GB2229130A

GB2229130A - Improvements in or relating to a hand-held implement

Info

Publication number: GB2229130A
Application number: GB8905956A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Luke Judge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-15
Filing date: 1989-03-15
Publication date: 1990-09-19
Also published as: GB8905956D0

Abstract

A hand-held implement comprises a handle portion adapted to carry the operative end of the implement, the handle portion being provided with a strap extending substantially between each end of the handle portion to form a loop for receiving the hand of a user of the implement. The implement may be strapped to the hand of a user such that a person who cannot effect a gripping action may use the implement. The implement may take the form of an item of cutlery. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Improvements in or relating to a hand-held implement.

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a hand-held implement and more particularly to a hand-held implement in the form of a feeding aid for use by persons unable to use conventional cutlery.

Using conventional cutlery and other similar hand-held implements is impossible for some people who suffer from a physical disability which denies them the use of one or both hands, since they are unable to grip objects in their hands.

People suffering from certain types of illnesses are unable to control the gripping action of their hands. Thus, for example, a person suffering from cerebral palsy may be holding a spoon or other implement at one moment and will suddenly and uncontrollably unclench their hand thereby releasing the spoon or the like. Clearly this can be a very frustrating experience.

The present invention seeks to provide a hand-held implement suitable for use by persons suffering with the types of disability and illnesses described above.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand-held implement, the implement having an elongate handle portion adapted to carry the operative end of the implement, the handle portion being provided with a strap extending substantially between each end of the handle portion such that a loop is formed for receiving the hand of a user of the implement, the arrangement being such that the strap serves to attach the implement to the hand of the user thereby avoiding the need for the user to manually grip the handle portion of the implement.

Preferably the strap is mounted upon the handle portion by way of guide means provided adjacent each end of the handle portion.

Conveniently the guide means comprise apertures extending through the handle portion adjacent each end thereof, the strap extending through the apertures.

Advantageously the operative end of the implement is adapted to be carried at one end of the handle portion, the opposite end of the handle portion being raised so as to define an abutment for the edge of the hand of the user of the implement.

Preferably the raised end is inclined at an angle of approximately 50 degrees to the remainder of the handle portion.

The strap may be formed from a resilient material and may be infinitely adjustable within a range.

Preferably the ends of the strap are provided with hook and loop material to enable infinite adjustment of the strap.

The implement may have an integrally formed operative end.

The operative end may be dished or of spoon-like configuration, or may define, a plurality of tines or may define a cutting edge.

The implement may be in the form of a feeding aid.

Instead of an integral operative end the implement may be provided with a removable operative end.

The operative end may comprise the operative part of a paint brush, garden tool, or of a clip or clamp to hold another item.

Preferably the handle portion is integrally formed from a plastics material, such as ABS.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an implement in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 shows the implement of Figure 1 with the strap removed; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of an implement in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a schematic side view of Figure 3 illustrating internal structure; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an alternative implement in accordance with the present invention having a removable operative end.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a handheld implement in the form of a feeding aid 1 is shown. The feeding aid 1 comprises a spoon 2, which is integrally moulded from a plastics material, and a strap 3.

The spoon has an elongate handle portion 4 upon which the strap 3 is mounted and an operative end 5 with a substantially conventional shallow bowl 6.

The handle portion 4 comprises an elongate substantially planar region 7 which is illustrated as being substantially horizontal and which is designed to be received in the hand and a tail portion 8 comprising an upstanding wall 9 extending at approximately right angles to the planar portion 7, so that it is substantially vertical.

The wall 9 terminates at its upper end with a rearwardly directed planar horizontal projection 10 which extends substantially parallel to the planar portion 7.

The projection 10 defines a generally oval aperture 11 through which the strap 3 passes. A similar, further aperture 12 is defined at the end of the planar portion 7 which is remote from the tail portion 8, the strap 3 also passing through the aperture 12. The end of the handle portion 4 turns through approximately 45 degrees (as seen in plan view) as it extends into to the operative end 5 of the feeding aid. The operative end 5 is substantially co-planar with the handle portion 4 and is thus, in the position illustrated substantially horizontal.

The handle is moulded integrally from a plastics material such as ABS which is comfortable and is hygienic in that it is easy to clean.

The strap 3 is formed from a length of resilient fabric material and, as mentioned above, passes through the two apertures 11, 12 in the handle portion such that the free ends of the strap are located above the planar region 7 to be gripped. The free ends of the strap are provided with means to connect the straps together, which are such that the length of the strap may be adjusted without discrete steps. Thus the free ends of the strap may be provided with cooperating strips of hook and loop material 13, such as is commercially available under the registered Trade Mark VELCRO. Thus the strap is infinitely adjustable, in that it can be adjusted to have any length, within a range of permissible lengths.

In use the feeding aid is held with the planar region 7 received in the palm of the hand, with the strap extending over the back of the hand and being secured in position by means of the hook and loop material 13, with the strap engaging the back of the user's hand to hold the feeding aid in position. It will be appreciated that the hook and loop material 13 enables infinite adjustment of the strap 3 in order to allow the feeding aid to be strapped onto various sizes of hand. Even if the user of the feeding aid cannot grip the handle portion of the feeding aid, the aid is retained in position relative to the hand by means of the strap 3. When the feeding aid is strapped onto a hand the little finger and/or the outer edge of the hand abut the upstanding wall 9 of the tail portion 8.

The feeding aid illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings is designed to be used in the left hand and similar feeding aids having an operative end which is curved in the opposite direction will be provided for right hand use. The configuration of the spoon 2 enables a person to feed himself simply by executing movement at the elbow. In particular, the angle of the operative end 5 relative to the handle portion ensures that the spoon bowl 6 is directed towards the mouth when the aid is strapped onto the left hand.

It will be appreciated that the strap 3 may easily be removed to allow for separate washing of the spoon and strap.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a slightly modified embodiment of feeding aid and parts which are common-to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 3 and 4 are marked with like reference numerals. Thus, the feeding aid of Figures 3 and 4 is in the form of an integrally moulded spoon having a handle portion 4 defining apertures 11, 12 to receive a strap such as the strap 3 shown in Figure 1. As with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the handle portion 4 of the embodiment in Figures 3 and 4 has a substantially planar elongate region 7 designed to be received in the palm of the hand, but has a modified tail portion 8 which is simply in the form of an upwardly inclined portion 4 defining the aperture 11. The upwardly inclined tail portion 14 extends at an angle of approximately 50 degrees to the planar portion 7.Both the apertures 11, 12 are provided with rounded edges where they emerge at the upper and lower surfaces of the feeding aid in order to avoid abrasion of the strap 3.

The operative end 5 of the feeding aid of Figures 3 and 4 is slightly modified compared with that of Figures 1 and 2 in that it comprises a shallow bowl 6 which defines a plurality of tines 15 such tha,t the feeding aid may be used in the manner of a fork. In addition one edge of the bowl 6 may be formed as a cutting edge in order to enable the feeding aid to be used in the manner of a knife.

The feeding aid of Figures 3 and 4 is intended for right-handed use and thus the operative end 5 extends in the opposite direction to the operative end 5 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and.2.

The feeding aid is used in the same manner as described in relation to Figures 1 and 2 with a strap 3 being passed through the apertures 11, 12 and secured around the hand by means of the hook and loop material 13 provided at the ends of the strap.

Figure 5 illustrates a further alternative arrangement of a hand-held implement in accordance with the present invention, the implement of Figure 5 having a handle portion 4 which is substantially identical to the handle portion of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, i.e. comprising a substantially planar elongate region 7 intended to be received in the palm of the hand and a tail portion 8 in the form of an upwardly inclined projection 14. Apertures 11, 12 are defined in the handle portion in the same way as in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4. A strap may be passed through the apertures 11, 12 in order to strap the handle portion It onto a hand. The end of the handle portion remote from the tail 8 defines an enlarged head 16 which in turn defines a socket or recess 17 adapted to carry the operative end of the implement.It is to be appreciated that the operative end of the implement will be provided with a projection defined to be received snugly in the socket or recess 17 such that the operative end will not become detached from the handle portion inadvertently but may be detached by exerting a pull on the operative end. The operative end of the implement may comprise a spoon or forklike member as described in relation to Figures 1 to 4 or may be a part of any other type of hand-held implement such as a paint brush, a clip, a clamp, a garden trowel or fork, or. an umbrella, of course, many other hand-held implements can be thought of that can be held in this way. If a clip or clamp is used, the clip or clamp may engage any appropriate item, such as a mug or cup, a vacuum cleaner, a mop or brush, or any one of a large number of possible items.

In use of the implement of Figure 5 the desired operative end is inserted into the socket or recess 17 such that it is securely attached to the handle portion 4 and the strap 3 is passed around the back of the hand and secured by means of the hook and loop material provided at the free ends of the straps.

It will be appreciated that the implement of the present invention helps to provide persons who cannot normally utilise ordinary hand-held implements with a degree of independence which they would not otherwise have.

It will also be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above-described designs without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hand-held implement, the implement having an elongate handle portion adapted to carry the operative end of the implement, the handle portion being provided with a strap extending substantially between each end of the handle portion such that a loop is formed for receiving the hand of a user of the implement, the arrangement being such that the strap serves to attach the implement to the hand of the user thereby avoiding the need for the user to manually grip the handle portion of the implement.

2. An implement according to Claim 1 wherein the strap is mounted upon the handle portion by way of guide means provided adjacent each end of the handle portion.

3. An implement according to Claim 2 wherein the guide means comprise apertures extending through the handle portion adjacent each end thereof, the strap extending through the apertures.

4. An implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the operative end of the implement is adapted to be carried at one end of the handle portion, the opposite end of the handle portion being raised so as to define an abutment for the edge of the hand of the user of the implement.

5. An implement according to Claim 4 wherein the raised end is inclined at an angle of approximately 50 degrees to the remainder of the handle portion.

6. An implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the strap is formed from a resilient material.

7. An implement according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the strap is infinitely adjustable in length within a range.

8. An implement according to Claim 7 wherein the ends of the strap are provided with hook and loop material to enable infinite adjustment of the strap.

9. An implement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the implement has an integrally formed operative end.

10. An implement according to Claim 9 wherein the operative end is dished or of spoon-like configuration.

11. An implement according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the operative end defines a plurality of tines.

12. An implement according to Claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the operative end defines a cutting edge.

13. An implement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the implement is in the form of a feeding aid.

14. An implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the implement is provided with a removable operative end.

15. An implement according to Claim 14 wherein the operative end comprises the operative part of a paint brush, garden tool, or of a clip or clamp to hold another item.

16. An implement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle portion is integrally formed from a plastics material.

17. An implement according to Claim 16 wherein the handle portion is formed from ABS.

18. A hand-held implement substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.