Method and apparatus for limiting range of motion of the body of the user

• US 9,254,216 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farhad M. Limonadi
• Original Assignee: Farhad M. Limonadi
• Inventors: Limonadi, Farhad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Victoria J
• Application Number:
  US13/557,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20140026898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 128/869, 128/878, 128/879, 128/882, 128/880, 602/20, 602/21, 602/32, 602/36, 482/44, 482/45, 482/46, 601/33, 601/40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/013 for the arms, hands or fingers A61F5/0118 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for limiting the range of motion of a first portion of the body of a user relative to a second portion of the user'"'"'s body. A body attachable device is secured to the first and second portion of the user'"'"'s body. At least one elongated member extends between the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body for moving longitudinally as the user'"'"'s body moves. A range of motion limiter restrains further longitudinal movement of the elongated member at the desired terminal end of the range of motion by receiving an adjustable stop secured to the elongated member. A stop adjustment enables the stop to be moved positionally to an adjusted position, whereby the terminal end of a range of motion can be adjusted by the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for limiting a range of motion of a first portion of a user'"'"'s body relative to a second portion of the user'"'"'s body, comprising:

a body attachable device for securing to the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body;

at least one elongated member mounted on the body attachable device extending between the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body for moving longitudinally as the user'"'"'s body moves;

a range of motion limiter mounted on the body attachable device for stopping further longitudinal movement of the at least one elongated member at a terminal end of a selected range of motion of the first portion of the user'"'"'s body; and

a stop mounted on the at least one elongated member and being movable therewith upon movement of the user'"'"'s body, the stop being configured to engage the range of motion limiter to prevent further longitudinal movements of the at least one elongated member at the terminal end of the selected range of motion; and

the stop being adjustable along the length of the at least one elongated member so as to adjust the terminal end of the selected range of motion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including warning signal devices activated by movement of the at least one elongated member.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one elongated member is a first elongated member, the body attachable device further including a pair of limit switches and a second elongated member, wherein the warning signal devices are activated by the pair of limit switches being controlled by the respective first and second elongated members, one of the first or second elongated members being in tension normally and one of the first or second elongated members being in a slack condition normally.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, further including a warning signal adjustment including a bar.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bar also serves as a stop during hyper-extension of the user'"'"'s hand for moving into engagement with the range of motion limiter.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the range of motion limiter includes at least one eyelet for receiving the at least one elongated member, a carriage strip for supporting from below the at least one eyelet and having at least one flange slideably and frictionally secured within an elongated adjustment slot to enable adjustment of the selected terminal end of the range of motion.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the warning signal adjustment includes a pair of threaded rods journalled for rotation in the bar.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the warning signal adjustment includes a pair of discs, with a respective disc being frictionally threaded onto each of the first and second elongated members for engaging the bar.

9. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one elongated member is a first elongated member, the body attachable device further including a pair of limit switches and a second elongated member, wherein the warning signal devices are activated by the pair of limit switches being controlled by respective of the first or second elongated members, whereby one limit switch of the pair of limit switches activates warning signal devices when a wrist is hyper-extended and the other limit switch of the pair of limit switches activates warning signal devices when the wrist flexes.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and second elongated members are each stretchable resiliently and each has a series of spaced apart enlarged portions adapted to be engaged adjustably in flanges having openings therein.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated member is a first elongated member, and further including a second elongated member mounted on the body attachable device extending between the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body for moving longitudinally as the user'"'"'s body moves.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and second elongated members extend substantially parallel to one another on a dorsal side of the body attachable device.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first elongated member is disposed on a dorsal side of the body attachable device, and the second elongated member is disposed on a palmer side of the body attachable device.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stop includes a clamp releasably fixed to the at least one elongated member.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the clamp includes at least one fastening device to release the clamp to adjust positionally the clamp along the at least one elongated member.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body attachable device is an elastic sleeve.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body attachable device includes a forearm attachable part and a separate hand attachable part, the at least one elongated member interconnecting the forearm attachable part and the hand attachable part.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, where the at least one elongated member is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, composition material, elastic material.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the range of motion limiter includes an eyelet.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the range of motion limiter includes a flattened tubular sleeve.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body attachable device includes a limit switch.

22. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stop is a disc threaded onto the at least one elongated member.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated member is a flexible rod, and the stop is slideably mounted on the flexible rod.

24. An apparatus for limiting a range of motion of a first portion of a user'"'"'s body relative to a second portion of the user'"'"'s body, comprising:

a body attachable device for securing to the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body;

at least one elongated member mounted on the body attachable device extending between the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body for moving longitudinally as the user'"'"'s body moves;

a range of motion limiter mounted on the body attachable device for stopping further longitudinal movement of the at least one elongated member at a terminal end of a selected range of motion of the first portion of the user'"'"'s body; and

a stop mounted on the at least one elongated member and being movable therewith upon movement of the user'"'"'s body, the stop being configured to engage the range of motion limiter to prevent further longitudinal movements of the at least one elongated member at the terminal end of the selected range of motion, the stop being adjustable along the length of the at least one elongated member so as to adjust the terminal end of the selected range of motion; and

a warning signal device configured to be activated by movement of the at least one elongated member.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the at least one elongated member is a first elongated member, and further including a second elongated member mounted on the body attachable device extending between the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body for moving longitudinally as the user'"'"'s body moves.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first and second elongated members extend substantially parallel to one another on a dorsal side of the body attachable device.

27. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first elongated member is disposed on a dorsal side of the body attachable device, and the second elongated member is disposed on a palmer side of the body attachable device.

28. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the body attachable device includes a forearm attachable part and a separate hand attachable part, the at least one elongated member interconnecting the forearm attachable part and the separate hand attachable part.

29. A method for limiting a range of motion of a first portion of a user'"'"'s body relative to a second portion of the user'"'"'s body, comprising:

attaching at least one elongated member to the first and second portions of the user'"'"'s body for moving longitudinally as the user'"'"'s body moves;

restraining further longitudinal movement of the at least one elongated member at a terminal end of a selected range of motion of the first portion of the user'"'"'s body by engaging a range of motion limiter with a stop mounted on the at least one elongated member, the stop being movable with the elongated member upon movement of the user'"'"'s body;

wherein the stop is adjustable along the length of the at least one elongated member so as to adjust the terminal end of the selected range of motion.

30. A method according to claim 29, further including generating warning signals in response to movement of the at least one elongated member.

31. A method according to claim 29, further including engaging the range of motion limiter with the stop for avoiding both excessive extension or flexion of the first portion of the user'"'"'s body relative to the second portion of the user'"'"'s body.