Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A wrist support comprising flexible sheet means adapted to extend around portions of the hand and wrist of the user thereof, fastener means for holding said sheet means so extended around the hand and wrist, and reinforcement means for said sheet means, said reinforcement means including a first reinforcing member carried by a first portion of said sheet means for overlying portions of the palm of the hand and inner surface of the wrist, said first reinforcing member having a compound curvature such that it is substantially complementary to said portions of the palm of the hand and inner surface of the wrist, a second reinforcing member carried by a second portion of said sheet means for overlying portions of the back of the hand and wrist, said second reinforcing member being substantially straight longitudinally and curved transversely such that it is substantially complementary to said portions of the back of the hand and wrist, and a third reinforcing member carried by a third portion of said sheet means intermediate said first and second reinforcing members for overlying portions of the side edge of the hand and wrist.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A wrist support comprising flexible sheet means adapted to extend around portions of the hand and wrist of the user thereof, fastener means for holding said sheet means so extended around the hand and wrist, and reinforcement means for said sheet means, said reinforcement means including a first reinforcing member carried by a first portion of said sheet means for overlying portions of the palm of the hand and inner surface of the wrist, said first reinforcing member having a compound curvature such that it is substantially complementary to said portions of the palm of the hand and inner surface of the wrist, a second reinforcing member carried by a second portion of said sheet means for overlying portions of the back of the hand and wrist, said second reinforcing member being substantially straight longitudinally and curved transversely such that it is substantially complementary to said portions of the back of the hand and wrist, and a third reinforcing member carried by a third portion of said sheet means intermediate said first and second reinforcing members for overlying portions of the side edge of the hand and wrist.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which said third reinforcing member is relatively more malleable than said first and second reinforcing members and can be deflected by hand to a contour substantially complementary to said portions of the side edge of the hand and wrist.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as recited in claim 2 in which said third reinforcing member is curved transversely.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as recited in claim 3 in which said sheet means has opposite side edges, and said first, second and third reinforcing members extend in directions between said side edges, said side edges being more closely spaced adjacent said first reinforcing member than adjacent said second and third reinforcing members, said first reinforcing member being shorter than said second and third reinforcing members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as recited in claim 4 in which said second reinforcing member is adjacent one end of said sheet means, said side edges of said sheet means diverging from adjacent said first reinforcing member to said one end of said sheet means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device as recited in claim 5 in which said sheet means has an opening therethrough for receiving the thumb, said opening being adjacent and to one side of said first reinforcing member, said first reinforcing member having a longitudinally curved portion and a transversely curved portion, said longitudinally curved portion being closer to said opening than is said transversely curved portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as recited in claim 6 in which said side edges are spaced further apart adjacent said opening than they are adjacent said first reinforcing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
A wrist support comprising flexible sheet means adapted to extend around portions of the hand and wrist of the user thereof, said sheet means including an opening to receive the thumb, strap means extending from one end of said sheet means, fastener means on said strap means and said sheet means for holding said sheet means around the hand and wrist, and reinforcement means for said sheet means, said reinforcement means including a first reinforcing member carried by said sheet means adjacent said thumb opening, said first reinforcing member having a compound curvature such that it is contoured to be substantially complementary to portions of the palm of the hand and inner surface of the wrist for bracing against inward wrist movement, and a second reinforcing member carried by said sheet means at the opposite end of said sheet means, and said second reinforcing member being contoured to be substantially complementary to the back of the hand and outer surface of the wrist for bracing against outward wrist movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
A wrist support comprising flexible sheet means adapted to extend around portions of the hand and wrist of the user thereof, said sheet means including an opening to receive the thumb, strap means extending from one end of said sheet means, fastener means on said strap means and said sheet means for holding said sheet means around the hand and wrist, and reinforcement means for said sheet means, said reinforcement means including a first reinforcing member carried by said sheet means adjacent said thumb opening, said first reinforcing member having a compound curvature such that it is contoured to be substantially complementary to portions of the palm of the hand and inner surface of the wrist for bracing against inward wrist movement, and a second reinforcing member carried by said sheet means at the opposite end of said sheet means, and said second reinforcing member being contoured to be substantially complementary to the back of the hand and outer surface of the wrist for bracing against outward wrist movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as recited in claim 8 in which said second reinforcing member is longer than said first reinforcing member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as recited in claim 8 in which said second reinforcing member has a notch therein for receiving the wrist bone of the wearer of the wrist support, said second reinforcing member being sufficiently rigid to resist bending the same by hand.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as recited in claim 10 in which said second reinforcing member is an elongated sheet metal element curved transversely.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as recited in claim 8 in which said first reinforcing member is semirigid so as to allow bending by hand sufficient to make minor changes in the contour thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A device as recited in claim 8 in which said first reinforcing member is an elongated sheet metal element generally concave on one side and convex on the other side, having a first portion curved transversely for causing the same to be substantially complementary to the inner surface of the wrist, and a second portion curved longitudinally for causing the same to be substantially complementary to portions of the palm of the hand.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as recited in claim 13 in which said second portion includes a longitudinal flange part along one edge for extending over the side edge of the palm of the hand.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device as recited in claim 13 in which said first reinforcing member includes a third portion adjacent said second portion, said third portion having a first substantially flat transverse part, and a second substantially flat part at an angle to said first substantially flat path such that it inclines away from said one side of said first reinforcing member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as recited in claim 15 in which said third portion is at one end of said first reinforcing member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as recited in claim 16 in which said second and third portions of said first reinforcing member are closer to said thumb opening than is said first portion of said first reinforcing member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as recited in claim 8 including in addition a third reinforcing member intermediate said first and second reinforcing members for overlying the outer side edge of the hand and wrist and bracing against outer sideways wrist movement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as recited in claim 18 in which said third reinforcing member is sufficiently malleable to be bent by hand to assume a contour substantially complementary to the outer side portions of the hand and wrist of the user of said wrist support.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as recited in claim 19 in which said sheet means defines three pockets, each of which receives one of said reinforcing members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as recited in claim 20 in which said pockets for said second and third reinforcing members are parallel and contiguous, whereby said second and third reinforcing members are held in adjacency and with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as recited in claim 21 in which said pocket for said first reinforcing member diverges away from said pocket for said third reinforcing member, whereby said first reinforcing member is relatively adjacent said third reinforcing member at one end thereof and spaced from said third reinforcing member at the opposite end thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as recited in claim 22 in which said second reinforcing member is longer than said third reinforcing member and said third reinforcing member is longer than said first reinforcing member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as recited in claim 8 in which said strap means includes three substantially parallel strap members integral with said sheet means at said one end thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
111 words
A device as recited in claim 8 in which said sheet means includes two sheet members, the first of said sheet members defining said thumb opening, said strap means being integral with and extending outwardly from one end of said first sheet member, the second of said sheet members having an end attached to the opposite end of said first sheet member, said end of said second sheet member and said opposite end of said first sheet member being concave at intermediate portions, said concave portions being connected to each other, whereby said first and second members so attached together provide a three-dimensional contour to said first and second sheet members.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as recited in claim 25 in which said first and second members are so attached together by being sewn to form a plain seam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as recited in claim 25 in which said strap means includes three elongated elements extending outwardly from said one end of said first sheet member, said elongated elements when in the free position of said first sheet member converging outwardly, and when said edges of said notch are so attached together being substantially parallel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as recited in claim 25 in which said sheet means includes a third sheet member sewn to the inner surfaces of said first and second sheet members at spaced locations intermediate said thumb opening and the outer edge of said second sheet member to cooperate with said first and second sheet members in defining pockets, said reinforcing members being received in said pockets.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device as recited in claim 25, in which said thumb opening is adjacent one side edge of said first sheet member, said first sheet member having a notch extending inwardly from the opposite side edge thereof to said thumb opening, said notch being defined by edges which are convergent from said opposite side edge to said thumb opening, said edges of said notch being attached together for providing said first sheet member with a three-dimensional contour.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as recited in claim 29 in which said edges of said notch are so attached together by being sewn to form a plain seam.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as recited in claim 8 including a lining of cushioning material overlying the inner surface of said sheet means.