GB2430175A

GB2430175A - Hand grip cover assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2430175A
Application number: GB0618252A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Turner
Original assignee: Nottingham Rehab Ltd
Current assignee: Nottingham Rehab Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-19
Filing date: 2006-09-18
Publication date: 2007-03-21
Also published as: GB0618252D0; GB0519058D0

Abstract

A hand grip cover assembly 2 comprises a pad of viscoelastic material (4, figure 3) within an envelope of a cover material (6, figure 3), the envelope being provided with securing means, preferably strips 20, 26 with hook and loop fastening elements. The viscoelastic material may be a foam, and the cover material may be a two way stretch material. The hand grip assembly can be used on the grip regions of crutches 32 or other walking aids, such as walking frames or rollators. The assembly may also be used on a bed lever or toilet frame.

Description

Improvements in and relating to a hand grip assembly The present invention

relates to an improved hand grip assembly. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, utility for use with the grip regions of crutches or other walking aids.

It is known to produce crutches or other walking aids with a region to be grasped by a user. Further reference herein to crutches will be understood to include other forms of walking aids. Such devices are used for a wide variety of reasons. Typically crutches may be used to support the body weight, or at least a substantial part of the body weight, of a user for short intervals. One example would be the case of a person using crutches after breaking limbs or tendons. The grip region or handle of a crutch is typically formed as a rigid plastics moulding. Alternatively the handle may simply be a tubular metal part for grasping by a user.

While such crutches are invaluable in aiding movement of the user from one place to another, the use of such crutches in which the weight of a user, or a substantial part thereof, is repeatedly placed on the hands of the user leads to tender or sore regions developing on the pressure points on the hands. In such instances a user becomes at least reluctant to use the crutches and is thereby deprived of the principle benefit of having them. In extreme examples the sores developed make the use of crutches even by an otherwise healthy individual impossible. It will be appreciated that there wilJ be those who have other difficulties in placing pressure on their hands, for whom the use of such crutches would in any case be beyond them.

This difficulty has previously been addressed by wrapping the handles with strips of a material such as terry cloth, neoprene foam or synthetic sheepskin.

However, while each of these materials provides a degree of relief, problems remain. Due to the nature of these materials while these coverings are more pleasant for a user to grasp in that a degree of deformation is permitted in use these materials simply compress and during movement of the user provide little or no additional support to the hands of a user (that is no pressure relief is provided) such that tender or sore regions may still develop on the pressure points on the hands of a user.

It is an advantage of the present invention that it overcomes these difficulties.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a hand grip cover assembly comprises a pad of viscoelastic material within an envelope of a cover material, the envelope being provided with securing means.

It is an advantage of the flow properties of the viscoelastic material that the weight of a user is better distributed about the grip thereby minimising the concentration of pressure on the hand of a user when the hand grip cover assembly is in use.

Preferably the viscoelastic material is a foam.

Preferably the cover material is a two way stretch material.

Preferably the securing means are releasable. More preferably the securing means comprises elements of a hook and loop fastening system.

Preferably at least one face of the hand grip cover assembly has an antislip finish.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a hand grip assembly comprises a handle provided with a hand grip cover assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably the hand grip assembly is provided on a crutch.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cover assembly in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a different perspective view of the cover assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section along the line A-A shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a crutch fitted with a cover assembly in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a cover assembly to be fitted to a crutch.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, .a hand grip cover assembly 2 is shown prior to fitment to a handle. The hand grip cover assembly 2 comprises a volume of viscoelastic material in the form of a cushion or pad 4 of viscoelastic foam within an envelope 6 of a cover material. The envelope comprises a base panel 8 connected to a generally parallel upper panel 10 by way of four side panels 12,14,16 and 18. It will be seen that the envelope is shaped to receive the pad 4 of viscoelastic material. Other shapes of envelope 6 will be provided to fit different shaped pads 4 of viscoelastic material.

The envelope 6 may be adapted to be sealed permanently to receive the pad 4 of viscoelastic material or may have a resealable opening, such as by a zip fastener or a hook and loop fastening system (not shown), to permit removal and replacement of the pad 4 of viscoelastic material during the lifetime of the hand grip cover assembly 2.

The cover material from which the envelope 6 may formed may be any suitable material, for example a two-way stretch material.

One face of the envelope 6, in the illustrated embodiment the base panel 8, is provided with an anti-slip finish 20. The anti-slip finish 20 may be applied directly to the envelope 6 or may be secured thereto in any convenient manner, for example the anti slip finish could take the form of a panel provided (for example, sewn) in the base panel 8.

In order to secure the hand grip cover assembly 2 to a handle the envelope 6 is provided with securing means. In the illustrated embodiment, releasable securing means are provided. Conveniently the releasable securing means may comprise elements of a hook and loop securing system arranged in any suitable fashion. In the illustrated embodiment, such elements are provided as strips 22,26. A first strip 22 comprising either a hook or loop element of the fastening system is provided along a first side panel 12 of the envelope 6, while second and third strips 26, each comprising the other of the elements of the fastening system, are provided as tabs extending from a third side panel 16. Conveniently the hook and loop elements are formed with elasticated backings.

Assembly of the hand grip cover assembly 2 to a handle 30 of a crutch 32 will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The hand grip cover assembly 2 is placed on the handle 30 with the anti-slip finish adjacent the handle 30. The hand grip cover assembly 2 is then wrapped around the handle 30 and secured in position by the elasticated elements of the fastening system.

Forming the pad 4 of a viscoelastic material such as a suitable viscoelastic foam allows the pad 4 to take the shape of a user's hand and spread the load generated by the user during use of the crutch 32. Such pressure relief should enable the use of a crutch with a hand grip cover assembly 2 in accordance with the present invention by a user with painful hands, thereby extending the range of use of such crutches.

The hand grip cover assembly 2 may be adopted to provide pressure relief in other circumstances where a user's weight is to be concentrated through a user's hands, such as for example on a walking frame, rollator, rambler trolley, bed lever or toilet frame.

Claims

1 A hand grip cover assembly comprising a pad of viscoelastic material within an envelope of a cover material, the envelope being provided with securing means.

2 A hand grip cover assembly according to claim 1, in which the viscoelastic material is a foam.

3 A hand grip cover assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the cover material is a two way stretch material.

4 A hand grip cover assembly according to any previous claim, in which the securing means are releasable.

A hand grip cover assembly according to claim 4, in which the securing means comprises elements of a hook and loop fastening system.

6 A hand grip assembly according to claim 5, in which one of the hook element and the loop element of the hook and loop fastening system is provided on a first part of the envelope and the securing means are provided with the other of the hook element and the loop element of the hook and loop fastening system.

7 A hand grip cover assembly according to any previous claim, in which at least one face of the hand grip cover assembly has an antislip finish.

8 A hand grip cover assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9 A hand grip assembly comprises a handle provided with a hand grip cover assembly in accordance with any previous claim.

A hand grip assembly according to claim 9, in which the hand grip assembly is provided on a crutch.

11 A hand grip assembly incorporating a hand grip cover assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.