Multi-Orientation Nesting Grip Training Handle

Description

BACKGROUND

Many sport and life activities require a strong grip or finger strength, especially climbing, obstacle racing, weight training, and martial arts. An increase in finger strength will improve overall performance and decrease the chances for injuries like tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome.

One simple way to train grip strength is to perform regular exercises such as pull-ups and weight lifting using handles with an enlarged diameter, which increases the gripping difficulty and allows for grip training at the same time as exercising other muscle groups.

A second simple way to train grip strength is to orient the handle such that the direction of the handle is parallel to the direction of the load. It requires much more grip force to perform exercises in this orientation.

Athletes looking to train their grip strength would find it desirable to have a small, portable handle that allows them to train their grip strength by varying both the diameter of the handle and its orientation. Going from a small diameter, to an intermediate diameter, and then to a large diameter, with incrementally increasing difficulty allows these athletes to train their grip strength progressively.

SUMMARY

The multi-orientation nesting grip training handle of the present invention allows for the training of grip strength by providing 3 different handle diameters—small, medium and large, with the smallest being easiest to grip and the largest being most difficult to grip, and also providing 2 different handle orientations—horizontal and vertical—in each of the 3 diameters (6 configurations in total). It does this while being small and compact, and without requiring the user to carry separate attachments for different exercises. This is accomplished by incorporating three different nesting handles of different diameters, the outer two of which can be removed or installed by the user, and a special rope and knot configuration that allows the handle to be used in either the horizontal or vertical orientation. This means that the user can, in a combination not offered by the prior art, carry the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle with them, adjust it to the diameter and orientation they want, and exercise either by securing the handle to an appropriate anchor point and hanging from it, or by attaching it to a resistance machine, resistance band, bungee cord, or weight and pulling with the desired amount of force.

The multi-orientation nesting grip training handle can be used at home by using a portable opposably mounted pull up device (ex U.S. Pat. No. 10,252,099B2) to non-permanently secure it to a door frame during an exercise session. This combination is easy to carry around and mount at home, in a hotel, at work, or any other location that has a suitable door frame.

In the present invention, a number of configurations of angle and diameter are possible. This results in a large number of possible exercise difficulties depending on the angle and diameter chosen. The combination of the two adjustments can accommodate users of all different skill levels from beginner to expert, and it allows the user to progressively increase the difficulty level of their grip strength training.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are not to be considered limiting of the scope of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a pair of embodiments of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the horizontal orientation.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the vertical orientation in three different views-front view, isometric view, and isometric view showing the different parts of the handle taken apart.

FIG. 3 shows how the different parts of the embodiment can be reconfigured to change the grip diameter.

FIG. 4 shows the same operation as FIG. 3 but with a cutaway view.

FIG. 5 shows two cutaway views of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the vertical orientation. The cutaway allows the knot structure of the rope to be shown.

FIG. 6 shows the same cutaway view as FIG. 3 but the inner, middle, and outer handles are separated, showing their internal structure.

FIG. 7 shows the same cutaway view as FIG. 4 but from an isometric perspective.

FIG. 8 shows two different cutaway views, with the cut partially vertical and partially horizontal, better showing the rib structure of the middle and outer handles.

FIG. 9 shows the 6 possible configurations of this embodiment-small, medium, and large diameter, each in horizontal and vertical orientations.

FIG. 10 shows a pair of embodiments of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the vertical orientation attached to a pair of portable opposably mounted pull up devices.

FIG. 11 shows a pair of embodiments of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the horizontal orientation attached to a pair of portable opposably mounted pull up devices.

FIG. 12 shows a person doing pull-ups using a pair of embodiments of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle (only one is visible, the other embodiment is obscured by the person) in the vertical orientation attached to a pair of portable opposably mounted pull up devices mounted on a door frame.

FIG. 13 shows a person doing pull-ups using a pair of embodiments of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the horizontal orientation attached to a pair of portable opposably mounted pull up devices mounted on a door frame.

FIG. 14 shows a person using an embodiment of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the vertical orientation attached to a weight.

FIG. 15 shows a person using an embodiment of the multi-orientation nesting grip training handle in the horizontal orientation attached to a weight.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The description that follows and the embodiments described therein are intended to clarify the nature and principles of the invention by means of examples. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, similar parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, shown—from different angles and in different configurations-are two identical possible embodiments of the present invention 10, highlighting their essential constituents and the features through which they interact with external elements. The embodiments 10 shown each consist of three nesting handles 100, 110, 120; rope 200, and shims threaded chain link 300. The rope 200 features three knots-overhand knot 210, overhand knot 220, and fisherman's knot 230. Knot 230 forms the rope into a loop. Knot 220 acts as a jam knot and supports the load when the handle is in the vertical orientation. Knot 210 allows the threaded chain link to be hooked up underneath it, allowing the handle to be secured in the vertical orientation. The innermost handle 120 has a hole that allows the rope 200 to be passed through, but which is small enough that the knot 220 cannot pass through it. Note that although this particular embodiment shows three handles, this invention can be easily modified and adapted to incorporate a different number of handles, for example 2, which would reduce cost, or 4 or more, which could allow either a greater range of diameters or smaller diameter increments for the user. The handles can be manufactured by plastic injection molding, allowing them to be manufactured economically, although other manufacturing methods are possible. The handles can incorporate a grippy texture, or a separate grippy substance such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer on their outer surface.

FIG. 2 shows how the embodiment can be taken apart to change the diameter. The chain link 300 can be undone and removed, and the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100 can be slid off the innermost handle 120 in order to change the diameter of the handle. The bottom part of FIG. 2 shows the large holes at the top of the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100 that allow the embodiment to be taken apart this way.

FIG. 3 shows how the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100 can be slid off the inner handle 120 in order to change the diameter of this embodiment for different exercises.

FIG. 4 shows the same process of sliding the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100 from the inner handle 120 as FIG. 8 but with a cutaway view showing that the rope 200 can pass through the holes in the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100 during this procedure.

The cutaway in FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the handle and especially the details of the rope knots. The middle handle 110 and outer handle 100 each has a lip on its upper end that prevent them from sliding downward when they are nested together and in the vertical orientation.

The cutaways in FIGS. 6 and 7 show the same cutaways as FIG. 3, but with the inner, middle, and outer handles separated. This reveals the internal ribs of the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100, which serve to add stiffness and reduce the weight of the middle and outer handles. The diameters of the inner, middle, and outer handles are designed to span easy, moderate, and difficult grip exercises.

The cutaway in FIG. 8 further shows the cross-section of the internal ribs of the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100, as well as the circular cross-section of the inner handle 120.

FIG. 9 shows 6 possible configurations of this embodiment. By installing or removing the middle handle 110 and outer handle 100, it is possible to have the handle in small, medium, and large diameters. By rearranging the configuration of the rope 200 and threaded chain link 300, it is possible to configure each diameter of this embodiment in horizontal and vertical orientations.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show how the embodiment can be attached to a portable opposably mounted pull up device in order to allow installation on a door frame, in the horizontal and vertical orientations. FIGS. 12 and 13 show a person using the embodiment attached to a door frame with the help of a portable opposably mounted pull up device.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show how the embodiment can be attached to a weight, again, in both the horizontal and vertical orientations, and used for grip strength training that way.