Patent Application
20250195941
Fitness enthusiasts and athletes frequently incorporate resistance bands and other exercise equipment into their workout routines. These devices are commonly used to enhance strength, flexibility, and overall physical conditioning. A key component of these systems is the handle, which serves as the point of contact between the user and the resistance band or machine. Handles are essential for controlling the resistance and directing exercises effectively.
Conventional handles used in fitness devices and resistance bands typically exhibit several limitations. Most commonly, these handles are constructed from basic materials such as foam, plastic, or rubber, which can deteriorate over time due to wear and tear. This results in the handle losing its structural integrity and grip quality. Moreover, many traditional handles lack ergonomic designs, making them less comfortable to hold during prolonged use. This discomfort can lead to hand fatigue and reduced exercise performance. Inadequate grip and discomfort may also contribute to safety concerns during workouts, potentially leading to accidents or injuries.
Additionally, traditional handles are often designed for specific exercise machines or bands, limiting their adaptability for use with various equipment or in different exercise contexts. This lack of versatility can inconvenience users who seek to diversify their fitness routines or those who utilize multiple exercise devices.
Therefore, there is a need for an innovative handle designed for fitness equipment, gym machines, or resistance bands that overcomes the drawbacks associated with existing handles. The present invention addresses these issues by providing a handle that offers superior grip, enhanced durability, ergonomic comfort, and versatile adaptability for different fitness equipment and exercises. This novel handle, as described herein, constitutes a significant advancement in the field of fitness equipment and is poised to revolutionize the fitness experience for individuals of all skill levels and exercise preferences.
An exemplary embodiment may provide an exercise equipment handle that may include an ovoidal compressible grip. The gripping portion is advantageously formed of a compressible material in an oval shape to conform to the hand of a user gripping the device. A bolt may protrude through the center of the gripping portion in a latitudinal direction, along the horizontal length of the ovoidal compressible material. The compressible material may include a rough or coarse surface which can further increase friction and grip on the handle. The bolt may have two ends which protrude outside of the gripping portion, while the center of the bolt is covered by the compressible grip material. For example, the bolt may be an eye bolt. The eye bolt may be slightly longer in length than the gripping portion. One or both ends of the bolt may be secured with a nut and a washer. One or both ends of the bolt may also include a ring such as that found on the end of an eye bolt. The ring connectors may be removable from the bolt or may be permanently fixed as an eye bolt.
An exercise device or machine may be connected to the ring connectors. For example, the ring connectors may be removably fixed to a resistance band. In an exemplary embodiment, the exercise device or machine may connect to the ring connectors using a removable connection, such as by using a carabiner. The carabiner can advantageously allow for the handle to be quickly and easily removed from the machine while also securely fixing the handle during use.
An exemplary embodiment may be used for functional resistance training, for example, for any sport or activity that utilizes hand and arm motions, such as martial arts, boxing, baseball, tennis, football, golf, and the like. By using a compressible grip, an exemplary embodiment can improve grip strength in addition to the exercise completed by the attached exercise. Furthermore, the compressible grip can relieve stress/anxiety and is advantageous for use by those with arthritis. The compressive exercise can also lower blood pressure and improve sleep of the users.
Any exercise device, such as a set of resistance bands, an exercise machine, a weight, or other device, can be used with an exemplary embodiment. For example, cable machines, also known as cable crossover or cable motion machines, connect weights to a handle using one or more cables. The handles of cable machines can be swapped out depending on the exercise. For example, cable machines typically use D-shaped stirrup handles or alternatively may include a straight bar attachment. In either case, the D-handle or the straight bar are attached to the cable using, for example, a carabiner. Thus, an exemplary embodiment can easily be used with any typical cable machine commonly found in home and commercial gyms around the world. Unlike the D-handles or straight bar handles, the exemplary embodiment can improve grip strength and may be safer for use with a cable machine, resistance band, or any other type of equipment.
An exemplary embodiment may be an exercise equipment handle. The handle may include a compressible gripping portion, and an attachment mechanism. For example, the compressible gripping portion may be formed from silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The TPE or silicone gripping portion may be formed in an oval shape. An oval shaped handle may advantageously conform to the palm of a user more ergonomically and comfortably than a straight cylindrical or spherical handle. Safety and security may thus be increased when using accompanying equipment by virtue of the increased grip provided by the oval-shaped grip. Additionally, the ovoidal grip formed from a thermoplastic elastomer may further provide tension against the grip of the user, thus increasing friction between the user's hand and the grip. The tension provided by the thermoplastic elastomer may also advantageously provide an additional exercise, further increasing grip strength of the user, while also relieving stress and promoting better blood circulation. In an exemplary embodiment, the gripping portion may provide 20-40 pounds of tension or compressive force. Grips within this range of tension may advantageously provide a sufficient tension so as to not completely deform while under the stress of the exercise or use, while still maintaining a sufficient level of compressibility and thus smoothly conforming to the hand of the user, creating a larger contact surface and increasing friction between the grip and the hand.
The attachment mechanism may be, for example, a ring connector. In an exemplary embodiment, an eye bolt may penetrate through the thermoplastic elastomer so that the “eye” or ring-connector at one end of the bolt is exposed while the remainder of the bolt is covered by the compressible gripping portion. It may be contemplated that the eye bolt penetrates through the ovoidal gripping portion in a latitudinal or horizontal direction, running through the length of the ovoid. The other end of the eye bolt, the end opposite the eye, may be exposed on the opposite side of the ovoid. A nut may secure the opposite end of the eye bolt. It may be contemplated that an eye nut secures the opposite end of the eye bolt, such that both ends of the eye bolt include an eye or ring connector. Such an exemplary embodiment may be secured to two ends of the same rope or cord, forming a D-handle. The D-handle may have a ring connector on the middle portion of the cord, in between the two ends and opposite the handle, for connecting to the exercise equipment.
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The construction and application of an exemplary exercise handle including an attachment mechanism and ovoidal compressible grip may be illustrated by the above exemplary embodiments and
