TRAY FOR HOLDING EXERCISE PUTTY AND PUTTY TOOLS

Abstract

A tray for storing and organizing exercise putty and putty therapy tools includes a base and a cover. The base includes a plurality of receptacles in the form of recessed portions into which exercise putty and putty therapy tools are received. The recessed portions that define the tool receptacles are particularly shaped to conform to the shape of the tools that they hold. A therapeutic exercise kit includes the tray, exercise putty and putty therapy tools.

Claims

1. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools, which comprises: a base, the base having a top surface and an exercise putty-receiving receptacle formed therein, the exercise putty-receiving receptacle being formed as a recessed section of the top surface of the base, the receptacle being provided for containing exercise putty therein; and means for holding at least one exercise putty tool to the top surface of the base.

2. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes at least one recessed portion of the top surface of the base, the at least one recessed portion defining a recess for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool.

3. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 2, wherein the at least one recessed portion is sufficiently recessed below the top surface of the base such that the at least one exercise putty tool received within the recess defined by the at least one recessed portion does not protrude above the top surface of the base.

4. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 2, wherein the at least one recessed portion defines the tool receiving recess with a shape that generally conforms to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool receivable by the recess.

5. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 2, wherein the exercise putty-receiving receptacle is located generally centrally on the top surface of the base; and wherein the at least one recessed tool-receiving portion of the top surface is situated in proximity to the centrally-located, exercise putty-receiving receptacle.

6. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 1, wherein the means for holding at least one exercise putty tool includes: indicia situated on the top surface of the base, the indicia defining an outline of the at least one exercise putty tool, the outline generally conforming to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool; and means for selectively holding the at least one exercise putty tool in proximity to the outline and to the top surface of the base.

7. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 6, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a fastening strap, the fastening strap bridging the outline and the at least one exercise putty tool received thereunder.

8. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 7, wherein the fastening strap includes mating hook and loop fasteners.

9. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 7, wherein the fastening strap includes an elastic band.

10. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 6, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a resilient clip, the resilient clip being mounted on the top surface of the base, the clip having resilient spaced apart members which define therebetween a putty tool receiving pocket for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool.

11. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 6, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a clip, the clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the elongated arm being positioned at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder.

12. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 6, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a rotatable clip, the rotatable clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the clip being rotatable on the top surface between a first position in which the elongated arm is positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder, and a second position in which the elongated arm is not positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated at the outline.

13. A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by claim 1, which further comprises: a cover, the cover being situated on the base and being removable therefrom.

14. A therapeutic exercise kit, which comprises: exercise putty; at least one exercise putty tool; and a tray for holding the exercise putty and the at least one exercise putty tool, the tray including: a base, the base having a top surface and an exercise putty-receiving receptacle formed therein, the exercise putty-receiving receptacle being formed as a recessed section of the top surface of the base, the receptacle being provided for and containing the exercise putty therein; and means for holding the at least one exercise putty tool to the top surface of the base.

15. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 14, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes at least one recessed portion of the top surface of the base, the at least one recessed portion defining a recess for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool, the at least one exercise putty tool being received by the recess.

16. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 15, wherein the at least one recessed portion is sufficiently recessed below the top surface of the base such that the at least one exercise putty tool received within the recess defined by the at least one recessed portion does not protrude above the top surface of the base.

17. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 15, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool has an outer peripheral shape; and wherein the at least one recessed portion defines the tool receiving recess with a shape that generally conforms to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool received by the recess.

18. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 15, wherein the exercise putty-receiving receptacle is located generally centrally on the top surface of the base; and wherein the at least one recessed tool-receiving portion of the top surface is situated in proximity to the centrally-located, exercise putty-receiving receptacle.

19. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 14, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool has an outer peripheral shape; and wherein the means for holding the at least one exercise putty tool includes: indicia situated on the top surface of the base, the indicia defining an outline of the at least one exercise putty tool, the outline generally conforming to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool; and means for selectively holding the at least one exercise putty tool in proximity to the outline and to the top surface of the base.

20. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 19, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a fastening strap, the fastening strap bridging the outline and the at least one exercise putty tool received thereunder.

21. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 20, wherein the fastening strap includes mating hook and loop fasteners.

22. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 20, wherein the fastening strap includes an elastic band.

23. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 19, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a resilient clip, the resilient clip being mounted on the top surface of the base, the clip having resilient spaced apart members which define therebetween a putty tool receiving pocket for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool.

24. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 19, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a clip, the clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the elongated arm being positioned at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder.

25. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 19, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a rotatable clip, the rotatable clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the clip being rotatable on the top surface between a first position in which the elongated arm is positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder, and a second position in which the elongated arm is not positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated at the outline.

26. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 19, wherein the at least one exercise putty tool includes at least a portion thereof formed from a magnetically attractable material; wherein the base includes a bottom surface situated opposite the top surface; and wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes at least one magnet, the at least one magnet being affixed to one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the base in proximity to the indicia defining an outline of the at least one exercise putty tool, the at least one putty tool being magnetically attracted to the at least one magnet and selectively held in place on the top surface of the base by the magnetic attraction between the at least one putty tool and the at least one magnet.

27. A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by claim 14, wherein the tray further includes a cover, the cover being situated on the base and being removable therefrom.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention, showing the cover detached from the base.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 6 is another front elevational view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 10 is another front elevational view of the cover of the storage tray formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a partially exploded, top perspective view of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray of the present invention shown in FIG. 11.

[0027] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of a portion of the base of the storage tray formed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Reference should initially be made to FIG. 2 of the drawings, where it can be seen that a tray 2 for holding exercise putty and putty therapy tools 3 formed in accordance with the present invention basically includes two main components: a base 4 and a cover 6 that is situated on or over the base 4 and joinable thereto. The base 4 includes a plurality of recessed portions 8 that are dimensioned and shaped to receive exercise (e.g., therapy) putty (not shown) and putty therapy tools 3 that are utilized in conjunction with the exercise putty to perform various rehabilitative and strengthening exercises. The cover 6 generally has a shape that conforms to the shape of the base 4 so that it may be fitted on or over the base 4 to cover the putty and tools 3 situated in the recessed portions 8 when the putty and tools 3 are not being used (i.e., during storage).

[0031] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4-6 of the drawings, the base 4 includes a top surface 10, a bottom surface 12 situated opposite the top surface 10, and a sidewall 14 extending downwardly from the bottom surface 12 at least partially around the periphery of the base 4. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-10 of the drawings, the cover 6 includes a top surface 16 and a bottom surface 18 situated opposite the top surface 16. A sidewall 20 extends downwardly from the bottom surface 18 of the cover at least partially around the periphery thereof. The sidewall 20 and the bottom surface 18 of the cover 6 define a cavity 22 into which the base 4 is at least partially received.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base 4 is generally rectangular in shape and includes a first sidewall 24, a second sidewall 26, a third sidewall 28 and a fourth sidewall 30, each of which extends downwardly from the bottom surface 12 of the base. The first sidewall 24 is situated opposite and generally parallel to the third sidewall 28, and the second sidewall 26 is situated opposite and generally parallel to the fourth sidewall 30. The cover 6 is complementary shaped to the base 4 and also includes a first sidewall 32, a second sidewall 34, a third sidewall 36 and a fourth sidewall 38, each of which extends downwardly from the bottom surface 18 thereof. The first sidewall 32 of the cover 6 is situated opposite and generally parallel to the third sidewall 36 of the cover 6, and the second sidewall 34 of the cover 6 is situated opposite and generally parallel to the fourth sidewall 38 of the cover 6. As can be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the cover 6 is fitted on or over the base 4 so that the base 4 is received within the cavity 22 thereof.

[0033] The base 4 further includes at least one putty receptacle 40 for storing the exercise putty. The putty receptacle 40 is formed as a rectangular (or some other shape) recessed portion 42 that extends through the top surface 10 thereof. The recessed portion 42 preferably includes a first pair of opposite sidewalls 44 and a second pair of opposite sidewalls 46, the first pair of sidewalls 44 being generally perpendicular to the second pair of sidewalls 46. The recessed portion 42 further includes a bottom surface 48 that extends between the first and second pairs of sidewalls 44, 46 that is situated below the top surface 10 of the base 4. When the exercise putty is stored within the recessed portion 42 of the putty receptacle 40 and not being used, it spreads out due to its Newtonian properties. Accordingly, as the putty spreads out during rest, it is retained within the recessed portion 42 by the bottom surface 48 and sidewalls 44, 46 thereof and thereby, over time, conforms to the shape of the putty receptacle 40, ready for reuse.

[0034] The base 4 further includes at least one tool receptacle 50. As will be described in greater detail in the forthcoming paragraphs, the tool receptacle 50 is formed as a recessed portion 52 that extends through the top surface 10 of the base 4. Preferably, the base 4 includes a plurality of tool receptacles 50 so that a standard set of putty therapy tools 3 comprising an L-bar tool, peg-turn tool, cap-turn tool, key-turn tool and knob-turn tool may be stored therein. The putty receptacle 40 is preferably situated centrally on the base 4 and the tool receptacles 50 are preferably situated adjacent to the putty receptacle 40.

[0035] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the tool receptacles 50 are formed as recessed portions 52, each of which comprises a peripheral sidewall 54 that is at least partially complementary in shape to the shape of the particular tool 3 that is received within the recessed portion 52. Each of the tool receptacles 50 includes a bottom surface 56 that extends from and between the peripheral sidewall 54 of the recessed portion 52 and is situated below the top surface 10 of the base 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, some adjacent tool receptacles 50 may be interconnected by a finger recess 58 that extends through the top surface 10 of the base 4 and at least partially interconnects adjacent tool receptacles 50. Each finger recess 58 facilitates removal of specific tools 3 from the tool receptacle 50 and allows a user to insert his or her finger underneath the tool 3 to remove it from the receptacle 50.

[0036] Preferably, the bottom surfaces 48, 56 of the recessed portions 42, 52 of both the putty receptacle 40 and tool receptacles 50 are formed to a depth sufficiently lower than the top surface 10 of the base so that, when the tools 3 and putty are received within the recessed portions 52, 42, they do not extend beyond the top surface 10 of the base 4. Accordingly, when the cover 6 is situated on the base 4, the bottom surface 18 of the cover 6 rests on the top surface 10 of the base 4 thereby holding the putty and tools within their respective receptacles 42, 52. The cover 6 may rest on and be supported by the base 4 in a raised position above the top surface 10 of the base 4 to provide sufficient space between the cover 6 and the base 4 to accommodate exercise tools 3 having portions thereof that protrude from and above the top surface 10 of the base 4.

[0037] As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the cover 6 is joinable to the base 4 and secures the putty and tools 3 within the recessed portions 42, 52 of the base. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, 6, 9 and 10 of the drawings, the sidewall 14 of the base 4 may further include a tab or ridge 60 that extends outwardly therefrom. The tab or ridge 60 in the sidewall 14 of the base 4 is receivable within a corresponding recess or indent 62 formed in the cover 6. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second and forth sidewalls 26, 30 of the base 4 each include an elongated ridge 60 that extends at least partially along the length of the sidewall 26, 30 and extends outwardly therefrom. Each of the second and forth sidewalls 34, 38 of the cover 6 includes a complementary shaped recess 62 into which the elongated ridges 60 that extend from the sidewalls 26, 30 of the base are received. Accordingly, when the cover 6 is pressed over and onto the base 4, the elongated ridges 60 engage and are received within the recesses 62 formed in the cover 6, thereby joining the cover 6 to the base 4. It is also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to form the ridges 60 and recesses 62 on other sides of the base 4 and cover 6.

[0038] The base 4 may also include two or more handle portions 64 formed on a pair of opposite sidewalls thereof. As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, preferably, a first handle 66 is situated on the first sidewall 24 and a second handle 68 is situated on the third sidewall 28.

[0039] Each handle 66, 68 is formed as a cutout 70 in each sidewall 24, 28. The handles 66, 68 may further include a flange 72 that extends outwardly from a bottom edge 74 of each sidewall 24, 28 along the periphery of the cutout 70. The flange 72 may also extend inwardly towards an internal cavity 76 of the base 4 defined by the sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 that extend downwardly therefrom.

[0040] The cover 6 may also includes a complementary set of handles 78, 80 that align with and are situated over the handles 66, 68 formed in the base 4, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-9 of the drawings. For example, the cover 6 may include handle portions 78, 80 formed as cutouts 82 through the first sidewall 32 and the third sidewall 36 thereof, each of which includes a flange 84 that extends outwardly from the periphery 86 of the cutout 82. When the cover 6 is joined to the base, the handles 78, 80 in the cover are aligned with and situated on the handles 66, 68 formed in the base 4 so that a user may insert his or her hands through the aligned handle portions to lift the tray 2 and contents therein. Furthermore, if the cover 6 is removed, the user may also lift the base 4 and the contents therein by inserting his or hands into the handle portions 66, 68 of the base 4. It is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to form the handles 64 in any of the sidewalls of the cover 6 and the base 4.

[0041] The base 4 and the cover 6 may be constructed by a variety of methods including injection molding and blow molding. Furthermore, the base 4 and cover 6 may be formed of a variety of materials. For example, the base 4 may be formed of Haircell Black ABS. The cover 6 may be formed of 0.100 clear PETG, or another clear material, so that the contents of the recessed portions 42, 52 in the base 4 are readily viewable by a user. In one embodiment, the tray 2 formed in accordance with the present invention functions as a storage device for the therapy components including the putty and tools 3 so that both the tools 3 and the putty may be easily located together by the user. When a user desires to perform an exercise using the putty, the putty and a particular putty therapy tool 3 are removed from the tray 2 and the exercise is performed on a separate surface. In another embodiment, the base 4 is constructed to be durable and sufficiently sturdy so that a user may perform the exercises directly on the putty that is situated within the recessed portion 42 in the top surface 10 of the base 4. In both forms of the present invention, whether the exercise is performed directly on the base 4 or separately, the putty, when not in use or when returned to the tray 2, over time naturally conforms and returns to the shape of the recessed portion 42 of the base 4 due to the Newtonian properties of the putty so that it is ready for future exercises. Also, the user can easily see if he has forgotten to return a tool 3 to the tray 2, as well as the particular tool 3 that was not returned, from viewing the overall shape of the empty tool receptacle 50.

[0042] A second embodiment of the storage tray of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings. In the earlier embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-10, it is preferred to have recesses 50 formed in the top surface 10 of the base 4 of the tray 2, each recess 50 being shaped to conform to that of a particular tool 3 so that the recess 50 accepts only that particular tool 3 and so that the user can easily see if he has forgotten to return a tool 3 to the tray 2. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, no recesses 50 are formed in the top surface 10 of the base 4 of the storage tray 2, but rather markings or other indicia 100 are printed on the top surface 10 of the base 4, which markings 100 are essentially an outline of the peripheral shape of the tool 3. Each tool 3 is placed by the user within the marking 100 of the outline for that particular tool 3 and rests on the top surface 10 of the base 4. Elastic straps 102a or Velcro hook and loop fasteners 102b are mounted on the top surface 10 of the base 4 and positioned to bridge the tool outline markings 100 and the tools 3 placed within the markings 100 so as to secure the tools 3 to the top surface 10 of the base 4.

[0043] An alternative to the elastic straps 102a or hook and loop fasteners 102b shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is resilient clips 104, as shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings. The clips 104 may be placed next to or over the tool markings 100 on the top surface 10 of the base 4 and are secured to the base 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings, the clip 104 is in the form of a U-shaped resilient member 106 that defines a slot or channel 108 to hold therein a tool 3. The clip 104 is mounted on the top surface 10 of the base 4.

[0044] In another alternative embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings, the clip 104 may be positioned adjacent to the tool outline marking 100 on the top surface 10 of the base 4 and has a resilient leg 110 that is moveable between a first position, in which the leg 110 is positioned across the tool outline marking 100 and the tool 3 situated in alignment therewith to secure the tool 3 to the top surface 10 of the base 4, and a second position, in which the leg 110 is pivoted away from the outline 100 and the tool 3 so that the tool 3 may be easily removed from the base 4 of the storage tray 2.

[0045] In yet another alternative embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 15 of the drawings, portions or all of the putty tools 3 may be formed from a ferrous material, such as steel or iron, that is magnetically attractable, and one or more permanent magnets 112, such as those formed from samarium cobalt or other rare earth magnet material, may be affixed by gluing with an adhesive or other methods of attachment to the top surface 10 of the base 4 or to the bottom surface 12 of the base 4 in alignment with the tool outline marking 100. Magnetic attraction between the tools 3 and the magnets 112 will hold the tools 3 in place on the top surface 10 of the base 4 within the tool outline marking 100. The tools 3 may be easily removed from the top surface 10 of the base 4 by a user exerting force thereon to overcome the magnetic attraction between the magnets 112 and the tools 3.

[0046] Although recesses, straps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, and clips are shown and described for holding the tools in place on the base of the storage tray, it should be realized that other fastening means and fasteners may be used for this purpose, and such other fasteners are envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0047] Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.