Grip augmentation straps

Abstract

A slap wrap style grip augmentation strap is provided in which the extended securing strap is lined with a bistable ribbon formed of metal or similarly functioning material. The lined strap extends from a wrist loop and provide a self-wrapping ability which allows the user to get a tighter and more uniform grip that was previously much harder or near impossible to obtain with other lifting straps. Gripping efficiency is improved with quickly applied, strong and equal equally applied attachment to a targeted piece of exercise equipment. The use of a strap of the present invention will encourage proper body mechanics during lifting exercises that would help prevent these potential dangers. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A grip augmentation device consisting essentially of: a unitary elongated length of strap material having an end for attachment about a user's wrist and an opposite end for coiling, wherein said strap material is comprised in a manner that entirely encompasses a bistable spring mechanism; and at least a portion said length of strap incorporating the entire said bistable spring mechanism for coiling about a member to be gripped; wherein said end for attachment about a user's wrist comprises a frictionally impinged loop formed as an extension of said length of strap material.

2. The grip augmentation device of claim 1, wherein said loop is removably connected by a fastener.

3. The grip augmentation device of claim 2, wherein said fastener is selected from a group consisting of: hook and loop fastener; snaps; stitching; and buttons.

4. The grip augmentation device of claim 1, wherein said strap material is comprised of tubular webbing.

5. The grip augmentation device of claim 4, wherein said tubular webbing is formed of a fabric material.

6. The grip augmentation device of claim 1, wherein a bistable spring mechanism portion of said strap material is adapted to coil about the member to be gripped, wherein said member to be gripped comprises a handle of a cane or walker.

7. The grip augmentation device of claim 1, wherein the bistable spring portion of said strap material is adapted to coil about the member to be gripped, wherein said member to be gripped comprises a handle of a cane or walker.

8. The grip augmentation device of claim 1, wherein the spring portion of said strap material is adapted to coil about the member to be gripped, wherein said member to be gripped comprises a barbell, dumbbell or other exercise equipment.

9. The grip augmentation device of claim 1, wherein a bistable spring mechanism portion of said strap material is adapted to coil about the member to be gripped, wherein said member to be gripped comprises a barbell, dumbbell or other exercise equipment.

10. A grip augmentation device consisting essentially of: a first unitary elongated length of strap material having an first end for attachment about a user's left wrist and a first opposite end for coiling, at least a portion said first elongated length of strap incorporating at least a portion of a first bistable spring mechanism for coiling about a member to be gripped; and, in combination a second unitary elongated length of strap material having an second end for attachment about a user's right wrist and a second opposite end for coiling, at least a portion said second elongated length of strap incorporating at least a portion of a second bistable spring mechanism for coiling about the member to be gripped; wherein said first end for attachment about a user's left wrist and said second end for attachment about a user's right wrist each comprise a frictionally impinged loop formed as an extension of said length of strap material.

11. The grip augmentation device of claim 10, wherein said first end and said second end each comprises said frictionally impinged loop formed as an extension of said length of strap material that is removably connected by a fastener, wherein said fastener is selected from a group consisting of: hook and loop fastener; snaps; stitching; and buttons.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 depicts various lifting strap designs according to the PRIOR ART as described above;

(3) FIG. 7A is a photograph showing a partial exploded plan view of a slap wrap wrist strap according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention including an attachment mechanism;

(4) FIG. 7B is a photograph of a completed wrap wrist strap according to an alternate configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizing a frictionally impinged loop element;

(5) FIG. 8 is a photograph showing the views of 7A and 7B donned onto a wrist of a user;

(6) FIG. 9 is a photograph showing the slap wrap wrist strap according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention affixing to a lifting bar of a piece of weight lifting or exercise equipment; and

(7) FIG. 10 through FIG. 14 are photographs of the present invention shown in use with various applications.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.

1. Detailed Description of the Figures

(9) Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction illustrated and the steps described herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. While a specific best mode is described and disclosed for the purpose of enablement, it is simultaneously intended that the features, advantages and benefits of the present invention may be readily adapted to other uses that are not herein described in detail. By way of example, and not meant as a limitation, it should be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the relevant art, in light of the specification as described in detail below, that such a grip augmentation device may be similarly used to improve the functionality of a user's cane or walker or other object. It should be further apparent that other adapted uses abound, and as such the invention herein should be interpreted within a broad range of functional equivalents.

(10) A preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in conjunction with FIG. 7A through FIG. 10, in which a grip augmentation strap, weight lifting wrist straps, generally noted as 20, are shown according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention employed in pairs as weight lifting wrist straps. It should be understood by a person having an ordinary skill in the relevant art, in light of the present teachings, that uses in other applications, either singularly or in pairs, should be considered within the range of equivalents of the present invention. Each strap 20 incorporates a looped band 22 sized in length to fit around and overlap a wrist, forearm or other body part of a user. An elongated attachment strap extension 24 extends laterally outward from the band 22 and is construction of a slap on band in which a bistable metal spring body or band 26 is inserted in and covered by a fabric sleeve 28. The fabric sleeve 28 envelopes the looped band 22 in a tubular structure that entends to form a looped end for attachment about a user's wrist. The loop end may be formed as an extension of said length of strap material that is removably connected by a faster, such as a hook and loop fastener, snaps, stitching or buttons. The bistable metal spring materials may be substituted with alternatives to the metal. The bistable metal spring body 26 is concave when facing up as in FIG. 7. The bistable metal spring body 26 is a bistable spring that has two positions of operation or two states of being. The first state is the elongated position as shown in FIG. 8. In this state the bistable metal spring body retains potential energy. This potential energy will cause the band to coil immediately when the bistable metal body 26 is struck against an object such as the bar of a piece of fitness equipment 30. The second state is the coiled state as shown in FIG. 9-10. The coiled shape in FIG. 9 is shown in the form that the bistable metal spring body 26 will take when slapped around a cylindrical object.

(11) The bistable metal spring body 26, when in the elongated position, is typically greater than 6 inches in length. According to one aspect of the present invention, the spring body 26 may preferably be about between 9 to 12 inches in length. According to another aspect of the present invention, the spring body 26 may preferably between about 7-7 to 12 inches in length. Typically the width of the bistable metal spring body is 0.5 inches to 1.5 inches in width. However, it should be understood that these dimensions may vary within the overall scope of equivalents of the present invention and the use of any specific dimensions should be considered to be a design choice within the overall scope of the present invention.

(12) The bistable metal spring body 26 may be coated with various types of materials such as fabric, rubber or plastic. As shown according to the preferred embodiment, the spring body 26 is coated by and inserted in a fabric strap sleeve 32 made of a soft and absorbent material such as a cotton or similar fabric. It is preferable for the material coating 24 to be water resistant to protect the bistable metal spring body 26 from rusting, but at the same time should not become overly slippery when wet.

(13) FIGS. 9 and 10 show a preferable attachment method for attaching the strap 28 as a slap-on band to a gripping surface 30 comprising an exercise bar. A bi-stable snap action ribbon spring incorporated into self-latching, spring-loaded mechanisms. The dual mode stability of the spring eliminates the need for complex latching mechanisms thereby simplifying the device manufacture and device reliability. The spring is stable in either a linear or coiled state enabling the simplified design of rolling, hinging and feeding mechanisms.

(14) FIGS. 11 through 14 show a preferable attachment method for attaching the strap 28 as a slap-on band to increase the g ripping strength onto various objects. As shown, the present invention may additionally be used to increase the hand-gasping ability of a user onto a cane (FIG. 11), a walker (FIG. 12) or everyday objects such as a water bottle (FIG. 13). Similarly, as shown in conjunction with FIG. 14 a strap 28 may be used in conjunction with a work tool to increase grasping, handling or carrying capability.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

(15) As shown throughout the Figures and according to the present invention, a commercial embodiment of the present invention offered under the trade name Slap Wraps Lifting Straps of the present invention is placed around the user's wrist with the elongated strap extended. When the user approaches a bar or equipment handle, the strap is snapped and rolled about the target to provide an increased grip for encouraging proper body mechanics during lifting exercises. The slap on band 20 will then coil and fit to the barbell, securing the slap-on-strap around the wearer's wrist.

(16) The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that a scope of the invention be defined broadly by the Drawings and Specification appended hereto and to their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is in no way to be limited only by any adverse inference under the rulings of Warner-Jenkinson Company, v. Hilton Davis Chemical, 520 US 17 (1997) or Festo Corp. v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Co., 535 U.S. 722 (2002), or other similar caselaw or subsequent precedent should not be made if any future claims are added or amended subsequent to this Patent Application.