Segmented Finger Guard with Dynamic Hinges for Hyperextension Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective gear for fingers and hands, such as gloves and athletic tape, fail to prevent hyperextension injuries while maintaining mobility, and often provide inadequate protection against high-impact forces, leading to inefficiencies and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A finger guard apparatus with a series of hinges that allows natural movement while providing protection, comprising a proximal component near the wrist, an intermediate component at the central portion, and a distal component near the finger nail, with adjustable curvature and customizable fit to accommodate different finger sizes and shapes, and a locking mechanism to prevent hyperextension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If gloves with padding materials are used to protect hands and fingers from contusions, then protection from impact is improved, but the ability to prevent hyperextension and torsion at phalangeal joints deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is divided into multiple segments including a proximal component, intermediate component, and distal component that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the device to provide impact protection while permitting natural finger movement and preventing hyperextension through controlled articulation at each joint segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic hinge components that allow movement within a controlled range. The hinges enable the proximal, intermediate, and distal components to move relative to each other, providing protection against impact while maintaining the ability to prevent hyperextension through the mechanical constraints of the hinge design.
2Reliability
If athletic tape is used to tightly wrap fingers to secure movement and impedehyperextension, then prevention ofhyperextension is improved, but protection against high-impact forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines rigid protective components with flexible hinge mechanisms. The proximal, intermediate, and distal components provide structural protection against impact, while the hinge components between them provide the necessary flexibility to control movement and preventhyperextension, creating a composite structure that addresses both requirements simultaneously.
3Reliability
If protective gloves are designed to preventhyperextension, then reliability of injury prevention is improved, but mobility and natural movement capabilities of the hand and fingers deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device uses dynamic hinge components that allow movement within a controlled range. These hinges enable the proximal, intermediate, and distal components to move relative to each other, providing protection against impact while maintaining the ability to preventhyperextension through the mechanical constraints of the hinge design.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device is divided into multiple segments including a proximal component, intermediate component, and distal component that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the device to provide impact protection while permitting natural finger movement and preventinghyperextension through controlled articulation at each joint segment.
4Reliability
If athletic tape is used to wrap and protect fingers and hand, then prevention ofhyperextension is improved, but natural movement of the fingers and hand deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device uses dynamic hinge components that allow movement within a controlled range. These hinges enable the proximal, intermediate, and distal components to move relative to each other, providing protection against impact while maintaining the ability to preventhyperextension through the mechanical constraints of the hinge design.
5Reliability
If athletic tape is applied to hand and fingers, then protection from injury is improved, but time and effort required for application increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple protective functions into a single integrated unit. The proximal component, intermediate component, and distal component are connected through hinges to form one cohesive protective device that can be applied as a single unit, eliminating the need for separate taping procedures for each finger and hand area.
Data Source
AI summary
A finger brace device is disclosed herein. The finger brace device can comprise a first hinge component configured to connect a proximal component configured to fit around at least a first portion of a finger near a wrist, to an intermediate component located at a central portion of the apparatus, wherein the proximal component is located at a lateral portion of the apparatus. Also disclosed is a second hinge component configured to connect the intermediate component of the apparatus to a distal component configured to fit around at least a second portion of the finger near a finger nail, wherein the distal component is located at a distal portion of the apparatus.