable by the palm of the hand upon the housing being squeezed by the third and fourth fingers of the hand whereby the thumb, first and second fingers of the hand are left completely free for engagement with the palm of the hand and the other fingers to grip instruments and for performing other operations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-10-24	1976-04-24	1976-10-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-10-24	1980-04-24	1980-10-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-10-24	1984-04-24	1984-10-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hand held, finger controlled switch device

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