US3581740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable device for arthritic therapy
Assignee: RL Kuss and Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-02
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-09-02
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable splint for extending the fingers and wrist of the hand of the wearer. The splint has an inflatable chamber extending over the hand and wrist area of the wearer, with one surface which assumes a planar configuration when the splint is inflated. The one surface has finger loops adapted to receive the fingers of the wearer and positioned such that, upon inflation, the fingers will be moved to a normally extended, spaced-apart position. Wrist straps on the wrist area are provided to encircle the wearer''s wrist so that, upon inflation, the wrist joint of the wearer will be moved to a straight position along with the extended fingers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D Sherbourne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H1/00; A61H1/02; A61H1/0274; A61H1/0285; A61H1/0288; A61H2201/00; A61H2201/12; A61H2201/1238; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An inflatable device for extending the fingers and hand of the wearer, Comprising an inflatable chamber of flexible material including a planar base portion and a cover portion, said base portion having a hand area and an elongate wrist area integrally extending from one edge of said hand area, said cover portion joined to said base portion about the outer periphery thereof but having a surface area larger than said base portion, and means on the exposed surface of said base portion for securing the fingers of the wearer in spaced-apart relation adjacent said exposed surface whereby, when said flexible device is installed upon curled fingers of the hand of the wearer with the back of the curled hand adjacent said exposed surface, inflation of said inflatable chamber will cause said base portion to assume a planar configuration, thus extending the fingers and hand of the wearer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An inflatable device for extending the fingers and hand of the wearer, Comprising an inflatable chamber of flexible material including a planar base portion and a cover portion, said base portion having a hand area and an elongate wrist area integrally extending from one edge of said hand area, said cover portion joined to said base portion about the outer periphery thereof but having a surface area larger than said base portion, and means on the exposed surface of said base portion for securing the fingers of the wearer in spaced-apart relation adjacent said exposed surface whereby, when said flexible device is installed upon curled fingers of the hand of the wearer with the back of the curled hand adjacent said exposed surface, inflation of said inflatable chamber will cause said base portion to assume a planar configuration, thus extending the fingers and hand of the wearer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The inflatable device of claim 1 wherein said means for securing fingers of the wearer comprise loops of a flexible material on said exposed surface of said base, each of said loops having a diameter sufficient to receive a single finger of the wearer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The inflatable device of claim 2 wherein said loops of flexible material are secured to said exposed surface in spaced-apart relation corresponding to the positions of fingers in an extended hand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The inflatable device of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes means for positioning the fingers of the right and left hand of the wearer in a normally extended position for each hand.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The inflatable device of claim 4 wherein said finger positioning means comprises a loop of flexible material secured to said exposed surface of said base, each of said loops having a diameter sufficient to receive a single finger of the wearer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The inflatable device of claim 5 wherein four finger loops are positioned in generally equally spaced-apart relation in an arcuate row on said base opposite said elongate wrist area and a single loop for the thumb finger of a hand of the wearer is positioned adjacent each end of said arcuate row and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the distance between adjacent ones of said four loops in said arcuate row.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The inflatable device of claim 1 wherein said base portion is comprised of a flexible material having a thickness greater than the material comprising said cover portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The inflatable device of claim 1 which further includes means for removably securing said elongate wrist area to the wrist of a wearer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The inflatable device of claim 8 wherein said wrist-securing means comprises at least one flexible strap secured to said elongated wrist area and adapted to encircle the wrist of the wearer to hold said base portion of said wrist area closely adjacent thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The inflatable device of claim 1 which further includes an air valve in said inflatable chamber for selectively admitting, holding, and releasing air therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
An inflatable splint for extending and holding in extended position the fingers and hand of the wearer, comprising a flexible inflatable chamber having a hand area and an elongate wrist area extending from said hand area, said chamber having one surface extending through both of said hand and wrist areas, which surface, when said chamber is inflated, assumes a substantially planar configuration, means on said one surface in the hand area for securing the fingers of a wearer in spaced-apart position, means on said wrist area for securing said one surface to the wrist of the wearer, whereby, when the fingers and wrist of a wearer are secured adjacent said one surface and said chamber is inflated, said one surface, on assuming its planar configuration, will cause said fingers and wrist of the wearer to straighten and to assume an extended position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
142 words
An inflatable splint for extending and holding in extended position the fingers and hand of the wearer, comprising a flexible inflatable chamber having a hand area and an elongate wrist area extending from said hand area, said chamber having one surface extending through both of said hand and wrist areas, which surface, when said chamber is inflated, assumes a substantially planar configuration, means on said one surface in the hand area for securing the fingers of a wearer in spaced-apart position, means on said wrist area for securing said one surface to the wrist of the wearer, whereby, when the fingers and wrist of a wearer are secured adjacent said one surface and said chamber is inflated, said one surface, on assuming its planar configuration, will cause said fingers and wrist of the wearer to straighten and to assume an extended position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The inflatable splint of claim 11 which includes means in the hand area of said one surface for receiving the fingers of either the right or left hand of a wearer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The inflatable splint of claim 11 wherein said one surface is comprised of a flexible material havinG thickness greater than that of the material comprising the remainder of said inflatable chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA735700A
Cited
US2880721A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |