Abstract:
Disclosed is a hand-grasped exercise unit to assist in reducing wrist and hand pain during exercises such as yoga. The device, normally used in pairs, is constructed for a user to rest the heel of the palm, fingers, and base of the thumb while engaging in exercises normally done in direct contact with a floor or other hard surface. The device comprises a frame having an upper platform, and a support base with two orthogonally-oriented side walls and a rear wall. An opening allows a user to insert four fingers of the hand between the two side walls and grasp a rounded lip on the upper surface of the unit. A main foam layer and a secondary foam layer are affixed to the top surface of the upper platform. The two foam layers are enclosed by a fabric cover to provide additional comfort.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The inventive concept disclosed relates to exercise devices and equipment used for physical fitness training, particularly devices that require specific gripping postures by a user&#39;s hand or hands. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art, Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     US #2013/0324382 (Dec. 5, 2013; Wilson). A non-planar exercise mat is disclosed comprising a plurality of detachable handheld implements, each handheld implement serving functions independently of the mat. Various embodiments include handles for assisting a user in performing a variety of exercises upon, or optionally using, the mat. 
     US #2014/0135189 (May 15, 2014; Thomason) An exercise device having a hemispherical handle, an internal support, and a foot support for performing a variety of pushup-type exercises. The hemispherical handle is designed to provide optimum support and comfort to the user. The internal support is attached to the handle in a way that permits the handle to move relative to the foot support, for example, by moving up and down, rotating, tilting from side to side, or revolving about a central axis. The foot support provides support for the handle. Pads may be removably attached to the foot support to provide the desired surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,646 (Jun. 20, 2006; Slimi) An apparatus (1) for making figures or body exercises in rotation, includes: a lower part (20) having non-skipping elements (22) on an exercise surface (S); a mobile upper part (10) rotating relatively to the lower pan (20), and elements (30) for coupling in rotation the respectively upper and lower parts (10, 20). The upper part (10) comprises a gripping piece (100) conformed to receive a part (M) of a user&#39;s (U) body. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,160 (Jun. 11, 2013; Andrews) A wrist saver device with an elastomeric body and an adjustable strap is provided for decreasing stress and strain of a user&#39;s wrist joint by elevating a heel of a user&#39;s hand and lessening the amount and degree of an extension of a user&#39;s wrist so as to comfort and cushion the user&#39;s wrist and substantially prevent the user&#39;s wrist from being positioned at a 90 degree fight angle and perpendicular to the user&#39;s forearm and hand when the user is performing yoga, pushups, hand stands, dips or other upper body weight bearing exercises. 
     US #2010/0248920 (Sep. 30, 2010; Morales) An article of manufacture designed to allow the performance of pushups comfortably, ergonomically, and in a balanced manner on a ground surface. The article in reference is composed of a pair of hand supports (left and right) made of plastic or similar material, and a plurality of cushions made of rubber, cloth, or similar materials. The supports have a base or bottom portion designed to contact the floor, and a top portion at an elevated position relative to the base and above the floor. The top portion of the supports provide space for the user&#39;s hands to rest in a position that is more ergonomic than if resting directly on the floor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,791 (Jan. 2, 2007; Edwards) Disclosed are yoga grip blocks having one or more block sections and a grip section that provide support and comfort in the practice of yoga exercises. The invention includes preferred materials to fabricate yoga grip blocks and describes methods of using yoga grip blocks. 
     US #2013/0274078 (Oct. 17, 2013; Andrews) A wrist saver Yoga block includes a handle which decreases stress and strain of a user&#39;s wrist joint by lessening the degree of extension of a user&#39;s wrist so as to substantially prevent the user&#39;s wrist from being positioned at a 90 degree angle with respect to the user&#39;s hand when the user is performing Yoga poses, Pilates, push-ups, hand stands, dips or other upper body weight bearing exercises. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,206 (Nov. 14, 1995; Fleming) Exercise aids for doing inclined pushups which may be positioned on the top of an elevated surface e.g. a table top. The handle bar of each aid is held in one hand and the person plants the bottom of the feet on the floor and does the pushup. The aid has a handle bar which is inclined at an angle of about 30°±5° with respect to the bottom surface of the aid which supports it to permit back and forth push up type motion. 
     US #2012/0214653 (Aug. 23, 2012; Tsou) A yoga block in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a prism-shaped triangular block that provides a stable and solid base on all sides, horizontally and vertically, and is equipped with ergonomically placed hand grooves and multiple level hand slots for tailored use. The device helps users refine their practice through safe and proper alignment various yoga postures. A yoga block in the preferred embodiment is preferably composed of lightweight yet sturdy materials such as: foam, cork, or natural wood, but is in no way limited to these suggested materials. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device disclosed is an exercise unit which serves as a cushioning device to aid in reducing wrist and hand pain and/or discomfort incurred during exercise done on a floor or other surface, such as yoga and pilates. The exercise unit comprises a main support frame which is approximately equal in size to the hand of an adult. The exercise unit may be roughly described as an essentially square-shaped box, having one open side. A user places the device upon a floor or other surface such that the open side is oriented orthogonally to the floor surface and facing away from the user. This arrangement causes one side of the box, designated as the “upper platform” to be oriented parallel to the surface and designated as the “top” side. The user then places his/her palm on the top side, thus simultaneously allowing insertion of four fingers of the hand into the open side. A layer of cushioning foam is permanently attached to the top side. Users of the exercise unit would normally use two of the devices, one for each hand, during exercise maneuvers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  presents an illustration of the basic frame  11  of the exercise unit, as viewed from the right side of the device, and further showing, in dashed lines, the interior contours of the frame  11 . 
         FIG. 2  is a direct frontal view of the exercise unit  10 , looking directly into the opening  16 , the opening being used for insertion of a user&#39;s fingers. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the exercise unit  10 , looking downward, the secondary foam layer  28 , the top of the upper foam segment  43 , the lip  34 , and the inner surface  17  of the support base  18  being visible. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a user having positioned his/her right hand and fingers  46  in the preferred gripping posture for the exercise unit  10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects, features, and advantages of the concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling four figures, show the basic components and functions of embodiments and/or methods of use. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures. 
     The discussion of the present inventive concept will be initiated with  FIG. 1 , which illustrates the frame  11 , isolated from the complete exercise unit  10 , as viewed from the right side  14  of the frame  11 . The frame  11  of the exercise unit  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is depicted in an intermediate stage of construction. The primary components of the frame  11 , as visible in  FIG. 1 , are shown to be a support base  18  having an inner surface  17 , an outer surface  19 , a right wall  14 , a rear wall  15 , and an upper platform  22 . The upper platform  22  further comprises an upper outer surface  24  which provides a surface for attachment of a main foam layer  27  and a secondary foam layer  28 , to be attached atop the main foam layer  27 . Both these foam layers  27 ,  28  are more readily visible in  FIG. 2   
     The upper platform  22  attaches to the rear wall  15 , the right side wall  14 , and the left side wall  13  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). An upraised lip  34 , an upper rim  30 , rim bottom perimeter  32  and the upper inner surface  23  are also depicted. An opening  16  is constructed of dimensions suitable for acceptance of four fingers of a user&#39;s a hand by means of using the finger joints to grasp generally the upper rim  30  and the rim bottom perimeter  32  when the maneuvers are performed in use of the entire exercise unit  10 . 
     Also depicted in  FIG. 1  is a slight sloping of the upper platform  22 , from the upper rim  30  to the rear wall  15 . This slope is defined as an “angle of slant”  35 . The angle of slant  35  is determined as the angle between the slanted upper outer surface  24  of the upper platform  22  and the level horizon. In the preferred embodiment, the designed angle of slant  35  is six (6.0) degrees, however the angle of slant  35  is effective in a range between 4.0 and 14.0 degrees. This angle of slant  35  helps keep the user&#39;s hand in position on the exercise unit  10  and prevents the hand from inadvertently moving forward and sliding off the front of the device. 
     Reference is again made to  FIG. 2 , which is a frontal view of the complete exercise unit  10 . Prominently situated above the upper platform  22  of the exercise unit  10  is a two-tiered main foam layer  27 . The main foam layer  27 , in the preferred embodiment, may be comprised of an upper foam segment  43  of a specific density, and a lower foam segment  44  of a different density from the upper foam segment  43 . 
     The two differing foam segments  43 ,  44  are bound to each other by means of an adhesive  6 . In this manner a dual-layered main foam layer  27 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is formed. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the frontal view of the exercise unit  10 , looks directly into the opening  16 , with the base  18  inner surface  17  visible. It is to be noted that the secondary foam layer  28  has a rounded front  29 , which coincides with the rounded fronts  26 ,  25  of the upper foam segment  43  and the lower foam segment  44 , respectively. The planar surface area of the secondary foam layer  28  is approximately one-half the size of that of the upper foam segment  43 , and serves to keep the user&#39;s hand from sliding forward and off the exercise unit  10 . The secondary foam layer  28  also helps the user keep his/her hand located exactly as desired on the exercise unit  10  and further, improves weight distribution. This occurs by causing a transfer of a portion of the user&#39;s body weight to the middle of the palm, where otherwise no weight loading would occur at all. 
     The upper foam segment  43  is characterized by a rounded front  26  and similarly, the lower foam segment  44  features a rounded front  25 . The bottom surface of the lower foam segment  44  is attached to the outer surface  24  of the upper platform  22  by an adhesive  6 . A smaller, secondary foam layer  28  is adhesively attached  6  to the upper surface of the upper foam segment  43 . The secondary foam layer  28  also features a rounded front  29 . The rounded fronts of the foam layers  27 ,  28  are shown more clearly in  FIG. 3 . 
     The main foam layer  27  is of a dense, soft composition, preferably latex, and is adhesively attached to the outer surface  24  of the upper platform  22 . The opening  16  of the exercise unit  10  allows the user to place an open hand on top of the foam layers  27 ,  28  and wrap the fingers about the upper rim  30 , lip  34 , and rim bottom perimeter  32  and further, protrude the fingers inside the opening  16  for an efficient, very comfortable, and unique position. 
     In  FIG. 3 , there is shown a top view of the exercise unit  10 , including the top surface of the main foam layer  27  and the top surface of the secondary foam layer  28 . The upper platform  22  features a rounded lip  34 , which is integral to the upper rim  30  (hidden from view) which extends continuously, with and corresponding to, the length of the upper rim  30 . The lip  34  and the rim bottom perimeter  32  serve to provide a surface which the finger joints  46  (more readily seen in  FIG. 2  and in  FIG. 4 ) of a user may grasp while extending the fingertips into an opening  16  directly below the rim bottom perimeter  32 . The support base  18  provides stability and flush contact with the floor or other surface upon which the user may be exercising. The base outer surface  19  (not shown) may be covered with any type of non-slip material  20  (not shown) to prevent slipping or sliding of the support base  18  of the exercise unit  10  along the floor. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a fabric cover  42  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be securely and snugly fitted over both the main foam layer  27  and the secondary foam layer  28  to provide another degree of comfort for the user. The exercise unit  10  provides a user with an extremely comfortable apparatus and support mechanism on which to put the heel  47  of his/her hand and wrist  49  when supporting the body weight during certain types of floor exercise. These features are more readily seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     Again,  FIG. 3  demonstrates that the rearward portion of the secondary foam layer  28  is tapered from side-to-side and rounded at the rearward portion. This feature enhances comfort of the heel  47  (not shown) of the user&#39;s hand when the exercise unit  10  is in use. The upper rim  30  (out of view) and lip  34  of the upper platform help keep the lower foam section  44  from sliding off the top of the upper platform  22 , in addition to an adhesive  6 , which is also used to attach the upper and lower foam sections  43 ,  44  (adhesive is partially shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The portion of a user&#39;s weight being brought to bear on the exercise unit  10  is placed directly onto the main foam layer  27 , (comprising the upper foam segment  43  and the lower foam segment  44 ), as transmitted through the palm of a user, with the user&#39;s fingers comfortably curled into the opening  16  of the exercise unit  10 . 
     In referring again to  FIG. 2 , it is emphasized that the rounded shape of the upper rim  30  and lip  34 , just above the opening  16  make it very comfortable for the hand to rest on the upper foam segment  43  and have the fingers wrap underneath the rim bottom perimeter  32 . This gripping position would be much more difficult to accomplish if there was a straight edge in the vicinity of the upper rim  30 . This comfortable position substantially relieves a very common wrist pain reportedly experienced during the weight bearing portion of workouts utilizing the exercise unit  10 . It should be noted that, in the preferred embodiment, different densities of latex foam provide the most effective combination of support and softness. 
     As is evident in  FIG. 3 , the upper platform  22  and the main foam layer  27  are constructed with a taper  36  (or angling) from front to rear of the exercise unit  10 . The support base  18 , the base rounded front  21 , and the base inner surface  17  are partially in view. The taper  36  of the device to a narrower dimension toward the rear wall  15  allows the user to shift his/her hand position during use of the exercise unit  10 . In particular, the taper  36  allows moving the user&#39;s hand more toward the thumb side by actually dropping the lower thumb joint  37  slightly off the top of the main foam layer  27 , which serves to relieve weight and pressure off the lower thumb joint. This is more clearly illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Actual experience has found this to be a very comfortable position for users who suffer from intermittent or consistent thumb pain. It is also intended that the curvature and rounded top of the lip  34  and the outside edge of the rim  30  allow for comfortable and smooth depression and rebound of the main foam layer  27  and any fabric cover  42  which may be attached. 
       FIG. 4  is a depiction of the exercise unit  10  being used with a custom-fitted fabric cover  42  having been placed over the secondary and main foam layers,  28 ,  27 . The fabric cover  42  further comprises a rounded contour to correspond with the main foam rounded front  26  and rounded rear edges of the main foam layer  27 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates full use of the exercise unit  10 , in which a user positions his right backhand  50  and fingers to effectuate the preferred method of gripping of the exercise unit  10 . The exercise unit  10  is placed squarely on the floor surface  45  and resting on its support base  18 . The user has placed the heel  47  of his hand, the palm  51  (not visible), and the thumb base  37  onto the fabric cover  42 , which fits snugly over the main foam layer  27  of the exercise unit  10 . The first finger joints  46  direct the upper portions of those four fingers into the opening  16  (only partially visible) of the exercise unit  10 . The main foam layer  27  and the secondary foam layer  28 , (covered by the fabric cover  42 ) serve to provide a cushioning effect to the user&#39;s wrist  49 . 
     The fabric cover  42  is designed to “float” over the main foam layer  27  (hidden from view) as the main foam layer  27  is compressed and relieved repeatedly. Preferably the fabric cover  42  is attached to the exercise unit  10  by being expandable and capable of being fitted securely around the rear section of the rear wall  15 , the rim bottom perimeter  32 , and additionally, being retained by the lip  34 . 
     In actual construction of the exercise unit  10 , the preferred embodiment provides the most effective and functional dimensions in the ranges of 4.0 to 5.0 inches in width and 4.0 to 5.25 inches in length (from the base round front  21  to the rear wall  15 ). The height of the lip  34  above the upper platform  22  is preferred to be in the range from 0.125 inch to 0.5 inch. In the preferred embodiment, the height of the lip  34  above the upper platform  22  is 0.2 inch. The upper platform  22  is constructed with overlaps beyond the outer edge of the left wall  13 , right wall  14 , and rear wall  15  at a preferred dimension of 3/16 inch. The main foam layer  27  is constructed with a vertical thickness between 1.0 inch and 2.0 inches, with the preferred thickness being 1.5 inches. The secondary foam layer  28  is constructed with a thickness in the range of 0.125 inch to 0.625 inch, with the preferred thickness being 0.375 inch. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and by no means limited by the scope of the claims presented herein.