Finger support

Claim 2

A finger support of the type used to overcome deformities, comprising; a base for supporting a finger having a contracture, and an extension member connected at the forward portion of said base and adapted to be bent backward to underlie said base, a strap secured to said extension member adapted to form an adjustable non-stretching band around the joint to be straightened and to apply a fixed perpendicular force to said finger at the joint affected by the contracture, and an adjustment screw threadably received in said extension member and said adjustment screw engageable with said base when said extension member is bent backward in alignment with said joint for applying a vernierly adjustable force to said finger joint.

Claim 3

A finger support as defined in claim 1 wherein said base includes an inclined portion on one end thereof, said inclined portion having integral side walls to laterally position the end of the finger.

Claim 4

A finger support as defined in claim 1 wherein a buckle secured to said extension member is provided to adjust the length of said non-stretching band.

Claim 5

A finger support as defined in claim 2 wherein said side walls begin midway of said base and gradually increase to maximum height at said inclined portion.

Claim 6

The finger support of claim 1 wherein a portion of the base is displaced downwardly from the plane of the base at the point along its length aligned with the joint to be straightened to allow slight over straightening of the joint.

Claim 7

A finger support of the type used to overcome deformities, comprising; a base for supporting a finger having a contracture, said base having an inclined portion at one end thereof, side walls integral with said base and adjacent said inclined portion, a coined end on the opposite end of said base, said inclined portion and said side walls adapted to cradle the tip of said finger and said coined end adapted to receive the volar part of the hand, an extension member integral with said base and extending from the end of said inclined portion, said extension member adapted to be bent backward and positioned in underlying relationship with said base with its free end in vertical alignement with the joint of said finger affected by the contracture, a non-streTching strap secured to one side of the free end of said extension member, a buckle pivotally secured to the opposite side of the free end of said extension member, said strap adapted to encircle said finger joint and to be fastened to said buckle to form a non-stretching band for applying an inelastic perpendicular force to said finger joint, an adjustment screw threadably received in said extension member on the free end thereof between said strap and said buckle, said adjustment screw adapted to engage the underside of said base when said extension member is bent backward to apply a vernierly adjustable force to said joint through said non-stretching strap.

Claim 8

A finger support of the type used to overcome deformities, comprising; a base for supporting a finger having a contracture, said base having an inclined portion at one end thereof, side walls integral with said base and adjacent said inclined portion, a coined end on the opposite end of said base, said inclined portion and said side walls adapted to cradle the tip of said finger and said coined end adapted to receive the volar part of the hand, an extension member integral with said base and extending from the end of said inclined portion, said extension member adapted to be bent backward and positioned in underlying relationship with said base with its free end in vertical alignement with the joint of said finger affected by the contracture, a non-streTching strap secured to one side of the free end of said extension member, a buckle pivotally secured to the opposite side of the free end of said extension member, said strap adapted to encircle said finger joint and to be fastened to said buckle to form a non-stretching band for applying an inelastic perpendicular force to said finger joint, an adjustment screw threadably received in said extension member on the free end thereof between said strap and said buckle, said adjustment screw adapted to engage the underside of said base when said extension member is bent backward to apply a vernierly adjustable force to said joint through said non-stretching strap.

Claim 9

A finger support as defined in claim 6 wherein the forces opposing the perpendicular force are directed to the pulp portion of the finger tip and the volar part of the hand.