Patent Publication Number: US-2013232655-A1

Title: Upper Wrist and Forearm Protector and Hand Grip Apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to wrist and forearm protector and forearm apparatus and systems, and more particularly, to wrist and forearm protector with hand grip apparatus and systems. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It may be desirable to protect the upper wrist and forearm of a user during various physical activities. The present invention provides such an apparatus and system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a simplified side view diagram of an upper wrist and forearm protector and hand grip apparatus (UWPHG) architecture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a simplified top view diagram of an UWPHG in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  is a simplified bottom view diagram of an UWPHG in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1D  is a simplified side view diagram of an UWPHG in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1E  is a simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG taken across AA shown in  FIG. 1C  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1F  is another simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG taken across AA shown in  FIG. 1C  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a simplified side view diagram of an upper wrist and forearm protector and hand grip apparatus (UWPHG) architecture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a simplified top view diagram of an UWPHG in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2C  is a simplified bottom view diagram of an UWPHG in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2D  is a simplified side view diagram of an UWPHG in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2E  is a simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG taken across AA shown in  FIG. 2C  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2F  is another simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG taken across AA shown in  FIG. 2C  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified side view diagram of an upper wrist and forearm protector apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified front diagram of equipment that user wearing a UWPHG in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may manipulate while limiting upper wrist from injury. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Throughout this description, embodiments and variations are described for the purpose of illustrating uses and implementations of the invention. The illustrative description should be understood as presenting examples of the invention, rather than as limiting the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1A  is a simplified side view diagram of a wrist and forearm protector and hand grip apparatus (UWPHG) architecture  300 A in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In architecture  300 A, a combination upper wrist and forearm protector and hand grip apparatus (UWPHG)  100 A may be worn on or coupled to a user&#39;s hand  310  as shown in  FIG. 1A . The UWPHG  100 A may include a wrist and forearm protector module or section  120 A and hand grip or protector module or section  140 A. One or more fingers  322  of a user&#39;s hand  310  may securely engage UWPHG  100 A hand grip section  140 A from above via one or more finger slots ( 142 A,  142 B as shown in  FIG. 1B ). In an embodiment a section ( 127 A or  128 A of  FIGS. 1E ,  1 F in one embodiment) of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A may be elastic so a user may elastically deform (or enlarge) the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A to slide the module  120 A over the user&#39;s hand  310  so the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A rests on the user&#39;s wrist and forearm  312 , in particular the user&#39;s upper wrist and forearm  313  in an embodiment. 
     In an embodiment one or more protective elements  126 A (shown in  FIGS. 1E ,  1 F) may be located on the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A upper section  124 A. The protective element  126 A may protect a user&#39;s upper wrist and forearm  313  when the UWPHG  100 A is worn as shown in  FIG. 1A . In another embodiment a protective element  126 A may be located at a lower section  125 A of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A. In such an embodiment the WPHG  100 A may protect a user&#39;s lower wrist  314 . In a further embodiment, a protective element  126 A may be located at a wrist and forearm protector module  120 A lower section  125 A and upper section  124 A. In such an embodiment the WPHG  100 A may protect a user&#39;s lower wrist  314  and upper wrist and forearm  313  when worn as shown in  FIG. 1A . For sake of efficiency embodiments including a protective element  126 A located in the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A upper section  124 A are shown in the FIGURES of the application although as noted a protective element  126 A may be located in any combination of the lower and upper sections  124 A,  125 A (of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A). It is further noted that the hand grip section  140 A may extend to the user&#39;s lower wrist  314  region to effectively provide protection for same. 
     In an embodiment the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A may be comprised of a variety of natural and man-made materials including cotton, corn, bamboo, leather, and extruded materials from various polymers. The elastic section(s) ( 127 A,  128 A in an embodiment) may be similarly comprised of a variety of natural and man-made materials including rubber and extruded materials from various polymers including spandex, lycra, and other stretchable materials. The hand grip section  140 A may also be comprised of a combination of elastic, inelastic and partially elastic materials. The finger slots  142 A,  142 B may be comprised of substantially elastic materials similar to those used in regions  127 A,  127 B. The hand grip module  140 A materials may be selected to enable a user to grip different shaped and sized items including exercise equipment such as barbells and a kettlebell  200  grip  220  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     During various exercise or manipulations of items, a user&#39;s upper wrist region may be impacted. For example as a kettlebell is manipulated, the kettlebell&#39;s  200  offset weight  210  (from the grip  220 ) may create centrifugal force or torque that may cause the weight section  210  to impact a user&#39;s upper wrist and forearm  313  or upper forearm region (as a function of the manipulation). The UWPHG  100 A,  100 B,  100 C,  100 D, and  100 E (described with reference to  FIGS. 1A to 3 ), may protect a user&#39;s upper wrist and forearm  313  or upper forearm region as a user manipulates a kettlebell  200  or other items according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1B  is a simplified top view diagram,  FIG. 1C  is a simplified bottom view diagram, and  FIG. 1D  is a simplified side view diagram of an UWPHG  100 A in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1E  is a simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG  100 A and  FIG. 1F  is another simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG  100 C taken across AA shown in  FIG. 1C  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1D , the wrist and forearm protector module may include a passage  122 A, encased protective element  126 A, lower section  125 A, upper section  124 A, first elastic section  127 A, and second elastic section  128 A. As shown in  FIGS. 1E ,  1 F, the protective element  126 A may span over a large section of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A upper section  124 A. In an embodiment the protective element  126 A may be comprised a rigid, semi-rigid, or force absorbing material including plastics, alloys, and metals. In an embodiment the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A upper section  124 A may include a slot so the protective element  126 A may be removed therefrom. In an embodiment the overall length of the UWPHG  100 A may be about 5 to 12 inches and the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A may be about 2 to 4 inches in length. In an embodiment the protective element may have a width from about 1 to 3 inches. As shown in  FIG. 1E  and  FIG. 1F  the hand grip module  140 A may be embedded with the wrist and forearm protector module  120 A, within the passage  122 A at the lower section  125 B ( FIG. 2F ), and outside the lower section  125 A. 
       FIG. 2A  is a simplified side view diagram of a wrist and forearm protector and hand grip apparatus (UWPHG) architecture  300 B in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In architecture  300 B, a combination upper wrist and forearm protector and hand grip apparatus (UWPHG)  100 B may be worn on or coupled to a user&#39;s hand  310  as shown in  FIG. 2A . The UWPHG  100 B may include a wrist and forearm protector module or section  120 B and hand grip or protector module or section  140 B. One or more fingers  322  of a user&#39;s hand  310  may securely engage UWPHG  100 B hand grip section  140 B from above via one or more finger slots ( 142 A,  142 B as shown in  FIG. 2B ). In an embodiment a section ( 127 B or  128 B of  FIGS. 1E ,  1 F in one embodiment) of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B may be elastic so a user may elastically deform (or enlarge) the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B to slide the module  120 B over the user&#39;s hand  310  so the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B rests on the user&#39;s wrist and forearm  312 , in particular the user&#39;s upper wrist and forearm  313  in an embodiment. 
     In an embodiment the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B may include a buckle  135 B where a belt  132 B may extend through the buckle and enable compression (diameter reduction) of the module  120 B (shown in  FIGS. 2E ,  2 F). An end portion of the belt  132 B underside may include VELCO  133 B and a portion of the module  120 B lower section  125 B may include corresponding mating VELCO  134 B. The VELCO pair  133 B,  134 B may enable a user to securely engage the belt  133 B to the module  120 B so a desired tension or diameter (of the module  120 B) is achieved. In an embodiment the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B may include a closeable pocket  128 B that may house one or more protective elements  126 B. 
     In an embodiment the closeable pocket  128 C may be located on the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B upper section  124 B. The closeable pocket  128 C may protect a user&#39;s upper wrist and forearm  313  when the UWPHG  100 B,  100 D is worn as shown in  FIG. 2A . In another embodiment a closeable pocket  128 C may be located at a lower section  125 B of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B. In such an embodiment the UWPHG  100 B may protect a user&#39;s lower wrist  314 . In a further embodiment, a closeable pocket  128 C may be located at a wrist and forearm protector module  120 B lower section  125 B and upper section  124 B. In such an embodiment the UWPHG  100 B may protect a user&#39;s lower wrist  314  and upper wrist and forearm  313  when worn as shown in  FIG. 2A . For sake of efficiency embodiments including a closeable pocket  128 C located in the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B upper section  124 B are shown in  FIGS. 2A to 3  of the application although as noted a closeable pocket  128 C may be located in any combination of the lower and upper sections  124 B,  125 B (of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B). It is further noted that the hand grip section  140 B may extend to the user&#39;s lower wrist  314  region to effectively provide protection for same. 
     In an embodiment the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B may be comprised of a variety of natural and man-made materials including cotton, corn, bamboo, leather, and extruded materials from various polymers. The elastic section(s) ( 127 B,  128 B in an embodiment) may be similarly comprised of a variety of natural and man-made materials including rubber and extruded materials from various polymers including spandex, lycra, and other stretchable materials. The hand grip section  140 B may also be comprised of a combination of elastic, inelastic and partially elastic materials. The finger slots  142 A,  142 B may be comprised of substantially elastic materials similar to those used in regions  127 A,  127 B. The hand grip module  140 B materials may be selected to enable a user to grip different shaped and sized items including exercise equipment such as barbells and a kettlebell  200  grip  220  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a simplified top view diagram,  FIG. 2C  is a simplified bottom view diagram, and  FIG. 2D  is a simplified side view diagram of an UWPHG  100 B in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2E  is a simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG  100 B and  FIG. 2F  is another simplified cross-sectional diagram of an UWPHG  100 D taken across AA shown in  FIG. 2C  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A to 2D , the wrist and forearm protector module may include a passage  122 B, pocket  128 C encased protective element  126 B, lower section  125 B, upper section  124 B, first elastic section  127 B, and a second elastic section  128 B. As shown in  FIGS. 2E ,  2 F, the protective element  126 B may span over a large section of the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B upper section  124 B. In an embodiment the protective element  126 B may be comprised a rigid, semi-rigid, or force absorbing material including plastics, alloys, and metals. In an embodiment the overall length of the UWPHG  100 B may be about 5 to 9 inches and the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B may be about 2 to 4 inches in length. In an embodiment the protective element  126 B may have a width from about 1 to 3 inches and the pocket  128 C may be slightly wider. As shown in  FIG. 2E  and  FIG. 2F  the hand grip module  140 B may be embedded within the wrist and forearm protector module  120 B or within the passage  122 B at the lower section  125 B ( FIG. 2F ). 
     While this invention has been described in terms of a best mode for achieving the objectives of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a wrist and forearm protector apparatus  100 E may not include a hang grip module  140 A,  140 B. The apparatus  100 E includes a wrist and forearm protector module  120 C. The wrist and forearm protector module  120 C includes a protective element pocket  128 C on an upper section  124 C, a passage  122 C, and a belt  132 C including a VELCO section  133 C to mate with the module  120 C, lower section  125 C VELCO section  134 C.