US3117786A

US3117786A - Wrist supporting device for bowlers

Info

Publication number: US3117786A
Application number: US188184A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Anderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-04-17
Filing date: 1962-04-17
Publication date: 1964-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-14

Description

Jan. 14, 1964 J. H. ANDEIQSON WRIST SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR BOWLERS Filed April 17, 1962 INVENTOR. JOHN H. ANDERSON BY FULWIDER, MATTINGLY &

HU NTLEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 117 786 WRIST SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR BOWLERS John Anderson, 1244 E. 6th St., Long Beach 12, Calif., tssigfnor of one-half to Jack S. Anderson, Long Beach,

Filed Apr. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 188,184 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) The present invention relates to wrist supporting devices, and more particularly to devices for maintaining a persons wrist joint relatively inflexible.

The sport of bowling has, within recent years, enjoyed increased popularity. As a result, considerable time and effort have been devoted to improving the sport, particularly with regard to assisting people in being able to attain better bowling scores. Such efforts have indicated that in order to effect the most desirable delivery of the bowling ball it is necessary that the bowlers wrist joint be relatively inflexible. This insures that the bowlers thumb will leave the bowling ball first, so that as the finger or fingers subsequently are removed from the ball a spinning action is imparted to the ball. This action is very desirable in that, among other reasons, it enables the bowler to more easily control the direction of travel of the ball and provides considerably more action in upsetting the bowling pins.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wrist supporting device which will substanti-ally prevent flexing of the wearers wnist joint.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a supporting device which partially encircles the wearers wrist, hand and forearm so that the hand and forearm operate as a unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrist supporting device as characterized above which is comfortable to the wearers arm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Wrist supporting device as characterized above which can be easily attached to and removed from a persons arm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrist supporting device as characterized above which is light in weight, but very rigid in operation so as to afford the necessary supporting function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrist supporting device as characterized above which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is rugged and dependable in operation.

The novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wrist supporting device according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a bowlers hand and forearm provided with the device of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the bowlers arm;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURES l and 5 of the drawings, the embodiment chosen for illustration of the present invention comprises a support member formed of rela- 3,117,786 Patented Jan. 14, 1964 "ice tively inflexible material and provided with a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section. Support member 10 may be formed of any relatively stiff or rigid sheet material which is formable as will hereinafter be described. In order to make the wrist supporting device as comfortable as possible for the wearer, it has been found preferable, to make support member 10 out of aluminum, light weight plastic or other similar material.

In order to provide the desired rigidity to the wearers Wrist, as will hereinafter become more apparent, support member 10 should be of such length as to cover approximately three or four inches of the wearers forearm, and approximately the same amount of the wearers hand. To aflord maximum rigidity or inflexibility to the wearers wrist joint and to make the entire supporting device comfortable for the wearer, it is desirable that the support member 10 be formed to closely conform to the shape of the wearers wrist, forearm and hand. In this regard, it is desirable that member 10 be formed with a curved or irregular side surface, as shown generally at 12 in 'FIG- URE 1, to thereby provide a protuberance 14 for comfortably receiving the wrist bone of the wearer, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

The aforedescribed shape of the wrist supporting device is related to the support member 10* since this member is the only inflexible member in the entire device. That is, Whatever special shape is provided in the resulting device is dependent upon the shape of the member 10.

Fastened to the internal or concave surface of the support member 10, by any suitable bonding agent, is a protective pad v18 formed of flexible material. Pad 18 may be formed of sponge rubber or plastic, and is intended to provide a comfortable cushion for the wearers forearm, wrist and hand. In this manner, the stiff support member 10 is prevented from directly contacting the wearers arm, and hence the discomfort of wearing such a supporting device is greatly minimized. Protective pad 18 should be of such length and width as to extend beyond the margins of support member 10.

In order to firmly hold the supporting device in proper position on the wearers wrist, the present invention includes suitable fastening means which includes a cover 20 which encircles support member 10 and the wearers arm to hold the device in the desired positions. The cover '20 of the fastening means may take substantially any desired form and is shown in the drawings as comprising a piece of flexible cloth, leather, or an imitation thereof which completely covers the external or convex surface of member 10.

The main portion 21 of cover 20 should be of such size as to cover the marginal edges of the resilient pad 18 which is somewhat larger than the support member 10 as above described. It is desirable that main portion 21 of the fastening means 20 be bonded to both the support member 10 and to the marginal edges of pad 18.

The main portion 21 of cover 20, as shown at 21a, extends a considerable distance beyond the side margin of the support member 10 and pad 18 so as to firmly engage the underside of the wearers forearm, wrist and hand as shown most clearly in FIGURE 4. An L-shaped or curved cutout as shown at 21b is provided in cover 20 to accommodate the wearers thumb when the supporting device is being worn.

Suitable fastening devices such as buckles and straps therefor may be employed with the cover 20 of the fastening means to retain the supporting device in proper position. The embodiment shown in the drawings, comprises

buckles

30, 32 and 34 which are mounted along the marginal edge of cover 2%).

Suitable straps

36, 38 and 40, for cooperation respectively with buckles 30, 3-2 and 34, are attached to the opposite marginal edge of cover 20 by any suitable means such as sewing, bonding or the like. If desired, the buckles may be individually attached to the stationary end of the respective straps, as shown with respect to buckle 30 and strap 36. In the alternative, however, the buckles may be attached to the cover 20 independently of the respective straps as shown in the drawings with respect to

buckles

32 and 34. The latter arrangement shows the use of a separate fastening strip 42 to which the

buckles

32 and 34 are attached and which, in turn, is suitably fastened to cover 21 by stitching or the like. In like fashion, the

straps

38 and 40 are attached to a separate fastening strip, and may be formed integrally therewith as shown at 44 in FIGURE 2.

The forward strap 36 is mounted along the forward edge of the cover 20 so as to extend between the thumb and forefinger of the wearer when the supporting device is secured in place. The straps 38 and 49, on the other hand, merely extend about the forearm of the wearer, the strap 38 being in close proximity to the wearers wrist, while the strap 40 is spaced therefrom.

The subject wrist supporting device is attached to the wearer by initially being placed in the open condition as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The wearers arm is then placed in the device such that the wearers wrist bone fits within the protuberance 14. With the wearers arm so positioned, the

straps

36, 38 and 40 are encircled about the wearers arm, into engagement with the

respective buckles

30, 32 and 34. Such straps are then drawn tight so as to firmly hold the supporting device in engagement with the wearers forearm, wrist and hand.

Due to the shape of the subject supporting device, the wearers hand becomes virtually immovable with respect to the forearm. In particular, the wearers hand is prevented from moving rearwardly relative to his forearm due to the fact that the support member is U-shaped and completely covers the sides and rear of the hand, wrist and forearm. This feature is particularly desirable in the sport of bowling in that the wearers wrist cannot break during delivery of the bowling ball as above explained.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a wrist supporting device which is very effective for maintaining the wearers wrist joint stiff and inflexible.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wrist supporting device comprising, a substantially rigid support member having a generally U-shape to bridge the wearers wrist joint on the top, bottom, and side opposite the thumb to prevent pivotal movement of the wearers hand in a direction away from the thumb, said member being open all along the side thereof normally adjacent the wearers thumb, said member being deformable manually to provide a protuberance for receiving the wearers wrist bone to allow said support member to conform to the wearers wrist, said support member being of suflicient length to extend from the back of the hand to a point above the wrist, a resilient cushion fixed to said support member on the inside surface thereof and conforming to the U-shape thereof, and fastening means on said support member for firmly holding said support member in said bridging position.

2. A wrist supporting device according to claim 1 wherein said resilient cushion comprises a pad of sponge rubber bonded to said support member.

3. A wrist supporting device according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a plurality of buckles and cooperating straps attached to said support member for fastening the latter to the wearers wrist.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,330 Iungmann Nov. 6, 1945 2,529,786 Shaw Nov. 14, 1950 2,794,638 Risher et al. June 4, 1957 2,924,458 Barry Feb. 9, 1960 3,036,831 Engan May 29, 1962

Claims

1. A WRIST SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY U-SHAPE TO BRIDGE THE WEARER''S WRIST JOINT ON THE TOP, BOTTOM, AND SIDE OPPOSITE THE THUMB TO PREVENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE WEARER''S HAND IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE THUMB, SAID MEMBER BEING OPEN ALL ALONG THE SIDE THEREOF NORMALLY ADJACENT THE WEARER''S THUMB, SAID MEMBER BEING DEFORMABLE MANUALLY TO PROVIDE A PROTUBERANCE FOR RECEIVING THE WEARER''S WRIST BONE TO ALLOW SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO CONFORM TO THE WEARER''S WRIST, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO EXTEND FROM THE BACK OF THE HAND TO A POINT ABOVE THE WRIST, A RESILIENT CUSHION FIXED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ON THE INSIDE SURFACE THEREOF AND CONFORMING TO THE U-SHAPE THEREOF, AND FASTENING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR FIRMLY HOLDING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IN SAID BRIDGING POSITION.