Rehabilitation/training device

• US 6,151,715 A
• Filed: 09/14/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jocelyn M. Doherty
• Original Assignee: Jocelyn M. Doherty
• Inventors: Doherty, Jocelyn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanatta, Amy B.
• Application Number:
  US09/396,100
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 2/69, 2/80, 2/83, 2/48, 2/51, 2/49.1, 2/102, 2/106, 2/111, 2/94, 2/113, 2/114, 2/115, 434/260, 434/395, 434/258
• US Class Current: 2/48
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1245 for the upper part of the body
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

A rehabilitation/training device. The device is in the form of an apron having multiple simulated apparel closures. The simulated apparel closures are mounted on layered fabric panels. Pockets are provided for storing hand exercise equipment, such as a ball of clay, and for storing a pad of paper, as well as for storing one or more writing/drawing implements.

Claims

1. A rehabilitation/training device, said device comprising:

a fabric apron including fastening straps spaced apart on opposing sides of said apron, said straps adapted for securing said apron on the body of a person;

a plurality of pairs of fabric panels attached in layered fashion on an anterior portion of said apron, one of each of said pairs of fabric panels positioned on either side of an apron;

a first of said pairs of fabric panels including one or more cooperating snap fasteners secured to adjacent edges of complementary portions of said first pair of fabric panels;

a second of said pairs of fabric panels including one or more button fasteners and one or more cooperating button holes positioned at adjacent edges of complementary portions of said second pair of fabric panels;

a third pair of said pairs of fabric panels including a pair of zipper tracks secured to adjacent edges of complementary portions of said first pair of fabric panels, said pair of zipper tracks including a zipper pull cooperating with said zipper tracks to effect, alternately, closure or opening;

one or more shoe panels attached on said anterior portion of said apron remote from said plurality of pairs of fabric panels, each of said one or more shoe panels including a plurality of eyelets formed therein and a shoe lace threaded through one or more of said eyelets

one or more pockets attached to said anterior portion of said apron remote from said plurality of pairs of fabric panels and from said one or more shoe panels.

2. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 1, wherein each said strap extends between said anterior portion of said apron on one side of said midline and a posterior portion of said apron on an opposing side of said midline, whereby each said strap crosses said midline behind the body of a person wearing said device.

3. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of pairs of fabric panels further comprises one or more cooperating hook and eye fasteners secured to complementary adjacent edge portions of said pair of fabric panels.

4. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 3, wherein said one or more cooperating hook and eye fasteners further comprise a plurality of cooperating hook and eye fasteners, and wherein one of said cooperating hook and eye fasteners is differently configured relative to other ones of said cooperating hook and eye fasteners.

5. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more cooperating snap fasteners further comprises a plurality of types of cooperating snap fasteners, and wherein one of said types of cooperating snap fasteners is differently configured relative to other ones of said cooperating snap fasteners.

6. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more button fasteners and one or more cooperating button holes further comprises a plurality of cooperating buttons and button holes, and wherein one of said cooperating buttons and button holes is differently configured relative to other ones of said cooperating buttons and button holes.

7. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more minor pockets.

8. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 7, wherein said one or more minor pockets comprise a fabric forming panel.

9. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more minor pockets is essentially waterproof.

10. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 9, wherein said essentially waterproof one of said one ore more minor pockets comprises expanding side and bottom panels.

11. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 10, wherein said essentially waterproof one of said one or more minor pockets formed with said expanding side and bottom panels is adapted to contain a squeezable object.

12. A rehabilitation/training device in the form of an apron, the device comprising:

a fabric body panel including two integral straps spaced apart on opposing sides of a midline of said body panel, each said integral strap extending between anterior and posterior portions of said body panel and forming an arm hole therebetween;

a first pair of fabric panels attached on said anterior portion of said body panel, one of said first pair of fabric panels positioned on each side of said midline of said body panel;

one or more male snap portions secured to an edge of one of said first pair of fabric panels adjacent said midline;

one or more female snap portions secured to an edge of another of said first pair of fabric panels adjacent said midline, each said female snap portions cooperating with a corresponding one of said male snap portions to form a snap closure device;

a second pair of fabric panels attached on said anterior portion of said body panel layered over said first pair of fabric panels, one of said second pair of fabric panels positioned on each side of said midline of said body panel;

one or more buttons secured to an edge of one of said second pair of fabric panels adjacent said midline;

one or more button holes formed in an edge of another of said second pair of fabric panels adjacent said midline, each said button hole cooperating with a corresponding one of said buttons to form a button closure device;

a third pair of fabric panels attached on said anterior portion of said body panel layered over said first pair of fabric panels and said second pair of fabric panels, one of said third pair of fabric panels positioned on each side of said midline of said body panel;

a zipper track secured to an edge of each of said third pair of fabric panels adjacent said midline;

a zipper pull integral with one of said zipper tracks and cooperating with another of said zipper tracks to form a zipper closure device;

a fourth pair of fabric panels attached on said anterior portion of said body panel, one of said fourth pair of fabric panels positioned on each side of said midline of said body panel, each of said fourth pair of fabric panels divided into two opposing lip portions;

a plurality of eyelets formed in each of said opposing lip portions of each said fourth pair of fabric panels, each said eyelet adapted to pass a shoe string through said lip portion;

first and second shoe strings passing through said eyelets formed in each of said fourth pair of fabric panels, respectively; and

first and second pockets attached on said anterior portion of said body panel, one of said first and second pockets positioned on each side of said midline of said body panel.

13. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 12, further comprising:

one or more hooks secured to an edge of one said panels of one of said first, second, or third pairs of fabric panels adjacent said midline; and

one or more eyes secured to an edge of a corresponding other one of said first, second, or third pairs of fabric panels, each said eye cooperating with a corresponding one of said hooks to form a hook-and-eye closure device.

14. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more cooperating male and female snap portions further comprise a plurality of cooperating male and female snap portions;

and

wherein said cooperating male and female snap portions comprise at least two different sizes of cooperating male and female snap portions.

15. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more cooperating buttons and button holes further comprise a plurality of cooperating buttons and button holes;

and

wherein said cooperating buttons and button holes comprise at least two different sizes of cooperating male and female snap portions.

16. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said first and second pockets is formed of an essentially waterproof material.

17. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 16, wherein said one of said first and second pockets formed of an essentially waterproof material is adapted to contain a hand exercise device.

18. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 17, wherein said one of said first and second pockets formed of an essentially waterproof material is formed with accordion side and bottom panels.

19. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 18, wherein said hand exercise device comprises a hand exercise device selected from the group consisting of (a) a clay mass, (b) Silly Putty®

, (c) a rubber ball, and (d) a hand grip.

20. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 12, further comprising one or more minor pockets, wherein at least one of said minor pockets is adapted for receiving and carrying a writing implement.

21. The rehabilitation/training device recited in claim 12, wherein one of said first and said second pockets comprises at least one minor pocket.