Abstract:
A device of the present invention for supporting a user&#39;s arms, head, and hands allowing the user to perform tasks requiring stability and fine motor movement, the device includes a base, at least two upright members operatively attached to the base, and support means operatively attached to each of the upright members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/679,060 filed on May 9, 2005, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that supports a user&#39;s head and wrists. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable head rest and arm/wrist support that may be employed to stabilize a user&#39;s head and arms so that they may insert a contact lens or perform a similar task.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Individuals who are functionally blind due to eye injuries or diseases of the cornea often use rigid gas permeable (“RPG”) contact lenses. In particular, such individuals often utilize a Boston Scleral Lens™ (a “Scleral™ lens”), developed at the Boston Foundation for Sight™.  
         [0004]     When inserting an RGP lens, and particularly a Scleral™ lens, which contains a large volume of fluid, it is critical that the wearer keep the lens aligned with the wearer&#39;s eye. The alignment involves both centering the lens on the eye and aligning the lens on a perpendicular axis to the eye. The lens must be centered, square and level to the eye for a successful insertion.  
         [0005]     If a Scleral™ lens is misaligned during insertion, the fluid will spill out. Moreover, a slight misalignment of an RPG or Scleral™ lens may cause the lens to hit the wearer&#39;s eyelid or finger and fall out. Additionally, insertion of a lens such that it is only partly on the cornea or in the corner of the eye can cause injury. Even if an imperfect alignment does not cause injury but aligns by flipping onto the sclera, there is a good chance that bubbles will be formed in the fluid reducing the efficacy of the lens.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, insertion of such lenses requires precise movements of a wearer&#39;s hands in addition to a stabilized head. Many elderly wearers simply do not have steady enough hands to insert their lenses. Other wearers are on medications or may have a degenerative condition affecting their fine motor movements rendering insertion of such lenses extremely difficult.  
         [0007]     Additionally, people with diminished fine motor movements, such as those described above, may have difficulty applying make-up, especially eye make-up, and using tweezers around their eyes and face. Moreover, such people may not be able to perform activities such as sewing, knitting, tying fishing line, writing or drawing.  
         [0008]     An embodiment of the present invention addresses these problems by providing an adjustable support on which a user&#39;s arms/wrists can be supported and the user&#39;s head can be comfortably stabilized in relation to the hands in order to allow the precise movements of the hands and fingers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a support device that enables an individual with impaired or diminished fine motor movement to perform a variety of tasks requiring stable arms, hands and/or head.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support device that supports and stabilizes a user&#39;s arms, hands and head.  
         [0011]     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support device that supports and stabilizes a user&#39;s arms, hands and head facilitating the alignment and insertion of a contact lens.  
         [0012]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable support device that supports and stabilizes a user&#39;s arms, hands and/or head so that the user may apply make-up and perform activities such as sewing, knitting, tying fishing line, writing or drawing.  
         [0013]     A preferred embodiment of the support device of the present invention includes a base, at least one upright member operatively attached to the base, and a support means operatively attached to the upright member.  
         [0014]     This and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated from a reading of the application in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto as follows. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the support device of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the support device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the support device of  FIG. 1  illustrating the head and arms of a user in the support device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the support device  10  of the present invention includes a base  20 , upright members  30 , hand/wrist supports  40 , and a heat support or rest  60 . The upright members  30  are operatively connected to the base  20  and the supports  40 ,  60  are operatively connected to the upright members  30 .  
         [0019]     The base  20  is typically placed on a table  50  for use. The base  20  is preferably U-shaped so a mirror  80  may be placed on the table  50  between the hand/wrist supports  40  such that a user can visualize their eyes and face to insert a lens or apply make-up. The U-shaped base  20  has three sections of tubing each extending longitudinally in a plane parallel to the plane of the table  50 . As will be appreciated, the mirror  80  may also be mounted on the base  20 .  
         [0020]     The base  20  preferably includes skid-resistant pads  70  that prevent the base  20  from sliding on the table  50 . As will be appreciated, the pads may be manufactured from rubber or a like skid resistant substance. The base  20  may be manufactured from a variety of materials including PVC piping. The materials, however, should be of a weight that allows the device to be easily moved.  
         [0021]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the upright members  30  are operatively connected to the base  20  through a coupling or joint  82 . The upright members  30  extend upward toward the user in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the table  50  and base  20 . Preferably, the upright members  30  are moveable about the portion of the base  20  to which they are attached. The upright members  30  may be moved in a plane parallel to the plane of the table  50 . The upright members  30  may be secured in position along the base  20  through a knob/pin  90  which extends into a hole (not shown) in the base  20 . As will be appreciated, the knob/pin  90  may include a biasing means (not shown) to fixedly hold the pin  90  in the hole on the base  20 .  
         [0022]     The device  10  also includes support means  40 ,  60 , which include the wrist/arm supports  40  and head rest  60 . The support means  40 ,  60  are operatively connected to the upright members  30  preferably through a coupling or joint. The wrist/arm supports  40  are rotatable about an axis a. The wrist/arm supports may also be raised or lowered about the upright members  30  in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the table  50 . The mechanism for raising/lowering and securing the wrist/arm supports may also be a knob/pin with biasing means and a hole as described above. The wrist/arm supports  40  are preferably padded, are unshaped or concave, and are sized to fit the majority of a user&#39;s forearm so that a user may comfortably maintain their arm/wrist in the support  40  for an extended period of time.  
         [0023]     An important aspect of the present invention is the adjustability of the arm/wrist supports  40 . The support means  40 ,  60  should be adjustable to accommodate both the size, i.e., height, of the user and the particular activity of the user. The support means  40 ,  60  must also be stable and secure enough to permit the user to place a relatively significant portion of their body weight on the support means  40 ,  60  while inserting the lens or performing another activity.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the head rest  60  is operatively connected to the base  20 . Preferably, the head rest is connected to the base through a joint or coupling. The head rest coupling or joint  62  is preferably bent or angled toward the user to ensure a comfortable, natural position of the head. The head rest  60  is rotatable about an axis b to accommodate different activities of the user. As will be appreciated, the head rest should be curved or concave and padded to comfortably support a user&#39;s head. The head rest  60  should also be adjustable about the upright member  30  in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the table  50  as described above. The upright member  30  supporting the head rest  60  may be movable about the base  20  in a plane parallel to the plane of the table  50  in the same fashion as described above for the uprights  30  supporting the arm/wrist supports  40 .  
         [0025]     An important aspect of the present invention is the adjustability of the head rest  60 . As with the arm/wrist supports  40 , the positioning of support in order to comfortably support a user&#39;s head is critical. The user&#39;s head must be comfortably supported and stabilized to facilitate insertion of a lens. The user must also be able to adjust the head rest so that it may effectively utilize a mirror  80  ( FIG. 1 ). The mirror  80  would assist in inserting conventional contact lenses, i.e., non-Scleral™ lenses, applying makeup, utilizing tweezers and like.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in order to use the device  10  to insert a lens, the user must place its arms/wrists in the arm/wrist supports  40 . Typically, the user will have already adjusted the supports  40  and head rest  60  to a comfortable position. The user then places its head in the head rest  60  in a comfortably position to that it is stabilized. The user then aligns the lens and inserts it into the user&#39;s eye.  
         [0027]     The foregoing description is intended to describe the preferred form of the invention and the best mode contemplated by us for carrying out this invention. To those skilled in the art, however, various modifications and variations to the specific embodiments described herein may be apparent without departing from the scope of the invention.