Grip trainer

A grip trainer includes a first chamber designed to engage a stick and a second chamber attached to the first chamber. The second chamber is configured to hold an insert. An insert disposed in the second chamber. The insert has a hardness no greater than 60 on the Shore 00 Durometer scale.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to grip training devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many sports require the player to use a handheld racket or stick as a requirement for playing the particular sport. These “stick sports” include baseball, tennis, racquetball, lacrosse, golf, hockey, and dozens of others. While playing a stick sport, the player is required to forcibly grip the end of the “stick” with one or both hands.

It is well known that the strength of a player's grip, i.e., the gripping force exerted by the player to forcibly hold the stick, dramatically influences the player's ability to control both stick motion and the amount of force the player can transmit to the stick. A strong grip usually improves the player's competitiveness by improving both the control and force of the stick motion.

Accordingly, there is a need for a device that enhances a player's gripping strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a grip trainer comprising a first chamber designed to engage a stick and a second chamber attached to the first chamber. The second chamber is designed to hold an insert having compressive qualities. An insert is disposed in the second chamber.

The present invention further provides a grip trainer comprising an elongate stick passage adapted to engage a stick. The elongate stick passage has a stick passage axis extending therethrough. An elongate insert has an insert axis. The elongate insert is coupled to the elongate stick passage such that the insert axis is generally parallel to the stick passage axis. The insert has a hardness no greater than 60 on the Shore 00 Durometer scale.

The present invention also provides a grip trainer comprising a first passage adapted to engage a stick and a second passage coupled to and extending parallel to the first passage. The second passage comprises a compressive material throughout at least a portion thereof. The compressive material has a hardness no greater than 60 on the Shore 00 Durometer scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To aid in describing the invention, directional terms are used in the specification and claims to describe portions of the present invention (e.g., upper, lower, left, right, etc.). These directional definitions are merely intended to assist in describing and claiming the invention and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. In addition, reference numerals that are introduced in the specification in association with a drawing figure may be repeated in one or more subsequent figures without additional description in the specification in order to provide context for other features.

As used herein, the terms “stick” includes, but is not limited to a stick, bar, baton, cane, club, crank, handle, handgrip, hilt, pole, shaft, staff, stem, rod, or other apparatus generally approximating in shape those that may be engaged by the human hand.

Referring to the embodiment ofFIG. 1, grip trainer1is comprised of a piece of fabric10. Fabric10is folded in half to create overlapping ends15,20. The ends15,20are folded over and sewn together with stitches27to form a first stitched seam25. A second stitched seam45downwardly displaced from, and parallel to, first stitched seam25is formed by stitches50. Thus, fabric10, having seams25and45, comprises form90, which is stretchable. Form90is comprised of an upper chamber30having ends35and40, which are open, and lower chamber60having ends65and70, which are also open. Length80of form90is preferably slightly longer than the width of a typical hand (e.g. at least 10 cm long). It should be understood, however, that form90may be shortened by cutting at either end to accommodate smaller grip widths. Form90has a longitudinal axis95that extends generally through a center of form90along its length.

Preferably, fabric10is highly resilient, dimensionally stable, and exhibits good elastic properties. Fabric10may be, for example, 600D Nylon. Alternatively, fabric10may be a blend of cotton fabric with a block copolymer of polyurethane and polyethylene glycol, such as commonly referred to as Spandex® brand fabric. It should be understood that any number of other suitable fabrics could be used.

In addition to form90, grip trainer1further comprises a pad insert100, which in this embodiment is substantially cylindrical-shaped. Pad insert100has oppositely disposed ends105,110. Pad insert100preferably comprises a cut-able, compressible, and deformable material, such as soft rubber or foam. The present invention may be used to provide an adjustable grip training device. Thus, pad insert100could be composed of any number of different materials having the desired compression modulus. An exemplary material is Closed Cell Sponge Cord SCE-41 SOFT, which has a density of between about 4 and about 8 pounds per cubic foot (between about 64.07 and about 128.15 kilograms per cubic meter), a tensile strength of about 75 pounds per square inch (about 517.106 KPa), and a hardness of between about 30 and about 50 on the Shore 00 Durometer scale. An alternative exemplary material is Cell Sponge Cord SCE-42 SOFT-MED, which has a density of between about 4 and about 8 pounds per cubic foot (between about 64.07 and about 128.15 kilograms per cubic meter), a tensile strength of about 100 pounds per square inch (about 689.475 KPa), and between about 45 and about 60 on the Shore 00 Durometer scale. In addition, the pad insert100could be of any number of cross-sectional shapes and thicknesses, including a pad insert100that are not uniform in shape, thickness, or compression modulus along its length. The pad insert100includes a longitudinal axis105that extends generally through a center of pad insert100along its length. The longitudinal axis105of the pad insert100extends parallel to the longitudinal axis95of the form90.

Preferably, the length of pad insert100is slightly less than length80of form90. This insures that as pad insert100is inserted and centrally located within upper chamber30, the ends35,40of the upper chamber30collapse around the ends105,110of the pad insert, thereby maintaining the position of the pad insert100with respect to the form90. In order to effectuate a tight fit within upper chamber30, the diameter of pad insert100is preferably larger than that of the upper chamber30when it is in an unstretched state.

Referring now toFIG. 2, pad insert100ais composed of foam and pad insert100bis composed of rubber, which has a greater compression modulus than pad insert100a. Different compression moduli and cross sectional shapes associated with the pad insert100permit a range of gripping force exercises. For example, a pad insert100having a compression modulus equal to 20 would require less gripping force than would a pad insert100having a compression modulus of 40, in order to be compressed equally. As will be seen, it is also within the scope of the invention that the pad insert100could have varying compression moduli across its length, thereby allowing for targeted training of specific finger, hand, and arm muscles.

To use the grip trainer1, the user first selects a pad insert100according to the specific grip arrangement that the user wishes to train. For example, the user may wish to exercise the index, middle, and ring fingers of a particular hand. The user would then insert a pad insert100, having the desired configuration of compression moduli necessary to train the targeted grip arrangement, into the upper chamber30.

In one embodiment, this could be accomplished by inserting a pad insert100having varied compression moduli along its length. For example, the user could insert a pad insert100having a higher compression modulus corresponding with the index, middle, and ring finger positions than the compression modulus that corresponds with the position of the pinkie finger. It should be understood, however, that any arrangement of compression moduli along the length of the pad insert100could be used to train a desired grip arrangement, including a pad insert100having three or four different compression moduli along its length, or a pad insert100having higher compression moduli corresponding with non-adjacent finger positions.

In a separate embodiment, variation in compression moduli could be accomplished by providing more than one pad insert having different compression moduli, which are cut to a desired length and separately inserted into the upper chamber30. For example, if the user desired to train the ring and pinkie fingers, a pad insert (not shown) having the desired compression modulus could be cut to the appropriate length and inserted into upper chamber30in a position corresponding with the ring and pinkie finger positions. A pad insert (not shown), having a lower compression modulus, could then be cut to the appropriate length and inserted into the upper chamber30in a position corresponding with the index and middle finger positions. In the alternative, the pad insert corresponding with the index and middle finger positions could be omitted entirely. It should be understood that any number of pad inserts could be inserted into the upper chamber30to establish the desired grip arrangement.

As the pad insert100is inserted into the upper chamber30, the elastic quality of the fabric10and the ends35,40of the upper chamber30hold the pad insert100in its proper position along the length of the upper chamber30. The elastic quality of the fabric10accommodates deformation of the pad insert100caused by the gripping force exerted by the user to the pad insert100, and further acts to maintain the proper positioning of the pad insert100within the upper chamber30. It should be understood that the elastic quality of the fabric10would act in a similar fashion if multiple pad inserts were inserted within the upper chamber30.

FIG. 3shows a first embodiment of the grip trainer1installed around the end of a stick120. In order to install the grip trainer1around the stick120, the user first extends the end of the stick120through the lower chamber60of the form90. The elasticity of the fabric10allows for the stretching of the lower chamber60and its ends65,70over any lip150or other obstruction that may be located at the end of the stick120. The elastic quality also allows the grip trainer1to be quickly and easily moved from one stick to another. Sticks having different cross-sectional shapes, including for example round, oblong, or square, are easily accommodated by the stretching of fabric10.

When fabric10is stretched, the resulting elastic force holds the form90around the stick120in the desired position. A stick120that requires two hands for operation would preferably require a form90that is elongated to correspond with the appropriate width of the user's two-handed grip. In the alternative, two separate grip trainers could be installed on the stick120. This configuration may be preferable for stick sports that require two-hand use, such as, for example baseball, hockey, and lacrosse.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown inFIG. 4. Grip trainer201is comprised of a form200, having a lower chamber210and an upper chamber220. Lower chamber210has open ends265,266and is substantially cylindrical in shape. Upper chamber220has ends235,240, which are open, and is also substantially cylindrical in shape. Upper chamber220is formed by folding and stitching together the ends222,223of the fabric212to form a first stitched seam229comprised of stitches224. Upper chamber220is attached to the upper external surface of lower chamber210by a second stitched seam226comprised of stitches225.

In this embodiment, lower chamber210is constructed partially from a piece250having female snap buttons251,252attached to its external surface253. Piece250is flexible and may be compressed to decrease its diameter256or spread apart to increase its diameter256. Piece250is connected along an end270to elastic band260by a third stitched seam291which is comprised of stitches290. The end262of elastic band260which opposed the third stitched seam291is attached to a piece268by a fourth stitched seam295, which is comprised of stitches296. Piece268is of curved shape, approximating a partial cylinder. The external surface269of piece268has male stakes271and272(seeFIG. 5) that correspond with and are capable of engaging female snap buttons251and252, respectively. Thus, a user can join pieces250,268forcibly together by joining the male stakes271,272to the female snap buttons251,252. Pieces250and268may be constructed from conventional vinyl or any other suitable material that is soft and formable. It should be understood that the diameter256of the lower chamber210when it is closed should be smaller than the diameter of the stick that will be inserted into the lower chamber210, in order to create a gripping force on the stick when the grip trainer201is fully installed.

This embodiment has the advantage of being easily installable around items having very large ends. For example, referring now toFIG. 5, a dumbbell300having a handle320and end weights310a,310bis shown. To install the grip trainer201around the dumbbell300, the user would first open the lower chamber210by releasing the female snap buttons251,252from the male stakes271,272, creating a gap274. Gap274is spread open to the extent necessary to slide the handle320through the gap274and into the lower chamber210. Lower chamber210is thus placed around the handle320without the need to forcibly pull the lower chamber210over any lip, knob, or other obstruction that may be present at the end of the stick.

Once positioned around handle320, pieces250and268are joined together by forcibly joining the male stakes271,272to the female snap buttons251,252. Joining of the pieces250,268requires that the elastic band260be stretched to accommodate the diameter of the handle320, which is larger than the diameter256of the lower chamber210when the lower chamber210is closed, yet unengaged from a stick. The user then selects the desired pad insert or inserts (not shown)—as discussed above with respect to the first embodiment—according to the desired grip arrangement, and installs the pad insert into the upper chamber220.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, illustrated inFIG. 6, a grip trainer400includes a fabric410that forms a first elongate portion412and a second elongate portion414attached to first elongate portion412. First elongate portion412forms a first chamber, or passage,420having a first axis421and second elongate portion414forms a second chamber, or passage,422having a second axis423, parallel to first axis421. First passage420is sized to engage a stick (not shown) and second passage422is sized to receive an insert430formed from a compressive material that extends throughout at least a portion of second passage422.

Referring to the longitudinal cross-sectional view of grip trainer400illustrated inFIG. 7, insert430may different or varying compression moduli along its length. As shown inFIG. 7, this may be accomplished by using a plurality of inserts430a,430bhaving different compression moduli. The varying compression moduli may strengthen different fingers at different rates.

Alternatively, as illustrated in an alternative embodiment of a grip trainer400′ inFIG. 8, inserts430c,430dmay have different cross-sections. While the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8illustrates insert430chaving a circular cross-section and insert430dhas an annular cross-section, those skilled in the art will recognize that other cross-sections may be used.

Referring back toFIG. 7, first passage420comprises a first free end440and a second free end442that is releasably couplable to first free end440. First free end440may include one of a hook and loop connector and second free end442may include the other of the hook and loop connector. An exemplary hook and loop connector may be a VELCRO® connector.

First passage420comprises an initial portion450of a first fabric piece452and an initial portion454of a second fabric piece456. Second passage422comprises a remaining portion458of first fabric piece452and a remaining portion460of second fabric piece456. Remaining portion458of first fabric piece452further comprises part of first passage420. As shown inFIG. 6, an end462of first fabric piece452is sewn to second fabric piece456along a seam464that extends the length of grip trainer400. Further, an end466of second fabric piece456is sewn to first fabric piece452along a seam468that extends the length of grip trainer400.

As described above, the invention has many applications and should not be assumed to be useful only in sporting applications. For example, the invention can be used as an exercise device to assist in the rehabilitation of injured hands, fingers, and lower arm muscles by providing for a gradual increase in the required gripping force necessary to hold a weighted object.

While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the invention.