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  Hand therapy deviceRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Hand, Wrist, Or Finger, Involving Wrist Rotation, About Axis Perpendicular To ForearmHand therapy device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070072740, Hand therapy device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to devices to treat, prevent, or alleviate problems with hands, wrists, and forearms, and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), and more particularly to a device and method to extend the hand backward to exercise and stretch, muscles, tendons, and ligaments to aid in relief and recovery and prevention of problems of the hands, wrists, and forearms and symptoms of CTS. BACKGROUND [0002] Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) to the hands and arms may result from various repetitive physical movements including movements made doing, for example, assembly-line work, playing a musical instrument, or using a computer keyboard and computer mouse. Such injuries can be serious and painful and may indicate one or more serious conditions that may be preventable and treatable. RSI may cause damage to tendons, nerves, muscles, and other soft tissues. [0003] Long periods of repetitive physical movement may create cumulative damage to the body, sometimes described as Cumulative Trauma Disorder. Lack of adequate rest, infrequent rests, and improper warming up of hands and arms before undergoing movements, such as those described, may cause and exasperate the injuries and conditions. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) may result. Other injuries may also occur, included but not limited to: Tendinitis, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis/DeQuervain's Syndrome, Tendinosis, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Trigger Finger/Thumb, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, other related conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] Embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. [0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention; [0006] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention; [0007] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; [0008] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; [0009] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; and [0011] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0012] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made in alternate embodiments. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments in accordance with the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [0013] The following description may include terms such as inner, outer, under, between, upward, downward, outward, inward, top, bottom, above, below, and the like. Such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting in the description or in the appended claims. That is, these terms are terms that are relative only to a point of reference and are not meant to be interpreted as limitations but are, instead, included in the following description to facilitate understanding of the various aspects of the invention. [0014] The phrase "in one embodiment" is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. The terms "comprising," "having," and "including" are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. [0015] One embodiment may provide a therapy device which may be used to stretch, warm up, or exercise muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues of the hands, including the fingers, wrists, and arms. One embodiment may include a hand engaging element disposed to engage a hand, and a pulling cord disposed to pull the hand engaging element, and may be used to extend the hand of a user. One embodiment may include a force redirecting element configured to redirect a pulling force. One embodiment may include a timer, a clock, or an alarm that may be used as a reminder to a user to use the device. One embodiment may include a stiffening device positioned on the back of the hand which may aid in the feel and mechanics of extending the hand backward. One embodiment may include interlinking devices to enable a user to wear one device on each hand and to extend a hand configured with a first device by pulling a cord attached to a second device. In one embodiment pulling cords are configured to pull a hand from a location above the third knuckle (as counted from the fingertip). [0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially in cross-section, and FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. A therapy device 10 may comprise a hand engaging element 12 which may be configured to engage with, and/or connect to, a hand 14, and may be configured to at least partially distribute a force which may be illustrated with an arrow 16. At least one pulling cord 18, has a first end 20 which may be configured to be connected to the hand engaging element 12, and has a second end 22 which may be configured to be pulled as may be illustrated with an arrow 24. A force redirecting element 26 may be configured to be connected to a back of the hand 14 or a back of a wrist 28 as illustrated in this described embodiment, and may be configured to redirect the pulling force exerted on the second end 22. The redirected pulling force may be illustrated with an arrow 30, and may be directed to be able to extend the hand 14 in direction 32. [0017] In one embodiment the therapy device may include a fabric 34 configured to fit on a hand 14, the hand engaging element and the force redirecting element may be connected to the fabric. In one embodiment the fabric 34 may be configured to fit over the hand 14 like a glove or a mitten. [0018] One embodiment of the invention may include a force redirecting element 26 which may be a loop made from a resilient material, the at least one cord 18 may be configured to pass through the loop which may be configured to stretch as the at least one cord is pulled, or the hand is extended, or both. The force redirecting element 26 may be configured to pull with a biasing force 36 toward the back of the hand, or wrist 28. In one embodiment the force redirecting element 26 may be made from a non-resilient material. [0019] The second end 22 of the pulling cord 18 may be connected to a handle 38. The handle 38 may be, for example, a rigid cylinder disposed to be grasped in a hand opposite the hand the therapy device is engaged with. The pulling cord may be configured to be pulled in a direction 40 along a forearm 42. [0020] The hand engaging element 12 may be, for example, an elongate board. In one embodiment the hand engaging element may be configured to be selectively connected to, and removed from, the fabric such that the pulling force may be selectively directed to different areas of the hand. In one embodiment, the fingers and the hand engaging element may have mating sides of a loop and hook arrangement, for example with Velcro.TM., enabling adjustment. In one embodiment adjustment may be made possible with snaps. Continue reading about Hand therapy device... Full patent description for Hand therapy device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Hand therapy device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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