Gripping device for hand held implement

Abstract

A gripping device for hand held implements, such as a pencil, has a body with front and rear ends. The body also has a dorsal side and a ventral side. An axial bore extends through the body for receiving the implement. The dorsal side has indents, which cradle the ends of the user's index finger and thumb. The indents equally accommodate right-handed and left-handed users, and the ventral side is shaped for receiving the user's right or left middle finger, whichever the case may be.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gripping device for a hand held implement that equally accommodates right-handed and left-handed users, wherein the hand held implement has an elongated substantially cylindrical shaft, said device comprising: 
 a body having an exterior, and a bore extending along an axis through said body for receiving said shaft of said implement;    a first right gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's right index finger;    a second right gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's right thumb;    a first left gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's left index finger;    a second left gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's left thumb; and,    a third gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving said user's right or left middle finger.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said gripping surfaces are indents formed in said exterior of said body.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said first right gripping surface and said second left gripping surface are arranged on said body in linear fashion substantially parallel to said axis.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said first left gripping surface and said second right gripping surface are arranged on said body in linear fashion substantially parallel to said axis.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said first left gripping surface and said second right gripping surface are arranged on said body in linear fashion substantially parallel to said axis.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said first right, second right, first left and second left gripping surfaces are indents formed in said exterior of said body.  
     
     
         7 . A gripping device for a hand held implement that equally accommodates right-handed and left-handed users, wherein the hand held implement has an elongated substantially cylindrical shaft, said device comprising: 
 a body having an exterior, and a bore extending along an axis through said body for receiving said shaft of said implement;    a first right gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's right index finger;    a second right gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's right thumb;    a first left gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's left index finger; and,    a second left gripping surface positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving the user's left thumb.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein a third gripping surface is positioned on said exterior of said body for receiving either said user's right middle finger when said user's right index finger is positioned on said first right gripping surface and said user's right thumb is positioned on said second right gripping surface, or said user's left middle finger when said user's left index finger is positioned on said first left gripping surface and said user's left thumb is positioned on said second left gripping surface.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said first right, second right, first left and second left gripping surfaces are indents formed in said exterior of said body.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said first right gripping surface and said second left gripping surface are arranged on said body in linear fashion substantially parallel to said axis.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said first left gripping surface and said second right gripping surface are arranged on said body in linear fashion substantially parallel to said axis.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said first right, second right, first left and second left gripping surfaces are indents formed in said exterior of said body.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said first left gripping surface and said second right gripping surface are arranged on said body in linear fashion substantially parallel to said axis.  
     
     
         14 . A gripping device for a hand held implement that equally accommodates right-handed and left-handed users, wherein the hand held implement has an elongated substantially cylindrical shaft, said device comprising: 
 a body with a dorsal side, a ventral side, and an axial bore extending through said body for receiving said shaft;    said dorsal side of said body having indents, each of said indents is shaped for receiving a corresponding finger of said user.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said ventral side is shaped for laterally receiving a right or a left middle finger of said user, wherein said right or left middle finger extends substantially transverse of said axis when said user grasps said body.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said indents are substantially concave.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said body is formed from plastic.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said body is formed from plastic.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said body is parabolically-shaped.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18  wherein said body is parabolically-shaped.