This invention relates to an arm or wrist support more particularly but not exclusively to a wrist support for computer keyboard operators. When comparing manual typewriters with computer keyboards one of the major differences is that an operator can rest his or her fingers on the manual typewriter keys whereas this is not possible with the sensitive keys of a computer keyboard, where to rest the fingers on the keys could cause inadvertent operation of the keys. This results in the computer keyboard operators having to hold their hands above the keyboard for long periods which often causes muscular stress with painful symptoms. Another difference between manual typewriters and computer keyboards is that the operator of the typewriter has to carry out manual movements to return the carriage and to insert and remove paper from the carriage, allowing for a temporary rest and a change of movement of the hands and arms.

There has been an increasing number of computer keyboard operators who suffer from upper arm disorders which have the colloquial term RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) . This condition is not always an injury in the conventional sense and may not always be caused by strain or repetition. The condition usually involves swelling and inflamation of the tendon sheaths, pinching of the nerves or restriction of the blood supply by compression of the surrounding tissues. Two such conditions covered by *RSI are Tenosynovitis which occurs when extreme repetition causes the synovial sheath to produce excess fluid which accumulates and causes swelling and pain while the other condition is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which occurs when the median nerve is pinched by swollen tendon sheaths as it passes through the carpal tunnel from the forearm to the

hand. This often causes pain and tingling in the hands.

Arm and wrist rests are known which support the forearm or wrist while allowing the hands to move to carry out repetitive operations. These known supports take the form of a padded support bar or hinged forearm supports which are secured to a desk or chair, with the disadvantage that they limit the free and repetitive movement of the hands and wrist.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned disadvantage and provide an improved arm or wrist support providing a comfortable and flexible support without restriction to the movement of the hands and fingers of the computer keyboard operator.

According to the present invention there is provided an arm or wrist support comprising a pad-shaped rest having a base and a plurality of upstanding fronds which are spaced from each other to allow the supported movement of a hand or hands placed on the rest.

Preferably the borders of the rest have a continuous upstanding wall.

Conveniently, the upper surface and sides of the rest are covered by a removable fabric covering secured to the base.

In a preferred construction the base of the rest has a peripheral groove in the side wall to receive a rigid reinforcing member.

An embodiment of an arm or wrist support, according to the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an arm or wrist support;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the support shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the support when viewed from the right hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the other side of Fig

1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line V-V of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of one side of the rest showing the removable flexible cover; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a left hand and right hand support in position for use. The arm or wrist support comprises a pad-shaped rest 1 moulded from a thermoplastic elastomer such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark 'EVOPRENE' . The pad-shaped rest has a base 2 integrally formed with a plurality of upstanding fronds 3 which are flexible needles between 2 and 5mm in diameter with dome-shaped ends 4. The fronds 3 are spaced from each other and number approximately 20 to 50 to the square inch (dependent on diameter) .

The fronds provide a flexible support for the hand of the user allowing movement of the hand in a sidewards or backward and forward movement while providing support for the hand and wrist. The fronds must be of a determined diameter, length and spacing, as herein defined, to provide an adequate support for the user's hand and wrist while not collapsing. Additionally the support offered by the pads allows the user to relax the upper arm muscles as the lower wrist/palms support the weight of the arm. This in turn helps reduce the upper arm/back/neck muscle strain. It is believed that the fronds effect a massaging effect on the wrists and lower arm leading to improved circulation of the blood through surface blood vessels.

The upper surface formed by the fronds 3 is sculpted to curve downwardly to the edges of the rest 1 which has an upstanding peripheral wall 5 extending continuously around the rest. The lower surface of. the

rest has a peripheral groove 6 formed in the peripheral wall for receiving a rigid plate 7, of e.g., aluminium.

The peripheral wall 5 has a curved wall portion 8 which extends from the continuous wall into a container wall 9 which provides a reinforcement to support sideward movement of the hand of a user resting on the support.

As the arm or wrist support is likely to be used by a number of different persons, the upper surface and the peripheral side wall are covered by a flexible sheet of material 10, for example, Lycra, which is secured to the base of the rest by inserting its free edges under the rigid plate 7. This sheet of material 10 provides an hygenic replaceable cover which can be removed for washing or disposal. The cover also acts as a shield to prevent dust or other dirt from settling between the fronds 3.

The base of the rest may be provided with a number of feet 11, see Fig. 6, which may be formed integrally with the moulded rest and project through holes formed in the rigid plate 7. These feet are made of a friction material to grip the desk surface and prevent the rest from sliding away from, for example, a computer keyboard.

Fig. 7 illustrates a pair of rests, which are designed to mate with each other when placed end to end, to support the left hand and right hand of a computer keyboard operator, it is intended that the user can move the pads apart to cater for numeric and alpha keyboard inputs when the full extent of the keyboard is being used.

In an alternative arrangement the reinforcing plate 7 may have a number of feet of a magnetic material which are magnetically attracted to strips of metalized tape adhered to the surface of the desk, to prevent the rests from moving on the desk surface.

Although the arm or wrist support has been

described as being moulded from a plastics material it can of course be made from other resilient materials such as silicon rubber.