Aid device including a tool and an attaching of the tool

Abstract

This invention relates to aid devices for assisting people inhibited in their movement of especially the hands and/or wrists, such as people who are physically impaired due to arthritis, injury, or other physiological problems giving reduced strength. This is solved by introducing an aid tool comprising at least two grippers and means to attach each gripper to a finger of a person, where the grippers are adapted to follow the individual finger in a movement in the direction of closing and loosen of a grip, and where an activation of the aid tool includes locking the grippers unidirectionally in the present position. The invention further introduces mounting means for attaching the aid tool to a body part, and where the mounting means comprises coupling means for detaching and attaching this and other tools according to the need.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aid tool comprising:
 at least two grippers that are adapted to move at least in directions to grab and release an object, each gripper including a contact surface for gripping the object and a control surface opposite the contact surface for contacting a user's fingers so that the grippers may be positioned in relation to the user so that each gripper is placed between the user's fingers and the object to be held with the user's fingers,   wherein an activation of the aid tool locks the grippers unidirectionally such that the grippers are locked from movement in the direction to release the object but not locked from movement in the direction to grab the object.   
     
     
         2 . The aid tool according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising an activation switch, wherein the aid tool is activated by pressing the activation switch with a predetermined force. 
     
     
         3 . The aid tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising means to establish a hold on the object through the grippers forming an additional holding force on the object above the one formed at the time of activation of the aid tool. 
     
     
         4 . The aid tool according to  claim 3 , where the hold is established by the grippers moving in the grabbing direction after activation of the aid tool to form a slightly tighter grab than at the time of activation. 
     
     
         5 . The aid tool according to  claim 4 , further comprising an activation switch, wherein the aid tool is activated by pressing the activation switch with a predetermined force. 
     
     
         6 . The aid tool according to  claim 3 , where the means to establish the hold comprises at least one inflatable contact section forming the contact surface on at least one of the grippers, the at least one inflatable contact section being inflated when the aid tool is activated. 
     
     
         7 . The aid tool according to  claim 6 , further comprising an activation switch, wherein the aid tool is activated by pressing the activation switch with a predetermined force. 
     
     
         8 . The aid tool according to  claim 6 , further comprising means to fill a fluid media into the at least one inflatable contact section to inflate the at least one inflatable section when the aid tool is activated. 
     
     
         9 . The aid tool according to  claim 8 , further comprising an activation switch, wherein the aid tool is activated by pressing the activation switch with a predetermined force. 
     
     
         10 . The aid tool according to  claim 3 , where the means to establish the hold comprises an expandable contact section forming the contact surface on at least one of the grippers, the expandable contact section being expanded when the aid tool is activated. 
     
     
         11 . The aid tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising an activation switch, wherein the aid tool is activated by pressing the activation switch with a predetermined force. 
     
     
         12 . The aid tool according to  claim 3 , further comprising an activation switch, wherein the aid tool is activated by pressing the activation switch with a predetermined force. 
     
     
         13 . The aid tool according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a means for storing energy. 
     
     
         14 . The aid tool according to  claim 3 , additionally comprising a means for storing energy. 
     
     
         15 . A method for establishing a hold on an object with an aid tool comprising at least two grippers that are adapted to move at least in directions to grab and release an object, the at least two grippers being coupled to a mount by flexible joints, each gripper including a contact surface for gripping the object and a control surface opposite the contact surface for contacting a user's fingers so that the grippers may be positioned in relation to the user so that each gripper is placed between the user's fingers and the object to be held with the user's fingers, the method comprising:
 positioning the aid tool to form a loose grab on the object; and   activating an activation switch after the aid tool is positioned to form the loose grab on the object;   wherein the activation activates a locking of the flexible joints and a unidirectional locking of the grippers such that the grippers are locked from movement in the direction to release the object but not locked from movement in the direction to grab the object; and   wherein the activation establishes the hold on the object after the grippers are unidirectionally locked.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the hold on the object is established through the grippers forming an additional holding force on the object above the one formed at the time of activation of the aid tool. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the hold on the object is established by the grippers moving in the grabbing direction after activation of the aid tool to form a slightly tighter grab than at the time of activation. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the aid tool comprises at least one inflatable contact section forming the contact surface on at least one of the grippers; and
 wherein the hold is established by the at least one inflatable contact section being inflated when the activation switch is activated.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 filling a fluid media into the at least one inflatable contact section to inflate the at least one inflatable section when the activation switch is activated.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the aid tool comprises an expandable contact section forming the contact surface on at least one of the grippers; and
 wherein the hold is established by the expandable contact section being expanded when the activation switch is activated.