Patent Publication Number: US-11033927-B1

Title: Paint roller wrist relief device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     The present application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/731,952, filed Nov. 29, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices for supporting a user holding a device, such as a paint roller, and, more particularly, to wrist support devices that may be coupled to or integrated into a paint roller and to methods for making and using such devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Paint rollers are commonly known devices that include a handle supporting a frame carrying a roller wheel to which individual conventional paint rollers may be attached. The roller may be rolled in a tray of paint, and the paint may then be manually applied to a surface, e.g., a wall, ceiling, and the like by pushing the roller back and forth while holding the handle. Once the paint on the roller is depleted, the user may obtain more paint from the tray and repeat the motion to apply the paint over the desired surface. Given the weight of the paint-drenched roller, when the user extends their arm outwardly and/or upwardly to apply the paint to the surface, the user&#39;s arm and particularly wrist may be subjected to substantially forces, which may cause fatigue, pressure, pain, and potential injury. 
     Accordingly, devices that may relieve pressure from the wrist while painting would be useful. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to devices for supporting a user holding a device, such as a paint roller, and more particularly to wrist support devices that may be coupled to or integrated into a paint roller and to methods for making and using such devices. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a device is provided for supporting a wrist of a user holding a paint roller including a handle, a frame extending from the handle along a longitudinal axis, and a roller wheel carried by the frame opposite the handle, the device including a base portion including one or more connectors for coupling the base portion to the handle of the paint roller, and a rigid support member extending laterally from the base portion, the support member comprising a curved surface for at least partially surrounding a wrist of a user holding the handle to support the wrist. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the support member is a “C” shaped member defining an arc that curves away from the longitudinal axis such that the curved surface defines a recess for receiving a wrist of the user holding the handle. In another exemplary embodiment, the one or more connectors may include a nipple extending from the first end of the base portion including one more helical threads, ratchet elements, and the like for engaging with corresponding features on the handle to secure the device to the handle of a paint roller. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a paint roller device is provided that includes a paint roller comprising a handle, a frame extending from the handle along a longitudinal axis, and a roller wheel carried by the frame opposite the handle; and a rigid support member extending laterally from the handle, the support member comprising a curved surface for at least partially surrounding a wrist of a user holding the handle to support the wrist. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a wrist support device. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are side and ends views, respectively, of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  coupled to the handle of a paint roller. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a wrist support device. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are side, top, and perspective views, respectively, of yet another embodiment of a wrist support device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of examples of the devices. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the disclosed devices may be practiced without these specific details. In the other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the devices shown. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1-2 , an exemplary embodiment of a device  10  is shown for supporting a wrist of a user (not shown) holding a paint roller. For example,  FIG. 3  shows an example of a paint roller  40  to which the device  10  may be coupled, including a handle  50 , a frame  60  extending from the handle along a longitudinal axis  62 , and a roller wheel  70  carried by the frame opposite the handle  50  onto which a paint roller (not shown) may be mounted during use. 
     Returning to  FIGS. 1-2 , the device  10  generally includes a hub or base portion  20  including one or more connectors for coupling the device  10  to a handle  50  of the paint roller  40 , and a support member  30  extending laterally from the base portion  20  and configured to at least partially surrounding a wrist or forearm of a user holding the handle  50 . The base portion includes a first end  22  including one or more connectors  24  for coupling the device  10  to the handle  50  and a second free end  26  opposite the first end  22 , thereby defining an axis  28  between the first and second ends  22 ,  26 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the one or more connectors  24  includes a nipple  24   a  aligned with the axis  28  including one or more external helical threads  24   b . For example, the nipple  24   a  may be sized to be received in a corresponding recess  52  in the handle  50 , which may include one or more internal helical threads therein corresponding to the threads  24   b , e.g., such that the device  10  may be coupled to the handle  50  by threading the nipple  24   a  into the recess. In this manner, the device  10  may be fixed relative to the handle  50  but may be removed, if desired. 
     Alternatively, other connectors may be provided. For example, a collar may be provided on the first end  22  of the base portion  20  that includes internal threads (not shown), and the handle  50  may include a nipple with external threads (also not shown). In another alternative, the nipple  24   a  may include one or more detents or ratchet elements (not shown) that may snap into or over corresponding features on the handle  50 . In a further alternative, the base portion  20  may be permanently coupled to the handle  50 , e.g., integrally molded or otherwise formed together, as described elsewhere herein. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2B , the support member  30  is a “C” shaped member defining an arc that curves radially away from the axis  28  such that an inner curved surface  32  thereof defines a recess  34  adjacent the base portion  20  that receives a wrist or forearm of the user holding the handle  50 . For example, the base portion  20  may define a substantially planar surface  21  that extends between the first and second ends  22 ,  26 , and the support member  30  may extend from the base portion  20  such that the curved surface  32  curves away from the planar surface  21  and/or away from the axis  28  such that the planar surface  21  and curved surface  32  together define the recess  34 . Optionally, a cushion or padding material (not shown) may be provided on the planar surface  21  and/or the curved surface  32 , e.g., to provide comfort to the user&#39;s wrist and/or forearm and/or to prevent the device  10  from slipping when in use. 
     The support member  30  may define an arc greater than ninety degrees (90°), e.g., between ninety and two hundred seventy degrees (90-270°), or about one hundred eighty degrees (180°) such that the recess  34  can secure the wrist or forearm of the user therein when the handle  50  is held. The inner surface  32  of the support member  30  may generally surround a central axis defining a substantially uniform radius or variable radius “R,” e.g., not more than about 1.5-3 six inches (15.0 cm), e.g., between about 1.5 and three inches (3-8-7.5 cm), e.g., as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     Optionally, the support member  30  may have a more complicated curvilinear shape, for example, including a curved portion extending from the base portion  20  defining a concave inner surface  32 , e.g. curving about one hundred eighty degrees (180°), and then straightening or curving in the opposite direction to provide a space to facilitate receiving a wrist or forearm in the recess  34 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2A , the base portion  20  generally has a relatively short length “L” between its first and second ends  22 ,  26 , e.g., such that the support member  30  is located immediately adjacent the handle  50  when the device  10  is coupled to a paint roller  40 . For example, the length “L” may be not more than about six inches (15.0 cm), or not more than four inches (10.0 cm), or not more than about three inches (7.5 cm). The curved surface  32  of the support member  30  may then have a width (defined as parallel to the length “L” and the axis  28 ) smaller than the length “L,” while providing the support member  30  immediately adjacent the handle  50 . 
     Alternatively, the base portion  20  may have a longer length to provide the support member further from the handle. For example, in  FIG. 4 , a support device  10 ′ is shown that includes a base portion  20 ′ having a much longer length “L 2 ,” e.g., between about six and twelve inches (15-30 cm), with the support member  30 ′ provided adjacent the second free end  26 ′ of the base portion  20 .′ The support member  30 ′ may have a similar shape and/or construction to the support member  30 , but may be provided at a location to surround a region of the user&#39;s forearm, e.g., adjacent the elbow. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5A-5C , another embodiment of a support device  110  is shown that includes a hub or base portion  120  and a support member  130  extending from the base portion  120 . The base portion  120  may include one or more connectors, e.g., a nipple  124   a  including threads  124   b , similar to other embodiments herein, to couple the device  110  to a handle of a paint roller (not shown). 
     Unlike the previous embodiments, the support member  130  includes a pair of arms  132  extending from the base portion  120 , e.g., defining a generally “Y” shape, and a curved support  134  extending between ends of the arms  132 . As best seen in  FIG. 5A , the base portion  120  may define an axis  128  and the arms  132  may curved away from the axis  128 , and the support  134  may define an arc between the arms  132  to accommodate receiving a portion of a user&#39;s forearm (not shown) between the arms  132  when the user holds the handle of a paint roller to which the device  110  has been coupled. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the device  10  (and any of the other support devices herein) may be integrally formed as a single piece including the base portion  20  and the support member  30 . For example, the device  10  may be formed by molding, three-D printing, casting, machining, and the like, e.g., from plastic, fiberglass, metal, or composite materials. Alternatively, the device  10  may be integrated directly into the handle of a paint roller. For example, the handle of a conventional paint roller may be extended sufficient length to accommodate integrating a support member into the handle itself, thereby providing a custom-designed paint roller. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , during use, the device  10  (or any of the other support devices herein) may be provided to a user who may couple the device to a handle  50  of a paint roller  40 . For example, as described above, the nipple  24   a  may be threaded into the handle  50  of the paint roller  40  until secure. The user may then use the paint roller normally, e.g., roll the paint roller in a tray of paint, and then user the roller to manually apply the paint to a surface, e.g., a wall, ceiling. Because the support member  30  extends at least partially around the wrist of the user, the weight of the paint roller is distributed up the forearm of the user, thereby minimizing localizer pressure to the wrist that may reduce fatigue, paint, and injury. Thus, a user may be able to paint longer and/or using wider paint rollers (holding greater amounts of paint, with the additional weight supported by the user&#39;s arm). 
     In addition, the support member  30  may contact the user&#39;s forearm immediately adjacent the wrist, which may stabilize the paint roller  40  during use. Consequently, the user may be able to use greater pressure when applying paint to a surface with less pressure being born by the wrist. 
     It will be appreciated that elements or components shown with any embodiment herein are exemplary for the specific embodiment and may be used on or in combination with other embodiments disclosed herein. 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications, and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.