Abstract:
A device is provided for stabilizing hands of a golfer or other user to facilitate holding or movement of a golf club or other implement by the hands. The device includes two gloves or other structures and a channel-containing arrangement to hold the implement. The device can be fabricated with various geometric relationships among the digits of the hands, including relationships employed in grips commonly used by golfers or other users, grips such as the Vardon or overlapping, the interlocking and the ten finger or baseball grips. The device can be fabricated with compositions which can include semi-rigid or rigid materials that can include metals or plastics. The device can be fabricated as a connected object. The device can include a stabilizer to assist in holding the implement stationary within the channel. The stabilizer can be a liner, which can include a Velcro material or adhesive material, or can be a hold-down mechanism such as a set screw.

Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0001]    By way of introduction only, a device is presented for stabilizing the hands of a user to facilitate the proper holding or movement of an implement. 
         [0002]    For a right handed user, the device comprises a right hand casing having at one of its ends an opening sufficiently large for insertion of, and enclosing, the right hand. Attached to the right hand casing at one of its ends there are a right thumb portion and right finger portions large enough to house the right thumb and right fingers; 
         [0003]    For a right handed user, the device also comprises a left hand casing having at one of its ends an opening sufficiently large for insertion of, and enclosing, the left hand. Attached to the left hand casing at one of its ends are the left thumb portion and left finger portions large enough to house the left thumb and left fingers. The left hand casing is located generally below the right hand casing; 
         [0004]    The device also comprises an implement casing attached to the right and left hand casings, as well as a channel within the implement casing with the channel shaped to enclose the shaft of the implement. At the end of the channel is an opening for insertion of the implement. 
         [0005]    The device&#39;s casings and thumb and finger portions can optionally comprise a material which can be semi-rigid or completely rigid and further those casings and portions can optionally be inseparably attached to each other so as to form a single object. The device can also optionally comprise a stabilizer which facilitates holding the implement stationary relative to the channel. Optionally, the stabilizer can be a gripping liner along an inner surface of the channel, for example, an adhesive material or part of a hook and loop arrangement. Again, optionally the stabilizer can be a hold-down fastener. The hold-down fastener, for example, can be insertable into an opening in the implement casing and again, for example, can be a threaded rod extending outwardly from the implement casing. 
         [0006]    The device&#39;s right and left thumb and finger portions can be fabricated in various geometric configurations, for example and optionally, configurations designed as any one of various golfing grips. These grips can include the Vardon or overlapping, the interlocking and the ten finger or baseball shapes. 
         [0007]    References in this summary to right hand and left hand should be interchanged if the user is left-handed. 
         [0008]    The following figures and detailed description of the preferred embodiments will more clearly demonstrate these and other objects and advantages of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a human right hand and a human left hand. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a first preferred embodiment of a hand stabilizing invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a second preferred embodiment of a hand stabilizing invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a third preferred embodiment of a hand stabilizing invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    This Application is a Non-Provisional Application of Provisional Application No. 61/795,544, filed on Oct. 19, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts a human right hand  1  and left hand  2 . On the right hand  1  are finger appendages referred to commonly as the right fingers, namely the right hand thumb  3 , right index finger  4 , right middle finger  5 , right ring finger  6 , and right pinkie finger  7 . On the left hand  2  are finger appendages similarly referred to commonly as the left fingers, namely the left hand thumb  8 , left index finger  9 , left middle finger  10 , left ring finger  11 , and left pinkie finger  12 . On each hand, respectively, are the skin creases commonly referred to as the right life line  13  and the left life line  14 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  depicts a first preferred embodiment of a hand stabilizing invention. The hand stabilizer is formed by three casings, a right hand casing  20 , a left hand casing  21  and an implement casing  22 . The right hand casing  20  has at one end a right hand opening  23  for the right hand  1  of a user. The left hand casing  21  has at one end a left hand opening  24  for the left hand  2  of a user. The user&#39;s right hand  1  can be inserted through the right hand opening  23  into the right hand casing  20  and the user&#39;s left hand  2  can be inserted through the left hand opening  24  into the left hand casing  21 . The right hand casing  20  and left hand casing  21  will enclose the right hand  1  and left hand  2 , respectively. At the other end of the right hand casing  20  are the right thumb portion  30  to house the right thumb  3  and also the right finger portions, namely, the right index portion  31 , the right middle portion  32 , the right ring portion  33 , and the right pinkie portion  34 , to house the right index finger  4 , the right middle finger  5 , the right ring finger  6 , and the right pinkie finger  7 , respectively. At the other end of the left hand casing  21  are the left thumb portion  35  to house the left hand thumb  8  and also the left finger portions, namely, the left index portion  36 , left middle portion  37 , left ring portion  38 , and left pinkie portion  39 , to house the left index finger  9 , left middle finger  10 , left ring finger  11 , and left pinkie finger  12 , respectively. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  depicts the relationship between the right and left thumb portions and the right and left finger portions, respectively, in a widely used hand stabilizing configuration or, as sometimes referred to in the art of golfing, the Vardon or overlapping grip.  FIG. 2  depicts this relationship for a right handed user, a relation in which the right hand casing  20  is generally above the left hand casing  21 , but with the right pinkie portion  34  situated between the left index portion  36  and the left middle portion  37 . The left thumb portion  35  and right hand casing  20  are formed with the left thumb portion  35  positioned substantially beneath the right hand casing  20  in such a way that when the right hand  1  and left hand  2  are inserted into the right hand casing  20  and left hand casing  21 , respectively, the left hand thumb  8  is encased substantially beneath the right life line  13 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  also depicts an implement casing  22  fabricated as a channel to hold the shaft  40  of an implement. The implement can be but is not restricted to a golf club. The channel has a top channel opening  41  at one end into which a shaft  40  of an implement can be inserted. That one end with the top channel opening  41  is between the right index portion  31  and the right thumb portion  30 . The channel can have a bottom channel opening  42  at the other end of the channel if it is desired to pass the implement completely through the channel so that the other end  43  of the implement extends beyond the bottom channel opening  42 . The top and bottom channel opening references can be interchanged if convenient for the nature of the implement. 
         [0018]    The left index portion  36 , left middle portion  37 , left ring portion  38 , left pinkie portion  39 , right index portion  31 , right middle portion  32 , and right ring portion  33  are shaped to curl around the implement casing  22 . The right pinkie portion  34  has the shape earlier described, and the left hand thumb  8  and left thumb portion  35  have the position also earlier described. The right thumb portion  30  is parallel to the channel and lies along the implement casing  22 . 
         [0019]    The casings  20 ,  21 ,  22  are fabricated from a rigid or semi-rigid material well known in the art such as a metal or a synthetic composition. For example the synthetic composition can be of ordinary plastic or of other materials well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which synthetic composition fabrication belongs. If the material is a synthetic composition, the fabrication can be a molding process as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the arts of molding processing. The fabrication can be designed to convert separate two hand casings  20 .  21  and implement casing  22  into a single body, with the three components rigidly connected to each other, the conversion process being any of a variety of techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which rigid connecting belongs. In the case of a synthetic composition material, the three casings  20 ,  21 ,  22  can be rigidly attached to each other by a molding process in which the three segments, the two hand casings  20 ,  21  and the implement casing  22 , form together monolithically a single casing, the molding process being well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts above mentioned. 
         [0020]    The implement is held stably in the channel motionless relative to the channel both rotatably and axially. This stability can be temporary because the implement can be rotated or axially moved for adjustment to a desired angle to, or distance from, the implement&#39;s point of usage and then restabilized. One example of a structure which holds the implement stable is a gripping liner which lines the inner surface of the channel, e.g., a liner made of a material which grips the implement with or without corresponding material on the implement. Velcro and an adhesive material are two possible arrangements which can provide this gripping function, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. above mentioned. 
         [0021]    In another example, and without or with the gripping liner, the implement can be held, or more tightly held, as the case may be, with firm gripping strength by a hold-down fastener well-known in the art. An example of such a fastener is depicted in  FIG. 2 . In this example, a hold-down mechanism  51  is inserted into an opening passing through the shell of the implement casing  22  at any convenient position. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, this hold-down mechanism can be a threaded rod, e.g., a screw, which can have a crankshaft  52  or a thumb or slotted screw top at its end exterior to the implement casing  22 . Turning the threaded rod will bring the threaded rod into contact with the implement and will thereby exert pressure on the implement so as to hold the implement motionless against the inner surface of the channel, or more tightly motionless if a liner is also used. In the case of a threaded rod, the adjustment of angle can be made by reversing the turning of the rod so as to release contact, by adjusting the angle, and finally by turning the rod again to fasten the implement. In the case of a gripping liner which can be loosened by force, force can be used to provide adjustment. The hold-down fastener can be any of a variety of fasteners well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which fastening belongs. This secure holding will enable the hands and their fingers and thumbs to remain immovable relative to the implement. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  depicts a second preferred embodiment of the hand stabilizing invention. The hand stabilizer is formed by three casings, a right hand casing  20 , a left hand casing  21  and an implement casing  22 . The right hand casing  20  has at one end a right hand opening  23  for the right hand  1  of a user. The left hand casing  21  has at one end a left hand opening  24  for the left hand  2  of a user. The user&#39;s right hand  1  can be inserted through the right hand opening  23  into the right hand casing  20  and the user&#39;s left hand  2  can be inserted through the left hand opening  24  into the left hand casing  21 . The right hand casing  20  and left hand casing  21  will enclose the right hand  1  and left hand  2 , respectively. At the other end of the right hand casing  20  are the right thumb portion  30  to house the right hand thumb  3  and also the right finger portions, namely, the right index portion  31 , the right middle portion  32 , the right ring portion  33 , and the right pinkie portion  34 , to house the right index finger  4 , the right middle finger  5 , the right ring finger  6 , and the right pinkie finger  7 , respectively. At the other end of the left hand casing  21  are the left thumb portion  35  to house the left hand thumb  8  and also the left finger portions, namely, the left index portion  36 , left middle portion  37 , left ring portion  38 , and left pinkie portion  39 , to house the left index finger  9 , left middle finger  10 , left ring finger  11 , and left pinkie finger  12 , respectively. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts the relationship between the right and left thumb portions and the right and left finger portions, respectively, in another widely used grip, sometimes referred to in the art of golfing as the interlocking grip.  FIG. 3  depicts this relationship for a right handed user. a relation in which the right hand casing  20  is generally above the left hand casing  21 , but with the left index portion  36  overlapping, i.e., twining around or hooking around, the right pinkie portion  34 . The left thumb portion  35  and right hand casing  20  are formed with the left thumb portion  35  positioned substantially beneath the right hand casing  20  in such a way that when the right hand  1  and left hand  2  are inserted into the right hand casing  20  and left hand casing  21 , respectively, the left hand thumb  8  is encased substantially beneath the right life line  13 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  also depicts an implement casing  22  fabricated as a channel to hold the shaft  40  of an implement. The implement can be but is not restricted to a golf club. The channel has a top channel opening  42  at one end into which a shaft  40  of an implement can be inserted. The end with the top channel opening  42  is between the right index portion  31  and the right thumb portion  30 . The channel can have a bottom channel opening  41  at the other end if it is desired to pass the implement completely through the channel so that the end of the implement extends beyond the bottom channel opening  41 . The top and bottom channel opening references can be interchanged if convenient for the nature of the implement. 
         [0025]    The left middle portion  37 , left ring portion  38 , left pinkie portion  39 , right index portion  31 , right middle portion  32 , and right ring portion  33  are shaped to curl around the implement casing  22 . The right pinkie portion  34  and left index portion  36  have the shape earlier described, and the left hand thumb  8  has the position also earlier described. The right thumb portion  30  is parallel to the channel and lies along the implement casing  22 . 
         [0026]    The casings  20 ,  21 ,  22  are fabricated from a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or a synthetic composition. For example the synthetic composition can be of ordinary plastic or of other materials well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which synthetic composition fabrication belongs. If the material is a synthetic composition, the fabrication can be a molding process as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the arts of molding processing. The fabrication can be designed to convert separate two hand casings  21 ,  22  and implement casing  22  into a single body, with the three components rigidly connected to each other, the conversion process being any of a variety of techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which rigid connecting belongs. In the case of a synthetic composition material, the three casings  20 ,  21 ,  22  can be rigidly attached to each other by a molding process in which the three segments, the two hand casings  21 ,  22  and the implement casing  22 , form together monolithically a single casing, the molding process being well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts above mentioned. 
         [0027]    The implement is held stably in the channel motionless relative to the channel both rotatably and axially. This stability can be temporary because the implement can be rotated or axially moved for adjustment to a desired angle to, or distance from, the implement&#39;s point of usage and then restabilized. One example of a structure which holds the implement stable is a gripping liner which lines the inner surface of the channel, e.g., a liner made of a material which grips the implement with or without corresponding material on the implement. Velcro and an adhesive material are two possible arrangements which can provide this gripping function. 
         [0028]    In another example, and without or with the gripping liner, the implement can be held, or more tightly held, as the case may be, with firm gripping strength by a hold-down fastener. An example of such a fastener is depicted in  FIG. 4 . In this example, a hold-down mechanism  51  is inserted into an opening passing through the shell of the implement casing  22  at any convenient position. This hold-down mechanism can be a threaded rod, e.g., a screw, which can have a crankshaft  52  or a thumb or slotted screw top at its end exterior to the implement casing  22 . Turning the threaded rod will bring the threaded rod into contact with the implement and will thereby exert pressure on the implement so as to hold the implement motionless against the inner surface of the channel, or more tightly motionless if a liner is also used. In the case of a threaded rod, the adjustment of angle can be made by reversing the turning of the rod so as to release contact, by adjusting the angle, and finally by turning the rod again to fasten the implement. In the case of a gripping liner which can be loosened by force, force can be used to provide adjustment. The hold-down fastener can be any of a variety of fasteners well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which fastening belongs. This secure holding will enable the hands and their fingers and thumbs to remain immovable relative to the implement. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  depicts a third preferred embodiment of the hand stabilizing invention. The hand stabilizer is formed by three casings, a right hand casing  20 , a left hand casing  21  and an implement casing  22 . The right hand casing  20  has at one end a right hand opening  23  for the right hand  1  of a user. The left hand casing  21  has at one end a left hand opening  24  for the left hand  2  of a user. The user&#39;s right hand  1  can be inserted through the right hand opening  23  into the right hand casing  20  and the user&#39;s left hand  2  can be inserted through the left hand opening  24  into the left hand casing  21 . The right hand casing  20  and left hand casing  21  will enclose the right hand  1  and left hand  2 , respectively. At the other end of the right hand casing  20  are the right thumb portion  30  to house the right hand thumb  3  and also the right finger portions, namely, the right index portion  31 , the right middle portion  32 , the right ring portion  33 , and the right pinkie portion  34 , to house the right index finger  4 , the right middle finger  5 , the right ring finger  6 , and the right pinkie finger  7 , respectively. At the other end of the left hand casing  21  are the left thumb portion  35  to house the left hand thumb  8  and also the left finger portions, namely, the left index portion  36 , left middle portion  37 , left ring portion  38 , and left pinkie portion  39 , to house the left index finger  9 , left middle finger  10 , left ring finger  11 , and left pinkie finger  12 , respectively. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  depicts the relationship between the right and left thumb portions and the right and left finger portions, respectively, in another widely used grip, sometimes referred to in the art of golfing as the ten finger or baseball grip.  FIG. 4  depicts this relationship for a right handed user, a relation in which the right hand casing  20  is generally above the left index portion  36 , left middle portion  37 , left ring portion  38  and left pinkie portion  39  in such a way that the right pinkie portion  34  directly contacts the left index portion  36 . The left thumb portion  35  and right hand casing  20  are formed with the left thumb portion  35  positioned substantially beneath the right hand casing  20  in such a way that when the right hand  1  and left hand  2  are inserted into the right hand casing  20  and left hand casing  21 , respectively, the left hand thumb  8  is encased substantially beneath the right life line  13 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  also depicts an implement casing  22  fabricated as a channel to hold the shaft  40  of an implement. The implement can be but is not restricted to a golf club. The channel has a top channel opening  42  at one end into which a shaft  40  of an implement can be inserted. The end with the top channel opening  42  is between the right index portion  31  and the right thumb portion  30 . The channel can have a bottom channel opening  41  at the other end if it is desired to pass the implement completely through the channel so that the end of the implement extends beyond the bottom channel opening  41 . The top and bottom channel opening references can be interchanged if convenient for the nature of the implement. 
         [0032]    The left index portion  36 , left middle portion  37 , left ring portion  38 , left pinkie portion  39 , right index portion  31 , right middle portion  32 , right ring portion  33  and right pinkie portion  34  are shaped to curl around the implement casing  22 . The left hand thumb  8  has the position also earlier described. The right thumb portion  30  is parallel to the channel and lies along the implement casing  22 . 
         [0033]    The casings  20 ,  21 ,  22  are fabricated from a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or a synthetic composition. For example the synthetic composition can be of ordinary plastic or of other materials well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which synthetic composition fabrication belongs. If the material is a synthetic composition, the fabrication can be a molding process as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the arts of molding processing. The fabrication can be designed to convert separate two hand casings  21 ,  22  and implement casing  22  into a single body, with the three components rigidly connected to each other, the conversion process being any of a variety of techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which rigid connecting belongs. In the case of a synthetic composition material, the three casings  20 ,  21 ,  22  can be rigidly attached to each other by a molding process in which the three segments, the two hand casings  21 ,  22  and the implement casing  22 , form together monolithically a single casing, the molding process being well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts above mentioned. 
         [0034]    The implement is held stably in the channel motionless relative to the channel both rotatably and axially. This stability can be temporary because the implement can be rotated or axially moved for adjustment to a desired angle to, or distance from, the implement&#39;s point of usage and then restabilized. One example of a structure which holds the implement stable is a gripping liner which lines the inner surface of the channel, e.g., a liner made of a material which grips the implement with or without corresponding material on the implement. Velcro and an adhesive material are two possible arrangements which can provide this gripping function. 
         [0035]    In another example, and without or with the gripping liner, the implement can be held, or more tightly held, as the case may be, with firm gripping strength by a hold-down fastener. An example of such a fastener is depicted in  FIG. 4 . In this example, a hold-down mechanism  51  is inserted into an opening passing through the shell of the implement casing  22  at any convenient position. This hold-down mechanism can be a threaded rod, e.g., a screw, which can have a crankshaft  52  or a thumb or slotted screw top at its end exterior to the implement casing  22 . Turning the threaded rod will bring the threaded rod into contact with the implement and will thereby exert pressure on the implement so as to hold the implement motionless against the inner surface of the channel, or more tightly motionless if a liner is also used. In the case of a threaded rod, the adjustment of angle can be made by reversing the turning of the rod so as to release contact, by adjusting the angle, and finally by turning the rod again to fasten the implement. In the case of a gripping liner which can be loosened by force, force can be used to provide adjustment. The hold-down fastener can be any of a variety of fasteners well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts to which fastening belongs. This secure holding will enable the hands and their fingers and thumbs to remain immovable relative to the implement. 
         [0036]    For a left handed user, the description of the hand stabilizer is modified for all preferred embodiments by reversing the references in the text to “right” and “left. 
         [0037]    The implement held down stably in the channel in all the preferred embodiments can be any one of a variety of items. For example, the implement can be a golf club and the angle adjustment can align the planar face of the golf club to position the face at the desired angle to, and distance from, the golf ball to be struck by the club. 
         [0038]    The hand stabilizer described in all the preferred embodiments can be used in golfing training or even actual competition so as to bypass the need for the human hands to tightly clench the club. This tight gripping can cause an undesirable angle of, or distance from, impact between the planar surface and the golf ball. In the invention the casing firmly holds the shaft  40  of the golf club, the fingers do not provide clenching force, the full enclosure of the hands by the casing assures that the hand (including its fingers) contacts the inner surface of the casing (including its finger portions), and that the casing moves as the hands move. 
         [0039]    The additional advantage, whether the hand stabilizer, described in all the preferred embodiments, is used in training or actual competition, is protection against failure due to ecology circumstances. The enclosure of the hands and the mechanical gripping of the shaft  40  of the implement by the casing provide this advantage. The hands are kept warm while enclosed, and their functioning and comfort level, accordingly, are made considerably independent of outdoor temperature. The grip between the shaft  40  and the channel is also immune from the problems arising from any wetness, for example, rain. The sleeve liner or hold-down fastener provides this immunity from slipping or any other difficulty arising from wetness. 
         [0040]    Other implements for which the hand stabilizer described in all the preferred embodiments can be useful include various tools, for example snow-shovels, ordinary shovels, spades and brooms. 
         [0041]    While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications and applications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.