Fingertip protector for a person playing a stringed instrument

Abstract

A fingertip covering device for allowing a player of a stringed musical instrument to manipulate the stings with high dexterity while minimizing fingertip damage. The device extends from the fingertip region of the finger to about the distal interphlangeal joint region of the player's finger. The covering is made from a variable-thickness deformable polymer with a maximum thickness at the fingertip, and a minimum thickness at the sides of the finger. The maximum thickness of the covering device is chosen to substantially protect the user's fingertip region from damage caused by string-to-fingertip contact (about 1 mm), while at the same time allowing the user's fingertips to continue to sense the presence of said string. The minimum thickness of the covering device (about 0.3 mm) minimizes contact or interference with neighboring fingers and/or any similar coverings being worn by the neighboring fingers.

1 . A fingertip covering device for allowing a player of a fingertip manipulated stringed musical instrument to continue to manipulate the stings with high dexterity, while minimizing fingertip damage caused by string-to-fingertip contact, said device comprising:
 a fingertip covering extending from at least the fingertip region of the finger to at most the distal interphlangeal joint region and the distal half of the middle phalanx of said finger;   said covering comprising a variable-thickness deformable polymer with a maximum thickness at the fingertip and a minimum thickness at the sides of said finger;   said maximum thickness being chosen to be sufficient to substantially protect said fingertip region from damage caused by string-to-fingertip contact while at the same time allowing said fingertips to continue to sense the presence of said string; and   said minimum thickness being chosen to minimize contact or interference with neighboring fingers and/or any similar coverings being worn by said neighboring fingers.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said fingertip covering has inner dimensions that substantially conform to the dimensions of the player's fingers that are covered by said covering. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the dimensions said player's fingers are calculated based upon the diameter of one or more of the player's finger or fingers as measured at the distal interphlangeal joint region of said finger or fingers. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said deformable polymer comprises a vinyl, latex, silicon, polyisoprene polymer or a substantially non-allergenic polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said deformable polymer is a substantially transparent polymer, thereby producing a visually inconspicuous covering. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said maximum thickness is between 0.9 mm and 1.6 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said minimum to maximum ratio is between about 1:2 to 1:10. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said deformable polymer has a Shore hardness value between about 20 to 60. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said covering is produced using an injection molding process. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said covering is pressured adhered to said finger with or without an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . A fingertip covering device for allowing a player of a fingertip manipulated stringed musical instrument to continue to manipulate the stings with high dexterity, while minimizing fingertip damage caused by string-to-fingertip contact, said device comprising:
 a fingertip covering extending from at least the fingertip region of the finger to at most the distal interphlangeal joint region and the distal half of the middle phalanx of said finger;   said covering comprising a variable-thickness deformable and at least partially transparent non-allergenic polymer with a maximum thickness at the fingertip and a minimum thickness at the sides of said finger;   said polymer having a Shore hardness between approximately 20 and 60;   said maximum thickness being chosen to be sufficient to substantially protect said fingertip region from damage caused by string-to-fingertip contact while at the same time allowing said fingertips to continue to sense the presence of said string;   said minimum thickness being chosen to minimize contact or interference with neighboring fingers and/or any similar coverings being worn by said neighboring fingers;   wherein said minimum to maximum ratio is between approximately 1:2 to 1:10; and   wherein said fingertip covering has inner dimensions that substantially conform to the dimensions of the player's fingers that are covered by said covering.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said maximum thickness is between 0.9 mm and 1.6 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the dimensions said player's fingers are calculated based upon the diameter of one or more of the player's finger or fingers as measured at the distal interphlangeal joint region of said finger or fingers. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said covering is produced using an injection molding process. 
     
     
         15 . A method of allowing a player of a fingertip manipulated stringed musical instrument to continue to manipulate the stings with high dexterity, while minimizing fingertip damage caused by string to fingertip contact, said method comprising:
 providing a fingertip covering on those fingertips where protection is desired;   said covering extending from at least the fingertip region of the finger to at most the distal interphlangeal joint region and the distal half of the middle phalanx of the finger;   said covering comprising a variable thickness deformable and at least partially transparent non-allergenic polymer polymer with a maximum thickness at the fingertip and a minimum thickness at the side of said finger;   said polymer having a Shore hardness between approximately 20 and 60;   
       said maximum thickness being chosen to be sufficient to substantially protect said fingertip region from damage caused by string to fingertip contact while at the same time allowing said fingertips to continue to sense the presence of said string;
 said minimum thickness being chosen to minimize contact or interference with neighboring fingers and/or any similar coverings being worn by said neighboring fingers; 
 wherein said minimum to maximum ratio is between approximately 1:2 to 1:10; and wherein said fingertip covering has inner dimensions that substantially conform to the dimensions of the player's fingers that are covered by said covering; 
 applying said fingertip covering to said fingertips where protection is desired; 
 
       And playing said fingertip manipulated stringed musical instrument using fingers protected by said fingertip covering(s). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said maximum thickness is between 0.9 mm and 1.6 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further using an injection molding process to produce a plurality of said coverings with different sizes, and wherein said different sizes are chosen so that at least some of said sizes substantially conform to the dimensions of the player's fingers from 90 percent or greater of the average player population. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further determining the dimensions of an individual player's fingers by calculations based on measurements of the diameter of one or more of the individual player's finger or fingers at the distal interphlangeal joint region of said individual player's finger or fingers, and using said calculations and/or dimensions to select from the plurality of said coverings with different sizes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said individual player's index finger distal interphlangeal joint region is used for said measurements.