Therapeutic device for hands and wrists

• US 7,110,810 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: YIP Corporation
• Original Assignee: YIP Corporation
• Inventors: Preston, Andrea P., Yaeger, Ivan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heller, Tammie K.
• Application Number:
  US10/831,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/2, 607/3, 607/96, 607/111, 607/27, 607/32, 607/41, 601/15, 601/46, 601/70, 601/40, 601/72, 601/80, 601/133, 601/136
• 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

A therapeutic device for massaging hands and wrists which has upper and lower panels affixed to respective upper and lower housing via a plurality of compressible vibration-absorbing mounting pads. An elevated wrist rest extends across the anterior end of the outer face of the lower panel. The device includes a plurality of vibration mechanisms and heating/electrical stimulation elements mounted onto the outer fact of the upper and lower panels. A hinge connects the upper housing to the lower housing. A latch-and-switch mechanism engages and secures the upper and lower housing together and connects the electrical circuit of the upper housing with the electrical circuit of the lower housing. A plurality of batteries and a removable power cord are both interconnected with the device'"'"'s electrical circuits to provide either battery or line voltage electrical power.

Claims

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

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

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

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

d) a plurality of vibration mechanisms and heating/electrical stimulation elements mounted onto an outer face of the upper panel and the lower panel;

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

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

g) a plurality of batteries mounted within the lower housing and a removable power cord extending through an aperture in said lower housing, which are both interconnected with the electrical circuits of the upper and lower housings to provide either battery of line voltage electrical power.

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

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

b) a semi-permanent attachment means on the upper panel such as hook and loop attachment means, screws or hooks which secure the thermal gel capsule onto said upper panel.

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

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

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

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