Self-help device

Abstract

To provide a self-help device having a preferable attachment property to a user's hand and a holding property of a cutlery such as a fork or spoon or the other target objects, although having a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A self-help device includes: a holder 11 made of a band-shaped body, the holder 11 being attachable to a hand 90 of a user by being arranged in a peripheral direction of the hand 90 along the hand 90; and a holding belt 12 having rubber elasticity, wound around and attached to the holder 11, and capable of allowing the holder 11 to hold target objects 80, 82 by being wound and attached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-help device. [Background technology]

[0002] Self-help devices for holding items such as tableware and household items with the fingers of a hand that has limited mobility are known (for example, Patent Document 1). Known self-help devices are often made of resin products that are worn on the user's hand. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6735057 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention aims to improve upon known self-help devices to provide a self-help device that is simple in structure but easy to wear on the user's hand and has good grip on cutlery such as forks and spoons and other objects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To achieve this purpose, the self-help device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a band-shaped holder that can be worn on the user's hand by being placed circumferentially around the hand, and a holding belt that has rubber elasticity and can be wrapped around the holder and worn, allowing the holder to hold an object by being wrapped around it.

[0006] With this configuration, the device has a simple structure that simply comprises a band-shaped holder that can be worn on the hand by being positioned circumferentially around the user's hand, and a holding belt that can enable the holder to hold an object.However, because the holder is made of a band-shaped body that can be worn on the hand by being positioned circumferentially around the user's hand, the holder holding an object such as cutlery by the holding belt can be securely worn on the user's hand.

[0007] According to the self-help device of the present invention, it is preferable that the holder allows the user's hand to be freely inserted and the user's hand to be freely removed.

[0008] With this configuration, the user can easily attach the self-help device to the hand and detach the self-help device from the hand.

[0009] According to the self-help device of the present invention, it is preferable that the holder is formed from a resin that undergoes plastic deformation when heated and that maintains the deformed shape when cooled after plastic deformation.

[0010] With this configuration, the holder can be plastically deformed into a shape that fits the user's hand while heated, and then cooled, so that the holder can be fixed in a shape that fits the user's hand, and the holder can be shaped to fit the shape of the user's hand.

[0011] According to the self-help device of the present invention, it is preferable that the holder has a holding portion that holds the object and is positioned along a part of the circumference of the user's hand, and an inverted portion that is positioned along another part of the circumference of the user's hand.

[0012] With this configuration, the holder can be wrapped around the user's hand, allowing the holder to be securely attached to the user's hand.

[0013] According to the self-help device of the present invention, it is preferable that one or more portions along the length of the holder have narrower width portions that are narrower than other portions along the length of the holder.

[0014] With this configuration, when the holder is heated and plastically deformed into a three-dimensional shape that fits the user's hand, the narrow portion is more likely to deform three-dimensionally than other parts, and therefore the holder can be easily deformed into a three-dimensional shape that fits the user's hand.

[0015] According to the self-help device of the present invention, it is preferable that the narrow portion is formed at the boundary between the holding portion and the turning portion.

[0016] With this configuration, by significantly deforming the boundary between the holding portion and the inverted portion, the holder can be easily plastically deformed into a three-dimensional shape that conforms to the user's hand.

[0017] According to the self-help device of the present invention, the holding belt is formed of a circular, endless body, and it is preferable that the holder has a hook portion that can hook multiple portions along the length of the elastically stretched holding belt.

[0018] With this configuration, the holding belt, which is formed from a ring-shaped endless body and has rubber elasticity, can be attached to the holder in a tensioned state by hooking it onto the hook portion of the holder, and the object can be securely held in the holder by this tensioned holding belt. According to the present invention, a holder that holds an object such as cutlery by a holding belt can be securely worn by a user, despite its simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a three-dimensional view of a self-help device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the self-help device of FIG. 1 being heated. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the holder of the self-help device of FIG. 1 is worn on the hand of a user. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating how a user puts his or her hand in and out of the holder. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state when a part of the first holding belt is hooked onto the holder. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a part of the first holding belt is hooked on a holder and the other part is wound around the holder. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the first holding belt is wound around and held by a holder. [Figure 8] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a fork as an object is held in a holder by using a second holding belt. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a fork as an object is held in a holder by using a second holding belt. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is another view showing a state in which a fork as an object is held in a holder by using the second holding belt. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram showing the state in which the self-help device in the state of FIGS. 9 and 10 is worn on the hand of the user. FIG. [Figure 12] 11 is another view showing the self-help device in the state shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 worn on the hand of the user. FIG. [Figure 13] 11 is a diagram showing another state in which the self-help device shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is worn on the user's hand. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a diagram showing a self-help device that is attached to a user's hand in another manner, together with the user's hand. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a spoon as an object is held in a holder in a self-help device that is attached to a user's hand in yet another manner. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the self-help device of FIG. 15 worn on the user's hand in another manner. [Figure 17] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a writing instrument is held in a self-help device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 18]18 is a diagram showing the self-help device of FIG. 17 holding a writing implement when worn on the user's hand. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a holder 11 and a holding belt 12 that constitute a self-help device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The holder 11 is made of a resin strip. Fig. 1 shows the holder 11 in an unfolded state before it is shaped to fit the shape of the user's hand.

[0021] The holder 11 is formed of a strip-shaped body and has a holding portion 13 and a turning portion 14 .

[0022] The holding portion 13 is provided at one end of the strip along its longitudinal direction (length direction), and has one edge 15 and the other edge 16 in the short side direction (width direction) of the strip.

[0023] On the other hand, edge portion 15 has a plurality of small protrusions 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d, all of the same height, formed along the length of holding portion 13. Recesses 18A and 18B are formed between small protrusions 17a and 17b, and between small protrusions 17c and 17d, respectively. Recesses 18A and 18B are cut out from the widthwise edges of holding portion 13 by the thickness of small protrusions 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d along the widthwise direction of holding portion 13, extending inward in the widthwise direction of holding portion 13. Another recess 19A is formed between small protrusions 17b and 17c. Recess 19A is longer than recesses 18A and 18B along the length of holding portion 13 and is cut out from the protruding ends of small protrusions 17b and 17c by the height of small protrusions 17b and 17c. The bottom surface of the recess 19 is formed in an arc shape that opens in a direction away from the surface of the holding portion 13 when the holding portion 13 is viewed from the side.

[0024] The other end 16 of the holding portion 13 is formed in the same shape as the one end 15. As a result, the other end 16 has small protrusions 17e, 17f, 17g, and 17h, recesses 18C and 18D, and recess 19B.

[0025] The inverted portion 14 of the holder 11 is formed in a flat band shape. A Saturn-shaped through-hole 21 is formed at the tip of the inverted portion 14 on the side away from the holding portion 13. That is, the through-hole 21 has a central round hole 22 and an elongated hole 23 formed to overlap the round hole 22. The elongated hole 23 is formed in an elongated shape along the width direction of the inverted portion 14.

[0026] A narrow width portion 24 that is narrower than the other portions is formed at the boundary between the holding portion 13 and the inverted portion 14. That is, in the portion where the narrow width portion 24 is formed, recesses 25A and 25B are formed that extend from both widthwise edges of the holder 11 into the width direction of the holder 11. The recesses 25A and 25B are formed in an arc shape.

[0027] In the illustrated example, the recesses 25A and 25B are formed in a portion along the length of the holder 11, but they may also be formed in multiple portions, including other portions along the length of the holder 11, for example, at the inverted portion 14.

[0028] The resin constituting the holder 11 is preferably a thermoplastic resin that softens and plastically deforms when heated and maintains the deformed shape when cooled after plastic deformation. By using such a resin for the holder 11, the holder 11 can be plastically deformed to fit the shape of the user's hand and then retain that shape. That is, the holder 11 made of such a resin is heated and softened using a hot air blower 28, such as a hair dryer, as shown in FIG. 2 . The softened, flat, band-shaped holder 11 is then wrapped around the user's hand 90 as shown in FIG. 3 , where it changes shape to fit the shape of the user's hand 90, and then cooled in the changed shape. This fixes the changed shape, resulting in a holder that fits the shape of the user's hand 90. The cooling method may involve cooling the holder while it is fitted to the user's hand (body surface temperature), or cooling at room temperature (approximately 20°C) or in water.

[0029] The holder 11 may be fitted to the user's hand 90 in any desired manner. For example, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 13 is fitted to the user's palm 91, and the narrow portion 24 is positioned between the user's thumb 92 and index finger 93. The inverted portion 14 is then fitted to the back of the hand 90 shown in FIG. 3, i.e., the back of the user's hand. In this manner, the band-shaped holder 11 is wound around the hand, and as shown, the tip 29 of the inverted portion 14 is again fitted to the portion of the palm 91 where the holding portion 13 is not present. At this time, the holder 11 is significantly deformed in the thickness direction between the user's thumb 92 and index finger 93, but the narrow portion 24 is positioned in this portion to facilitate this deformation.

[0030] 4 shows holder 11 formed in such a loop-like configuration. As shown in the figure, this configuration allows the user's hand 90 to freely move in and out of loop-shaped holder 11. Therefore, the user only needs to wear holder 11, i.e., the self-help device, on their hand when using it, and can easily remove it from hand 90 when not using the self-help device.

[0031] Examples of thermoplastic resins that can be used for the holder 11 include resins that can be softened and deformed by heating to temperatures of, for example, about 40 to 60°C. Such thermoplastic resins have a glass transition temperature of 60°C or less, preferably 40 to 50°C. The holder 11 made of such a thermoplastic resin can be easily reshaped when heated to a temperature above its glass transition temperature. For example, a resin with a glass transition temperature of about 40 to 60°C can be easily reshaped by immersing it in hot water or by heating it with other appropriate means, such as a hot air blower such as a hair dryer. Thermoplastic resins include, but are not limited to, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polystyrenes, acrylics, dienes, and polyethers. Among these, polyester-based thermoplastic resins are preferred from the viewpoints of mechanical properties, chemical resistance, weather resistance, and the like. Specifically, the product name "TRF+H Filament," sold by Unitika Co., Ltd. as a filament for 3D printers, is particularly preferred.

[0032] A holding belt 12 can be attached to the holder 11. The holding belt 12 is formed in the shape of an endless annular flat band and has rubber elasticity. Therefore, the holding belt 12 can be attached in a wrapped state around the holder 11 by hooking a portion of the holding belt 12 along its circumferential direction onto one or more of the small protrusions 17a to 17h that serve as hooking portions on the holding portion 13 of the holder 11, applying a tensile force to place the holding belt 12 in a tensile state, and then hooking another portion of the holding belt 12 along its circumferential direction onto another one or more of the small protrusions 17a to 17h.

[0033] 5 to 7 show an example of how an endless, i.e., annular, holding belt 12a is attached to holder 11 in a wrapped state. First, as shown in FIG. 5, one portion of holding belt 12a is aligned with recessed portions 18A and 18B. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the portion of holding belt 12a between recessed portions 18A and 18B is aligned with surface 30 of holding portion 13 on which small protrusions 17a to 17d are not formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the other portion of holding belt 12a is aligned toward the other recessed portions 18C and 18D and aligned with surface 31 of holding portion 13 on which small protrusions 17a to 17h are formed. Then, another portion of holding belt 12a is aligned with recessed portions 18C and 18D, and then aligned with surface 30 so as to face recessed portions 18A and 18B. Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, the remaining portion of the holding belt 12a is aligned with the recesses 18A and 18B, and is then hooked onto the small protrusions 17b and 17c in a tensioned state with a pulling force applied.

[0034] 7, portions of the flat belt-shaped holding belt 12a are present on the surface 31 of the holding portion 13 of the holder 11 between the recessed portion 18A and the recessed portion 18C and between the recessed portion 18B and the recessed portion 18D. Because the holding belt 12a is made of a material with rubber elasticity, it usually has a larger coefficient of friction than the resin holder 11. Therefore, the portions of the flat belt-shaped holding belt 12a that are placed between the recessed portion 18A and the recessed portion 18C and between the recessed portion 18B and the recessed portion 18D can achieve the effect of preventing the object held in the holding portion 13 from slipping.

[0035] Next, an object is held in holder 11, whose holding portion 13 has been given an anti-slip effect by holding belt 12a in this manner. FIG. 8 shows how a fork 80, a type of cutlery, is held as the object in holding portion 13 of holder 11. Specifically, handle 81 of fork 80 is aligned with holding portion 13, and another holding belt 12b is attached to hold portion 13 in a wrapped state in the same manner as holding belt 12a. At this time, handle 81 of fork 80 is sandwiched between holding belt 12b and holding portion 13 of holder 11. Then, while receiving the anti-slip effect of holding belt 12a, fork 80 is held in holding portion 13 by holding belt 12b, which is in a tensed state due to the application of a tensile force.

[0036] For example, as shown in Figure 7, recesses 19A and 19B are formed between small protrusions 17b and 17c and between small protrusions 17f and 17g on holding portion 13 of holder 11, respectively, and recesses 19A and 19B are formed in an arc shape. Therefore, when a user attaches or detaches holding belt 12 (12a, 12b) to or from holding portion 13 with their fingers, the fingers can be moved so as to pass through recesses 19A and 19B, thereby enabling smooth attachment or detachment of holding belt 12 (12a, 12b) to or from holding portion 13.

[0037] 9 and 10 show the self-help tool in this state, with the fork 80 held in the holder 13. As described above, by inserting the user's hand into the holder in this state, the self-help tool with the fork 80 can be worn on the user's hand 90, as shown in FIGS.

[0038] The fork 80 as an object is held in the holding portion 13 by the elastic force of the holding belts 12 (12a, 12b) having rubber elasticity, so it is easy to remove the fork 80 from the holding portion 13 or attach another object to the holding portion 13. Also, by rotating the fork 80 around the axis of the handle 81, the position of the fork 80 relative to the holding portion 13 can be changed in various ways, and the fork 80 can be held in the holding portion 13 by the elastic force of the holding belts 12 (12a, 12b).

[0039] By deforming the holding portion 13 in the above manner and fitting it to the user's hand 90, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, even if the user has a weak grip and is unable to hold the fork 80 in the normal state, the user can operate the fork 80 and eat without any problems.

[0040] Figure 13 shows an example in which the user does not have a weak grip. In this case, the user can operate the fork 80 more reliably than in the cases shown in Figures 11 and 12 by gripping the self-help tool holding the fork 80 and the handle 81 of the fork 80 with the hand 90.

[0041] As described above, holder 11 is configured as a strip-like body as shown in the figure, but it is preferable that holding portion 13 be thicker than inverted portion 14. With this configuration, when flat holder 11 is deformed to fit the shape of the user's hand as described above, thick holding portion 13 remains substantially flat, while thinner inverted portion 14 easily deforms to fit the shape of, for example, the back of the user's hand. This allows inverted portion 14 to be easily deformed during deformation, and after deformation, holding portion 13, which maintains its flat state, can reliably hold an object such as fork 80.

[0042] 14 shows a state in which the holding portion 13 of the holder 11 is attached to the user's hand 90 in a different manner from that described above. In the manner shown in FIG. 14, the holding portion 13 of the holder 11 is placed along the back 94 of the user's hand, the inverted portion 14 is placed along the palm, and the tip 29 of the inverted portion 14 is again wrapped around the back 94.

[0043] When the holding portion 13 of the holder 11 is configured as described above, in order to more securely attach the self-help device to the hand 90, a belt-like rubber band or the like can be passed through the through-hole portion 21 of the inverted portion 14, particularly the long hole portion 23, and the rubber band can be wrapped around the hand 90.

[0044] The round hole 22 of the through hole 21 can be effectively used when the holder 11, such as that shown in FIG. 1, is stored by being suspended by a hook or the like.

[0045] 15 and 16 show a state in which a spoon 82 as an object is held by the holding part 13 of the self-help tool in the same manner as above.

[0046] 15, holding portion 13 of holder 11 is placed in palm 91 of user's left hand 90, and neck 84 of spoon 82 is held between thumb 92 and palm 91. Although not shown, inverted portion 14 of holder 11 is placed along the back of hand 90, and holder 11 goes around hand 90, with tip 29 of inverted portion 14 reaching wrist 95.

[0047] The embodiment in Figure 16 shows the same self-help device as shown in Figure 15 worn on the user's right hand 90. Compared to the left hand in Figure 15, the positioning of the holding part 13 of the holder 11 in the palm 91 has changed.

[0048] Instead of holding cutlery as described above, the self-help device can also hold a writing tool 70, for example, as shown in Figures 17 and 18. Figure 17 shows an example in which a writing tool 70 is held by the same self-help device as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The method of holding the writing tool is the same as that for the handle 81 of a fork 80 or the handle 83 of a spoon 82. Figure 18 shows the self-help device of Figure 17 worn on a hand 90.

[0049] In the examples of Figures 17 and 18, holder 11 holds writing instrument 70 so that narrow portion 24 at the boundary between holding portion 13 and inverted portion 14 of holder 11 is located at the upper end of writing instrument 70 when writing instrument 70 is in the writing position. In other words, when writing, holder 11 is attached to hand 90 in an inverted U-shape. However, conversely, holder 11 can also be attached to the hand so that narrow portion 24 at the boundary between holding portion 13 and inverted portion 14 of holder 11 is located at the lower end, i.e., the writing side, of writing instrument 70 when writing instrument 70 is in the writing position. In this case, holder 11 is attached to hand 90 in a U-shape. This allows holder 11 to be sufficiently resistant to the force applied to writing instrument 70 by the user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 11 Holder 12, 12a, 12b Retaining belt 13 Holding part 14 Reversal section 17a,..., 17h small projections 18A, , 18D recess 19A, 19B recess

Claims

1. a band-shaped holder that can be worn on a user's hand by being placed along the hand in a circumferential direction of the hand; A self-help device comprising a holding belt having rubber elasticity that is wrapped around the holder and attached, and that allows the holder to hold an object by wrapping around it.

2. 2. The self-help device according to claim 1, wherein the holder allows the user's hand to be freely inserted and removed.

3. 2. The self-help device according to claim 1, wherein the holder is formed from a resin that undergoes plastic deformation when heated and maintains the deformed shape when cooled after plastic deformation.

4. The self-help device according to claim 3, characterized in that the holder has a holding portion that holds the object and is positioned along a part of the circumference of the user's hand, and an inverted portion that is positioned along another part of the circumference of the user's hand.

5. 5. The self-help device according to claim 4, wherein one or more portions along the length of the holder have narrower widths than other portions along the length of the holder.

6. 6. The self-help device according to claim 5, wherein the narrow portion is formed at the boundary between the holding portion and the inverted portion.

7. The self-help device described in claim 1, characterized in that the holding belt is formed of a circular endless body, and the holder has a hook portion that can hook multiple portions along the length of the elastically stretched holding belt.

Images