Pole grips

Abstract

A grip configured for interconnection to a therapy or walking pole is provided. The grip includes tactile, visual, and/or auditory feedback systems that help ensure a user is using the walking poles correctly. The feedback information may also be directed to a therapist for review.

Claims

1. A pair of ergonomic grips, comprising: a first grip configured for gripping by a persons left hand; and a second configured for gripping by a person right hand, the first grip and the second grip including an upper portion having a light-emitting device, a sound-emitting device, and a vibration motor, a central portion having a plurality of gripping regions; a lower portion, a wrist support extending from the lower portion and having a first potentiometer associated with the sound emitting device and a second potentiometer associated with the vibration motor, wherein the wrist support defines a lower surface of the grip having an opening for selective receipt of a pole and an on/off switch, measuring devices configured to determine when the first grip and the second grip reach predetermined upstroke and downstroke heights during alternate arm swinging by the person while gripping the first grip and the second grip, and a pressure sensor configured to determine an applied force against an even surface when a pole is received in the opening, wherein the determined applied force in the first grip and the second grip are compared to each other for determining weight distribution during the alternate arm swinging.

2. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein the first grip and the second grip further include means for wireless communication.

3. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip the vibration motor, light-emitting device, and sound-emitting device are interconnected to a controller embedded within the upper, central, or lower portion.

4. The ergonomic grips of claim 3, wherein the controller is pre-programmable or can be programmed.

5. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip the wrist support extends substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the grip.

6. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip the wrist support substantially surrounds a majority of the lower portion.

7. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip the wrist support is configured to support a rear area of the user's hand adjacent to the user's wrist.

8. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip the wrist support is approximately 161 mm in length from a front end edge to a rear edge thereof.

9. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip a dorsal region of at least one of the upper portion, central portion, and lower portion is flared.

10. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein each of the first grip and the second grip medial and lateral sides of the central portion is textured.

11. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, further including therapy poles inserted through the opening provided on the lower surface of the wrist support for each of the first grip and the second grip.

12. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein the the first grip and the second grip is made of thermoplastic rubber.

13. The ergonomic grips of claim 1, wherein the each of the first grip and the second grip is mounted on the top of a respective mobility device.

14. The ergonomic grips of claim 13, wherein the mobility device is a reinforced adjustable-length walking pole with button lock securement of pole length segments.

15. A pair of ergonomic grips, comprising: a first grip configured for gripping by a persons left hand; and a second grip configured for gripping by the persons right hand, the first grip and the second each including an upper portion having a light-emitting, device, a sound-emitting device, and a vibration motor, a central portion having a plurality of gripping regions, a lower portion, measuring devices configured to determine when the first grip and the second grip reach predetermined upstroke and downstroke heights during alternate arm swinging by the person while gripping the first grip and the second grip, and a pressure sensor configured to determine an applied force against an even surface when a pole is received in the opening, wherein the determined applied force in the first grip and the second grip are compared to each other for determining weight distribution during the alternate arm swinging.

16. The ergonomic grips of claim 15, wherein for each of the first trip and the second grip a dorsal region of at least one of the upper portion, central portion, and lower portion is flared.

17. The ergonomic grips of claim 15, wherein each of the first grip and the second grip is mounted on the top of respective mobility device.

18. The ergonomic grips of claim 15, wherein each of the first grip and the second grip further comprises a wrist support extending from the lower portion.

19. The ergonomic grips of claim 18, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip the vibration motor, light-emitting device, and sound-emitting device are interconnected to a controller embedded within the upper portion, central portion, lower portion, or wrist support.

20. The ergonomic grips of claim 18, wherein for each of the first grip and the second grip wrist support defines a lower surface of the grip that has an opening for selective receipt of a pole and an on/off switch further including a therapy pole inserted through the opening provided on the lower surface of the wrist support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

(2) FIG. 1 is a right perspective view of a grip of one embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the grip shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the grip shown in FIG. 1

(5) FIG. 4 is a right elevation view of the grip shown in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the grip shown in FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the grip shown in FIG. 1, wherein internal electronic componentry is removed for clarity.

(8) FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical components employed by one embodiment of the present invention.

(9) The following component list and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided to assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the present invention:

(10) # Component 2 Grip 6 Central portion 14 Lower portion 16 Dorsal region 18 Wrist support 22 Light 26 Speaker 30 Pole 34 Opening 38 Bottom surface 44 On/off switch 50 Upper cavity 54 Lower cavity 60 Charge port 102 Battery 106 Microcontroller 110 Transistor 114 Buzzer potentiometer 118 Vibration potentiometer 122 Vibration motor

(11) It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIGS. 1-6 show a grip 2 of one embodiment of the present invention generally consisting of an upper portion 6, a central portion 10, and a lower portion 14. Some embodiments also include a wrist support 18 interconnected to the lower portion 14. The rear surfaces of the upper portion 6, central portion 10, and lower portion 14 defined the grip's dorsal region 16. In this example, the upper portion 6 accommodates a light 22 and a speaker 26, but those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such components can be located on other portions of the grip 2. For example, the middle portion may include visual, auditory, and/or tactile feedback devices that communicate sensory feedback to the user/therapist. A pole 30 is inserted through an opening 34 in a bottom surface 38 and, thus, secured to the grip 2. The pole 30 may also communicate sensory feedback to the user/therapist. An on/off button 44 is also provided on the bottom surface 38, but can be located at another location. The embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 is used primarily in a therapy setting, wherein short therapy poles are used instead of full-length walking poles. In a related embodiment, a secondary stick the therapist uses to manipulate the patient's arm forward is attached to the therapy pole and/or grip. In one embodiment, a walking pole is selectively interconnected to the grip such that that it can be quickly removed and replaced with a therapy pole and/or stick.

(13) As described above, the light, which may be an LED device, may be capable of various modes. For example, an on/off mode may be provided, wherein the light remains on. In addition, the light may blink at a preset frequency when predetermined situations are encountered. The light may emit light of different colors depending on the mode of operation, on/off, wireless signal interconnectivity, grip orientation outside predetermined norms, etc. The speaker, which may emit a buzzing noise, can also function in this manner, wherein a sound is emitted when the grip is turned on or off, is outside a predetermined orientation, when pressure applied thereto exceeds the predetermined amount, or when pressure applied thereto is below a predetermined amount. The sound and visual feedback can be sent to a cellular phone, through a radio signal, hearing aids, or computer system. The vibration motor can likewise operate under these conditions to notify the user and/or therapist of the current mode of operation and grip orientation. Of course, a plurality of lights may be employed.

(14) FIGS. 3-5 show the grip of one embodiment of the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the dimensions shown are for reference only and the embodiments of the present invention described herein may be increased or reduced in size.

(15) FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the grip of one embodiment of the present invention showing an upper cavity 50 and a lower cavity 54 configured to receive a battery and electronic componentry associated with the light, speaker, on and off switch, etc. described above. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the cavity or cavities may be supported by structural members, e.g., webs, or the grip may be only partially hollow. FIG. 6 also shows a charge port 60. The charge port may be a USB charge port or any other charge port currently used. In some embodiments, charging is achieved wirelessly using, for example, inductive charging techniques.

(16) FIG. 7 shows a circuit diagram associated with the electronic components employed by one embodiment of the present invention. A battery 102 powers a microcontroller 106 that communicates with a transistor 110, a buzzer potentiometer 114, and a vibration potentiometer 118. The transistor 110, buzzer potentiometer 114, and vibration potentiometer 118 control the functionality of a vibration motor 122, the light 22, and the speaker 26, which is also referred to herein as a buzzer.

(17) In operation, the contemplated grip 2 is maintained in the user's hand with their wrist position adjacent to or on the wrist support 18. As mentioned above, the grip may include various accelerometers or other devices to indicate angular and spatial orientation. Pressure sensors may also be employed within the upper, middle, and/or lower portions to assess applied pressure. If angular/spatial orientation, pressure, or other factors are outside predetermined bounds, the light, which may be an LED light, will activate by blinking or changing colors. In addition, the speaker will emit a buzzing sound, for example, if the grip is held too tightly, is out of a predetermined orientation, or has impacted a surface.

(18) As mentioned above, the extended walking pole may include features that assess pole angle and applied load. For example, the pole may include a plurality of strain gauges, accelerometers, or other sensors that allow contact angle, pole orientation, and applied load to be assessed. This information can be fed to the grip and/or pole for access later or transmitted in real-time to the user's smart device or to the therapist via known wireless communication techniques. This information helps the therapist and user assess whether the user is applying equal or substantially equal forces to each pole while they are walking on an even surface, for example. Indications of proper pole use and weight distribution may also be directed to the speakers, lights, and/or a vibration device, wherein the user is notified if after a predetermined number of strides, their arm swing, pole positioning, impact characteristics, and/or impact load is outside predetermined criteria.

(19) The grip/polls may also include other devices such as pedometers or may be able to selectively receive weights (to address tone, for example). or other devices to facilitate a physical therapy regime. Some embodiments of the present invention also include pulse and/or oxygen sensors implanted into the central grip, for example.

(20) Exemplary characteristics of embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the present invention, the preceding description may omit several known apparatus, methods, systems, structures, and/or devices one of ordinary skill in the art would understand are commonly included with the embodiments of the present invention. Such omissions are not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of the claimed invention. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. It should, however, be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

(21) Modifications and alterations of the various embodiments of the present invention described herein will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, it is to be understood that the invention(s) described herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. That is, the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. The scope of the various embodiments described herein is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. And all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

(22) The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed inventions require more features than expressly recited. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention. Further, the embodiments of the present invention described herein include components, methods, processes, systems, and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various sub-combinations and subsets thereof. Accordingly, one of skill in the art will appreciate that would be possible to provide for some features of the embodiments of the present invention without providing others. Stated differently, any one or more of the aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein may be combined with any one or more other aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein.