Appeal No. 1999-1480
Application No. 08/523,330
Appellant’s invention relates to a key-holding apparatus
having a spheroidal body for enabling easier grasping and
turning of a key, particularly by individuals who suffer from
arthritis or other debilitating medical conditions that impact
digital dexterity. Various forms of attachment and/or
clamping structures are disclosed for connecting the
spheroidal body to a key. A copy of claims 52-70 on appeal
may be found in the Appendix to appellant’s brief.
Representative claim 52 is set forth below:
52. A key-holding apparatus having a spheroidal body
for gripping and applying torque to a key, said apparatus
comprising:
a front body portion having a slot formed therein for
accepting said key;
a substantially hemispherical rear body portion opposed
to said front body portion, said rear body portion providing
an engagement surface engageable with an operator’s hand; and
a torque transmitting key attachment structure extending
along said slot for transmitting torque from said operator’s
hand to said key via said engagement surface, said key
attachment structure comprising a thermoexpansive clamping
structure.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007