Walking Pole Grip with Thumb Pinch Channel and Palm Cradle

Abstract

This novel, strapless hand grip is intended to be used with a Nordic walking pole or other walking stick to reduce hand, wrist, or other musculoskeletal strain. This invention is a hand grip in a largely cylindrical design with two thumb channels at the top of the hand grip, which provides a more natural position for the thumb. The two thumb position channels allow the user to choose between a grasp or pinch position. This invention has a curved platform extending from the lower section of the hand grip, which provides a cradle for the ulnar side of the user's hand. This cradle supports the hand and/or wrist and may reduce pressure on the trapeziometacarpal and radiocarpal joints by keeping the wrist in a neutral position. By incorporating the thumb channels and platform, a wrist strap is not a required component, further reducing possible stress and pain points.

Claims

1. A grip handle that may be used with a sports pole or mobility device that is comprised of an elongated, cylindrical shaft where a support ledge extends out in a generally perpendicular orientation from the lower end of said grip handle and that may be in a curved shape, and one or more contoured support thumb channels located on the upper end of the handle.

2. A grip handle, as in claim 1 wherein said contoured thumb channel is, or channels are, located in the upper area of the handle, and the said channel or channels descend down towards the middle area of the handle.

3. A grip handle as in claim 1 wherein said elongated, cylindrical shaft is of sufficient length for a user to comfortably wrap their fingers around said grip handle and hold said grip handle. The handle may incorporate grooves for the fingers or may be smooth.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising of a right-handed grip handle and a left-handed grip handle wherein the thumb-contoured channel(s) to be located on the upper section of the handle facing the user when the user is holding the handle in front of their person, and the support ledge to be located on the lateral or outside of the handle facing the user when the user is holding the handle in front of their person.

5. The invention as in any one of the preceding claims further comprising, on the lower end of the handle, an opening to accept a pole.

6. The pole grip according to claim 1 further comprising an optional wrist strap detachably coupled to the handle grip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, unless otherwise indicated in the figures.

[0031] Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as example and are not limited by the figures of the drawings.

[0032] The figures illustrate the right-hand form of the novel hand grip. The preferred embodiment has a right-hand form and a left-hand form. The right-hand form is a mirror image of the left-hand form. For the sake of clarity, the descriptions will describe the right-hand form in particular. The descriptions are not intended to be limiting. The illustrations and descriptions are understood to apply to the left-hand form, a mirror image of the right-hand form. So as not to be repetitive, the right-hand form will be described though it is to be understood that the descriptions will apply to the left-hand form.

[0033] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with references to the drawings, which are presented simply as elucidation and not to be interpreted as restrictive.

[0034] FIG. 1: is a side view from the outside of the right-form of the hand grip. This view illustrates the top, or pinch thumb, channel 1, the handle cradle 3 and the mid section of the hand grip including the optional finger grooves 4.

[0035] FIG. 2: is a side view of the right-form of the hand grip. Looking at the hand grip from the inside (medial) directly at the hand grip. Visible from this orientation, the middle section of the hand grip is shown illustrating the optional finger grooves 4 and the side, or grasp, thumb channel position 2.

[0036] FIG. 3 is the view of the front (looking at the user) of the right-form of the handle grip which illustrates the hand/wrist platform 3.

[0037] FIG. 4 is the view of the back of the right-form of the handle grip which illustrates the curving hand cradle 3, the top, or pinch, thumb position 1, the side, or grasp, thumb position 2.

[0038] FIG. 5 is the view looking down at the right-form of the handle grip with illustrates the top, or pinch, thumb position 1, the side or grasp, thumb position 2, and the platform or hand cradle 3 which extends out from the cylindrical hand grip to form the hand and/or wrist platform or cradle.

[0039] FIG. 6 is the view from the bottom of the hand grip which illustrates the axial bore opening 5 which accepts a pole, stick or similar.

[0040] FIG. 7 is the cross-section of the side view of the right form of the handle grip illustrating the slot within the largely cylindrical handle grip which accepts a pole, stick, or other similar device, with the optional finger grooves 4 and the side thumb channel 2.

[0041] FIG. 8: prior art Patent Number: U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,021 A, FIGS. 1 and 2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] The following discussion of the disclosure regarding the hand grip to be used with a Nordic walking pole, walking stick, trekking stick, mobility aid, or other pole type is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or its applications or uses.

[0043] In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques, steps, and/or components are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefits, and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques, steps, and/or components. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual techniques, steps, and/or components in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

[0044] The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

[0045] As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and modifications are routinely made during the machining or production of any apparatus, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A machining or production implementation of the present invention may be configured according to the needs and/or requirements of a particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es) or step(s) of the disclosure related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, improved, and/or optimized, and be within the scope of the invention and claims.

[0046] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0047] The present invention is a novel hand grip that is generally cylindrical in design incorporating in the upper section 1 or more thumb channel(s), a middle area that may contain grooves for the the fingers to grip the handle, a lower section with a prominent curved ledge platform, and an opening in the bottom area of the grip to accommodate a pole or stick. In the preferred embodiment, the hand grip has a right-hand form and a left-hand form.

[0048] While the preferred embodiment has a right-hand form and a left-hand form, a user may choose to use only one of the forms.

[0049] The figures illustrate the right-hand form of the novel hand grip. The preferred embodiment has a right-hand form and a left-hand form. The right-hand form is a mirror image of the left-hand form. For the sake of clarity, the descriptions will describe the right-hand form in particular. The descriptions are not intended to be limiting. The illustrations and descriptions are understood to apply to the left-hand form, a mirror image of the right-hand form. So as not to be repetitive, the right-hand form will be described though it is to be understood that the descriptions will apply to the left-hand form. It is to be understood that invention consists of many individual techniques, steps and/or components, and this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual techniques, steps, and/or components in an unnecessary fashion.

[0050] The present invention offers three major improvements that may be used individually, in any combination, including all the possible combinations: contoured thumb channel(s) allowing for a more natural position; a curved support platform or ledge that allows the wrist to remain in a neutral position and may cradle the ulnar area of the hand and/or wrist; and eliminates the need for a wrist strap.

[0051] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate that the hand grip is in a generally cylindrical shape, with FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the hand platform 3 sometimes referred to as a cradle or ledge.

[0052] FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 illustrate the thumb channels 1 and 2. The preferred embodiment has two thumb channels, located in the top section of the hand grip. 1 illustrates the top thumb channel also known as the pinch position, and 2 illustrates the side channel also known as the grasp position.

[0053] In the preferred embodiment the thumb support channels are incorporated in the top area of the hand grip allowing the user to place the thumb in a more natural and comfortable position, rather than the extension and/or abduction position generally used in a traditionally-designed hand grip. The thumb support channel is generally in a vertical position with the thumb in the generally vertical orientation rather than the generally horizontal position often required in a traditionally-designed hand grip.

[0054] An additional improvement this present invention offers is that the user does not need to squeeze the handle grip firmly with their fingers and thumb in a fist-grip manner, which requires that the metacarpal bone undergoes ulnar translation, flexion, and abduction relative to the distal trapezial surface (Ladd, 2013). The thumb is in a more natural position and does not need to be firmly engaged to use the handle grip. A loose or relaxed thumb placement may be used. This improvement is also evident when the arm and pole are engaged in the back-of-body movements. The traditional Nordic walking pole design utilizes the wrist strap to propel the pole forward to the pole tip plant position. The prior art requires the user to tightly grip around the handle grip with fingers and thumb which may be painful for anyone with a hand or wrist condition.

[0055] FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the curved platform located on the lower section of the hand grip. The platform allows greater support for the ulnar area of the heel and palm of the hand and/or the wrist. The curved platform (cradle) allows for an even distribution of forces across the hand and for the user to maintain a neutral position of the wrist for greater comfort and support of the wrist and hand. It also provides for increased downward pressure from the hand onto the hand grip of the pole which allows for offloading of pressure from the lower body joints and provides the user an increase in stability which is important for every user, but is especially important for a person with stability or mobility issues.

[0056] This novel invention improves upon the prior art with the design of the support ledge that allows the wrist to remain in a neutral position and may cradle the ulnar area of the hand and wrist. The present invention improves upon the prior art with a larger and curved ledge in the bottom area of the handle. This ledge may be described as a cradle for the lateral area of the hand and/or wrist. A user may choose to use this platform or may choose not to position their hand to rest on the platform. The cradle allows a user to rest the lateral area of their hand and/or wrist. The outer curved section of the cradle design passively keeps the hand in the cradle reducing effort by the participant to keep their hand from moving outwardly away from the pole. By reducing the active force to maintain proper positioning of the hand and wrist, it may reduce pain by not requiring muscle, tendon or ligament usage.

[0057] Traditional Nordic walking grips incorporate a wrist strap. The wrist strap is utilized in the Nordic walking process. Nordic walkers grip the hand grip and plant the Nordic walking pole near the opposite foot and when the foot is lifted and moves to the forward position, the hand and Nordic walking pole remain stationary and the entire arm transitions to a position behind the torso. The Nordic walker releases the hand grip when their arm straightens behind them and drags the pole forward using the wrist strap and regains their position on the hand grip when the pole is approximately opposite the foot and plants the pole near the foot.

[0058] This process is difficult for people with hand and/or wrist issues. The preferred embodiment of this novel invention is a strapless design. The innovative thumb channels and palm cradle allow the user to maintain contact and control of the handle grip and its attached pole without the wrist strap. The user can use a small amount of pressure on the one or a combination of contact points on the handle grip including the thumb channel(s), middle section (finger grip area) and the lower palm platform depending on the needs and preferences of the user. This innovative design allows individuals experiencing hand, finger and/or wrist issues to use the handle grip while lessening pain and discomfort while enjoying the many benefits that exercising in general, and Nordic walking in particular, provide.

[0059] While it is the preferred embodiment that this novel invention be strapless, attaching a strap is optional. For individuals with balance issues or a history of falls, for example, a wrist strap that connects the pole to a user's wrist may lead to an increase in number and/or severity of injuries if one were to trip, misstep, or fall. According to a study by Knobloch, the most frequent injury in Nordic walking was to the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb after a fall, as a traditionally-designed Nordic walking handle grip keeps the thumb into abduction and extension position.

[0060] An additional improvement this present invention offers is that the user does not need to squeeze the grip firmly with finger(s) and thumb in a fist-grip manner. The thumb position is in a more natural position and does not need to be firmly engaged to use the handle grip. A loose or relaxed thumb placement may be used. This advantage is primarily realized when the arm and pole are engaged in the back of body movements. Traditional Nordic walking pole design utilizes the wrist strap to propel the pole forward to the pole tip plant position. The prior art requires the use to tightly grip around the handle grip with fingers and thumb which may be painful for anyone with a hand or wrist condition.]

[0061] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the opening 5 that accepts a pole or stick, with FIG. 7 being a cross-section of the hand grip illustrating that the pole extends into the hand grip.

[0062] This invention allows users with various conditions impacting the hand or wrist to use the walking pole and gain the fitness and health benefits of Nordic walking.

REFERENCE

[0063] Ladd A L, Weiss A P, Crisco J J, Hagert E, Wolf J M, Glickel S Z, Yao J. The thumb carpometacarpal joint: anatomy, hormones, and biomechanics. Instr Course Lect. 2013; 62:165-79. PMID: 23395023; PMCID: PMC3935621. [0064] Knobloch, K., & Vogt, P M. (2006). Nordic pole injuriesnordic walking thumb as novel injury entity. Sportverletz Sportschaden; 20 (3):137-42.