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Finger mounted rock climbing implementRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, Hand Or Arm, Finger Cots Or ProtectorsFinger mounted rock climbing implement description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070277279, Finger mounted rock climbing implement. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application claims priority to co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/802,199 filed May 19, 2006 and entitled Finger Mounted Rock Climbing Implement. The contents of this co-pending application are fully incorporated herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to a rock climbing implement. [0004] More particularly, the present invention relates to a finger mounted implement that allows a wearer to clean chalk or debris from fissures or cracks during a climb. [0005] 2. Description of the Background Art [0006] Rock climbing is an increasingly popular sport. The sport is so popular, in fact, that indoor climbing facilities can now be found in most urban areas. The sport requires participants to ascend a rock face using minimal equipment in what is often referred to as a free climb. Under the Yosemite Decimal System, these types of climbs are classified as Class Five Climbs. Although participants can use ropes, carbineers, and belaying devices for safety, the climbing itself is accomplished solely with the climber's hands and feet. Namely, the climber ascends the rock face by grasping rock fissures or outcroppings, known in the sport as "features." The difficulty of Class Five Climbs, in turn, can be further classified on the basis of difficulty. This further classification is primarily a function of the number of features in the rock face, the spacing between the features, and how difficult they are to grip. [0007] A climber's grip upon rock features can be greatly improved with the use of chalk. Chalk improves grip by both eliminating moisture and sweat from the hands and by promoting friction between the skin and rock. For this reason, climbers routinely carry a chalk bag, which can be secured to a waist belt. Periodically throughout the climb, a climber will apply chalk by placing their hands in the chalk bag. [0008] However, one problem with chalk stems from the fact that climbers tend to follow established routes in order to ensure that sufficient features are present to ascend. Because these routes are repeatedly traversed, the chalk used by the climbers tends to build up within rock fissures and around outcroppings. This build up obscures the fissures and otherwise prevents subsequent climbers from getting a proper grip upon the rock face. [0009] Consequently, climbers frequently carry a brush to sweep away chalk build up. Climbers store these brushes within their chalk bags. The brushes can also be directly mounted to a belt through the use of a carbineer. Regardless of how the brush is stored, using it during a climb can be extremely difficult. Using the brush requires the climber to remove a hand from the rock face, turn toward the location of the brush, grasp the brush handle (which may also involve unclipping the carbineer), and then turning back to the rock face in order to brush away the chalk. Once this is accomplished, the brush must then be returned before the climber can grasp the cleaned feature. [0010] Under normal circumstances such a maneuver would not be of a concern. However, while rock climbing, where a climber may be hundreds of feet in the air and supported only by their hands and feet, the failure to perform this maneuver flawlessly can have dire consequences. Thus, there exists the need to enable rock climbers to clean rock features while at the same time maintaining a proper grip upon the rock face. [0011] The background art contains examples of gloves that are especially adapted to improve a climber's grip. One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,776 to Crawford, which is entitled "Glove for Rock Climbing." Crawford discloses a glove that includes a pad formed from a climbing rubber and which is adapted to cover the back and peripheral palm portions of the hand. The construction leaves the finger tips exposed to improve touch. Although Crawford overcomes some of the problems associated with rock climbing, it is not concerned with removing the chalk build up, nor is it directed to a brush that can be employed with minimal body movement. [0012] Finger mounted brushes are also known in the art. Examples of such brushes include U.S. Pat. No. 1,168,998 to Brandenburg: U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,274 to Friedman; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,167,129 to Sleeper. However, these brushes are specifically designed for cleaning a user's teeth and gums. Consequently, the bristles on these devices are uniquely adapted to be used within the mouth and are not suitable for use upon a rock face. [0013] Finger mounted tools are also known in the art. Examples of such devices include U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,186 to Mayer; U.S. Pat. No. 2,151,846 to Greneker; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,637 to Witter. However, these devices are tailored for unique applications, such as applying grout or cleaning pots. None of these devices could be effectively employed during a rock climb. [0014] Finally, it is also known in the art to provide a glove with one or more abrading units. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,787 to Bianchi discloses an abrasive glove with a number of abrading units. The glove can be used to abrade potatoes or to abrade paint. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 1,559,114 to Maranville discloses a rubber glove with clusters of projections that can be used to clean garments. Although these references achieve specific and unique objectives, they are designed to fit over the entire hand of a user. Because the finger tips are covered, these devices are not suitable for rock climbing where dexterity and touch are of critical importance. Moreover, the abrading nature of the gloves is not suitable for sweeping. [0015] Thus, there continues to be a need in the art for a hand worn implement that can be used by rock climbers to sweep away chalk build up and/or other debris and which overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings present in the background art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0016] It is therefore an object of this invention to eliminate the need for a climber to reach for a tool before cleaning a rock feature. [0017] It is another object of this invention to maximize climber safety by allowing a user to effectively and easily clean away chalk build ups occluding nearby fissures. [0018] It is a further object of this invention to enable a brush to be worn on a user's finger, thereby allowing it to be easily used and conveniently carried. [0019] It is still another object of this invention to enable a brush to be worn on the hand of a climber, while at the same time keeping the rest of the climber's hand free and unencumbered so as to maximize dexterity and touch. [0020] It is also an object of this invention to increase the safety associated with the sport of rock climbing by allowing climbers to more effectively grip fissures or outcroppings, all the while maximizing the points of contact with the face of the rock wall. [0021] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Continue reading about Finger mounted rock climbing implement... Full patent description for Finger mounted rock climbing implement Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Finger mounted rock climbing implement patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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