Wrist protection and support mechanism

Abstract

A strip of material includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the sheet. The protrusions in a local area cooperate to resist a force placed on the local area of the strip.

1 . A wrist support apparatus comprising:
 a strip comprising:
 a sheet of a Shore A hardness of at least 10 with oppositely disposed ends; and, 
 a plurality of elastic protrusions extending from the sheet in a longitudinal dimension, each of the protrusions of a lateral dimension of a diameter of at least approximately 2 mm, the lateral dimension at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and in an arrangement with the other protrusions to cooperatively support a wrist by providing a resistive force proximate to the corresponding location of the strip where pressure is applied by the wrist, the protrusions of a material less stiff than the material of the sheet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: a fastening device at the ends of the strip such that the strip is a band. 
     
     
         3 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the ends of the strip are in communication with each other by the fastening device, such that the protrusions face inward. 
     
     
         4 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the ends of the strip are in communication with each other by the fastening device, such that the protrusions face outward. 
     
     
         5 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the sheet includes a woven textile matrix. 
     
     
         6 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the sheet includes a synthetic textile matrix. 
     
     
         7 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the protrusions includes an elastomer. 
     
     
         8 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the protrusions includes at least one of silicone rubber, latex rubber or natural rubber. 
     
     
         9 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions extending from the sheet include ends defining a surface of the strip, the surface including a contour, being at least one of: 1) an incline, and, 2) periodic elevational variations. 
     
     
         11 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the protrusions is of a Shore A hardness of approximately 10-70. 
     
     
         12 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are of a lateral dimension of a diameter of at least approximately 2 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are spaced apart with respect to each other to cooperate to provide a resistive force against a surface, for supporting the wrist, by deforming elastically and multidirectionally, the deforming elastically including bending about a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal dimension of which the protrusions extend from the sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The wrist support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have a density of approximately ten protrusions per square centimeter. 
     
     
         15 . A strip apparatus comprising:
 a sheet of a Shore A hardness of at least 10 with oppositely disposed ends; and,   a plurality of elastic protrusions extending from the sheet in a longitudinal dimension, each of the protrusions of a lateral dimension of a diameter of at least approximately 2 mm, the lateral dimension at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and in an arrangement with the other protrusions to cooperatively providing a resistive force proximate to the corresponding location of the strip apparatus where pressure is applied to the strip apparatus, the protrusions of a material less stiff than the material of the sheet.   
     
     
         16 . The strip apparatus of  claim 15 , in the form of at least one of a sheet member and/or a band. 
     
     
         17 . The strip apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sheet member is configured for supporting a body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The strip apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the sheet member is configured for supporting a body portion including at least one of a wrist, limb, or tissue portion. 
     
     
         19 . The strip apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the band is configured for supporting a body portion. 
     
     
         20 . The strip apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the band is configured for supporting a body portion including at least one of a wrist, limb, or tissue portion.