Active hand-extension/flexion device

US8652076B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Edward M. Land · Owings Mills, US
• H. Lee Mantelmacher · Owings Mills, US
• Rebecca German · Baltimore, US
• Marlis Gonzalez-Fernandez · Catonsville, US
• Gad Alon · Rockville, US
• John H. Staehlin · Timonium, US
• Ken Silver · Pikesville, US
• Wayne E. Moore · Yacolt, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 7, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 18, 2014
• Expiry date: Jul 7, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A63B23/16
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A hand movement device comprises a glove for positioning about a hand of a user, a first anchor element adapted to be positioned about a base surface of glove, a second anchor element adapted to be positioned at a tip of a finger portion of the glove, an active spring member positioned between the first and second anchor elements, said active spring member being fixedly secured to said first anchor element and moveable through said second anchor element to thereby allow said spring member to bend about a joint of the finger when said finger is flexed, an activating element positioned adjacent the active spring member to heat or cool said active spring member thereby causing the spring member to bend or straighten, and an intermediary support device for housing said spring element and for connecting the first anchor element to said second anchor element.