Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent Ser. No. 61/491,290, filed 2011 May 30 by the present inventor. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This application relates to grip and finger strength, particularly to methods to build finger and grip strength 
     PRIOR ART 
     The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 US Patents 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Pat. No. 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 D558,283 S 
                 B1 
                 2007-12-25 
                 Mollet 
               
               
                   
                 D484,929 S 
                 B1 
                 2006-01-06 
                 Mollet 
               
               
                   
                 6,022,299 
                 B1 
                 200-02-08 
                 Stewart 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Finger strength is an important part of many sports including but not limited to climbing, weightlifting and self defense. Many enthusiasts of these and other sports train on exercise machines in gyms or at home. They also use many forms of training that utilize resistance, whether it be the weight of their own body or the weight of metal plates on a cable pulley exercise machine or a rubber strap, band or tube. Many climbers utilize hangboards that are placed over a doorway in their home, exercise gym or artificial climbing facility. Many artificial climbing facility&#39;s provide climbers with training methods to promote and develop finger strength. 
     Although hangboards are useful for climbers to build finger strength they are limited. This is due to fact that they are designed to hang from. When hanging from a hangboard using finger strength, only slow twitch muscles are engaged. When someone is actively climbing, both fast twitch and slow twitch muscle groups are required to hold on and pull oneself upwards. 
     Cable pulley machines are useful in developing arm strength. While training on a cable machine the user can develop and strengthen fast twitch muscles. This however does not train finger strength, as the handle is usually a round steel bar that the whole hand can easily wrap around. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the finger strengthening device is comprised of but not limited to a molded shape that has various edges, ledges and cavities with a ring or u bolt connector embedded that can be attached to a resistance training device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A to 1D  show a finger exercising device from four different perspectives.  FIG. 1A  shows a side view of this embodiment of the device with pinch and ledge features.  FIG. 1B  shows a back view of this embodiment of the finger exercising device.  FIG. 1C  shows a front view of this embodiment of the device.  FIG. 1D  shows a perspective view of this embodiment of the device with the connector ring component shown outside the main body. 
         FIGS. 2A to 2D  show a wide grip finger exercising device comprising features such as a u-bolt and sloper grip.  FIG. 2A  shows a side view of the wide grip device.  FIG. 2B  shows a front view of the wide grip device.  FIG. 2C  shows a perspective view of the wide grip finger exercising device with the connector u-bolt component shown outside the main body.  FIG. 2D  shows a perspective view of the wide grip device with the connector u-bolt component mounted. 
         FIGS. 3A to 3D  show perspectives of a spherical grip finger exercising device.  FIG. 3A  shows a side view of the spherical device.  FIG. 3B  shows a front view of the spherical device.  FIG. 3C  shows a perspective view of the spherical device with the connector u-bolt component shown outside the main body.  FIG. 3D  shows a perspective view of the spherical device with the connector u-bolt component mounted. 
       Advantages 
       The finger strengthening device can be attached to a variety of resistance training devices. In some cases this allows the user to set a chosen amount of weight while training finger strength or pinch strength. This minimizes the risk of injury associated with hangboards or resistance training that utilizes body weight. It also provides a methodical way to incrementally develop finger strength, by conditioning the small tendons and pulleys in the fingers. 
       DRAWINGS 
       FIGS.  1 A,  1 B,  1 C  1 D—First Embodiment 
         FIG. 1A  shows a side view of this embodiment of the device. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a back view of this embodiment of the device. 
         FIG. 1C  shows a front view of this embodiment of the device. 
         FIG. 1D  shows a perspective view of this embodiment of the device with the connector ring component shown outside the main body. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     FIGS.  1 A,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D—First Embodiment 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 101 
                 Connector ring ⅜ × 5″ Eye Bolt 
               
               
                 102 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on 5″ Eye bolt 
               
               
                 103 
                 ⅜ Washer mounted on 5″ Eye bolt 
               
               
                 104 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on 5″ Eye bolt 
               
               
                 105 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on 5″ Eye bolt 
               
               
                 106 
                 ⅜ Washer mounted on 5″ Eye bolt 
               
               
                 107 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on 5″ Eye bolt 
               
               
                 108 
                 Vertical pinch grip 
               
               
                 109 
                 Large finger ledge 
               
               
                 110 
                 Small finger ledge 
               
               
                 111 
                 Cavity for medium width pinch 
               
               
                 112 
                 Wide pinch 
               
               
                 113 
                 Cavity for medium width pinch 
               
               
                 114 
                 Medium sloped finger ledge 
               
               
                 115 
                 Medium flat finger ledge 
               
               
                 116 
                 Thumb catch for sloper 
               
               
                 117 
                 Sloper area 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1 A,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D—First Embodiment 
     The finger strengthening device is made up of two main components: the main body and the connector ring. The connector ring component is comprised of a ring with nuts and washers. The main body is shaped so that it is suitable to be gripped by a human hand for the purpose of training grip and finger strength. 
     One embodiment of the finger strengthening device is illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D . This embodiment includes a  101  connector ring,  102 , 104 , 105 , 107  four ⅜ nuts,  103 , 106  two ⅜ washers, a  108  vertical pinch area,  109 , 110 , 114 , 115  four finger ledges of varied size, a  111 , 113  medium sized horizontal pinch area, a  112  wide horizontal pinch area and a  117  sloped area with a  116  thumb catch. 
     Operation 
     FIGS.  1 A,  1 B,  1 C,  1 D 
     The  101  connector ring can be attached to a resistance device and hung vertically. While in the vertical position the  108  vertical pinch area and the  109 , 110 , 114 , 115  four finger ledges and the  117  sloped area with  116  thumb catch can be utilized while the device is pulled downwards on any type of resistance. 
     The  101  connector ring can be attached to a horizontal resistance device. While on a horizontal resistance device the  111 , 113  medium sized pinch and the  112  wide sized pinch can be utilized while pulling in a horizontal direction. 
     Fabrication 
     The finger strengthening device can be made through the technique of casting and molding. The main body shape is carved and then a mold is made from the carving. 
     The connector ring is embedded in the mold. The martial to be used is then poured into the mold cavity as a liquid where it surrounds the nuts and washers on the connector ring or u-bolt prior to hardening. The connector component cannot be pulled out of the main body once the material hardens. 
     Additional Embodiments 
       2 A,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D—Additional Embodiments 
       FIG. 2A  shows a side view of an additional embodiment. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a front view of an additional embodiment. 
       FIG. 2C  shows a perspective view of an additional embodiment with the connector u-bolt component shown outside the main body. 
       FIG. 2D  shows a perspective view of an additional embodiment with the connector u-bolt component mounted. 
     Reference Numerals 
     FIGS.  2 A,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D—Additional Embodiments 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 201 
                 Connector U-bolt 
               
               
                 202 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 203 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 204 
                 Plate mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 205 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 206 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 207 
                 Medium pinch grip 
               
               
                 208 
                 Wide pinch grip 
               
               
                 209 
                 Medium pinch grip 
               
               
                 210 
                 Wide pinch grip 
               
               
                 211 
                 Sloper grip area 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Detailed Description 
     FIGS.  2 A,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D—Additional Embodiment 
     This embodiment of the finger strengthening device is made up of two main components: the main body and the connector u bolt. The connector u bolt component is comprised of a u bolt with nuts and a plate. The main body is shaped so that it is suitable to be gripped by a human hand. This embodiment is rectangular on one axis and has a curved surface leading up to the connector u-bolt as seen in  FIG. 2A . 
     Operation 
     FIGS.  2 A,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D—Additional Embodiment 
     The  201  connector u-bolt can be attached to a resistance device and hung vertically or horizontally. While in the vertical position the  211  Sloper grip area can be held while the device is pulled downwards on any type of resistance. The  207 , 209  medium pinch grip areas and  208 , 210  wide pinch grip areas can be used with fingers and thumb inserted on each side to create a wide grip for the hand and pulled on vertically or horizontally 
       3 A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D—Additional Embodiments 
       FIG. 3A  shows a side view of an additional embodiment. 
       FIG. 3B  shows a front view of an additional embodiment. 
       FIG. 3C  shows a perspective view of an additional embodiment with the connector u-bolt component shown outside the main body. 
       FIG. 3D  shows a perspective view of an additional embodiment with the connector u-bolt component mounted. 
     Reference Numerals 
     FIGS.  3 A,  3 B,  3 C,  3 D—Additional Embodiments 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 301 
                 Connector U-bolt 
               
               
                 302 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 303 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 304 
                 Plate mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 305 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 306 
                 ⅜ Nut mounted on U-bolt 
               
               
                 307 
                 Thumb catch/palm stabilizer 
               
               
                 308 
                 Sloper grip area 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Detailed Description 
     FIGS.  3 A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D—Additional Embodiment 
     This embodiment of the finger strengthening device is made up of two main components: the main body and the connector u bolt. The connector u bolt component is comprised of a u bolt with nuts and a plate. This embodiment is spherical in shape and the u-bolt is centered in the sphere. 
     Operation 
     FIGS.  3 A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D—Additional Embodiment 
     The  301  connector u-bolt can be attached to a resistance device and hung vertically or horizontally. While in the vertical position the  308  Sloper grip area can be held while the device is pulled downwards on any type of resistance while the  307  palm stabilizer is against the palm of the users hand. The sphere can also be held like a ball and pulled towards the users body. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     There are many possibility&#39;s for alternative embodiments. Although the descriptions above contain many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the molded shape can be square, rectangular, spherical, triangular, ovular or any other shape that creates a grip able part that is beneficial for training grip strength. The connector point can be a ring, a loop, hook, a u shape or any shape that is suitable for connecting to a resistance device. 
     Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Technology Category: a