GB2472036A

GB2472036A - Arm support to relieve repetitive strain injury

Info

Publication number: GB2472036A
Application number: GB0912706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David George Sherry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-22
Filing date: 2009-07-22
Publication date: 2011-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-22
Also published as: GB0912706D0; GB2472036B

Abstract

Repetitive strain injury is an acute pain occurring in the muscles of the human wrist, arm, shoulder and back, caused by using the arm for a repetitive activity, under conditions with which the arm is not familiar. This device is designed to support the human arm from beneath therefore removing the strain on the muscles which normally support the arm. The device has four sections 1, 2, 3, 4 (see fig 1) which may be made from lightweight metal, plastic, or carbon fibre. The device has adjustable spring loaded joints 5, telescopic arm support sections 7, and is attached to a lightweight cushioned frame 1, worn on the human torso using lightweight straps. The joints may allow omni-directional movement of the human arm. The spring tension may be adjusted using a knob (6, see fig 4), or may be de-activated to leave the arm completely free.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A mechanical device to relieve the pain of repetitive strain injury in the muscles, joints and tendons, of the human arm, shoulder and back.

Repetitive Strain Injury -introduction and background.

Repetitive Strain Injury occurs whenever certain muscles in the human body, normally the wrist, arm, shoulder and back, are used to perform a repetitive action with which the muscles are not familiar. This can cause muscle ache, spasm, and chronic pain.

This can occur during certain manual activities such as factory assembly work, sowing machine usage, sports, and in this case, the use of a computer keyboard and mouse. Hundreds of thousands of people suffer from this particular type of pain and research shows that there is no effective cure.

There are some devices available such as wrist splints, or wrist supports, which have very little effect. Other suggestions include exercises, and painkillers, neither of which gets to the root of the problem.

The inventor of the device outlined in this document suffered tremendous pain in his arm and wrist whilst using a computer in his daily work, and was concerned he would not be able to continue. This was very serious because the use of a computer was essential to his occupation. He invented the following device to reduce the pain.

Summary of the invention

Repetitive strain injury, in the case of computer use, is caused by a reaction in the arm muscles whilst they are supporting and suspending the human arm, with the hand on the keyboard, for long periods of time.

This mechanical device works by supporting the arm from beneath, therefore removing the strain on the muscles at the top of the arm, which normally support the arm when using a computer keyboard, or any other similar activity. This constant strain on the muscles supporting the arm in an extended position away from the body is what causes the muscle pain. Most importantly the device does not limit movement. Computer users need to be able to move their hand between the keyboard, mouse, pen and paperwork etc, and the device wilt not prevent this movement.

The device outlined in this document is very compact and designed to be worn inside or outside the clothing. It is very unobtrusive, and if worn beneath the clothing, will be almost invisible to other people working nearby. Some people may not want to use a device which makes them stand out from the rest of the people in their working environment.

The device is made from plastic, lightweight metal, or carbon fibre and is adjustable to suit different users. It can be adjusted to accommodate different sized arm lengths and weight.

Introduction to the drawings

Figure 1.

This drawing shows the main supporting parts of the device 1,2,3,4 outlined against a diagram of a person sitting at a computer with their arm extended at an angle away from their torso. Their hand is positioned above the computer keyboard. In this position, the arm is normally in a state of continuous suspension by the muscles along the top of the arm. The device is shown supporting the arm from below, therefore eliminating the need for muscle suspension from above.

The device will also work in other similar activities carried out by a person using their arm in an extended position away from their torso. i.e. not necessarily whilst using a computer.

Figure 2.

This drawing shows the main supporting parts of the device 1,2,3,4 outlined against a diagram of a person sitting at a computer with their arm in a relaxed position.

The upper arm is hanging down alongside the side of the torso and the forearm and hand are resting on the thigh. In this position the spring tension in the joints of the device can be switched off.

Figure 3.

This drawing is a close-up of the device itself, without including a human body. It shows the position of the spring loaded, adjustable joints 5, between the sections, and the length adjusters 7 for each section to accommodate different sized human arms.

Figure 4.

This drawing shows one of the three spring loaded adjuster 5, incorporated within each joint, between each section of the device, allowing different arm weights to be accommodated. It also shows the adjuster knob 6.

Detailed Description

see figures 1 to 4 the numbers below relate to reference numbers on these figures.

* Torso support 1 -This is the main support of the device, attached to the human torso with comfortable straps and padding. These straps are kept to the minimum whilst providing support. This support can be worn under the clothing.

The straps will need to pass to the other side of the body to secure the main support to the side of the torso.

* Upper arm support 2 -This is the upper arm support, and is hinged to the main torso unit 1 with an omni directional, spring-loaded hinge 5. This spring can be adjusted for tension to accommodate different arm weights for different people.

The support is shaped like a cradle to support the arm and is padded.

* Forearm support 3 -This is the forearm support and is connected to 2 by the spring-loaded hinge 5. This spring can be adjusted to accommodate different arm weights.

The support is shaped like a cradle to support the arm and is padded.

* Hand support 4 -This is the hand support and is connected to 3 by the spring-loaded hinge 5. This spring can be adjusted to accommodate different hand weights.

2 and 3 are telescopic to allow for different arm lengths.

* Omnidirectional, spring loaded, adjustable hinged joints 5 -These are the joints, between each section of the device, containing spring adjusters which can be adjusted by the user, via a knob 6 to support their particular arm weight.

* Spring tension adjustment knob 6 -This knob is rotated one way or the other, to increase or decrease the spring tension and therefore the support. This is adjusted so that the device supports the entire weight of the arm, and in fact, the user has to adjust the spring tension slightly so as to press down with the arm to overcome the tension of the springs. i.e. the tension in the springs needs to be adjusted so that they actually lift the arm slightly. This ensures that there is no tension in the muscles A which normally support the arm in this position. If there is any tension in the muscles A at all, the pain relieving effect of the device is considerably reduced.

The muscle pain caused whilst using a computer is partly due to the constant tension on the muscles A, which support the arm and hold it up in position. This constant supporting action is an activity with which the muscles are not accustomed, and which eventually causes muscle spasms / discomfort I acute pain.

By pressing down slightly, the muscles at the top of the arm A, which normally support the arm, have had all the tension released, therefore eliminating the pain.

The remaining slight tension is now transferred to the muscles which pull the arm down B. This slight tension is unlikely to cause any muscle strain. The device needs to be adjusted carefully to achieve this balance. Initially it feels strange to push down slightly, but you get used to it quite quickly.

The joints 5 between the sections, hinge vertically and laterally therefore allowing complete movement of the arm so the user can move their hand between the keyboard, mouse, pen and papers.

The joints are positioned between each of the 4 sections of the device and contain a spring. The tension on this spring can be increased or decreased by adjusting a central knob or lever 6. This accommodates different arm weights. There is also a switch to activate or de-ativate this spring tension so that the device can be switched off' when other activities are undertaken.

* Section length adjusters 7 -sections 2 and 3 are telescopic, and can be adjusted to accommodate different arm lengths

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device designed to support the left or right human arm from beneath the arm, achieving this by being connected via spring loaded joints to a lightweight cushioned frame attached to the human torso with lightweight straps, worn beneath or outside the clothing, adjustable for arm length and weight.
2. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to claim 1, which does not completely limit movement of the arm when using a computer, the human arm and hand can move between the keyboard, mouse, pen and paperwork etc whilst wearing the device.
3. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to claim 1, which can be worn inside or outside the clothing and if worn beneath the clothing, will be almost invisible to other people working nearby.
4. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to claim 1, which consists of 4 sections, each section is connected to the next with a spring loaded omnidirectional joint.
5. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to claim 1, having spring adjusters between each section, so that by adjusting a knob, the tension in the springs can be increased or decreased to support different arm weights.
6. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to claim 1, which has telescopic sections to Suit different sized human user arm lengths.
7. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to claim 1, where the main support for the device is a cushioned frame attached to the human torso using lightweight straps which pass around the torso and shoulder.
8. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to claim 1, which can be de-activated mechanically so as to leave the arm completely free and unobstructed.
9. A device designed to support the human arm from beneath, according to any of the preceding claims, which by supporting the arm, reduces the pain commonly known as Repetitive Strain Injury.