Abstract:
Novel grip strap apparatuses capable of increasing the amount of weight a user can manipulate, while at the same time being constructed in such a manner as to prevent irritation to the hands and decrease sweat accumulation. In preferred embodiments, the grip strap apparatus comprises a wrist wrap which is made from closed cell rubber material and a dual grip strap. The dual grip strap may be two sided in nature, and comprise a first side made from a closed cell rubber material and a second side made from a natural or synthetic cloth material. In other embodiments, the dual grip strap may comprise a natural or synthetic cloth adjustment strap configured to secure the wrist wrap around the wrist and/or forearm of a user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/868,598 filed Aug. 22, 2013, and entitled “NOVEL DUAL GRIP STRAP DEVICES” the entire contents of the above-referenced patent application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to novel grip enhancing devices and apparatuses for use with physical fitness training regimens. More particularly, the invention relates to a wrist mounted grip strap that facilitates the ability of the user to grip bar shaped physical fitness equipment and the like. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]    Physical fitness routines often incorporate the use of equipment that comprises a bar shaped gripping area for the hand of the user to grasp. Bar shaped gripping areas may be commonly found on dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, weight bars, chin-up and pull-up bars, weight machines, and the like. Once the user securely grasps the bar shaped gripping area of the equipment, they are able to manipulate it and perform desired exercises. 
         [0004]    It is very common for the main muscle groups of the chest, back, and shoulders, to accommodate more weight than the hands can comfortably grip. This results in limiting the maximum amount of weight to the amount that the hands can support, resulting in under utilization of the larger muscle groups and reduced muscle development. 
         [0005]    In order to train the larger muscle groups with more weight than the hands can grasp, weight lifters resort to using grip enhancing methods. Grip straps are one such method. By attaching one end of a strap of material to the wrist and the other end to the bar shaped gripping area of the physical fitness equipment, the wrists are able to work in tandem with the hands to support the weight of the equipment. 
         [0006]    Grip straps like the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,889 filed on Jun. 11, 2002 are common in the art. Due to the one piece design, these straps tend to fit poorly around the wrist and lead to pain, chaffing, and reduced weight lifting capacity. Other straps may utilize a substantially two piece design, with one section securing to the wrist and the other securing the wrist section to the equipment. Unfortunately, as with the one piece designs, these two piece systems tend to fit poorly around the section of the strap that attaches to the equipment, while the section of the strap that contacts the skin of the user is made from a durable material that is rough on the hands. The durable material usually wears on the hands to such an extent that many people require a separate set of gloves to protect their hands. Furthermore, the durable material that contacts the skin such as nylon or cotton, tends to accumulate sweat and bacterial build up. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a need exists for a novel grip strap system and device capable of increasing the amount of weight a user can manipulate, while at the same time preventing irritation to the hands as is common with other straps known in the field. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    Novel grip strap apparatuses capable of increasing the amount of weight a user can manipulate, while at the same time being constructed in such a manner as to prevent irritation to the hands and decrease sweat accumulation. In preferred embodiments, the grip strap apparatus comprises a wrist wrap which is made from closed cell rubber material and a dual grip strap. The dual grip strap may be two sided in nature and comprise a first side made from a closed cell rubber material and a second side made from a natural or synthetic cloth material. In other embodiments, the dual grip strap may comprise a natural or synthetic cloth adjustment strap configured to secure the wrist wrap around the wrist and/or forearm of a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]    Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0010]    FIG.  1 — FIG. 1  depicts a rear perspective view of a user&#39;s hand and an example of a grip strap apparatus according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0011]    FIG.  2 — FIG. 2  illustrates a front perspective view of a user&#39;s hand and an example of a grip strap apparatus according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0012]    FIG.  3 — FIG. 3  shows a front elevation view of an example of a grip strap apparatus according to various embodiments described herein 
           [0013]    FIG.  4 — FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the front of a user&#39;s hand and an example of a grip strap apparatus as worn for use, with the dual grip strap against the palm, ready to wrap around portions of an object according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0014]    FIG.  5 — FIG. 5  illustrates a rear elevation view of an example of a grip strap apparatus according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0015]    FIG.  6 — FIG. 6  shows an example of a grip strap apparatus as worn for use, from the back side of hand, with adjustment strap holding the wrist wrap around the wrist according to various embodiments described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or members, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, members, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0017]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0018]    In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims. 
         [0019]    New grip strap apparatuses for use with physical fitness equipment and workout routines are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0020]    The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. 
         [0021]    The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments.  FIG. 1  depicts a rear (back of hand) perspective view of a user&#39;s  200  hand and an example of a grip strap apparatus  100  (sometimes referred to as the “apparatus”) according to various embodiments described herein. In this example, the grip strap apparatus  100  comprises a wrist wrap  11 , an adjustment strap  12 , and a dual grip strap  13 . The wrist wrap  11  is joined to a dual grip strap  13  and to an adjustment strap  12 . 
         [0022]    The apparatus  100  is configured to aid a user  200  in gripping a plurality of objects such a bar or rod shaped object  250 , a weight lifting equipment bar, other bar or rod shaped equipment, or any other object that the dual grip strap  13  is able to contact or wrap around. 
         [0023]    The wrist wrap  11  is configured to wrap around and contact a user&#39;s  200  wrist and/or forearm, while the adjustment strap  12  is configured to generally wrap around the wrist wrap  11  and the user&#39;s  200  wrist, thereby securing the apparatus  100  to the user  200 . 
         [0024]    The dual grip strap  13  substantially comprises two sides. In some embodiments, a first side  13 A, or a portion of the first side  13 A, may be made from closed cell rubber, while the other second side  13 B, or a portion of the second side  13 B, may be made from a natural or synthetic cloth such as woven cotton cloth, cotton webbing, woven nylon cloth, nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, or any other suitable material of similar durability and flexibility. The first side  13 A and second side  13 B of the dual grip strap  13  may be made from two elongated lengths of different material which may be joined together to form one single dual grip strap  13  by stitching, chemical bonding, or other means. In the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , the wrist wrap  11 , both the first side  13 A and second side  13 B of the dual grip strap  13 , and the adjustment strap  12  are assembled together by stitching shown by example as dotted lines. 
         [0025]    The dual grip strap  13  is attached to the wrist wrap  11  and configured so that the first side  13 A of the dual grip strap  13  is in substantial contact with the skin or palm of the user  200 , while the second side  13 B is configured to substantially make contact with the bar or rod shaped object  250 . In preferred embodiments, the dual grip strap  13  comprises a first side  13 A which comprises natural closed cell rubber and a second side  13 B which comprises cotton cloth webbing. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front (palm side) perspective view of a user&#39;s hand  200  and an example of a grip strap apparatus  100  according to various embodiments described herein. In this illustration, the dual grip strap  13  is wrapped around a bar or rod shaped object  250  such as a weight lifting equipment bar. Portions of the second side  13 B ( FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 ) of the dual grip strap  13  are contacting the bar or rod shaped object  250  and as the dual grip strap  13  is wrapped around the bar or rod shaped object  250 , portions of the second side  13 B may also contact portions of the first side  13 A of the dual grip strap  13 . The user  200  is then able to grasp the dual grip strap  13  with the palm of the hand generally contacting the first side  13 A, thereby aiding the user&#39;s  200  ability to grip and manipulate the bar or rod shaped object  250 . Additionally, as the dual grip strap  13  is joined to the wrist wrap  11  which is secured to the wrist and/or forearm of the user  200  by the adjustment strap  12 , the user  200  is provided further leverage by being able to use their wrist and/or forearm to aid in manipulating objects such as a bar or rod shaped object  250 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a front elevation view of an example of a grip strap apparatus  100 , while  FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the front of a user&#39;s  200  hand and an example of a grip strap apparatus  100  as worn for use, with the dual grip strap  13  against the palm, ready to wrap around portions of an object according various embodiments described herein. In these embodiments, the first side  13 A of the dual grip strap  13  can be seen with portions of the second side  13 B ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  6 ) joined to the wrist wrap  11 . The adjustment strap  12  can also be seen joined to the wrist wrap  11  and may optionally be joined to the dual grip strap  13  as well. 
         [0028]    The adjustment strap  12  and the dual grip strap  13  are preferably joined to the wrist wrap  11 , and optionally to each other, with stitching, chemical bonding, heat bonding, or by other suitable means. In some embodiments, the wrist wrap  11  may comprise a grommet  14  configured to accept the adjustment strap  12 , and to prevent the adjustment strap  12  from tearing through the wrist wrap  11  during use. The grommet  14  may be made of metal, plastic, or other material common in the art. 
         [0029]    The adjustment strap  12  comprises a temporary attachment means  15 , which allows the adjustment strap  12  to secure to itself at many points, and therefore allows the tightening or loosening of the wrist wrap  11  around the wrist of the user  200 . In preferred embodiments, a first end of the adjustment strap  12  is joined to the wrist wrap  11  and a second end of the adjustment strap  12  comprises a temporary attachment means  15 . Suitable materials for the adjustment strap  12  may comprise natural or synthetic cloth such as woven cotton cloth, cotton webbing, woven nylon cloth, nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, or any other cloth material of similar durability and flexibility common in the art. The temporary attachment means  15  may be a hook and loop type fastener such as Velcro®, a buckle type fastener, button type fastener or any other suitable temporary fastener which may be located anywhere on or along the adjustment strap  12 . In preferred embodiments, the temporary attachment means  15  is a hook and loop type fastener. 
         [0030]    The wrist wrap  11  and first side  13 A of the dual grip strap  13  may be made of one type of closed cell natural and synthetic rubber, or a combination of closed cell natural and synthetic materials such as NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-41 2A1, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-42 2A2, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-43 2A3, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-41 2A1, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-42 2A2, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-43 2A3, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-41 2A1, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-42 2A2, NEO/EPT/SBR SCE-43 2A3, Neoprene SCE-41 2C1-E1, Neoprene SCE-42 2C2-E1, Neoprene SCE-43 2C3-E1, Neoprene SCE-45 2C5-E1, Neoprene SCE-42/43 2C2-3 E1, Neoprene SCE-41 2C1-E1, Neoprene SCE-41 2C1-E1, Nitrile SBE-42 2B2-E2, Nitrile SBE-43 2B3-E2, Epichlorohydrin SBE-41 2B1-E2, Epichlorohydrin SBE-42 2B2-E2, Epichlorohydrin SBE-43 2B3-E2, Epichlorohydrin SBE-43 2B3-E2, EPDM RE-41 2A1, EPDM RE-42 2A2, EPDM RE-43/44 2A3-4, EPT/PE/BTY RE-41 2A1, EPT/PE/BTY RE-42 2A2, PVC/NBR SBE-41/42 2B1-2, PVC/NBR SBE-41 2B1, PVC/NBR SBE-41/42 2B1-2, PVC/NBR SBE-41 2B1, SBR RE-42/43 2A2-3, NBR/PVC SBE-41 2B1, NBR/PVC SCE-41 2B1, NBR/PVC/NEO SCE-41 2B1, NBR/PVC/NEO SCE-42 2B2, NBR/PVC/NEO SCE-43 2B3, NBR/PVC, NBR/PVC SCE-41 2B1, Closed Cell Neoprene Sponge Rubber (100% Neoprene Sponge), Closed Cell Blended Sponge Rubber (Neoprene/EPDM/SBR Blend), Closed Cell EPDM Sponge Rubber, Closed Cell Nitrile (Buna-N) Sponge Rubber, Closed Cell ECH (Epichlorohydrin) Sponge Rubber, Closed Cell Viton® Sponge Rubber, PVC/NBR Sponge Rubber, or any other natural or synthetic closed cell rubber or foam common in the art. In preferred embodiments, the wrist wrap  11  is made from natural closed cell rubber, and the dual grip strap  13  comprises one surface of natural closed cell rubber. Not wishing to be limited by theory, the closed cell nature of the material comprising the wrist wrap  11  and dual grip strap  13  prevents adsorption of contaminants such as sweat and bacteria. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear elevation view of an example of a grip strap apparatus  100 , while  FIG. 6  shows an example of a grip strap apparatus  100  as worn for use, from the back side of a user&#39;s  200  hand, with the adjustment strap  12  holding the wrist wrap  11  around the wrist according to various embodiments described herein. In these embodiments, the second side  13 B of the dual grip strap  13  is visible. Preferably, the second side  13 B of the dual grip strap  13  may be made from natural materials such as cotton webbing or synthetic materials such as nylon webbing. By contacting and wrapping the second side  13 B of the dual grip strap  13  around an object such as a bar or rod shaped object  250  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), the second side  13 B is configured to provide a non-slipping surface to for engaging objects the user  200  desires to manipulate. 
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.