Abstract:
An exercise device for enhancing the mobility of a user who may be suffering from tendinitis of the wrist. The device includes a forearm brace portion that is hingeably connected to a hand brace portion with a spring element connecting the two brace portions together. The spring element can be changed to vary the resistance against which the user works. Straps and loops connect portions of the user&#39;s hand and forearm to the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of exercise and kinestherapy devices, and to the particular field of hand and/or wrist devices. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Today, more and more people are engaging in a wider and wider variety of physical activities. As more people engage in such activities, the incidence of injuries increases. Such injuries range from “weekend warrior” bumps and bruises and sprains to extremely serious injuries. 
     Furthermore, many occupations create situations where a worker is in danger of suffering an injury. Such injuries include repetitive stress injuries as well as sprains, bruises and the like. 
     Accordingly, many rehabilitation centers and devices have proliferated. However, many of the rehabilitation devices are expensive and complicated. In fact, some such devices cannot be used by all potential patients because the devices are either too expensive or too difficult to use. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a rehabilitation device that is inexpensive and easy to use, even for elderly and infirm patients. 
     Tendinitis is a very common ailment. In particular, tendinitis of the wrist is fairly common. However, in spite of the many rehabilitation devices available, the inventor is not aware of any such device which is as inexpensive and as easy to use as possible. Thus, improvement of such rehabilitation devices is possible and desirable. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved rehabilitation device which is useful in treating tendinitis, especially tendinitis of the wrist. 
     Still further, some rehabilitation devices are not as comfortable as possible. For example, the devices may be heavy, or may require a user to twist his or her appendage in an uncomfortable way, or the like. For this reason, some rehabilitation devices are not used as often or as vigorously as possible, and full advantage is not taken of such devices. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a rehabilitation device which is comfortable. 
     Still further, many rehabilitation devices must be cleaned after a certain number of uses. However, due to the construction of many existing rehabilitation devices, cleaning is difficult or complicated. For this reason, some rehabilitation devices are not cleaned as often as they should be. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a rehabilitation device that can be easily and efficiently cleaned. 
     Still further, some rehabilitation devices must be securely held in place in order to be fully effective. In fact, if such a device is not properly held in place, its effectiveness may be totally vitiated, and may even be harmful. However, it is not always possible to hold a rehabilitation device securely in place because the user is injured or simply not strong enough to hold the device as securely as required to obtain safe and effective use of the device. The device should be securely held in place in a manner that is comfortable and effective if the device is to be properly used. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a rehabilitation device that is securely held in place on a user during use without requiring undue effort by the user. 
     There is a further need for a rehabilitation device that is securely, yet comfortably, held in place on a user during use without requiring undue effort by the user. 
     A further requirement of an effective rehabilitation device is that it be versatile. That is, the device should be amenable to use by a wide range of users for a wide range of abilities and disabilities if the device is to be most effectively used. Thus, the device should be easy to alter to match the needs of the user. The resistance to movement of such devices is used to strengthen a user and such resistance should be variable in order to meet all of the needs of the users. It is even more desirable if the user can effect the adjustment without the aid of a consultant. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a rehabilitation device that can be easily adjusted to meet the particular needs of the user. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation device that is inexpensive and easy to use, even for elderly and infirm patients. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation device which is useful in treating tendinitis, especially tendinitis of the wrist. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation device which is comfortable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation device that can be easily and efficiently cleaned. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation device that is securely held in place on a user during use without requiring undue effort by the user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation device that is securely, yet comfortably, held in place on a user during use without requiring undue effort by the user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation device that can be easily adjusted to meet the particular needs of the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a wrist/hand exerciser which includes a forearm brace portion hingeably connected to a hand brace portion with a spring removably mounted thereon. The device of the present invention includes a steel frame on which a pad is placed with a cover removably enclosing these two elements. Straps and loops are strategically located on the device to comfortably, yet securely, attach the device to a user in a proper position. The device is shaped for comfortably fitting on the user. 
     In this manner, the user can comfortably, effectively and efficiently perform his or her rehabilitation exercises. After completion of a training session, the cover is easily removed for cleaning. 
     The device of the present invention is particularly suited to rehabilitating someone with tendinitis, especially tendinitis of the wrist. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the wrist/hand exerciser embodying the teaching of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the wrist/hand exerciser embodying the teaching of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     The rehabilitation device of the present invention is most useful in rehabilitating a person who has tendinitis in his or her wrist. The device is easily adjusted and is easily cleaned, yet is comfortable and versatile. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a wrist/hand mobility exerciser  10  embodying the present invention comprises: a forearm portion  12  which abuts a user&#39;s forearm from the user&#39;s wrist towards the user&#39;s elbow when exerciser  10  is in place on the user. Forearm portion  12  includes a first monolithic, one-piece steel frame  14  which, as is best seen in FIG. 2, is in the shape of an ogee curve to be comfortably worn by the user on his or her forearm. The plate can be high tensile plastic if suitable. The forearm portion further includes a first monolithic, one-piece pad  16  on the first steel frame  14  so the exerciser does not place a steel plate against a user&#39;s skin. A first monolithic, one-piece cover  18  is removably mounted on pad  16  and on first steel frame  14  of forearm portion  12  so that the cover can easily be removed, cleaned and replaced after each use of exerciser  10 . 
     Forearm portion  12  further includes a distal end  20  and a proximal end  22 , with proximal end  22  being located adjacent to a user&#39;s wrist when exerciser  10  is in place on the user. 
     Forearm brace portion  12  is removably attached to a user by means of a first forearm attaching strap  30  on forearm brace portion  12  near distal end  20  of forearm brace portion  12  and a second forearm attaching strap  32  on forearm brace portion  12  near proximal end  22  of forearm brace portion  12 . Both of the straps  30  and  32  include two strap portions, such as strap portions  34  and  36  of strap  30 , with each strap portion including a fastener, such as strips of hook-and-loop fastener material  40  and  42 , thereon. The straps can be closed over the user&#39;s forearm and pulled as tight as desired and then connected together using the fasteners on the straps. This permits the user to easily and quickly adjust the fit of exercise device  10  to his or her own comfort range while the device is held in place for proper use. 
     A first spring seat  48  is located on surface  50  on forearm brace portion  12  near proximal end  22  of forearm brace portion  12  for a purpose that will be understood from this disclosure. 
     Exerciser  10  further includes a hand brace portion  60  which is curved to comfortably and securely fit against a user&#39;s palm when exerciser  10  is being used. Hand brace portion  60  is concave in shape with respect to the user&#39;s palm as can be seen in FIG.  2 . 
     Hand brace portion  60  includes a second monolithic, one-piece steel frame  62 , a second monolithic, one-piece pad  64  on second steel frame  62  and a second monolithic, and a one-piece cover  66  removably mounted on pad  64  and on second steel frame  62  of hand brace portion  60 . 
     Hand brace portion  60  further includes a distal end  68 , and a proximal end  70 , with proximal end  70  located adjacent to proximal end  22  of forearm brace portion  12  and being located to be adjacent to a user&#39;s wrist when exerciser  10  is on the user. Hand brace portion  60  is attached to a user&#39;s hand by means of elements such as a first hand attaching strap  74  on hand brace portion  60  near proximal end  70  of hand brace portion  60  to be located near a user&#39;s interdigital pads when in use, with attaching strap  74  being similar to straps  30  and  32  to attach a user&#39;s hand to exerciser  10  in a secure yet comfortable manner. 
     A second spring seat  76  is located on hand brace portion  60  near proximal end  70  of hand brace portion  60 . A plurality of finger loops, such as loop  80 , are located on surface  82  of hand brace portion  70  near hand attaching strap  74  on hand brace portion  60  for securely holding a user&#39;s fingers in place and in proper position and orientation for proper use of exerciser  10 . 
     A hinge portion  84  connects hand brace portion  60  to forearm brace portion  12  together in a manner that permits the portions to move with respect to each other as indicated by arrows designated by numerals  86  and  88  in FIG. 2, with two positions of hand brace portion  60  being shown. 
     A spring sleeve  90  is located on hinge portion  84  and a spring element  92  is removably mounted in spring sleeve  90  and has one end  94  removably received in first spring seat  48  on forearm brace portion  12  and a second end  96  removably received in second spring seat  76  on hand brace portion  60 . 
     It is noted that the cover for both the forearm brace portion and the hand brace portion can be combined into a fabric cover with a foam cushion in place of the two separate elements discussed above. It is also noted that different size elements can be used if the exerciser is to be used with a child or with an adult. In one case, the forearm brace portion can be twelve inches inoverall length and three to four inches in width with a {fraction (3/16)}″ thick plastic plate. One form of the spring is a piano spring, with springs being used that offer upward force as well as downward force and variable forces as will occur to those familiar with the spring art. Color coding can also be used to help a user identify the spring of his or her choice. 
     As will be understood by those skilled in the art, exerciser  10  is attached to a user by attaching straps  30  and  32  together over the user&#39;s forearm, inserting the user&#39;s fingers into loops  80  and attaching strap  74  together over the user&#39;s hand. The user then moves his or her hand relative to his or her forearm to move hand brace portion  60  in the direction indicated in FIG. 2 by arrows  86  and  88  which are double-headed to indicate the back and forth movement of the user&#39;s hand during use of exerciser  10 . Different spring elements  92  can be inserted and/or removed from spring sleeve  84  to adjust and change the tension against which the user works according to the exercise routine for that user. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 1, spring ends  94  and  96  abut against spring end abutment pads  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  on the forearm brace portion and on the hand brace portion near the proximal ends  22  and  70  respectively. These pads protect the spring and the brace portions from wear and tear from the spring ends as the exerciser is moved in directions indicated by arrows  86  and  88 . 
     An alternative form of the exerciser is shown in FIGS. 4-6 as exerciser  10 ′. Exerciser  10 ′ is similar to exerciser  10 , except that exerciser  10 ′ includes a second hand attaching strap  110  on hand brace portion  60 ′ near distal end  68 ′ of hand brace portion  60 ′ and omits the spring seats and spring end abutment pads. Strap  110  is identical to hand strap  74  and includes a fastener, such as hook-and-loop fastener  112 , thereon to fix strap  110  to a user&#39;s hand near the fingers of the user. This provides a more secure attachment of exerciser  10 ′ to the user, if such more secure attachment is desired. Otherwise, exerciser  10 ′ is identical to exerciser  10  and thus will not be further discussed. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.