Bonded Bow With Double-Finger Collar For Injured Hand Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Musicians with injuries or disabilities affecting their bowing hand, such as sprained or broken fingers, arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome, face challenges in gripping and playing stringed instruments due to the need for complete finger dexterity and a strong grip, with existing solutions being either constricting or inadequate for impaired motor control.
Innovation Solution
A bonded bow device featuring a double-finger collar attached to a resilient base with a lengthwise notch, allowing a musician to insert two adjacent fingers and wrap remaining healthy fingers around the base and bow, providing support and control without requiring all five fingers or bending the wrist, and can be used with a splint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a musician uses traditional bow grip requiring complete finger dexterity and strong grip, then proper bow control is achieved, but musicians with injured or disabled hands cannot play
Solution Approach 1:
The device acts as an intermediary between the musician's impaired hand and the bow. It provides a alternative gripping mechanism that does not require the musician to directly grip the bow with their injured hand, thereby enabling playback while maintaining control.
Solution Approach 2:
The device segments the bowing function from the traditional hand grip requirement. By providing a separate gripping mechanism attached to the bow, it divides the control function away from the impaired hand, allowing the musician to play without directly gripping the bow with injured fingers.
2Reliability
If a musician straps their hand to the bow to maintain grip, then bow control is maintained, but circulation is cut off and the solution is constricting
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of strapping the entire hand to the bow, the device segments the support function to only where needed - attaching to specific fingers or hand portions. This provides necessary support while leaving other areas free, preventing circulation restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies support locally to specific areas of the hand or bow rather than constraining the entire hand. This localized approach provides necessary stability while avoiding complete hand immobilization that would cut off circulation.
3Reliability
If a musician wears a splint for injured fingers, then the injury is protected, but finger dexterity and grip strength are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the splinted fingers and the bow. It attaches to the splinted fingers and provides the necessary grip assistance, allowing the musician to play while the splint remains in place for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The device adapts to the static splinted position of the fingers, providing dynamic support that enables movement and playback function despite the rigid splint structure. It works with the splint rather than against it.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables musicians to play their instrument with reduced strain on the injured area, maintaining practice and performance despite impairments, by providing sufficient grip control and allowing play with a relaxed wrist.
Implementation Method 1
a base formed as an elongate resilient partial-tubular member interrupted by a lengthwise notch configured for clamping a frog of a bow
Data Source
AI summary
A bonded bow device for providing injured-hand support to a musician in playing a stringed instrument with an injured, disabled or otherwise impaired wrist, finger(s) and/or hand, and to play with a more relaxed wrist. The bonded bow device generally comprises a base formed as an elongate resilient partial-tubular member interrupted by a lengthwise notch configured for clamping a frog of a bow. A double-finger collar is fixedly attached to the base. In use a musician inserts any two adjacent good fingers of either hand through the double-finger collar and furls all remaining healthy fingers around the base and bow. No matter the remaining grip strength, the support given by double-finger collar adds enough control to enable the musician to play.