GRIP ASSIST DEVICE FOR ATHLETIC TRAINING WEIGHTS AND METHODS RELATED THERETO

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/553,888 filed Feb. 15, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to grips adapted for use with athletic training weights, and more particularly to a grip assist device that is equipped with one or more sensors and adapted to be wrapped around a grip bar of an athletic training weight, and to methods related thereto.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The intent of this section of the specification is to briefly indicate the nature and substance of the invention, as opposed to an exhaustive statement of all subject matter and aspects of the invention. Therefore, while this section identifies subject matter recited in the claims, additional subject matter and aspects relating to the invention are set forth in other sections of the specification, particularly the detailed description, as well as any drawings.

The present invention provides, but is not limited to, grip assist devices configured to be securely adhered to and removable from an athletic training weight, such as the grip bar of a dumbbell.

According to a nonlimiting aspect, a grip assist device includes a grip wrap having a partial tubular shape that defines an interior surface, an exterior surface, and opposing longitudinal edges separated by a longitudinal gap. The grip wrap is formed of a flexible material and adapted to surround a grip bar of an athletic training weight. A plurality of peaks and finger depressions are disposed on the exterior surface diametrically opposite the longitudinal gap, a non-slip feature is disposed on the interior surface, and a sensor is embedded in the grip wrap and configured to sensor at least one of torque, motion, and range of motion of the grip wrap.

According to another nonlimiting aspect, an athletic training weight includes a weight head disposed at the end of a grip bar, and a grip assist device as described above.

Technical aspects of a grip assist device as described above preferably include the ability to improve the grip on an athletic training weight and the ability to monitor the dynamic motion and/or forces during use of an athletic training weight to provide feedback to the user. The grip assist device preferably achieves such benefits in part through the utilization of the peaks and finger depressions on its exterior surface and the non-slip feature(s) on its interior surface, which effectively increase the surface areas of the exterior and interior surfaces to increase friction in a manner that promotes a better grip and thereby better workout results.

These and other aspects, arrangements, features, and/or technical effects will become apparent upon detailed inspection of the figures and the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a grip assist device mounted in an operative position around a grip bar of a dumbbell according to a nonlimiting embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of two embodiments of the grip assist device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the embodiment of the grip assist device depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an exterior surface region of the grip assist device depicted in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The intended purpose of the following detailed description of the invention and the phraseology and terminology employed therein is to describe what is shown in the drawings, which include relate to one or more nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, and to describe certain but not all aspects of the embodiment(s) to which the drawings relate. The following detailed description also identifies certain but not all alternatives of the embodiment(s). As nonlimiting examples, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects shown and/or described as part of a particular embodiment could be eliminated, and also encompasses additional or alternative embodiments that combine two or more features or aspects shown and/or described as part of different embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims, and not the detailed description, are intended to particularly point out subject matter regarded to be aspects of the invention, including certain but not necessarily all of the aspects and alternatives described in the detailed description.

To facilitate the description provided below of the embodiment(s) represented in the drawings, relative terms, including but not limited to, “proximal,” “distal,” “anterior,” “posterior,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “forward,” “rearward,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be used in reference to the orientation of the grip assist device during its use and/or as represented in the drawings. All such relative terms are useful to describe the illustrated embodiment(s) but should not be otherwise interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

As used herein the terms “a” and “an” to introduce a feature are used as open-ended, inclusive terms to refer to at least one, or one or more of the features, and are not limited to only one such feature unless otherwise expressly indicated. Similarly, use of the term “the” in reference to a feature previously introduced using the term “a” or “an” does not thereafter limit the feature to only a single instance of such feature unless otherwise expressly indicated.

Although the invention will be described hereinafter in reference to a grip assist device 10 shown in the drawings as configured for use with a dumbbell, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are also generally applicable to other types of uses and applications, such as, but not limited to, being adapted for and/or used with barbell and kettlebells, and for being used as a grip assistance device for gripping any other type of object that has bar with an outer circumference that can be readily grasped in the human hand.

FIGS. 1 through 4 show embodiments of a grip assist device 10 comprising a grip wrap 12 made of a flexible material. The grip wrap 12 has a partial tubular shape, in that the wrap 12 has a tubular shape that is interrupted by a single longitudinal gap 14 that extends along the entire axial length of the wrap 12 to define two opposing longitudinal edges 16 that are spaced apart by the gap 14. FIGS. 1 and 2 represent embodiments in which the edges 16 as equipped with optional closure elements 17, such as complementary hook-and-loop elements, by which the edges 16 can be secured to each other to secure the grip wrap 12 around a grip bar 52 of an athletic training weight 50, such as a dumbbell or barbell that has two weight heads 54 as represented in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 represent an embodiment in which the edges 16 lack any closure elements, and instead the grip wrap 12 is secured around the grip bar 52 of the training weight 50 by the elastic nature of the grip wrap 12 and/or by optional non-slip features 28 defined on an interior surface 18 of the grip wrap 12 as discussed below. The interior surface 18 of the grip wrap 12 may be otherwise relatively smooth and uninterrupted, whereas finger depressions 22 and peaks 24 are defined in an exterior surface 20 of the grip wrap 12. In the drawings, the finger depressions 22 and peaks 24 are shown as disposed on the exterior surface 20 diametrically opposite the longitudinal gap 14.

The drawings further represent the grip assist device 10 as comprising an optional implanted sensor 26 embedded in the grip wrap 12 between the interior and exterior surfaces 18 and 20 of the wrap 12. Discussed in more detail below, the sensor 26 may be a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, a Bluetooth-enabled device, or another suitable electronic device capable of monitoring one or more parameters of interest during a weightlifting session and wirelessly transmitting data to a digital computer capable of receiving and digitally processing data obtained by the sensor 26.

The grip wrap 12 may be particularly configured for compatibility with the hands of males or females, optionally for lefthand or righthand dumbbells, and sized to fit around grip bars 52 of various diameters, for example, diameters of about 1.25 to 1.5 inch (about 3 to 4 cm) and lengths of about 4 to 5 inches (about 10 to 13 cm) However, the grip assist device 10 can be configured for essentially any other dimensions, and the grip assist device 10 is not limited to dimensions provided or discussed herein.

The grip wrap 12 is represented in FIGS. 2 and 3 as comprising four of the finger depressions 22 in its exterior surface 20 that are defined by and between peaks 24 that are axially spaced apart from each other suitable distances so that the finger depressions 22 are sized to comfortably receive the fingers of an adult human hand. The finger depressions 22 may be sized equally or sized differently. For example, the finger depressions 22 may be sized and positioned to receive, in order, the forefinger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger of a human hand. For this purpose, the peaks 24 may be spaced about 0.75 to about 1.25 inch (about 2 to about 3 cm) apart and the finger depressions 22 may have a depth (in the radial direction) of about 0.18 to about 0.19 inch (about 4.5 to about 4.8 mm). As evident from FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the finger depressions 22 and peaks 24 are only disposed on a central axial portion of the grip wrap 12 and do not longitudinally extend to the longitudinal ends of the grip wrap 12. As particularly evident from FIG. 4, the finger depressions 22 and peaks 24 do not circumferentially extend to either of the longitudinal edges 16 of the grip wrap 12, and preferably extend around not more than half the circumference of the wrap 12 as shown in FIG. 4. In this way, the portion of the grip wrap 12 engaged by a user's palm (the lower half of the wrap 12 in FIG. 4) can be relatively smooth, whereas the finger depressions 22 disposed on the diametrically opposite portion of the grip wrap 12 (the upper half of the wrap 12 in FIG. 4) can be engaged by a user's fingers.

As previously noted, the interior surface 18 of the grip wrap 12 may have one or more non-slip features 28 to help maintain the grip assist device 10 in a fixed position on the grip bar 52 when being gripped by a user. For example, the interior surface 18 of the grip wrap 12 may have ridges and/or grooves arranged in rows or in a crisscross pattern, a padded surface, nano-suction features, or other non-slip features that increase the friction between the wrap 12 and the grip bar 52 so that the grip assist device 10 does not slip on the grip bar 52 when the user is gripping and lifting the training weight 50.

The grip wrap 12 is preferably made of a flexible material, such as a synthetic rubber, examples of which include silicone rubber and neoprene rubber, and may optionally be provided as a closed-cell foam material. The grip wrap 12 is sufficiently resiliently deformable so that the wrap 12 can be readily installed on the grip bar 52 by passing the grip bar 52 through the gap 14. Optionally, the flexible material may be sufficiently flexible and elastic to have an at-rest shape that is not tubular, such as curved or flat, when not applied around the grip bar 52, in which case the closure elements 17 are preferably present to ensure that the grip wrap 12 remains wrapped around the grip bar 52.

The exterior surface 20 of the grip wrap 12 preferably has a friction-enhancing and/or moisture-wicking capability. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, both of these capabilities are provided by a tread pattern defined in the exterior surface 20. In the nonlimiting examples shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, such a tread pattern preferably comprises raised surface features that define a pattern of hexagonal-shaped elevated structures 30, each of which is surrounded by a cavity or recess, represented as a narrow trough or trench 32. The hexagonal-shaped elevated structures 30 of the tread pattern increase friction against the hand of a user in a manner that promotes a better grip, and the trenches 32 are sized to be effective at wicking sweat away from the elevated structures 30 and into the trenches 32. Alternatively or in addition, the exterior surface 20 may be covered with a moisture-wicking material, such as foam rubber or similar substance. Though the elevated structures 30 are represented as hexagonal-shaped, other shapes are possible. In practice, elevated structures 30 having a hexagonal shape with a maximum width dimension of about 0.24 to about 0.25 inch (about 6.0 to about 6.4 mm) surrounded by trenches 32 having a width of about 0.02 to about 0.05 inch (about 0.5 to about 1.3 mm) and a depth of about 0.06 inch (about 1.5 mm) have been determined to be effective, though slightly larger or smaller elevated structures 30 and trenches 32 could be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure elements 17 are disposed along the longitudinal edges 16 of the wrap 12, one element 17 being disposed on the interior surface 18 and the other disposed on the exterior surface 20. The two longitudinal edges 16 of the wrap 12 are configured to close with the closure elements 17 at the bottom of the bar 52 (as represented in FIG. 1) where the user's palm would touch the bar 52. Other types of closure elements 17 could be used as alternatives to hook-and-loop elements, such as snaps, hook fasteners, laces, or other fasteners. As represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, the closure elements 17 may be omitted entirely if, for example, the grip wrap 12 is made of a sufficiently rigid material and/or the non-slip features 28 are in the form of nano-sized (i.e., 1-1000 nm) diameter suction cups disposed on the interior surface 18 of the grip wrap 12. In this configuration, the wrap 12 can be securable to the bar 52 without needing any other closure mechanism.

The sensor 26 is represented in FIGS. 1 and 4 as located adjacent one of the longitudinal edges 16 so that when the grip assist device 10 is operatively mounted around the grip bar 52, the sensor 26 is located almost diametrically opposite one of the finger depressions 22. For example, the opposing finger depression 22 may be adapted to receive the user's forefinger that the user positions on the top side of the grip bar 52, such that the sensor 26 is located on the underside of the bar 52 diametrically opposite the user's forefinger. The sensor 26 is preferably embedded in the grip wrap 12 so that it is not visible or exposed at either of the interior and exterior surfaces 18 and 20 of the grip wrap 12. The sensor 26 is preferably adapted to sense various forces on and motions of the gripper wrap 12 to provide useful feedback information to a user regarding aspects of how the user is using of the training weight 50. As nonlimiting examples, the sensor 26 is configured to incorporate strain gauges, accelerometers, etc., that enable the sensor 26 to measure torque induced in the wrap 12 during a training session and/or motion and/or the range of motion of the grip wrap 12 during a training session, and thus also the training weight 50 itself. If an RFID or Bluetooth-enabled device, the grip assist device 10 further comprises a computer application (“APP”) 40 that wirelessly communicates with the sensor 26 and analyzes the data sent from the sensor 26, preferably for the purpose of providing one or more direct and/or derived measurements from the torque and range-of-motion measurements to the user. The APP 40 may be of a type that runs on a mobile computing device (e.g., a mobile “smart” phone with a digital computer processor and appropriate hardware and software) or any other type of digital computer capable of receiving and digitally processing the data obtained by the sensor 26.

In addition to the configuration adapted for being mounted to and removed from various different dumbbells and/or barbells, the grip assist device 10 in other configurations may be incorporated directly as part of a set of athletic training weights. In such embodiments, the grip assist device 10 may be directly integrated as part of a grip bar of the weight(s). The grip assist device 10 preferably matches the length of the dumbbell's grip bar. For dumbbells with finger depressions manufactured directly into the grip bar, the sensor 26 may be located on the outer aspect of one of the weight heads (e.g., dumbbell heads), generally but not limited to the flat surface of the dumbbell rather than the curved surface which comes in contact with the surface at rest. For example, the sensor may be mounted into a depression in one of the weight heads with adhesive or another fastener. For barbells, the grip assist device 10 may be secured to the middle of the length of the grip bar and remain in that position during a training session. Weight plates may be added or removed on the ends in the usual manner. If the finger depressions 22 are formed into the surface of the grip bar during manufacturing, the grip assist device 10 may be disposed in the middle of the grip bar (not at the ends) so as to not affect adding or removing weight plates on the ends of the grip bar. In this embodiment, the sensor 26 may be disposed in the hang grip, in the weight plates as described with the dumbbells, or in the end of the bar bell, for example, by mounting a cap with the sensor onto the end of the bar bell.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that aspects of the present invention include a grip wrap 12 that is designed for secure attachment to and detachment from a grip bar of an athletic training weight, such as a dumbbell grip bar or a barbell grip bar. Preferably, the grip wrap 12 is made of or includes a resilient or spongy material for easy and/or more comfortable gripping by a human hand. The grip wrap 12 may include finger depressions 22 on its exterior surface 20. The grip wrap 12 is preferably made of sufficiently flexible material so that it can be firmly wrapped around and fastened to a dumbbell grip bar using closure elements 17, such as a hook-and-loop elements. The grip wrap 12 is a component of the grip assist device 10 and is configured to envelop a grip bar to improve a user's grip on training weights and optimize lifting movements. The grip wrap 12 may be constructed from a flexible synthetic rubber, such as silicone rubber or neoprene rubber, preferably provided as a closed-cell foam material and optionally infused with antimicrobial materials to ensure optimal hygiene standards.

According to other aspects, an athletic training weight (e.g., a dumbbell or a barbell) is provided with the grip assist device 10 that can be premounted and secured to the grip bar of the athletic training weight. In yet other aspects, a set of athletic training weights, such as a set of dumbbells or one or more barbells and a plurality of mountable weights for the barbell(s), is provided with one or more grip assist devices 10 pre-mounted and secured to the grip bars of the athletic training weights. The grip assist device 10 may be integrated directly into the athletic training weights to provide improved functionality. For example, the length of the grip wrap 12 may be selected to match the length of the grip bar of the dumbbell grip bar (handle) or in a preselected position on the dumbbell grip bar to provide a seamless and comfortable grip for the user on the grip bar.

When operatively mounted to the grip bar of an athletic training weight, the grip assist device 10 functions as an extension of the user's arm, promoting a more natural and effective weightlifting motion. The device 10, its sensor 26, and a computer application that communicates with the sensor 26 can be used by a user to maximize the efficiency of weightlifting movements by the user during a training session.

As previously noted above, though the foregoing detailed description describes certain aspects of one or more particular embodiments of the invention, alternatives could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the grip assist device 10 and its components could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiments described herein and shown in the drawings, functions of certain components of the grip assist device 10 could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, and various materials could be used in the fabrication of the grip assist device 10 and/or its components. As such, and again as was previously noted, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to any particular embodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings.