Patent Publication Number: US-9421419-B1

Title: Finger/hand exerciser

Description:
The present invention relates generally to improvements for a hand and finger exerciser apparatus of the type in which engaged elements or components are pressed against the resistance or urgence of resilient members, wherein the user is given the option of exercising selected individual fingers or the entire hand. 
     More particularly, the present invention relates a hand and finger exerciser apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein the apparatus includes components for selectively locking and unlocking one or more finger button devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Routines contemplating the exercising of fingers against the resistance of springs are embodied in the construction and operational mode of prior art hand exercising devices, as exemplified by the hand exercising device illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,651 issued to Donald Norman on Jun. 12, 1973 for “Finger, Hand And Forearm Developer”. 
     It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid the animadversions of conventional finger/hand exercisers, and to provide an apparatus which can be used to independently exercise fingers or compress the entire apparatus for complete hand and forearm strengthening. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a hand and finger exerciser apparatus, comprising: abase unit structure; a plurality of movable finger button devices; first means for slidably connecting said plurality of finger button devices to said base unit structure; second means for selectively locking and unlocking an associated finger button devices; said second means being operably connected to said base unit structure and to said first means; said first means and said second means being configured to permit selective locking and unlocking of an associated finger button device upon pressing associated second means; and third means, operatively connected to said base unit structure, said movable finger button devices and said first means, for providing resistance to moving of the finger button in a first direction from a first position and for urging the finger button to move in a second direction back to said first position. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein each finger button device can be used independently to exercise fingers, or to compress the entire unit for complete hand and forearm strengthening. 
     Another object is to provide an apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein each said movable finger button device includes therewithin said third means having a first predetermined resistance. 
     Another object is to provide an apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein said third means includes a device selected from a group consisting of a spring device, a magnetic device, a resilient device, and a circumferential pressure device. 
     Another object is to provide an apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein the exercising use of the apparatus provides the user with the option of individual finger exercise routines, or an entire hand exercising routine. 
     Another object is to provide an apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein the second means for selectively locking and unlocking the finger button device are diametrically-opposed on opposite sides of the finger button device. 
     Another object is to provide an apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein: the second means for selectively locking and unlocking the resiliently-biased finger button device are diametrically-opposed on opposite sides of the finger button device; and said second means moves relative to said body unit structure perpendicular to a major elongated central axis of the finger button device to selectively and releasably lock or unlock the finger button device. 
     Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after having been exposed to the present patent application when read in conjunction with the accompanying patent drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the  FIG. 1  apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a left end view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  but with two finger button devices locked. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a finger button device and cooperating parts. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  showing the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  but showing the locked position. 
         FIGS. 9-12  show perspective view of the parts depicted in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of the hand and finger exerciser apparatus  10 . 
     The apparatus  10  includes a base unit structure  21 . 
     The apparatus  10  further includes a plurality of resiliently-biased finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13 . 
     The resilience and resistance of the devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  can be from a spring  25 ,  26 ,  27  or  28 , respectively, or other devices. 
     The apparatus  10  also includes first means for slidably connecting the plurality of finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  to the base unit structure  21 . 
     The apparatus  10  further includes second means  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  for selectively locking and unlocking the plurality of finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13 . 
     The second means  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  are operably connected to the base unit structure  21  and to the first means. 
     The second means can be located on one side of the apparatus  10 , on both sides thereof, and can be a toggle, slide or other mechanism. 
     The first means and the second means  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  are configured to permit selective locking and unlocking of an associated finger button device  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13 , respectively, upon pressing or moving the second means. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 , the base unit structure  21  of the optional individual finger or entire hand exerciser apparatus  10  is comprised of an operative arrangement of three cooperating body members, namely an upper body member  22 , a middle or centrally disposed body member  23 , and a lower body member  24 . 
     The four adjacent individually independently-slidable finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  are slidably positioned in the base unit structure  21 . 
     Each one of the four adjacent individually-independently slidable finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  is provided with an enlarged upper portion  20 . 
     The finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  can be provided with completely-enclosed springs  25 ,  26 ,  27  and  28 , respectively, or other types of suitable resilient resistance members. 
     The locked position of finger button devices  9  and  13  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     In the unlocked position (as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 ), each on of the finger button device  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  extends a predetermined distance above the upper surface  29  of the upper body member  22 . 
     As illustrated best in  FIG. 4 , a set of four guide pins  30 ,  31 ,  32  and  33  are arranged to be located axially within a cooperating one of the helical springs  25 ,  26 ,  27  and  28 , respectively, which are disposed in encircling relation about its associated guide pin. 
     Each finger button device  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  14  is provided with individual, diametrically-opposed, finger locking/unlocking members  1 / 5 ,  2 / 6 ,  3 / 7  and  4 / 8 , respectively, which members form part of an associated slidable component  40  that is best seen in  FIGS. 6 through 12 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the arrangement of the components when the independently-slidable spring-biased finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  are in their unlocked position ready to be used for exercising. 
     The second means  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  for selectively locking and unlocking the finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  are disposed diametrically-opposed on opposite sides of their associated finger button device. 
     The second means can be located on one side of the apparatus  10 , on both sides thereof, and can be a toggle, slide or other mechanism 
     The second means  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  moves relative to the body unit structure  21  perpendicular to a major elongated central axis of the finger button device to selectively and releaseably lock or unlock the finger button device. 
     This movement, unlocking and locking is best illustrated in  FIGS. 6 through 12 . 
     In particular,  FIG. 7  illustrates the unlocked position of the components. 
     Furthermore, and in particular,  FIG. 8  illustrates the locked position of the components. 
       FIGS. 9 through 12  illustrate the components in perspective views to show how the components are assembled for locking and unlocking movement relative to one another. 
     The apparatus  10  is used to develop isolated finger strength, flexibility and coordination as it builds hand and forearm strength. 
     Each finger button device  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  can individually be locked and unlocked. 
     Each finger button device  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  has a single spring  25 ,  26 ,  27  and  18 , respectively, which is covered by an associated plastic sheath. 
     The resilience and resistance of the devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  can be from a spring  25 ,  26 ,  27  or  28 , respectively, or other devices. 
     Each finger button device  9 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  can be used independently to exercise fingers, or compress the entire unit for complete hand and forearm strengthening. 
     The exercising use of the apparatus  10  provides the user with the option of individual finger exercise routines, or an entire hand exercising routine. 
     In the exercise of one or more individual fingers, but less than all of the fingers of the entire hand, a selected finger button device, such as finger button device  9  of  FIG. 1 , is depressed against the resistance of its cooperating spring  25 , thus resulting in finger button device  9  being urged from an initial starting clearance position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , to a position against the upper surface  29  of the upper body member  22 . 
     During individual finger exercising using one or more fingers to depress the selected finger button devices  9 ,  11 ,  12  and/or  13  against its cooperating exercising spring of the set of four thereof, the thumb of the user is passive or active. 
     However, when the exerciser apparatus  10  is used for an entire hand exercise routine, the thumb of the user is active or passive, along with the four fingers. 
     In such an entire hand exercise routine, the thumb contacts the lower surface  34  of the lower body member  24 . 
     While the finger and hand exerciser herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims. 
     The description of the invention set forth hereinabove, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the example shown and described, because those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may be able to devise other forms thereof within the ambit of the appended claims.