FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to a wearable hand healer kit and more particularly relates to wearable kit for reducing strain on Carpometacarpal joint of the thumb and to move the Carpometacarpal joint of the thumb within the functional limit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Nowadays smart phones play an important role in day-to-day life of the individual as they are used for communication, browsing, gaming, shopping, and the like. As a result of this, overuse of smart phones affects most of the systems in the body like musculoskeletal, visual, auditory and the like. Continuous handling of smart phone causes various injuries, which mostly are attributed to maligned posture.

Frequent use of smartphone forces the user to adopt awkward postures leading to musculoskeletal disorders. The most affected joint while operating the smartphone is the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. The abductors, flexors, and extensors of the thumb along with the intrinsic muscles of the hand are subjected to repetitive minor trauma leading to inflammation and pain at the base of the thumb.

In gaming, texting and scrolling the smartphone, the thumb is held in static position as well as stretched in extreme range of motion. While using handheld devices the muscles like opponens pollicis, abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus and flexor pollicis longus and flexor pollicis brevis often get fatigued and sustain minor trauma.

U.S Patent US20190053931A1 to BSN MEDICAL GMBH discloses an orthosis that provides support and aid by fastening itself for the immobilization of the carpometacarpal (CMC) and metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb of the hand. The orthosis has a band that is fastened on one end of the thumb. The rigidity of the body enables the latter to support, to stabilize and to immobilize the hand and dimensional stability is provided such that the body can be placed in a simple manner with a defined shape onto the hand.

U.S Patent US5715539A to ARNOLD ENG CO discloses gloves and implements containing a flexible magnetic strip to improve grip. The use of flexible magnetic strips in a glove body to increase the gripping ability of the glove worn by a user to hold objects is disclosed. The invention is applicable for devices such as bats, racquets, sticks or the like. The gloves are made up of materials such as cotton, leather, neoprene, rubber, synthetic fibres and the like.

C.N Patent CN110325151 A to Joshghani Ashkan Mohammad Hassan discloses a protective device for effective and good protection against damage to a human joint. The protective device includes a flexible sheath wearable around a person’s finger for e.g., human joint. The protective device protects a proximal interphalangeal joint and a distal interphalangeal joint of a human finger. The above-cited prior art documents discuss similar devices envisaged to solve the problem of reducing the strain over CMC joint.

Research for “Thumb postures and physical loads during mobile phone use and a comparison of young adults with and without musculoskeletal symptoms” was conducted by Ewa Gustafsson, Peter.W. Johnson, Mats Hagberg in the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology (2008). The research states a comparative study to evaluate difference between thumb posture and physical loads during mobile phone use in adults with and without symptoms.

The individuals without symptoms had increased muscle activity at Abductor pollicis longus than individuals with symptoms. While the individuals with symptoms tend to move the thumb with increased velocities and fewer pauses. The result revealed that posture and type of task performed on the smart phone also affected the muscle activity. The study revealed that the thumb is in less abduction and more in flexion position while texting in standing posture than in sitting.

There is a need of a kit that reduces the strain on the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. Further there is a need of the kit to move the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb within functional limits while handling smart devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in accordance with the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 shows a wearable hand healer kit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a thumb sleeve of the wearable hand healer kit of FIG.1 ; and

FIG. 2A shows a side view of the thumb sleeve of the wearable hand healer kit of FIG.1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

A wearable hand healer kit for reducing strain on Carpometacarpal joint of the user’s thumb including a pop socket, a first band, wrapped around the webspace between the thumb and index finger of the user’s hand. A second band wrapped around the proximal digit crease of the user’s palm, a plurality of magnets positioned inside the second band. A first anchor strap positioned on the forearm of the users hand and a second anchor strap wrapped on the wrist crease of the user’s hand.

A sleeve receiving user’s thumb through a pair of receivers, the sleeve resting the received thumb on either a left sidewall or a right sidewall. The sleeve including a curved edge receiving the proximal phalange of the user’s thumb, the sleeve including a first cavity and a second cavity. A slit receiving Velcro straps for securing the sleeve on the proximal phalanx of the user’s thumb. The first cavity including a first wall, a second wall and a third wall. The first wall and the second wall creates approximately 80° between said walls. The third wall and the second wall creates approximately 30° between said walls.

The second cavity includes a first side, a second side and a third side. The connectivity of the first side with the second side creates approximately 30° angle between said sides. The connectivity of the third side with the first side creates approximately 80° angle between said sides. The first anchor strap is positioned at 10-12 mm from the second anchor strap creating supination and pronation pull on the forearm of the user’s hand.

The pair of receivers including a slit respectively for receiving the Velcro straps for securing the sleeve on the distal phalanx of the user’s thumb. The sleeve including a tip shaped in a Reuleaux triangle touching the screen of the handheld device for operating the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The invention herein is described using specific exemplary details for better understanding. However, the invention disclosed can be worked on by a person skilled in the art without the use of these specific details.

References in the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specifications are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

References in the specification to “preferred embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in detail thereby omitting known constructions and functions for clear description of the present invention.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to FIG.l, a wearable hand healer kit 100, hereinafter referred as kit 100 includes a plurality of anchors, bands and an extender that are positionable at predefined locations on a human hand. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the kit 100 includes a first pair of anchors, a first pair of bands and a single sleeve.

Accordingly, the first pair of anchors of the wearable kit 100 includes a first anchor strap 102 and a second anchor strap 104 that are preferably worn on wrist and forearm respectively of the user’s hand. The first anchor strap 102 is positionable on the forearm at a predefined distance for example, 10- 12mm relative to the wrist crease of the user’s hand. The second anchor strap 104 is worn by positioning the second anchor strap 104 approximately on the wrist crease of the user’s hand. The first anchor 102 and the second anchor strap 104 collectively advantageously generate torsion at the forearm through supination and pronation pull exerted by respective anchor straps 102 and 104.

The first anchor strap 102 and the second anchor strap 104 are preferably made from material such as breathable neoprene or the like, however, the type of material varies in other embodiments of the present invention. The Velcro straps (not seen) are attached on the first anchor strap 102 and the second anchor strap 104 at predefined locations. The Velcro straps help adjust the first anchor strap 102 and the second anchor strap 104 with respect to size and fitting as per the user requirement however, the fastening means varies in other embodiments of the present invention.

The kit 100 also includes a first band 106 and a second band 108 that are worn by the user such that the first band 106 is wrapped around the first web space whereas the second band 108 is wrapped around the knuckles of the user’s hand. The first band 106 is worn from thenar eminence, radial longitudinal crease and metacarpophalangeal joint crease of the palm and passes from the first web space towards the dorsal side of the user’s hand and connects with the second anchor strap 104.

The first band 106 prevents extreme range of motion of the thumb while providing support and allowing functional range of motion for activities like gaming, texting and the like. The second band 108 includes a plurality of slits of magnets 110. The second band 108 is worn from the palm side from proximal phalanx of the index finger and extends up to palmar digital of the small finger and connects back with the proximal phalanx of the index finger from the dorsal side of the hand. The second band 108 is further connected with the pair of anchors at the dorsal side of the kit 100. The plurality of magnets 110 are positioned inside the slit of the second band 108. The slit of the second band 108 is aligned on the palm side of the hand. The plurality of magnets 110 are preferably having power in the range of 2mt-20mt.

The first band 106 and the second band 108 are preferably made from breathable neoprene material however, the type of material varies in other embodiments of the present invention. The first anchor strap 102 and the second anchor strap 104 provide support to the first band 106 and the second band 108. The Velcro straps (not seen) are attached on the first band 106 and the second band 108 at predefined positions for example on the dorsal side of the respective bands 106 and 108.

The users adjust the fitting of first band 106 and the second band 108 as per the requirement through the Velcro straps however, the fastening means varies in other embodiment of the present invention. The first anchor strap 102, the second anchor strap 104, the first band 106 and the second band 108 are 2.5 cm in length and 0.8cm thick.

The kit 100 also includes a finger sleeve 112 hereinafter referred as sleeve 112 that is worn on the thumb from a free end of the user’s thumb. The sleeve 112 stretches along the proximal phalanx of the thumb. The length of the sleeve 112 is greater than the length of the thumb i.e., approximately 98mm. The finger sleeve 112 is preferably made from conductive materials like aluminium, graphite, and transparent conducting rubber however, the type of material varies in other embodiment of the present invention. The conductive material provides easement in transferring body currents from thumb to operate the touch screen, display of a handheld device 114.

The kit 100 also includes a pop socket 116 that is affixed centrally on the rear side of the PDAs, handheld devices 114, however, the type of handheld devices 114 varies in other embodiments of the present invention. The pop socket 116 is preferably circular in shape and is hollow from inside however, the shape varies in other embodiments of the present invention. The pop socket 116 includes ferromagnetic metal (not seen) positioned inside the pop socket 116. The ferromagnetic metal freely moves inside the pop socket 116.

The pop socket 116 is preferably made of material like a ferromagnetic metal however, the type of material varies in other embodiments of the present invention. The plurality of magnets 110 from the second band 108 are aligned to attract with the ferromagnetic metal positioned inside the pop socket 116 thereby inducing magnetic field and providing the user better grip to hold the handheld devices 114.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 2A, the sleeve 112 is described. The sleeve 112 includes an outer edge 214 that is curved shape and includes a tip 234 at the distal end. The outer edge 214 resembles a shape of a user’s thumb. The tip 234 is preferably a Reuleaux triangle i.e., a triangle with smooth tip and constant width. The user touches the tip 234 on the screen of the handheld devices 114 to operate the handheld devices 114 without straining carpometacarpal joint. The sleeve 112 includes a first cavity 203 and a second cavity 209. The first cavity 203 and the second cavity 209 are carved with predefined dimensions to reduce the weight of the sleeve 112.

The first cavity 203 is carved at the topmost portion of the sleeve 112 that includes a first wall 204, a second wall 206 and a third wall 202. The first wall 204 is connected with the second wall 206 from one end. Further, the first wall 204 is connected with the third wall 202 from another end. Similarly, the third wall 202 is connected with the first wall 204 and the second wall 206 from respective ends. In accordance with the present invention, the connectivity of the first wall 204 with the second wall 206 forms approximately 80° angle between said walls 204 and 206. Similarly, the connectivity of the third wall 202 with the second wall 206 form approximately 30° angle between said walls 202 and 206.

The second cavity 209 is carved below the first cavity 203 and along the length of Y-axis of the sleeve 112. The second cavity 209 includes a first side 208, a second side 212 and a third side 210. The first side 208 connects with the second side 212 from one end and the third side 210 from another end. Similarly, the third side 210 is connected with the first side 208 and the second side 212 from respective ends. In accordance with the present invention, the connectivity of the first side 208 with the second side 212 creates approximately 30° angle between said sides 208 and 212. Similarly, the connectivity of the third side 210 with the first side 208 creates approximately 80° angle between said sides 208 and 210.

The sleeve 112 includes a left sidewall 228 and a right sidewall 230. The left sidewall 228 is positioned on the same plane as that of the second side 212. Similarly, the right sidewall 230 is positioned on the same plane as that of the second wall 206. The left sidewall 228 and the right sidewall 230 receives the tip of the thumb.

The sleeve 112 includes a pair of receivers i.e. a first receiver 216 and a second receiver 218. The first receiver 216 includes a first slit 220 to receive a first end of the strap (not seen). Similarly, the second receiver 218 includes a second slit 222 that receives a second end of the strap (not seen). It is to be noted that the strap (not seen) passes through the first and second slit 220 and 222 to securely hold the sleeve 112 on the distal phalanx of the user’s thumb. The sleeve 112 further includes a third slit 226 that receives another strap (not seen) to secure the sleeve 112 on the proximal phalanx of the user’s thumb. The sleeve 112 includes a curved edge 232 that receives a proximal phalange of a user’s thumb.

Now referring to FIGS 1 to 2A, the operation of the hand healer kit 100 is described. In operation, the user wears a second band 108 and aligns the second band 108 such that the plurality of a magnets 110 are aligned on the palm facing side of the user’s hand. Further, the user inserts the Velcro straps(not seen) in the respective opening of the second band 108 from the dorsal side of the second band 108. Further, the user wears the first anchor strap 102 around the wrist and the second anchor strap 104 on the forearm. The first anchor strap 102 and the second anchor strap 104 connect through respective Velcro strap with the second band 108 from the dorsal side of the palm.

The user than wears a first band 106 in the webspace between the thumb and index finger. Further, the user passes the Velcro strap through the opening of the first band 106 from the dorsal side and joins with the Velcro strap of the second band 108. The user then fixes the pop socket 116 on the rear side of the handheld devices 114. Further, the user wears the sleeve 112 on the thumb of either left or right hand as per user’s preference. The sleeve 112 slidably receives the tip of the thumb such that the tip of the thumb touches the left sidewall 228 or the right sidewall 230. Further, the curved edge 232 receives proximal phalange portion of the user’s thumb.

Accordingly, the user secures the sleeve 112 on the distal phalanx of the user’s thumb and proximal phalanx of the user’s thumb through the respective Velcro straps. The tip 234 of the sleeve 112 is operated through the movement of the user’s thumb. The user operates the handheld device 114 by resting the tip 234 on the display or touch screen of the handheld device 114.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 - 2 A a preferred method of wearing the hand healer kit 100 is described. In an initial step the user of the kit 100 fixedly attaches the pop socket 116 at the rear side of the handheld devices 114 to be used. In the next step, the user wears the first anchor strap 102 and the second anchor strap 104 on the forearm and the wrist respectively and adjusts the position through the Velcro straps. In the next step, the user than wears the first band 106 and the second band 108 and connects said bands 106 and 108 with the pair of anchor straps 102 and 104 through Velcro straps.

In the further step, the user adjusts the second band 108 such that the plurality of magnets 110 are on the palm facing side. In the next step, the user wears the finger sleeve 112 on the thumb. In this step, the user secures the thumb on the finger sleeve 112 through a plurality of straps. In the final step, the user accesses the handheld devices 114 such that the magnets 110 are attracted towards the pop socket 116 thereby providing better grip to the user for handling the handheld devices 114. It is to be noted that, wearing the hand healer kit 100 while operating the handheld device prevents the straining of carpometacarpal joint of the thumb and reduces the strain on the carpometacarpal joint while operating the handheld device.

In accordance with the present invention, the length of the sleeve 112 i.e. from the tip 234 to the third slit is 98 mm. The breadth of the edge surface 214 is approximately 5mm, the thickness of the curved surface 232 is 1.50mm and the curved surface 232 is 21mm in length. The width of the sleeve 112 along the length of X Axis is approximately 40mm. The wearable hand healer kit 100 uses neoprene material to advantageously, allow perforation with air circulation thereby preventing sweating from the user’s hand. Further, the kit 100 advantageously, has Velcro straps to adjust the fitting of pair of bands and pair of anchor strap as per the user’s requirement. Also, the kit 100 advantageously, has the first band 106 that prevents extreme range of motion of the thumb while providing support and allowing functional range of motion for activities like gaming, texting and scrolling.

The kit 100 advantageously, allowing smooth functioning of the smartphones without interference of magnetic field from magnets 110. The kit 100 advantageously, has the finger sleeve 112 that allows the user to easily access to most part of the screen without straining the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. The wearable hand healer kit 100 advantageously, weighs in the range of 130-150gm.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others, skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the present invention.