GRIP IMPROVING DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A grip to be worn on the hands to improve the grip on held equipment, while maintaining sensibility and protecting the skin during activities. The grip includes a shaped sheet and an adhesive layer adhereable to skin. The shaped sheet includes a central portion, between-the-fingers and between-finger-and-wrist appendices extending from a perimeter edge of the central portion. The perimeter edge extends and covers beyond a palm of the hand when applied thereto, with the between-the-fingers appendices adhering around at least one finger and back on the palm of the hand or on the back of the hand and the between-finger-and-wrist adhering to the back of the hand. A removable protective film covers the adhesive layer, and includes a plurality of removable sectors. The sectors can include a central portion subdivided into three or more segments, and the between-the-fingers and between-finger-and-wrist appendices that can be subdivided into two or more segments.

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present technology relates to a grip improving device, system and method for use in connection with facilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands over an object. The present technology relates to a device to be worn on the hands and developed to facilitate and improve the grip of the hands over the equipments of various kinds, in particular, but without limitation, sport equipments like tennis rackets, golf clubs, baseball bats and the like or to improve the grip over the ball in sports like basket, rugby or American football and the like or to improve the grip over various working tools, and at the same time maintaining sensibility and protecting the skin of the hand of the user during these activities.

Background Description

Many sports or working tasks require a firm grip on equipment. A correct grip together with great sensibility is fundamental to obtain the best control of the equipment and it is therefore very important, for example, in professional sports. Typically, grip and sensibility over the handle of the racket are essential in tennis to have maximal control and so the precision of the shot. The same applies to other sports, such as golf, to obtain the most accurate trajectories of the ball, or in other sports for the greatest accuracy in throwing a ball.

Nowadays this is achieved by covering the surface of the equipment to be gripped, or the ball to be thrown, with special films, wherein the surfaces of these films are always in contact with the human skin. However, this contact may not be optimal, as, in fact, the human skin was not naturally predisposed by evolution for this function. Especially, for example, in the case of sweating, as very often occurs when playing sports, the grip becomes unsecure and not firm, with loss of sensibility and increased risk of skin injuries.

In some sports gloves are used; however, due to their thickness and their sliding movements relative to the skin of the hand, they reduce sensibility and are therefore not usable in many sports or activities.

A clear example of the existing need for system improving the grip firmness is given by tennis, wherein many players, especially professional players, apply plasters to their fingers for grip improvement and skin protection. These attempts give, however, poor results since they only involve the small surface of the fingers, and not the whole palm of the hand. In fact, attempts to apply plasters or adhesive strips to partially cover the hand palm fail because the plasters or adhesive strips quickly detach from the skin of the hand for the mechanical interaction and friction made by the equipment on the perimeter edge of the plasters or adhesive strips with the skin, and they get very quickly peeled off from the skin.

Other known gripping devices are capable of being affixed to the palm side of a hand utilizing an adhesive. These devices are used to increase grip or to protect the palm side of the hand. However, these devices are difficult to apply, and may have border or edges that are exposed on the palm side, thereby leading to these edges to be peeled off the skin and rendering the devices useless. Still further, some of these devices do not completely cover the palm of the hand, thereby resulting in a disadvantage that the present technology overcomes.

The frictions and tractions exerted by sport equipment over the palm of the hand are strong enough to peel off these known devices from the skin by any exposed border between the sheet of the device and the skin of the hand. This leads to the notion that the area of the palm of the hand, where these frictions and tractions are exerted, must be completely covered by the sheet of the devices, and all its borders must be brought away from this palm area and on to the back of the hand. Without this complete coverage of the palm, these known devices can peel off the hands after only a very short time of use.

Still further, these known devices lack specifically configured removable film sector that are configured in a such a way for specific sequential removal. This lack of sequentially removable sectors by in these known devices results in improper application to the hand which cannot be fixed by removing and replacing. This is because the typical skin suited adhesives of these known devices lose much of their adhesive property after the first application, and thus results in a one-time application. These known devices must be applied properly the first time, which is difficult because they typically have a single removable protective film that covers the entire device.

Even known devices that may include a few removable film sections, still lends to the same problem since the hand, to which these devices are being applied on, has many separate and independent movable zones, and these few removable sections are not sufficient for proper application.

Improper application of these known devices to the hand may result in wrinkles, which can tear or rip during use or create pressure points to the hand resulting in sores, blisters or the like. These wrinkles cannot be pressed or smoothed out, as prohibited by its adhesive.

It is therefore desirable to provide a device that overcomes or limits the abovementioned problems and drawbacks.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned devices or systems do not describe a grip improving device, system and method that allows facilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands over an object.

A need exists for a new and novel grip improving device, system and method that can be used for facilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands over an object. In this regard, the present technology substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the grip improving device, system and method according to the present technology substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of facilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands over an object.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of grip devices, the present technology provides a novel grip improving device, system and method, and overcomes one or more of the mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of these known grip devices. As such, the general purpose of the present technology, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and novel grip improving device, system and method and method which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a grip improving device, system and method which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

According to one aspect, the present technology can include a grip system to facilitate gripping of an object. The grip system can include a shaped sheet including a first surface and an adhesive layer, and a removable protective film covering the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer can be configured to adhere to skin of a hand of a user. The shaped sheet can include a central portion, and one or more between-the-fingers, between-finger-and-wrist and wrist appendices that can extend from a perimeter edge of the central portion. The perimeter edge of the central portion can be configured to extend and cover beyond a palm of the hand when applied thereto. The one or more of the between-the-fingers appendices can be configured to adhere to a back of the hand or around at least one finger and back on the palm of the hand and one or more of the between-finger-and-wrist appendices can be configured to adhere to a back of the hand or to a back of the hand and extend beyond partially back on the palm of the hand. The protective film can cover the adhesive layer and can have a same configuration as the shaped sheet. The protective film can include a plurality of separate and independently removable sectors. The plurality of sectors can include a film central portion configured to cover the central portion of the shaped sheet. The protective film central portion can be subdivided into three or more film central portion segments, and wherein the sectors of the protective film covering the between-the-fingers and between-finger-and-wrist appendices can be subdivided into two or more segments.

According to another aspect, the present technology can include a method of using a grip system. The method can include the steps of removing a first sector of a protective film covering an adhesive layer of a first between-the-finger appendix of a shaped sheet and adhering to a hand of a user, and then removing a second sector of the protective film covering the first between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand. Removing a third sector of the protective film covering a second between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a fourth sector of the protective film covering the second between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand. Removing a fifth sector of the protective film covering a first part of the central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand. Removing a sixth sector of the protective film covering a third between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a seventh sector of the protective film covering the third between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand. Removing an eighth sector of the protective film covering a second part of the central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a ninth sector of the protective film covering a third part of the central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand. Removing a tenth sector of the protective film covering a fourth between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing an eleventh sector of the protective film covering the fourth between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand. Removing a twelfth sector of the protective film covering a first between-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a thirteenth sector of the protective film covering the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix and adhering to the hand. Removing a fourteenth sector of the protective film covering a second between-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand.

In some embodiments, the method can further include the steps of removing a fifteenth sector of the protective film covering the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix and adhering to the hand, and then removing a sixteenth sector of the protective film covering the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix and adhering to the hand.

In some embodiments, the segments of the protective film can each configured to be removed in a specific order to apply an exposed area of the adhesive layer, respectively, to the skin of the user in a specific sequential order for proper placement of the sheet on the hand.

In some embodiments, the central portion can have a dimension and can be provided with the appendices configured to cover completely the palm of the hand, so that the perimeter edge outside a surface of the hand palm.

In some embodiments, the perimeter edge of the central portion can be configured to be partially adhered to the back of the hand.

In some embodiments, the first surface can have a predetermined coefficient of friction.

In some embodiments, the first surface can have a surface treatment configured to increase a coefficient of friction thereof.

In some embodiments, the between-the-fingers appendices can be configured to be arranged in respective spaces between adjacent fingers when the shaped sheet is applied to the hand. The one or more between-the-fingers appendices can each have a dimension sufficient to adhere to the back of the hand.

In some embodiments, the one or more between-the-fingers appendices can be a first between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between a middle finger and a ring finger of the hand, a second between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between the middle finger and an index finger of the hand, a third between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between the ring finger and a little finger of the hand, and a fourth between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between the index finger and a thumb of the hand.

Some embodiments of the present technology can include at least one first between-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere to the back of the hand. The first between-finger-and-wrist appendix can extend between the thumb and a wrist of the hand.

Some embodiments of the present technology can include at least one second between-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere to the back of the hand extending between the little finger and the wrist.

In some embodiments, the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix can be configured to overlap the fourth between-the-finger appendix on the back of the hand.

In some embodiments, the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix can be configured to overlap the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix, and the fourth between-the-finger appendix on the back of the hand.

In some embodiments, the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix can be configured to extend between the thumb and the wrist, and overlap a section of the central portion on a palm side of the hand.

Some embodiments of the present technology can include a wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere to the palm side of the hand associated with the wrist.

In some embodiments, a free end of the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix can be configured to overlap a section of the central portion and a section of the wrist appendix.

In some embodiments, the one or more between-the-fingers appendices, the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix and the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix can each include a first width and a second width greater than the first width.

In some embodiments, the shaped sheet can include perforations defined therethrough.

In some embodiments, the perforations can be defined through at least one of the one or more between-the-fingers appendices and through the central portion.

In some embodiments, the perforations can be radially distributed through the central portion.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, features of the present technology in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present technology will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of the present technology, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present technology when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present technology. It is, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present technology.

It is therefore an object of the present technology to provide a new and novel grip improving device, system and method that has all of the advantages of the known grip devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present technology to provide a new and novel grip improving device, system and method that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

An even further object of the present technology is to provide a new and novel grip improving device, system and method that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, being manufactured by laser-cutting machines, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such grip improving device, system and method economically available to the buying public.

Still another object of the present technology is to provide a new grip improving device, system and method that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the present technology, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present technology, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present technology, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the present technology. Whilst multiple objects of the present technology have been identified herein, it will be understood that the claimed present technology is not limited to meeting most or all of the objects identified and that some embodiments of the present technology may meet only one such object or none at all.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present technology will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plane view of an embodiment of the grip improving system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present technology.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the grip improving system taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear plane view of the grip improving system showing the protective film and sectors.

FIG. 4 is a front plane view of the grip improving system showing the appendices.

FIG. 5 is a rear plane view of the grip improving system showing the protective film and removable sectors.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the grip improving system applied to the palm side of the hand, with phantom lines depicting environmental structure and forming no part of the claimed present technology.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the grip improving system applied to the back side of the hand.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the grip improving system applied to the palm side of the hand including arrows showing application direction.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the grip improving system applied to the back side of the hand including arrows showing application direction.

FIG. 10 is a front plane view of the grip improving system showing the pentagon-like central section of the present technology.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix being applied to the back side of the hand with its first protective film sector removed.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the grip improvising system being prepared for initial application with the first sector of the first between-the-finger appendix being removed while being held in a hand.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view showing the first between-the-finger appendix being applied around the middle finger and back toward the palm side.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view showing the first between-the-finger appendix passing between the index and middle fingers, and being applied to the palm side of the hand.

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view showing the second between-the-finger appendix passing between the index finger and thumb, and being applied to the palm side of the hand near the already applied first between-the-finger appendix.

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view showing one of the protective film sectors of the central portion being removed for application to the palm side of the hand overlapping the already applied first and second first between-the-finger appendices.

FIG. 17 is a front plane view of the protective film of the grip including engravings or markings.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the grip in a folded or packaged state.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular embodiments, procedures, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present technology. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present technology may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-18, an exemplary embodiment of the grip improving device, system and method of the present technology is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. While the grip 10 in the figures is shown for a left hand, it can be appreciated that the grip 10 can be manufacture and/or utilized for a right hand or both.

The present technology can be a disposable device developed to facilitate and improve the grip of the hands over sport equipments, sport balls, working tools or any other object graspable by a hand, while maintaining sensibility. The grip 10 of the present technology can include seven or more appendices and fourteen or more sectors of protective film. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify equal elements. Furthermore, it can be appreciated that the grip 10 illustrated in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and can vary in size to accommodate difference sized hands. The detailed description below describes exemplary embodiments of the present technology.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the grip 10 can include a shaped sheet made 12 of a synthetic, semi-synthetic or natural material, with a first surface 14 and a second surface or protective film 18 opposite to the first surface 14, whose thickness is comprised between 100 and 2000 μm (micrometers), based upon the type or activity for which the grip 10 is intended, to achieve optimal results. In fact, optimal results can be achieved if sensibility is maintained during use and sensibility is maintained with a quite thin thickness of the shaped sheet 12, which may be made of a very soft material that can adapt itself to the shape of the hand.

The first surface 14 of the shaped sheet 12 can have a high coefficient of friction specific for the particular use for which the grip 10 is intended for use in different sport or working activities.

Over or adjacent with the first surface 14 of the shaped sheet has been applied a layer of an adhesive 16 compatible for adhesion with the human skin, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The adhesive layer 16 can be suitable to stay into contact with the skin for a long time with no harm and which is removable from the skin. Typically, the adhesive 16 can belong to the chemical family of the adhesives used for sticking plasters.

The second surface can be a removable protective film 18 that can be applied over or adjacent with the adhesive layer 16, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The protective film 18 can be divided in several sectors 20, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, where different sectors 20 are separated by separation lines 22, shown as broken or dashed lines. These sectors 20 can be removed from the adhesive layer 16 independently from each other. This protective film 18 can be treated, for example but without limitation, with a silicon-like product so that it can be easily peeled off the layer of adhesive 16 applied on the first surface 14 of the shaped sheet 12.

The shaped sheet 12 can include a plurality of appendices A, B, C, D, E, F and G, which extend from the central portion H. It can be appreciated that the appendices A-G may be somewhat different in shape from what is illustrated in the figures, and can be different in shape each from the other. The grip 10 can include sufficient appendices to be firmly fixed on of the hand, as will be explained below. Also, the appendices A-G can be configured to extend between-fingers, between finger-and wrist, or to and/or around a wrist of the hand, and can be shaped and sized in such a way that in so extending they cooperate with the central portion H in completely covering the palm of the hand, especially the area where friction will be exerted during use. All perimeter edges of the shaped sheet 12 can be brought or extended out of this area of friction and on the back of the hand, as described below and shown in FIGS. 6-9.

In the exemplary embodiments, the shaped sheet 12 can include:

• • four or more between-fingers appendices A, B, C, D, as they extend between two adjacent fingers;
  • two or more between-finger-and-wrist appendices E, F, as they extend between a finger and the wrist;
  • one or more wrist appendix G, as it extends to and/or around the wrist.

In particular each appendix, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for easier understanding, can extend from the central portion H, as below described:

The shaped sheet 12 can include perforations 24 defined through the first surface 14 and the adhesive layer 16, and further can be defined through the protective film 18. The perforations 24 can be configured to reduce the problems arising from sweating from the skin, thereby providing ventilation and/or aeration to the skin. In the exemplary, the perforations 24 can be associated with the central portion H, a first portion of the appendices A, B, C, and/or a second portion of the appendices A, B, C. The perforations 24 that can be associated with the central portion H can be configured in a radial pattern that radiate out from a central location, and with a section thereof extending further out that other sections toward the between-finger-and-wrist appendix E and/or the wrist appendix G.

The perforations 24 that can be associated with the first portion of the appendices A, B, C can be a straight line of perforations starting from an area adjacent to where the appendices A, B, C extend out from the central portion H.

The perforations 24 that can be associated with the second portion of the appendices A, B, C can have a circular or radial configuration.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, each, any or all of the appendices A-F can have a first width W1 extending from the central portion H, a second width W2 adjacent to and less than the first width W1, and a third width W3 adjacent to and less than the second width W2. It can be appreciated that the third width W3 can be greater than the first width W1.

Appendix A can extend between a ring finger and a little finger or pinky, then around the little finger and back on the palm of the hand.

Appendix B can extend between a middle finger and the ring finger, then around the middle finger or alternatively around the ring finger and back to the palm of the hand.

Appendix C can extend between the middle finger and an index finger, then around the index finger and back on the palm of the hand.

Appendix D can extend between the index finger and a thumb and then on the back of the hand. Further, appendix D can extend from the central portion H in a generally perpendicular direction in relation with appendix C and/or E.

Appendix E can extend between the thumb and the wrist and then to the back of the hand. Further, appendix E can extend from the central portion H in a generally perpendicular direction in relation with appendix D, and opposite from appendices A, B, C.

Appendix F can extend between the little finger and the wrist, then to the back of the hand and then around between the thumb and the wrist back to the palm side of the wrist, overlapping partially appendix E and partially appendix G. Further, Appendix F can extend from the central portion H in a generally perpendicular direction in relation with appendix A, and opposite of appendix D. Still further, appendix F can include a section that extends in a direction angled away from appendix A, thereby resulting in a first section extending from the central portion H at a first angle, and a second section extending from the first section at a second angle different from the first angle.

Appendix G can extend from the central portion H to palm side of the wrist. Appendix G can include one or more curved protruding sections with a trough section therebetween. The protruding sections can extend out from the central portion H further than the trough section, thereby extending further onto or past the wrist when appendix G is applied during use.

The overall stability of the grip 10 on the hand of the user during activity, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, can be made possible by:

• • the anchoring of appendices A, B, C around respective fingers and back on the hand palm where they are further overlapped and fixed by sectors of the central portion H which cover and stick these three appendices A, B, C on the hand palm;
  • the anchoring of appendix G on the wrist;
  • the partial overlapping of appendices D, E from one side and appendix F from the other on the back of the hand;
  • the further partial overlapping of appendix F from the back of the hand around between the thumb and the wrist with appendix E and then to the palm side of the wrist for partial overlapping with appendix G.

A challenge to be solved for the functionality of the present technology is how to wear the grip 10 on the hand, since it can be presented in a flat two dimensional shape and then transformed to a complex three dimensional anatomical shape of the human hand.

The challenge arises from the fact that, as anyone skilled in the art of knowledge of these skin-suited, pressure-sensitive adhesives knows, these adhesives cannot normally be used twice, meaning that the self-adhesive shaped sheet cannot be applied on the skin, then peeled off and then applied again without losing most of the adhesive power, which is important for the stability of the device. This is because most of the thin layer of adhesive will be used and lost after the first time, as normal experience with sticking strippers teaches. This means that, during the wearing process, there are no two chances, and no mistakes can be done by sticking parts of the self-adhesive first surface of the shaped sheet on wrong areas of itself making wrinkles that cannot afterward be rubbed or smoothed out, or on wrong areas of the skin and then removed, and that no portion of the first surface with the adhesive may be touched by the fingers of the hand used by the user to apply and wear the device on the opposite hand (a user applies the device on his left hand using his right hand, and vice versa).

Adapting the simple flat shape of the shaped sheet to the complex shape of the human hand, during the wearing procedure, can make these above said mistakes very hard to avoid.

A solution to this challenge, which the present technology overcomes, lies in the specifically planned design of the set of the many sectors 20 in which the protective film 18, covering the layer of adhesive 16 applied on the first surface 14 of the shaped sheet 12, is divided, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. An exemplary embodiment of the grip 10 can include fourteen or more sectors 20, with some embodiments including sixteen sectors, where the sectors 20 are delimited by the separation lines 22.

It is not only the number of sectors 20, associated with more for an easier wearing procedure, but also the planned shapes, dimensions and locations of each of the sectors 20 of the protective film 18 that make it possible to easily wear the grip 10 on the hand. This can be accomplished by removing one sector of protective film 18 and pressing and sticking the relative exposed adhesive 16 area to the skin of the hand, before proceeding with a next sector, following a preferred, specific sequential order so that none of the abovementioned mistakes are done in the wearing process.

This can be achieved by the user by separating the sectors 20 into a sequential ordered number of sectors 20(1)-20(16), as best illustrated in FIG. 5. These separate sectors 20(1)-20(16) of the protective film 18 can be removed from the adhesive layer 16 of each of the appendices A-G and the central portion H in sequential order starting from sector 20(1), then 20(2), and so on. A process for this can be accomplished by holding between the thumb and the index of the opposite hand (opposite to the one wearing the grip 10) the sector of protective film 18 next to the one the user has just removed and that was protecting the portion of first surface 14 the user is applying on the hand, as illustrated in FIG. 11. It can be appreciated that the sectors 20(4), 20(2), 20(7), 20(16), 20(13), 20(11) can be small enough, comparative to the other sectors, so that they can be removed and the exposed area of first surface 14 with the adhesive 16 can be applied on the hand without being touched by the fingers of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 6-9, which illustrates all the extensions of each appendix A-G, giving evidence of how the central portion H together with initial parts of each of the appendices A-G completely cover the area of the palm 7 of the hand 1, where the friction of the sport or working equipment will be exerted, leaving no borders between shaped sheet 12 and skin exposed in this area to the frictions and tractions exerted by the sport equipment or working tool. This must be accomplished because on these borders the shaped sheet 12 could easily be peeled off. At the same time the grip 10 is shows how the complex system of anchoring and overlapping among appendices A-G makes the grip 10 firm and stable on the hand 1 of the user during use, anchoring all described five sides of the central portion H. With reference to FIGS. 6-9, the hand 1 can include a thumb 2, an index finger 3, a middle finger 4, a ring finger 5, a pinky or little finger 6, a palm 7, a wrist 8 and/or a back 9 of the hand 1.

Tests of the present technology were performed with athletes over several years having proven necessary that the shaped sheet 12, after having been applied on the hand, should have no border edges between itself and the skin of the user that are exposed on the palm of the hand to friction of the sport or work equipment. This is an advantageous feature of the grip 10 over known devises, and without this feature the grip 10 may not be used properly and in an advantageous manner, since the grip 10 may quickly peel off the hand during use. Accordingly, no frictions are normally to be exerted on the back of the hand where all the border edges of the shaped sheet 12 are brought by the extension of all appendices A-G. FIGS. 6 and 8 clearly show that all the border or perimeter edges of the central portion H of the shaped sheet 12 are not located on the palm side of the hand, but are extended over to the back side of the hand, thereby leaving no border edge exposed to contact the object being gripped.

The sequential order of sectors 20(1)-20(16) described above is hereafter thoroughly described, for an embodiment of the grip 10 with seven appendices A-G and sixteen sectors 20(1)-20(16) of protective film 18, in the exemplary. Alternatively, this sequential order is so basic for the wearing process and for the functionality of the grip 10 that it can be printed on the sectors of the protective film of the final produced device as wearing instructions to the user, as best illustrated in FIG. 17, where some numbers look upside down because they will appear straight up to the user during the described wearing process. The exemplary printings or markings 30 can be, but not limited to, engraved into the protective film 18 using laser cutting or engraving techniques and/or machines. For example, it can be appreciated that after the user would remove sector “1” of the protective film 18 and then applied it to the hand as per the engraved direction arrow 32, the next sequential sector to be removed and applied would be sector “2”. Further in the exemplary, the engraving or marking can identify the grip 10 as for utilization with a left hand or right hand and/or a size 34 of the grip 10, for example grip size “5-7”.

The following exemplary steps 1 through 9, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, are provided for a complete understanding of the complex wearing procedure and its meaning for the stability of the grip 10 on the hand during use. It is pointed out that appendix G may not have its own sector but instead can be included with a portion of protective film 18 associated with and contiguous to sector 20(9) of the central portion H. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the specific extensions of each of the appendices A-G and their meaning for the stability of the grip 10 on the hand of the user.

Step 1: Sector 20(1) can be removed from appendix B, and the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix B can extend between the middle finger 4 and the ring finger 5, and around the middle finger 4, as best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 12-14, or, alternatively, around the ring finger 5, then adjacent sector 20(2) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesive area of this end of appendix B can be applied back on the palm 7 of the hand 1. Sector 20(1) can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(1-5) and 22(1-2), and sector 20(2) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(1-2).

Step 2: Sector 20(3) can be removed from appendix C, and the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix C can extend between the middle finger 4 and the index finger 3 and around the index finger 3, then the adjacent sector 20(4) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesive area of the end of appendix C can be applied back on the palm 7 of the hand 1, as best illustrated in FIG. 15. Sector 20(3) can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(3-5) and 22(3-4), and sector 20(4) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(3-4).

It can be appreciated that Steps 1 and 2 anchor appendices B and C strongly around their respective fingers. It can further be appreciated that Steps 1 and 2 position their respective appendices A, B, C around their respective fingers in a way that positions their corresponding perforations 24 on the back side 9 of the fingers that is opposite the central portion H, as best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9. The reason for this feature is not to help transpiration of sweating from those areas, but instead, to make, by the perforations, softer and more flexible the material of the shaped sheet of the between-the-finger appendices in those areas that must bend around the fingers.

Step 3: Sector 20(5) can be removed from the central portion H, as best illustrated in FIG. 16, and the relative exposed adhesive area of the central portion H can be applied on the palm 7 of the hand 1. Step 3 can create an overlapping of the exposed area of sector 20(5) over the endings of appendices B and C, anchoring these two appendices strongly on the palm 7 of the hand 1. Sector 20(5) of the central portion H can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(1-5), 22(3-5), 22(5-6), 22(5-8) and 22(5-10).

Step 4: Sector 20(6) can be removed from appendix A, and the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix A can then extend between the ring finger 5 and the little finger 6 and around the little finger 6, then adjacent sector 20(7) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesive area of the end of appendix A can be applied back on the palm 7 of the hand 1. Step 4 can anchor appendix A strongly around the little finger 6. Sector 20(6) can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(5-6) and 22(6-7), and sector 20(7) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(6-7).

Step 5: Sector 20(8) can be removed from the central portion H, and the relative exposed adhesive area of the central portion H can be applied onto the palm 7 of the hand 1. Step 5 can create an overlapping of the exposed area of sector 20(8) over the ending of appendix A, so strongly anchoring appendix A on the palm 7 of the hand 1. Sector 20(8) of the central portion H can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(5-8), 22(8-9), and 22(8-14). In some embodiments, the sector 20(8) can have a generally triangular configuration, as best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8.

Step 6: Sector 20(9) can be removed from the central portion H and from appendix G, sector 20(9) of the central portion H, and the relative exposed adhesive area of the central portion H can be applied on the palm area 7, then the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix G can be applied on the palm side 7 of the wrist 8. Sector 20(9) of the central portion H can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(8-9), and 22(9-12).

Step 7: Sector 20(10) can be removed from appendix D, and the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix D can then extend between the index finger 3 and the thumb 2 and then on the back 9 of the hand 1, then the adjacent sector 20(11) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesive area can be applied on the back 9 of the hand 1. Sector 20(10) can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(5-10) and 22(11-11), and sector 20(11) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(10-11).

Step 8: Sector 20(12) can be removed from appendix E, the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix E can extend between the thumb 2 and the wrist 8 and then on the back 9 of the hand 1, then the adjacent sector 20(13) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesive area can be applied on the back 9 of the hand 1. Sector 20(12) can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(9-12) and 22(12-13), and sector 20(13) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(12-13).

Step 9: Sector 20(14) can be removed from appendix F, the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix F can extend between the little finger 6 and the wrist 8 and then to the back 9 of the hand 1, then the adjacent sector 20(15) can be removed from appendix F, the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix F can be applied on the back 9 of the hand 1 and then around between the thumb 2 and the wrist 8 back toward the palm side 7 of the wrist 8, the adjacent sector 20(16) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix F partially overlaps the root of appendix E and the ending appendix G. Sector 20(14) can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(8-14) and 22(14-15), sector 20(15) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(14-15) and 22(15-16), and sector 20(16) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(15-16).

When the grip 10 is applied to the hand as describe above in Steps 1-9, the thumb and fingers are substantially exposed, with the thumb 2, index finger 3, middle finger 4, little finger 6 and wrist 8 being wrapped by their respective appendices A-G. This results in the ring finger 5 not being wrapped or associated with an appendix, there being five fingers but only four between-finger spaces. However, it can be appreciated that an additional appendix can be utilized around the ring finger 5.

In the alternative, the central portion H, which can have a pentagon-like shape with five sides, as best illustrated with the dotted lines in FIG. 10. This pentagon-like shape, in order to be kept firm and stable on the palm of the hand, can be anchored from each one of its five sides, since just the adhesive of the first surface 14 of the central portion H may not guarantee this firmness and stability, being a “skin-friendly” one and for this reason not too strong.

This wearing or application procedure is at least one key to the stability of the central portion H on the palm of the hand since the central portion H, which has a shape configured approximately like a pentagon (FIG. 10), can include:

• • one side anchored by appendix A, B, C;
  • one side anchored by appendix D;
  • one side anchored by appendix E;
  • one side anchored by appendix F; and
  • one side anchored by appendix G.

The five sides of the pentagon-like shape of the central portion H, shown in FIG. 10 with dashed lines, are determined as follows, where for each side is also described the anchoring provided by one or more appendices A-G:

Side V, facing the area in front of the four fingers: index, middle, ring and little fingers, is anchored around the fingers and back on the palm of the hand by the extensions of appendices A, B, C, extensions which are even more strongly anchored on the palm of the hand by being overlapped by parts of the central portion.

Side W, facing the area between index and thumb, is anchored on the back of the hand by appendix D, which is in that area even more strongly anchored by being overlapped by Appendix E.

Side X, facing the area between thumb and wrist, is anchored on the back of the hand by appendix E, which is in that area even more strongly anchored by being overlapped by Appendix F.

Side Y, facing the area of the palm side of the wrist, is anchored on the wrist by appendix G, and moreover by the reflected appendix F extending from the back of the hand and partially overlapping appendices E and G.

Side Z, facing the area between the little finger and the wrist, is anchored on the back of the hand and partially back on the palm of the hand by appendix F.

Were only one of the five sides of the pentagon-like central portion H be left without the specific anchorage, the device could not resist, just by the power of the adhesive of the first surface, to the frictions and tractions exerted by the equipments on the palm of the hand area, and it would soon slip and detach from the palm of the hand, as very many field test have clearly proved.

The above wearing or application procedure has proved to be fast and easy to learn by the users, as experience from many tests with different athletes in different sports has proved, and a number of sectors 20 of protective film greater than the least fourteen has proved to permit an easier wearing procedure and easier avoiding of mistakes.

A function of the set of all the appendices A-G is to complete a coverage of the palm of the hand, which is accomplished for the most part by the central portion H and, by adhering to the back of the hand, anchor the central portion H firmly on the palm of the hand, avoiding slipping of the shaped sheet 12 over the hand palm, and so giving stability to the grip 10.

It can be appreciated that the subdivision of the protective film 18 in several sectors 20 allows grip 10 to be easily applied to the hand during the wearing procedure, perfectly adapting its simple, two-dimensional shape to the complex three dimensional shape of the human hand.

Referring to FIG. 18, the shapes, sizes and locations of the sectors of the protective film 18 can be designed and configured to allow the grip 10 to fold into a compact form for achieving ease of packaging, transporting, carrying and/or marketing. The grip 10 can easily be folded and held between fingers of a user's hand, stored in a pocket for accessibility when needed or packaged in a small package for marketing.

The grip 10 can be disposable, and configured to anatomically adapt to the human hand so as to cover completely the palm of the hand without interruption over the entire area of the palm of the hand, where friction will be exerted by the sport equipment, sport ball or working tool, bringing all the border edges between the shaped sheet 12 and the skin of the hand out of this working area being the palm, and mostly on the back of the hand.

So, the grip 10 can be utilized to replace the function of a glove, but avoiding the inevitable sliding movements of the glove on the skin of the palm of the hand, so giving greater sensibility and control over the sport equipment or working tool. Due to the small thickness of the first surface 14, the grip 10 actually proposes itself as a substitute of the skin for the contact with the sport or working equipment, but with improved gripping power, no reduction of sensibility and protection for the skin from injuries. Also, remaining the contact between the first surface 14 of the grip 10 on the palm of the hand and the sport equipment or working tool completely dry, via the perforations 24, accordingly reducing or remove moisture and thus increasing the quality of the grip.

Essentially, the grip 10 is designed to facilitate and improve the grip of equipments of various kinds, functioning as a “second skin” specifically designed to cover the friction area for this function.

The idea underlying the present technology is to transfer the gripping properties from the sport equipment, ball or working tool, directly to the human hand by the grip 10 that anatomically adapts to the complex shape of the hand and covers the entire palm of the hand like a specialized “second skin” optimizing the grip and allowing great sensibility and maximal power transmission, while also protecting the skin.

It can be appreciated that the grip 10 can be designed for the right and the left hands, and can vary in size to fit different hand sizes.

It can be appreciated that in practice, in order to apply the grip 10 to the hand 1, each of the sectors 20 of the protective film 18 is independently removed and the exposed adhesive area of the first surface 14 covered with the adhesive 16 is applied and pressed on the skin, before removing the next sector of the protective film 18 to do the same procedure. The more than fourteen sectors 20 make applying the grip 10 easier than known devices and avoid mistakes during the wearing or application procedure.

This wearing procedure follows a preferred sequential order in removing each sector and applying each of the appendices, as thoroughly described above. This wearing procedure is made possible by the particular planned designed shapes, dimensions and locations of each of the appendices of the shaped sheet and of each of the sectors of the protective film. The set of the many sectors of the protective film permits the easy wearing of the grip 10, avoiding, during this wearing procedure, the adhesive of the first surface from sticking all over in wrong areas of the skin of the hand or forming creases or wrinkles that cannot afterwards be flatten or smoothed anymore and would make the accessory or device unusable. The central portion and the appendices of the shaped sheet are applied to the skin of the hand of the user, by removing one after the other the several sectors of their portion of protective film, following the above mentioned preferred sequential order.

This wearing procedure is one key to make possible and easing the wearing process and to the perfect stability of the present technology on the hand during use.

The at least seven appendices of the shaped sheet, with their shapes, sizes, configurations and extensions, cooperate with the central portion of the shaped sheet in completely covering the palm of the hand.

The extensions of the appendices can also extend the coverage of the palm of the hand somewhat beyond its borders, bringing all perimeter edges of the shaped sheet out of this area of frictions and tractions and on the back of the hand, where no frictions or tractions are exerted.

The present technology, wherein the numbers, shapes, sizes and locations of all the appendices and of all the sectors of the protective film are planned and designed to make it possible to determine a preferred sequential order following which all the sectors of said protective film covering the central portion and covering all the appendices, are one after the other removed, and the relative exposed areas of said first surface with the adhesive are one after the other applied to the skin of the user, in such a way that it becomes practically possible for said shaped sheet, during the wearing procedure, to adapt to the complex anatomical three dimensional shape of the human hand and to be firmly anchored on it, giving stability to the grip of the present technology and without sticking parts of the adhesive first surface of the shaped sheet on wrong areas of the hand or on itself making wrinkles.

While embodiments of the grip improving device, system and method have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present technology. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present technology, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present technology. For example, any suitable sturdy material may be used instead of the above-described. And although facilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands over an object have been described, it should be appreciated that the grip improving device, system and method herein described is also suitable for assisting in gripping, grasping or holding any hand-held device or implement.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the present technology. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the present technology to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the present technology.

Claims

1. A grip system to facilitate gripping of an object, the grip system comprising: a shaped sheet including a first surface and an adhesive layer configured adhere to skin of a hand of a user, the shaped sheet including a central portion and one or more between-the-fingers appendices, one or more between-finger-and-wrist appendices and one or more wrist appendices that extend from a perimeter edge of the central portion, the perimeter edge of the central portion being configured to extend and cover beyond a palm of the hand when applied thereto, wherein one or more of the between-the-fingers appendices being configured to adhere to a back of the hand or around at least one finger and back on the palm of the hand, and one or more of the between-finger-and-wrist appendices being configured to adhere to the back of the hand; anda removable protective film covering the adhesive layer and having a same configuration as the shaped sheet, the protective film including a plurality of separate and independently removable sectors, wherein the sectors including a film central portion configured to cover the central portion of the shaped sheet, the film central portion being subdivided into three or more film central portion segments, and wherein the sectors of the protective film covering the between-the-fingers and the between-finger-and-wrist appendices are subdivided into two or more segments.

2. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the segments of the protective film are each configured to be removed in a specific order to apply an exposed area of the adhesive layer, respectively, to the skin of the user in a specific sequential order for proper placement of the shaped sheet on the hand.

3. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the central portion has a dimension and provided with the between-the-fingers and the between-finger-and-wrist appendices is configured to cover completely the palm of the hand, so that the perimeter edge is outside a surface of the palm of the hand.

4. The grip system according to claim 3, wherein the perimeter edge of the central portion configured to be adhered to the back of the hand.

5. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the first surface has a predetermined coefficient of friction.

6. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the first surface has a surface treatment configured to increase a coefficient of friction thereof.

7. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the between-the-fingers appendices are configured to be arranged in respective spaces between adjacent fingers when the shaped sheet is applied to the hand, and wherein the one or more between-the-fingers and the between-finger-and-wrist appendices each have a dimension sufficient to adhere to the back of the hand.

8. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more between-the-fingers appendices are a first between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between a middle finger and a ring finger of the hand, a second between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between the middle finger and an index finger of the hand, a third between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between the ring finger and a little finger of the hand, and a fourth between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between the index finger and a thumb of the hand.

9. The grip system according to claim 8 further comprising at least one first between-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere to the back of the hand, the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix extending between the thumb and a wrist of the hand.

10. The grip system according to claim 9 further comprising at least one second between-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere to the back of the hand extending between the little finger and the wrist.

11. The grip system according to claim 10, wherein the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix configured to overlap the fourth between-the-finger appendix on the back of the hand.

12. The grip system according to claim 11, wherein the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix is configured to overlap the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix, and the fourth between-the-finger appendix on the back of the hand.

13. The grip system according to claim 12, wherein the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix is configured to extend beyond the back of the hand between the thumb and the wrist, and overlap a section of the central portion on a palm side of the hand.

14. The grip system according to claim 13 further comprising a wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere to the palm side of the hand associated with the wrist.

15. The grip system according to claim 14, wherein a free end of the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix is configured to overlap the section of the central portion and a section of the wrist appendix.

16. The grip system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more between-the-fingers appendices, the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix and the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix each include a first width and a second width greater than the first width.

17. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the shaped sheet includes perforations defined therethrough.

18. The grip system according to claim 17, wherein the perforations are defined through at least one of the one or more between-the-fingers appendices and through the central portion.

19. The grip system according to claim 17, wherein the perforations are radially distributed through the central portion.

20. A method of using a grip system, the method comprising the steps of: a) removing a first sector of a protective film covering an adhesive layer of a first between-the-finger appendix of a shaped sheet and adhering to a hand of a user, and then removing a second sector of the protective film covering the first between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand;b) removing a third sector of the protective film covering a second between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a fourth sector of the protective film covering the second between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand;c) removing a fifth sector of the protective film covering a first part of a central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand;d) removing a sixth sector of the protective film covering a third between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a seventh sector of the protective film covering the third between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand;e) removing an eighth sector of the protective film covering a second part of the central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a ninth sector of the protective film covering a third part of the central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand;f) removing a tenth sector of the protective film covering a fourth between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing an eleventh sector of the protective film covering the fourth between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand;g) removing a twelfth sector of the protective film covering a first between-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and then removing a thirteenth sector of the protective film covering the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix and adhering to the hand; andh) removing a fourteenth sector of the protective film covering a second between-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand.