| US4785495A | 1988-11-22 | |||
| FR2269418A1 | 1975-11-28 | |||
| US4934024A | 1990-06-19 | |||
| US4765856A | 1988-08-23 | |||
| GB2119203A | 1983-11-09 |
| 1. | A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas. A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas which has been extruded to an intricate form in order to facilitate deformation of the substance. The intricate form has a continuous top interface surface but may have hollow sections or legs which project downward to form a comb like profile. The intricate profile may be a short horizontal section, a curve or complete circle. A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas as claims 1 and 2 which features special edges on the side of the tape, these edges facilitate homogenising the surface of wound tape on a form. The edges are a thin extension on one side of the extrusion profile with the other side featuring a radius to accept the thin extension, or both sides of the extrusion profile featuring a thin extension. A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas as claims 13 where the substance is comprised of a resin and one or more fillers. A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas as claims 1 4 which can be applied to sports equiptment, such as, sports rackets, bicycle handlebars, crutches, weapons, ski poles, zimmer frames, aircraft control sticks, hand tools, machine tools, indeed anywhere where there is high pressure or a need for accurate control or both. A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas as claims 14 which can be covered if required. A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas as claims 16 where the substance has: a perfume, self disinfectant and/or insect repellant. A deformable and curable substance for use on a hand interface areas as claims 13 where the substance is comprised of a resin and one or more fillers, one of these fillers being small (sub 1000 microns) glass bubbles. |
1
This invention relates to the use of a deformable and curable hand interface. When human hands are in repetitive or continuous contact with objects, particularly under pressure then various short and long term medical problems can develop. These problems are invariably caused by the hand interface which is not ideal. This means the pressure loading on the hand can be localised, inhibiting blood supply, deadening nerves and damaging tissue. Another problem may be caused by the hand interface not facilitating control, this leads to the hand requiring to a greater grip control force and hence greater pressure and muscle action to achieve the necessary control, exacerbating pressure related problems and accelerating muscle fatigue.
The principle objective of this invention is to provide a deformable and curable material in a form that is easy to apply to typical hand interfaces.
By using a deformable and curable hand interface the user can enjoy an exactly tailored imprint of his own grip. Normal pressure areas of the hand act to disperse the material to achieve better pressure distribution, i.e. a perfect hand interface.
The invention does not relate in the main to the type of material but to the application of such a material.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a suitable extrusion profile for the deformable and curable material.
Figure 2 illustrates in perspective an extrusion from such a profile in figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of an alternative, broader profile.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of a tubular extrusion section.
Figure 5 is an enlargement of figure 2.
Figure 6 illustrates in perspective an extrusion which can be wrapped around a bar.
Figure 7 illustrates in perspective the extrusion of figure 6 after it has been deformed and cured
Figure 8 illustrates in perspective a crutch employing the hand interface.
Figure 9 illustrates in perspective a racket employing the hand interface.
Figure 10 illustrates in perspective bicycle handlebars employing the hand interface.
Figure 11 illustrates in perspective a weapon employing the hand interface.
Using a mouldable substance which is formed to a shape which can be applied to the hand interface area, in this case being extruded through a die (fig.1), the extrusion (fig.2) then being a tape which is wrapped around the hand interface area. The join lines of the tape are then blended. The hand is then applied to deform the tape to the required shape (fig.3). Following this there is a curing process to set the material permanently 8.
When the deformable and curable material is fabricated in to a tape it may features special edges on the side of the tape, these edges facilitate homogenising the surface of wound tape on a form. The edges are a thin extension on one side of the extrusion profile with the other side featuring a radius to accept the thin extension, or both sides of the extrusion profile featuring a thin extension.
This invention relates to any hand interface, such as, sports rackets, bicycle handlebars, crutches, weapons, ski poles, "zimmer" frames, aircraft control sticks, hand tools, machine tools, indeed anywhere where there is high grip force and pressure or a need for accurate control, or both. The deformed material may then be covered if required.