CA2200648A1 - Hand, wrist and forearm exerciser - Google Patents

Abstract

This is an exercise device designed for strengthening muscles of the hand, wrist and forearm. It is unique in that, by itself, it provides resistance for all of the muscles of the hand. It is also useful in that it provides a complementary workout for the wrists and forearms. The user squeezes a ball in order to perform resisted finger and thumb flexion, adduction and opposition, and stretches a specially designed series of flexible cords in order to perform resisted finger and thumb extension and abduction. Use of this device should lead to stronger and better balanced hands, wrists and forearms. It's main applications are enhancement of performance (sports and leisure, workplace, etc), injury prevention and rehabilitation (soft tissue injury, fracture, stroke, spinal cord injury, etc).

Description

f~200 TEM File No. 151.1 CANADA

THOMAS E MALYSZKO
PATENT & TRADE MARK AGENT

Title: HAND, WRIST AND FOREARM EXERCISER

Inventor: Terry P. Zachary oo648 TITLE: HAND, WRIST AND FOREARM EXERCISER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in hand, wrist and f~r~r.., exe,~ devices. In particular, the ,~resent invention a~en~tl,ens all the muscles of the hand and many of the muscles of the wrist and f~r~&r~

BACK~3ROUND OF THE INVENTION
~-,~nUy, complete and balanced ~enS~ening of the hands is rel;~thr~ly overlooked in physical training. Our hands con,)ect us to almost all tools used in sports, leisure, the workplace and everyday life. Our han(J~.hakes are an ;~ nt tool for introduction to one anoU~r. Yet, it is very rare that even a trained ;"di~/iJual has kr~owled$;e of the muscles of the hand or how to ~JIo~lly and completely sben~U,en them. This device offers ease and convel,ience for a complete workout of the hand as well as a compli,~,en~.y wrist and foro~ workout. Such an item would be of benefit to a wide variety of ;.,.lU~iduals. Nearly all sports, as well as a wide variety of ,ur~ssions and leisure activities, require strong balanced hands. Such an item would also be of benefit in rehabilitation and injury prevention.

Currently, in order to sbel,~tl.el. the hand enti~ly, one must make use of two or more training devices. In order to sben~U,en the hand, wrist and f~r~.--., one must make use of three or more trainin~ devices. The ~resent device provides a one step complete hand exercisa, as well as an adjunct to a more ~lficient wrist and forea,.., exer~,ise.

A prior art for hand, wrist and f~re&rm eA~rl;isi~,y devices is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
3,612,521 ~Ne"debGr--).

_ 2 2200648 U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,521 illusbdt~s a central elastic ring with continuous concellbic loops designed to be i~ ~561 t~l on the base of the fingers and thumbs and provide r~siah"ce to finger and thumb o~l~nsion and ~du~ffon. This device is one dill~nsiG,-al in that it does not addr~s resis~tance to finger and thumb flexion, ~dduGtion, nor Gl~po~iffGn.
Additionally, in the act of finger and thumb ext~nsion and ~hdu~tion the previous device utili~es different force vectors than the pr~se"t device. This is due to the s,uecific design of the ~.r~,~t device, which will be ~esc,il~J later. Thirdly, the previous device is to be placed on the base of the thumb and fingers, whereas the present device ~itio"s the elastic material around the middle phalanges of the fi,l~elà and on the base of the thumb.
The t~"dons of two of the main finger ext~"aor ml~scles insert into the middle phalanges of the fingers. The present device therefore provides workload for a wider range of these finger e~ nsor muscle's ranges of motion, and thus, a more complete workout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention offers the user a single portable unit to conveniently aban~U,en all of the muscles in the hand and many of the muscles of the wrist and forear.". The tiGn should sbel,~U-el, all nineteen of the hand muscles, twelve of the fifteen wrist muschs, and twenty-two of the twenty-nine muscles of the enffre hand, wrist and foreann.

The device is cGI"~,ri;,ed of a central flexible ball which when s~uee~ed provides resist~"ce for finger and thumb flexion, ~d~uction and Gpl~GsitiGn. Through the ball, p~sses a specially desiylled ar.~ngel"ent of flexible cords whose loops insert onto the fingers at each middle phalanx and on the thumb at its base. The fingers and thumb are o~ened and spread against the r~sistance of the flexible cords, the cords providing ~2~i~64~

resist~nce to finger and thumb ext~nsiGn and abd!JGffon. Additionally, the thumb and small finger can be kept strai~ht and alone squeeze the ball, the ball providing more specific resist~nce to finger and thumb op~ on. Resistance can also be provided b~
wrist ext~nsio. . by flexing the thumb onto the ball and concurrently opening the hand and ext~ndi"~ at the wrist. The flexible cords act two fold in that they also anchor the baU to the hand durin~ ~ctions of finger and thumb extansion and ~ u~bon. Thus, the user can conffnually and convenientty work ~l~l~si"g muscle groups by opening and closin5 the hand, without the ball becoming loose.

It is within the purview of the inventive CGnCe,~t to provide varying ball skes and flexibilities and various flexible cord length and resiatil,)ce to accG,nr,odat~ for various hand skes and stren~ths. The flexible cords are not continuous with the ball, ~
the user to install a more r~s s~nt set of flexible cords as the sllel.5Jlll of the users hands i, .creases. It is also within the purview of the inventive conce~t to provide central balls of varying sl,a,~s to accGIll-ll~ldte for S~fiG areas of ;.~t~,r~sl. For example, round for baseball pitchers and slightly oblon~ from round for tennis players and golfers, as ~isc~ssed later.

The design of the device is such that one item serves to e~erl,i~ the left and the right hand. The device is very portabb and easy to use. A user need not have special k~ lel!Je in order to gain s~ f~ ,,y results. The loops into which the digits are ;,.se,t~l are elastic in nature. This allows for ease of place,..e,lt and conveni~nce of ;nt~rcl,c,ngeability b~:tw~en hands. It is also within the purview of the invenffve concept to provide loops of varyin~ dial--etbra in order to accol..odat~ for various fin~er and mumb skes.

4 ~2U064&

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In describing the inve~tion in detail, n3f~r~"ce is had to the ~ anying d~n"~s, f~.".,in~ a part of this specifi~tibn and wherein like nu",erals of r~rence indicate cGndspGnding parts throughout the several views in which:
Fig. 1. Is a frontal view of a hand, wrist and f~r~ m exer~i~¢r accordi..~ to a first embodiment of the ~r~sel,t in~ t;Gn;
Fig. 2. Is a top view of the ; ~x~r isar of Fig. 1 with the flexible cords r~",ovad;
Fig. 3. Is a cross s~fiGn of the excr~i_cr of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4. Shows the e~er~is~r of Fig. 1 in left hand use in the sque~i-,g (finger and thumb flexion, ~dduGtion and opposition) stage;
Fig. 5. Shows the 0xercis~r of Fig. 1 in left hand use in the opening and spreaJi..~ (finger and thumb ~tt l~iGII and abd~l~tion) sta~e;
Fig. 6. Is cross s6-.fiGnal view from the side of a second e,.~i...ent of the central ball of the prese~t inventiGIl with the flexible cords removed illus~dtil~a the lateral cG""~ressiGn grooves;
Fig. 7. Is a pe~ re view of the second embodiment of the central ball with the fle)able cords ;.,s~ illustrating a lateral cGIl~pr~ssiGll groove;
Fig. 8. Is a ~ pec~Ye view of ~e second embodiment of the cen~al ball illusb~ti..g the lateral compr~ssiG~I groove ~th the ex~r i~r in le~ hand use in the s~uee,;.,~ (fin~er and thumb flexion and aclcl~l~on) stage; and Fig. 9 is a frontal view of a third embodiment of the central ball of the pr~sel)t invention illusb~ a fully spherical shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODtMENTS
Figs. 1~ illustrate a first embodiment of a hand, wrist and f~r~&.-.. e)~;~rciser of the p r~se"t invention having a round, slightly oblong flexible central ball 10. Figs. 2 and 3 ~200648 illustrate a flexible dowel 11 which is fixed to and ~sPiol ,ed vertically through the center of the ball 10. The dowel 11 is made of a material that is flexible enough to Ugive" during the s~u~ phase of the ~xer~ ise yet must be strong enough to protect the ball 10against the friction of the flexible cords disc~ ~sse~l next. The dowel 11 is wider at each of its ends in order to fix or stabilke it to the ball.

Through the dowel 11 p~sses a flexible cGI~n~t~r cord 12 (see Fig. 3) which is continuous with flexible cords 14,16,18, 20, 22 (see Figs.1 and 3). Cord 14 provides resistance against cords 16,18,20,22 during the &Ctiolls of finger and thumb ~xtellsiG
and aW~ction (via cord 12). Re~use the dowel 11 seperates cords 14,16,18,20,22 (via cord 12) the center of r~si~l~nce for finger e~ nsio" and ~duction is at the top of the dowel 11 (as viewed in Fig.1),om~an,~1y~near the base of the fin~ers. This design allows the fingers to truly ~du~t and extend during the exercis~. The center of resi~h.)ce for thumb extcnsion and abd~ction is at the bottom of the dowel 11 (as viewed in Fig.1) or lla."ely near the base of the thumb. This design allows the thumb to truly ~hduct and extend during the ex~rcise. Previous devices such as Wendet,G"" place more er"phasis on finger ~,~t~nsiGn and thumb akd-~ction and less on finger aWu~tion and thumb ~xtensior;. The conl,e~t~r cord 12 may also be made less flexible than cords 14,16,18,20,22 to further isolate the ~t~.. ,aor and abductor muscles of the digits.

Figs. 1 and 3 illustrate ,ver~pecti~re loops 15, 17, 19, 21 which are placed around the middle phalan~es of the r~ e four fingers and loop 13 which is placed around thebase of the thumb in order to set up the exe,~ise. The loops 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 are elastic in nature and allow for co,llf(~l in placement and ease in iut~rcl~al~eal,ility from one hand to a.~vtl,er. The loops 1315171921 may be connect~d to or made conti"ous with the flexible cords 14 16 18 20 22.

~. ~ _ . ~, . J
6 ~20~648 Figs. 4 and S illustrate ~,r~sp~ti~/e use of the device, Fig. 4 showing the hand s~
a~ainsl the r~sist~nce of the ball 10 (n~xh." ~dduction and o~itic~n) and Fig. 5sho~ the hand openin~ and spreading against the resist~nce of the cords 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 (e~t~l)siGIl and ~cluction).

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a ,~,;"~e alternate embodiment of the central ball 10 displaying lateral cGill~Jr~ssion ~rooves 23. The purpose of the ~rooves 23 are to allow a natural and colr,h,rldble foldin~ of the ball 10 during the squ~;-.~ moffon of the ax~3. ,ise. Fig. 8 illustrates pr~./e use of the device pictured in Figs. 6 and 7, in the s~u~-:.,y moffon.

FIG. 9 illu~ut~,s yet another altemate embodiment of the "rese ~t invention di_pla~ a spl,erical central ball 24 which may be a more desi.uble shape opffon for training baseball pitchers, for example.

Table 1 sets out the muscles of the hand which the e;~ iser of the pr~nt i~,~rQnffon works and s~"~ e.,s. Likewise, Table 2 sets out the muscles of the wrist which are worked and stle"~lhenQd. Further, Table 3 sets out the muscles of the hand, wrist and forearm which are worked and ~e,l~ht~necl.

Table 1 81 . ~1' d by Ul. ~t' 3 by MUSCLES OF THE HAND ~Y~ ~ NO --Extensor digitorum yes Extensor digiti minimi yes E~ensor indicis yes Extensor pollicis longus yes Extensor pollicis brevis yes Abductor digKi minimi yes Abductor pollicis longus yes Abductor pollicis brevis yes Flexor di~itorum superficialis yes Flexor digitorum profundus ~ yes Flexor digiti minimi yes Flexor pollicis longus yes Flexor pollicis brevis yes Adductor pollicis yes Dorsal interosseous yes Palmer interosseous yes Lumbricals yes Opponens pollicis yes Opponens digKi minimi yes Table 2 Str~Sth~ood by Stron~th~d by MUSC~LES OF THE WRIST 'fES ~NO -E~ensor digitorum yes E~ensor digiti minimi yes E~ensor indicis yes Extensor carpi radialis longus - yes Extensor carpi radialis brevis yes Flexor carpi radialis ~ no Extensor carpi ulnaris yes Flexor carpi ulnaris no Flexor diqitorum superficialis yes Flexor digitorum profundus yes E~ensor pollicis longus -- yes E~ensor pollicis brevis - - yes Flexor pollicis lonqus yes Palmaris longus no Abductor pollicis lon~us yes 9 ~20064~

Table 3 MUSCLES OF THE EI~4~D, WRIST Strcn~cncd by Stron~tbend by AND FOREARM e'YES' c~erc~scr Extensor digKorum yes Extensor digKi minimi yes Extensor indicis yes Flexor di~itorum superficialis - yes Flexordi~Korum Drofundus yes Flexor di~iti minimi yes Extensor carpi radiaffs lon~us yes Extensor carpi radialis brevis ~ yes Extensor carpi ulnaris yes Flexor carpi P~i~lis - no Flexor carpi- ulnaris no Palmaris lon~us no Brachioradialis~ no Extensor pollicis lon~us yes Extensor pollicis brevis yes Flexor pollicis longus yes Flexor pollicis brevis yes AWuctor pollicis lon~us yes tor r~ hrevis ves Addu~tor pollicis yes Pronator teres no Pronator quadratus no Supinator no Opponens pollicis yes Opponens di~iti minimi yes Lumbricals yes AWuctor di~iti minimi yes Dorsal interosseous yes Palmar interosseous yes ~2Uu~4ù
'-'' 10 It may now be better ap,ureci ~ d for which sports or activities the exer~iser is useful:
Golf, R~C~lJeth~ Arm Wr~slling, Windsurfing, Tennis, R~seb311, Body Building, Wate,~ iirlg, Hockey, Bowling, Lacrosse, J~t~kier~, Badminton, Climbing, Gy",.,~lics, Motorcyclist, Squash, Rowing, Musicians, Bicyclist.

The f~llo~.;ny injuries may also be aided by the above exer~,i.~r.
1. Lateral epicondylitis - tennis elbow, 2. Medial epicondylitis - golfers elbow, 3. Carpal tunnel sy"J~,r,.e, 4. Wrist, finger, f~raar", fracture rehabilitation, 5. Stroke rehabilitation - strength and coorJindtiGn, 6. Spinal cord injury.
For example, in order to prevent and rehabilitate the con-litiol) of lateral epicondylitis, one must :.hei,~thal) the muscles and tendons which insert onto the lateral epi~o.,Jyle of the humerus. The e~erci.,er sbe~ tel)s all of these muscles.
The above Jescri,~)tiGn is ;,ltel)ded in an illustrative rather than a r~l,i~ti~re sense and tiGnS to the speci~c configuldtiGns descriL~J may be app&r~,d to skilled per~G,)s in ad&, ti-~y the ~r~senl invenffon to specific applicabons. Such \r~ tiGllS are i~It~nJeJ to form part of the present invention insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the claims below.

Claims

"I claim:

1. An exercise device comprising a flexible central ball and a plurality of finger engaging cords operatively connected thereto, as described herein.