Therapeutic hand exerciser

Claim 2

A therapeutic hand exerciser comprising: upper inflatable pouch means which when attached to the fingertips and arm of a disabled individual and inflated has sufficient rigidity to straighten the fingers of the individual, and when deflated is sufficiently pliable to permit the fingers to bend; first inflation means attached to said upper inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said upper inflatable pouch means; first deflation means attached to said first inflation means and permitting deflation of said upper inflatable pouch means; fingertip attachment means connected to the underside of said upper inflatable pouch means suitable for holding the fingertips of the individual; thumb attachment means connected to the underside of the upper inflatable pouch means suitable for holding the thumb of the individual; arm attachment means connected to said upper inflatable pouch means at the end opposite from said fingertip attachement means and permitting attachment of said upper inflatable pouch means to the arm of said individual; lower inflatable pouch means which when attached to the wrist of said individual and inflated extends from the palm of the hand of the individual to the wrist portion of the arm of the individual and when deflated is capable of folding such that both ends are approximately at the palm of the hand; wrist attachment means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and capable of holding said lower inflatable pouch means onto the wrist of said individual and allowing folding of said lower inflatable pouch means when deflated; second inflation means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; second deflation means attached to said second inflation means and permitting deflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; flap means attached to and extending from the end of said lower inflatable pouch means nearest the wrist, with sufficient length for wrapping under the palm, around the extended fingertips, over the knuckles and to the top of the wrist; flap attachment means attached to and anchoring one end of said flap means in the region of the top surface of the wrist; and flap length adjustment means attached to said flap means to yield a length which permits the fingers to be straightened when said lower inflatable pouch means is deflated and forces the fingers to bend when said lower inflatable pouch means is inflated.

Claim 3

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 1 wherein said flap attachment means also functions as said flap length adjustment means.

Claim 4

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 1 wherein said arm attachment means are adjustable for various sizes of arms of individuals.

Claim 5

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 1 wherein said fingertip attachment means comprises loops into which the fingertips may be inserted and said thumb attachment means includes duplicate loops located to enable use of the exerciser on either the right hand or left hand.

Claim 6

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 1 wherein said fingertip attachment means comprises a partial mitten into which the fingertips may be inserted.

Claim 7

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 1 wherein said flap attachment means is attached to the top surface of said upper inflatable pouch means.

Claim 8

A therapeutic hand exerciser for forcing the hand of a disabled individual to close comprising: lower inflatable pouch means which when attached to the wrist of said individual and inflated extends from the palm of the hand of said individual to the wrist portion of the arm of said individual and when deflated is capable of folding such that both ends are approximately at the palm of the hand; wrist attachment means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and capable of holding said lower inflatable pouch means onto the wrist of said individual and allowing folding of said inflatable pouch means when deflated; inflation means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; deflation means attached to said inflation means and permitting deflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; flap means attached to and extending from the end of said lower inflatable pouch means nearest the wrist, with sufficient length for wrapping under the palm, around the extended fingertips, over the knuckles and to the top of the wrist; flap attachment means attached to and anchoring one end of said flap means in the region of the top surface of the wrist; and flap length adjustment means attached to said flap means to yield a length which permits the fingers to be straightened when said lower inflatable pouch means is deflated and forces the fingers to bend when said lower inflatable pouch means is inflated.

Claim 9

A therapeutic hand exerciser for forcing the hand of a disabled individual to close comprising: lower inflatable pouch means which when attached to the wrist of said individual and inflated extends from the palm of the hand of said individual to the wrist portion of the arm of said individual and when deflated is capable of folding such that both ends are approximately at the palm of the hand; wrist attachment means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and capable of holding said lower inflatable pouch means onto the wrist of said individual and allowing folding of said inflatable pouch means when deflated; inflation means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; deflation means attached to said inflation means and permitting deflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; flap means attached to and extending from the end of said lower inflatable pouch means nearest the wrist, with sufficient length for wrapping under the palm, around the extended fingertips, over the knuckles and to the top of the wrist; flap attachment means attached to and anchoring one end of said flap means in the region of the top surface of the wrist; and flap length adjustment means attached to said flap means to yield a length which permits the fingers to be straightened when said lower inflatable pouch means is deflated and forces the fingers to bend when said lower inflatable pouch means is inflated.

Claim 10

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 7 wherein said flap attachment means is attached to the top surface of said wrist attachment means.

Claim 11

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 7 wherein said flap attachment means also functions as said flap length adjustment means.

Claim 12

A therapeutic hand exerciser as in claim 7 wherein said wrist attachment means is adjustable for various sizes of wrists of individuals.

Claim 13

A therapeutic hand exerciser comprising: upper inflatable pouch means which when attached to the fingertips and arm of a disabled individual and inflated has sufficient rigidity to straighten the fingers of the individual, and when deflated is sufficiently pliable to permit the fingers to bend; first inflation means attached to said upper inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said upper inflatable pouch means; first deflation means attached to said first inflation means and permitting deflation of said upper inflatable pouch means; fingertip attachment means connected to the underside of said upper inflatable pouch means suitable for holding the fingertips of the individual; thumb attachment means connected to the underside of said upper inflatable pouch means suitable for holding the thumb of the individual; arm attachment means connected to said upper inflatable pouch means at the end opposite from said fingertip attachment means and permitting attachment of said upper inflatable pouch means to the arm of the individual; lower inflatable pouch means which when attached to the wrist of said individual and inflated extends from the palm of the hand of the individual to the wrist portion of the arm of the individual and when deflated is capable of folding such that both ends are approximately at the palm of the hand; wrist attachment means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and capable of holding said lower inflatable pouch means onto the wrist of said individual and allowing folding of said lower inflatable pouch means when deflated; second inflation means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; second deflation means attached to said second inflation means and permitting deflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; flap means attached to and extending from the end of said lower inflatable pouch means nearest the wrist, with sufficient length for wrapping under the palm, around th extended fingertips, over the knuckles and to the top of the wrist; flap attachment means attached to and anchoring one end of said flap means in the region of the top surface of the wrist; flap length adjustment means attached to said flap means to yield a length which permits the fingers to be straightened when said lower inflatable pouch means is deflated and forces the fingers to bend when said lower inflatable pouch means is inflated; pump means producing air pressure and quantity sufficient to inflate said upper inflatable pouch means and said lower inflatable pouch means, and containing a pressure outlet and a vacuum inlet; adjustable pressure control means attached to the pressure outlet of said pump means controlling the air pressure to which said upper inflatable pouch means and said lower inflatable pouch means are subjected; filler valve means attached to the vacuum inlet of said pump means assuring sufficient air quantity for said pump means; cycling valve means attached to the vacuum inlet of said pump means, to said adjustable pressure control means, to said upper inflatable pouch means and to said lower inflatable pouch means, causing alternate inflating and deflating of each inflatable pouch means in such a manner that one inflatable pouch means is always being deflated while the other is being inflated; and drive means attached to said cycling valve means and providing the cycling action.

Claim 14

A therapeutic hand exerciser comprising: upper inflatable pouch means which when attached to the fingertips and arm of a disabled individual and inflated has sufficient rigidity to straighten the fingers of the individual, and when deflated is sufficiently pliable to permit the fingers to bend; first inflation means attached to said upper inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said upper inflatable pouch means; first deflation means attached to said first inflation means and permitting deflation of said upper inflatable pouch means; fingertip attachment means connected to the underside of said upper inflatable pouch means suitable for holding the fingertips of the individual; thumb attachment means connected to the underside of said upper inflatable pouch means suitable for holding the thumb of the individual; arm attachment means connected to said upper inflatable pouch means at the end opposite from said fingertip attachment means and permitting attachment of said upper inflatable pouch means to the arm of the individual; lower inflatable pouch means which when attached to the wrist of said individual and inflated extends from the palm of the hand of the individual to the wrist portion of the arm of the individual and when deflated is capable of folding such that both ends are approximately at the palm of the hand; wrist attachment means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and capable of holding said lower inflatable pouch means onto the wrist of said individual and allowing folding of said lower inflatable pouch means when deflated; second inflation means attached to said lower inflatable pouch means and permitting inflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; second deflation means attached to said second inflation means and permitting deflation of said lower inflatable pouch means; flap means attached to and extending from the end of said lower inflatable pouch means nearest the wrist, with sufficient length for wrapping under the palm, around th extended fingertips, over the knuckles and to the top of the wrist; flap attachment means attached to and anchoring one end of said flap means in the region of the top surface of the wrist; flap length adjustment means attached to said flap means to yield a length which permits the fingers to be straightened when said lower inflatable pouch means is deflated and forces the fingers to bend when said lower inflatable pouch means is inflated; pump means producing air pressure and quantity sufficient to inflate said upper inflatable pouch means and said lower inflatable pouch means, and containing a pressure outlet and a vacuum inlet; adjustable pressure control means attached to the pressure outlet of said pump means controlling the air pressure to which said upper inflatable pouch means and said lower inflatable pouch means are subjected; filler valve means attached to the vacuum inlet of said pump means assuring sufficient air quantity for said pump means; cycling valve means attached to the vacuum inlet of said pump means, to said adjustable pressure control means, to said upper inflatable pouch means and to said lower inflatable pouch means, causing alternate inflating and deflating of each inflatable pouch means in such a manner that one inflatable pouch means is always being deflated while the other is being inflated; and drive means attached to said cycling valve means and providing the cycling action.