Tool supporting wrist brace

A method of supporting a work tool comprising a shaft extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end, a tool handle supported perpendicularly to the shaft at the first end of the shaft, and a tool head supported on the shaft at the second end of the shaft which is configured for being impacted in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, wherein the method comprises:

• providing a splint member including i) an arm portion, ii) a palm portion that is rigid and fixed relative to the arm portion which has an upper palm supporting surface extending from the arm portion in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion, iii) a lower tool receiving surface opposite from the upper palm supporting surface, and vi) a strap member configured to secure the tool handle against the lower tool receiving surface;
• supporting the rigid splint member such that the arm portion extends longitudinally along a portion of an inner forearm of a user and such that the palm portion supports a palm of the user thereon to extend in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion that extends along the inner forearm of the user;
• engaging the handle against the lower tool receiving surface such that the tool handle is in alignment with the palm of the user and such that impacts from the tool head are directed substantially perpendicularly to the upper palm supporting surface and the palm of the user supported thereon;
• and
• securing the tool handle against the lower tool receiving surface using the strap member.

A wrist brace device comprising:

• a splint member including an arm portion and a palm portion which are rigid and fixed relative to one another;
• the arm portion having an arm supporting surface extending in a longitudinal direction for extending longitudinally along a portion of an inner forearm of a user for securement in relation to the inner forearm of the user;
• the palm portion having an upper palm supporting surface and a lower tool receiving surface opposite from the upper palm supporting surface;
• the upper palm supporting surface extending from the arm portion in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion such that the palm portion is configured to support a palm of the user thereon to extend in a direction of the inner forearm of the user;
• a plane of the upper palm supporting surface of the palm portion intersecting a neutral plane of the arm supporting surface of the arm portion at a junction located between the arm portion and the palm portion at an angle of intersection of between 0 and 30 degrees;
• the lower tool receiving surface being configured to receive a tool handle thereon substantially in alignment with the palm of the user;
• an auxiliary support member protruding in a direction of flexion from a neutral plane of the arm portion opposite from the palm supporting surface;
• the auxiliary support member being located in proximity to the junction between arm portion and the palm portion so as to be adjacent to the lower tool receiving surface;
• the tool receiving surface and the auxiliary support member collectively defining a tool receiving cavity for receiving a tool handle therein;
• the tool receiving cavity having a partially cylindrical surface extending about a tool cavity axis of the tool receiving cavity which is substantially parallel to the neutral plane of the arm portion;
• the partially cylindrical surface extending less than 180 degrees about the tool handle axis;
• and
• the tool receiving cavity being open at a location which is diametrically opposite from the palm portion relative to the tool cavity axis.