Patent Publication Number: US-2004045071-A1

Title: Finger grip aid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/409,355 filed Sep. 6, 2002. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to devices for improving the gripping ability of user, and more specifically relates to glove-like devices that can be worn over one or more of the user&#39;s fingers as an aid in holding equipment with elongated handles such as golf clubs, or for handling hard to grip items such as balls or drinking glasses.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Grip aids are devices that provide for improved gripping ability, such as by providing a more ergonomic handle or by the positioning of traction improving materials between a user&#39;s hand an object to be gripped. In general, grip aids can be grouped into those that 1) improve the handle of the product to be gripped, and 2) are applied to the user&#39;s hand, for example as a glove.  
       [0004] In general, modification to handles does improve the ability to grip, but handle designs are not versatile enough to cover all conceivable uses or provide a perfect fit for the different hand sizes of different user&#39;s. Providing better handles is also an expensive way of improving the ability of a user to grip a device. Grip aids that are applied to the hand has the potential to be better tailored to different users, but has other problems. For example, gloves can be bulky and they reduce the sense of touch. Gloves also often cover a large portion or all of the hand, making them both cumbersome and hot to wear. An alternative approach is the application of tapes to the hand. These offer a customizable, topical application but lack proper adhesion to the user under most physical activities and often result in unwanted glue residue.  
       [0005] In summary, prior grip devices have problems that prevent them be being generally useful. These problems include the lack of general applicability, for example as with an ergonomic handle being useful only for some people or for a small range of motion, the loss of sensitivity, for example with a glove, or by being uncomfortable, as in the case of adhesive grip aids. What is needed is a versatile grip that is relatively topical and that will stay on the finger with little, or no, glue. Preferably, the a grip should provide improved gripping for the user through increased friction with a gripped product and should not greatly reduce the sensitivity of the users fingers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention solves the problems prior art grip aids by providing a sleeve of thin, resilient, elastomeric material that a user fits over one or more fingers. The sleeve preferably has a hole cut in it for a knuckle. In one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve may extend the entire length of the finger from palm to tip, encapsulating the entire finger in compression, except for the hole cut for the knuckle. In another embodiment, the sleeve may only cover a segment of the finger, including a knuckle. The grip aid may also include tightening device, such as wings that wrap around the top of the finger near the knuckle opening. These sleeves may also include textured surfaces to further enhance frictional potential of the device.  
       [0007] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a finger grip aid that includes a tapered sleeve of a elastomeric material having a first opening at the end thereof and an intermediate opening. The sleeve is so dimensioned as to fit over a user&#39;s finger with the first opening at the base of the user&#39;s finger and with the intermediate opening centered over a second knuckle of the user&#39;s finger. When the sleeve is placed on the user&#39;s finger, at least a portion of the sleeve including the first opening compresses the user&#39;s finger, and the second knuckle of the user&#39;s finger is exposed through the intermediate opening. In one embodiment, the sleeve has a second opening to expose the upper portion of the finger, including the tip. In another embodiment, the sleeve cover the length of the finger. The grip can also include one or more integral tightening elements across said side opening, and can have an outer surface that is textured.  
       [0008] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a finger grip aid that includes a tapered sleeve of a elastomeric material having a first opening at the end thereof and an intermediate opening. The said sleeve has the approximate shape of a finger from the base of the finger, at the first opening, to at least a region about the second knuckle of the finger, at said intermediate opening.  
       [0009] It is one advantage of the present invention to provide an improved grip for a user with a finger grip aid that will survive most strenuous activities.  
       [0010] It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a grip aid that can be applied only in the areas needed without sacrificing touch, dexterity, comfort, or the adverse affects of glue residue.  
       [0011] It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a finger grip aid that is useful for holding equipment with elongated handles, such as golf clubs, or for gripping with hard to hold items like balls and drinking glasses.  
       [0012] A further understanding of the invention can be had from the detailed discussion of the specific embodiment below. For purposes of clarity, this discussion refers to devices, methods, and concepts in terms of specific examples. However, the inventive grip may be constructed using materials or using methods other than those described herein, and may be used to grip a wide variety of types of devices. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited by the discussion of specific embodiments.  
       [0013] Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of preferred embodiments set forth below. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014] Additional advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a palm view of a human hand;  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a side view of a human finger;  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is palm view of a first embodiment of the invention in which the sleeve covers only part of the finger;  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 5 is palm view of a second embodiment of the invention in which the sleeve covers all of the finger except for the knuckle hole;  
     [0020]FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 7 is palm view of a third embodiment of the invention in which the sleeve covers only part of the finger and includes a tightening device, not visible in the palm view; and  
     [0022] FIGS.  8 A-B are side views of the third embodiment of the invention, where FIG. 8A shows the finger grip aid on a finger, and FIG. 8B shows the finger grip aid with the integral tightening wing wrapped about the aid. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0023] The present invention relates to a finger grip aid for use while holding equipment with elongated handles like golf clubs or, with hard to grip items like balls and drinking glasses. To facilitate its description, the invention is described below in terms of embodiments having specific configurations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments while remaining within the scope of the present invention.  
     [0024] A first embodiment of the present invention is described in relation to FIGS.  1 - 2 . FIG. 1 is an illustration of a human hand. A hand  10  has a palm region  12  and five digits: four digits  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , and  14   d , and a thumb  14   e . The four digits each include a first section  141  extending from the base of the finger to a second knuckle  144 , a second section  142  that extends from the second knuckle to a first knuckle  145 , and a section  143  that extends from the first knuckle to a tip  146 . Thumb  14   e  includes two sections, a knuckle and a tip. The reference numbers for each section, knuckle and tip includes a letter a-e indicative of digit. FIG. 2 is an illustration of the side profile of a human finger.  
     [0025] In FIGS. 3 and 4 a first embodiment of a finger grip aid  20  is shown, where FIG. 3 is a palm view and FIG. 4 is a side view. A sleeve  22  has a first edge  21 , a second edge  25 , and has a hole  23  between the two edges. Finger grip aid  20  can fit over any one of fingers  14   a - 14   d . As an illustrative example, FIGS. 3 and 4 show finger grip aid  20  on finger  14   b . Finger grip aid  20  is situated with edge  21  proximal palm  12  at the intersection of finger  14   b  with the palm, with edge  25  distal the palm and near the middle of the second section  142   b , and with hole  23  placed over second knuckle  144   b . The sleeve is made of a thin, resilient, but elastomeric material that can be slid over the end of a finger towards the palm. When positioned as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, aid  20  is held onto the finger by compression of the sleeve. Edge  21  is preferably tapered and tucked into the crease of skin between palm  12  and finger  14   b  during a gripping posture of a handle (not shown). This placement reduces the probability of the edge getting caught by the tool being handled, and getting ripped, or rolled off the finger. Knuckle  144   b  also helps to hold the sleeve in place during a gripping motion by poking through the associated hole  23  cut in the sleeve.  
     [0026]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention as a palm view and side view, respectively. A finger grip aid  20 ′ can fit over any one of fingers  14   a - 14   d . As an illustrative example, finger grip aid  20 ′ is shown covering finger  14   b . Aid  20 ′ includes a sleeve  22 ′ having an edge  21 ′, a closed end  25 ′, and a hole  23 ′ between the edge and end. Aid  20 ′ is shown placed on finger  14   b  with edge  21 ′ at palm  12  and with closed end  25 ′ enclosing the tip  146   b  of the finger. Sleeve  22 ′ also positioned such that hole  23 ′ accommodates second knuckle  144   b.    
     [0027]FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention as a palm view. FIGS. 8A and B show a side view of the third embodiment before and after tightening an integral tightening device, respectively. A finger grip aid  20 ″ is shown covering finger  14   b . Aid  20 ″ includes a sleeve  22 ″ having a proximal edge  21 ″ and a distal edge  25 ″ and a hole  23 ″ between the two edges. FIG. 8 shows aid  20 ″ positioned on finger  14   b  with edge  21 ″ at palm  12  and with edge  25 ″ at the middle of the second section  142   b  of the finger. Aid  20 ″ includes an integral tightening device  24  that wraps around and overlap the top finger just above a knuckle hole  23 ″. Device  24 , shown prior to wrapping about the finger in FIG. 8A, has a wing  24   a  and a wing-receiving portion  24   b  on sleeve  22 ″. By pulling wing  24   a  tight about the finger, aid  20 ″ can be more securely held onto the finger, as shown in FIG. 8B. The amount of compression that device  24  provides for holding aid  20 ″ on the finger can be further controlled through the use of an elastomeric material for wing  24   a.    
     [0028] Wing  24   a  can be held on receiving portion  24   b  through an adhesive, or by mutually sticking surfaces, such as VELCRO®. Device  24  is preferably tightened in a re-usable fashion with wing  24   a  and receiving portion  24   b  adapted such that they can be repeatedly tightened, loosened or adjusted by the user.  
     [0029] Various alternative embodiments include, but are not limited to, various lengths of sleeves, 2 or more sets of wings, or the use of textured surfaces to enhance friction. Finger grips can be tailored to fit on any of the fingers, including the thumb. Any type of friction enhancing elastomer could be utilized for the invention, however, latex rubber has been found to be a very good material. Amount of friction, size and thickness of the sleeve may vary by use and user.  
     [0030] Having disclosed exemplary embodiments, modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention as described by the following claims.