Exercise apparatus

An exercise apparatus (2) for strapping weights (8) to a user's hand (1). The exercise apparatus may be used in water for swimming or on land for jogging or other exercise. A weight is inserted into a pocket (6) on a support (3) for placement on the backhand portion (14) of the user's hand. A strap (10) is mounted across the insert pocket to retain the weight in position. The strap includes a first band (32) having free ends (34, 36) for wrapping around the user's metacarpus. An auxiliary band (42) extends at an angle from the first band toward and around the inside of the user's wrist. The weight is removable from the pocket to permit variability of the amount of weight carried in proportion to desired muscle stress. The exercise apparatus may include a pluraliry of pockets for insertion of a plurality of weights.

This invention relates to apparatus for enhancing beneficial muscle stress 
and aerobic capacity during exercise. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Athletes often attempt to maximize the benefit of various physical 
activities by using equipment specially designed to increase speed and 
efficiency of muscle and aerobic workout. 
Swimmers may wear gloves during exercise which have webs formed between 
adjacent fingers. Webs increase resistance to water, thus increasing 
aerobic efficiency and speed of the swimmer. It has been appreciated that 
in order to maximize speed during swimming, it is necessary to minimize 
weight, maximize buoyancy and maximize the proportion of the swimmer's 
body in air to the proportion of the swimmer's body in water. It is 
desired to maximize the proportion of the swimmer's body in air to water 
because air is a less dense medium than water, allowing less resistance to 
movement in the less dense medium. Thus, greater swimming speed is 
achieved by the swimmer where buoyancy is maximized. In the process of 
achieving greater speed and buoyancy, the swimmer using a webbed glove 
encounters greater resistance in the portion of the water in which his 
body is still immersed. Therefore, the swimmer achieves greater swimming 
speed and greater exercise efficiency through his increased muscle 
exertion. 
Unlike swimmers, joggers may choose to carry an object, such as a weight, 
while running. U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,706 to Guthrie et al. relates to a 
jogging glove for carrying two weights: a first weight disposed on the 
palm side of the hand and a second weight disposed on the back side of the 
hand. The total weight carried by the glove may be varied by changing only 
the palm weight. In theory, the weight on the back of the hand is 
permanently bound into the glove to avoid misshaping and bulging of the 
metacarpal area on the back hand of the glove and to avoid interference 
with normal movement of the user's wrist. 
In practice, the prior art leaves weights to shift in arbitrary manners and 
so can cause discomfort and irritation to the metacarpal bones and tendons 
of the back of the hand. Also, permanent backhand weights limit the 
function of prior art as weights cannot be significantly varied to 
accommodate different levels of fitness and arm motions in various sports. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus for enhancing muscle 
stress and aerobic benefit during exercise in water or on land. Weights 
are strapped to the back of the athlete's hands. The configuration of the 
present invention optimizes hand muscle group movement, minimizes the 
restriction of blood flow, and effectively restricts movement of the 
weights in any direction. 
The apparatus of the present invention includes a first surface having a 
pocket for receiving a removable weight. A strap overlies the pocket and 
securely holds the weight within the pocket, specifically to ensure no 
metacarpal or backhand tendon irritation or swelling, as all backhand 
weights are comfortably secured directly to the hand. The strap 
effectively functions to directly oppose gravitational forces which 
otherwise would constantly act to shift the weights counter to any 
movement of the hand. The strap also firmly maintains the support and 
entire exercise apparatus on the user's backhand. 
The strap preferably includes a first band having first and second free 
ends which extend around the user's hand such that the first free end 
wraps around the metacarpal bone of the little finger. The second free end 
wraps between the metacarpal bones of the index finger and thumb. The free 
ends converge at the palm of the user's hand and are fastened together by 
Velcro.RTM.. An auxiliary band is connected to the first band and extends 
at an angle therefrom, away from the user's fingers, toward and encircling 
the user's wrist. The auxiliary band is configured to extend across the 
backhand portion, around the user's wrist, below the opponens pollicis 
muscle of the user's thumb. A patch is secured to the end of the auxiliary 
band near the thumb, which is securable to the first band, preferably by 
Velcro.RTM.. The strap may be permanently affixed to the backhand portion 
of the exercise apparatus or may be removable therefrom. 
For the purposes of this discussion, assume the first band is laid flat in 
a plane and is attached to and extends across the top of the weight 
pockets. The ends of the first band would actually wrap around and secure 
in the palm of the hand when the product is in use, but for the purposes 
of this discussion the first band is laid flat in one plane. The first 
band ensures no movement of the weights either perpendicular to the plane 
of the strap or parallel to the strap within the plane of the strap. 
Having the auxiliary strap described above provides that there be no 
movement of the weights in any direction perpendicular to the first band 
within the plane of the first band. 
In one form of the invention, the auxiliary band may include a pad on its 
underside at the location of the user's wrist. The pad ensures maximum 
comfort by decreasing the force pressure operating against the palmaris 
longus tendon. 
The exercise apparatus may be in the form of a glove including a mitt 
having a backhand portion and a palm portion. A plurality of finger 
sleeves are integrally formed with the mitt. The glove preferably includes 
velcro mounted on the palm portion for securing the free ends of the first 
band to the palm portion of the glove, as well as to each other. 
Alternately, the apparatus may include only a support having a first 
surface for mounting on the user's backhand. In either embodiment, the 
pocket is formed on the backhand of the apparatus. A strap is adapted to 
secure the weight to the user's hand. 
In the preferred embodiment, a reinforcing strip is positioned on the 
interior surface of the pocket for securing the weight in place. 
Weights are removable from the pockets so as to permit adjustability. The 
user may change the amount of weight carried during a particular activity, 
thereby varying muscle and aerobic stress. Alternately, the user may vary 
the amount of weight for different activities. 
In the glove embodiment of the invention, adjacent finger sleeves are 
preferably connected together. In one form of the invention specially 
designed for swimming, the finger sleeves are connected by webbing. The 
webbing extends to a point below the distal phalange of the user's 
fingers, increasing resistance to water, and, thus, efficiency and speed 
of the swimmer. In alternate embodiments for swimming and jogging, 
adjacent finger sleeves are connected by loops, preferably extending 
continuously into the interior of the mitt and exiting through the finger 
sleeves. The user may insert his or her fingers of the opposite hand into 
the loops and pull outwardly away from the palm wearing the glove, for 
facilitating removal of the glove from the user's hand. 
While running, it is often desirable to conform the fingers about an 
object, such as a weight. A pocket may be formed on the palm portion of 
the mitt for receiving such an object so as to allow the fingers to 
comfortably conform about it in such a manner. 
As discussed with reference to conventional swimming gloves, in order to 
maximize speed during swimming, it is desirable to minimize weight, 
maximize buoyancy and maximize the proportion of the swimmer's body in air 
to the proportion of the swimmer's body in water. Thus, the use of weights 
while swimming appears contrary to achieving greater speed and efficiency. 
However, the combination of providing an exercise apparatus for optimizing 
constant stress on muscles and the cardiovascular system during the 
complete exercise cycle, i.e., while the glove is in both mediums air and 
water, makes it desirable to incorporate weights with a swimming glove. 
The conventional swimming glove stresses muscles only while the glove is 
in water. The muscles are left unstressed while in air. This 
stressed/unstressed cycle is undesirable. A constant intense stress on 
muscles is sought during exercise for optimal building of muscle strength 
and aerobic capacity, thereby ensuring optimal efficiency of exercise 
time. 
The exercise apparatus of the present invention operates to stress muscles 
in both mediums: water and air. After the muscles are exercised in water, 
where the webbing increases the hand surface area in contact with the 
inertial force of water, the arm leaves the water and enters the less 
dense medium of air, where the webbing serves no purpose. At this point, 
the weights begin their function of stressing the muscles at each point in 
the arm's 180.degree. motion through air. This stress force perpetuates 
the muscle exercise initiated in water, thereby promoting constant stress 
on the muscles throughout the arm's 360.degree. arm motion. 
An embodiment of the present invention as applied to swimming, even without 
webbing, is beneficial in consistently stressing muscle groups, as the 
surface area of the hand alone creates a certain degree of resistance in 
water. 
The material used in the exercise apparatus of the present invention is a 
durable flexible rubber/fabric mesh. By employing a water repellant 
Spandex.RTM. material which absorbs a minimal amount of water, the 
exercise apparatus of the present invention will retain no more water than 
within a glove constructed of a conventional waterproof material. There is 
no variability in the weight of the present apparatus caused by retention 
of undesired water within the glove. 
The webbing of the present invention is constructed of Goretex.RTM., which 
neither permits water to pass through nor permits its surface area in 
contact with the oncoming water pressure to be altered. In this way, the 
surface area of the webbing is kept maximal and constant, eliminating 
unnecessary variables previously beyond the swimmer's control. The webbing 
increases the swimmer's traction in water and permits greater speed in 
swimming as well as greater muscle exercise, particularly of the biceps, 
triceps, pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-11 illustrate various embodiments of 
exercise apparatus 2 constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
Each of the drawings illustrates a left hand apparatus of the invention. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is generally used in 
pairs, having a left hand apparatus and a right hand apparatus. The right 
hand apparatus is a mirror image of the various embodiments shown in the 
drawings. 
In each embodiment, an exercise apparatus 2 comprises a support 3 having an 
insert pocket 6 for receiving a removable weight 8. A strap 10 overlies 
pocket 6 and securely holds weight 8 within the pocket. Strap 10 includes 
Velcro.RTM. strips 12 on the underside 9 of strap 10. Velcro.RTM. strips 
13 are mounted to the outer surface 7 of pocket 6 for firmly retaining 
support 3 and entire exercise apparatus 2 to the user's backhand. 
Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, support 3 is in the 
form of a mitt 4 and includes a backhand portion 14 and palm portion 16. 
Finger sleeves 18 for receiving the user's fingers 20 are formed 
integrally with mitt 4, between backhand portion 14 and palm portion 16. 
It is noted that while the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 includes a 
thumb sleeve 19, the thumb sleeve is not necessary to practice the present 
invention. 
A plurality of pockets 6 are juxtaposed and mounted to backhand portion 14 
of mitt 4 for placement of exercise apparatus 2 on the back of the 
metacarpal area of the user's hand. Pockets 6 are aligned parallel to 
finger sleeves 18. Weights 8 may be inserted into or removed from pockets 
6 through opening 17. Therefore, as weights 8 are inserted into pockets 6, 
they assume an orientation parallel to the user's fingers 20. This 
orientation optimizes muscle group movement, minimizes restriction of 
blood flow, and also permits weights 8 to conform to the natural curvature 
of the back of the hand. Velcro strips 13, mounted to an outer surface 7 
of pockets 6, are parallel to each other and to finger sleeves 18. 
Palm portion 16 of mitt 4, as seen in FIG. 3, includes a Velcro.RTM. strip 
22, for securing strap 10 in place and preventing lateral movement of 
weights 8. Palm pocket 24 is mounted in the upper region of palm portion 
16 for receiving a palm weight. The user may conform his fingers about the 
palm weight because it may be comfortable to do so while running, or 
during other activities. A wrist belt 28 is disposed at the lower end 30 
of mitt 4 and includes Velcro.RTM. fasteners (not shown) for securing 
exercise apparatus 2 on the user's hand 1. 
Strap 10 is removably mounted across pockets 6 by velcro strips 12, 13 to 
overly and retain weights 8 in place on the back of the metacarpal area of 
the user's hand, as seen in FIG. 1. Strap 10 includes a first band 32 
having first and second free ends 34, 36 extending around the user's palm 
for securing strap 10 in place and preventing lateral or perpendicular 
movement of weights 8. First free end 34 wraps around the metacarpal bone 
of the little finger. Second free end 36 wraps between the metacarpal 
bones of the index finger and thumb. 
An auxiliary band 42 extends at an angle of approximately 45.degree. from 
first band 32, downwardly away from finger sleeves 18 toward the user's 
wrist. An end 44 of auxiliary band 42 is secured to first-band 32 along 
its midsection, toward one side of Velcro.RTM. strip 12 closer to the 
little finger. A patch 50 is attached to an end 45 of auxiliary band 42, 
opposite end 44. Auxiliary band 42 extends across backhand portion 14 
downwardly away from fingers 20, and encircles the inside of the user's 
wrist, then below thumb 21, such that patch 50 can be secured to first 
band 32 across the metacarpal area of the backhand. The large 
configuration of patch 50 allows for maximal adjustment of exercise 
apparatus 2, as well as to fasten patch 50 simultaneously to both 
Velcro.RTM. strips 11, 13. 
A pad 46 is positioned in a pad pocket 48 on underside 9 of auxiliary band 
42 at a location resting on the user's wrist. Pad 46 ensures maximum 
comfort by decreasing the force pressure operating against the palmaris 
longus tendon of the user's wrist. 
Free ends 34, 36 converge at palm portion 16 and are secured together by 
velcro strips 38, 39. Velcro.RTM. strip 38 is disposed on underside 9 at 
first free end 34. Velcro.RTM. strip 39 is disposed on free end 36 on the 
outer surface of strap 10 for mating with Velcro.RTM. strip 38. In the 
embodiment of strap 10 shown in FIG. 4, second free end 36 is wrapped 
around the user's hand prior to wrapping first free end 34. A Velcro.RTM. 
strip 40 is disposed on underside 9 of free end 36 for mating with 
Velcro.RTM. strip 22 of palm portion 16. Patch 50 includes Velcro.RTM. 52 
mounted on underside 9. When auxiliary band 42 is wrapped around the 
user's wrist, Velcro.RTM. 52 mates with Velcro.RTM. strips 13 on outer 
surface 7 of pockets 6 and with a Velcro.RTM. strip 11 mounted on the 
outer surface of strap 10, on the surface of first band 32 opposite 
Velcro.RTM. strip 12. 
It can be easily understood that first free end 34 could include 
Velcro.RTM. strips on both underside 9 and the outer surface, allowing 
first free end 34 to be wrapped around the user's hand prior to wrapping 
second free end 36. 
Exercise apparatus 2, as well as each of the preferred embodiments 
disclosed in this application, is constructed of a durable flexible 
rubber/fabric mesh. One example of a construction material is a water 
repellant Spandex.RTM. material which absorbs a minimal amount of water. 
Exercise apparatus 2 constructed of an expandable material will retain no 
water within support 3. Thus, the weight of exercise apparatus 2, due to 
retention of undesired water within support 3, does not vary. 
As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, adjacent finger sleeves 18 are connected 
together by loops 26 for facilitating removal of mitt 4 from the user's 
hand. As seen in FIG. 10, each loop 26 is continuous, extending into a 
first finger sleeve 18, through the interior region 5 of mitt 4 between 
backhand portion 14 and palm portion 16, and into a second finger sleeve 
18' adjacent the first finger sleeve. Thus, the upper edge of adjacent 
finger sleeves 18, 18' includes a portion of loop 26 extending 
therebetween. 
Turning now to FIG. 11, a reinforcing strip 54 is affixed to interior 
surface 15 of pocket 6 for securing weight 8 in place. Reinforcing strip 
54 can be seen through opening 17 in pocket 6. Reinforcing strip 54 is a 
continuous reinforcing element extending along the bottom interior surface 
of pocket 6 adjacent opening 17, rearwardly (as seen in FIG. 11), around 
to the upper interior surface of pocket 6 and terminating adjacent the 
upper interior surface of pocket 6, adjacent opening 17. Reinforcing strip 
54 is sewn through interior 15 of pocket 6 and to velcro strip 13. In this 
manner, weight 8 is effectively secured because it is encased by strip 54 
which is locked to Velcro.RTM. strip 13 which, itself, locks to 
Velcro.RTM. strip 12. Therefore, weight 8 is ultimately secured, through 
this series of locking mechanisms to the securing strap 10. Reinforcing 
strip 54, as seen in FIG. 11, is utilized within the interior of the 
pockets of every form of the invention disclosed herein. However, the 
pockets of the present invention could be constructed without a 
reinforcing strip. 
The wrist belt 28 includes a Velcro.RTM. strip 29, as seen in FIGS. 1-3. An 
additional wrist weight (not shown), preferably in the form of a bracelet, 
may be added to exercise apparatus 2. The wrist weight is attached to 
Velcro.RTM. strip 29 by a corresponding Velcro.RTM. strip disposed on the 
wrist weight. A wrist weight may be adapted for any of the embodiments 
disclosed in this application. 
Use of exercise apparatus 2 will now be described. The desired amount of 
weight 8 is placed in insert pockets 6 and palm pocket 24. 
The user inserts hand 1 into mitt 4 as one would put on a glove. Fingers 20 
are located within respective finger sleeves 18. Thumb 21 is located 
within thumb sleeve 19. Velcro.RTM. fasteners (not shown) positioned on 
wrist belt 28 are attached together. 
Strap 10 is then fastened to mitt 4 for securing weights 8 in their proper 
position. Velcro.RTM. strip 12 on first band 32 is affixed to Velcro.RTM. 
strip 13 on pocket 6 of backhand portion 14. Second free end 36 is 
extended to wrap between the metacarpal bones of the user's index finger 
and thumb. Velcro.RTM. strip 40 on underside 9 of second free end 36 is 
affixed to Velcro.RTM. strip 22 on palm portion 16. Velcro.RTM. strip 39 
disposed on the outer surface of second free end 36 is exposed for mating 
with first free end 34. First free end 34 is extended to wrap around the 
metacarpal bone of the user's 1ittle finger such that Velcro.RTM. strip 38 
is affixed to Velcro.RTM. strip 39. Weights 8 are thereby secured against 
lateral movement across the back of the user's hand or perpendicular 
movement away from the user's hand. 
Auxiliary band 42 is extended across backhand portion 14, from its position 
offset to one side closer to the user's little finger. Auxiliary band 42 
is wrapped toward the metacarpal bone of the user's little finger and 
around the inside of the user's wrist. Pad 46, which generally remains 
stored within pad pocket 48, is positioned about the user's wrist for 
maximum comfort and to ease pressure on the palmaris longus tendon of the 
wrist. As end 45 of auxiliary band 42 encircles the user's wrist near 
thumb 21, patch 50 is brought upwardly around the opponens pollicis muscle 
of the user's thumb 21 such that Velcro.RTM. 52 is fastened to Velcro.RTM. 
strips 11 and 13. First band 32 prevents lateral movement of weights 8. 
Auxiliary band 42 prevents movement of weights 8 against gravity. In this 
way, weights 8 are securely fastened to the metacarpus area of the back of 
the user's hand in both the lateral and gravitational directions. 
If desired the wrist weight (not shown) may then be attached to exercise 
apparatus 2 by Velcro.RTM. at strip 29. 
In order to remove exercise apparatus 2 from the user's hand, strap 10 is 
loosened in reverse manner to that of fastening. The present invention 
includes an apparatus for facilitating removal of mitt 4 from hand 1. The 
user inserts the fingers of the opposite hand into loops 26 on the 
exterior of mitt 4. The user extends each of fingers 20 in mitt 4 to its 
unbent configuration, then pulls loops 26 with the fingers of the opposite 
hand. Because loops 26 extend to interior 5 of adjacent finger sleeves 18, 
18', mitt 4 is easily removed from hand 1 by pulling on the loops. 
FIG. 5 discloses a modified form 102 of exercise apparatus. Like reference 
numerals correspond to reference numerals of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 
incrementally increased by 100. Support 103 is in the form of backhand 
portion 114 and includes a first surface 156. Insert pockets 106 are 
mounted to first surface 156 for receiving removable weight 8. 
The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 
1-3 in that support 103 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 does not include a 
mitt having a backhand portion 14 and a palm portion 16. Rather, as 
discussed above, support 103 includes only a backhand portion 114 having 
pockets 106 formed on a first surface 156. In use, support 103 is attached 
directly to the user's hand 1, positioning weights 8 on the metacarpal 
area on the back of the user's hand, as described with reference to 
exercise apparatus 2. 
The strap 110 employed with the embodiment of FIG. 5 is substantially 
identical to strap 10 as seen in FIG. 4. Strap 110 overlies pocket 106, is 
attached to backhand portion 114, extends around support 103 to a location 
on the opposite side of support 103 as first surface 156, and securely 
retains weight 8 within pocket 106. However, second free end 136 of strap 
110 need not include a Velcro.RTM. strip on underside 109 of strap 110 
corresponding to Velcro.RTM. strip 40 because exercise apparatus 102 does 
not include a portion corresponding to palm portion 16 of exercise 
apparatus 2 to which the Velcro.RTM. strip would be attached. 
As in all embodiments disclosed herein, exercise apparatus 102 includes a 
reinforcing strip 154 as seen in FIG. 11. Because exercise apparatus 102 
does not include a mitt portion, loops (See FIG. 10) are not employed in 
the embodiment of the invention seen in FIG. 5. Additionally, a wrist 
weight is generally not incorporated in the embodiment of FIG. 5. 
FIGS. 6-8 disclose a modified form 202 of exercise apparatus. Like 
reference numerals correspond to reference numerals of the embodiment of 
FIGS. 1-3 incrementally increased by 200. The embodiment disclosed in 
FIGS. 6-8 is particularly beneficial for use during swimming. 
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, support 203 is in the form of a mitt 204 having 
a backhand surface 214 and a palm surface 216. Insert pockets 206 are 
mounted to backhand portion 216 for receiving a removable weight 8. The 
embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to mitt 4 of the embodiment 
of FIGS. 1-3. However, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8 does not include 
a patch which may be susceptible to water pressure exerted beneath it for 
undesired release of the Velcro.RTM. fasteners. 
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8 differs from the embodiment shown in 
FIGS. 1-3 in that strap 210 is permanently secured to support 203. Mitt 
204 includes a flap 258 for closing pockets 206 containing weights 8. Flap 
258 is attached to backhand portion 214 between opening 217 and wrist belt 
228. In the open position of flap 258, a remote edge 260 of the flap is 
suspended toward the user's wrist as seen most clearly in FIG. 7. Strap 
210 is attached to flap 258 along remote edge 260. Velcro.RTM. strip 212 
adjoins remote edge 260 for fastening Velcro.RTM. strip 212 to Velcro.RTM. 
strips 213. When Velcro.RTM. strips 212, 213 are fastened together, flap 
258 is retained across the back of the metacarpal area of the user's hand, 
closing pockets 206. 
Strap 210 includes a first band 232 having first and second free ends 234, 
236, as described with reference to first and second free ends 34, 36 of 
FIGS. 1-4. First and second free ends 234, 236 include Velcro.RTM., as 
described above, for securing in mating position on palm portion 216. 
An auxiliary band 242 includes two ends 245, both permanently secured to 
first band 232. Ends 245 extend symmetrically from first band 232, each at 
an angle of approximately 45.degree., downwardly away from finger sleeves 
218 toward wrist belt 228. Auxiliary band 242 extends symmetrically across 
backhand portion 214, one branch 262 extending about the opponens pollicis 
muscle of the user's thumb 21; the other branch 264 extending about the 
abductor digiti quinti muscle at the little finger. Branches 262, 264 
unite at union 266 as seen in FIG. 8, encircling the user's wrist. For 
illustration of union 266 positioned on the user's wrist, refer to the 
embodiment of FIG. 9, described below. 
Strap 210 is specifically designed to maximize laminar water flow by 
eliminating a patch as seen in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. A patch such 
as patch 50 would peel back in water due to the flow of water against the 
patch, thereby exposing the patch, increasing water drag and resistance in 
a manner that is unpredictable and therefore, becomes a hinderance. 
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8 includes the feature of loops 262, as 
seen in FIG. 10, as well as reinforcing strips 254, as seen in FIG. 11. 
Additionally, a wrist weight may be attached to Velcro.RTM. strip 229. 
In use, the user inserts hand 1 into mitt 204, as described with reference 
to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. Flap 258 is arranged to overlie pockets 
206 and, thereby, close opening 217. Velcro.RTM. strip 212 on underside 
209 of first band 232 is fastened to Velcro.RTM. strips 213 on backhand 
portion 214 of mitt 204. First and second free ends 234, 236 are then 
fastened together at palm portion 216, as described with reference to the 
embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. Exercise apparatus 202 is, thus secured to the 
user's hand. Removal of mitt 204 is facilitated by loops 226. 
FIG. 9 discloses a modified form 302 of exercise apparatus. Like reference 
numerals correspond to reference numerals of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 
incrementally increased by 300. The embodiment disclosed in FIG. 9 is 
similar to exercise apparatus 202, as seen in FIGS. 6-8. As in exercise 
apparatus 202 shown in FIGS. 6-8, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 is 
also particularly beneficial for use during swimming. 
Strap 310 of FIG. 9 is identical to strap 210 shown in FIG. 8. Branches 
362, 364 encircle the user's wrist, uniting at union 366 and fitting 
within a sleeve 368. It should be noted that strap 210 of exercise 
apparatus 202 is identical to strap 310, also including a sleeve (not 
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). 
The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 differs from exercise apparatus 202 (shown 
in FIGS. 6-8) only in that adjacent fingers 18 are connected together by 
webbing 370, rather than loops 226. Webbing 370 increases resistance to 
the water, thus improving efficiency and speed of the swimmer. 
As seen in FIG. 9, second free end 336 of first band 332 slips through a 
slot 372 positioned at the intersection of index finger sleeve 18 and 
thumb sleeve 19. In this way, second free end 336 wraps between the 
metacarpal bones of the index finger and thumb, as does the second free 
end of each of first bands 32, 132, 232. 
The precise positioning of webbing 370 additionally improves efficiency and 
speed of the swimmer. Webbing 370, extending only to the proximal ends 374 
of the distal phalanges 376, ensures that all physical stress is limited 
to the forearm, upper arm, shoulder and back. 
The webbing of the present invention is constructed of Goretex.RTM., which 
neither permits water to pass through nor permits its surface area in 
contact with the oncoming water pressure to be altered. In this way, the 
surface area of the webbing is kept maximal and constant, eliminating 
unnecessary variables previously beyond the swimmer's control. 
In use, exercise apparatus 302 operates substantially identically to that 
of exercise apparatus 202. However, strap 310 of exercise apparatus 302 
differs from strap 210 only in that strap 310 slips through slot 372 
between finger sleeve 318 and thumb sleeve 319. Additionally, adjacent 
finger sleeves 318 are connected via webbing 370 (See FIG. 9) rather than 
loops. 
This invention has been described with reference to the preferred 
embodiments. Variations and modifications can be made without departing 
from the scope of this invention which is limited only by the following 
claims. For example, pockets for carrying personal articles such as keys 
or money may be incorporated into the present invention. Additionally, a 
palm weight may be incorporated into any embodiment.