U.S. patent application number 14/475005 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-02 for wrist mounted hand sling.
The applicant listed for this patent is Janie W. Favreau. Invention is credited to Janie W. Favreau.
Application Number | 20160150871 14/475005 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55440329 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160150871 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Favreau; Janie W. |
June 2, 2016 |
WRIST MOUNTED HAND SLING
Abstract
A wrist mounted hand sling (1) having a wrist strap (2) that is
worn around an individual's wrist and a sling strap (8) that is
worn around the palm of a hand (20) between the thumb and
forefinger. The sling strap is preferably loosely worn to allow
objects attached to the sling strap to slide back and forth along
the length of the sling strap, thereby keeping the objects from
falling to the ground and in a position where the individual can
easily grasp the objects if needed.
Inventors: |
Favreau; Janie W.; (Naples,
FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Favreau; Janie W. |
Naples |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55440329 |
Appl. No.: |
14/475005 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2005/008 20130101;
A45F 5/00 20130101; A61F 4/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00 |
Claims
1. A wrist mounted hand sling comprising: a wrist strap having a
first end and a second end that are secured together around an
individual's wrist using at least one attachment located on the
wrist strap; a slide located centrally on the wrist strap between
the first end and the second end for adjusting the size of the
wrist strap; a sling strap having a first end and a second end both
of which are attached to the wrist strap in a manner to cause the
sling strap to form a substantially C-shaped loop that is worn
around a palm of the individual's hand between the individual's
thumb and forefinger and on the rear surface of the individual's
hand; said second end of the sling strap is attached to the wrist
strap at an angle between the second end of the wrist strap and the
slide that allows the second end of the sling strap to rest near a
center of the individual' s wrist; and said first end of the sling
strap is a sliding end that is wrapped over the wrist strap and
secured back onto the sling strap using an attachment means,
thereby creating a loop on the first end of the sling strap that is
located between the first end of the wrist strap and the slide.
2. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 wherein: said attachment
means used to secure the first end of the sling strap over the
wrist strap is an adjustment slide.
3. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 wherein: said second end
of the sling strap is a fixed end that is permanently attached to
the wrist strap.
4. (canceled)
5. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 further comprising: an
accessory ring located on the wrist mounted hand sling.
6. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 further comprising: at
least one attachment ring located on the sling strap in a manner
that allows the at least one attachment ring to slide back and
forth along a length of the sling strap.
7. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 further comprising: at
least one stop located on the wrist mounted hand sling.
8. A wrist mounted hand sling comprising: a wrist strap having a
first end and a second end that are secured together around an
individual's wrist using at least one attachment located on the
wrist strap; a slide located centrally on the wrist strap between
the first end and the second end for adjusting the size of the
wrist strap; a sling strap having a first end and a second end both
of which are attached to the wrist strap in a manner to cause the
sling strap to form a substantially C-shaped loop that is worn
around a palm of the individual's hand between the individual's
thumb and forefinger and on the rear surface of the individual's
hand; and said second end of the sling strap is attached to the
wrist strap between the second end of the wrist strap and the slide
that allows the second end of the sling strap to rest near a center
of the individual's wrist; said second end of the sling strap is a
fixed end that is permanently attached to the wrist strap; said
first end of the sling strap is a sliding end that is wrapped over
the wrist strap and secured back onto the sling strap using an
attachment means, thereby creating a loop on the first end of the
sling strap that lays flat against the wrist strap and is located
between the second end of the wrist strap and the slide.
9. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 8 wherein: said attachment
means used to secure the first end of the sling strap over the
wrist strap is an adjustment slide.
10. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 8 wherein: said second
end of the sling strap is attached to the wrist strap at an
angle.
11. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 8 further comprising: an
accessory ring located on the wrist mounted hand sling.
12. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 8 further comprising: at
least one attachment ring located on the sling strap in a manner
that allows the at least one attachment ring to slide back and
forth along a length of the sling strap.
13. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 8 further comprising: at
least one stop located on the wrist mounted hand sling.
14. A wrist mounted hand sling comprising: a wrist strap having a
first end and a second end that are secured together around an
individual's wrist using at least one attachment located on the
wrist strap; a sling strap having a first end and a second end both
of which are attached to the wrist strap in a manner to cause the
sling strap to form a substantially C-shaped loop that is worn
around a palm of the individual's hand between the individual's
thumb and forefinger and on the rear surface of the individual's
hand; an attachment ring located on the sling strap in a manner
that allows the attachment ring to slide back and forth along a
length of the sling strap.
15. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 wherein: said second
end of the sling strap is attached to the wrist strap at an
angle.
16. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 further comprising: an
accessory ring located on the wrist mounted hand sling.
17. (canceled)
18. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 further comprising: at
least one stop located on the wrist mounted hand sling.
19. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 wherein: said second
end of the sling strap is a fixed end that is permanently attached
to the wrist strap.
20. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 wherein: said first
end of the sling strap is a sliding end that is wrapped over the
wrist strap and secured back onto the sling strap using an
attachment means, thereby creating a loop on the first end of the
sling strap that lays flat against the wrist strap.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an aide for attaching objects to
an individual's hand, and more particularly, to a wrist mounted
hand sling that attaches to animal leashes and other objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many individuals suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel and
other afflictions that affect the motor function of their hands and
fingers and/or the strength of their grip. This can cause a problem
when carrying, holding and/or using various objects, such as
shopping bags, purses, tools, canes and so forth. This can also
cause a problem when performing other tasks, such as walking a
dog.
[0003] All of these activities require an individual to maintain a
constant grip on an object, which puts strain on the individual's
hand and prevents the individual from using his or her hand and
fingers for other activities, such as using a phone.
[0004] Therefore, a need exists for a wrist mounted hand sling that
secures a leash or other object to an individual's hand and wrist,
thereby relieving the strain on the individual's hand and fingers
and leaving the individual's hand and fingers free for other
tasks.
[0005] The relevant prior art includes the following
references:
TABLE-US-00001 Patent No. Inventor Issue/Publication Date (U.S.
Patent References) 281,638 Mahar Jul. 17, 1883 2,553,317 Hill May
15, 1951 4,728,123 Kassal et al. Mar. 1, 1988 4,751,896 Miley Jun.
21, 1988 D337,395 Erlinger et al. Jul. 13, 1993 5,435,273 Landis et
al. Jul. 25, 1995 5,695,380 Morrison Dec. 9, 1997 6,082,308 Walter
Jul. 4, 2000 6,095,093 Kisko et al. Aug. 1, 2000 D454,670 Weller
Mar. 19, 2002 D519,686 Alameddine Apr. 25, 2006 2012/0042837
Vandenbuckle Feb. 23, 2012 8,322,311 Gould et al. Dec. 4, 2012
8,413,613 Smith Apr. 9, 2013
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
wrist mounted hand sling that secures a leash or other objects to
an individual while leaving the individual's hand and fingers free
for other tasks.
[0007] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a wrist mounted hand sling that relieves the strain on an
individual's hand and fingers caused by carrying or holding onto an
object.
[0008] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a wrist mounted hand sling that prevents an individual from
dropping an object to the ground if his or her grip loosens on the
object.
[0009] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a wrist mounted hand sling that keeps objects tethered to an
individual.
[0010] The present invention fulfills the above and other objects
by providing a wrist mounted hand sling having a wrist strap that
is worn around an individual's wrist and a sling strap that is worn
around the palm of a hand between the thumb and forefinger. The
sling strap is preferably loosely worn to allow objects attached to
the sling strap to slide back and forth along the length of the
sling strap, thereby keeping the objects from falling and in a
position where the individual can easily grasp the objects if
needed.
[0011] This is especially useful when walking a dog. For example, a
leash may be attached to the sling strap in a manner that allows
the leash to slide forward and backward on the sling strap while
the individual's arm swings naturally forward and backward while
walking. This prevents unnecessary tension on the leash, which can
cause a dog to tense up and pull unnecessarily on the leash. This
also allows the individual to hold other objects such as a phone or
hand weights, while still having control over the leash. The leash
may also be used for other animals and children.
[0012] The present invention is also useful for carrying objects
such as purses and shopping bags, canes, tools and so forth. In
addition, the present invention may also be used for wheeled
objects that are pulled by an individual, such as luggage, oxygen
canisters and so forth.
[0013] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention should become even more readily apparent to those
skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed
description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown
and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the following detailed description, reference will be
made to the attached drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a wrist mounted hand
sling of the present invention laid in a flat position;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a wrist mounted hand
sling of the present invention laid in a flat position;
[0017] FIG. 3A is a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist
mounted hand sling of the present invention being worn and used to
walk a dog on a leash;
[0018] FIG. 3B, a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist
mounted hand sling with an attachment ring of the present invention
being worn;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a hand on which a wrist mounted
hand sling of the present invention being worn and used to walk a
dog on a leash;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist
mounted hand sling of the present invention is being worn and used
to carry a shopping bag;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist
mounted hand sling of the present invention is being worn and used
to carry a cane; and
[0022] FIG. 7 is a front view of a connector of the present
invention laid in a flat position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the
terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the
drawings is as follows:
[0024] 1. wrist mounted hand sling, generally
[0025] 2. wrist strap
[0026] 3. attachment means
[0027] 4. strap clip
[0028] 5. slide
[0029] 6. fixed end of wrist strap
[0030] 7. adjustable end of wrist strap
[0031] 8. sling strap
[0032] 9. fixed end of sling strap
[0033] 10. sliding end of sling strap
[0034] 11. accessory ring
[0035] 12. attachment ring
[0036] 13. stop
[0037] 14. leash
[0038] 15. shopping bag
[0039] 16. shopping bag handle
[0040] 17. cane
[0041] 18. cane handle
[0042] 19. dog
[0043] 20. hand
[0044] 21. connector strap
[0045] 22. first end of connector strap
[0046] 23. second end of connector strap
[0047] 24. leash hook
[0048] 25. key ring
[0049] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a front perspective
view and a rear perspective view, respectively, of a wrist mounted
hand sling 1 of the present invention laid in a flat position are
illustrated. The wrist mounted hand sling 1 of the present
invention comprises a wrist strap 2 that is secured around an
individual's wrist using an attachment means 3, such as a strap
clip 4, clip, buckle, slide 5, hook and loop fastener, snaps,
buttons, sewing and so forth. The wrist strap 2 preferably has two
ends; a fixed end 6 that is permanently attached to the attachment
means 3 and an adjustable end 7, which allows the wrist strap 2 to
be adjusted to a size of an individual's wrist. A slide 5 may also
be secured on the wrist strap 2 to further secure the wrist strap 2
and set the wrist strap 2 to a desired length. A sling strap 8
preferably having two ends is attached to the wrist strap 2,
thereby causing the sling strap 8 to form a substantially C-shaped
loop that is worn around a palm of a hand between a thumb and
forefinger of a wearer and onto the rear surface of the wearer's
hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. A fixed end 9 of the sling
strap 8 is preferably permanently attached to the wrist strap 2 at
an angle. A sliding end 10 of the sling strap 8 is preferably
wrapped over the wrist strap 2 and secured to the body of the sling
strap 8 using an attachment means 3, such as a clip 4, slide 5,
buckle, hook and loop fastener, snaps, buttons, sewing and so
forth. An accessory ring 11 may be located on the sling strap 8 or
wrist strap 2. A variety of accessories and objects, such as keys,
pouches, wallets, pepper spray, whistles, watches and so forth, may
be attached to the accessory ring 11 for safe keeping and/or quick
access while the wrist mounted hand sling 1 is in use. One or more
attachment rings 12 may be located on the sling strap 8 in a manner
that allows the one or more attachment rings 12 to slide back and
forth along the length of the sling strap 8. The one or more
attachment rings 12 may be used to attach a leash or other object
to the sling strap 8. Stops 13, such as raised studs, may be
located on the wrist strap 2 and/or the sling strap 8 as safety
precautions. The stops 13 prevent the ends of the wrist strap 2
and/or the sling strap 8 from coming disconnected from any
attachment means 3 while the wrist mounted hand sling 1 is in
use.
[0050] With reference to FIG. 3A and FIG. 4, a palm facing view and
a rear view of a hand 20, respectively, on which a wrist mounted
hand sling 1 of the present invention being worn and used to walk a
dog 19 on a leash 14 are illustrated. The sling strap 8 is worn
around a palm of a hand between a thumb and forefinger, in a
relatively loose manner. This allows the leash 14 to slide back and
forth along the length of the sling strap 8 while the individual's
arm swings naturally forward and backward while walking. The leash
14 may be attached directly to the sling strap 8 by looping the
leash 14 around the sling strap 8. Alternatively, the leash 14 may
be attached to an attachment ring 12 (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2) located on the sling strap 8. The sliding of the leash 14 on the
sling strap 8 prevents unnecessary tension on the leash 14 while
walking, which can cause a dog 19 to tense up and pull
unnecessarily on the leash 14, thereby allowing the dog 19 to be
walked on a "loose leash." This also allows the individual to hold
an object in his or her hand or use his or her fingers while still
having control over the leash 14 and dog 19 and maintained the
leash 14 in a position where the user can quickly grasp onto it if
needed.
[0051] With reference to FIG. 3B, a palm facing view of a hand 20
on which a wrist mounted hand sling 1 with an attachment ring 12 of
the present invention being worn is illustrated. One or more
attachment rings 12 may be located on the sling strap 8 in a manner
that allows the one or more attachment rings 12 to slide back and
forth along the length of the sling strap 8. The one or more
attachment rings 12 may be used to attach a leash or other object
to the sling strap 8 using an attachment means 3, such as a leash
clip 24, carabineer and so forth.
[0052] With reference to FIG. 5, a palm facing view of a hand 20 on
which a wrist mounted hand sling 1 of the present invention is
being worn and used to carry a shopping bag 15 is illustrated. The
sling strap 8 has been inserted through handles 16 of a shopping
bag 15 using strap clip 4 to open and close the sling strap 8. This
allows a user to use his or her hands and fingers freely while
still holding the shopping bag 15. The wrist mounted hand sling 1
may also be used in a similar method to carry purses.
[0053] With reference to FIG. 6, a palm facing view of a hand 20 on
which a wrist mounted hand sling 1 of the present invention is
being worn and used to carry a cane 17 is illustrated. A handle 18
of the cane 17 has been hooked around the sling strap 8 so the cane
17 will hang from the sling strap 8 when not being grasped in the
user's hand 20. This allows the user to use his or her hands and
fingers freely while still holding the cane 17. In addition, it
prevents a user from dropping the cane 17 if he or she has limited
motor function.
[0054] Finally with reference to FIG. 7, a front view of a
connector strap 21 of the present invention laid in a flat position
is illustrated. The connector strap 21 comprises a first end 22 and
a second end 23 each having an attachment means 3, such as a leash
clip 24, key ring 25, ring, hook and so forth, located thereon. A
strap clip 4 is preferably located between the first end 22 and
second end 23 so that the first end 22 may be detached from the
second end 23 or so that the connector strap 21 may be looped
around an object. The connector strap 21 may be used to quickly
connect objects having rigid handles, such as a retractable leash,
luggage and so forth, to the wrist mounted hand sling 1.
[0055] It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of
the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the
specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what
is shown and described in the specification and drawings.
* * * * *