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Hand and finger holding device for disabled hands

Hand and finger holding device for disabled hands description/claims

This invention relates to manicuring devices, and in particular to a reusable foam disc for holding, separating, steadying and curving hands and fingers during manicures for persons who have suffered a debilitating disease, stroke or accident resulting in trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) fingers and hands. This device will also serve to strengthen the muscles of the hands and fingers.

Manicures require that individual fingers be immobile so that individual nails on each finger be readily accessible for the application of acrylic, enamel, polish, and/or to perform the reshaping of the nail itself. Manicures also require that the individual fingers be separated from one another to prevent smearing and smudging of the polish until the nails are completely dry. Besides physically holding one's finger by a hand, various devices have been proposed over the years for the manicurist.

Formerly, all of the various devices have been proposed for use with normal hands and fingers that can stretch out on a flat surface, that do not tremble involuntarily, and are not disfigured, frozen into place or paralyzed.

Devices such as support bases with finger separators have been proposed for performing manicures. See for example, U.S. Pat. Des. 159,662 to Patek; 2,662,534 to Swarts; 3,198,197 to Halanger; 4,296,766 to Benis; 4,441,487 to Daugherty et al.; 4,585,017 to Trujillo; 4,915,331 to Becker et al.; and 5,567,070 to Ficcadenti. However, these devices generally require the person getting the manicure to rest the hand face down in the device on a table type surface in order to be used. Thus, the manicurist who is working with a customer who can not stretch out their hands can not use such a device. Additionally, many of these devices require that the customer grasp the device which renders it useless for weak or paralyzed hands. Still furthermore, these devices do not completely steady and lock the fingers into fixed separated positions for either trembling or disfigured fingers.

Other proposals have included restraining the fingers while the hand is held face down. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,223,204 to Carmichael; 2,546,118 to Wright; 3,416,542 to Shook and 5,076,263 to Funatogawa. However, again these devices generally require the wearer hold the hand on a table surface which is not possible for certain people.

Additional proposals have included guard shields. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,396,154 to Campbell; 2,461,695 to McMahon; 2,479,601 to Bransfield; and 2,501,211 to Cummings. These shields either require the user insert their fingers through circular openings, or rest their fingers in side indentations on the shield. However, these devices require hardened materials with sharp edges that would be uncomfortable to the wearer—even if the user could stretch out their fingers. Additionally, the circular openings and side indentations have fixed dimensions that would not conform to different sized, swollen and disfigured fingers. Additionally, these devices require the wearer grasp the shield in order to use the shield during the manicure. This is an impossible task for a victim of paralysis.

The first objective of the present invention is to provide a device for holding, and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) fingers and hands that is comfortable to the wearer during a manicure.

The second object of this invention is to provide a device for holding, and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) disfigured fingers and hands that adjusts for all finger sizes and shapes during a manicure.

The third object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) fingers and hands that can lock about one's fingers so the fingers can not escape either during spasms or other involuntary movements during a manicure.

The fourth object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) disfigured fingers and hands that comfortably immobilizes the fingers during a manicure.

The fifth object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) fingers and hands that does not require the wearer to grasp the device during a manicure.

The sixth object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) disfigured fingers and hands is to fold the hand and the fingers inwardly in a comfortable and natural position so that the muscles and ligaments of the hand and fingers are not stretched during a manicure.

The seventh object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) fingers and hands that can separate the fingers even when the hand is frozen into an inward position.

The eighth object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and separating the fingers of a person who has trembling, spastic, disfigured, frozen, partially paralyzed or paralyzed (disabled) fingers and hands is to be able to hold each finger at different parts of the finger as necessary to keep the nails separated during a manicure.

The ninth object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and separating the fingers of a disabled person to increase flexibility and muscle strength.

A first preferred embodiment of the device for use during manicures, includes a disc formed from a compressible material such as foam having five slots along an outer perimeter for allowing fingers to be inserted therein, wherein inserting the fingers into the slots causes the foam to expand and compress about the fingers restraining the fingers with the slots, so that the disc both separates and keeps the fingers steady during a manicure. The disc has rounded ridges about the perimeter, each of the ridges having a convex protruding portion and a concave inner portion, each of the slots being in the concave inner portion directed toward the center axis of the disc. The device includes a second version having a strap for further restraining the fingers to the device, wherein the strap has fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners that allow the strap to be wrapped about to close off the exposed ends of the slots.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.