Patent Application
20210170258
This specification relates to an exercise grip. There are many different exercises performed on horizontal bars and gymnastics rings. During these exercises skin that is in contact with the bars or rings experience friction that can lead to injury.
In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in an exercise grip that includes a wrist strap; and a protective portion connected to the wrist strap at a wrist end of the protective portion, a finger end of the protective portion having three finger holes defined therein the protective portion having a length that extends from the finger end to the wrist end and a width that varies along the length of the protective portion, wherein the wrist end has a first width that covers an ulnar side of a wrist and is larger than a second width of the finger end, and wherein a width of the protective portion that is between the finger end and the wrist end has a third width that is smaller than the second width. The first width of the wrist end can be larger than the third width of the finger end.
These and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features. The three finger holes can include a middle finger hole, a ring finger hole and a pinky finger hole, and wherein the middle finger hole, ring finger hole, and pinky finger hole are defined at locations at which a middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger are respectively received when the exercise grip is placed on a hand.
The middle finger hole can be at a first distance from the wrist end, the ring finger hole is at a second distance from the wrist end, and the little finger hole is at a third distance from the wrist end. The first distance can be larger than the second distance and the second distance is larger than the third distance.
The protective portion can be a continuous flexible material. The flexible material can be at least one of leather, neoprene, or rubber.
Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding methods for making an exercise grip. Methods can include the actions of forming a protective portion of an exercise grip, wherein the protective portion is formed to have a wrist end and a finger end, the finger end having three finger holes defined therein and the protective portion having a length that extends from the finger end to the wrist end, the protective portion having a width that varies along the length of the protective portion, wherein the wrist end has a first width that covers an ulnar side of a wrist and is larger than a second width of the finger end, and wherein a width of the protective portion between the finger end and the wrist end has a third width that is smaller than the second width; and connecting the protective portion to a wrist strap.
These and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features. Forming the protective portion can include forming the three finger holes in the finger end, the three finger holes comprising a middle finger hole, a ring finger hole, and a pinky finger hole.
Forming the three finger holes can include forming the middle finger hole, ring finger hole, and pinky finger hole at locations at which a middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger are respectively received when the exercise grip is placed on a hand.
Forming the three finger holes can include forming the middle finger hole at a first distance from the wrist end; forming the ring finger hole at a second distance from the wrist end; and forming the little finger hole at a third distance from the wrist end. The first distance can be larger than the second distance and the second distance is larger than the third distance. The first width of the wrist end can be larger than the third width of the finger end.
Forming the protective portion can include forming the protective portion from a continuous piece of flexible material. The flexible material can be at least one of leather, neoprene, or rubber.
Methods can optionally include forming a fourth finger hole at a location of the protective portion at which an index finger is received when the grip is placed on a hand.
Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in an exercise grip that includes a wrist strap; and a protective portion connected to the wrist strap at a wrist end of the protective portion, a finger end of the protective portion having three finger holes defined therein the protective portion having a length that extends from the finger end to the wrist end and a width that varies along the length of the protective portion.
Another innovative aspect of the subject matte described in this specification can be embodied in an exercise grip including a wrist strap; and a protective portion connected to the wrist strap at a wrist end of the protective portion, a finger end of the protective portion having four finger holes defined therein the protective portion having a length that extends from the finger end to the wrist end and a width that varies along the length of the protective portion. The four finger holes can be formed at locations at which an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a pinky finger are respectively received when the grip is placed on a hand.
Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following advantages. Hand and wrist protection is provided by the exercise grip when worn on a hand. The protection provided can include protecting the hand and wrist from injury caused by friction when performing exercises on horizontal bars, pull up bars, and/or gymnastics rings. Gripping ability of a person wearing the exercise grip is increased by covering portions of the hand that contact bars or rings during exercise.
The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The grip 10 has three finger holes 26a, 26b, and 26c defined therein. The finger holes 26a, 26b, and 26c are defined at the finger end 22 of the protective portion 20. In some implementations, finger hole 26a is a middle finger hole that is defined at a location of the protective portion 20 at which a middle finger of a hand is received when the grip 10 is placed on the hand. The finger hole 26b is a ring finger hole that is defined at a location of the protective portion at which a ring finger of the hand is received when the grip 10 is placed on the hand. The finger hole 26c can be a pinky finger hole that is defined at a location of the protective portion at which a pinky finger of the hand is received with the grip 10 is placed on the hand.
The protective portion 20 can be formed from a continuous piece of flexible material. For example, the protective portion 20 can be made of a high-grade leather or other strong and flexible material allowing appropriate friction and protection. In some implementations, the protective portion 20 can be made of neoprene or a rubber material.
The grip 10 includes a wrist strap 14 for securing the grip 10 about the wrist of an individual. The wrist strap 14 includes a closure strap 30, a cuff 38, and an open loop 32 or wring. In some implementations, the closure strap 30 is located on a side of the grip 10 that will be on a radial side of the wrist when the grip 10 is placed on a hand and the loop 32 is located on a side of the grip 10 that will be on an ulnar side of a wrist when the grip 10 is placed on the hand.
The closure strap 30 can include a hook and loop fastener patch 34 which is adapted to be connected to a corresponding hook and loop fastener patch 36 secured to the portion of the cuff 38 or another portion of the wrist end of the protective portion 20.
As shown in
As illustrated by
In some implementations, the protective portion 20 has a width that varies along the length of the protective portion 20. For example, the wrist end 24 can have a first width W1 that covers an ulnar side of a wrist when the grip 10 is worn. The finger end of the grip 10 can have a second width W2 that is smaller than the width W1 of the wrist end 24. The protective portion 20 can also have a third width W3 that is smaller than the width W2. Forming the protective portion 20 to have a width W1 that is larger than each of W2 and W3 allows the wrist end 24 to protect the ulnar side of the wrist, while the width W2 of the finger end permits adequate finger extension and protects the palm immediately under the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. Making the width W3 between the finger end and the wrist end 24 smaller than W1 and W2 increases comfort of the grip 10 and facilitates articulation of the hand.
Referring now to
The protective portion of the exercise grip can be formed, for example, to have a wrist end and a finger end. The finger end can have three finger holes defined therein, as discussed above, or four finger holes defined therein as discussed in more detail below with reference to
In some implementations, the middle finger hole is formed at a first distance from the wrist end, the ring finger hole is formed at a second distance from the wrist end, and the pinky finger hole is formed at a third distance from the wrist end. As discussed above, in three finger hole implementations, the middle finger hole can be at a largest distance from the wrist end (e.g., as measured to the center of the middle finger hole), the ring finger can be at a second largest distance from the wrist end (e.g., as measured from the center of the ring finger hole), and the pinky finger hole can be at the shortest distance from the wrist end (e.g., relative to the locations of the middle finger hole and the ring finger hole). In four finger hole implementations, the index finger hole can be further from the wrist end than the middle finger hole. Alternatively, the index finger hole can be formed at a same distance from the wrist end as the middle finger hole or formed at a distance from the wrist end that is between the distance from the wrist end of the middle finger hole and the ring finger hole.
The length of the protective portion extends, for example, from the finger end to the wrist end, and the width of the protective portion can be formed to vary along the length of the protective portion. For example, the protective portion can be formed to have a widest width at the wrist end. The finger end can have a width that is smaller than the width of the wrist end. The protective portion can be formed such that the width of the protective portion can vary between the wrist end and the finger end, with at least one portion of the protective portion having another width that is smaller than the width of the finger end (e.g., as measured at the pinky hole) and smaller than the width of the wrist end.
The process can also include attaching a wrist strap to the protective portion (64). A wrist strap similar to that discussed above with respect to
Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.
This application is a continuation application of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/594,581, U.S. Pat. No. 10,835,804, entitled “EXERCISE GRIP,” filed on Oct. 7, 2019, which is a continuation application of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/589,354, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,576,356, entitled “EXERCISE GRIP,” filed on May 8, 2017, which application is a continuation application of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/644,512, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,643,073, entitled “EXERCISE GRIP,” filed on Mar. 11, 2015, which application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/951,872, entitled “EXERCISE GRIP,” filed Mar. 12, 2014. The disclosure of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61951872 | Mar 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16594581 | Oct 2019 | US |
| Child | 17096574 | US | |
| Parent | 15589354 | May 2017 | US |
| Child | 16594581 | US | |
| Parent | 14644512 | Mar 2015 | US |
| Child | 15589354 | US |
