Therapeutic device for hands and wrists

• US 20050240230A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrea P. Preston, Ivan G. Yaeger
• Original Assignee: Andrea P. Preston, Ivan G. Yaeger
• Inventors: Preston, Andrea P., Yaeger, Ivan G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0036 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0257 by a heat accumulator, e.g. a sand or liquid reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0292 with microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/26 Electromedical brushes; Electromedical massage devices massage devices in general A61H; Combs

Abstract

The invention claimed herein presents a therapeutic device for hands and wrists that provides massage, thermal and electrical stimulation therapy. For full inner and outer hand therapy, upper housing 4 is closed and the user'"'"'s hands and wrists are placed between lower panel 8 and upper panel 10. Upper housing is lifted to the open position to provide palm and inner wrist therapy only. Therapy session begins automatically when hands are rested on lower panel 8. Electrical power provided by batteries 22 or power cord 24 energizes vibrator mechanisms 12, heating/electrical stimulation elements 14. The device deactivates when the hands are removed or via timer circuit of control unit 42. Gel packets 16 can be mounted onto lower panel 8 with retainer bars 18, which also allow user to vary firmness and elevation under the hands/wrists by altering the distribution of gel within the packet.

Claims

1. ) A therapeutic device for hands and wrists capable of providing massage, thermal, electrical stimulation therapy consisting of:

a) a lower housing 2, which contains lower panel 8 of sufficient size to support the user'"'"'s hands affixed onto said housing'"'"'s inner surface via a plurality of compressible vibration-absorbing mounting pads 32, whereby said lower panel can be depressed downward into said lower housing;

b) an upper housing 4, which contains upper panel 10 affixed onto said housing'"'"'s inner surface via a plurality of compressible vibration-absorbing mounting pads 32, whereby said upper panel can be depressed upward into said housing;

c) an elevated wrist rest 28 extending across the anterior end of the outer face of lower panel 8

d) a plurality of vibration mechanisms 12 and heating/electrical stimulation elements 14 mounted onto the outer face of upper panel 10 and lower panel 8.

e) hinge 20 which connects upper housing 4 to lower housing 2, thereby allowing said upper housing to rest atop of said lower housing or pivot upwardly in clamshell fashion;

f) latch and switch mechanism 30 mounted within the side walls of lower housing 2 and upper housing 4 which can engage and secure said upper and lower housings together, and connect the electrical circuit of upper housing 4 with electrical circuit of lower housing 2; and

g) a plurality of batteries 22 mounted within lower housing 2 and removable power cord 24 extending through an aperture in said lower housing, which are both interconnected with the device'"'"'s electrical circuits to provide either battery or line voltage electrical power.

2. ) A therapeutic device as described in claim 1, which features a plurality of temperature retaining thermal gel capsules 16 mounted onto the outer face of lower panel 8 and upper panel 10 via:

a) removable retainer bars 18 of lower panel 2 which rest longitudinally against elevated wrist rest 28 and are retained at both ends by clips 26, which allows thermal gel capsule 16 to be clamped between said retainer bar, lower panel and wrist rest and the distribution of gel within said capsule to be varied; and

b) a semi-permanent attachment means 38 on upper panel 4 such as Velcro, screws or hooks which secure thermal gel capsule 16 onto said upper panel.

3. ) A therapeutic device as described in claim 1 that includes an electrical control unit 42 that provides a timer and electrical impulse generating means, which is mounted onto the inner surface of lower housing 2 and positioned directly under the wrist rest area of lower panel 8 and features:

a) activation switch 34 which has an upwardly-extending activation button that rests against the inner face of lower panel 8, whereby activation of therapy functions commence when weight of the user'"'"'s hand(s) depresses said lower panel onto the activation button of said switch;

b) spring 36 that extends upward and rests against the inner face of lower panel 8, which assists lower panel 8 in returning to its original position and breaking contact with activation switch 34 when the user'"'"'s hand(s) are removed from said lower panel;

c) control panel 6 which faces the front edge of lower housing 2 and contains function switches and indicators 40 for controlling and monitoring the therapy functions of the device.