FIELD

The present invention relates to a hand grip aid for use with sports equipment, exerciseequipment, manual work equipment, or any other equipment that has a handle.

BACKGROUND Hand grip aids help to prevent hand damage and discomfort when a person uses equipment that has a handle. The benefits of hand grip aids are amplified in those situations where repetitive use can cause damage or extreme discomfort including blistersand calluses. One motivation for the invention is based on experienceswith sports equipment such as baseballbats, where batters are required to practice for extended periods of time while firmly gripping a baseballbat.

Many deviceson the market are directed at preventing damage to a person's hand, and these devicesrange from thick gloves to pads that protect a person 'spalm. These glovesand pads serve the desire to protect the hand, but also reduce the tactile feel that is required in many sports and other activities. For example, a thick glove may protect the skin on the hand, but will reduce the ability of the user to grip a handle. As another example,a thick palm pad will reduce shock vibrations, but may cause a handle to feel overly large and reduce the ability of the user to grip the handle. What is lacking in these devicesis a mechanism to both distribute the force of the handle against the hand and comfortably accommodate the user'sfingersin a way that protects the user'shands from damage while still providing good tactile feel of the handle.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a hand grip aid for use with sports equipment, exerciseequipment, manual work equipment, or any other equipment that has a handle. A hand grip fits in the user'shand near where the palm joins the fingersand provides a support to distribute the force from a hand-held device onto the entire hand. In one embodiment, the hand grip includes an elongated resilient member that has an undulated side to accommodate the user'sfingers. The member is placed adjacent to the user'sfingersand superficialtransversemetacarpalligament. The member prevents the ligament, along with associated muscle and skin tissue, from being forced over the fingers when the user graspsa handle. The member can be constructed of plastic, rubber, or other material that provides flexibilityand easily accommodates the user'sfingers. The member may be held in place by an elasticband that is worn around a user'sfinger. Advantagesof the invention include reduced hand damage and improved comfort while providing a good tactile feel and a strong grip. Another advantageof the invention is that it can be worn with a glove or without a glove and still achieve the same beneficialresults or built directly into a glove or part of a glove for ease of use and convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Additional advantagesof the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referenceto the drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a palm view of a human hand showing the metacarpal bones, the phalanges,and the superficialtransversemetacarpalligament;

Figures2A-B depict a hand grip for four fingers according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 depicts the hand grip of Figure 2 being held by a user; Figure4 depicts a hand grip for three. fingersaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

Figures5A-B depict a hand grip for a glove according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 depicts a palm view of an inflatable hand grip incorporated in a glove according to another embodiment of the invention; and

Figures7 depicts the back side of the hand grip and gloveof Figureό.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a hand grip for use with sports equipment, exercise equipment, manual work equipment, or any other equipment that has a handle. Exemplaryembodiments are described herein with referenceto specificconfigurations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplaryembodiments while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

A first embodiment is described with referenceto Figures 1-2. Figure 1 is an illustration of a human hand 10. The hand has a palm region 12 and four fingers 14a-d. The hand 10 includes metacarpal bones (palm bones) 17 and the proximal phalanges (base finger bones) 18. A superficial transversemetacarpal ligament 16 serves to connect the metacarpal bones 17 near where the proximal phalanges 18 couple with the metacaφal bones 17. Ligament 16 serves to hold the metacarpal bones together and provides a base of support for the phalanges, along with cover tissue including muscle, nerves and skin. While ligament 16 and its cover material servesthe valuable purpose of holding the hand together, the skin above the ligament 16 often becomes blistered or callusedwith repetitive use of hand-held equipment.

Figures2A-B depict an embodiment of a grip 20 designed to fit adjacent to the ligament 16 and adjacent to the proximal phalanges 18 (the base sections of finger bones). Note that the grip 20 has one side with an undulating surface22 and one side with a substantiallyplanar surface24. The undulating surface22 is designed to accommodate the user'sfingersand to fit comfortablyin the user'shand 10 adjacent to ligament 16 and the base of fingers 14. In Figure 2A, there are three undulations to accommodate the spaces between four fingers. The surface24 is designed to contact a handle. While this embodiment shows the surface24 as substantiallyplanar, a semi- curved surfaceis envisioned that may accommodate a round handle, or other shaped handle. A flexibleelasticband retainer 26 is provided to attach to the user'sfinger so that the grip 20 will remain in the proper position. Although an elasticband is shown, any similar type retainer can be used to attach to the user, such as a velcro

strap or a non-elastic strap. A T-shaped brace retainer is also envisioned where the base of the T is attached to the grip 20 and the brace fits between the middle finger and ring finger. Moreover,if desired, grip 20 can be made without band 26.

Any type of resilient material, such as plastic or rubber, can be used for the invention. The range of thickness variesdue to the user'shand size and the desired feel of the handle. In one aspect of the invention, the grip 20 is be pre-molded to fit user'shand sizesfrom small to large,and the user can use it immediatelyafter selecting a desired size. For example, the grip thickness (dimension t) can be made as thin as Imm to greaterthan 10mm, and the grip can be made to any length that is consistent with human hands. Also, for example, the grip width (dimension w) can be made as narrow as 4mm to wider than 15mm with a preferred range of 6- 10mm.

Figure3 depicts how a user positions the grip 20 in his hand. Note that the grip 20 is placed on the fingers adjacent to the ligament 18 so that when the user grabs a handle 30 (of a baseball bat) the grip 20 is positioned between the hand and the handle 30.

One reason the grip 20 is successfulis that it fills an unused portion of the hand 10 where the ligament 16 and associated tissue would otherwise cause the skin to overlap over the base of the fingers 14a-d. As shown in Figure3, as the hand 10 grasps a handle 30 with the grip 20 in placeJhe grip 20 distributes the force of the handle 30 over the entire contact surface without an overlap of skin. Most users feel only a slight added pressureand improved comfort. Moreover, users have good tactile feel of the handle.

Tests so far conclude that a thin grip is very effectivewhen the user wishes little or no sensation that the grip is in place, other than the relief from blisters of callusesalong the skin. MoreoverJhe relief from pain and discomforthas been noted by users immediately after using the grip 20 even when existing blisters and calluses caused discomfort before wearing grip 20.

A thick grip 20 has some benefits over the thin grip. Not only does the thick grip relievethe pain of blistersand callusesimmediately,but the thicker grip also benefits the user with a sensation of a stronger, more secure and all-around tighter grip on the device. The added pressureof grip 20 developsthe region adjacent to the ligament 16 into an additional contact area. This new contact area has been noticed by a sensation of added pressureat the base of the fingers,and on the back side of the

fingers, which extends to a new muscle sensation through the wrist and up the forearm. Although the grip 20 may be thick, it does not create the feeling that the handle is larger,due to the strategic placement of grip 20 in the hand 10 adjacent to the ligament 16. This benefits many users who enjoy a more secure grip when the handle is made smaller with the result that the user feels like he has more control over the equipment.

Grip 20 may be used adhered to, attached to, or not attached to the user's hand. Grip 20 may also be used with a glove, if desired. For example, grip 20 can be placed between a glove and a handle to achieve the desired placement or inside the glovecloserto the user'shand if desired. Grip 20 permits the user to concentrate more on the sport or work, and less on any discomfort previouslyfelt without grip 20. Moreover,grip 20 permits the user to gain a tighter grip on the handle so that the user can better use the equipment and still maintain a good tactile feel of the handle.

In another aspect of the embodiment, when the grip 20 is made from a plastic that is capable of being molded, the user can custom mold the grip 20. The user can place the grip 20 into a pot of boiling water for 10-15 seconds and then remove the grip 20 and place it in his hand. For this purpose the grip 20 should be made from a material having a softening point at above 40 "C,preferablyabout 50"C. For example, a plastic type material has been used successfully^ mold to user'shands without heat discomfort since the device has a softening point of approximately50" C. This material is similar to that which is used for mouthpieces for sports such as football and boxing.

Alternatively or custom molding, the material can be a substance that takes shape shortly after being mixed with another substance. For example, known putty- type substances that cure within minutes of mixing can be rolled into a cylinderand then pressedinto the user'sbase fingerarea while gripping a handle. The resulting member will have undulations on one side and be customized for the user'shand. Putties for this purpose include those such as vinyl polysiloxanesilicon rubber that is a double mix, and vinyl polysiloxanesilicon rubber that is putty/reline. These substances are availablefrom suppliers such as 3M. Another embodiment is depicted in Figure4, where grip 40 is shorter than grip

20 shown in Figures2A-B. In some cases, the user may wish a grip to fit next to one, two, or three fingersrather than four. In these cases,grip 40 is customized to fill that space by having ohe, two, or three undulations on one side 42. This embodiment may

be useful where a handle grip area is particularly small and where only a small grip 30 can be accommodated. An exampleis a golf club, where only three fingersmay grip the handle such as in an interlocking grip. This embodiment can also have the aspect of the prior embodiment where the grip 40 can be custom molded by heating and fitting.

Another embodiment is depicted in Figure 5A, where a glove50 includes an attachment 52 for a hand grip 20. Glove 50 is constructed so that material is formed over the gap near the base of fingers 14. This material includes attachments 52a and 52b to hold grip 20 in place over the base of the fingers. In Figure 5, attachments 52a and 52b are elastic straps that retain the grip 20. Alternatively an attachment can be a single strap, a long thin pocket, or other similar retainer.

Figure 5B shows a glove54 where grip 20 is broken up into four small grips 56a-d that provide support to one finger each. This is be accomplished by incorporating four grips (as small elongated members 56a-d) into each of the four fingersof a glovenear the base of the fingers,as shown.

Another embodiment is depicted in Figures 6 and 7, where a glove 60 includes an inflatable pouch that fills the region adjacent to the users ligament 16 and the base of the fingers 14a-d. This embodiment includes a pump 62, a tube 64 and an inflatable member 66. A feature of this embodiment is that inflatable member 66 is positioned similar to that described above with respect to grip 20 in order to fill the unused portion of the hand where the ligament 16 and associated tissue would other wise cause the skin to overlap. Pump 62 is positioned on the back of the user'shand where the user can exert a force against the pump to inject air into the tube 64. Tube 64 deliversair to inflatable member 66 and causes member 66 to inflate to provide support to the region adjacent to the base of fingers 14. To relievepressurein the inflatable member 66, the user squeezesthe pump base to releasepressurefrom the inflatable member 66. While the description is directed to inflating member 66 with air, any substance including gel or other fluid can be used to fill member 66.

Advantagesof the invention include reduced hand damage and improved comfort while providing a good tactile feel and a strong grip. Another advantageof the invention is that it can be worn with a glove or without a glove and still achieve the samebeneficialresultsor built directly into a gloveor part of a glove for ease of use and convenience.

ALTT ^H RNATΓVΈEMBODIMENTS

Having disclosed exemplaryembodiments and the best mode, modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the scope of the present invention as defined by the followingclaims.