Abstract
A strip of material includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the sheet. The protrusions in a local area cooperate to resist a force placed on the local area of the strip.
Claims
1. A wrist support apparatus comprising: a strip comprising: a sheet of a Shore A hardness of at least 10 with oppositely disposed ends; and, a plurality of elastic protrusions extending from the sheet in a longitudinal dimension, each of the protrusions of a lateral dimension of a diameter of at least approximately 2 mm, the lateral dimension at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and in an arrangement with the other protrusions to cooperatively support a wrist by providing a resistive force proximate to the corresponding location of the strip where pressure is applied by the wrist, the protrusions of a material less stiff than the material of the sheet.
2. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fastening device at the ends of the strip such that the strip is a band.
3. The wrist support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ends of the strip are in communication with each other by the fastening device, such that the protrusions face inward.
4. The wrist support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ends of the strip are in communication with each other by the fastening device, such that the protrusions face outward.
5. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of the sheet includes a woven textile matrix.
6. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of the sheet includes a synthetic textile matrix.
7. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of the protrusions includes an elastomer.
8. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of the protrusions includes at least one of silicone rubber, latex rubber or natural rubber.
9. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are cylindrical in shape.
10. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusions extending from the sheet include ends defining a surface of the strip, the surface including a contour, being at least one of: 1) an incline, and, 2) periodic elevational variations.
11. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of the protrusions is of a Shore A hardness of approximately 10-70.
12. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are of a lateral dimension of a diameter of at least approximately 2 mm to 10 mm.
13. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are spaced apart with respect to each other to cooperate to provide a resistive force against a surface, for supporting the wrist, by deforming elastically and multidirectionally, the deforming elastically including bending about a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal dimension of which the protrusions extend from the sheet.
14. The wrist support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusions have a density of approximately ten protrusions per square centimeter.
15. A strip apparatus comprising: a sheet of a Shore A hardness of at least 10 with oppositely disposed ends; and, a plurality of elastic protrusions extending from the sheet in a longitudinal dimension, each of the protrusions of a lateral dimension of a diameter of at least approximately 2 mm, the lateral dimension at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and in an arrangement with the other protrusions to cooperatively providing a resistive force proximate to the corresponding location of the strip apparatus where pressure is applied to the strip apparatus, the protrusions of a material less stiff than the material of the sheet.
16. The strip apparatus of claim 15, in the form of at least one of a sheet member and/or a band.
17. The strip apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sheet member is configured for supporting a body portion.
18. The strip apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sheet member is configured for supporting a body portion including at least one of a wrist, limb, or tissue portion.
19. The strip apparatus of claim 16, wherein the band is configured for supporting a body portion.
20. The strip apparatus of claim 19, wherein the band is configured for supporting a body portion including at least one of a wrist, limb, or tissue portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIGS. 1A and 1B shows plan and cross sectional drawings respectively of an article of manufacture for protection of a wrist, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 1C is a cross sectional view of the article of manufacture for protection of the wrist as a flat mat on a work surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is illustrates the article of manufacture of FIG. 1 being used as a wristband, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the article of manufacture being used as a flat mat placed on the work surface with protrusions facing upward, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an isometric drawing illustrating the article of manufacture as a wristband, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an isometric drawing illustrating the article of manufacture as a wristband, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an isometric drawing illustrating the article of manufacture as a wristband, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is still another isometric drawing illustrating the article of manufacture as a wristband, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 is an isometric drawing illustrating the article of manufacture as a wristband, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 9-11 illustrate different examples of lateral distribution of the protrusions which may be used in different embodiments of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates varying heights of protrusions, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 13 illustrates protrusions of two different heights and/or lateral dimension according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0024] FIGS. 14-19 illustrate different examples cross sections of the protrusions, according to different embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings; wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0026] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate in plan (top view) and cross section of a single casting or other manufacture, e.g. injection molding of structure 7, of an elastic material, e.g. silicone rubber. Structure 7 is, for example, a strip, to be used for protection of a wrist. The structure has protrusions 1 attached to a sheet 5. Reference is now also made to FIG. 1C which illustrates sheet 5 is attached to a backing 3. The material properties for the protrusions 1, sheet 5 and backing 3 are selected according to the requirements of the utilization of structure 7.
[0027] Any casting method, e.g. injection molding, known in the art of polymer industrial processes may be used to form structure 7.
[0028] Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which illustrates structure 7 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention being utilized as a wristband 16. A hand 14 is shown using a computer mouse 12 on a work surface 10. Backing 3 is preferably of canvas or similar textile material or another polymeric layer to provide comfort to the wearer of wristband 16.
[0029] Reference is now also made to FIG. 3 which illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention in which structure 7 is utilized as a mat 18 with protrusions 1 facing upwards. Hand 14 is shown using mouse 12 on work surface 10. Wrist/hand 14 is shown resting on protrusions 1, in this situation the dimensions and undeformed shape of protrusions 1 are selected to provide comfort to the user of mat 18. Optionally, a coating is applied to the top surfaces of protrusions 1 to provide additional comfort, i.e. the coating absorbs or dissipates sweat from the skin of the wrist. Backing 3 is optionally rubber to prevent the slipping of mat 18 or backing 3 is a canvas type of material which allows the movement of mat 18. In other embodiments of the invention wristband 16 is closed with protrusions 1 facing inward toward the wrist instead of outward.
[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 show two different closure devices which form fasteners of wristband 16, according to different embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the ends of wristband 16 being connected together by a clasp device, e.g. Velcro 20a and 20b. FIG. 5 shows the ends of wristband 16 being connected together by a press stud 22a and 22b. Alternatively the ends of wristband 16 are connected together using any other method known in the art of fastening.
[0031] Reference is now made to FIGS. 6-8 which illustrates further embodiments of wristband 16, according to different aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of wristband 16 in which sheet 5 and optionally backing 3 are semi-rigid so that hand 14 may be inserted into the wristband while elastically deforming sheet 5 and that after inserting hand 14, wristband 16 elastically returns to its undeformed state and closes around the wrist. The term lateral as used herein in reference to wristband 16 refers to a direction which crosses the width of the band in a direction parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the band. Wristband 16 of FIG. 6 is cut substantially in the lateral direction so that while hand 14 is being inserted wristband 16 deforms elastically by opening the lateral cut. The term radial as used herein in reference to wristband 16 refers to a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wristband. The term circumferential as used herein in reference to wristband 16 refers to a direction perpendicular a radius of wristband 16 and tangential to wristband 16. The terms outward and inward refer to directions substantially perpendicular to a tangent to the circumference of the wristband. FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of wristband 16 in which sheet 5 and optionally backing 3 are typically more elastic (less rigid) than that of FIG. 6. Closure of wristband 16 is achieved by including in edge contours 24a and 24b significant circumferential portions. The circumferential portions of edge contours 24a and 24b allow a significant elastic distortion in the radial direction, i.e. opening the wristband, without having a large space in the band which would allow wristband 16 to fall sideways off the wrist. A similar effect is achieved if edge contours are straight but with a significant circumferential component. FIG. 8 is an example of wristband 16 which is fully closed but is sufficiently elastic to allow deformation for inserting the hand through the band. In all embodiments, edge contours 24 are either cut from a subsequent to injection molding or are molded with the edge contours during the molding process.
[0032] Reference is now made to FIG. 9-11 which illustrate exemplary distributions in top view of protrusions 1 manufactured preferably in a single casting on sheet 5, according to different aspects of the present invention. FIG. 9 illustrates protrusions distributed in an ordered lattice of rows and columns. Although the lattice constants (distances between rows and columns) in both lateral directions are shown as equal, the present invention in other embodiments may be configured to have distances between rows different from the distances between columns. Similarly, lattice angles may be configured to be angles other than ninety degrees as shown the example of FIG. 9. Reference is now made to FIGS. 10 and 11 which illustrate distributions of reduced order of protrusions 1 on sheet 5. In FIGS. 9 and 10 rows and columns are not necessarily straight but follow a predictable or random curve. The example of FIG. 10 includes another aspect of borders which are not defined, order does not increase at the borders. Other features not explicitly illustrated may be used according to other features of the present invention. The cross sectional area of protrusions 1 may vary from row to row or column to column or even vary randomly throughout the distribution. Lattice angles may also be varied within the distribution.
[0033] Reference is now made FIGS. 12 and 13 which illustrate another aspect of the present invention. Specifically, in FIG. 12, heights of protrusions 1 vary monotonically along one or more lateral directions. The monotonic variation may be suited to the angle of the wrist and/or contour of the wrist while wristband 16 and/or mat 18 is in use. FIG. 13 illustrates a periodic size (height and lateral dimension variation) along one or more lateral directions. A periodic height variation is preferably combined with another periodically varying parameter such as a periodically varying cross section of protrusion 1 along a lateral direction.
[0034] Reference is now made to FIGS. 14-19 which illustrate schematically in front view different example profiles of protrusions 1. FIG. 14 illustrates a profile 1A of a right angle prism or right circular cylinder with a flat top. FIG. 15 illustrates a profile of a right angle prism or right circular cylinder with a pointed top. FIG. 15 illustrates a profile 1B of a right angle prism or right circular cylinder with a pointed top. FIG. 15 illustrates a profile 1C of a right angle prism or right circular cylinder with a rounded top. FIG. 16 illustrates a profile 1C of a right angle prism or right circular cylinder with a rounded top. FIG. 17 illustrates a profile 1D which includes a cone shaped bottom portion 1E. FIG. 18 illustrates a profile 1F which in the bottom part is a right angled prism or cylinder 1G and in the top part not right angled, for instance portions of cones, paraboloids or ellipsoids. FIG. 19 illustrates a profile 1I which is ellipsoid or paraboloid.
[0035] The present invention in different embodiments may be realized using a number of elastomeric thermoset or thermoplastic polymers including:
[0036] Unsaturated rubbers that can be cured by sulfur vulcanization such as Natural Rubber (NR), Synthetic Polyisobutylene (IR), Butyl rubber (copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene, IIR), Halogenated butyl rubbers (Chloro Butyl Rubber: CIIR; Bromo Butyl Rubber: BIIR), Polybutadiene (BR), Styrene-butadiene Rubber (copolymer of polystyrene and polybutadiene, SBR), Nitrile Rubber (copolymer of polybutadiene and acrylonitrile, NBR), also called Buna N rubbers, Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubbers (HNBR) Therban and Zetpol, Chloroprene Rubber (CR), polychloroprene, Neoprene, Baypren, etc. Unsaturated rubbers can also be cured by non-sulfur vulcanization if desired.
[0037] Saturated Rubbers that cannot be cured by sulfur vulcanization include: EPM (ethylene propylene rubber, a copolymer of ethylene and propylene) and EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene rubber, a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene-component). Epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO), Polyacrylic rubber (ACM, ABR), Silicone rubber (SI, Q, VMQ), Fluorosilicone Rubber (FVMQ), Fluoroelastomers (FKM, and FEPM) Viton, Tecnoflon, Fluorel, Aflas and Dai-El, Perfluoroelastomers (FFKM) Tecnoflon PFR, Kalrez, Chemraz, Perlast, Polyether Block Amides (PEBA) Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSM), (Hypalon), Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA); and
[0038] Various other types of elastomers: Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), for example Elastron, etc., Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPV), for example Santoprene TPV, Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Thermoplastic Olefins (TPO), and the proteins resilin and elastin and Polysulfide Rubber.
[0039] Preferred physical characteristics for the cast material are Shore A hardness in the range 10-70.
[0040] A casting was produced according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 using a two component silicone elastomer S-471 (ESQUIM S.A., Barcelona, Spain) The inventor who suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome tested the prototype and found that the elastic protrusions alleviated discomfort.
[0041] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.
