Arm support

Abstract

An arm support for transferring and supporting a force corresponding to at least a portion of the weight of a supported arm. The arm support including a force distribution portion and a support portion. The force distribution portion adapted to conform to the shoulder of the unsupported arm and to distribute the force to the shoulder girdle, while the support portion supports the affected arm. The force distribution portion extends from a first end portion to a second end portion. The support portion extends from a first end portion to a second end portion. The support portion first end portion is located adjacent the force distribution portion second end portion and the support portion second end portion is configured to be adjustably couplable to the force distribution portion first end portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arm support for transferring and supporting a force corresponding to at least a portion of the weight of a supported arm of a user onto an opposite unsupported shoulder of the user when worn, the arm support comprising:
 a force distribution portion extending from a first end portion to a second end portion, the force distribution portion including a front shoulder cap and a rear shoulder cap, the front shoulder cap having a curved construction including a three-dimensional shape that conforms to the shoulder of the unsupported arm of the user prior to being donned on the unsupported shoulder of the user, wherein the force distribution portion is configured to distribute the force to the shoulder girdle on the unsupported side of the user's body; and   a support portion adapted to support the user's lower arm, the support portion extending from a first end portion to a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the support portion first end portion is adjacent the force distribution portion second end portion, and wherein the support portion second end portion is configured to be adjustably couplable to the force distribution portion first end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein the front shoulder cap has a generally semi-circular shaped portion. 
     
     
         3 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein a mid-point of the shoulder cap is configured to be positioned over the anterior head of the humerus and the pectoralis muscles of the user on the unsupported side of the body of the user when supporting the opposite arm of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein the force distribution portion further comprises a locking element proximate the force distribution portion and positioned such that the locking element provides a downward force on the force distribution portion to keep the force distribution portion in place to provide an even distribution of force through the shoulder girdle. 
     
     
         5 . The arm support of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment device including:
 a locking element; and   an elongate adjustment member having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the adjustment member slidably couplable to the locking element between the first and second end portions of the adjustment member;   wherein the second end portion of the support portion is fixedly coupled to the first end portion of the adjustment member, and wherein the locking element is fixedly coupled to the force distribution portion.   
     
     
         6 . The arm support of  claim 5 , wherein the support portion has a length extending from the first end portion to the second end portion of the support portion along a support axis, and wherein the adjustment member has a length extending from the first end portion to the second end portion of the adjustment member along an adjustment member axis, wherein the support axis and the adjustment member axis are arranged within +/−45 degrees of one another at a coupling point between the support portion and the adjustment member, the coupling point located at the second end portion of the support portion. 
     
     
         7 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein the rear shoulder cap has a substantially planar shape. 
     
     
         8 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein the force distribution portion is adapted to fit distally over the deltoid muscle and the shaft of the humerus and medially over the clavicle extending across the upper trapezius muscle and the scapula of the unsupported side of the user when supporting the supported arm, and wherein the three-dimensional form is configured to distribute the force evenly. 
     
     
         9 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein the front shoulder cap has a generally semi-circular shaped portion, and wherein the rear shoulder cap has a substantially planar shape. 
     
     
         10 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein the force distribution portion includes a front shoulder cap having a baseball cap shaped construction arranged to cup a front of a shoulder. 
     
     
         11 . The arm support of  claim 10 , wherein the force distribution portion includes a rear should cap having a substantially planar construction. 
     
     
         12 . The arm support of  claim 1 , wherein the front shoulder cap is formed as a concave construction and the rear shoulder cap is formed as a substantially planar construction. 
     
     
         13 . An arm support comprising:
 a support portion adapted to support a user's arm; and   a force distribution portion coupled to the support portion, wherein the force distribution portion is configured to distribute a force corresponding to a user's supported arm onto an opposite shoulder of a user, wherein the force distribution portion includes a front shoulder cap and a rear shoulder cap, and wherein the front shoulder cap includes a curved three-dimensional form that conforms to a shoulder of a user prior to be donned on an unsupported shoulder of a user.   
     
     
         14 . The arm support of  claim 13 , wherein the curved three-dimensional form is constructed by cutouts and seams in the force distribution portion. 
     
     
         15 . The arm support of  claim 13 , wherein the force distribution portion comprises a fabric material joined at seams, wherein the seams are positioned to create the curved three-dimensional form. 
     
     
         16 . The arm support of  claim 13 , wherein the support portion extends from a first end portion to a second end portion, the support portion further comprising:
 a first layer extending from the first end portion to an overlap region; and   a hand portion having a hand portion first layer and a hand portion second layer, the hand portion first layer extending from the overlap region to the second end portion of the support portion, wherein at least a portion of the hand portion first layer overlaps with and is coupled to at least a portion of the first layer in the overlap region to form an egress opening between the hand portion first layer and the first layer,   wherein the hand portion is configured to support the hand in a first position or a second position, wherein in the first position the back side of a user's hand is supported by the hand portion first layer and the first layer, and   wherein in the second position, the back side of a user's hand is supported by the hand portion second layer with the hand portion second layer disposed between the hand portion first layer and the back side of a user's hand.   
     
     
         17 . The arm support of  claim 16 , wherein the support portion comprises:
 a first longitudinal side end portion extending from the support portion first end portion to the support portion second end portion; and   a second longitudinal side end portion opposite the first longitudinal side end portion extending from the support portion first end portion to the support portion second end portion,   wherein the support portion comprises a width extending from the first longitudinal side end portion to the second longitudinal side end portion, and   wherein the support portion and the hand portion and are joined together at joining regions near the first and second longitudinal side end portions, and   wherein the first and second longitudinal side end portions are arranged such that a central portion of the first layer in between the first longitudinal side end portion and the second longitudinal side end portion is configured to cradle the arm from below with the first and second longitudinal side end portions extending upward away from the central portion.   
     
     
         18 . The arm support of  claim 13 , wherein the force distribution portion includes a front shoulder cap having a baseball cap shaped construction arranged to cup a front of a shoulder. 
     
     
         19 . The arm support of  claim 18 , wherein the force distribution portion includes a rear shoulder cap including a substantially planar construction. 
     
     
         20 . The arm support of  claim 13 , wherein the front shoulder cap is formed as a concave construction and the rear shoulder cap is formed as a substantially planar construction.