GB2513684A

GB2513684A - Mobile arm support

Info

Publication number: GB2513684A
Application number: GB201320819A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jennifer Kate Gostling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-26
Filing date: 2013-11-26
Publication date: 2014-11-05
Also published as: GB201320819D0

Abstract

An arm support 4 includes a base unit 9, with two attached hinged folding support panels 5, 6 that can be secured together to create a raised support for an arm during a manicure. Panel 6 preferably rests on stopper 7 arranged on the underside of panel 5. It supports a clients arms and hands at a level that allows for a comfortable working position for the nail technician, and thus reduces the likelihood of back and neck injury. The two panels 5, 6 may be folded flat on top of each other and the base 9 which enables the support to be collapsed into a contained mobile unit that can be carried with the attached handle (11, fig.6). A drawer (14, fig.3) may be provided for storing tools. The panels 5, 6 are preferably padded for comfort.

Description

Mobile Arm Support This invention relates to a mobile arm support which raises and supports a nail technician and client's arms and hands to a level that allows the technician to sit in a comfortable and safe working position whilst giving comfort and support to the client.

When a nail technician is working on a client's hand, their hands are resting on the table or a fixed low arm support. This forces the technician to bend forward with a curved back and lower their head to enable them to work closely on the clients hands. This then creates a poor working position that causes many back and neck complaints and injuries throughout the nail industry.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a mobile arm support which raises the client's arms and hands to a level that enables the technician to work closely without bending forward and lowering their head. This also supports the technician's arms and hands when working.

The proposed invention consists of a base unit that sits on the nail table and would preferably be as deep as an average nail table (17-18 inches) and as wide as about 12-13 inches to allow for both hands of the client to be rested at once but can be made to different sizes. Two support panels are attached via hinges to either ends of the base unit, one facing the client and the other facing the technician. The panels are forward folding and once folded they interlock together and are held in place by means of a stopper attached to the underside of the client's panel. This then creates a pyramid type shape with a small overhang of the clients panel due to the technicians panel being shorter so it sits locked in place by the stopper just underneath the client's panel. The overhang places the client's hands in a slightly higher position than the technicians. This allows the technician to work just underneath the client's hands which also gives the technician mobility of the client's hands without putting strain on their own wrists and gives a raised and comfortable support to both client and technician.

The proposed invention has a shorter support panel for the technician as the base unit is extended vertically by a few centimeters on the technician's side just before the support panel is attached. This is to allow room for the client's panel to fold down first and for the technician's panel to lay flat on top which creates the collapsed unit for mobile use. The technicians support panel does not need to be as long as it is the forearm and wrist of the technician that needs the support not the elbow.

The proposed invention is collapsible to enable it to become mobile, which is possible by folding one support panel on top of the other in the correct order which creates a compact and flat unit. The unit is contained together by a hook catch placed on either side of the panels and can be carried by a handle located at the top of the support.

The support will be padded to give added comfort to both technician and client. This will comprise preferably of a foam underlay and a plastic material overlay that can be sanitized after use.

The proposed invention will be a collapsible and lightweight structure, preferably designed with a material such as plastic or fiberglass to create a mobile unit that allows the technician to carry it with ease.

The arm support will have four rubber feet placed in each corner of the base unit which allows the support to grip any surface.

The arm support could provide an extra feature such as an equipment drawer suitable for files, metal tools and paint brushed etc... This could be located at the bottom of the support and would include elastic material strapping inside the drawer to contain the equipment when being carried.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -Figure 1, shows a nail technician in a typical working position when a client has their hands rested on a table or low arm rest.

-Figure 2, shows the proposed arm rest according to the invention.

-Figure 3, shows a possible added feature of an equipment drawer that is attached to the base of the unit.

-Figure 4, shows the arm rest in a collapsed state and how it is contained using a hook and catch.

-Figure 5, shows the arm rest at a side angle and indicates where the rubber feet are located.

-Figure 6, shows the proposed invention from the front and shows the location of the handle.

-Figure 7, shows a closer look at the stopper and interlocking panels.

-Figure 8, shows a closer look at the technician's side of the support and the vertically extended base unit and hinge attachment.

-Figure 9, shows a closer look at the client's side of the support and hinge attachment.

-Figure 10, shows both panels in an upright position.

-Figure 11, shows the folding of panel 5 to collapse the unit.

-Figure 12, shows the folding of panel 6 to collapse the unit.

In figure 1, a nail technician 1 is working on clients 2 hands with a curved back and lowered head. This is caused by the clients 2 hands being rested on a low arm support 3 and means the technician has to sit in this dangerous position to allow for close work.

In figure 2, it shows the proposed arm rest 4 which comprises of two folding panels 5,6 that interlock together with a stopper 7 located underneath panels which panel 6 rests on to create the structure.

The panel 6 on the technician's side sits just underneath the other panel 5 and locks in place with the stopper 7. This is to allow the technician 1 to rest their hand underneath the clients, where they can hold and manipulate the clients 2 hand into a comfortable working position and gives support to the technicians 1 wrist.

The two panels 5, 6 are padded with foam underlay and a plastic material overlay 8, to give increased comfort for both technician 1 and client 2.

The two panels 5,6 are attached to the base unitS with hinges 10 to allow forward folding.

The arm rest 4 is designed to be a mobile unit and once in a collapsed state can be carried by a handle 11 that is located on the base unitS where panel 6 is attached.

When the arm rest is in a collapsed state and intended to be carried, it is contained together with a hook 12 and catch 13. The hooks are located either side of panel 5, the catches are located either side of panel 6. Once both hooks 12 and catches 13 are in place the arm support is contained and ready to be carried.

In figure 3, it shows a possible added feature of an equipment drawer 14 which could be attached to the base unit 9. The drawer 14 should be the same width, length and depth as the base unitS. The drawer 14 would be used for equipment such as files, metal tools, paint brushes, wipes any other flat equipment used by the technician. Internally the drawer 14 could have supports made of an elastic material to hold the equipment in place once the arm rest 4 is being transported.

In figure 4, it shows the arm rest 4 in a collapsed state ready for mobile use. Panel 5 folds forward first with the stopper 7 rested on the base unit 9. Panel 6, folds forward rests on panel 5 creating the collapsed unit. The arm rest 4 is contained in place by two hooks 12 and two catches 13 located either side of panel S and 6.

In figure 5, it shows the arm rest 4 from a side angle and upright position and shows the location of the rubber feet.

In figure 6, it shows the arm rest 4 from a front angle and upright position and shows the location of the handle 11.

In figure 7, it shows a closer look at the stopper and the two panels joining together which creates the overhang. When the technician is working on a clients hand it is normal to hold the clients hand with one hand and work with the other. To have the overhang of the panel on the clients side, it positions the clients hands higher making it very easy for the technician to get underneath to hold and manipulate the clients hand into a comfortable working position without putting stress on the technicians wrists.

In figure 8, it shows a closer look at the technician's side of the support and how the hinge is joining the panel. It also shows how the base unit is extended vertically before the panel is attached.

In figure 9, it shows a closer look at the client's side of the support and how the hinge, panel and padding is attached.

In figure 10, it shows the arm support with both support panels in an upright position before collapsing the unit for mobile use.

In figure 11, it shows panel 5 being folded down to collapse the unit and how the stopper rests on the base unit In figure 12, it shows panel 6 being folded down to collapse the unit and how it rests on panel 5 to create a compact unit for mobile use.

Claims

Claims 1. A mobile arm support for means of raising and supporting a nail clients arms and hands that comprise of two forward folding cushioned panels attached to a base unit that interlock together to create the raised support, which can be folded flat to create a mobile unit.
2. A mobile arm support according to claim 1, in which a mobile unit is created by means of two hinged folding panels collapsing on top of each other creating a compact unit that is contained by two hook catches and can be carried by means of a handle located on the base unit.
3. A mobile arm support according to claim 1, in which the technicians side of the base unit is extended vertically by a few centimeters before the support panel is attached, this is for two reasons and one is it raises the panel to support the technicians forearms correctly and two is for when collapsing the unit the clients panel has room to lay flat down first and the technicians panel to lay on top) creating a compact unit for mobile use.
4. A mobile arm support according to claim 1, in which the cushioning means is provided by a foam underlay and a durable plastic overlay.
5. A mobile arm support according to claim 1, in which the nail technicians support panel is shorter than the clients support panel and when folded into place, locks in just below the clients panel by the stopper, which is located on the underside of the clients panel and this creates an overhang of the clients panel, allowing the technician to rest their hand under the clients enabling them to hold and manipulate the clients hand into a suitable working position whilst the technicians wrist is supported.
6. A mobile arm support according to claim 1, in which an equipment drawer could be an added feature and would be attached to the base unit with internal supports or straps to contain the equipment when used as a mobile unit.