US3553878A - Means for supporting and aiming a hand-held device - Google Patents

Abstract

A MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND AIMING A HAND-HELD DEVICE FIRMLY IN FIXED POSITION BY AN ADJUSTABLE BRACE FIXED BY ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS RELATIVE TO THE HAND AND BODY OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH MEANS PROVIDED FOR SECURELY ATTACHING THE HAND TO THE HAND BRACE. IN ONE EMBODIMENT, THE DISCLOSED INVENTION IS SIMPLY DIRECTED TO THE BRACING MEANS

FOR POSITIONING ABOUT THE PALM PORTION OF THE HAND WITH CONNECTING ELEMENTS FOR RECEIVING A FINGER OR THUMB OF AN INDIVIDUAL.

Description

J. Y. CANON 3,553,878

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND AIMING A HAND'HELD'DEVICE Jan. 12, 1971 Filed July 23 FIG. 1

FIG. 2

FIG. 5

11v VENTOR JACK KY CANON FIG. 4-

United States Patent 7 3,553,878 MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND AIMING A HAND-HELD DEVICE Jack Y. Canon, 2194 Delmus, Opelousas, La. 70570 Filed July 23, 1968, Ser. No. 746,895

Int. Cl. F41c 27/00, 29/00 U.S. Cl. 42-94 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A means for supporting and aiming a hand-held device firmly in fixed position by an adjustable brace fixed by associated elements relative to the hand and body of an individual with means provided for securely attaching the hand to the hand brace. In one embodiment, the disclosed invention is simply directed to the bracing means for positioning about the palm portion of the hand with connecting elements for receiving a finger or thumb of an individual.

' This invention relates to means for supporting and aiming a hand-held device firmly in fixed position by a hand brace. The hand brace may support the hand in position relative to the body of an individual by inclusion of a body-contacting'member in association therewith.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a hand and finger or thumb securing flat strap formed of flexible material and having readily adjustable and removable elements securely attachable about the palm portion of the hand.

' Numerous means are available in the art for bracing the arm of an individual relative to the body for supporting and aiming a hand-held device such as a hand gun, motion picture camera and the like. Typical examples of such devices include a narrow strip of flexible material Which serves to resist movement by tension applied thereto through loops connected to either end of the strip of material. Rigid devices are also available to the art which typically resist movement by pressure of compression applied thereto. None of these devices heretofore employed, however, have provided effective supportby securely attaching of the hand to the bracing device which permits ease of movement to operate a hand-held device. Further, these devices have required involved procedures for accurately positioning for use and for removal when not in use.

By the practice of the present invention, means are provided for restricting movement of the hand of an individual by securing elements receivable about the hand with connecting elements for receiving fingers or the thumb and, in particular, for restricting movement of the hand with such a bracing means relative to the body for use in supporting and aiming a hand-held device. The securing elements receivable about the hand of an individual are desirably separable fasteners comprising complementary pairs of articles capable of engaging and holding to one another over an area.

Generally stated, the present invention provides a hand and finger engaging brace having a finger or thumb receiving loop joined to securing elements receivable about the hand. In an embodiment, the brace is used in combination with elements to provide means for supporting and aiming a hand-held device. The securing elements used in the present invention are desirably separable fasteners having mechanically interacting functional surfaces such as that disclosed by Flanagan in U.S. Pat. 3,266,113, andrelated separable fasteners such as that disclosed by Pearson in U.S. Pat. 3,192,589. By preference, however, the interengaging surfaces of the securing elements are those incorporated in closures commercially identified by the trademark Velcro. Several embodi-J Patented Jan. 12, 1971 merits of these securing elements are available. One such separable fastening device comprises two layers of woven fabric of the velvet type in Which loops have been cut to form hooks such as that disclosed by DeMestral in U.S. Pat. 2,717,437. The hooks are formed of nylon or similar material capable of preserving their shape after cutting loops to form hooks. Other separable fastening devices are disclosed by DeMestral in U.S. Pat. 3,009,- 235. Generally, these securing elements consist of one part of numerous, closely-spaced plastic hooks and of another part of a' felt-like material with numerous, closely-spaced loops. When hook and loop elements are pressed into face-to-face contact, the hooks catch onto the loops and the two elements are retained firmly together until intentionally separated by pulling the two elements apart. Upon pulling the elements apart, the hooks flex, open up, disengage the loops, and separate. After separation, the hooks close up and return to their original hook shape. Thus, the holding power is derived from the entanglement of elements.

In another variation, the fastening elements may take the shape of ball-ended threads upstanding from a fabric backing. The ball-ends may be formed by heating ends of synthetic thermoplastic materials which partially melt and, upon cooling, form the ball or spherical shape. One such fastening means is disclosed by Erb in U.S. Pat. 2,147,528, while Naimer discloses a related means in U.S. Pat. 3,138,841.

The invention is described in greater detail with reference to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the hand brace of the present invention fixed with associated elements and positioned relative to the hand and body of an individual;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the brace of the present invention with associated elements;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along section lines A--A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along section lines BB of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along section lines CC of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing wherein similar elements are indicated by like numerals, FIG. 1 illustrates hand brace 10 of the present invention with associated elements illustrated as body contacting member 36 positioned relative to the hand and body of an individual 14, illustrated in phantom with the hands pictured holding a hand-held device 15 illustrated as a hand gun.

Other hand-held devices may also be employed, providing stability of the held device is required for sup porting and possibly aiming thereof.

Although the present hand brace 10 has a preferred usage as illustrated hereinafter, it is recognized that the brace may be employed in combination with a flexible hand-to-body member which provides resistance to movement of the hand by tension applied to the flexible strap,

or, alternatively, the hand brace may be employed in combination with any device which secures the hand of an individual to the device as desired.

Hand brace 10 of the present invention is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. The hand brace is formed of a strip having a Width of about /2 to about 1 /2 inches of flexible material such as cloth, synthetic fibers, leather or the like, having a pair of elongated free ends 16 and 18. At least one loop 20 is formed intermediate the strip ends to receive a finger or thumb of the hand of an individual. Although only one such finger or thumb receiving loop is illustrated, additional loops may be included, if desired. The loop is simply formed by joining two flat surfaces of the strip of flexible material, such as by sewing area 22 The formed loop may be inverted, if necessary, to pro vide a comfortable finger or thumb receiving loop. The

pair of elongated free ends of brace have a sufliciently length to encircle the palm portion or the hand with sufiicient length to overlap 24 each other and to provide upper 26 and lower 28 superimposable lengths. The upper and lower superimposable lengths have mating separable fasteners of the type mechanically interacting by functional surfaces positioned along a length at least that of the mating superimposable lengths.

Desirably, the mating separable fasteners are formed of a first surface having a multiplicity of small, outwardlyprojecting loops made of stiff filamentary material; with a second surface mating therewith having a multiplicity of small, outwardly-projecting loop-shaped hooks, releasably engageable with the loops of the first surface when the two surfaces are pressed into face-to-face mating contact.

Disposed along the length of one of the elongated free ends is article gripping element 32, illustrated simply as a slot positioned in the flexible material with suitable securing means 34 provided, such as rivets, wire, sta les, bolts or merely by sewing the article to the flexible material. Other securing means may be used as desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates body-contacting member 36 formed of a bar 38 receivably by telescopic movement in housing 40. The body-contacting member is conveniently formed of plastic, although other materials including metals and wood may be used, if desired. Rigid materials are preferred for forming the body-contacting member.

Positioned along bar 38 are notched portions 42 which are removed in any desired number to provide means for locking the telescopic movement at any particular location. Thus, a series of extended positions are available to suit the comfort and hand-to-hand distance of a particular user.

Opposite the surface of bar 38 having at least one and desirably a series of removed, notched portions 42, is provided a notched portion 44, providing means for locking the telescopic movement in closed, non-use, telescopic position. A compact feature is thus available to provide a device easily stored and transported, when not in use. Locking means 46 is provided for restricting telescopic movement by the provided notched sections as described hereinafter.

Body contacting member 36 conveniently includes bodycontacting element 48 having an arcuate body-contacting surface 50. The body-contacting element is positioned near the body-contacting end of the housing section and may be formed of similar materials as is the housing section.

FIGS. 3 through 5 illustrate in partial sectional views means for locking telescopic movement of bar 38 by notched portions 42 and 44 with locking means 46. Locking means 46 is desirably positioned near the end of housing 40 opposite the body-contacting area.

FlG. 3 illustrates locking means 46 as a slide box movable substantially perpendicular to the telescopic movement T when in non-locking position. The slide includes L-shaped first element 52 and second L-shaped element 54 with leg 56 available for locking telescopic movement by a multiple number of notched portions 42, and with leg 58 available for locking telescopic movement in retracted non-use, compact position.

FIG. 4 more clearly illustrates how this locking is effected.

FIG. 5 taken as a plane 90 degrees to that of FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates how locking means 46 may slide substantially perpendicular to telescopic movement T. Hous ing 40 may include channels 60 formed near one end thereof. A first blocked C-shaped clamp 62 and a second blocked C-shaped clamp 64 forms adjacent sides of the locking means. One leg of each of the blocked C-shaped clamps is received as a runner in channels 60 for movement, while a second leg of the blocked C-shaped clamp 62 and 64 p rov ides gripping means for retaining the locking means in position near the end of housing 40.

One of the uses for which the preferred brace and associated elements providing a stable supporting and aiming means for a hand-held device may be used is to train an individual to properly and effectively use a hand gun. Otheruses are obviously apparent when any collapsible steadying device may be used.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

- What is claimed is: r

1. A brace which comprises a strip of flexible material having a pair of elongated free ends and at least one loop being formed to receive a finger or thumb of the hand of an individual, said loop being positioned intermediate the strip ends, said pair of elongated free ends having sufiicient length to encircle to palm portion of the hand with sufficient length to overlap each other and to provide upper and lower superimposable lengths, said upper and lower superimposable lengths having mating separable fasteners of the type mechanically interacting by functional surfaces.

2. The brace as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower superimposable lengths are provided with a first surface having a multiplicity of small, outwardlyprojecting loops made of stiff, filamentary material, and with a second surface having a multiplicity of small, outwardly-projecting loop-shaped hooks releasably engageable with said loops when said first surface and said second surface are pressed into face-to-face contact.

3. The brace as defined in claim 1 having an articlegripping element disposed along the length of said flexible strip.

4. The brace as defined in claim 3 having a body-contacting member attached to said article-gripping element.

5. The brace as defined in claim 4 wherein the bodycontacting member is formed of rigid material.

6. The brace as defined in claim 5 wherein the bodycontactlng member is formed of two telescopic sections, said sections having a series of relative locations for locking telescopic movement.

7. The brace as defined in claim 6 wherein the bodycontacting member isv formed of a plastic bar having notched portions removed along one surface thereof, a plastic housing section for receiving the plastic bar therein to provide relative telescopic movement of the plastic bar and housing sections, and a locking means movable substantlally perpendicular to the telescopic movement of the said sections for engagement with at least one of said notched portions, said plastic bar connected to said articlegtripping element disposed along the length of said flexible s rip.

8. The brace as defined in claim 7 wherein an arcuate body-contacting member is formed near a body-contacting held device is a hand gun.

end of said housing section.

9. The brace as defined in claim 8 for and a ming a hand-held device.

10. The brace as defined in claim use in supporting 9 wherein the hand- 11. A hand-bracing device for supporting and fixing the extended distance of the hand and forearm from the shoulder with the elbow bent, as in supporting for instruction for aiming a hand-held instrument such as a hand gun or the like, said device comprising a sliding bar,

a housing for said sliding bar open at one end for slidably' receiving the same, and having a body supporting member at an opposite end, means for fixing said sliding bar in a selected position extending outwardly of said housing,

and means at the outer end of said sliding bar for attaching said bar to the extended hand for supporting and fixing the position thereof. a

12. The device as defined in claim 11 wherein the sliding bar has a series of spaced notches in an edge and means for fixing the position of the extended sliding bar which comprises a latching member operative with the notches in said sliding bar for fixing its outwardly-extending position from said housing.

13. The device as defined in claim 11 wherein the body supporting member at an end of said housing is an armately curved body contact and bracing surface for supporting the outer housing against the shoulder of the user of said device.

14. The device as defined in claim 11 wherein the means for securing the outer end of said sliding bar to the hand of the user comprises a strap adapted to be secured about the thumb and palm of the hand of the user.

15. A hand bracing device for supporting and fixing the generally horizontally extended distance of the hand and forearm from the shoulder with the elbow bent, as in supporting for instruction for aiming a hand-held instrument such as a hand gun or the like, said device comprising an elongated bar dimensioned to fix the distance from the shoulder of the user to the extended hand supporting UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,300 6/ 1891 Sproul 4294 2,985,980 5/1961 Broshous 4294 3,368,811 2/1968 Finney 42l FOREIGN PATENTS 4,974 11/ 1881 Great Britain 42--94 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner C. T. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 42-72, 73

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