Background of the Invention

[0001] The human hand allows humans to perform a wide variety of tasks requiring both strength and dexterity. Nearly all professions require some use of the hands and many require a high level of skill and strength. As a result, the muscles and joints of the hands, and also the wrists and forearms, can become damaged over time causing stiffness in the hands and particularly the fingers which negatively affect the ability to perform tasks for work and those encountered in daily living. Disease particularly including arthritis can affect the hands and wrists. Carpal tunnel syndrome is also common. It is known that stretching of the forearm, wrist and hand can facilitate some relief and increased flexibility.

Summary of the Invention

[0002] In one or more embodiments according to the present invention, a device for stretching the forearm, wrist and hand generally comprises a body having a lower portion and an upper portion projecting from the lower portion. The lower portion has an opening therein bounded on one side by an upper section and on an opposite side by a lower section. The opening is sized and shaped to receive one or more fingers of a human hand such that tips of the one or more fingers overlie the upper section of the lower portion and the dorsum of the hand underlies the lower section of the lower portion.

[0003] In one or more embodiments according to the present invention, a method of stretching joints of a human hand generally comprises providing a device comprising a body having a lower portion and an upper portion projecting from the lower portion, the lower portion having an opening therein bounded on one side by an upper section and on an opposite side by a lower section. One or more fingers and thumb of the hand are inserted into the opening in the body from under the lower section so that the tips of the one or more fingers and thumb inserted into the opening are located above an upper section, and a dorsum of the hand is located generally at the lower section. A portion of the device is pulled upward and rearward toward a forearm to which the hand is j oined thereby stretching proximal interphalangeal j oints and metacarpophalangeal joints of the hand.

[0004] In one or more embodiments according to the present invention, a method of stretching a thumb of a hand generally comprises providing a device comprising a body having a lower portion and an upper portion projecting from the lower portion, the lower portion having an opening therein bounded on one side by an upper section and on an opposite side by a lower section. The thumb is inserted through the opening so that the distal end of the thumb is above the upper section and a boundary of the opening formed by the lower portion is located approximately at the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. The device is pulled toward the body to stretch the joint of the thumb to the hand.

[0005] Other objects and features of the invention will in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof, the rear elevation being identical;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a left side elevation thereof, the right side elevation being identical;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

[00010] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof;

[00011] FIG. 6 is a top view showing use of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device for stretching the fingers, hand and forearm;

[00012] FIG. 7 is a side view showing use of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device for stretching the fingers, hand and forearm;

[00013] FIG. 8 is a front view showing use of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device for stretching the thumb and palm;

[00014] FIG. 9 is a side view showing use of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device for stretching the thumb and palm;

[00015] FIG. 10 is a front elevation of forearm, wrist and hand stretching device with padding removed;

[00016] FIG. 11 is a perspective of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device with the padding removed;

[00017] FIG. 12A is a front view of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device of the first embodiment of Figs. 1-9 with the padding removed;

[00018] FIG. 12B is a front view of a forearm, wrist and hand stretching device of a second embodiment with padding removed;

[00019] FIG. 12C is a front view of the forearm, wrist and hand stretching device of second embodiment shown with padding;

[00020] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a hand received in the device of the second embodiment with the fingers together; and

[00021] FIG. 14 is a front view like Fig. 13, but showing the fingers spread apart. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Detailed Description

[00022] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1-3, a forearm, wrist and hand stretching device 10 made according to the principles of the present invention is shown to comprise a body 12 and padding 14. The body is formed of a single piece of material such as wood or plastic (e.g., polyethylene) (see Figs. 10 and 11). The padding 14 may be molded with the plastic body (as shown in Figs. 1-5) or may be formed separately and attached to the body (as shown in Figs. 6-9 and 12-14). The padding may be any suitable material (e.g., high density foam) that is softer than the material of the body 12 and capable of being formed to (or with) the body. For example, the padding may be insert molded onto the body. It will be appreciated that the body may have other constructions, such as being made of other materials and be formed from multiple connected pieces.

[00023] The body includes a lower receiving portion 16 and a projecting upper actuating portion 18 that is narrower in width than the receiving portion. The receiving portion 16 has an opening 20 that is generally D-shaped, but has radiused comers and a slightly curved lower boundary edge 22 opposite to the upper boundary edge 24 of the "D". A section 26 of the receiving portion 16 below the opening 20 is also curved on its outside edge 28. The curvature of the lower boundary edge 22 of the opening 20 is configured so that when applied to the hand, the lower boundary is roughly aligned with the metacarpophalangeal joints of the four fingers of the hand. Typically, the metacarpophalangeal joints he along a curve rather than a straight line. The opening 20 is sized and shaped for receiving the four fingers of an average sized adult. The upper boundary edge 24 of the opening is particularly shaped so that when the hand is received in the opening as shown in Fig. 4, the upper boundary edge is generally aligned with the proximal interphalangeal j oints of the hand. As will be appreciated the proximal interphalangeal joints do not in the average human hand he in a line, but rather along a curve. It will be understood that the opening 20 may be made different sizes within the scope of the present invention. For example, the opening may be sized to receive anywhere between one and four fingers.

[00024] In one embodiment, the lower boundary edge 22 of the opening 20 in the receiving portion 16 has a radius of curvature of between about 5 inches and 8 inches and in the illustrated embodiment is about 6 ⁿ /i ₆ inches. The radius of curvature of the upper boundary edge 24 at the top of the opening 20 can be between about 1 inch and 2.5 inches, and in the illustrated embodiment is about l¾ inches. The distance between the center of the lower boundary edge 24 and the center of the upper boundary edge 22 is about l ⁷ /s inches. The selected dimensions generally accommodate an average signed human hand. Other dimensions may be used, including without limitations larger and smaller sizes to fit larger than average sized hands and smaller than average sized hands.

[00025] The proj ecting upper actuating portion 18 is generally narrower than the lower receiving portion 16 and provides a place to apply a force to the device 10 for stretching the hand, as will be more fully described. In the illustrated embodiment, the projecting upper portion 18 narrows gradually away from the lower receiving portion 16 to a location short of the free end of the upper portion. The upper portion 18 widens out at its distal end portion to provide a larger location for the fingers of the hand on which treatment is not being provided may engage the upper portion to push or pull on the upper portion.

[00026] Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the use of the device 10 to stretch the fingers at the proximal interphalangeal joints and metacarpophalangeal j oints is shown. The four fingers of the right hand are inserted into the opening 20 from under the lower section 26 so that the tips of the fingers are located above an upper section 32 of the receiving portion 16 of the device. In this position, the padding 14 on the upper boundary edge 22 of the opening 20 generally engages the fingers between the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. Using the left hand, the user grasps the end of the projecting upper portion 18 of the device and pulls upward and rearward toward the right forearm, as best seen in Fig. 7. This stretches the fingers by bending the fingers back both at the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. The palm and underside of the forearm are also simultaneously stretched. The device 10 acts as a class two lever with its fulcrum located on the dorsum of the hand lying substantially on the

metacarpophalangeal joints. A relatively constant pressure can be applied by the left hand for a period of time. This can be repeated a suitable number of times to achieve thorough stretching of the fingers. Other treatment regimens may be employed within the scope of the present invention. It will be readily appreciated that the device 10 may be applied to the left hand for stretching in a corresponding manner. Users have reported significant relief from stiffness and increased dexterity after using the device.

[00027] Figures 8 and 9 illustrate use of the device to stretch the thumb and palm. The right hand is placed under the lower section 26 of the device 10 and the thumb is inserted through the opening 20 so that the distal end of the thumb is above the upper section 32 of the receiving portion 16 of the device. The lower boundary edge 22 of the opening 20 is located approximately at the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. The thumb engages the padding 14 at a location between the distal interphalangeal joint of the thumb and the distal end of the thumb. The distal interphalangeal joint is located generally over the upper boundary edge 24 of the opening 20. The user may then grasp the end of the projecting upper portion 18 of the device 10 and pull toward the body, substantially as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. A relatively constant pressure can be applied by the left hand for a period of time. This can be repeated a suitable number of times to achieve thorough stretching of the thumb and palm.

Other treatment regimens may be employed within the scope of the present invention. It will be readily appreciated that the device may be applied to the thumb of the left hand for stretching in a corresponding manner. Users have reported significant relief from stiffness and increased dexterity in the thumb after using the device.

[00028] Figure 12A shows the body 12 of the device 10 without padding made generally as shown and described above for the embodiment of Figs. 1-11 (and in particular Figs. 10 and 11). A body 12' of device 10' shown in Fig. 12B has the same general construction as in the embodiment of Fig. 12A, but the opening 20' has been widened considerably as compared to the opening 20. The device 10' of Fig. 12C is the same device as in Fig. 12B, but with padding 14' applied to both the opening 20' and to the projecting upper portion 18'. The wider opening 20' allows stretching to be done with the fingers in two positions. As shown in Fig. 13, the fingers can be placed in the device close together. This is substantially the same as would be done with the device of Figs. 1-11. However, as shown in Fig. 14, stretching is also permitted with the fingers spread apart. This can provide different stretching angles for the hand and may provide additional benefits.

[00029] Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. Orientation terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, side, under, above, etc. are used for simplicity and convenience, but do not require any particular orientation of the parts.

[00030] When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[00031] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

[00032] As various changes could be made in the above products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.