Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy-like therapeutic device which enables hand eye coordination to the improved.

Background Art

It is well understood in the medical arts that it is desirable to exercise various muscles in order to maintain or increase the particular muscular function. There are many exercise devices of various kinds which have been designed in order to permit such exercises to be carried out. A particular problem with such exercises is that they often are boring and repetitive and so patients are less likely to comply with their intended exercise regime because of this boring aspect of the exercise.

Genesis of the Invention

The genesis of the present invention is a desire to provide exercises which increase or restore manual dexterity in such a way that the carrying out of the exercises is essentially fun and involves playing a game.

In particular, it is known that fine motor skills in schoolchildren are linked with an increased ability in mathematics or arithmetic. Similarly, some degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease can be ameliorated to some extent by the provision of hand-eye coordination exercises.

The inventor of present invention found as a young student, possibly suffering from some sort of dyslexia, that learning to juggle three balls improved both his grades, in particular, his mathematical results, and his concentration in class. In addition, his confidence in class grew.

However, learning to juggle is difficult to do and so didn’t represent a particularly practical way of increasing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. So the inventor looked for another way to enable others achieve the beneficial results he had experienced. The toy-like hand implement of the present invention is intended to provide a pleasant and fun way of improving hand eye coordination and is thought to be of value to persons generally but, in particular, to those persons suffering from degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

However, the benefits of the toy-like hand implement of the present invention may well extend in other areas. For example, in many ball games it is advantageous for catching the ball if the player has what is known as“soft hands”. That is, the player has a certain manual suppleness which gradually slows the ball during catching. It is thought that this ability can be increased by increasing hand-eye coordination, for example, by use of the toy-like hand implement described herein.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a hand implement for improving hand-eye coordination, said implement comprising a handgrip, a volume surrounding said handgrip and sized to receive a human hand, and a plurality of landing surfaces bounding said volume, each of said landing surfaces having a fixed relationship with the other landing surface(s) and said handle; whereby a launchable object can be positioned on one of said landing surfaces, said implement manually accelerated upwardly to launch said object along an upwardly extending trajectory, and said implement re-positioned to catch said object on another one of said landing surfaces as it descends under the influence of gravity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hand implement,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a hand implement,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a hand implement,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth pyramidal embodiment of hand implement, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth hexagonal embodiment of a hand implement,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a multifaceted sixth embodiment of a hand implement

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a seventh cubic embodiment of a hand implement having VELCRO catching surfaces,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cubic embodiment but having magnetic catching surfaces,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the cubic embodiment intended to be used with a small beanbag,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cubic embodiment showing the launching of a magnetic die,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cubic embodiment showing two additional caps with raised peripheral rims allowing a spinning top to be used as a launchable object,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the cubic embodiment showing releasably detachable covers on the landing surfaces,

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a cardboard blank from which the cubic embodiment can be fabricated, and

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the blanks from which a handgrip sub-assembly can be fabricated.

Detailed Description

As seen in Fig. 1, a first embodiment of a hand implement 1 is illustrated having a handgrip 2 which extends between two spacers 3 which support two parallel and opposed landing surfaces 4.

In a second embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the hand implement 11 is as illustrated in Fig. 1, save that a third landing surface 5 is provided.

Fig. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a hand implement 21 having a pair of landing surfaces 6 which are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip 2. Turning now to Fig. 4, a fourth embodiment 31 having a pyramidal shape is illustrated which has four triangular landing surfaces 7.

A fifth hexagonal embodiment 41 is illustrated in Fig. 5 in which there are six landing surfaces 8.

A multifaceted sixth embodiment 51 is illustrated in Fig. 6 and has a multiplicity of landing surfaces 9.

Turning now to Figs. 7-10, a cubic embodiment of the hand implement 61 is illustrated having five square landing surfaces 13 and a square opening 14 which enables hand access (as illustrated in Fig. 10) to the handgrip 2. In Fig. 7 it will be seen that one of the landing surfaces 13 A which is intended to be used for launching is not covered in VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark) whereas the remaining landing surfaces 13 are so covered. The hand implement 61 of Fig. 7 is intended to be used with a launchable object in the form of a miniature tennis ball 16, or similar object having a fibrous exterior which is inter-engageable with the hook and eye elements of VELCRO.

The hand implement 61 of Fig. 8 is intended to be used with a magnetic launchable object 26 having a North Pole N as illustrated and a South Pole on its opposite, obscured, face. The hand implement 61 of Fig. 8 has an array of magnetically permeable markers in the form of steel washers 18 which are located within the surface 13B. On the exterior of the surface 13B are located an equivalent array of numerical markers each of which contains an individual indicium or number which indicates the score if the magnetic object 26 lands on the corresponding marker.

In Fig. 9, the hand implement 61 is provided with landing surfaces 13C which are divided into marked concentric zones 19 each of which is provided with an indicium or number which again indicates the score if a miniature beanbag 36 lands on the corresponding zone. As seen in Fig. 10, the hand implement 61 is provided with a launching surface 13A which is free of magnetically permeable objects whereas the remaining surfaces 13B are provided with steel washers 18 in the manner indicated in Fig. 8. The hand implement 61 of Fig. 10 is intended to be used with a die 46 which is printed on a three-dimensional printer, is hollow, contains a magnet in the shape of a sphere, and has holes in each face corresponding to the conventional dots of a conventional timber die, for example.

The hand implement 61 of Figs. 7-10 is used in the following way. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the die 46 is located on the launching surface 13A which is held in a horizontal position by the user which grasps the handgrip 2 with one hand. The hand implement 61 is then jerked vertically upwards in the direction indicated by arrow A in Fig. 10 so as to accelerate the launchable object, which in this case is the magnetic die 46. The die 46 then travels along a trajectory indicated by arrows C which is initially upwards and then falls downwardly under the influence of gravity. Whilst the die 41 is airborne, the user moves his arm in the direction indicated by arrow B so as to bring the surface 13B under the trajectory. This enables the die 46 to be

magnetically attracted to one of the steel washers 18 located within the landing surface 13B. The number of holes in the uppermost surface of the die 46 indicates the score achieved by the successful landing of the die 46 on the landing surface 13B.

In Fig. 7 the launchable object is the miniature tennis ball 16 and it is able to be projected upwardly in the same manner as the die 46 and is then able to be captured on one of the VELCRO covered landing surfaces. There is no particular score in this embodiment.

In Fig. 8, it is the magnetic object 26 which is launched and then captured by one of the steel washers 18, a score being indicated by the number of the corresponding landing marker. In Fig. 9 it is the miniature beanbag 36 which is launched and it lands on the landing surface 13C so as to occupy one of the marked zones 19, a score being indicated by the number of the occupied zone. Turning now to Fig. 11, the cubic hand implement 61 is as before, however, it is provided with two rectangular caps 33 each of which has a peripheral sidewall 34.

The sidewalls 34 are dimensioned to permit the caps 33 to be positioned over a pair of opposed landing services 13F and 13G. In this way, the surfaces 13 F and 13 GR essentially provided with an upstanding rim which is able to retain a spinning top 56. In this game or exercise, the top 56 is caused to spin on one of the caps 33, the spinning top is launched upwardly, and the hand implement 61 is inverted so as to permit the top to land on the other one of the caps 33. Ideally, this procedure is able to be repeated several times before the top ceases to spin.

A further embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 12 in which a lid 35 is provided to close the opening 14. This enables game paraphernalia to be stored within the hollow interior of the hand implement 61. In addition, also illustrated in Fig. 12 is the provision of four VELCRO dots 38 on each of the landing surfaces 13. A planar square 40 sized to correspond to the landing surface 13 is also provided with four VELCRO dots 39. The dots 38, 39 are arranged to cooperate with each other so that the square 40 is releasably engageable from the landing surface 13. In this way, the squares 40 can be provided with various indicia such as playing cards, for example, to enable different games to be played using the apparatus of Fig. 12. A preferred feature of the hand implement 61 is that it constitutes an“off-line” physical games platform which enables a large number of different games to be played on the one apparatus or device.

Finally, turning now to Fig. 13, a cardboard blank 43 from which the hand implement 61 can be fabricated is illustrated. The cardboard blank 43 has 13 panels 101-113. The panels 101 and 112 each have a tab 45. The panels 106 and 107 each have two punched openings 48. The panels 111 and 113 each have a pair of fingers 49. The panels 103, 105, 108 and 110 are each provided with an array of nine steel washers 18 which are glued in position.

In order to assemble the hand implement 61, first the panel 105 is placed on a firm horizontal surface as this will become the landing surface opposite opening 14 (Fig.

8). Next panels 106 and 107 are folded upwardly into a substantially vertical position. The next step is to fold the panels 108 and 110 upwardly into a substantially vertical position so that the panels 106 and 107 approach each other and lie above the washers 18 on the panel 105.

Then panels 102 and 104 are folded upwardly into a substantially vertical position. Next the panel 103 is folded upwardly into a vertical position. This moves panel 102 to cover the washers 18 on panel 108. Similarly, this movement moves panel 104 so as to cover the washers 18 on panel 110.

At the completion of this stage, the panels 101, 111, 112 and 113 are substantially vertical and positioned above the panels 103, 102, 109 and 104 respectively. Next the panels 101 and 112 are folded downwardly into the box like container. In this way panel 101 covers the washers 18 positioned on the panel 103.

At this stage, the handgrip 2 sub-assembly as illustrated in Fig. 14 is prepared. This is achieved by the panel 201 being glued to the panel 205 so that the panels 201 & 205 together with the 3 panels 202-204 each form one side of a handgrip having a square transverse cross-section. The end flaps 206-209 are passed through the central opening of panel 214 and then glued to panel 214. Next, the end flaps 210-213 are passed through the central opening of panel 216 then glued to panel 216. Finally, the panel 215 is glued to the panel 214 and the panel 217 is glued to the panel 216, in both instances the splayed end flaps 206-209 and 210-to 13 are located within the rectangular central opening of the panels 215 and 217 respectively. This completes the assembly of the handgrip 2.

The assembled handgrip 2 is positioned between the panels 102 and 104. Finally, the panels 111 and 113 are folded into the interior of the box. Each of these panels has a cutout which enables them to pass the handgrip 2. The fingers 49 of the panels 111 and 113 then have their distal ends inserted into the openings 48 of panels 106 and 107 respectively. This locks all the folded panels in position. It will be appreciated that the cubic hand implement 61 enables the launchable object to be received on any one of five surfaces corresponding to the back of the hand, the palm of the hand, the left side of fist, the right side of the fist, and the front surface of the knuckles. As a consequence, in order for each of these surfaces to be presented horizontally to enable a catch to take place, so the arm and wrist must be

correspondingly manipulated. Furthermore, these manipulations must be time so as to correspond with the time available whilst the launch will object is in flight. As a consequence, there is considerable hand-eye cooperation. In addition, what can be achieved with the right-hand of a right-handed person, can normally not necessarily be achieved by the left-hand. So changing hands also presents a further challenge which enables improved coordination to be achieved through practice.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the toy making arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the magnetic launchable object 26 and the magnetic die 46 can be magnetically permeable rather than magnetic, and each of the steel washers 18 can be replaced by a small magnet, preferably in the form of a disc.

Similarly, different games and contests can be devised utilising the basic toy as described above. For example, the steel washers 18 of each landing surface can be replaced by a permanent magnet having a specified shape, for example that of a particular animal. Different landing surfaces would have magnets of different shapes. Under this arrangement the launchable object consists of small ferromagnetic particles such as small steel ball bearings which then adhere to the upright landing surface and coalesce into the shape of the corresponding animal.

The term“comprising” (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of“including” or“having” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of’.