Patent Publication Number: US-2005137064-A1

Title: Hand weights with finger support

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to hand weights and particularly to a hand weight that includes finger sleeves for supporting the hand weight at least by the proximal phalanges so that anatomical resisted movements may be performed, in addition to wrist and finger extensions.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Hand weights, such as dumbbells, are designed to be grabbed by the handle while performing strength training. If a therapist desires to use the dumbbells for other exercises requiring a looser grip on the handle, such as for anatomical resisted movements or for wrist or finger extensions, the hand weights would not be suitable for the purpose.  
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide hand weights, such as dumbbells, with individual finger sleeves to support the dumbbells at least by the proximal phalanges, so that anatomical resisted movements or finger and wrist extensions may be performed.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide hand weights with individual finger sleeves that adjust to the size of the user&#39;s fingers and support the hand weights at least from the user&#39;s proximal phalanges to allow a looser grip on the hand weights while performing certain exercises.  
      In summary, the present invention provides a hand weight, comprising a handle; and a plurality of finger sleeves operably attached to the handle, each finger sleeve being designated for a specific finger of a user to support the hand weight from the user&#39;s fingers.  
      These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand weight incorporating a plurality of finger sleeves made in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hand weight incorporating a plurality of finger sleeves made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 , showing the attachment of the handle sleeve to the hand weight.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the hand weight of  FIG. 3 , shown with the user&#39;s proximal and middle phalanges supporting the hand weight. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      A hand weight  2  made in accordance with the present invention is disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The hand weight  2  comprises a handle  4  and weights  6  attached to the opposite ends of the handle  4 . The handle  4  may include threads  8  at its ends for removably securing the weights  6  to allow other weights to be attached to the handle  4 .  
      A plurality of finger sleeves  10  are operably attached to the handle  4 , such as by means of a handle sleeve  12  wrapped around the handle  4 . The finger sleeves  10  are preferably designated for the user&#39;s index, middle, ring and little fingers, respectively. The finger sleeves  10  provide the means for helping to support the hand weight  2  from the user&#39;s fingers with a looser grip so that the hand weight may rest at the proximal interphalangeal joint, the distal interphalangeal joint or the metacarpolphalangeal joint. The finger sleeves  10  are oriented transversely to the handle  4 . The handle sleeve  12  has a plurality of slots  14  through which the finger sleeves are looped. A person skilled in the art should understand that there are other means for securing the finger sleeves  10  to the handle sleeve  12 , such as by stitching the finger sleeves onto the handle sleeve.  
      The finger sleeves  10  and the handle sleeve  12  may be made of nylon or other fabrics.  
      The hand weight  2  is shown as a dumbbell, but it should be understood that the present invention can be used with other types of hand weights that would require support from the user&#39;s proximal phalanges to allow the user to perform anatomical resisted motions.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. A hand weight  16  comprises a handle  18  and weights  20  permanently attached to the opposite ends of the handle  18 . A handle sleeve  22  is removably wrapped around the handle  18  and secured thereto by means of a hook and loop fastener  23  disposed at respective overlapping surfaces at opposite ends  24 , as generally shown in  FIG. 5 . A plurality of vertical walls  26  extend through a plurality of slots  28  in the handle sleeve  22 . The vertical walls are preferably arranged in two rows. A strap  30  is disposed over each row to enclose the vertical walls  26  and define a plurality of finger sleeves  32 . The vertical walls  26  and the strap  30  are preferably made from nylon or other fabrics with hook-and-loop fasteners (VELCRO) such that the vertical walls  26  are folded over the user&#39;s fingers as the strap  30  is pressed down on each vertical wall  26  and be removably attached to the last vertical wall. Note that the top portion of each vertical wall  26  becomes removably attached to the underside of the respective strap  30 , advantageously making each finger sleeve  32  structurally sound while conforming to the user&#39;s finger size. The strap  30  is advantageously adjustably secured to the last vertical wall  26  so as to lengthen or shorten its effective length as it lays over the user&#39;s fingers, thereby to increase or reduce the size of the finger loops  32 .  
      The finger sleeves  32  provide the means for simultaneously supporting the hand weight  16  from the user&#39;s proximal and middle phalanges. The handle sleeve  22  provides the means for attaching the finger sleeves  32  to the handle  18 .  
      The vertical walls  26  and the straps  30  may be made from one single piece. The vertical walls are doubled up, attached to each other at their respective base portions  34 , and threaded through the respective slots  28 , leaving portions  36  between the vertical walls lying under the handle sleeve  22  between the slots  28 .  
      The hand weight  16  shown in  FIGS. 3-5  preferably includes finger sleeves  32  for the index, middle and ring fingers. A finger sleeve for the little finger may also be included. The two rows of finger sleeves  32  are disposed apart from each other so as to be positioned over the proximal and middle phalanges of the user&#39;s fingers when the user&#39;s fingers are inserted into the finger sleeves, as best shown in  FIG. 6 . With the use of the finger sleeves, the hand weights are advantageously supported from the proximal and middle phalanges, allowing the user to hold the hand weights relatively easier and with a looser grip. This advantageously allows the user to safely incorporate wrist and finger extensions and other exercises with resisted movements that require a looser grip on the hand weights, as generally shown in  FIG. 6 .  
      The present invention is designed to aid in the grip of the user who is performing anatomical resisted movements.  
      While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.