Cable supporting arm brace

Abstract

An arm brace that includes an attachment for a wire, tube or cable, particularly for use with a hand-held tool, such as an ultrasound transducer. The arm strap or brace supports the cable of the tool, relieving stresses to the wrist and forearm of the user. The arm strap is formed from a length of a limited stretch material and includes a first strap end attachable to a second strap end with a re-attachable strap fastener, the arm strap for encircling the arm of a user with an arm strap tension. A cable tab formed from an elastic material, including a first tab end and a second tab end, the second tab end attached to the arm strap, and the first tab end attachable to the arm strap with a re-attachable tab fastener. A cable loop is formed between the cable tab and the arm strap, and a cable is received within the cable loop. The cable loop secures the cable with a cable tension. A conventional Velcro® type of fastener is preferably utilized for both the re-attachable strap fastener and the re-attachable tab fastener. The cable tension is adjustable independently with respect to the arm strap tension.

The following is claimed:  
     
         1 . A cable brace for use with a hand-held tool, the cable brace comprising: 
 an arm strap formed from a length of a limited stretch material, the arm strap including a first strap end and a second strap end, the first strap end attachable to the second strap end with a re-attachable strap fastener, and the arm strap for encircling the arm of a user with an arm strap tension;    a cable tab formed from an elastic material, the cable tab including a first tab end and a second tab end, the second tab end attached to the arm strap and the first tab end attachable to the arm strap with a re-attachable tab fastener, and a cable loop formed between the cable tab and the arm strap; and    a cable received within the cable loop, the cable loop for securing the cable with a cable tension, and the cable tension adjustable independently with respect to the arm strap tension.    
     
     
         2 . The cable brace of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a ring attached to the second strap end of the arm strap, the ring for receiving the first strap end, and wherein the second tab end is attached to the arm strap proximate to the second strap end.    
     
     
         3 . The cable brace of the  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a slack portion of cable, the slack section of cable formed with the cable in a portion of the cable between the cable loop and the hand-held tool.    
     
     
         4 . The cable brace of the  claim 1 , wherein the second tab end attaches to the arm strap with a re-attachable fastener.  
     
     
         5 . A method of supporting a cable to a user's arm comprising the steps of: 
 a) strapping a cable brace to the user's arm, the cable brace comprising an arm strap formed from a length of a limited stretch material, the arm strap including a first strap end and a second strap end;    b) forming a cable loop with a cable tab, the cable tab formed from an elastic material, the cable tab including a first tab end and a second tab end, the second tab end permanently attached to the arm strap and the first tab end attachable to the arm strap with a re-attachable tab fastener, a cable loop formed between the cable tab and the arm strap; and    c) placing the cable within the cable loop.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of strapping a cable brace to the user's arm further comprises the step of: 
 a1) attaching the first strap end to the second strap end with a re-attachable strap fastener.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of placing the cable within the cable loop further comprises the step of: 
 c2) securing the cable to the arm strap.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of securing the cable to the arm strap further comprises the step of: 
 c3) attaching the first tab end to the arm strap.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of placing the cable within the cable loop further comprises the step of: 
 c2) forming a slack portion of cable between the cable loop and the hand-held tool.