FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a rigid wrist shield that is configured to sit over
an upper part of a user's wrist and/or a lower part of a user's hand and to spread
forces and/or pressure across the user's wrist/hand.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Currently, during the hand layup of carbon fibre products, operators wear standard
PPE (personal protective equipment) felt gloves in order to lay down material. During
this process pressure is applied by the operator using the wrist area of the hand,
this can cause discomfort for the worker due to the constant repetitive nature of
the process. It would be desirable to provide a shield that can be used with felt
gloves to spread force and or pressure across the user's wrist/hand to prevent excess
force and/or pressure being applied to a single area of the wrist/hand and hence to
reduce discomfort during the hand layup process. It is noted that such a wrist shield
may also have other functions outside of hand layup and may be used separately or
with other gloves than felt gloves.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rigid wrist
shield for spreading force and/or pressure across a palmer side of a wrist of a hand
of a user. The rigid wrist shield comprises a first rigid section wherein, in use,
the first rigid section sits over a portion of the carpal bones of the user's hand.
The rigid wrist shield also comprises a second rigid section wherein, in use, the
second region section sits over at least a base portion of the metacarpal bones of
the user's hand. The rigid wrist shield further comprises a hinge joining the first
rigid section to the second rigid section. The skilled person would understand that
in some examples the wrist shield can also be called a hand shield, a wrist support
or a hand support.
[0004] In some examples, when, in use, the hinge of the rigid wrist shield sits over the
carpal ligament of the user's hand.
[0005] In some examples, a width of the rigid wrist shield is shorter than a length of the
user's wrist at the distal wrist crease of the user. The first rigid section and the
second rigid section can be joined along a length of the rigid wrist shield. The length
of the rigid wrist shield can correspond to a length from the distal wrist crease
of the user to a line extended from the metacarpophalangeal joint of the user's thumb.
[0006] In some examples, the width of the rigid wrist shield is between 70% and 90% of the
length of the user's wrist at the distal wrist crease of the user.
[0007] In some examples, the second rigid section is an irregular pentagon comprising a
rectangle with rounded corners wherein a first upper corner of the second rigid section
is cut off in that the first upper corner of the rectangle has been replaced by an
additional side that slopes gently from a first side of the rectangle to a top side
of the rectangle. In this example, in some instances, a height of the first side of
the second rigid section with the additional side may be between 70% and 90% of a
height of a second side of the second rigid section opposite the additional side.
In these instances the additional side may meet the top side of the second rigid section
at a point along between 40% and 50% of a width of the top side.
[0008] In some examples, the first rigid section is a rectangle with rounded corners. In
other examples, the first rigid section is an irregular pentagon comprising a rectangle
with rounded corners wherein a first lower corner of the first rigid section is cut
off in that the first lower corner of the rectangle has been replaced by an additional
side that slopes gently from a first side of the rectangle to a bottom side of the
rectangle. When the first rigid section is an irregular pentagon, in some instances,
a height of the first side of the first rigid section with the additional side may
be between 80% and 90% of a height of a second side of the first rigid section opposite
the additional side. In these instances, the additional side may meet the bottom side
of the first rigid section at a point along between 20% and 40% of a width of the
bottom side.
[0009] In some examples, the hinge comprises a flexible aramid or Kevlar hinge. In other
examples, the hinge comprises a reverse action living hinge.
[0010] In some examples, the first rigid section and the section region section comprise
a hard plastic. In this example, the hard plastic may, in some instances, be either
Nylon 12 or a chopped fibre material.
[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a glove for use
in vehicle manufacture, the glove comprising a glove and a rigid wrist shield such
as the rigid wrist shield described above. The rigid wrist shield can be mounted in
or on the glove. The skilled person would understand that the glove can also be referred
to as an item of personal protective equipment, a glove apparatus, or adapted glove
to distinguish the glove with the rigid wrist shield from the glove without the rigid
wrist shield.
[0012] In some examples, the glove/adapted glove further comprises a padding support wherein
the padding support comprises a flexible mesh that, in use, covers a lower section
of the palm of the user's hand. The rigid wrist shield can be positioned beneath or
above the padding support.
[0013] In some examples where the rigid wrist shield is positioned above the padding support,
a section of the flexible mesh of the padding support beneath the rigid wrist shield
has been removed.
[0014] In some examples, the glove (e.g. the glove that forms part of the adapted glove)
is a felt glove.
[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using
a rigid wrist shield or glove such as those described above. The method comprises
attaching the rigid wrist shield to the hand of the user such that the first rigid
section sits over a portion of the carpal bones of the user's hand and the second
rigid section sits over at least a base portion of the metacarpal bones of the user's
hand.
[0016] In some examples when the user's wrist is in a neutral position the first rigid section
and the second rigid section sit substantially parallel to each other and when the
user's wrist is in extension, the first rigid section and second rigid section hinge
towards each other and toward the user's wrist along the hinge.
[0017] In some examples, the method further comprises using the rigid wrist shield as a
scraper to aid in carbon fibre layup when the user's wrist is in extension.
[0018] In some examples, the method further comprises using the first rigid section and/or
the second rigid section of the rigid wrist shield to apply pressure to a surface
during carbon fibre layup.
[0019] In some examples, attaching the rigid wrist shield to the hand of the user comprises
positioning the rigid wrist shield on the hand of the user and holding the rigid wrist
shield in place using a padding support or glove. In other examples, the rigid wrist
shield is attached to a glove; and attaching the rigid wrist shield to the hand of
the user comprises the user putting on the glove. In further examples, the rigid wrist
shield is attached to a padding support; and attaching the rigid wrist shield to the
hand of the user comprises the user putting on the padding support. In yet further
examples, the rigid wrist shield is attached to a padding support; the padding support
is attached to a glove; and attaching the rigid wrist shield to the hand of the user
comprises the user putting on the glove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference
to the figures, in which:
Figure 1 shows a rigid wrist shield in accordance with an example of the disclosure;
Figure 2 shows a rigid wrist shield aligned with the bones of a user's hand to show
how the rigid wrist shield sits on a user's hand;
Figure 3A shows a front view of rigid wrist shield aligned with a user's wrist/hand;
Figure 3B shows a side view of a rigid wrist shield aligned with a user's wrist/hand;
Figure 4A shows a rigid wrist shield with the hinge in a first open position;
Figure 4B shows a rigid wrist shield with the hinge in a second hinged position;
Figure 5 shows a user using the rigid wrist shield as a tool for carbon fibre layup;
Figure 6A shows the use of a rigid wrist shield on the outside of a glove;
Figure 6B shows the use of a rigid wrist shield on the inside of a glove;
Figure 6C shows the use of a rigid wrist shield with a padding support; and
Figure 7 shows a padding support that can be used with a rigid wrist shield wherein
the padding support has a cut away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The application relates to a rigid wrist shield that is configured to sit over an
upper part of a user's wrist and/or a lower part of a user's hand and to spread forces
and/or pressure across the user's wrist/hand, for example during vehicle or aircraft
manufacture. This prevents an excess force and/or pressure being applied to a single
section of the user's wrist which could result in discomfort for the user.
[0022] A rigid wrist shield is described. The rigid wrist shield is configured to sit over
an upper part of the wrist of a user on the palmer/front side wherein the upper part
of the wrist can be considered to run from just above a distal wrist crease of the
user to a base portion of the metacarpal bones of the user. The rigid wrist shield
can spread force and/or pressure across a front/palmer side of the wrist/hand. That
is the rigid wrist shield can spread force/pressure over the front of the user's wrist/hand
e.g. over the palm side of the user's wrist/hand. This prevents undue force/pressure
being applied to a small area on the front/palmer side of the user's wrist/hand.
[0023] While the rigid wrist shield is described as being a wrist shield, in other examples
the rigid wrist shield could be considered to be a rigid hand shield or a rigid carpal
shield. In other examples the rigid wrist shield can be described as a rigid wrist
support, a rigid hand support or a rigid carpal support. The wrist shield is rigid
in that the wrist shield is made from a hard, solid or otherwise inflexible material.
The wrist shield can thus be thought of as rigid since it can be considered inflexible,
nonflexible, impliable, unbending or stiff e.g. it is not flexible or pliable. In
some examples, the wrist shield is considered rigid because it does not bend or yield
in use other than along a hinge in the wrist shield.
[0024] During vehicle and aircraft manufacture and other similar tasks, a user may be required
to put pressure on the upper part of their wrist due to the need for their wrist to
be in extension or flexion. For example when hand laying up carbon fibre products,
a user may be required to apply pressure to the carbon fibre product using their hand
whilst their wrist is in extension. The rigid wrist shield described herein sits over
the upper part of the user's wrist on the palm/front side and spreads the pressure
placed on the wrist when the wrist is in extension and flexion so that the pressure
is spread around the carpal and metacarpal bones of the user's hand/wrist. This reduces
the pressure placed on a single area of the user's hand/wrist and thus can reduce
discomfort for the user.
[0025] An example rigid wrist shield 100 is shown in Figure 1. The rigid wrist shield comprises
a first rigid section 110, a second rigid section 120 and a hinge or hinge line 130
wherein the first 110 and second 120 rigid sections are joined via or along the hinge
or hinge line 130. As shown in Figure 1, the rigid wrist shield 100 has a length,
L, and a width, W. The first rigid section 110 and second rigid section 120 are joined
along or via hinge 130 along the length L of the rigid wrist shield 100.
[0026] The first rigid section 110 and second rigid section 120 are preferably made of a
rigid plastic material for example Nylon 12 or a chopped composite fibre material.
This enables easy manufacture of the rigid wrist shield 100 while ensuring the wrist
shield 100 is comfortable for use by the user. Nylon 12 is also believed to be non-irritating
to the skin ensuring the wrist shield 100 does not irritate the user during long use.
The first rigid section 110 and second rigid section 120 can be thin to ensure the
wrist shield 100 does not interfere with the activities of the user. In some examples
the first 110 and second 120 rigid sections may have a thickness between 1mm and 5mm
such as around 2mm, 3mm, or 4mm although other suitable thicknesses of material can
also be used. In some examples the rigid wrist shield 100 is manufacture using an
additive manufacture process enabling the rigid wrist shield 100 to be produced quickly
and in different sizes. In some examples the rigid wrist shield 100 is manufactured
in multiple sizes corresponding to the size of gloves, for example, small, medium,
large and extra-large.
[0027] Figures 2, 3A and 3B show the rigid wrist shield 100 positioned on a user's hand
200 and/or the upper part of a user's wrist and thus shows the rigid wrist shield
100 in use. As discussed later, the rigid wrist shield 100 may be affixed to the user's
hand 200 or wrist in multiple different ways. However for clarity, no additional attachment
means are shown in Figures 3A and 3B. When in use, the first rigid section 110 sits
below the second rigid section 120 with the length L of the rigid wrist shield 100
running up the user's hand 200 and the width W of the rigid wrist shield 100 running
across the user's hand 200. As shown in Figure 2 the first rigid section 110 sits
over a portion of the carpal bones 250 of the user's hand 200. The second rigid section
120 sits over at least a base portion of the metacarpal bones 260 of the user's hand
200. In some examples, the first rigid section 110 does not sit over the entirety
of the carpal bones 250 of the user's hand and the second rigid section 120 sits over
a portion of the carpal bones 250 of the user's hand that is not covered by the first
rigid section 110. The hinge 130 sits over the carpal ligament of the user's hand
200. The positioning of the first rigid section 110 and second rigid section 120 ensures
the wrist shield 100 transfers pressure/forces on the user's hand 200 and spreads
them across the bones of the user's hand 200. This prevents excess pressure being
applied to the carpal area of the user's hand 200 and thus reduces discomfort for
the user when the user is applying pressure to an object with their hand 200 in tension
or flexion.
[0028] Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the dimensions of the rigid wrist shield 100 relative
to the user's hand 200. Figure 3A shows how a length L of the rigid wrist shield 100
extends from close to/on the distal wrist crease 215 of the user to a line 220 extending
across the hand 200 from the metacarpophalangeal joint of the user's thumb. This length
L ensures that a user still has full flexibility to bend their wrist and put their
wrist in extension or flexion and also ensures the user has full flexibility to move
their hand around their knuckle joints (e.g. flex their knuckle joints) without the
rigid material of the rigid wrist shield 100 impacting movement. In addition, this
length L increases the area over which any force or pressure on the user's wrist is
distributed so decreases discomfort for the user. This length L thus contributes to
the ergonomic design of the rigid wrist shield 100.
[0029] Figure 3A also shows how the width W of the rigid wrist shield 100 is shorter than
the length of the length of the user's wrist at the distal wrist crease of the user's
wrist. This enables the wrist shield 100 to sit comfortably in the palm of the user's
hand and/or over the upper wrist of the user. This also ensures the rigid wrist shield
100 does not impede movement of the user's thumb 240. The rigid wrist shield 100 is
therefore ergonomically designed. The width w of rigid wrist shield 100 may be around
90% of the length of the width of the user's wrist at the distal wrist crease. This
distributes any pressure/forces on the user's hand/wrist 200 over a large area and
increases comfort to the user. In other examples, the width W of the rigid wrist shield
100 may be around 80% or 70% of the length of the user's wrist at the distal wrist
crease. The width W of the rigid wrist shield 100 may therefore be between 70% and
90% of the length of the user's wrist at the distal wrist crease, between 80% and
90% of the length of the user's wrist at the distal wrist crease, or between 70% and
80% of the length of the user's wrist at the distal wrist crease. In other examples,
the width W may be as long as but not longer than the user's wrist at the distal wrist
crease.
[0030] Figure 3B shows the rigid wrist shield 100 on a hand/wrist 200 of a user from a side
view. This Figure show how the hinge 130 enables the wrist shield 100 to sit comfortably
against the hand 200 of the user. As shown in Figure 3B the first rigid section 110
and the second rigid section 120 can pivot along the hinge 130 to ensure the rigid
wrist shield 100 sits close to the hand/wrist 200 of the user. Figure 3B also shows
how the user's movement is not impeded by the presence of the rigid wrist shield 100
due to the positioning of the rigid wrist shield 100 on the user's hand/wrist 200.
Referring to Figure 3A it is possible to see that in use the rigid wrist shield 100
sits on the upper parts of the user's wrist which corresponds to the lower part of
the user's hand 200. As described above, the rigid wrist shield 100 spans the carpal
bones 250 of the user's hand and a least a base portion of the metacarpal bones 260.
In terms of height, the rigid wrist shield 100 extends from close to the distal wrist
crease 215 of the user to a line 220 extending across the hand 200 from the metacarpophalangeal
joint of the user's thumb. This prevents the rigid wrist shield 100 impacting movement
along the knuckle joints of the user and also enables the user to place their wrist
in extension and flexion. In terms of width, the rigid wrist shield 100 is roughly
centred along the width of the user's hand. As shown in Figure 3B, the fact that the
rigid wrist shield 100 has a width W less than (or in other examples at least not
more than) the length of user's wrist at the distal wrist crease and is roughly central
to the width of the user's hand/wrist 200, means the rigid wrist shield 100 does not
prevent movement of the user's thumb 240 when wearing the rigid wrist shield 100.
The rigid wrist shield 100 is therefore ergonomically designed.
[0031] Figures 4A and 4B show examples of a rigid wrist shield 100 such as the rigid wrist
shield 100 described above. Figures 4A and 4B show the hinge 130 of the rigid wrist
shield 100. Figure 4A shows the hinge 130 is in an open position so that the first
rigid section 110 and the second rigid section 120 sit substantially parallel to each
other. Figure 4B shows the hinge 130 in a hinged position wherein the first rigid
section 110 and the second rigid section 120 have been tilted towards each other along
the hinge line 130. The face of the rigid wrist shield 100 shown in Figures 4A and
4B is a face of the rigid wrist shield 100 that will face away from the hand 200 of
the user. Various forms of hinge 130 may be used.
[0032] In some examples a flexible aramid or Kevlar hinge is used. In this regard the hinge
130 may be a carbon Kevlar hinge or other similar form of hinge. These hinges are
light, strong and thin meaning they can be used with the rigid wrist shield 100 without
increasing the width of the rigid wrist shield 100. In addition, hinges of this form
are flexible rather than pinching to a tight corner. This means the hinge 130 is not
going to pinch or hurt the user when the hinge is placed against the user's hand 200
directly next to the skin.
[0033] In other examples, the hinge 130 may be a living hinge. A living hinge can also be
called an integral hinge. This form of hinge is made of the same material as the object
being hinged wherein the material is thinned along the line of the hinge to allow
the material to bend along the hinge line. When a living hinge is used with rigid
wrist shield 100, then the material formimg the first 110 and second 120 rigid sections
is thinned along a joining line to form hinge 130. This enables to hinge 130 to be
formed easily and integral with the rigid wrist shield 100. When a living hinge is
used the hinge 130 can be a reverse action hinge. In other words, as shown in Figure
4B the thinned material is taken from (or never formed in) the surface of the rigid
wrist shield 100 that faces away from the user's hand 200. The first 110 and second
120 rigid sections are configured to bend/hinge or otherwise move towards each other
in direction away from the missing material and towards the hand of the user 200.
In other words, the first 110 and second rigid section 120 pivot towards each other
by moving towards a face of the rigid wrist shield 100 opposite to the face along
which the material is thinned. This ensures the hinge 130 does not pinch the user
when the user has the rigid wrist shield 100 next to their skin. Thus, this increases
comfort for the user using the rigid wrist shield 100.
[0034] From Figures 1 and 4 it is possible to see the shape of the rigid wrist shield 100.
The wrist shield 100 is approximately rectangular with adjustments for ease of use
and comfort e.g. to increase the ergonomic design of the rigid wrist shield 100. The
corners of the rectangle are rounded to ensure the user does not injure themselves
on any sharp corners of the wrist shield 100.
[0035] The second rigid section 120 can be considered an upper section since, as discussed
above, it sits above the first rigid section 110 when the rigid wrist shield 100 is
in use. The second rigid section 120 is approximately rectangular. The upper corners
of the second rigid section 120 can be defined as the corners not along hinge line
130. The lower corners of the second rigid section 120 are those along hinge line
130. Of the upper corners of the second rigid section 120, a first upper corner 125
is rounded. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B in use this first upper corner 125 sits
closest to the user's thumb 240. A second upper corner 127 of the second rigid section
120 is cut off. In more detail, the second upper corner 127 is replaced by a slopping
line that forms a fifth side to the second rigid section 120. The second rigid section
120 can thus be considered an irregular pentagon. The slope of the line is gentle
to avoid overly reducing the size of the second rigid section 120. In some examples,
the cut off corner 127 is cut off such that a height H1 of the second rigid section
on the side of the cut off corner 127 is around 80% of the height H2 of the second
rigid section on the side of the rounded corner 125. The heights H1 and H2 are along
the same dimension as the length L of the wrist shield 100. In other examples the
height H1 is around 70%, 75%, 85% or around 90% of the height H2. The height H1 can
therefore be between 70% and 90% of the height H2. The cut off corner can be cut off
along a substantial portion of the top edge of the second rigid section 120 wherein
the top edge of the second rigid section 120 is along the width W of the rigid wrist
shield 100. In some examples, the substantial portion can be approximately 45% of
the top edge of the second rigid section 120 i.e. 45% of the width w. In other examples,
the substantial portion can be 40% or 50% of the top edge of the second rigid section
i.e. 40% or 50% of the width W. The substantial portion can be between 40% and 50%
of the top edge of the second rigid section. This sloping corner 127 that, in use,
is positioned on the far side of the hand 200 from the user's thumb 240, enables the
user to bend their hand along the knuckle joints without this movement being disrupted
by the wrist shield 100. This gives the user full flexibility of movement when using
the rigid wrist shield 100.
[0036] The first rigid section 110 can be considered a lower rigid section since it sits
below the second rigid section 120 when the rigid wrist shield 100 is in use. The
first rigid section 110 is approximate rectangular. The lower corners of the first
rigid section 110 are those not along hinge 130. The upper corners of the first rigid
section 110 are those along hinge 130. The lower corners of the first rigid section
110 are rounded. In some examples, this is the only shape adjustment to the first
rigid section 110.
[0037] In other examples, such as shown in Figure 4B, the first rigid section 110 can be
the same shape as the second rigid section 120 with one rounded corner and one cut
off corner wherein a side of the first rigid section with the cut off corner has a
height roughly 70% to 90% of the height of the side of the first rigid section with
the rounded corner. The cut off corner can meet the bottom edge of the first rigid
section at a point around 40% and 50% along the width of the wrist shield 100. As
shown in Figure 4B the cut off corner of the first rigid section 110 is directly below
the cut off corner 127 of the second rigid section 120.
[0038] In a further example, shown in Figures 1 and 4A, the first rigid section 110 of the
rigid wrist shield 100 comprises a rounded corner 115 and a cut off corner 117 although
the cut off corner 117 is not cut off to the same degree as cut off corner 127 of
the second rigid section 120. In this example a height K1 of the edge of the first
rigid section 110 with the cut off corner 117 is around 85% of the height K2 of the
edge of the first rigid section 110 with rounded corner 115. The heights K1 and K2
are along the length L of the wrist shield 100. In other examples, K1 may be between
70% and 90% of K2 and for example may be 70% of K2, 75% of K2, 80% of K2 or 90% of
K2. The cut off corner 117 meets the bottom edge of the first rigid section 110 at
a point along around 30% of the width of the bottom edge wherein the width of the
bottom edge is the width W of the wrist shield 100. In other examples, the cut off
corner 117 meets the bottom edge of the first rigid section 110 at a point along between
20% and 40% of the width of the bottom edge, for example at 20%, 25%, 35% or 40% of
the width of the bottom edge. As shown in Figure 1, the cut off corner 117 is directly
below the cut off corner 127. The cut off corner 117 can prevent the wrist shield
100 extending beyond the user's hand 200 when the user's wrist is in extension or
flexion.
[0039] The first 110 and second 120 rigid sections of the rigid wrist shield 100 are therefore
sized and shaped to spread force/pressure across the user's wrist while not impeding
movement of the user's hand/wrist. The rigid wrist shield 100 is therefore ergonomically
designed.
[0040] As shown in Figure 5, as well as acting as a wrist shield, rigid wrist shield 100
can function as a tool to aid in vehicle manufacture such as aircraft manufacture
for example during carbon fibre layup.
[0041] As discussed above, rigid wrist shield 100 comprises a first rigid section 110 and
a second rigid section 120 connected together via a hinge 130. As shown in Figures
3A and 3B, when a user has their hand 200 in a neutral wrist position the first 110
and second 120 rigid sections sit substantially parallel to each other such that the
rigid wrist shield 100 is not bent along hinge 130. When the user bends their wrist
and so has their hand/wrist in extension or flexion the first 110 and second 120 rigid
sections can pivot towards each other along/via hinge 130. As shown in Figure 5, the
first 110 and second 120 rigid sections pivot towards each other and towards rather
than away from the palm of the user's hand 200. This ensures the rigid wrist shield
100 continues to provide shield when the user's wrist/hand is in flexion or extension.
This also maintains the comfort of the rigid wrist shield 100 and enables a user to
fully move their wrist.
[0042] Figure 5 shows the rigid wrist shield 100 also be used as a tool when the user has
their wrist/hand in extension. In Figure 5, the user has their wrist in an angle of
extension of around 70° to 90°. The skilled person would understand that the angle
of extension can be taken to be an angle between the arm and the palm of the user's
hand. As a result of this extension, the angle between the first rigid section 110
and the second rigid section 120 of the rigid wrist shield 100 is around 90°. As shown
in Figure 5, this enables the user to apply a pressure to a surface via first rigid
section 110. In addition, the hinge 130 can be used as a scraper which can be used
for hand lay of carbon fibre materials. While Figure 5 shows a 90° angle between the
first 110 and second 120 rigid sections, a user could use the first rigid section
110, the second rigid section 120 or both to apply pressure to hand layup at other
angels including in a neutral position where the first 110 and second 120 rigid sections
are parallel. In addition, the hinge 130 could be used as scrapper at multiple angles
between the first 110 and second 120 rigid section dependent upon the task for which
the scraper is used and what is comfortable for the user. While in Figure 5, a hinge
130 is used as a tool, in other examples, a roller could be used in place of the hinge
which could enable both pivoting between the first 110 and second 120 rigid sections
and the functioning of the wrist shield 100 as a roller tool. In other examples a
roller may be present on either the first 110 or second 120 rigid section so that
the rigid wrist shield 100 can also be used as a roller tool.
[0043] The rigid wrist shield 100 described above can be used in combination with a glove
400. In the context of vehicle and/or aircraft manufacture the glove 400 may be a
felt glove that acts as personal protective equipment for carbon fibre material. However,
the wrist shield 100 can be used with other gloves in other contexts. As the rigid
wrist shield 100 can be used with a glove 400, the rigid wrist shield 100 may be produced
in a selection of sizes in line with the sizes of gloves available. For example, the
rigid wrist shield 100 may be available in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large.
This ensures the rigid wrist shield 100 is available in a range of sizes that will
suit and be comfortable for most users.
[0044] As shown in Figures 6A when the rigid wrist shield 100 is used with a glove 400 then
the rigid wrist shield 100 can be mounted on the glove. For example, the rigid wrist
100 can be sewn or stuck onto the outside of glove 400 or attached to glove 400 in
any other suitable way. In another example, shown in Figure 6B, the rigid wrist shield
100 can also be placed in glove 400. In some examples, the user can place the rigid
wrist shield 100 on their hand/wrist in the correct position and the glove 400 can
be placed over the hand. The glove 400 can then hold the wrist shield 100 in place
due to the closeness of the glove 400 and the user's hand. In other examples the rigid
wrist shield 100 can be sewn, glued or otherwise mounted into the glove 400 in the
correct position. When the user puts the glove 400 on the rigid wrist shield 100 can
then be in the correct position compared to their hand/wrist to spread force/pressure
across their wrist.
[0045] As shown in Figure 6C, the rigid wrist shield 100 can also be used with a padding
support 210. The padding support 210 comprises a flexible mesh that sits over a palm
of the user and provides padding to protect the palm of the user and provide comfort
to the user. The padding support 210 can also reduce/remove vibration when the rigid
wrist shield 100 is used while handling a vibrating object such as an ultrasonic knife.
In some examples, the mesh can be a mesh of cut aways separated by thin sections of
the padding support. This enables the padding support to be stretched to fit different
sized hands. In the examples shown in Figure 6C and 7, the cut aways are hexagonal
cut aways although other shaped cut aways may be used. The padding support 210 may
comprise a thumb strap that sits over the top of the thumb 240 and holds the padding
support 210 in place. A second support strap may sit between the thumb 240 and the
index finger 270 and further hold the padding support 210 in place. A third strap
may span the back of the hand and hold the padding support 210 in place without providing
padding to the back of the hand 200. The padding support 210 may extend over the entire
width of the hand 210 and may extend from the distal wrist crease to a lower end of
the proximal palmar crease. The padding support 210 therefore can roughly cover a
third to a half of the user's palm. This padding support 210 provides additional protection
for the user. The padding support 210 may be made of a plastic material such as a
soft plastic material for example a clear soft plastic material.
[0046] When a padding support 210 is used, as shown in Figure 6C, the rigid wrist shield
100 can be sit beneath the padding support 210 and be held in place by the padding
support 210. To this end, the user can position the rigid wrist shield 100 on their
hand and then put on the padding support 210 thus holding the rigid wrist shield 100
in place. Alternatively, the rigid wrist shield 100 can be attached to the inside
of the padding support 210 and when the user puts on the padding support 210 the rigid
wrist shield 100 can be correctly positioned with respect to the user's hand. To this
end the wrist shield 100 can be glued, sewn or otherwise mounted to the padding support
210.
[0047] In another example, when the padding support 210 is used, as shown in Figure 6C,
then the rigid wrist shield 100 can be attached to the outside of the padding support
210. In use, the padding support 210 therefore sits between the user's hand 200 and
the rigid wrist shield 100. To this end, the rigid wrist shield 100 can be glued,
sewn or otherwise mounted to the padding support 210. When the user puts on the padding
support 210 the rigid wrist shield 100 is then correctly positioned with respect to
the user's hand 200.
[0048] As shown in Figure 7, the padding/flexible mesh on the padding support 210 can be
cut away or otherwise removed from an area 230 of the padding support 210 above/beneath
the rigid wrist shield 100. This can be known as a cut away, hole, gap, or opening
230. For example, the flexible mesh of the padding support 210 can be cut away such
that in use, the cut away/hole/gap/opening 230 sits over the carpal tunnel area of
the user's wrist. Thus, in use, the cut away 230 in the padding support 210 can sit
over the carpal tunnel area of the user's wrist. For example, in use, the cut away
230 can be on an area over the user's carpal bones or between the user's carpal and
metacarpal bones and roughly central to the width of the user's hand at this area.
This prevents the padding support 210 applying undue pressure or force to a small
area of the user's wrist and thus causing discomfort for the user. The cut away can
have a width, in use, that is around half (e.g. 50%) the width of the user's hand
at this area. To this end the cut away can have a width, in use, that is between 40%
and 60% of the width of the user's hand at the position of the cut away.
[0049] The bottom of the padding support 210 can be considered to be the part of the padding
support 210 that sits lowest on the hand 200 e.g. the part that sits furthest from
the user's thumb 240 and fingers. The cut away 230 on the padding support 210 may
extend from a quarter (25%) of the distance between the bottom and top of the padding
support to a half (50%) of the distance between the bottom and top of the padding
support when taken from the bottom edge. In other examples, this may be from 15% to
25% of the distance between the bottom and top to 40% to 60% of the distance between
the bottom and top when taken from the bottom edge. In terms of width, the cut away
230 can extend from around 30% to 60% of a width of the padding support 210. For example,
the cut away 230 can extend from around 30% to 60% of the width of the padding support
210 when starting from an end of the padding support 210 that sits furthest from the
user's thumb 240. In other examples the width of the cut away 230 can be between 20%
to 40% and 50% to 70% of the width of the padding support 210.
[0050] In some examples this cut away 230 is used when the rigid wrist shield 100 sits above
the padding support 210 as this prevents the rigid wrist shield 100 applying pressure
to a small area of the user's wrist through the padding support 210. However, in other
examples the cut away 230 can be used when the rigid wrist shield 100 sits beneath
the padding support 210.
[0051] Both when the rigid wrist shield 100 is beneath the padding support 210 and when
the rigid wrist shield 100 is above the padding support 210, the rigid wrist shield
100 and padding support 210 can be used with or without glove 400 which may be a felt
glove used for personal protective equipment during carbon fibre layup for vehicle/aircraft
manufacture or other similar processes.
[0052] In order to use a rigid wrist shield 100 as described above, the user attaches the
rigid wrist shield 100 to their hand/wrist 100 such that the first rigid section 110
sits over a portion of the carpal bone's 250 of the user's hand and the second rigid
section 120 sits over at least a base portion of the metacarpal bones 260 of the user's
hand. This ensures the rigid wrist shield 100 is correctly positioned to spread force
and/or pressure over the upper portion of the user's wrist. In some examples the second
rigid section 120 may also sit over a portion of the user's carpal bone's 250 not
covered by the first rigid section 110.
[0053] When in use the hinge 130 of the rigid wrist shield 100 enables the first rigid section
110 and second rigid section 120 to pivot with respect to each other. When the user's
wrist is in a neutral position then the first rigid section 110 and second rigid section
120 can sit roughly parallel to each other as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. However,
as shown in Figure 5 when the user's hand/wrist is in extension then the first rigid
section 110 and second rigid section 120 can pivot towards each other and towards
the user wrist/hand along the hinge line 130. This ensures the user has flexibility
to move their wrist and also enables the rigid wrist shield 100 to be used as a tool
for carbon fibre layup, as described above.
[0054] The rigid wrist shield 100 can be attached to the user's wrist/hand in multiple ways.
For example, the rigid wrist shield 100 can be attached to a glove 400 either inside
or outside the glove 400. Attaching the wrist shield 100 to the user's wrist/hand
can therefore be performed by the user putting on the glove 400. Alternatively, the
rigid wrist shield 100 can be attached to a padding support 210. Attaching the wrist
shield 100 to the user's wrist/hand can therefore be performed by the user putting
on the padding support 210. In some examples both a padding support 210 and a glove
400 can be used and all three components can be attached together. The rigid wrist
shield 100 can be on the outside of the glove 400, between the glove 400 and the padding
support 210 or inside the padding support 210. In other examples, the rigid wrist
shield 100 can be aligned with the user's hand 200. The user can then put on a glove
400 or padding support 210 to hold the rigid wrist shield 100 in place. Other ways
of attaching the rigid wrist shield 100 to the user's hand/wrist can also be used
as appropriate.
[0055] In summary, a rigid wrist shield 100 is defined. The rigid wrist shield 100 is an
ergonomically designed device that can be stitched into a standard felt glove 400
or otherwise provided with or separate from a glove 400. The device spreads force/pressure
over the upper wrist/lower palm section of a user's hand and thus reduces discomfort.
In some examples the rigid wrist shield bridges over the tendons and median nerve
in the user's wrist and spreads force/pressure onto the carpal bone at either side.
The rigid wrist shield can thus reduce force/pressure on sensitive areas of the user's
wrist. As well as providing protection to the user's wrist it has an additional function
of aiding the operator perform the hand lay process. A range of materials can be used
for the rigid wrist shield 100 although some examples are manufactured from Nylon
12 using the additive manufacturing process. The ergonomic design of the rigid wrist
shield 100 ensures the rigid wrist shield 100 does not cause discomfort to the user
and also ensures the rigid wrist shield 100 does not impede movement of the user's
hand and wrist. In some examples the rigid wrist shield 100 is an ergonomically shaped
insert into the layup personal protective equipment (e.g. a felt glove) which serves
the purpose of providing protection over the upper area of the user's wrist. Due to
the nature of the designed insert an additional benefit is also provided to the operator
in the form of a smooth hard surface or tool that aids the operator perform an operation
during aircraft manufacture.
1. A rigid wrist shield (100) for spreading force and/or pressure across a palmer side
of a wrist of a hand (200) of a user, the rigid wrist shield (100) comprising:
a first rigid section (110) wherein, in use, the first rigid section (110) sits over
a portion of the carpal bones (250) of the user's hand (200);
a second rigid section (120) wherein, in use, the second region (120) section sits
over at least a base portion of the metacarpal bones (260) of the user's hand (200);
and
a hinge (130) joining the first rigid section (110) to the second rigid section (120).
2. The rigid wrist shield (100) of claim 1 wherein, in use, the hinge (130) sits over
the carpal ligament of the user's hand.
3. The rigid wrist shield (100) of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein:
a width (W) of the rigid wrist shield is shorter than a length of the user's wrist
at the distal wrist crease (215) of the user;
the first rigid section (110) and the second rigid section (120) are joined along
a length (L) of the rigid wrist shield; and
the length (L) of the rigid wrist shield corresponds to a length from the distal wrist
crease (215) of the user to a line (220) extended from the metacarpophalangeal joint
of the user's thumb (240).
4. The rigid wrist shield (100) of any previous claim wherein:
the width (W) of the rigid wrist shield (100) is between 70% and 90% of the length
of the user's wrist at the distal wrist crease (215) of the user.
5. The rigid wrist shield (100) of any previous claim wherein:
the second rigid section (120) is an irregular pentagon comprising a rectangle with
rounded corners wherein a first upper corner (127) of the second rigid section is
cut off in that the first upper corner (127) of the rectangle has been replaced by
an additional side that slopes gently from a first side of the rectangle to a top
side of the rectangle.
6. The rigid wrist shield (100) of claim 5 wherein:
a height (H1) of the first side of the second rigid section (120) with the additional
side is between 70% and 90% of a height (H2) of a second side of the second rigid
section opposite the additional side; and
the additional side meets the top side of the second rigid section at a point along
between 40% and 50% of a width (W) of the top side.
7. The rigid wrist shield (100) of any previous claim wherein:
the first rigid section (110) is an irregular pentagon comprising a rectangle with
rounded corners wherein a first lower corner (117) of the first rigid section (110)
is cut off in that the first lower corner (117) of the rectangle has been replaced
by an additional side that slopes gently from a first side of the rectangle to a bottom
side of the rectangle.
8. The rigid wrist shield (100) of claim 7 wherein:
a height (K1) of the first side of the first rigid section with the additional side
is between 70% and 90% of a height (K2) of a second side of the first rigid section
opposite the additional side; and
the additional side meets the bottom side of the first rigid section at a point along
between 20% and 40% of a width of the bottom side.
9. The rigid wrist shield (100) of any previous claim wherein the hinge (130) comprises
a flexible aramid or Kevlar hinge.
10. The rigid wrist shield (100) of any previous claim wherein the first rigid section
(110) and the section region section (120) comprise a hard plastic, and optionally,
wherein the hard plastic is either Nylon 12 or a chopped fibre material.
11. A glove (400) for use in vehicle manufacture, the glove comprising:
a glove (400); and
a rigid wrist shield (100) according to any of claims 1 to 13 wherein the rigid wrist
shield (100) is mounted in or on the glove (400).
12. The glove (400) of claim 11 further comprising:
a padding support (210) wherein the padding support (210) comprises a flexible mesh
that, in use, covers a lower section of the palm of the user's hand (200); and wherein:
the rigid wrist shield (100) can be positioned beneath or above the padding support
(210).
13. The glove (400) of claim 12 wherein:
the rigid wrist shield (100) is positioned above the padding support (210); and
a section (230) of the flexible mesh of the padding support (210) beneath the rigid
wrist shield (100) has been removed.
14. A method of using a rigid wrist shield (100) or glove (400) according to any of claims
1 to 13, the method comprising:
attaching the rigid wrist shield (100) to the hand of the user (200) such that the
first rigid section (110) sits over a portion of the carpal bones (250) of the user's
hand (200) and the second rigid section (120) sits over at least a base portion of
the metacarpal bones (260) of the user's hand (200).
15. The method of claim 14 wherein:
when the user's wrist is in a neutral position the first rigid section (110) and the
second rigid (120) section sit substantially parallel to each other; and
when the user's wrist is in extension, the first rigid section (110) and second rigid
section (120) hinge towards each other and toward the user's wrist along the hinge
(130).