FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to gripping aids that enhance a person’s grip on an item, such as a tool or a sporting item, and particularly to wearable gripping aids having holes for a plurality of fingers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often necessary for a person to exert a firm grip on an item or device, such as a tool, such as a hammer, or a sporting item, such as a bat, a hockey stick, a barbell, or pull-up bar. A normal hand typically has muscle and fat pads to spread out the pressure of a firm and prolonged grip. However, often the intense pressure of lifting a heavy item, or the intense vibrations of impact upon a bat, or a hammer, can become uncomfortable, and thereby weaken a person’s grip on the item.
Some people wear one or two gloves to relieve the intense pressure and/or vibrations, but a glove can be uncomfortable to wear due to heat buildup within the glove, and the resulting excess perspiration. Many gloves are also not thick enough to adequately spread out the intense gripping pressure and/or absorb the intense vibrations encountered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a gripping pad having four finger holes, each finger hole accommodating one of the four fingers typically opposing the thumb of a hand. This gripping pad serves as a gripping aid that can be worn on one or both hands.
The gripping pad of the invention can have a descending portion configured to wrap around the “knob” of a baseball bat. The knob of a baseball bat is the wider portion below the handle of the bat that keeps the bat from slipping from a batter’s hands. This embodiment helps a batter to hold the bat lower along the handle, while also cushioning the knob as the batter firmly grasps the bat handle, thereby preventing the knob of the bat from injuring the batter’s hand.
More specifically, the gripping pad of the invention can protect a batter’s hand from a Hamate Bone fracture or break, which are injuries with serious consequences. For example, when a baseball player breaks his hamate bone, he can be sidelined for up to six weeks. It is possible to break one’s hamate bone just by swinging hard and missing the ball.
Hamate bone fractures are one of the more common upper extremity injuries seen in Baseball, due to where players sometimes place their hands along the handle of the bat, which can introduce repetitive high compression forces on the hamate bone during a swing, as well as during a checked swing. Along with the forces and motions mentioned, the hook-like protrusion of the hamate bone, also called the hamulus or hook of hamate, and certain vascular features, make the hamate bone particularly vulnerable to injury.
Sometimes surgery is required to remove the hook-shaped portion of the hamate bone. Fracture of the hamate bone occurs often among baseball players because the knob of the bat repetitively contacts that bone, making the hook-shaped portion particularly vulnerable.
A look at any batter’s glove reveals a worn-out portion at the location of the hamate bone due to the friction from consistent contact with the bat. This constant pressure occurs with every swing of the bat, making the risk of injury quite high. The hamate bone is one of eight carpal bones in the wrist, and is located on the outside of the pinky finger. A fracture of the hamate bone frequently occurs in baseball, golf, and racquet sports, due to the way the bat (or club or racquet handle) makes contact and exerts pressure on the hamate bone.
Symptoms of hamate bone fracture include: pain in the wrist, pain in the little finger on side of the wrist, or pain on palpitating the hook-shaped portion of the bone; reduced grip strength; numbness, particularly of the outer two fingers of the hand; and tenderness of the area of injury.
The gripping pad of the invention is also very useful for enhancing a person’s grip on a hammer, the pad absorbing the mechanical shock and vibrations, thereby protecting the gripping hand from excessive impacts of the hammer while in use.
The gripping pad of the invention is very helpful when lifting barbells, because the heavy weight of the barbell is born by only two hands, and each hand has pressure points that become painful unless the pressure is spread out by the gripping pad of the invention.
The gripping pad of the invention is also very useful for gripping a golf club. The gripping pad allows the person to grip more firmly, due to the gripping pad making a firm grip more comfortable.
The gripping pad of the invention is made from compressible and vibration-absorbing material, such as silicone rubber, foam rubber, silicone, neoprene, viscoelastic urethane polymer, or any other material that can absorb vibration, impact shock, and spread out localized impacts and sharp pressure. Thus, the gripping pad of the invention feels soft, but is also sturdy, so that vigorous and firm gripping using the gripping pad is more comfortable than direct gripping.
The gripping pad of the invention can be made in a variety of sizes to fit children’s hands, lady’s hands, as well as large men’s hands.
A general aspect of the invention is a gripping pad to be worn on a hand of a user while gripping an object, the hand having four fingers and a thumb, the gripping pad minimizing transmission of impact shocks from the object, and improving the user’s grip on the object. The gripping pad includes: a pad having a finger portion with four finger holes, each finger hole configured to receive one of four fingers to be inserted respectively through the four finger holes; and a palm portion configured to cover at least part of the palm of the hand of the user.
In some embodiments, the finger portion has an outer boundary that conforms to a portion of each finger hole of the four finger holes.
In some embodiments, the palm portion has an outer boundary with a convex portion opposite the outer boundary of the finger portion.
In some embodiments, there is a concave portion on one side of the pad located between the outer boundary of the finger portion and the outer boundary of the palm portion.
In some embodiments, the pad is resiliently compressible.
In some embodiments, the pad is made from one at least one of: silicone rubber, Sorbothane™, foam rubber.
In some embodiments, the palm portion includes an extended portion configured to cover and protect a hamate bone of the hand of the user when the user grips a baseball bat.
In some embodiments, the extended portion is located opposite to the concave portion.
In some embodiments, the extended portion is configured to be captured in cushioning relationship between a knob of the bat and the hamate bone of the hand when the user swings the bat wearing the gripping pad including the extended portion, thereby protecting the hamate bone.
Another general aspect of the invention is a gripping pad to be worn on a hand of a user while gripping an object, the hand having four fingers and a thumb, the gripping pad minimizing transmission of impact shocks from the object, and improving the user’s grip on the object. This gripping pad includes: a pad having a finger portion with four finger holes, each finger hole configured to receive one of four fingers to be inserted respectively through the four finger holes; and a palm portion configured to cover at least part of the palm of the hand of the user, the palm portion including an extended portion configured to cover and protect a hamate bone of the hand of the user when the user grips a baseball bat.
In some embodiments, the extended portion is configured to be captured in cushioning relationship between a knob of the bat and the hamate bone of the hand when the user swings the bat wearing the gripping pad including the extended portion, thereby protecting the hamate bone.
In some embodiments, there is a concave portion on one side of the pad located between the outer boundary of the finger portion and the outer boundary of the palm portion.
In some embodiments, the extended portion is located opposite to the concave portion.
In some embodiments, the finger portion has an outer boundary that conforms to a portion of each finger hole of the four finger holes.
In some embodiments, the palm portion has an outer boundary with a convex portion opposite the outer boundary of the finger portion.
In some embodiments, the pad is resiliently compressible.
In some embodiments, the pad is made from one at least one of: silicone rubber, Sorbothane™, foam rubber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a gripping pad of the invention, the gripping pad having four finger holes, a pad area, and a concave feature.
FIG. 2 is a rear upside-down view of the gripping pad of FIG. 1 being worn such that all four fingers of a hand are inserted in the four finger holes, the smallest finger inserted in the finger hole nearest the concave feature.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the gripping pad of FIG. 2 being worn such that all four fingers are inserted in the four finger holes, the top of each finger hole extending over each finger, the pad area (not shown) extending under the palm of the hand.
FIG. 4 is a rear right-side up view of the gripping pad of FIG. 2 showing the hand wearing the gripping pad such that all four fingers are inserted in the four finger holes, a handle of a baseball bat resting on the pad area of the gripping pad before the fingers of the hand grasp the handle of the baseball bat.
FIG. 5 is a view of a person wearing a gripping pad on each hand holding a baseball bat, such that all four fingers of each hand are inserted in the four finger holes of a respective gripping pad, each hand gripping the baseball bat so as to press the pad area of each gripping pad around the handle of the baseball bat.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a second embodiment of a gripping pad having four finger holes, a pad area, a concave feature, and an extended portion configured to protect the hamate bone of a hand when this embodiment is worn so as to place the extended portion under the smallest finger such that the extended portion can cover the knob of a baseball bat when the hand grips the handle of the baseball bat.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the second embodiment of FIG. 6 showing how the extended portion (not shown) is captured in cushioning relationship between the knob of the bat and the hamate bone of the hand when the hand grips the bat, thereby protecting the hamate bone, also showing the smallest finger extending through one of the four finger holes nearest to the extended portion.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the second embodiment of FIG. 6 showing how the extended portion is captured in cushioning relationship between the knob of the bat and the hamate bone of the hand as the hand grips the bat, thereby protecting the hamate bone, also showing the smallest finger extending through one of the four finger holes nearest to the extended portion.
FIG. 9 is a front view of the second embodiment of FIG. 6 showing the knob of the bat resting on the extended portion of the gripping pad, and showing how the extended portion is positioned so as to be captured in cushioning relationship between the knob of the bat and the hamate bone of the hand when the hand grips the bat, thereby protecting the hamate bone, also showing the smallest finger extending through one of the four finger holes nearest to the extended portion.
FIG. 10 is a top view of a hand wearing the first embodiment of the gripping pad, the fingers grasping a golf club, the pad area captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand and the grip of the golf club, showing the side of the pad area.
FIG. 11 is a top view of the hand of FIG. 10 in an open position and wearing the first embodiment of the gripping pad, showing all four fingers inserted into all four finger holes, while the grip of the golf club rests on the pad area before the hand grasps the golf club.
FIG. 12 is a top view of a hand lifting a heavy dumbbell and wearing the first embodiment of the gripping pad, showing the top portions of the four finger holes of the gripping pad, and showing all four fingers inserted through the finger holes, the bottom of the rough surface of the handle of the dumbbell resting on the pad area of the gripping pad, the pad area captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand and the rough surface of the handle, while the fingers and thumb grasp the top of the rough surface of the handle.
FIG. 13 is a top view of the hand of FIG. 12 lifting the heavy dumbbell, showing how the pad area of the gripping pad bears the weight of the dumbbell, also showing the top portions of the four finger holes of the gripping pad, while the fingers and thumb grasp the top of the rough surface of the handle.
FIG. 14 is a top view of the hand of FIG. 12 wearing the gripping pad, and then placing the pad area of the gripping pad under the textured handle of the heavy dumbbell before grasping the handle and lifting the dumbbell.
FIG. 15 is a side view of a hand grasping the handle of a hammer while wearing the gripping pad, showing three top portions of the finger holes of the gripping pad, the pad area captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand and the handle of the hammer so as to absorb impact shocks transmitted from the hammer head to the palm via the handle.
FIG. 16 is a front view of the hand of FIG. 15 wearing the gripping pad while grasping the handle of the hammer, the four fingers clearly seen extending through the four finger holes, the pad area (not shown) captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand and the left side of the handle of the hammer.
FIG. 17 is a side view of the hammer resting on the pad area of the gripping pad before the hand closes around the handle of the hammer, placing the gripping pad in cushioning relationship so as to absorb impact shocks, the four fingers extending through the finger holes (not shown) of the gripping pad.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment 100 of a gripping pad of the invention, the gripping pad 100 having four finger holes 102, a pad area 104, and a concave feature 106. It is sometimes preferable to insert four fingers of a hand such that the smallest finger is nearest to the concave feature 106. One can wear a gripping pad 100 on each hand, such as when gripping a golf club, a long bar bell, or a hockey stick.
FIG. 2 is a rear upside-down view of the gripping pad 100 of FIG. 1 being worn such that all four fingers 202 of a hand 200 are inserted in the four finger holes 102, the smallest finger 202' inserted in the finger hole 102' nearest the concave feature 106.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the gripping pad 100 of FIG. 2 being worn such that all four fingers 202 are inserted in the four finger holes 102, the top of each finger hole 102 extending over each finger 202, the pad area (not shown) extending under the palm of the hand 200.
FIG. 4 is a rear right-side up view of the gripping pad 100 of FIG. 2 showing the hand 200 wearing the gripping pad 100 such that all four fingers 202 are inserted in the four finger holes 102, a handle of a baseball bat 400 resting on the pad area 104 of the gripping pad 100 before the fingers 202 of the hand 200 grasp the handle of the baseball bat 400.
FIG. 5 is a view of a person wearing a gripping pad 100 on each hand 200 holding a baseball bat 400, such that all four fingers of each hand 200 are inserted in the four finger holes of a respective gripping pad 100, each hand 200 gripping the baseball bat 400 so as to press the pad area of each gripping pad 100 around the handle of the baseball bat 400.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a second embodiment 600 of a gripping pad having four finger holes 102, a pad area 104, a concave feature 106, and an extended portion 602 configured to protect the hamate bone of a hand when this embodiment 600 is worn so as to place the extended portion 602 under the smallest finger such that the extended portion 602 can cover the knob of a baseball bat when the hand grips the handle of the baseball bat.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the second embodiment 600 of FIG. 6 showing how the extended portion 602 (not shown) is captured in cushioning relationship between the knob of the bat 400 and the hamate bone of the hand 200 when the hand 200 grips the bat 400, thereby protecting the hamate bone, also showing the smallest finger 202' extending through one of the four finger holes 102' nearest to the extended portion 602.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the second embodiment 600 of FIG. 6 showing how the extended portion 602 is captured in cushioning relationship between the knob 800 of the bat 400 and the hamate bone 802 of the hand 200 as the hand 200 grips the bat 400, thereby protecting the hamate bone 802, also showing the smallest finger 102' extending through one of the four finger holes 102' nearest to the extended portion 602.
FIG. 9 is a front view of the second embodiment 600 of FIG. 6 showing the knob 800 of the bat 400 resting on the extended portion 602 of the gripping pad 600, and showing how the extended portion 602 is positioned so as to be captured in cushioning relationship between the knob 800 of the bat 400 and the hamate bone 802 of the hand 200 when the hand 200 grips the bat 400, thereby protecting the hamate bone 802, also showing the smallest finger 202' extending through one of the four finger holes 102' nearest to the extended portion 602.
FIG. 10 is a top view of a hand 200 wearing the first embodiment 100 of the gripping pad, the fingers 202 grasping a golf club 1000, the pad area 104 captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand 200 and the grip of the golf club 1000, showing the side of the pad area 104.
FIG. 11 is a top view of the hand 200 of FIG. 10 in an open position and wearing the first embodiment 100 of the gripping pad, showing all four fingers 202 inserted into all four finger holes 102, while the grip 1002 of the golf club 1000 rests on the pad area 104 before the hand 200 grasps the golf club 1000.
FIG. 12 is a top view of a hand 200 lifting a heavy dumbbell 1200 and wearing the first embodiment 100 of the gripping pad, showing the top portions of the four finger holes 102 of the gripping pad 100, and showing all four fingers 202 inserted through the finger holes 102, the bottom of the rough surface of the handle of the dumbbell 1200 resting on the pad area 104 of the gripping pad 100, the pad area 104 captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand 200 and the rough surface of the handle of the dumbbell 1200, while the fingers 202 and thumb grasp the top of the rough surface of the handle of the dumbbell 1200.
FIG. 13 is a top view of the hand 200 of FIG. 12 lifting the heavy dumbbell 1200, showing how the pad area 104 of the gripping pad 100 bears the weight of the dumbbell 1200, also showing the top portions of the four finger holes 102 of the gripping pad 100, while the fingers 202 and thumb grasp the top of the rough surface of the handle of the dumbbell 1200.
FIG. 14 is a top view of the hand 200 of FIG. 12 wearing the gripping pad 100, and then placing the pad area 104 of the gripping pad 100 under the textured handle of the heavy dumbbell 1200 before grasping the handle and lifting the dumbbell 1200.
FIG. 15 is a side view of a hand 200 grasping the handle of a hammer 1500 while wearing the gripping pad 100, showing three top portions of the finger holes 102 of the gripping pad 100, the pad area 104 captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand 200 and the handle 1502 of the hammer 1500 so as to absorb impact shocks transmitted from the hammer head 104 to the palm via the handle 1502.
FIG. 16 is a front view of the hand 200 of FIG. 15 wearing the gripping pad 100 while grasping the handle 1502 of the hammer 1500, the four fingers 202 clearly seen extending through the four finger holes 102, the pad area 104 (not shown) captured in cushioning relationship between the palm of the hand 200 and the left side of the handle 1502 of the hammer 1500.
FIG. 17 is a side view of the hammer 1500 resting on the pad area 104 of the gripping pad 100 before the hand 200 closes around the handle 1502 of the hammer 1500, placing the gripping pad 100 in cushioning relationship so as to absorb impact shocks, the four fingers 202 extending through the finger holes 102 (not shown) of the gripping pad 100.
Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims
Patent Application
20230120517
