Wraps For Improving Grip On Exercise Equipment

Abstract

Weight lifters have traditionally used chalk to improve their grip when performing heavier lifts. However, the use of chalk has been increasingly disallowed at gyms and fitness centers around the country because the residue from the chalk can create a mess. This invention discloses a set of wraps that can serve as a sufficient substitute for chalk so the lifter can still perform the same lifts without any safety concerns due to potential loss of grip, but with none of the resulting mess. The wraps are made up of a sturdy, yet flexible material that allows for a minimal amount of stretching. The stretching is an important feature because the flexible material will have a section with a material that allows for the wrap to securely fasten to itself and the stretching will make the fastening step easier. Also, embedded within the flexible material is a ridge or shape that will further enhance a user's grip. This embedded member should be utilized to shelf the palm during pushing exercises, and shelf the fingers during pulling exercises.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Traditionally, weight lifters have used chalk to improve their grip when performing heavier lifts. However, the use of chalk has been increasingly disallowed at gyms and fitness centers around the country because the residue from the chalk can create a mess. The present invention is intended to address this problem by providing a wrap that can serve as a sufficient substitute for chalk so the lifter can still perform the same lifts without any safety concerns due to potential loss of grip, but with none of the resulting mess.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There is existing prior art that addresses the use of a wrap to improve the grip of a weightlifter. The prior art does not address the ability for the wrap to attach to itself and the wrap having an embedded ridge or shape for an improved natural grip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,621 to Richard discloses a wrap that allows you to slide your fingers into it and then forming a fist or with your hand to create the circular shape of the wrap. U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,679 to Reis discloses a pad of various shapes that is not directly attached to the hand or bar but is instead just held by the hand and forming a grip assist by the hand wrapping around the bar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pair of wraps to help a weightlifter improve their grip on dumbbells, barbells or any other weightlifting equipment without the use of chalk. The wraps are made up of a sturdy, yet flexible material that allows for a minimal amount of stretching. The stretching is an important feature because the flexible material will have a section with a material that allows for the wrap to securely fasten to itself and the stretching will make the fastening step easier. Also, embedded within the flexible material is a ridge or shape that will further enhance a user's grip. This embedded member should be utilized to shelf the palm during pushing exercises, and shelf the fingers during pulling exercises. An additional benefit of these wraps is that it allows the user to maintain a more natural grip on a barbell, dumbbell, or any other weight lifting equipment which will in turn allow for better development of muscles associated with a more natural, rather than assisted, grip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take form in certain components and structures, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the wrap for improving grip for a dumbbell, barbell or any other form of weightlifting equipment.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the wrap for improving grip for a dumbbell, barbell or any other form of weightlifting equipment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wrap for improving grip for a dumbbell, barbell or any other form of weightlifting equipment.

FIG. 4 is a view of the wrap for improving grip for a dumbbell, barbell or any other form of weightlifting equipment, rolled into its circular shape to better illustrate which part of the wrap should be on the outside.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is carried out as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. A sturdy, yet somewhat stretchable material is used to make the base member of the wrap 100. One suitable material for this is a polyester based polymeric material. In the preferred embodiment, this material is Tough Tek Waffle Pique material. Materials other than polymeric materials may also work so long as they possess similar physical characteristics and have similar resistance to water. The preferred embodiment has dimensions of 1/16 inch thickness, 7 inches long and 5½ inches wide. However, due to the nature of the invention and the fact that it is rolled up, the dimensions do not have to be exact. The base member 100 should have at least a 7 inch length and a 5½ inch width but should not be more than 2 inches longer or wider as the extra material may negatively affect the lifter's grip.

At one end of the wrap, there is a ridge or grip enhancing shape 103 embedded within the base member. In the preferred embodiment, the ridge or shape 103 is placed onto the very end of the member and then the base member is rolled or folded over the ridge or shape and then stitched together to make sure the ridge or shape is securely embedded within the base member. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize that there are other methods for securely embedding such a ridge or shape into the base member 100 and any other method can be used to perform this step, so long as the ridge or shape 103 is very securely fastened into the base member 100. The ridge or shape 103 is a critical component of the invention because this will give the lifter a much better grip. The preferred design of the ridge or shape 103 is a triangular design, although other shapes can be used, so long as the shape provides a similar amount of increased traction as the triangular design. When using a triangle as the ridge or shape 103, the preferred dimensions of the base of the triangle are ½ inch by ½ inch by ¾ inch. However, a triangular based ridge or shape 103 does not have to have these exact dimensions, so long as the ridge or shape 103 is securely embedded within the base member 100. In the preferred embodiment, this ridge or shape 103 will be made of wood or hard plastic but can be made of other materials so long as they maintain similar physical properties as wood and hard plastic because the ridge or shape 103 will go through a fair amount of wear and tear.

On each side of the base member 100 and on opposite ends of the base member 100 there will be a material that allows the base member 100 to be rolled or folded over a dumbbell or barbell and then securely attach to itself. In the preferred embodiment, this material is a hook 101 and loop 102 fastener system, of which the most commonly used is Velcro. Other materials can be used in place of Velcro, so long as the other materials possess the same physical characteristics of Velcro that will allow the wrap to attach and detach hundreds, if not thousands of times without losing its attachment properties. This hook 101 and loop 102 fastener system needs to be securely attached to the base member 100. In the preferred embodiment, this hook 101 and loop 102 fastener system will be attached by sewing the system into the base member 100. Other variations for securing the system could work, so long as such systems are as permanent as sewing because this hook 101 and loop 102 fastener system will be fastened and unfastened many times and the securing system needs to be durable.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture that gives a user a better grip when gripping weight equipment, comprising:

a first wrap with a front side and a back side and a top third, a middle third and bottom third,

wherein said first wrap is made of a slip-resistant polymeric material and of a sufficient length that allows it to completely encircle a weight bearing area of a piece of exercise equipment and allows a sufficient overlap so said first wrap can be secured to itself;

wherein said first wrap is of a sufficient width to allow a user to securely grip said weight bearing area of a piece of exercise equipment with a single hand without touching said weight bearing area of said piece of exercise equipment,

wherein said top third of said front side of said first wrap comprises a first self-adhering member securely connected to said front side of said first wrap;

wherein said bottom third of said back side of said first wrap comprises a second self-adhering member securely connected to said back side of said first wrap;

a second wrap with a front side and a back side and a top third a middle third and bottom third;

wherein said second wrap is made of a slip-resistant polymeric material and of a sufficient length that allows it to completely encircle a weight bearing area of a piece of exercise equipment and allows a sufficient overlap so said second wrap can be secured to itself;

wherein said second wrap is of a sufficient width to allow a user to securely grip said weight bearing area of a piece of exercise equipment with a single hand without touching said weight bearing area of said piece of exercise equipment,

wherein said top third of said front side of said first wrap comprises a first self-adhering member securely connected to said front side of said second wrap;

wherein said bottom third of said back side of said first wrap comprises a second self-adhering member securely connected to said back side of said second wrap.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said slip-resistant polymeric material of said first wrap and said second wrap is a polyester based polymer.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein said polyester based polymer is Tough Tek Waffle Pique.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein said sufficient length of said first bar wrap and said second bar wrap is at least 7 inches.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 4, wherein said sufficient width of said first bar wrap and said second bar wrap is at least 5.5 inches.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said self-adhering member on said top third of said front side of said first wrap and said self-adhering member on said top third of said front side of said second wrap is a hook fastener and said self-adhering member on said bottom third of said back side of said first wrap and said self-adhering member on said bottom third of said back side of said second wrap is a loop fastener.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said weight bearing area of said piece of exercise equipment is a handle of a weight lifting machine.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said weight bearing area of said piece of exercise equipment is a handle of a dumbbell.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said weight bearing area of said piece of exercise equipment is a section of a pull up bar.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said weight bearing area of said piece of exercise equipment is a section of a barbell.