FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hand exercise device that can be used to exercise and/or to provide therapy/rehabilitation to hand, wrist and forearm muscles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many hand exercise devices have been used over the years. These devices provide different levels of therapy/exercise outcomes depending on their concept design. The standard or commonly used devices are limited in exercising the hand muscles. Examples of these include a spring-loaded hand grip, rubber ball or a glove with elastic bands secured to an outer side of the fingers.

There is a need for exercise equipment that affords a wider or full range of resistance training to each finger/thumb and that can be used on both hands.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide such equipment as a hand exercise device that at least partially meets the stated need. It is a further object of the invention for the equipment to be provided in a compact configuration and/or suitable for left and right hand application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a hand exercise device comprising: a frame with a first end and a second end; an arrangement of at least four finger springs anchored to the frame at the first end; an arrangement of first guides at and spaced across the second end; at least four flexible elongate finger elements that extend from the at least four finger springs over the first guides with fasteners at opposite ends of the at least four finger elements; two side-arms each supporting a second guide positioned laterally to the frame; and a flexible elongate thumb element extending over each side-arm second guide connected to a thumb spring anchored to the frame and having a fastener at an opposite end.

[A cradle is provided for location of a forearm at the second end of the frame behind a space provided for a hand harness to be coupled to the fasteners of the finger and thumb elements.]

The invention further provides for a device as defined which includes five finger elements connected to five finger springs, with two outer finger elements respectively provided for use with a small finger of a left hand and a small finger of a right hand.

The invention further provides for the two thumb springs to be anchored at the first end of the frame and for the two thumb elements to extend over third guides at the second end of the frame to the second guides on the side-arms.

Further features of the invention provide for a fourth guide is provided at the second end spaced apart from each first guide and each third guide and wherein the fourth guides are substantially co-planar with a corresponding the finger and or thumb springs; and for the fourth guides to be arranged at two levels separated into two rows of three and four respectively and the finger and thumb springs are arranged in corresponding rows.

Further features of the invention provide for the guides to be pulleys; and for the second guides to each comprise a pair of adjacent rollers arranged with suitably inclined axes to provide a corner guide for the thumb elements. Further features of the invention provide for the frame to be axially pivotable [or rotatable about its axis] on a stand [for adjustment of hand exercise orientation]; and for the frame to be connected through a pivot to a back support on the stand.

Further features of the invention provide for the side-arms to be movable between an extended exercising position and a retracted position for pivoting of the frame; for the side-arms each to include a swivel mounting for movement respectively about an axis of side members of the frame; and for the side-arms to be connected to swivel mountings by a hinge joint for movement respectively towards side members of the frame.

Further features of the invention provide for the springs to be tension coil springs or suitable elastomeric components.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided hand exercise device comprising: a frame with a first end and a second end; an arrangement of at least four finger tension elements anchored to the frame at the first end; an arrangement of first guides at and spaced across the second end; the at least four finger tension elements extending over the first guides with fasteners at opposite ends of the at least four finger tension elements; two side-arms each supporting a second guide positioned laterally to the frame; and a flexible elongate thumb tension element anchored to the frame and extending over each side-arm second guide with a fastener at an opposite end.

The invention further provides for a device as defined which includes five finger tension elements with two outer finger tension elements respectively provided for use with a small finger of a left hand and a small finger of a right hand; in which the two thumb tension elements are anchored at the first end of the frame and extend over third guides at the second end of the frame to the second guides on the side- arms; in which a fourth guide is provided at the second end spaced apart from each first guide and each third guide; in which the finger tension elements and thumb tension elements are elastomeric resistance elements; and in which the finger tension elements and thumb tension elements include a flexible elongate element that is connected to a spring that is anchored to the frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, made by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front and left side upper perspective view of a hand exercise device;

Figure 2 shows a rear and left side lower perspective view of the device; Figure 3 shows a front and right side upper perspective view of the exercise device with a right side-arm in a folded position;

Figure 4 shows the device in Figure 3 wherein a frame has been pivoted to the right relative to a stand of the device;

Figure 5 shows a right side view of a right hand in open condition; and Figure 6 shows a right side view of a right hand in a closed fist condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a hand exercise device (100) includes a frame (101) with a first end (102) and a second end (103). The frame has two top side members (104) with corresponding bottom side members (105) secured between a back plate and a front plate to form a rectangular frame structure (101).

The frame (101) provides a rigid structure for a sub-assembly (106) which includes the main working parts of the exercise device (100). The sub-assembly (106) is mounted to a stand (107) and can swivel along its length through a pivotable connection (108) - see Figure 2 - between the back plate of the frame (101) and a back support (109) on the stand. In this example, the stand has four roller balls (not shown) on an underside and adjacent corners for easy movement on a surface. The device (100) includes an arrangement of at least four finger springs (110) anchored to the frame (101) at the first end (102). An arrangement of first guides (111) - see Figure 2 - is provided in spaced apart relationship at the second end (103). At least four flexible elongate finger tension elements (112) extend from the at least four finger springs (110) over the first guides (111) with fasteners (113) at opposite ends of the at least four finger tension elements (112).

The two side-arms (114) are positioned on the top frame side members (104) for left hand and right hand use respectively. Each side-arm supports a second guide (115) positioned laterally to the frame (101). A flexible elongate thumb tension element (116) extends over each second guide and is connected to a thumb spring (117) anchored to the frame (101 ) with a fastener (118) at an opposite end. The two thumb springs (117) are also anchored at the first end (102) of the frame (101) and the two thumb tension elements (116) extend over third guides (119) at the second end (103) of the frame (101) to the second guides on the side-arms.

The fasteners (113; 118) in this embodiment are shown connected to D-rings which will be provided on or securable to connectors for a hand harness/glove (not shown but referred to below). At the second end (103) of the hand exercise device (100) is a forearm cradle (120). The front plate has a recess adjacent the cradle (120) to accommodate the placement of a user’s forearm. The frame (101) includes a harness/glove anchor formation provided as a hingeable bridge (121) that is securable across the cradle (120) with a latch (122).

More specifically and as shown in the drawings, the invention provides for five finger tension elements (112) to be connected to five finger springs (110), with two outer finger tension elements (112) respectively provided for use with a small finger of a left hand and a small finger of a right hand.

A fourth guide (123) is provided at the second end (103), spaced apart from each first guide (111) and each third guide (119). The fourth guides (123) are substantially co-planar with a corresponding finger or thumb spring (117). The fourth guides are arranged at two levels separated into two rows of three (124) and four (125) respectively and the finger and thumb springs (117) are arranged in corresponding rows (124) and (125). The bottom row (125) is for thumb, ring/index fingers, thumb and the top row (124) is for small, middle, small fingers.

The first and fourth guides (123) are provided as pulleys (and may thus also be referred to as first and fourth pulleys). The second (115) and third (119) guides each comprise a pair of adjacent rollers arranged with suitably inclined axes to provide corner or V-guides (115) and (119) for the thumb tension elements (116). The two rollers of (115) and (119) are not always clearly visible in the drawings and label lines for (115) and (119) are directed at the axis or screw-head of a concealed roller in some instances.

The side-arms are movable between: (a) an extended exercising position shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

(b) a retracted position shown with respect to the right side-arm in Figures 3 and 4 for pivoting of the frame (101 ) as shown in Figure 4.

The side-arms each include a swivel mounting (126) which allows for movement respectively about an axis of the frame side members (104). The side-arms are connected to the swivel mountings (126) by a hinge joint (127). The hinge joints (127) provide for movement of the side-arms towards side members (104) of the frame (101). The springs (110; 117) are provided as tension coil springs in this embodiment. In line with other variations that fall within the scope of the invention, the springs may also be provided by suitable elastomeric components.

In a further variation of the invention, the finger tension elements and thumb tension elements are provided elastomeric resistance elements that are anchored to the frame (101) and the springs may be omitted. It follows that a full length of the finger tension elements and thumb tension elements may be provided as an elastomeric component or just a portion thereof may be provided by such a component to provide the required resistance or tension force.

The views of Figures 3 and 4 respectively show the hand exercise device (100) set- up for left hand use with a palm facing up (thumb to the side) and palm facing inside (thumb to the top) positions. The same can be done for a right hand by setting up the device (100) in an opposite manner. The middle finger position remains central within the exercise device (100) and connected to a central tension element (112). The ring and index fingers will share tension elements (112) depending on which hand is being exercised. And the two small fingers each have a dedicated, outer finger tension element (112).

Figure 5 shows a right hand in flat hand condition (Y-1) and in Figure 6 the hand is shown in closed fist condition (Y-2). The exercise provided by the device (100) involves performing a full finger range of motion rolling movement of all the fingers and thumb (31-34) and thumb (30) during the muscle training exercise activity. The fingers (31-34) are moved in a backwards rolling motion in the hand (Y) directly towards a user while the thumb (30) is moved diagonally away from the user as illustrated by the arrows. The fingers (31-34) and thumb (30) are drawn thus into the closed fist condition and then returned to flat hand condition with tension or a load being applied throughout the exercise.

To execute these hand exercises, the device of the invention is suited for use with a hand exercise harness that may incorporate a glove (not shown) having a palm side fitted with webbing straps that are secured to and extend inwardly along a thumb portion and finger portions (index, middle, ring and small) of the glove. Examples of such a harness/glove are disclosed in the priority document and the disclosure thereof is incorporated herein through reference thereto. The straps extend past the glove for attachment to the respective fasteners of the device. The glove and webbing straps are one example of such a harness or glove that can be used to transfer the load from the springs to a hand.

The harness/glove will be secured to the bridge with a user’s forearm located in the cradle. A load or tension force is applied substantially in line with each finger of a user (and along the frame) and substantially in line with the motion path of a thumb which requires that the load or tension force that is provided lateral to the frame.

The hand exercise device is suitable for use by able-bodied people and also in therapy and/or rehabilitation of people that have had strokes, suffered injuries and/or been subjected to medical operations - these are often people are no longer able to individually control the movement/function of the hands/fingers independently.

The invention provides a mechanically operated hand exercise device that affords a full finger range of motion exercise allowing the fingers to be drawn into a closed fist, which serves to provide maximum muscle recruitment, recovery and/or strength development of the hand/wrist and forearm muscle groups.

The hand exercise device with pivoting sub-assembly also has the advantage of enabling the therapist to exercise/rehabilitate the patient’s hand in several exercise positions that include a pronate hand and supinate hand that can be combined with a lateral sideways, flexion and extension arm positions.

The stacked arrangement of the first, third and fourth pulleys at the second end of the device allows for the springs and tension elements to run at one level or plane (corresponding to the fourth pulleys) while the hand is occupying and exercising at an adjacent level or place of the device (corresponding to the first and third pulleys). This enables the compact design of the hand exercise device. It also provides space to accommodate extension of the springs to a degree required by the distance that is covered when closing the fingers into a fist. In addition to this, the springs and fourth pulleys are staggered and arranged in two adjacent rows (of three and four respectively) to enable a device with reduced width over that which would be achieved if the springs were arranged in a single row, side-by-side.

It will be appreciated that the reference to flexible elongate tension elements will include the use of cable, rope, cord, bands and/or any other suitable connector.

The springs may be provided by rubber/latex resistance bands or other elastomeric components and tension coil springs. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative means may be used to provide the required resistance and this may be incorporated with the use of finger or thumb elements that are themselves elastomeric, as referred to above. There is also the possible use of pneumatic or other load resistance means as the springs. The guides may be components other than pulleys and rollers.

A person suitably skilled in the art will also appreciate that a number of further variations may be made to the features of the embodiment described and/or illustrated without departing from the scope of the current invention.