GRIP ASSIST GLOVE

Abstract

A grip assist glove designed to improve the grip, dexterity, and independence of individuals with limited hand and wrist strength. The glove comes in multiple variations including a compression-style full finger glove and an open fingers glove. The glove includes a webbing positioned between the index finger and thumb sleeves. The webbing contains a continuous channel to securely hold handles of utensils, such as writing and eating implements, enabling users to maintain a firm grip without relying on physical strength. In some embodiments, the glove includes a palm side portion, a back side portion, and finger sleeves, wherein in other embodiments, the glove does not include finger sleeves but only includes index finger sleeve and a thumb sleeve. The glove provides support, stability, and improved grip, enabling users to write, type, operate touchscreen devices, and perform various activities independently.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of gloves. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel grip assist glove that includes a webbing between a thumb covering sleeve and an index finger covering sleeve for holding a handheld utensil, thereby enabling users to maintain a tighter grip on items to use them efficiently without any assistance. The glove comes in both open finger and full finger versions and is available in various skin tones. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, limited dexterity and strength in an individual's hands and wrists can significantly impact their ability to perform essential tasks, such as feeding themselves, manipulating hygiene instruments, and using writing utensils. For example, individuals with limited hand and wrist strength may struggle to hold and manipulate utensils while eating. Such individuals can find it challenging to scoop food, hold cutlery securely, or maintain control over the utensils. Limited dexterity and strength can also affect the ability to use writing utensils, such as pens, pencils, or paintbrushes. Gripping and controlling these implements becomes difficult, making it challenging to write, draw, or engage in artistic endeavors.

Commonly, individuals with limited dexterity and strength need help from other individuals for feeding and in writing and doing other artistic work. Asking for such help is embarrassing for individuals and moreover, is not always readily available. The unavailability of help further can exacerbate the challenges in carrying out everyday activities, leading to a sense of frustration and helplessness.

Commercially available devices to help individuals in improving dexterity are expensive and require professional help. Furthermore, therapies to improve gripping are expensive and time consuming. Individuals desire an easy and cost-effective device to help them maintain a tighter grip on items without any assistance.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for an efficient and easy-to-use device to help individuals maintain better grips on handheld items like pencils and eating/hygiene utensils. There is also a long felt need in the art for a device that enables users to maintain a tighter grip on items to use them efficiently without any assistance. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that is in the form of a glove and allows users with the ability to hold and use the utensils without having to physically grip them. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a compression-style glove that has a webbing between the thumb and index finger portion to hold a utensil or instrument. Further, there is a long felt need in the art of a glove that helps individuals to maintain a firm and secure grip on a writing utensil, eating utensil, hygiene instrument, and the like. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a modified glove that makes individuals with limited dexterity and strength independent by enabling them to easily maintain a tighter grip on different handheld items.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a grip assist glove for enhancing a user's grip on handheld items. The glove features a double-layer construction with a top layer and an inner layer enabling the glove to withstand regular use and provide long-lasting support, a palm side portion to cover a palm of a hand, a back side portion to cover a posterior region of the hand, and a compression style wrist covering portion, finger sleeves extending from the palm side portion to accommodate respective fingers of the user's hand, including a thumb sleeve and an index finger sleeve, a durable and flexible webbing positioned between the index finger sleeve and the thumb sleeve to facilitate the use of eating and writing utensils without requiring a strong grip, wherein the webbing includes a continuous channel extending along the length thereof to securely hold a utensil in place, preventing slippage or rotation during use, and the webbing having a top opening and a bottom opening, with the channel extending between the top opening and the bottom opening.

In this manner, the grip assist glove of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides individuals with an improved glove designed to help them maintain better grips on handheld items such as writing, eating, and hygiene utensils. The glove addresses the challenges faced by individuals with limited hand strength and dexterity and provides a supportive and functional design with a webbing to support handheld utensils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a grip assist glove for enhancing a user's grip on handheld items. The glove can be worn like any conventional glove and further comprises a double-layer construction with a top layer and an inner layer, a palm side portion, a back side portion, and a compression style wrist covering portion for covering the hand of a user, finger sleeves extending from the palm side portion to accommodate respective fingers of the user's hand, including a thumb sleeve and an index finger sleeve, a webbing positioned between the index finger sleeve and the thumb sleeve to facilitate the use of eating/hygiene and writing utensils without requiring a strong grip, wherein the webbing includes a continuous channel extending along the length thereof to securely hold a utensil/instrument in place, preventing slippage or rotation during use, and the webbing having a top opening and a bottom opening, with the channel extending between the top opening and the bottom opening.

In yet another embodiment, the webbing is made of a flexible and textured material that enhances the user's grip on utensils/instruments and prevents slippage during use.

In a further embodiment, an open fingers grip assist glove designed to provide greater dexterity and tactile sensitivity is disclosed. The glove further includes a palm side portion configured to cover the palm area of a user's hand and a back side portion configured to cover the posterior portion of the user's hand, a wrist covering portion ensuring a snug fit around the user's wrist when wearing the glove, an index finger sleeve covering the index finger and a thumb sleeve covering the thumb, a webbing positioned in the glove to create a pocket or bridge-like structure between the index finger sleeve and the thumb sleeve, enabling easy insertion and removal of utensils, wherein the webbing having a top opening and a bottom opening, with a continuous channel extending between the openings to securely accommodate and hold a portion of a utensil/instrument, preventing slippage or rotation during use.

In a further embodiment, a method of using a grip assist glove for enhancing grip and dexterity while performing tasks is described. The method comprising the steps of providing a grip assist glove comprising a palm side portion, a back side portion, a wrist covering portion, and finger sleeves configured to cover respective fingers of a user's hand, wearing the grip assist glove on the hand, with the palm side portion covering the palm region and the back side portion covering the posterior region of the hand, inserting a utensil through a webbing positioned between the index finger sleeve and the thumb sleeve, with the webbing comprising a continuous channel extending between top and bottom openings of the webbing, securing the utensil within the channel of the webbing, preventing slippage or rotation of the utensil during use, gripping the utensil with the grip assist glove using a reduced level of physical force, as the webbing provides support and stability to the utensil, and performing tasks such as writing, drawing, eating, or using handheld devices, with improved grip, control, and dexterity facilitated by the grip assist glove.

Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a grip assist glove of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an open fingers grip assist glove of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing an eating utensil secured in a fingerless grip assist glove of FIG. 2 in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a user holding and gripping a toothbrush using the fingerless glove of FIG. 2 in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing the grip assist glove of FIG. 1 worn by a user and holding an eating utensil in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for an efficient and easy-to-use device to help individuals maintain better grips on handheld items, for example, writing, eating, and hygiene utensils. There is also a long felt need in the art for a device that enables users to maintain a tighter grip on items to use them efficiently without any assistance. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that is in the form of a glove and allows users with the ability to hold and use the utensils without having to physically grip them. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a compression-style glove that has a webbing between the thumb and index finger portion to hold a utensil. Further, there is a long felt need in the art of a glove that helps individuals to maintain a firm and secure grip on a writing utensil, eating utensil, and the like. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a modified glove that makes individuals with limited dexterity and strength independent by enabling them to easily maintain a tighter grip on different handheld items.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a method of using a grip assist glove for enhancing grip and dexterity while performing tasks. The method comprising the steps of providing a grip assist glove comprising a palm side portion, a back side portion, a wrist covering portion, wearing the grip assist glove on the hand, with the palm side portion covering the palm region and the back side portion covering the posterior region of the hand, inserting a utensil through a webbing positioned between the index finger sleeve and the thumb sleeve of the glove, with the webbing comprising a continuous channel extending between top and bottom openings of the webbing, securing the utensil within the channel of the webbing, preventing slippage or rotation of the utensil during use, gripping the utensil with the grip assist glove using a reduced level of physical force, as the webbing provides support and stability to the utensil, and performing tasks such as writing, drawing, eating, or using handheld devices, with improved grip, control, and dexterity facilitated by the grip assist glove.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of grip assist glove of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The grip assist glove 100 of the present invention is designed as an improved compression-style full finger glove to help individuals maintain better grips on handheld items, for example, a pencil, a pen, an eating utensil, and more. More specifically, the grip assist glove 100 has a double-layer construction and includes an outer layer 102 and an inner layer 104. The two layers 102, 104 are configured for providing an added level of durability and functionality and ensuring that the glove 100 can withstand regular use and provide long-lasting support to the user.

For covering the hand of a user, the glove 100 has a palm side portion 106, a back side portion 108, and a compression style wrist covering portion 110. A thumb sleeve 112, an index finger sleeve 114, a middle finger sleeve 116, a ring finger sleeve 118 and a pinky finger sleeve 120 extend from the palm side portion 106 and are configured to accommodate respective fingers of the hand of a user. The palm side portion 106 covers the palm (anterior) region of the hand of a user and the back side portion 108 covers posterior region of the hand of the user. The glove 100 includes a webbing 122 positioned between the index finger sleeve 114 and the thumb sleeve 112 to facilitate securement and use of eating and writing utensils without the need for a strong grip.

The webbing 122 includes a continuous channel 124 along a length of the webbing 122 designed to hold a utensil firmly in place, preventing the utensil from slipping or rotating during use. A handle of a utensil is slid through the channel 124 for accommodating through the webbing 122. The webbing material used in the glove 100 is typically strong, durable, and flexible and is capable of withstanding repeated use and maintaining its shape and integrity over time. The webbing 122 has a top opening 126 and a bottom opening 128 and the channel 124 extends between the top opening 126 and the bottom opening 128. The sleeves 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 are designed to leave distal phalangeal portion of fingers open enabling a user to help grip a utensil effectively as illustrated in FIG. 5.

A top split or slit 130 is formed in outer layer 102 of the glove 100 and preferably in the palm side portion 106 enabling improved flexibility and thereby helping the glove 100 to adapt for different hand movements and grip positions while maintaining a secure fit on the hand.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an open fingers grip assist glove of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The open fingers grip assist glove 200 is designed for individuals who like to keep their fingers free and thus allows greater dexterity and tactile sensitivity. The fingerless glove 200 allows users to easily perform tasks that require fine motor skills, such as typing on a keyboard, operating touchscreen devices, and more. The glove 200 has a palm side portion 202 configured to cover palm area of the hand of a user and has a back side portion 204 configured to cover posterior portion of the hand of the user. A wrist covering portion 206 helps the glove to snugly fit around the wrist of a user wearing the glove 200.

An index finger sleeve 208 is designed to cover the index finger and a thumb sleeve 210 is designed to cover the thumb of a user. A webbing 212 is positioned in the glove 200 for creating a pocket or bridge-like structure between the index finger sleeve 208 and the thumb sleeve 210. The webbing 212 can be made of the same material as of the glove 200 and alternatively, can be manufactured of different materials. The webbing 212 has a top opening 214 and a bottom opening 216 with a continuous channel 218 extended between the openings 214, 216 for accommodating and securing a portion of a utensil without slippage or rotation of the utensil during use. The openings 214, 216 and the channel 218 are wide enough to accommodate writing and eating utensils ensuring a secure fit while enabling easy insertion and removal of a utensil.

The fingerless glove 200 has a continuous top opening 220 in the palm portion 202 for accommodating middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger of a user. The fingerless glove 200 provides improved tactile sensitivity to a user wearing the glove 200. Similar to the glove 100, the fingerless glove 200 also has a top split or slit 222 for improved flexibility and dexterity of the user while using a utensil.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing an eating utensil secured in fingerless grip assist glove 200 of FIG. 2 in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As illustrated, the eating utensil 300 is secured along in the webbing 212 by inserting the utensil 300 through the channel 218 such that the bottom end 302 of the utensil 300 is positioned below the bottom opening 216 and the feeding end 304 of the utensil 300 is positioned above the top opening 214. The channel 218 secures the utensil 300 and prevents any slippage and turning of the utensil. The index finger 306 and thumb 308 are used by the user for maintaining a secure position without exerting much pressure and therefore, provide stability and control by minimizing slippage or rotation of utensils during use.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a user holding and gripping a toothbrush using the fingerless glove 200 of FIG. 2 in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As illustrated, a toothbrush 400 is slid across the webbing 212 such that the toothbrush 400 remains stable and secure in the desired position. The user can simply grip the toothbrush 400 using the index finger 402 and the thumb 404, thereby maintaining a strong grip without applying a great deal of pressure. The webbing 212 conforms to the shape of the toothbrush 400 and also helps in smooth movement of the index finger 402 and the thumb 404.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing the grip assist glove of FIG. 1 worn by a user and holding an eating utensil in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The grip assistant glove 100 can be used for holding any type of handheld writing or eating utensils in a secure and tight grip. As illustrated, an eating utensil 500 is slid across the webbing 122 positioned between the thumb sleeve 112 and the index finger sleeve 114. The utensil 500 is slid in a desired orientation to use the utensil 500 effectively for eating. The distal phalangeal portion 502 of fingers are open for providing improved grip and tactile sensation. It should be noted that the webbing 122 can be designed specifically for holding specific types of writing utensils, hygiene utensils, and/or eating utensils.

In some embodiments, the webbing of the glove of different embodiments of the present invention can have more than one channel for holding more than one utensil. In one exemplary arrangement, the glove can include a pair of channels for securing a pair of chopsticks.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “grip assistant glove”, “open fingers grip assist glove”, “fingerless glove”, “fingerless grip assist glove”, and “glove” are interchangeable and refer to the grip assist glove 100, 200 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the grip assist glove 100, 200 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the grip assist glove 100, 200 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the grip assist glove 100, 200 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the grip assist glove 100, 200 are important design parameters for user convenience, the grip assist glove 100, 200 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

1. A grip assist glove comprising: a glove having finger sleeves, a palm side portion, a back side portion, a wrist covering portion, an outer layer, an inner layer, and a webbing;wherein said finger sleeves having a thumb sleeve, an index finger sleeve, a middle finger sleeve, a ring finger sleeve, and a pinky finger sleeve extending from said palm side portion;wherein said palm side portion covers a palm region of a hand of a user and said back side portion covers a posterior region of the hand of the user; andfurther wherein said webbing having a channel extending along a length of said webbing and positioned between said index finger sleeve and said thumb sleeve for securing a handle of a utensil therein.

2. The grip assist glove of claim 1, wherein the handle of the utensil is slid through said channel.

3. The grip assist glove of claim 2, wherein said webbing is flexible.

4. The grip assist glove of claim 3, wherein said channel having a top opening and a bottom opening.

5. The grip assist glove of claim 4, wherein each said finger sleeve covers a first portion of the fingers of the wearer and exposes a distal phalangeal second portion of the fingers.

6. The grip assist glove of claim 5, wherein said utensil is selected from a group consisting of a writing instrument, an eating instrument, and a hygiene instrument.

7. The grip assist glove of claim 6, wherein said outer layer of said palm portion having a slit under said thumb sleeve for flexibility of said thumb sleeve.

8. A grip assist glove comprising: a grip assist glove having finger sleeves, a palm side portion, a back side portion, a wrist covering portion, an outer layer, an inner layer, and a webbing;wherein said finger sleeves having a thumb sleeve and an index finger sleeve extending from said palm side portion;wherein said palm side portion covers a palm region of a hand of a user and said back side portion covers a posterior region of the hand of the user; andfurther wherein said webbing having a channel extending along a length of said webbing and positioned between said index finger sleeve and said thumb sleeve for securing a handle of a utensil therein.

9. The grip assist glove of claim 8, wherein the handle of the utensil is slid through said channel.

10. The grip assist glove of claim 9, wherein said webbing is flexible.

11. The grip assist glove of claim 10, wherein said channel having a top opening and a bottom opening.

12. The grip assist glove of claim 11, wherein each said finger sleeve covers a first portion of the fingers of the wearer and exposes a distal phalangeal second portion of the fingers.

13. The grip assist glove of claim 12, wherein said utensil is selected from a group consisting of a writing instrument, an eating instrument, and a hygiene instrument.

14. The grip assist glove of claim 13, wherein said outer layer of said palm portion having a slit under said thumb sleeve for flexibility of said thumb sleeve.

15. A grip assist glove comprising: a glove having finger sleeves, a palm side portion, a back side portion, a wrist covering portion, an outer layer, an inner layer, a webbing, and a top opening;wherein said top opening having an opening for a wearer's middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger to extend therethrough;wherein said finger sleeves having a thumb sleeve and an index finger sleeve extending from said palm side portion;wherein said palm side portion covers a palm region of a hand of a user and said back side portion covers a posterior region of the hand of the user; andfurther wherein said webbing having a channel extending along a length of said webbing and positioned between said index finger sleeve and said thumb sleeve for securing a handle of a utensil therein.

16. The grip assist glove of claim 15, wherein the handle of the utensil is slid through said channel.

17. The grip assist glove of claim 16, wherein said webbing is flexible.

18. The grip assist glove of claim 17, wherein said channel having a top opening and a bottom opening.

19. The grip assist glove of claim 18, wherein each said finger sleeve covers a first portion of the fingers of the wearer and exposes a distal phalangeal second portion of the fingers.

20. The grip assist glove of claim 19, wherein said utensil is selected from a group consisting of a writing instrument, an eating instrument, and a hygiene instrument.