Thumb joint brace

Abstract

This invention proposes a thumb joint protector for wearing on the thumb carpal joint of a hand and comprising a main body and at least one cushioning pad. The main body is symmetrically ring-shaped and is used to fit and cover the thumb carpal joint. The main body has a symmetrical first part and a second part, and an inner ring surface. The inner ring surface is the side of the first part and the second part facing the hand. The cushioning pad is elastic and is disposed on the inner ring surface of the main body. When the thumb joint protector is worn on the hand, the first part corresponds to the palm or back of the hand, and the cushioning pad corresponds to the thumb carpal joint. When the first part corresponds to the palm, the second part corresponds to the back of the hand. The thumb joint protector of this invention can be worn on both the left and right hands, without the need for a separate left-hand or right-hand version.

Description

Thumb joint brace Technical Field

[0001] This work is about a thumb joint protector, specifically a thumb wrist joint protector. Prior Technology

[0002] The thumb carpal joint, located at the base of the thumb, is a major joint responsible for grasping and pinching. In daily life, due to its extremely high usage frequency, the thumb carpal joint is prone to inflammation from aging or overuse. When suffering from thumb carpal joint arthritis, patients often wear a brace to stabilize and protect the joint and prevent excessive movement that could lead to pain or worsening of the condition.

[0003] When wearing protective gear, it must fit snugly against the patient's hand to effectively stabilize the thumb, wrist, and metacarpophalangeal joint. However, the thickness of the palm and back of the hand differs, so rigid protective gear needs to be differentiated into left-hand and right-hand versions to fit the hand properly when worn.

[0004] In addition, most rigid braces on the market are fixed sizes and cannot fully fit the size of the hand. In order to achieve a fixed effect, rigid braces need to slightly compress the hand. However, if the patient's hand size is between the sizes of two rigid braces, a rigid brace that is too large cannot fix the thumb wrist joint, and a rigid brace that is too small will compress the bone and cause discomfort. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention proposes a thumb joint protector for wearing on the thumb wrist joint of one hand, without distinguishing between left-hand and right-hand versions. This thumb joint protector can be worn on both the left and right hands.

[0006] The thumb joint brace proposed in this work has the following features: A main body, which is symmetrically ring-shaped, is used to fit and cover the thumb wrist joint of the hand; the main body has: Part One; A second part, which together with the first part forms the main body; the first part and the second part are symmetrical. An inner annular surface, which is the surface jointly used by the first part and the second part to face the thumb carpal joint of the hand; At least one cushioning pad, which is elastic, is disposed on the inner annular surface of the first part and the second part of the main body; Specifically, when the thumb joint brace is worn on the hand, the first part of the main body corresponds to the palm or back of the hand, and the at least one cushioning pad corresponds to the thumb wrist joint of the hand; when the first part corresponds to the palm of the hand, the second part corresponds to the back of the hand; when the first part corresponds to the back of the hand, the second part corresponds to the palm of the hand.

[0007] The advantage of this design lies in the symmetrical arrangement of the first and second parts of the thumb joint brace. When the user wears the brace, the first and second parts correspond to the palm and back of the hand, respectively; when the user switches hands, the first and second parts correspond to the back of the hand and palm, respectively. In other words, this thumb joint brace does not require a left-hand or right-hand version. Furthermore, the inner ring of the brace features a cushioning pad, which helps to stabilize the thumb wrist joint while preventing excessive pressure on the hand bones.

[0008] As mentioned above, thumb joint braces include: This subject has: Two perforations are formed through the main body and are located near the palm side edge of the main body facing the hand; the two perforations are respectively located in the first part and the second part; This thumb joint brace has the following features: An adjustment strap is threaded through the two holes and used to wrap around the hand.

[0009] As in the thumb joint brace mentioned above, the material of at least one cushioning pad is a foamed polymer, silicone, gel, or fabric.

[0010] As described above, the thumb joint brace has at least one cushioning pad that is a long strip that extends from the palm of the hand through the thumb wrist joint to the back of the hand.

[0011] As described above, the thumb joint brace includes at least one cushioning pad comprising a plurality of such cushioning pads.

[0012] As described above, in the thumb joint brace, at least one cushioning pad is detachably disposed on the inner annular surface of the main body.

[0013] As mentioned above, thumb joint braces include: This subject has: At least one fixing hole is formed on the inner annular surface of the body; The at least one cushioning pad includes: A buffer section is located on the inner annular surface of the main body; At least one fixing part is detachably inserted through the at least one fixing hole of the main body; the width of the buffer part is greater than the width of the at least one fixing part.

[0014] As mentioned above, thumb joint braces include: The at least one fixing hole includes at least one round hole and at least one elongated hole; The at least one fixing part includes at least one circular protrusion and at least one elongated protrusion; The at least one circular protrusion is detachably inserted through the at least one circular hole, and the at least one elongated protrusion is detachably inserted through the at least one elongated hole. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0015] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of this creation. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the front view of this creation. Figure 3 is a side view of this work. Figure 4 is a breakdown diagram of this work. Figure 5 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the cushioning pad in this creation. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of how this creation is worn. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the outfit from another perspective. Implementation

[0016] Please refer to Figures 1, 6, and 7. This invention proposes a thumb joint protector for wearing on the thumb carpal joint of a hand A, that is, covering the joint where the thumb connects to the palm. The thumb joint protector has a main body 10, an adjustment strap 20, and at least one cushioning pad 30. In this embodiment, the thumb joint protector is symmetrical, therefore there is no need to distinguish between a left-hand version and a right-hand version; the thumb joint protector can be worn on both the left and right hands.

[0017] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4. The main body 10 is symmetrically ring-shaped and is used to fit and cover the thumb wrist joint of hand A. The main body 10 includes a first part 11 and a second part 12. The first part 11 and the second part 12 together form the main body 10, and the first part 11 and the second part 12 are symmetrical. When the thumb joint brace is worn on hand A, the first part 11 corresponds to the palm or back of hand A. When the first part 11 corresponds to the palm of hand A, the second part 12 corresponds to the back of hand A. And when the first part 11 corresponds to the back of hand A, the second part 12 corresponds to the palm of hand A.

[0018] The main body 10 has an inner annular surface 13, at least one fixing hole 14, and two through holes 15. The inner annular surface 13 is the side of the first part 11 and the second part 12 that faces the thumb carpal joint of the hand A. In other words, when the thumb joint brace is worn on the hand A, the inner annular surface 13 faces and contacts the hand A. The fixing hole 14 is formed on the inner annular surface 13 of the main body 10. In this embodiment, the fixing hole 14 includes at least one round hole and at least one elongated hole. For example, the fixing hole 14 may include two round holes and two elongated holes, with the two round holes formed on the first part 11 and the second part 12, respectively, and the two elongated holes also formed on the first part 11 and the second part 12, respectively. The through holes 15 are formed through the main body 10 and are close to the palm side edge of the main body 10 facing the hand A. The two through holes 15 are located in the first part 11 and the second part 12, respectively.

[0019] Please refer to Figures 6 and 7. The adjustment strap 20 passes through the two perforations 15 and is used to wrap around the hand A. In this embodiment, the adjustment strap 20 wraps around the wrist of hand A and can be secured with a buckle or Velcro, ensuring the adjustment strap 20 fits snugly against hand A and preventing displacement or detachment of the thumb joint brace. In other embodiments, the wrapping position and securing method of the adjustment strap 20 are not limited to this.

[0020] Please refer to Figures 1, 3, and 5. The cushioning pad 30 is elastic and detachably disposed on the inner annular surface 13 of the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 of the main body 10, and the cushioning pad 30 is positioned symmetrically. When the thumb joint brace is worn on hand A, the cushioning pad 30 is positioned corresponding to the thumb carpal joint of hand A. The cushioning pad 30 includes a cushioning portion 31 and at least one fixing portion 32. The cushioning portion 31 is located on the inner annular surface 13 of the main body 10. The fixing portion 32 is detachably inserted through the fixing hole 14 of the main body 10. The width of the cushioning portion 31 is greater than the width of the fixing portion 32.

[0021] The cushioning pad 30 is made of foamed polymer, silicone, gel, or fabric. For example, the cushioning pad 30 may be made of polyurethane memory foam, polyethylene, medical silicone, polyurethane gel, silicone gel, hydrogel, thermoplastic polyurethane, neoprene rubber, etc., or functional additives such as silver ions, far-infrared powder, and phase change materials may be added to the above materials, but this is not a limitation.

[0022] In this embodiment, the cushioning pad 30 is elongated and extends from the palm of hand A, through the thumb-carpal joint, to the back of hand A. In this embodiment, the cushioning pad 30 does not pass through the web of the hand, but extends along the outer side of the palm. The fixing portion 32 of the cushioning pad 30 includes at least one circular protrusion and at least one elongated protrusion. The circular protrusion is detachably inserted through a circular hole in the main body 10, and the elongated protrusion is detachably inserted through an elongated hole in the main body 10. In this embodiment, there are two circular protrusions and two elongated protrusions, with the elongated protrusion located between the two circular protrusions. The elongated protrusion extends along the length direction of the cushioning pad 30.

[0023] In other embodiments, the cushioning pad 30 may include a plurality of cushioning pads 30 and be spaced apart on the inner annular surface 13 of the main body 10, but is not limited thereto. The position of the cushioning pad 30 may correspond to the thumb-carpal joint of the hand A. In other embodiments, the cushioning pad 30 may be fixed to the main body 10, but is not limited thereto.

[0024] The advantage of this invention lies in the symmetrical arrangement of the first part 11 and the second part 12 of the main body 10 of the thumb joint brace. When the user wears the thumb joint brace, the first part 11 and the second part 12 of the main body 10 correspond to the palm and the back of the hand, respectively. When the user switches hands to wear the thumb joint brace, the first part 11 and the second part 12 of the main body 10 correspond to the back of the hand and the palm, respectively. In other words, the thumb joint brace of this invention does not need to be differentiated into a left-hand version or a right-hand version. In addition, the inner ring surface 13 of the main body 10 is provided with a cushioning pad 30, which can prevent the thumb joint brace from excessively compressing the bones of the hand A while fixing the thumb carpal joint.

[0025] 10: Main Body 11: Part One 12: Part Two 13: Inner ring surface 14: Fixing hole 15: Perforation 20: Adjustment belt 30: Cushioning Pad 31: Buffer section 32: Fixing part A: Hands

Claims

1. A thumb joint brace for wearing on the thumb carpal joint of a hand; the thumb joint brace comprising: a main body in a symmetrical ring shape for fitting and covering the thumb carpal joint of the hand; the main body comprising: a first portion; a second portion thereof, which together with the first portion forms the main body; the first portion and the second portion being symmetrical; an inner ring surface thereof, which is the surface of the first portion and the second portion facing the thumb carpal joint of the hand; at least one elastic cushioning pad disposed on the inner ring surface of the first portion and the second portion of the main body; wherein, When the thumb joint brace is worn on the hand, the first part of the main body corresponds to the palm or back of the hand, and the at least one cushioning pad corresponds to the thumb wrist joint of the hand; when the first part corresponds to the palm of the hand, the second part corresponds to the back of the hand; when the first part corresponds to the back of the hand, the second part corresponds to the palm of the hand.

2. The thumb joint brace as described in claim 1, wherein: The main body has: two perforations formed through the main body and close to the palm side edge of the main body facing the hand; the two perforations are respectively located in the first part and the second part; the thumb joint brace has: an adjustment band that passes through the two perforations and is used to surround the hand.

3. The thumb joint brace as described in claim 1, wherein, The material of at least one cushioning pad is a foamed polymer, silicone, gel, or fabric.

4. The thumb joint brace as described in claim 1, wherein, The at least one cushioning pad is in the shape of a strip and extends from the palm of the hand through the thumb-carpal joint to the back of the hand.

5. The thumb joint brace as described in claim 1, wherein, The at least one cushioning pad contains a plurality of the cushioning pads.

6. A thumb joint brace as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, At least one buffer pad is detachably disposed on the inner annular surface of the body.

7. The thumb joint brace as described in claim 6, wherein: The main body has: at least one fixing hole formed on the inner annular surface of the main body; the at least one buffer pad includes: a buffer portion located on the inner annular surface of the main body; at least one fixing portion detachably inserted through the at least one fixing hole of the main body; the width of the buffer portion is greater than the width of the at least one fixing portion.

8. The thumb joint brace as described in claim 7, wherein: The at least one fixing hole includes at least one round hole and at least one elongated hole; the at least one fixing part includes at least one circular protrusion and at least one elongated protrusion; the at least one circular protrusion is detachably inserted through the at least one round hole, and the at least one elongated protrusion is detachably inserted through the at least one elongated hole.

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