CA2240068A1

CA2240068A1 - The wristthotic chariot

Info

Publication number: CA2240068A1
Application number: CA002240068A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Donald L. Corbett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-17
Filing date: 1998-07-17
Publication date: 2000-01-17
Also published as: AU4494899A; WO2000004489A1

Abstract

The Wristthotic Chariot (also referred to as the invention) is a device designed to relieve the discomfort of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and wrist/arm Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) often caused by the utilization of the computer tracking device commonly referred to as the "mouse". When the mouse is use, it may, from time to time, cause the wrist to bend, stretch, receive pressure and experience repetitive motion. The invention enables the wrist to maintain a more neutral position to avoid such pronation, wrist extension and ulnar nerve deviation that may cause nerve irritation, tendon and muscle strain that often leads to RSI, the most common known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The carpal tunnel is a small space in the wrist containing tendons, nerves and blood vessels which can become tingly and sore when stressed by repetitive finger use and extended (bent back) wrist posture.
The invention is attached to an existing mouse's upper surface in the fashion similar to that of a chariot or buggy attached to a vehicle. The invention may be attached in two fashions: 1.
Accessory: Via the use of a dome, suction cup or Velcro tm., so as to allow for the removal and adjustment of the invention as required or preferred by the user. 2. Mouse Extension: The invention can be fixed permanently to the mouse to create an elongated mouse that extends to the wrist area.
The invention raises or elevates the wrist while the wrist is resting upon the invention's foam/plastic support which is elevated to a height of one half to 3 inches (1.5 to 8 centimeters).
while laying on a flat surface or mouse pad While in this state of elevation the wrist is both supported and/or cushioned by the invention. Due to its attached nature, the invention moves with the mouse unlike prior art/conventional wrist rests/wrist bars that remain static. Such attachment of the invention to the mouse ensures the wrist remains in a more constant fixed position as the mouse is guided and maneuvered by the user.

Claims

1. A method of supporting a user's wrist and forearm, and the carpals and ulnar nerves of that wrist, to aid in the prevention, relieve and treatment of wrist soreness commonly referred to as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Repetitive Strain Injury by providing said user or person with an apparatus, the invention, embodied with a foam/gel/air cushioned support (Fig 1 #3) under the wrist and forearm area, that attaches to a computer input/tracking device commonly called the mouse (Fig 1 #4).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the said cushioned support (Fig 1-7 #3) will enable the attainment of a wrist/forearm height above a desk or "mouse pad" surface of at least one eighth inch and no more than four inches in height (Fig 3, 4, 7 #19).

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the wrist/forearm attains a neutral position (Fig 3, 4,7 #19) that avoids the hyper-extension of the wrist or bending backward, that is believed to be the cause of wrist soreness or discomfort often referred to as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Repetitive Strain injury.

4. The invention's said cushioned support of claim 1 wherein is attached, much like a trailer hitch to a vehicle or a chariot/wagon to a horse, along the back spine, or top median portion of the mouse (Fig 6 #20) via permanent rivet, bonding or detachable method such Velcro, suction cups or domes (Fig 5 #5, #17, # 16 #18) (Fig 8 #5, #17).

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user's wrist remains in a fixed height position of one eighth (1/8) to four (4) inches (Fig 3 #19), yet the distance between the mouse and the wrist may be altered by contracting the fingers upon the mouse, (Fig 7 #1) or shifting the wrist, in a manner that enables the mouse to be maneuvered in all directions upon the mouse pad or desk surface as the wrist remains fixed or supported in position upon the cushioned support (Fig 1 #3) due to the flexible and contractable neck of the invention (Fig 7&8 #1).

6. The method of claim 4 wherein is adjustable as to the position of the invention upon the mouse's spine or median section (Fig 6 #20) via a strip of a hook and loop Velcro one eighth inch (1/8") to three inches (3") long and no more than one inch in width that is permanently fixed to the spine or median (Fig 3 & 8 #18).

7. The invention's said cushioned support of claim 1 wherein may be fashioned in a donut shape (Fig 5 #21) or with a hole in the middle of the cushioned portion (Fig 1-7 #3) of approximately one half inch to two inches in diameter that reduces pressure by surrounding, but not touching the median nerve area of the underside, or palm side of the wrist/forearm, thus dispersing the pressure or contact of the invention to the lateral or outer wrist surface areas to reduce the advent of various wrist soreness, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, often caused by such pressure in the median area.

8. The invention's said cushioned support of claim 1 wherein may contain some heat containment or retention properties that provide a soothing warmth for the wrist that may produce medicinal results.

2,240,068

9. The invention's said cushioned support of claim 1 wherein may contain some cold containment or retention properties that provide a soothing cooling for the wrist that may produce medicinal results.

10.The invention, said cushioned support of claim 1 wherein may contain some magnetic properties that provide a relief for the wrist, especially arthritic problems, that may produce medicinal results.

11. The invention's said cushioned support of claim 1 wherein may contain some copper that provides a relief for the wrist, especially arthritic problems, that may produce medicinal results.

12.The invention's said additional properties of claims 8-11 are not limited to those properties and will, as research proves that other properties, such as copper, may sooth, relieve or perhaps cure some ailments of the wrist or arm, be open to additional properties either in combination or by themselves.

13. The inventions said additional properties may contain specific scents/smells that are designed to provide aromatherapy.

14. The invention's said cushioned support of claim 1 shall contain low friction qualities at the bottom portion contacting the desk /working surface (Fig 1,2,3 #14) that will enable the invention to slide upon the desk/mouse working surface.

15. The invention's said sliding quality of claim 14 where the low friction bottom surface (Fig 1,2,3,4,7,8 #14) is beveled or angles at approximately 45 degrees (Fig 1 #22) to enable the foam pad (Fig 1 #3) to sit, or be seated inside it, and to enable the invention to slide over any elevated items on the desk working surface such as the height of the mouse pad unit.

16. The invention's said claim 1 wherein may be shaped as a cradle to afford a lateral support or reduce the twisting of the user's wrist and prevent the wrist from slipping off the cushioned portion.

17. The invention of claim 1 wherein the material is selected from plastic, silicon, leather, nylon, rubber and cloths such as polyester and cotton that may have hypo-allergenic properties.

18. The invention of claim 1 wherein the processes for manufacturing are injection molding, vacuum forming, die cutting with the extensive use of adhesives to bond materials.

19. The invention of claim 1 wherein the user's hand and wrist do not contact the working surface and due to the sliding factor of claims 14 and 15 the maneuverability of the mouse device is enhanced.