Patent Publication Number: US-2019184221-A1

Title: Tray for holding exercise putty and putty tools

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/599,878, filed on Dec. 18, 2017, and entitled “Tray for Holding Exercise Putty and Putty Tools”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and on which priority is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to storage units for holding medical tools and more particularly relates to trays for storing and organizing exercise putty and putty therapy tools. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Various medical injuries and conditions often benefit from rehabilitation exercises to increase strength, dexterity and range of motion. Exercise putty, which is also referred to as therapy putty, is often utilized as a therapy for hand, wrist and upper extremity injuries and conditioning. Users can manipulate the putty with their hands and perform various exercises known to be beneficial for a particular injury or condition. Exercise putties having varying viscosities are available to make manipulation thereof more or less strenuous, thus varying the difficulty of the exercise being performed. Exercise putty is typically stored in a cylindrical container. When a user desires to perform an exercise with the putty, the putty is removed from the container and placed either on a hard surface or in the hands of the user. When the exercise is complete, the user must return the putty to the storage container; however, the user who has a hand injury and after undergoing a rigorous therapy routine, may find it difficult to replace the putty back into the container, as the putty may need to be further manipulated and reshaped to conform to the shape of the container. 
     Exercise putty can also be used in conjunction with various tools that, when manipulated by a user, replicate natural human functional movements. For example, an L-bar tool, peg-turn tool, cap-turn tool, key-turn tool and knob-turn tool are often utilized by a user to manipulate the exercise putty as a method of therapy and rehabilitation. These tools are often sold individually or as a standardized set and may be offered in combination with various exercise putties. To utilize the tools in a particular therapy exercise, the user removes the putty from the storage container and places it on a hard surface. The user then selects a particular therapy tool, which is often loosely stored in a drawer or bag with other tools, and manipulates the putty with the tool. When the user is done with the exercise, the user returns the tool to the bag and returns the putty to the storage container. The storage container for the putty is separate from the therapy tools and oftentimes the tools are mislaid or the putty cannot be found. 
     A typical therapy routine utilizes a series of exercises utilizing an array of tools. Often, it is undesirable to take long pauses between exercises to search for and retrieve a particular exercise tool, which are commonly stored loosely in a drawer or bag. Furthermore, it is time consuming to remove and replace the exercise putty from cylindrical storage containers. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a combined storage device for exercise putty and the therapy tools used therewith. By providing a kit where a patient can work the putty, such precludes the need for the therapist to clean/sanitize the table where it would normally be used in the clinic environment. 
     A kit also provides a convenient way to bring the tools and putty to clients who need therapy at home. The therapist need only the one kit which will provide her/him with the putty, tools and a clean work place in a convenient manner. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a tray for storing exercise putty. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a tray for storing and organizing putty therapy tools. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tray on which putty exercises may be performed. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tray that includes a putty storage receptacle that allows exercise putty to naturally return to a pre-manipulated shape after use. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a tray for storing and organizing exercise putty and putty therapy tools that securely holds the putty and tools when not in use. 
     In accordance with one form of the present invention, a tray for storing and organizing exercise putty and putty therapy tools is provided. The tray includes a base and a cover that is situated on the base. The base includes a plurality of receptacles in the form of recessed portions into which exercise putty and putty therapy tools are received. The recessed portions defining the tool receptacles are particularly shaped to conform to the shape of the tools that they hold. The cover is selectively engageable with and joinable to the base to secure the putty and tools within the recessed portions. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the putty receptacle in the base of the tray provides a surface or containment area of sufficient size to allow the therapy exercises to be performed directly in the tray without the need to remove the putty from the tray and replacing it after exercises have been completed. Furthermore, since both the putty and the exercise tools are stored together in the same tray of the present invention, and not separately, it is less likely that the tools or the putty will be mislaid. Additionally, because the tool receptacles are formed with the same general shape of the tools that they hold, the user of the present invention can easily see if he has forgotten to return a tool to the tray and can readily identify the mislaid tool from viewing the overall shape of the empty tool receptacle. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded front perspective view of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention, showing the cover detached from the base. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is another front elevational view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is another front elevational view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a partially exploded, top perspective view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray of the present invention shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference should initially be made to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, where it can be seen that a tray  2  for holding exercise putty and putty therapy tools  3  formed in accordance with the present invention basically includes two main components: a base  4  and a cover  6  that is situated on or over the base  4  and joinable thereto. The base  4  includes a plurality of recessed portions  8  that are dimensioned and shaped to receive exercise (e.g., therapy) putty (not shown) and putty therapy tools  3  that are utilized in conjunction with the exercise putty to perform various rehabilitative and strengthening exercises. The cover  6  generally has a shape that conforms to the shape of the base  4  so that it may be fitted on or over the base  4  to cover the putty and tools  3  situated in the recessed portions  8  when the putty and tools  3  are not being used (i.e., during storage). 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4-6  of the drawings, the base  4  includes a top surface  10 , a bottom surface  12  situated opposite the top surface  10 , and a sidewall  14  extending downwardly from the bottom surface  12  at least partially around the periphery of the base  4 . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-10  of the drawings, the cover  6  includes a top surface  16  and a bottom surface  18  situated opposite the top surface  16 . A sidewall  20  extends downwardly from the bottom surface  18  of the cover at least partially around the periphery thereof. The sidewall  20  and the bottom surface  18  of the cover  6  define a cavity  22  into which the base  4  is at least partially received. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the base  4  is generally rectangular in shape and includes a first sidewall  24 , a second sidewall  26 , a third sidewall  28  and a fourth sidewall  30 , each of which extends downwardly from the bottom surface  12  of the base. The first sidewall  24  is situated opposite and generally parallel to the third sidewall  28 , and the second sidewall  26  is situated opposite and generally parallel to the fourth sidewall  30 . The cover  6  is complementary shaped to the base  4  and also includes a first sidewall  32 , a second sidewall  34 , a third sidewall  36  and a fourth sidewall  38 , each of which extends downwardly from the bottom surface  18  thereof. The first sidewall  32  of the cover  6  is situated opposite and generally parallel to the third sidewall  36  of the cover  6 , and the second sidewall  34  of the cover  6  is situated opposite and generally parallel to the fourth sidewall  38  of the cover  6 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings, the cover  6  is fitted on or over the base  4  so that the base  4  is received within the cavity  22  thereof. 
     The base  4  further includes at least one putty receptacle  40  for storing the exercise putty. The putty receptacle  40  is formed as a rectangular (or some other shape) recessed portion  42  that extends through the top surface  10  thereof. The recessed portion  42  preferably includes a first pair of opposite sidewalls  44  and a second pair of opposite sidewalls  46 , the first pair of sidewalls  44  being generally perpendicular to the second pair of sidewalls  46 . The recessed portion  42  further includes a bottom surface  48  that extends between the first and second pairs of sidewalls  44 ,  46  that is situated below the top surface  10  of the base  4 . When the exercise putty is stored within the recessed portion  42  of the putty receptacle  40  and not being used, it spreads out due to its Newtonian properties. Accordingly, as the putty spreads out during rest, it is retained within the recessed portion  42  by the bottom surface  48  and sidewalls  44 ,  46  thereof and thereby, over time, conforms to the shape of the putty receptacle  40 , ready for reuse. 
     The base  4  further includes at least one tool receptacle  50 . As will be described in greater detail in the forthcoming paragraphs, the tool receptacle  50  is formed as a recessed portion  52  that extends through the top surface  10  of the base  4 . Preferably, the base  4  includes a plurality of tool receptacles  50  so that a standard set of putty therapy tools  3  comprising an L-bar tool, peg-turn tool, cap-turn tool, key-turn tool and knob-turn tool may be stored therein. The putty receptacle  40  is preferably situated centrally on the base  4  and the tool receptacles  50  are preferably situated adjacent to the putty receptacle  40 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4  of the drawings, the tool receptacles  50  are formed as recessed portions  52 , each of which comprises a peripheral sidewall  54  that is at least partially complementary in shape to the shape of the particular tool  3  that is received within the recessed portion  52 . Each of the tool receptacles  50  includes a bottom surface  56  that extends from and between the peripheral sidewall  54  of the recessed portion  52  and is situated below the top surface  10  of the base  4 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  of the drawings, some adjacent tool receptacles  50  may be interconnected by a finger recess  58  that extends through the top surface  10  of the base  4  and at least partially interconnects adjacent tool receptacles  50 . Each finger recess  58  facilitates removal of specific tools  3  from the tool receptacle  50  and allows a user to insert his or her finger underneath the tool  3  to remove it from the receptacle  50 . 
     Preferably, the bottom surfaces  48 ,  56  of the recessed portions  42 ,  52  of both the putty receptacle  40  and tool receptacles  50  are formed to a depth sufficiently lower than the top surface  10  of the base so that, when the tools  3  and putty are received within the recessed portions  52 ,  42 , they do not extend beyond the top surface  10  of the base  4 . Accordingly, when the cover  6  is situated on the base  4 , the bottom surface  18  of the cover  6  rests on the top surface  10  of the base  4  thereby holding the putty and tools within their respective receptacles  42 ,  52 . The cover  6  may rest on and be supported by the base  4  in a raised position above the top surface  10  of the base  4  to provide sufficient space between the cover  6  and the base  4  to accommodate exercise tools  3  having portions thereof that protrude from and above the top surface  10  of the base  4 . 
     As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the cover  6  is joinable to the base  4  and secures the putty and tools  3  within the recessed portions  42 ,  52  of the base. As can be seen in  FIGS. 1-3, 6, 9 and 10  of the drawings, the sidewall  14  of the base  4  may further include a tab or ridge  60  that extends outwardly therefrom. The tab or ridge  60  in the sidewall  14  of the base  4  is receivable within a corresponding recess or indent  62  formed in the cover  6 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second and forth sidewalls  26 ,  30  of the base  4  each include an elongated ridge  60  that extends at least partially along the length of the sidewall  26 ,  30  and extends outwardly therefrom. Each of the second and forth sidewalls  34 ,  38  of the cover  6  includes a complementary shaped recess  62  into which the elongated ridges  60  that extend from the sidewalls  26 ,  30  of the base are received. Accordingly, when the cover  6  is pressed over and onto the base  4 , the elongated ridges  60  engage and are received within the recesses  62  formed in the cover  6 , thereby joining the cover  6  to the base  4 . It is also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to form the ridges  60  and recesses  62  on other sides of the base  4  and cover  6 . 
     The base  4  may also include two or more handle portions  64  formed on a pair of opposite sidewalls thereof. As can be seen in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5  of the drawings, preferably, a first handle  66  is situated on the first sidewall  24  and a second handle  68  is situated on the third sidewall  28 . 
     Each handle  66 ,  68  is formed as a cutout  70  in each sidewall  24 ,  28 . The handles  66 ,  68  may further include a flange  72  that extends outwardly from a bottom edge  74  of each sidewall  24 ,  28  along the periphery of the cutout  70 . The flange  72  may also extend inwardly towards an internal cavity  76  of the base  4  defined by the sidewalls  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  that extend downwardly therefrom. 
     The cover  6  may also includes a complementary set of handles  78 ,  80  that align with and are situated over the handles  66 ,  68  formed in the base  4 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-9  of the drawings. For example, the cover  6  may include handle portions  78 ,  80  formed as cutouts  82  through the first sidewall  32  and the third sidewall  36  thereof, each of which includes a flange  84  that extends outwardly from the periphery  86  of the cutout  82 . When the cover  6  is joined to the base, the handles  78 ,  80  in the cover are aligned with and situated on the handles  66 ,  68  formed in the base  4  so that a user may insert his or her hands through the aligned handle portions to lift the tray  2  and contents therein. Furthermore, if the cover  6  is removed, the user may also lift the base  4  and the contents therein by inserting his or hands into the handle portions  66 ,  68  of the base  4 . It is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to form the handles  64  in any of the sidewalls of the cover  6  and the base  4 . 
     The base  4  and the cover  6  may be constructed by a variety of methods including injection molding and blow molding. Furthermore, the base  4  and cover  6  may be formed of a variety of materials. For example, the base  4  may be formed of ⅛″ Haircell Black ABS. The cover  6  may be formed of 0.100 clear PETG, or another clear material, so that the contents of the recessed portions  42 ,  52  in the base  4  are readily viewable by a user. In one embodiment, the tray  2  formed in accordance with the present invention functions as a storage device for the therapy components including the putty and tools  3  so that both the tools  3  and the putty may be easily located together by the user. When a user desires to perform an exercise using the putty, the putty and a particular putty therapy tool  3  are removed from the tray  2  and the exercise is performed on a separate surface. In another embodiment, the base  4  is constructed to be durable and sufficiently sturdy so that a user may perform the exercises directly on the putty that is situated within the recessed portion  42  in the top surface  10  of the base  4 . In both forms of the present invention, whether the exercise is performed directly on the base  4  or separately, the putty, when not in use or when returned to the tray  2 , over time naturally conforms and returns to the shape of the recessed portion  42  of the base  4  due to the Newtonian properties of the putty so that it is ready for future exercises. Also, the user can easily see if he has forgotten to return a tool  3  to the tray  2 , as well as the particular tool  3  that was not returned, from viewing the overall shape of the empty tool receptacle  50 . 
     A second embodiment of the storage tray of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  of the drawings. In the earlier embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , it is preferred to have recesses  50  formed in the top surface  10  of the base  4  of the tray  2 , each recess  50  being shaped to conform to that of a particular tool  3  so that the recess  50  accepts only that particular tool  3  and so that the user can easily see if he has forgotten to return a tool  3  to the tray  2 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , no recesses  50  are formed in the top surface  10  of the base  4  of the storage tray  2 , but rather markings or other indicia  100  are printed on the top surface  10  of the base  4 , which markings  100  are essentially an outline of the peripheral shape of the tool  3 . Each tool  3  is placed by the user within the marking  100  of the outline for that particular tool  3  and rests on the top surface  10  of the base  4 . Elastic straps  102   a  or Velcro™ hook and loop fasteners  102   b  are mounted on the top surface  10  of the base  4  and positioned to bridge the tool outline markings  100  and the tools  3  placed within the markings  100  so as to secure the tools  3  to the top surface  10  of the base  4 . 
     An alternative to the elastic straps  102   a  or hook and loop fasteners  102   b  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  is resilient clips  104 , as shown in  FIG. 13  of the drawings. The clips  104  may be placed next to or over the tool markings  100  on the top surface  10  of the base  4  and are secured to the base  4 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13  of the drawings, the clip  104  is in the form of a U-shaped resilient member  106  that defines a slot or channel  108  to hold therein a tool  3 . The clip  104  is mounted on the top surface  10  of the base  4 . 
     In another alternative embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 14  of the drawings, the clip  104  may be positioned adjacent to the tool outline marking  100  on the top surface  10  of the base  4  and has a resilient leg  110  that is moveable between a first position, in which the leg  110  is positioned across the tool outline marking  100  and the tool  3  situated in alignment therewith to secure the tool  3  to the top surface  10  of the base  4 , and a second position, in which the leg  110  is pivoted away from the outline  100  and the tool  3  so that the tool  3  may be easily removed from the base  4  of the storage tray  2 . 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 15  of the drawings, portions or all of the putty tools  3  may be formed from a ferrous material, such as steel or iron, that is magnetically attractable, and one or more permanent magnets  112 , such as those formed from samarium cobalt or other rare earth magnet material, may be affixed by gluing with an adhesive or other methods of attachment to the top surface  10  of the base  4  or to the bottom surface  12  of the base  4  in alignment with the tool outline marking  100 . Magnetic attraction between the tools  3  and the magnets  112  will hold the tools  3  in place on the top surface  10  of the base  4  within the tool outline marking  100 . The tools  3  may be easily removed from the top surface  10  of the base  4  by a user exerting force thereon to overcome the magnetic attraction between the magnets  112  and the tools  3 . 
     Although recesses, straps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, and clips are shown and described for holding the tools in place on the base of the storage tray, it should be realized that other fastening means and fasteners may be used for this purpose, and such other fasteners are envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.