Tool holding apparatus for persons with limited use of hands

• US 6,079,758 A
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cynthia M. Deslarzes, Ramiro R. Romero, Ron Anson
• Original Assignee: Cynthia M. Deslarzes, Ramiro R. Romero, Ron Anson
• Inventors: Romero, Ramiro R., Anson, Ron, Deslarzes, Cynthia M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, JOHNNY DAN
• Application Number:
  US09/131,624
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 294/1.1, 294/25, 15/437, 15/443, 30/298, 224/218, 224/219, 224/222, 224/267, 401/8, 623/65
• US Class Current: 294/25
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/08 Serving devices for one-handed persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/588 Hands having holding devices shaped differently from human fingers, e.g. claws, hooks, tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0118 for the arms, hands or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: B43L 15/00 Supports for attachment to hands or arms for facilitating writing or drawing

Abstract

An apparatus to assist in gripping a hand-held tool comprises a substantially rigid engaging portion for removably clipping the apparatus to an arm. The engaging portion has a base member and an arcuate member and a linear member to simultaneously engage a portion of the arm. The arcuate member has a first end extending essentially perpendicularly therefrom and is adjustably connected to the base member. A first end of the linear member extends upwardly from an opposite end of the base member. The arcuate member and the linear member are in an essentially parallel relationship along their entire extents. The linear member further has a free second end. A tool receiving portion includes a pair of outwardly extending side walls, an open bottom end and an open top end and is integrally formed with the linear member of the engaging portion so that the tool receiving portion remains in a coplanar relationship with the first linear member of the engaging portion. A means for securing the tool to the tool receiving portion includes an elastic band.

Claims

1. An apparatus to assist in gripping a hand-held tool, said apparatus comprising:

a) a substantially rigid engaging portion for removably engaging an arm;

said engaging portion having a base member and an arcuate member and a linear member to simultaneously engage a portion of the arm, wherein the arcuate member has a first end extending essentially perpendicularly therefrom and being adjustably connected to said base member, a first end of the linear member extending upwardly from an opposite end of said base member such that the arcuate member and the linear member are in an essentially parallel relationship along an entire extent thereof, the linear member further having a free second end;

wherein said engaging portion removably clips said apparatus to said arm;

b) a tool receiving portion including a pair of outwardly extending side walls, an open bottom end and an open top end, the tool receiving portion being integrally formed with the linear member of the engaging portion such that the tool receiving portion remains in a coplanar relationship with the linear member of said engaging portion; and

c) means for securing said tool to said tool receiving portion including an elastic band.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool receiving portion is securable to a hand of the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool receiving portion is securable to a wrist of the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outwardly extending side walls of the tool receiving portion define at least one concentric groove for receiving said elastic band.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tool receiving portion defines a linear channel between the outwardly extending side walls through which said tool is placed into and taken out of said tool receiving portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base member has a generally U-shaped cross-section, the base member having a horizontal portion and a pair of downwardly extending side portions, the first end of the arcuate member having a slot formed therethrough for receiving a screw from the horizontal portion therethrough to facilitate adjustment of the arcuate member with respect to the linear member to vary a space disposed therebetween.