Thumb-worn protective batting aid for reducing transmission of vibration and impact from the bat

Abstract

A batting aid to be worn on a thumb of a distal hand of a baseball player while gripping a handle of a baseball bat. The batting aid includes a thumb ring to secure the batting aid to the thumb, and a cushioning saddle integrated with the thumb ring. The saddle has a crest portion configured to engage a portion of the second metacarpal of the distal hand, also having at least one resiliently deformable flap configured to extend substantially along a middle portion of the second metacarpal bone of the distal hand. The batting aid minimizes the transmission of vibration and impact from the bat hitting a ball, thereby reducing pain and injury. The batting aid conforms to the bat handle and improves a player's grip on the bat. Because the resiliently deformable flap is self-aligning on the player's hand, the player can more easily concentrate on hitting pitched balls.

Claims

1. A thumb guard configured to be arranged over a thumb of a hand of a user to protect against vibration, the thumb guard comprising: a thumb ring having a sidewall with an external surface, an internal surface that is spaced from the external surface, an upper surface extending between the external surface and the internal surface at a first end of the sidewall and a lower surface extending between the external surface and the internal surface at a second end of the sidewall, the internal surface defining an opening that is configured to receive and substantially surround a proximal phalanx of the thumb of the hand to secure the thumb guard to the hand, the upper surface extending substantially uniformly about the thumb ring between the external surface and the internal surface; and a saddle integrated with and extending directly from the thumb ring, the saddle extending beyond the upper surface of the thumb ring, the saddle and the thumb ring comprised of resiliently deformable material, and the saddle including a first flap extending from a first side of the saddle beyond the lower surface of the thumb ring, a second flap that is spaced from the first flap and extending from a second side of the saddle beyond the lower surface of the thumb ring, the saddle including a first surface extending from the thumb ring and a second surface extending from the thumb ring in a same direction as the first surface with the first surface and the second surface converging to define an outer periphery of the saddle, a portion of the outer periphery of the saddle extending concavely between the first flap and the second flap in a direction toward the thumb ring as viewed from the outer periphery of the saddle between the first flap and the second flap toward the thumb ring such that when the thumb ring is arranged on the thumb of the hand while gripping an object, the saddle directly bridges a distance between the proximal phalanx of the thumb with the outer periphery of the saddle configured to engage with a portion of a second metacarpal bone at the portion of the saddle that extends concavely between the first flap and the second flap to establish and maintain an operative relationship between the thumb guard and to the hand and absorb vibration, the second surface of the saddle extending concavely between the first flap and the second flap, and the first flap and the second flap extending bilaterally symmetrical with respect to each other from the saddle with the first flap, when worn by the user, configured to cover a substantial portion of a thenar space on the palmar side of the hand and the second flap configured to extend from the saddle and cover a portion of a dorsal side of the hand.

2. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein the saddle has a crest portion and the first flap and the second flap extend to at least part of a descending portion of the crest portion.

3. The thumb guard of claim 2, wherein the first flap and the second flap extend elliptically as viewed from the outer surface of the saddle.

4. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein the thumb guard is made from a viscoelastic polymer.

5. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein the saddle is configured to cushion the thenar space of the hand.

6. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein the first flap and the second flap include a material that is configured to provide enhanced friction.

7. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein the saddle included a crest portion and, when the thumb guard is in the operative relationship with the hand, the crest portion of the saddle is configured to span a length between a distal end of the proximal phalanx of the thumb and a distal end of the second metacarpal bone of the hand to cover a first web space of the hand.

8. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein the saddle has a crest portion and the crest portion and the first flap of the saddle are jointly configured to biasthe object toward fingers of the hand when gripping the bat object.

9. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein when the batting aid is in the operative relationship with the hand of the user the second flap covers a portion of the thenar space of a second one of the hands of the user when used as the hand, and the second flap includes a concave shape configured to receive and accommodate a portion of the object.

10. A thumb guard configured to be arranged over a thumb of a hand of a user to protect against vibration, the thumb guard comprising: a thumb ring having a sidewall with an external surface, an internal surface that is spaced from the external surface, an upper surface extending between the external surface and the internal surface at a first end of the sidewall and a lower surface extending between the external surface and the internal surface at a second end of the sidewall, the internal surface defining an opening that is configured to receive and substantially surround a proximal phalanx of the thumb of the hand to secure the thumb guard to the hand; and a saddle coupled to and extending directly from to the thumb ring, the saddle extending beyond the upper surface of the thumb ring, the saddle including an outer surface and an inner surface that is spaced from the outer surface extending from the thumb ring in a same direction with the outer surface and the inner surface converging to define an outer periphery of the saddle, the outer periphery of the saddle extending concavely at the distal boundary in a direction toward the thumb ring as viewed from the outer periphery of the saddle toward the thumb ring such that when the thumb guard is arranged on the thumb of the hand while gripping an object, the saddle directly bridges a distance between the proximal phalanx of the thumb and a second metacarpal bone, the distal end that extends concavely being configured to engage with a portion of the second metacarpal bone to establish and maintain an operative relationship between the thumb guard and the hand and absorb vibration, the saddle including a first flap is resiliently deformable when the thumb guard is worn by the user that and extends beyond the lower surface of the thumb ring, the first flap configured, when worn by the user, to cover a substantial portion of a thenar space on a palmer side of the hand.

11. The thumb guard of claim 10, wherein when the thumb guard is in the operative relationship with the hand, the saddle covers first web space of the hand.

12. The thumb guard of claim 10, wherein the first flap is configured to deform under gripping forces produced while gripping the object.

13. The batting aid-thumb guard of claim 12, wherein deformation of the first flap is concave in shape and extends to at least part of a descending portion of the saddle.

14. The thumb guard of claim 10, wherein the thumb guard is made of a viscoelastic polymer.

15. The thumb guard of claim 10, further comprising a second flap that is resiliently deformable and configured to extend from the saddle the on a dorsal side of the hand.

16. The thumb guard of claim 15, wherein the second flap covers a substantial portion of the thenar space of a second one of the hands of the user when used as the hand while in the operative relationship with the hand.

17. The thumb guard of claim 10, wherein the thumb ring is integrated with the saddle such that the outer surface of the saddle is in communication with the upper surface and the outer surface of the sidewall of the thumb ring, and the second surface of the saddle is in communication with the lower surface and the inner surface of the sidewall of the thumb ring.

18. The thumb guard of claim 16, wherein a portion of the thumb ring is coincident with a proximal end of the saddle.

19. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein an outer periphery of the first flap and an outer periphery of the second flap extend from the thumb ring in a curved manner.

20. The thumb guard of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the thumb ring extends substantially uniformly about the thumb ring between the external surface and the internal surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective side view of an embodiment of a batting aid worn on a thumb and first web space of a distal hand, showing the thumb ring and the saddle, the crest portion of the saddle, which straddles the first web space of the distal hand, and one resiliently deformable flap of the saddle extending downwardly from the crest portion to overlay at least a portion of the thenar space of the distal hand.

(3) FIG. 1B is a perspective side view of the batting aid of FIG. 1A, further including an enhanced-friction surface on the resiliently deformable flap of the saddle.

(4) FIG. 2A is a rotated side perspective view of the underside of the batting aid opposite the crest portion and showing the thumb ring and the saddle, the saddle including two resiliently deformable flaps extending from the crest portion and a supporting portion of an inner surface underlying the crest portion to accommodate contact with a portion of the web spacing.

(5) FIG. 2B is a rotated side view of the batting aid of FIG. 2A showing the thumb ring and the saddle, including the crest portion that connects the thumb ring and the saddle, and one resiliently deformable flap of the saddle.

(6) FIG. 2C is a perspective view, rotated away from the viewer, of the top of the batting aid of FIG. 2A showing the thumb ring and the saddle, including the crest portion that is distally bounded by a conforming portion of an external distal boundary of the saddle that the crest portion shares with the two resiliently deformable flaps of the saddle.

(7) FIG. 2D is a view of the distal end of the batting aid opposite to that of view of FIG. 2C (the thumb ring being obscured by the saddle), showing the internal outline of the convex crest portion, and the external distal boundary of the saddle including a concave conforming portion of the external distal boundary that distally defines the crest portion as well as a concave portion of the inner surface that is configured to engage with a distal portion of the second metacarpal bone of the distal hand when gripping the handle of a bat.

(8) FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the batting aid of FIG. 1 worn secured to the thumb and over the first web space of the distal hand, showing the thumb ring and the two resiliently deformable flaps that self-align the crest portion along the first web space of the distal hand by overlaying the thenar space on the palmar and dorsal sides of the player's distal hand.

(9) FIG. 4A is a perspective top view of the batting aid worn secured to the thumb and over the first web space of the distal hand, showing the thumb ring and the saddle, including the crest portion and two resiliently deformable flaps, also showing the fingers of the distal hand in an open position.

(10) FIG. 4B is a perspective top view of the batting aid of FIG. 4A worn secured to the thumb and over the first web space of the distal hand, showing the fingers of the distal hand in a closed position so as to grip the bat handle, also showing one of the two resiliently deformable flaps positioned between the bat handle and a portion of the thenar space on the palmar side of the player's distal hand.

(11) FIG. 5A is a perspective side view of the batting aid worn secured to the thumb and over the first web space of the distal hand, showing the bat handle gripped by both the distal hand and the proximal hand, also showing the thumb ring and a resiliently deformable flap of the saddle, having the fingers of the distal hand in a closed position so as to grip the bat handle, having one resiliently deformable flap of the saddle pressed between the bat handle and a portion of the thenar space on the palmar side of the player's distal hand.

(12) FIG. 5B is a perspective front view of the batting aid worn secured to the thumb and over the first web space of the distal hand, showing the bat handle gripped by both the distal hand and the proximal hand, also showing the thumb ring, the crest of the saddle, and a second resiliently deformable flap, while the fingers of the distal hand are closed in a grip around the bat handle, the first resiliently deformable flap being hidden between the bat handle and a portion the thenar space on the palmar side of the player's distal hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) With reference to FIG. 1A, a perspective view of a batting aid 100 worn on a thumb 104 and over the first web space (hidden from view but which is aligned with a length indicated by double arrow 107) of a distal hand 108 as is shown. The batting aid 100 includes a thumb ring 112 forming a thumb opening (119, FIGS. 2A-C) through which the thumb of the distal hand is inserted so that it fits over the proximal phalanx 106 of the thumb 104 to secure the batting aid 100 to the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108. Also shown is a saddle 114, which includes a crest portion 118 flanked by two resiliently deformable flaps 116 each extending downwardly from one or the other descending surface 117a of the crest portion 118 (only one flap 116 shown). The resiliently deformable flap 116 is positioned against a palm 110 of the distal hand 108 to overlay at least a portion of the thenar 103 space thereof.

(14) As is illustrated by FIGS. 2A-D, saddle portion 114 includes an inner surface 113. Portions 113a and 113c (See FIG. 2D) of inner surface 113 underlies the crest portion 118. Inner surface 113 further extends to portion 113b the two contoured flaps 116. The inner surface portion 113a accommodates and rests upon at least a portion of the first web space of the distal hand 108 while being worn by the user, and portion 113c of inner surface 113 makes securing contact against the second metacarpal bone of the distal hand when gripping a bat handle. The saddle 114 also includes an outer surface 117, which joins with the inner surface 113 to define an external distal boundary 115 of the saddle. The external distal boundary 115 defines the extremities of the saddle 114, which includes boundaries of the deformable flaps 116 and the crest portion 118. The external distal boundary 115 includes a conforming portion 115 that defines a concave shaped boundary at the distal end of the crest portion 118, where a portion 117c of the outer surface 117 of the crest portion 118 meets a concave portion 113c of the inner surface 113 spanning between the flaps 116.

(15) With reference to FIG. 4A, when the batting aid 100 is worn by a user, the crest portion 118 extends distally from the proximal phalanx 106 of the thumb 104 towards the second metacarpal bone 111 of the distal hand 108. When the distal hand is not gripping the bat handle, the distance between the proximal phalanx 106 of the thumb 104 and the portion 113c of inner surface 113 defined by the conforming portion 115 of the external distal boundary 115 of the saddle 114 can be greater than the length 107. When the distal hand 108 grips the bat handle as shown in FIG. 4B, however, the muscles and tendons of the distal hand 108 will inherently pull the proximal phalanx 106 of the thumb 104 and the concave portion 113c of inner surface 113 towards one another to generate gripping force therebetween. Thus, as the distance therebetween becomes equal to the length 107, portion 113c engages with the proximal phalanx and the batting aid 100 becomes secured in its operable position, while being aligned with, and substantially spanning the length of, the first web space of the distal hand 108.

(16) The portion 113c of inner surface 113 as defined by the conforming portion 115 is concave in shape and is thereby configured to engage with the second metacarpal bone 111 of the distal hand 108 at a location at or below the second metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint (109, FIGS. 4A, B). MCP 109 is the joint through which the distal end of the second metacarpal bone 111 is coupled to the proximal phalange 106 of the index finger 102.

(17) With reference to FIG. 1B, a perspective view of the batting aid 100 of FIG. 1A worn on the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108 is shown. Shown is an alternate embodiment of the batting aid 100 wherein the portion 117b of outer surface 117 provides having an enhanced-friction surface 120 on the resiliently deformable flap 116 of the saddle 114, the enhanced-friction surface 120 configured to improve the grip of the distal hand 108 on the bat handle (402, FIGS. 4B, 5A, 5B). The resiliently deformable flap 116 is positioned against the palm 110 located on the palmer side of the distal hand 108, and overlays at least a portion of the thenar space 103 thereof. The resiliently deformable flap 116 is configured to conform to the shape of a bat handle 402 when gripped by the distal hand 108 (shown in FIG. 4B).

(18) In some embodiments, the portion 117b of outer surface 117 that covers resiliently deformable flaps 116 is made of a material that provides enhanced friction, where one of the resiliently deformable flaps 116 and the bat handle 402 make contact while the bat handle 402 is gripped.

(19) In some embodiments, the portions 117d of the outer surface 117 shared by the resiliently deformable flaps 116 have a concave surface 117b configured so as to substantially conform to the bat handle 402 when the distal hand 108 grips the bat handle 402. In some embodiments, the resiliently deformable flaps 116 each have a concave surface 117b that is elliptical in shape.

(20) In some embodiments, the saddle 114 is configured so as to act as a cushion that absorbs vibration and impacts from the bat handle 402.

(21) In some embodiments, the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114 are made from a resiliently deformable material selected from a group including: injectable rubber, Sorbothane, silicone rubber, and silicone.

(22) With reference to FIG. 2A, a perspective view of the underside of the batting aid 100 is shown, showing the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114 having two resiliently deformable flaps 116. In this embodiment, the two resiliently deformable flaps 116 extend in a bilaterally symmetric relationship with each other from crest portion 118 that is not visible from this view. The portion 113a of inner surface 113 receives a portion of the first web space of distal hand 108 when the batting aid 100 is worn by the user.

(23) In some embodiments, the two resiliently deformable flaps 116 extend unequally.

(24) In this embodiment, the portion 113a of inner surface 113 of the saddle 114 spans between the resiliently deformable flaps 116 and the underside of crest portion 118 by which the batting aid 100 rests upon the skin of the user's first web space (under the crest portion 118), engages with the second metacarpal 111 (at the conforming portion 115 of the external distal boundary 115) and the thenar space 103 on the palmer and dorsal sides of the distal hand (under the palmer and dorsal deformable flaps 116). The portion 113a of inner surface 113 is also shared with the underside of a distal portion of the thumb ring 112 (See FIG. 2A) and is configured to engage with at least a portion of the first web space. Portion 113b of inner surface 113 is configured to overlay a generally V-shaped region known generally as the thenar space 103. The crest portion 118 extends axially along length 107 from thumb 104 (shown in FIG. 1A) to a confronting side of the second metacarpal 111 of the distal hand 108 (both shown in FIG. 1A) to substantially span the first web space of the distal hand 8 when gripping a bat handle.

(25) With reference to FIG. 2B, a side view of the batting aid 100 of FIG. 2A is shown, showing the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114, including the crest portion 118, and showing one of two resiliently deformable flaps 116.

(26) With reference to FIG. 2C, a top view of the batting aid 100 of FIG. 2A is shown, showing the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114. The saddle 114 consists of two descending resiliently deformable flaps 116 joined by the crest portion 118 at descending portions 117a of outer surface 117. The thumb ring 112 is connected to the resiliently deformable flaps 116 and the crest portion 118 of the saddle 114. The concave shaped surface 117b of one flap 116 is also shown extending to a portion of the descending outer surface 117a of the crest portion 118, along with external distal boundary 115 that defines the extremities of the flaps 116 of saddle 114, as well as a conforming portion 115 that defines the distal extremity of the crest portion 118. It can also be seen that, for an embodiment where the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114 are integrated, a proximal portion of outer surface 117c is commonly shared between the crest portion 118 and a distal top surface 117e, and an outer ring surface 117d of the thumb ring 112.

(27) With reference to FIG. 3, a perspective front view of the batting aid 100 worn on the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108 is shown. The thumb ring 112 fits over the proximal phalanx 106 of the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108. The saddle 114 includes two resiliently deformable flaps 116, and one of the two resiliently deformable flaps 116 is positioned against the palm 110 of the distal hand 108.

(28) Because the two resiliently deformable flaps 116 are self-aligning with the distal hand 108, the batter does not have to spend time aligning the batting aid 100, and the batter can therefore concentrate on hitting pitched balls.

(29) With reference to FIG. 4A, a perspective top view of the batting aid 100 worn on the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108 is shown. Also shown is the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114, the saddle 114 including the crest portion 118 and two resiliently deformable flaps 116. The resiliently deformable flaps 116 are self-aligning with the palmar and dorsal 101 sides of the hand to align the crest portion 118 over the first web space of the distal hand 108. The fingers 404 of the distal hand 108 are shown in an open position.

(30) In this embodiment, the crest portion 118 of the saddle 114 substantially spans a length 107 over the first web space, a region that lies between the distal end of the proximal phalanx of the thumb 104 and the distal end of the second metacarpal bone 111 of the distal hand 108. The concave conforming portion 115 of the external distal boundary 115 of the saddle 114 defines a concave portion 113c (FIG. 2D) of the inner surface 113 that receives the second metacarpal 111 of the distal hand 108, at or just below the second MCP joint 109.

(31) With reference to FIG. 4B, a perspective top view of the batting aid 100 worn on the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108 is shown. Also shown is the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114, the saddle 114 including the crest portion 118 and two resiliently deformable flaps 116 that extend from each side of the crest portion to overly at least a portion of the thenar space 103 on both the palmar (not shown) and dorsal 101 sides of the distal hand 108. The fingers 404 of the distal hand 108 are in a closed position so as to grip the bat handle 402.

(32) One resiliently deformable flap 116 of the saddle 114 is captured between the bat handle 402 and the palm 110 (shown in FIG. 1A) of the player's distal hand 108. This resiliently deformable flap 116 conforms to the bat handle 402 and improves the grip of the distal hand 108 on the bat handle 402.

(33) With reference to FIG. 5A, a perspective view of the batting aid 100 worn on the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108 is shown. The bat handle 402 is gripped by the both the distal hand 108 and the proximal hand 502, and the fingers 404 of the distal hand 108 are in a closed position so as to grip the bat handle 402.

(34) Also shown are the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114. One of the two resiliently deformable flaps 116 of the saddle 114 is pressed between the bat handle 402 and the palm 110 of the player's distal hand 108.

(35) The resiliently deformable flap 116 captured between the bat handle 402 and the palm 110 of the player's distal hand 108 cushions the vibrations and impact from the bat handle 402 as the bat hits a pitched ball, protecting the player from pain and injury.

(36) With reference to FIG. 5B, a perspective view of the batting aid 100 worn on the thumb 104 of the distal hand 108 is shown. The bat handle 402 is gripped by the both the distal hand 108 and the proximal hand 502, and the fingers 404 of the distal hand 108 are in a closed position so as to grip the bat handle 402.

(37) Also shown are the thumb ring 112 and the saddle 114, the saddle 114 including the crest portion 118 and a second one of two resiliently deformable flaps 116, the second resiliently deformable flap 116 shown extending away from the bat handle 402. The other flap of the two resiliently deformable flaps 116 (hidden in this view) is captured between the bat handle 402 and the palm 110 of the player's distal hand 108.

(38) In this embodiment, both the resiliently deformable flaps 116 are self-aligning with the distal hand 108, and therefore the batter does not have to spend time aligning the batting aid 100, and the batter can therefore concentrate on hitting pitched balls.

(39) In this embodiment, the resiliently deformable flap 116 (hidden in this view) pressed into contact with the bat handle 402 is configured such that when the distal hand 108 grips the bat handle 402, the bat handle 402 is biased in the distal hand 108 so as to be angled forward towards the fingers 404 of the distal hand 108.

(40) Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.