CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[001] This application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/544,925, filed August 14, 2017, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[002] The present subject matter relates to exercising devices. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to finger exercising devices.

BACKGROUND

[003] Finger exercising devices are aimed at improving flexibility, suppleness and strength of muscles and joints of the palm in general and hand fingers in particular.

SUMMARY

[004] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this subject matter belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present subject matter, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

[005] According to one aspect of the present subject matter, there is provided a finger exercising device comprising:

a body enclosing a space, wherein the body has at least one opening; and

a slider configured to slide in the space of the body, wherein a portion of the slider protrudes through one of the at least one opening. [006] According to one embodiment, the finger exercising device further comprising another slider configured to slide in the space of the body, wherein a portion of the another slider protrudes through another opening of the at least one opening.

[007] According to yet another embodiment, at least two of said at least one opening are opposite each other.

[008] According to still another embodiment, the another slider comprising a plurality of sliders.

[009] According to a further embodiment, the slider is configured to be slid by a finger of a user, by pressing the slider with the finger and actively pushing or pulling the slider in the space while moving the finger in a desired direction and speed.

[010] According to yet a further embodiment, the slider is configured to be slid by a thumb of a user, by pressing the slider with the thumb and actively pushing or pulling the slider in the space while moving the thumb in a desired direction and speed.

[011] According to still another embodiment, the another slider is configured to be slid by any one of the non-thumb fingers, namely: index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger, by pressing the another slider with any one of the non-thumb fingers and actively pushing or pulling the another slider in the space while moving the non-thumb finger in a desired direction and speed.

[012] According to an additional embodiment, the slider and the another slider comprise: a space engaging element configured to be accommodated and slide in the space; and a finger engaging element attached to the space engaging element and configured to be pressed or touched by a finger of a user.

[013] According to still an additional embodiment, the slider and the another slider are configured to assemble with the body by accommodating the space engaging element in the space.

[014] According to one embodiment, the finger exercising device is configured to resist movement of the space engaging element in the space.

9. [015] According to another embodiment, either a part of the space engaging element, or a part of the body, or the part of the space engaging element and the part of the body that are configured to be in contact with each other are made of a material having a high friction coefficient.

[016] According to yet another embodiment, either a part of the space engaging element, or a part of the body, or the part of the space engaging element and the part of the body that are configured to be in contact with each other are made of a material having a low friction coefficient.

[017] According to still another embodiment, a surface of either a part of the space engaging element, or a surface of a part of the body, or the surface of the part of the space engaging element and the surface of the part of the body that are configured to be in contact with each other have a high-level roughness.

[018] According to a further embodiment, a surface of either a part of the space engaging element or a surface of a part of the body, or the surface of the part of the space engaging element and the surface of the part of the body that are configured to be in contact with each other have a low-level roughness.

[019] According to yet a further embodiment, a space engaging element diameter is slightly smaller than a space width.

[020] According to still a further embodiment, a space engaging element diameter is slightly bigger than a space width.

[021] According to an additional embodiment, a surface of the body that faces the space is configured to accommodate a plurality of beads.

[022] According to yet an additional embodiment, the body further comprises margins that extend towards the space, thus forming a channel-like structure configured to accommodate the plurality of beads.

[023] According to still an additional embodiment, the margins are concave. [024] According to one embodiment, the finger exercising device further comprising a plurality of beads accommodated on the surface of the body that faces the space.

[025] According to another embodiment, the plurality of beads is configured to freely rotate and move on the surface of the body that faces the space.

[026] According to yet another embodiment, the plurality of beads is tightly attached to the surface of the body that faces the space.

[027] According to still another embodiment, the slider and the another slider are configured to slide independently one from the other in the space.

[028] According to a further embodiment, the slider and the another slider are configured to be positioned one near the other in the space.

[029] According to yet a further embodiment, when the slider and the another slider are positioned one near the other in the space, they are configured to form an axis around which the body can be rotated.

[030] According to another aspect of the present subject matter, there is provided a method for exercising hand fingers using the finger exercising device of any one of claims 1-25, the method comprising:

attaching a finger to the finger engaging element of the slider; and

sliding the slider by the finger attached to the slider along the space, while exerting force by the finger attached to the slider.

[031] According to one embodiment, the finger is a thumb.

[032] According to another embodiment, the method for exercising hand fingers further comprising:

attaching a non-thumb finger to the finger engaging element of the another slider; and sliding either the another slider, or the slider and the another slider, along the space, while exerting force by either the thumb attached to the slider, or the non-thumb finger attached to the another slide, or the thumb attached to the slider and the non-thumb finger attached to the another slider. [033] According to yet another aspect of the present subject matter, there is provided a method for playing with the finger exercising device 1 of any one of claims 1-25, the method comprising:

attaching a thumb to the finger engaging element of the slider;

attaching a non-thumb finger to the finger engaging element of the another slider; sliding either the slider, or the another slider, or the slider and the another slider, along the space to a position where the space engaging element of the slider is adjacent to the space engaging element of the another slider; and

rotating the body around an axis formed by the adjacent space engaging elements of the slider and the another slider by beating the body with either a finger, or an object held by a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[034] Embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the embodiments. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms may be embodied in practice.

[035] In the drawings:

[036] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a perspective view of a finger exercising device.

[037] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, an upper view of a finger exercising device.

[038] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body of a finger exercising device having an elliptical shape enclosing a space having an elliptical shape. [039] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body of a finger exercising device having a zigzag shape enclosing a space having a zigzag shape.

[040] Fig. 5 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body of a finger exercising device having an elliptical shape enclosing a space having a zigzag shape.

[041] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body of a finger exercising device having a bent shape enclosing a space having a bent shape.

[042] Fig. 7 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, an upper view of a slider or another slider.

[043] Fig. 8 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a perspective view of a slider or another slider.

[044] Fig. 9 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a finger exercising device, when a slider or another slider is assembled with a body having an elliptical shape enclosing a space having an elliptical shape.

[045] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a finger exercising device, when a slider or another slider is assembled with a body having a bent shape enclosing a space having a bent shape.

[046] Fig. 11 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a finger exercising device, when a slider or another slider is assembled with a body having a zigzag shape enclosing space having a zigzag shape.

[047] Fig. 12 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a finger exercising device comprising a plurality of beads on a surface of the body that faces the space enclosed by the body.

[048] Fig. 13 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a perspective view of a slider and another slider positioned one near the other. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[049] Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The subject matter is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale.

[050] For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawings.

[051] One aim of the present subject matter is to provide a finger exercising device for improving the flexibility, suppleness and strength of hand finger muscles and joints.

[052] Another aim of the present subject matter is to provide a finger exercising device for improving coordination of hand fingers movement.

[053] Yet another aim of the present subject matter is to provide a finger exercising device that may be used as a toy for amusement and joy of a user of the finger exercising device.

[054] A further aim of the present subject matter is to provide a method for improving the flexibility, suppleness and strength of hand finger muscles and joints while using the finger exercising device of the present subject matter.

[055] Yet a further aim of the present subject matter is to provide a method for improving coordination of hand fingers movement while using the finger exercising device of the present subject matter.

[056] Still a further aim of the present subject matter is to provide a method for playing with the finger exercising device of the present subject matter, for the amusement and joy of a user of the finger exercising device.

[057] According to one aspect of the present subject matter there is provided a finger exercising device. [058] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a perspective view of a finger exercising device 1.

[059] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, an upper view of a finger exercising device 1.

[060] According to one embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 comprises a body 110 enclosing a space 115, wherein the body 110 has at least one opening, and a slider 120 configured to slide in the space 115 of the body, wherein a portion of the slider 120 protrudes through one of the at least one opening. According to another embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 further comprises another slider 130 configured to slide in the space 115 of the body 110, wherein a portion of the another slider 130 protrudes through another opening of the at least one opening. According to yet another embodiment, at least two of the at least one opening are opposite each other. According to still another embodiment, the another slider 130 comprises a plurality of sliders.

[061] According to one embodiment, the body 110 has an enclosed shape, enclosing a space 115. As mentioned above, according to another embodiment, the body 110 comprises at least one opening. According to yet another embodiment, the body 110 comprises one opening. According to still another embodiment, the body comprises a plurality of openings. According to a further embodiment, at least two of the openings are opposite each other. According to a preferred embodiment, the body 110 comprises two openings. According to another preferred embodiment, the two openings are opposite each other.

[062] According to one embodiment, the slider 120 is configured to slide in the space 115 of the body 110 and a portion of the slider 120 protrudes through one of the at least one opening. According to another embodiment, the another slider 130 is configured to slide in the space 115 of the body 110 and a portion of the another slider 130 protrude through another opening of the at least one opening.

[063] As mentioned above, in addition to the slider 120, according to one embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 comprises at least one another slider 130. According to another embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 comprises one another slider 130. According to yet another embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 comprises two another sliders 130. According to still another embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 comprises three another sliders 130. According to a further embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 comprise four another sliders 130. According to yet a further embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 comprises one to four another sliders 130.

[064] Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment according to which the finger exercising device 1 comprises two openings, a slider 120 and one another slider 130.

[065] According to one embodiment, the slider 120 is configured to be slid by a finger of a user, by pressing the slider 120 with the finger and actively pushing or pulling the slider 120 in the space 115 of the body 110 while moving the finger in a desired direction and speed. According to another embodiment, the slider 120 is configured to be slid by a thumb of a user, by pressing the slider 120 with the thumb and actively pushing or pulling the slider 120 in the space 115 of the body 110 while moving the thumb in a desired direction and speed.

[066] According to one embodiment, the at least one another slider 130 is configured to be slid by a finger. According to another embodiment, the at least one another slider 130 is configured to be slid by a non-thumb finger, namely any one of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger, by pressing the another slider 130 with any one of the non-thumb fingers and actively pushing or pulling the another slider 130 in the space 115 of the body 110 while moving the non-thumb finger in a desired direction and speed. According to an embodiment of a finger exercising device 1 comprising one another slider 130, the another slider 130 is configured to be moved by any of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and pinky finger. According to an embodiment of a finger exercising device 1 comprising 2-4 another sliders 130, each another slider 130 is configured to be moved by any of the index finger, middle finger ring finger and pinky finger.

[067] According to one embodiment, the body 110, the slider 120 and the at least one another slider 130 of the finger exercising device 1 are made of a rigid material. Any rigid material known in the art is under the scope of the present subject matter, for example metal, rigid plastic, wood and the like.

[068] The body 110 and the space 115 enclosed by the body 110 of the finger exercising device 1 may have any shape known in the art. Some exemplary shapes of the body 110 and the space 115 enclosed by the body 110 are illustrated in Figs. 3-6. It should be noted though that the scope of the present subject matter is not limited to the shapes of the body 110 and the space 115 enclosed by the body 110 illustrated herein.

[069] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body 110 of a finger exercising device 1 having an elliptical shape enclosing a space 115 having an elliptical shape.

[070] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body 110 of a finger exercising device 1 having a zigzag shape enclosing a space 115 having a zigzag shape.

[071] Fig. 5 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body 110 of a finger exercising device 1 having an elliptical shape enclosing a space 115 having a zigzag shape.

[072] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a body 110 of a finger exercising device 1 having a bent shape enclosing a space 115 having a bent shape.

[073] Drawing now the attention to the slider 120 and the at least one another slider 130 of the finger exercising device 1.

[074] Fig. 7 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, an upper view of a slider 120 or another slider 130.

[075] Fig. 8 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a perspective view of a slider 120 or another slider 130.

[076] According to one embodiment, the slider 120 and the at least one another slider 130 comprise a space engaging element 122, 132 configured to be accommodated and slide in a space 115 enclosed by a body 110 of a finger exercising device 1, and a finger engaging element 124, 134 attached to the space engaging element 122, 132, and configured to be pressed or touched by a finger of a user according to embodiments described above relating to the types of fingers used with each slider. [077] According to one embodiment, the space engaging element 122, 132 is configured to be accommodated and slide in the space 115. Thus, the space engaging element 122, 132 may have any shape and size known in the art, as long as it enables the space engaging element 122, 132 to be accommodated and slide in the space 115.

[078] According to one embodiment, the finger engaging element 124, 134 is configured to be pressed or touched by a finger of a user. Thus, the finger engaging element 124, 134 may have any shape and size known in the art, as long as it enables the finger engaging element 124, 134 to be pressed or touched by a finger of a user.

[079] The slider 120 and the at least one another slider 130 are configured to assemble with a body 110 of a finger exercising device 1 by accommodating the space engaging element 122, 132 in the space 115 enclosed by the body 110.

[080] Fig. 9 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a finger exercising device 1, when a slider 120 or another slider 130 is assembled with a body 110 having an elliptical shape enclosing a space 115 having an elliptical shape.

[081] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a finger exercising device 1, when a slider 120 or another slider 130 is assembled with a body 110 having a bent shape enclosing a space 115 having a bent shape.

[082] Fig. 11 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a finger exercising device 1, when a slider 120 or another slider 130 is assembled with a body 110 having a zigzag shape enclosing a space 115 having a zigzag shape.

[083] The sliding of the slider 120 or the another slider 130 in the space 115 is affected by friction forces exerted at the touching point of the space engaging element 122, 132 with the body 110. Control of these friction forces may be exploited for setting levels of difficulty for exercising fingers of a user with the finger exercising device 1. For example, low friction forces allow easy sliding of the slider 120 or the another slider 130 without exerting a high level of force by the fingers. This example may fit to a beginner' s level. On the other hand, high friction forces demand exertion of high level of force by the finger in order to slide the slider 120 or the another slider 130. This example may fit to an advanced level. [084] According to one embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 is configured to resist movement of the space engaging element 122, 132 in the space 115. This may be achieved by controlling a friction force at touch points of the space engaging element 122, 132 with a part of the body 110 that is configured to be in touch with the space engaging element 122, 132. This may be achieved in various ways.

[085] According to one embodiment, a part of the space engaging element 122, 132, or a part of the body 110, or the part of the space engaging element 122, 132 and the part of the body 110 that are configured to be in contact are made of a material having a desired friction coefficient, for example a material having a high friction coefficient demanding exertion of a high level of force by a finger, or a low friction coefficient allowing exertion of a low level of force by a finger.

[086] According to another embodiment, a surface of a part of the space engaging element 122, 132, or a surface of a part of the body 110, or the surface of the part of the space engaging element 122, 132 and the surface of the part of the body 110 that are configured to be in contact have a desired roughness, for example high-level roughness demanding exertion of a high level of force by a finger, or low-level roughness allowing exertion of a low level of force by a finger.

[087] Another way is to control the friction forces by changing the sizes of the space engaging element 122, 132 and the space 115. In this regard, a space width 1152 of the space 115, as illustrated in Figs. 3-6, is defined as the size of the narrow part of the space 115; and a space engaging element diameter 1222, 1322 of the space engaging element 122, 132, as illustrated in Fig. 7, is defined as the size of a part of the space engaging element 122, 132 that is parallel to the space width 1152. Thus, according to one embodiment, the space engaging element diameter 1222, 1232 is slightly smaller than the space width 1152. In this embodiment, the level of the friction force is be low because the space engaging element 122, 132 barely touches the body 110, and this allows sliding of the thumb slider 120 or the finger slider 130 without exerting a high level of power by the fingers. According to another embodiment, the space engaging element diameter 1222, 1322 is slightly bigger than the space width 1152. In this embodiment, the level of the friction force is high because the space engaging element 122, 132 is somewhat pressed against the body 110, and this demands exertion of a high level of force by a finger in order to slide the slider 120 or the another slider 130. [088] It should be noted that the aforementioned embodiments are only examples, and that any mechanism known in the art for controlling the friction force between the space engaging element 122, 132 and the body 110, is under the scope of the present subject matter.

[089] According to one embodiment, the finger exercising device 1 further comprises a plurality of beads embedded on a surface of the body 110 that faces the space 115 enclosed by the body 110.

[090] Fig. 12 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a cross-side view of a finger exercising device 1 comprising a plurality of beads 140 on a surface of the body 110 that faces the space 115 enclosed by the body 110. According to this embodiment, the surface of the body 110 that faces the space 115 is configured to hold the plurality of beads 140.

[091] According to one embodiment, the plurality of beads 140 is configured to freely rotate and move on the surface of the body 110 that faces the space 115. According to this embodiment, the body 110 further comprises margins, preferably concave margins, that extend towards the space 115, thus forming a channel-like structure configured to accommodate the plurality of beads 140. The shape of the channel-like structure is configured to hold the plurality of beads 140 inside the channel-like structure, while allowing the plurality of beads 140 to freely rotate and move inside the channel-like structure.

[092] According to another embodiment, the plurality of beads 140 is tightly attached to the surface of the body 110 that faces the space 115. This embodiment may be achieved by any method known in the art, for example welding, gluing, adhering and the like.

[093] The plurality of beads 140 is made of any rigid or soft material known in the art, for example soft plastic, rubber, metal, rigid plastic, wood and the like. Preferably, the plurality of beads 140 is metal.

[094] According to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 12, the space engaging element 122, 132 is configured to slide over the plurality of beads 140. Thus, the plurality of beads 140 contribute to the friction forces mentioned above, namely friction forces between the surface of the plurality of beads 140 and the space engaging element 122, 132 of the slider 120 and the another slider 130. [095] According to one embodiment, the slider 120 and the at least one another slider 130 are configured to slide independently one from the other in the space 115 enclosed by body 110 of the finger exercising device 1. According to another embodiment, the slider 120 and the another slider 130 are configured to be positioned one near the other in the space 115, as illustrated in Fig. 13 below.

[096] Fig. 13 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a perspective view of a slider 120 and another slider 130 positioned one near the other. This embodiment may be achieved also when the slider 120 and the another slider 130 are assembled with the body 110 of the finger exercising device 1, as illustrated for example in Figs. 1 and 2. According to this embodiment, the space engaging element 122 of the slider 120 and the space engaging element 132 of the another slider 130 are positioned adjacent to each other. In this position, both space engaging elements 122, 132 form an axis around which the body 110 may be rotated as part of a finger exercise or for the purpose of playing with the finger exercising device 1.

[097] According to another aspect of the present subject matter there is provided a method for exercising hand fingers using a finger exercising device 1 as described herein, the method comprising:

attaching a finger to a finger engaging element 124 of a slider; and

sliding the slider 120 by the finger attached to the slider 120 along the space, while exerting force by the finger attached to the slider 120.

[098] According to one embodiment, the finger is a thumb.

[099] According to another embodiment, the method for exercising hand fingers using a finger exercising device 1 as described herein, the method further comprising:

attaching a non-thumb finger to the finger engaging element 134 of the another slider 130; and

sliding either the another slider 130, or the slider 120 and the another slider 130, along the space 115, while exerting force by either the thumb attached to the slider 120, or the non-thumb finger attached to the another slider 130, or the thumb attached to the slider 120 and the non-thumb finger attached to the another slider 130. [100] Yet another aspect of the present subject matter is to provide a method for playing with a finger exercising device 1, the method comprising:

attaching a thumb to the finger engaging element 124 of the slider 120; attaching a non-thumb finger to a finger engaging element 134 of the another slider

130;

sliding either the slider 120, or the another slider 130, or the slider 120 and the another slider, along the space 115 to a position where the space engaging element 122 of the slider 120 is adjacent to the space engaging element 132 of the another slider 134; and

rotating the body 110 around an axis formed by the adjacent space engaging elements 122, 132 of the slider 120 and the another slider 130 by beating the body 110 with either a finger, or an object held by a user.

[101] It is appreciated that certain features of the subject matter, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the subject matter, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination.

[102] Although the subject matter has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.