Inflatable wrist-stabilizing system
OwnerKenneth J. Solar, Roberta E. Solarinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The wrist-stabilization system includes an inflatable bladder having a plurality of channels in intercommunication one with the other and an inlet for inflating the channels. A glove or a wristband positions the bladder on a user's upper extremity such that substantially equal portions of the channels lie above and below the wrist joint to inhibit wrist joint motion in flexion and extension and assist in maintaining the lateral sides of the hand and forearm in the lateral plane. A manually-actuatable inflation/deflation device is secured to the glove, wristband or bladder and coupled to the bladder whereby the bladder can be manually inflated and deflated.
Claims30
An apparatus for use with a glove for inhibiting movement of an individual's wrist joint in flexion and extension from a position wherein the lateral side of the individuals forearm and hand above and below the wrist joint, respectively, lie substantially in a common lateral plane without interfering with the normal movement and gripping use of the fingers, knuckle joints, thumb and palm of the individual's hand, the apparatus comprising;
- a wrist-stabilizing means including a fluid-inflatable bladder means, said bladder means being spaced from the medial side of the hand and wrist and being of a size to extend along the lateral side of the hand and forearm from a leading edge which extends below the wrist joint but spaced from the knuckles and thumb to a rear edge above the wrist joint along the forearm when the apparatus is worn;
- adjusting means mounted to said bladder means for securing said bladder means substantially taut against the lateral side of the individual's forearm in the area of the individual's wrist joint, said adjusting means being mounted so as to be in spaced non-interfering relationship with the fingers, knuckle joints, thumb and palm when the apparatus is worn;
- means for regulating the fluid volume within said bladder means, whereby when the apparatus is worn and a glove worn in overlaying relationship thereto the apparatus will substantially inhibit movement of the wrist joint in flexion and extension from a position wherein the lateral side of the individual's forearm and hand above and below the wrist joint, respectively, lie substantially in a common lateral plane.
An apparatus for inhibiting movement of an individual's wrist joint in flexion and extension from a position wherein the lateral side of the individuals forearm and hand above and below the wrist joint, respectively, lie substantially in a common lateral plane without interfering with the normal movement and gripping use of the fingers, knuckle joints, thumb and palm of the individual's hand, the apparatus comprising in combination;
- a glove;
- a wrist-stabilizing means including a fluid-inflatable bladder means, said bladder means being spaced from the medial side of the hand and wrist and being of a size to extend along the lateral side of the hand and forearm from a leading edge which extends below the wrist joint but spaced from the knuckles and thumb to a rear edge above the wrist joint along the forearm when the apparatus is worn;
- said glove having portions overlaying said bladder means, adjusting means mounted to said glove means for securing said bladder means substantially taut against the lateral side of the individual's forearm in the area of the individual's wrist joint, said adjusting means being mounted to said glove means so as to be in spaced non-interfering relationship with the fingers, knuckle joints, thumb and palm when the apparatus is worn;
- means for regulating the fluid volume within said bladder means, whereby when the apparatus is worn the apparatus will substantially inhibit movement of the wrist joint in flexion and extension from a position wherein the lateral side of the individual's forearm and hand above and below the wrist joint, respectively, lie substantially in a common lateral plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.