Tray for holding exercise putty and putty tools

Abstract

A tray for storing and organizing exercise putty and putty therapy tools includes a base and a cover. The base includes a plurality of receptacles in the form of recessed portions into which exercise putty and putty therapy tools are received. The recessed portions that define the tool receptacles are particularly shaped to conform to the shape of the tools that they hold. A therapeutic exercise kit includes the tray, exercise putty and putty therapy tools.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools, which comprises:
 a base, the base having a top surface and an exercise putty-receiving receptacle formed therein, the exercise putty-receiving receptacle being formed as a recessed section of the top surface of the base, the receptacle being provided for containing exercise putty therein; and   means for holding at least one exercise putty tool to the top surface of the base.   
     
     
         2 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes at least one recessed portion of the top surface of the base, the at least one recessed portion defining a recess for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool. 
     
     
         3 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the at least one recessed portion is sufficiently recessed below the top surface of the base such that the at least one exercise putty tool received within the recess defined by the at least one recessed portion does not protrude above the top surface of the base. 
     
     
         4 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the at least one recessed portion defines the tool receiving recess with a shape that generally conforms to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool receivable by the recess. 
     
     
         5 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the exercise putty-receiving receptacle is located generally centrally on the top surface of the base; and
 wherein the at least one recessed tool-receiving portion of the top surface is situated in proximity to the centrally-located, exercise putty-receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         6 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the means for holding at least one exercise putty tool includes:
 indicia situated on the top surface of the base, the indicia defining an outline of the at least one exercise putty tool, the outline generally conforming to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool; and   means for selectively holding the at least one exercise putty tool in proximity to the outline and to the top surface of the base.   
     
     
         7 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 6 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a fastening strap, the fastening strap bridging the outline and the at least one exercise putty tool received thereunder. 
     
     
         8 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the fastening strap includes mating hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the fastening strap includes an elastic band. 
     
     
         10 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 6 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a resilient clip, the resilient clip being mounted on the top surface of the base, the clip having resilient spaced apart members which define therebetween a putty tool receiving pocket for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool. 
     
     
         11 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 6 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a clip, the clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the elongated arm being positioned at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder. 
     
     
         12 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 6 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a rotatable clip, the rotatable clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the clip being rotatable on the top surface between a first position in which the elongated arm is positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder, and a second position in which the elongated arm is not positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated at the outline. 
     
     
         13 . A tray for holding exercise putty and exercise putty tools as defined by  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 a cover, the cover being situated on the base and being removable therefrom.   
     
     
         14 . A therapeutic exercise kit, which comprises:
 exercise putty;   at least one exercise putty tool; and   a tray for holding the exercise putty and the at least one exercise putty tool, the tray including:
 a base, the base having a top surface and an exercise putty-receiving receptacle formed therein, the exercise putty-receiving receptacle being formed as a recessed section of the top surface of the base, the receptacle being provided for and containing the exercise putty therein; and 
 means for holding the at least one exercise putty tool to the top surface of the base. 
   
     
     
         15 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes at least one recessed portion of the top surface of the base, the at least one recessed portion defining a recess for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool, the at least one exercise putty tool being received by the recess. 
     
     
         16 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 15 , wherein the at least one recessed portion is sufficiently recessed below the top surface of the base such that the at least one exercise putty tool received within the recess defined by the at least one recessed portion does not protrude above the top surface of the base. 
     
     
         17 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 15 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool has an outer peripheral shape; and
 wherein the at least one recessed portion defines the tool receiving recess with a shape that generally conforms to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool received by the recess.   
     
     
         18 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 15 , wherein the exercise putty-receiving receptacle is located generally centrally on the top surface of the base; and
 wherein the at least one recessed tool-receiving portion of the top surface is situated in proximity to the centrally-located, exercise putty-receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         19 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool has an outer peripheral shape; and
 wherein the means for holding the at least one exercise putty tool includes:   indicia situated on the top surface of the base, the indicia defining an outline of the at least one exercise putty tool, the outline generally conforming to the outer peripheral shape of the at least one exercise putty tool; and   means for selectively holding the at least one exercise putty tool in proximity to the outline and to the top surface of the base.   
     
     
         20 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 19 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a fastening strap, the fastening strap bridging the outline and the at least one exercise putty tool received thereunder. 
     
     
         21 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 20 , wherein the fastening strap includes mating hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         22 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 20 , wherein the fastening strap includes an elastic band. 
     
     
         23 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 19 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a resilient clip, the resilient clip being mounted on the top surface of the base, the clip having resilient spaced apart members which define therebetween a putty tool receiving pocket for receiving the at least one exercise putty tool. 
     
     
         24 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 19 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a clip, the clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the elongated arm being positioned at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder. 
     
     
         25 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 19 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes a rotatable clip, the rotatable clip being mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to the outline, the clip including an elongated arm, the clip being rotatable on the top surface between a first position in which the elongated arm is positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated thereunder, and a second position in which the elongated arm is not positioned to extend at least partially across the putty tool outline and the at least one exercise putty tool situated at the outline. 
     
     
         26 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 19 , wherein the at least one exercise putty tool includes at least a portion thereof formed from a magnetically attractable material;
 wherein the base includes a bottom surface situated opposite the top surface; and   wherein the at least one exercise putty tool holding means includes at least one magnet, the at least one magnet being affixed to one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the base in proximity to the indicia defining an outline of the at least one exercise putty tool, the at least one putty tool being magnetically attracted to the at least one magnet and selectively held in place on the top surface of the base by the magnetic attraction between the at least one putty tool and the at least one magnet.   
     
     
         27 . A therapeutic exercise kit as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the tray further includes a cover, the cover being situated on the base and being removable therefrom.