Therapeutic hand toys

• US 20060014468A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tangle Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tangle Incorporated
• Inventors: Zawitz, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,601,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/166
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/18 Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/16 for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for a textured therapeutic toy that can be manipulated into an infinite number of shapes and configurations. The invention is best applied to relieve minor stress as well as strengthen hand muscles, rehabilitate finger and joint movement and improve overall range of hand motion. In one exemplary embodiment, a textured coating is applied to the surface of each segment that gives the therapeutic toy a unique feel, thereby creating a pleasant sensation and feel to the hands and fingers.

Claims

1. A texture coated therapeutic hand toy comprising:

a plurality of serially connected rigid segments having a first end pivotally secured to one of two adjacent segments, and a second end pivotally secured to the other one of the two adjacent segments, permitting each segment to be twisted relative to the two adjacent segments causing the hand toy to assume any one of an infinite number of configurations, each segment having an outer surface; and

a textured coating disposed about the outer surface of the plurality of segments.

2. A texture coated therapeutic hand toy as in claim 1, wherein said textured coating provides a soft, malleable surface that contacts hands and finger.

3. A texture coated therapeutic hand toy as in claim 1, wherein the textured coating comprises a rubber coating, a rubber coating with raised nodules, a silicone gel coating, a chemical composite coating, or a compressible rubber coating.

4. A therapeutic hand toy comprising:

a plurality of serially connected rigid segments having a first end pivotally secured to one of two adjacent segments, and a second end pivotally secured to the other one of the two adjacent segments, permitting each segment to be twisted relative to the two adjacent segments causing the hand toy to assume any one of an infinite number of configurations, each configuration having a continuous center line there around;

a first end face on the first end of each segment, which end face is normal to the center line of the annular device defining a first interface plane for each segment, the first end of each segment forming a first interface with the cooperating end of the one of the two adjacent segments along the first interface plane with a pivot axis therethrough normal to the first interface plane;

a second end face on the second end of each segment, which end face is normal to the center line of the annular device defining a second interface plane for each segment, the second end of each segment forming a second interface with the cooperating end of the other one of the two adjacent segments along the first interface plane with a pivot axis therethrough normal to the first interface plane;

a first magnet on the first end face of each segment;

a second magnet on the second end face of each segment for engaging the first magnet on the other one of the two adjacent segments for securing the plurality of segments together.

5. A therapeutic hand toy as in claim 4, wherein the first magnet comprises a cylindrical magnet, wherein the second magnet comprises a cylindrical central channel magnet, and wherein the cylindrical magnet and the cylindrical channel magnet are opposite poles.

6. A therapeutic hand toy as in claim 5, wherein the length of the cylindrical magnet is equal to the length of the cylindrical channel magnet.

7. A therapeutic hand toy as in claim 5, wherein the diameter of the cylindrical magnet is sized such that the cylindrical magnet fits securely into the diameter of the cylindrical channel magnet.

8. A therapeutic hand toy as in claim 5, wherein said cylindrical magnet is a half sphere with a length approximately equivalent to the length the cylindrical channel magnet extends into the second face of each segment.

9. A therapeutic hand toy as in claim 5, wherein said cylindrical magnet is a cylinder with a length approximately equivalent to the length the cylindrical channel magnet extends into the second face of each segment.

10. A texture coated therapeutic hand toy comprising:

a plurality of serially connected rigid segments having a first end pivotally secured to one of two adjacent segments, and a second end pivotally secured to the other one of the two adjacent segments, permitting each segment to be twisted relative to the two adjacent segments causing the hand toy to assume any one of an infinite number of configurations, each configuration having a continuous center line there around;

a first end face on the first end of each segment, which end face is normal to the center line of the annular device defining a first interface plane for each segment, the first end of each segment forming a first interface with the cooperating end of the one of the two adjacent segments along the first interface plane with a pivot axis therethrough normal to the first interface plane;

a second end face on the second end of each segment, which end face is normal to the center line of the annular device defining a second interface plane for each segment, the second end of each segment forming a second interface with the cooperating end of the other one of the two adjacent segments along the first interface plane with a pivot axis therethrough normal to the first interface plane;

a cylindrical magnet on the first end face of each segment;

a cylindrical central channel magnet extending into the second end face of each segment for engaging the cylindrical magnet on the other one of the two adjacent segments for securing the plurality of segments together; and

a textured coating applied to the outer surface of the plurality of segments.

11. A texture coated therapeutic hand toy as in claim 10, wherein said textured coating adheres to the outer surface of the plurality of segments and provides a soft, malleable surface that contacts hands and fingers.

12. A texture coated therapeutic hand toy as in claim 10, wherein the textured coating is selected from a group consisting of a rubber coating, a rubber coating with raised nodules, a silicone gel coating, a chemical composite coating, a compressible rubber coating, and combinations of two or more of these coatings.

13. A method for providing a texture coated therapeutic hand toy for strengthening hand and finger muscles and rehabilitating joint motion for overall improved range of hand motion and stress relief, the method comprising:

providing the texture coated therapeutic hand toy comprising a plurality of serially connected rigid segments having a first end pivotally secured to one of two adjacent segments, and a second end pivotally secured to the other one of the two adjacent segments, permitting each segment to be twisted relative to the two adjacent segments causing the hand toy to assume any one of an infinite number of configurations, and a textured coating applied to an outer surface of the plurality of segments; and

manipulating the texture coated therapeutic hand toy into various shapes and configuration with the hand and fingers.

14. A method for providing a texture coated therapeutic hand toy as in claim 13, wherein said textured coating provides a soft, malleable surface that contacts hands and fingers.

15. A therapeutic hand toy comprising:

a plurality of serially connected rigid segments having a first end pivotally secured to one of two adjacent segments, and a second end pivotally secured to the other one of the two adjacent segments, permitting each segment to be twisted relative to the two adjacent segments causing the hand toy to assume any one of an infinite number of configurations, each segment having an outer surface; and

at least one therapeutic element disposed on or below the outer surface of at least some of the segments to provide a therapeutic treatment to a user.

16. A toy as in claim 15, wherein the therapeutic element is selected from a group consisting of resilient materials, textured surfaces, heating elements, cooling elements, vibratable elements, malleable materials, natural materials, synthetic materials, and magnets.

17. A toy as in claim 15, wherein the therapeutic element comprises a textured rubber coating on the outer surface.

18. A toy as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of segments comprises twenty segments.

19. A toy as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of segments comprises less than twenty segments.

20. A toy as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of segments comprises more than twenty segments.

21. A toy as in claim 15, wherein the diameter of each of the plurality of segments ranges between about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm.

22. A method for providing a texture coated therapeutic hand toy for strengthening hand and finger muscles and rehabilitating joint motion for overall improved range of hand motion and stress relief, the method comprising:

providing the texture coated therapeutic hand toy comprising a plurality of serially connected rigid segments having a first end pivotally secured to one of two adjacent segments, and a second end pivotally secured to the other one of the two adjacent segments, permitting each segment to be twisted relative to the two adjacent segments causing the hand toy to assume any one of an infinite number of configurations, each segment having an outer surface, and at least one therapeutic element disposed on or below the outer surface of at least some of the segments to provide a therapeutic treatment to a user; and

manipulating the texture coated therapeutic hand toy into various shapes and configuration with the hand and fingers.

23. A toy as in claim 22, wherein the providing of the therapeutic element is selected from a group consisting of resilient coatings, textured surfaces, heating elements, cooling elements, vibratable elements, malleable materials, natural materials, synthetic materials, and magnets.

24. A toy as in claim 22, wherein the providing of the therapeutic element comprises providing a textured rubber coating on the outer surface.