Abstract:
A wrist brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the elbow. The wrist brace includes a base and two external straps for fastening the base to the wrist of a person, and a third strap located either on the inside or the outside of the base for pulling a support splint into the wrist when worn.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application No. 62/016,741 filed Jun. 25, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to the field of articles worn by persons to reduce the likelihood, severity, or exacerbation of injury to the body, and more specifically to the field of braces worn on the wrist. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Flexible wrist braces are used by athletes and other persons engaged in vigorous physical activity to protect the elbow from injury and to avoid exacerbation of existing injury. 
         [0004]    Devices to protect the wrist against abnormal motions have been used for many years, in a variety of specific embodiments which vary in their abilities to protect against the different types of abnormal motions. However, the protections afforded by these devices against abnormal motion are often accompanied by a reduction in range or ease of normal motion, and may be accompanied by other undesirable aspects such as poor performance, added weight, difficulty of application, fit, cost, and/or appearance. 
         [0005]    For these reasons, there has long been motivation to find an improved wrist brace which can protect and support the wrist without affecting the range or ease of normal motion, while avoiding the undesirable aspects of prior art devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In a first embodiment, a wrist brace according to the present invention includes a base and a pair of outside fastening straps that pass through apertures in the base to hold the brace on the wrist of a person. A third fastening strap has an end permanently fastened to the interior surface of the base, extending between the base and a semi-rigid or flexible stay adjacent to the wrist and then passing through an aperture in the base. Tension applied to the third strap can pull the inside support stay closer to the wrist. An outside stay can also be provided for additional support. 
         [0007]    In an alternate embodiment, a wrist brace according to the present invention includes a base and a pair of outside fastening straps, with a third fastening strap permanently fastened to the exterior surface of the base, extending between the base and a semi-rigid or flexible stay adjacent to the wrist. The third strap can pull the inside support stay closer to the wrist. 
         [0008]    Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a plan view of a wrist brace according to the invention, laid flat to expose the exterior surface of the brace; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a plan view of the wrist brace of  FIG. 1A , laid flat to expose the interior surface of the brace; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1C  is a plan view of the wrist brace of  FIG. 1A , laid flat to expose the interior surface of the brace and with the fastening sleeve removed to show the third strap; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front and side views of an outside support stay for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective and cross-section views of an inside support stay for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an aperture reinforcement base for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of an aperture reinforcement backing for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is a plan view of an alternate wrist brace according to the invention, laid flat to expose the exterior surface of the brace; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  is a plan view of the wrist brace of  FIG. 5A , laid flat to expose the interior surface of the brace; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a plan view of the wrist brace of  FIG. 5A , laid flat to expose the interior surface of the brace; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of the palm side of the wrist brace of  FIG. 5A  applied to the wrist and hand of a person, with all the straps loose; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of the back side of the wrist brace of  FIG. 5A  applied to the wrist and hand of a person, with all the straps loose; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5E  is a perspective view of the back side of the wrist brace of  FIG. 5A  applied to the wrist and hand of a person, showing all the straps fastened down; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5F  is a second perspective view of the back side of the wrist brace of  FIG. 5A  applied to the wrist and hand of a person, showing all the straps fastened down; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5G  is a perspective view of the palm side of the wrist brace of  FIG. 5A  applied to the wrist and hand of a person, with all the straps fastened down. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A-1C  show a wrist brace  120  according to the present invention. The wrist brace  120  includes a base member  122  made by cutting planar sheets of one or more elastomeric materials into the desired shape. The exterior surface of the base member  122  is preferably covered with fabric bearing fiber loops  124  that adheres to hook-type material when the fiber loops and hook-type material are pressed together. The base may include base edge binding  125 . 
         [0026]    The wrist brace  120  is formed to fit the human wrist and hand, and the base  122  has a thumb hole  126  to receive the thumb when worn. The wrist brace  120  may have a splint pocket  127  containing a rigid or flexible splint  128  shaped to fit the wrist and the palm of the hand when worn. 
         [0027]    The wrist brace  120  also includes a first fastening strap  130 , a second fastening strap  132 , and a middle strap  134 , which are preferably formed of a material that is somewhat elastic along the length of the straps. The base  122  includes a first aperture  131 , a second aperture  133 , and a middle aperture  136 , all formed as reinforced apertures  144 . The wrist brace  120  also includes a sleeve  136  for convenience of application. 
         [0028]    Each of the first fastening strap  130 , second fastening strap  132 , and middle strap  134  terminates in a hook-type fastening tab  140  permanently fastened to the strap, for example by stitches  142 . The fastening tabs  140  allows the straps to be tightened, and then detachably attached to the exterior surface of the base  122  to securely fasten the wrist brace on the wearer. Normally the first fastening strap  130  and the second fastening strap  132  are tightened first in order to secure the brace on the wrist and hand, then the middle strap  134  can be adjusted to provide the desired support to the palm. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front and side views of an outside support stay for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective and cross-section views of an inside support stay for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
         [0031]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an aperture reinforcement base for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
         [0032]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of an aperture reinforcement backing for use in the wrist brace of  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 5A-5C  show an alternate wrist brace  220  according to the present invention. The wrist brace  220  includes a base member  222  made by cutting planar sheets of one or more elastomeric materials into the desired shape. The exterior surface of the base member  222  is preferably covered with fabric bearing fiber loops  224  that adheres to hook-type material when the fiber loops and hook-type material are pressed together. The base may include base edge binding  225 . 
         [0034]    The wrist brace  220  may include one or more pockets to hold small items such as keys, access fobs, ID or credit cards, smart devices (for example fitness trackers) or visible flair  246  such as brightly colored items, reflectors, blinking lights, glow sticks, lighting, or reflective patches can be provided to enhance visibility of the wearer. 
         [0035]    The wrist brace  220  is formed to fit the human wrist and hand, and the base  222  has a thumb hole  226  to receive the thumb when worn. The wrist brace  220  may have a splint pocket  227  containing a rigid or flexible splint  228  shaped to fit the wrist and the palm of the hand when worn. 
         [0036]    The wrist brace  220  also includes a first fastening strap  230 , a second fastening strap  232 , and a middle strap  234 , which are preferably formed of a material that is somewhat elastic along the length of the straps. The base  222  includes a first aperture  131  and a second aperture  133 , both formed as reinforced apertures  144 . The wrist brace  220  also includes a sleeve  236  for convenience of application. 
         [0037]    Each of the first fastening strap  230 , second fastening strap  232 , and middle strap  234  terminates in a hook-type fastening tab  240  permanently fastened to the strap, for example by stitches  242 . The fastening tab  240  allows the straps to be tightened, and then detachably attached to the exterior surface of the base  122  to securely fasten the wrist brace on the wearer. The wrist brace  120  may include one or more 
         [0038]      FIGS. 5C and 5D  show the wrist brace  220  applied to the hand of a person, with all the straps loose so the brace  220  is loosely retained on the hand by the sleeve  236  and base  222 . This is the first step in applying the brace to a person. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 5E ,  5 F, and  5 G show the wrist brace  220  applied to the wrist and hand of a person, with all the straps fastened down. Normally the first fastening strap  230  and the second fastening strap  232  are tightened first in order to secure the brace on the wrist and hand, then the middle strap  234  can be adjusted to provide the desired support to the palm. Advantageously, all the strap ends align at the same general location when tightened and fastened down. This makes it easier to iteratively adjust the tension in the straps, to achieve maximum comfort and support for that particular wearer of the wrist brace. 
         [0040]    It is understood that the invention is not confined to the embodiments set forth herein as illustrative, but embraces all such forms thereof that come within the scope of the following claims.