Why pens have rubbery grips
pnas.org
Why pens have rubbery grips
1–10 of 47 posts
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#2TLDR from the article:
> Because the keratin softens when it is hydrated by the moisture secreted from the sweat pores, it requires many seconds for the contact area to increase to the value reached almost instantaneously with a soft material, such as a rubber.
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#3[deleted]
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#4TLDR from the article: > Because the keratin softens when it is hydrated by the moisture secreted from the sweat pores, it requires many seconds for the contact area to increase to the value reached almost instantaneously with a soft material, such as a rubber.
The most interesting thing from the bottom of the abstract.
This mechanism might be used by our tactile sense to identify materials and has implications for the design of tactile displays.
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#5Because it sucks to hold a plastic pen slipping around in sweaty hands?
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#6Because it sucks to hold a plastic pen slipping around in sweaty hands?
Terrible title problems. To save time, here's the outline given when you click on the link:
TL-DR: 'Why does gripping a pen, tool, or handle feel more secure when it is coated with a rubbery material? The keratin of the skin outer layer is stiff and rough at a small scale. When encountering a smooth, stiff, and impermeable surface, such as polished metal or glass, the actual contact area is initially small as is the friction. Because the keratin softens when it is hydrated by the moisture secreted from the sweat pores, it requires many seconds for the contact area to increase to the value reached almost instantaneously with a soft material, such as a rubber. This mechanism might be used by our tactile sense to identify materials and has implications for the design of tactile displays. '
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#7Most commodity ballpoint pens didn't have rubbery grips prior to the mid 1990's. I remember back-to-school shopping at the end of one summer, and most of the bags of pens were upgraded to have built-in grips. Prior to that, you'd buy triangular slip-on sleeves separately, if you wanted additional gripping traction.
It was a trend that started, and progressed like many other marketing arms races. One stand-out product emerged and out sold the normal offerings, due to novelty, and all other imitators jumped on the band wagon to cash in on that novelty.
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#8How is this a thing that needs explaining?
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#9How is this a thing that needs explaining?
Try actually reading the paper. The analysis is actually quite compelling.
Re: Why pens have rubbery grips
#10Most commodity ballpoint pens didn't have rubbery grips prior to the mid 1990's. I remember back-to-school shopping at the end of one summer, and most of the bags of pens were upgraded to have built-in grips. Prior to that, you'd buy triangular slip-on sleeves separately, if you wanted additional gripping traction. It was a trend that started, and progressed like many other marketing arms races. One stand-out product…
>triangular slip-on sleeves separately
As someone who grew up in the 90's, I can almost guarantee you would get the crap beat out of them for walking into school with something like that.
Thank goodness they're integrated into the pen now!