Abstract: A racket having a handle, a frame attached to the handle, and strings with two perpendicular strings stretched in the frame, running back and forth in the frame. The system also includes: for each string, a piezoelectric sheath coating said string along most of its length, said sheath being divided along its length into at least three piezoelectric areas capable of each generating an independent voltage according to mechanical stress exerted on the strings; and an electronic circuit connected to the piezoelectric areas of the strings to identify a portion of the strings submitted to the highest mechanical stress according to the voltages generated by the piezoelectric areas of the strings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct contact racquet or “DCR.” In order to enhance the feel experienced by the player, the DCR is designed to maximize the contact between the player's hand and the ball, while still making use of a string-bed or other form of contact to provide a strike surface for the ball. In one embodiment, the strike surface is positioned on one side of the player's hand, such as the palm side or the back of the hand. In particular, a gripping surface for a player's hand is provided behind the string bed. The gripping surface may be shaped in various ways so that a player can comfortably grip it. In addition, the gripping surface may provide a clearance from the string bed when striking a ball. Therefore, the DCR places a user's hand directly behind the string bed surface used to strike the ball. In another embodiment, the player's hand is placed between two strike surfaces to allow striking of a ball using either side of the player's hand.

Abstract: The present invention provides a game racquet including an integrated circuit capable of supporting a low-voltage energy current. An embodiment of the invention provides a game racquet including one or more enhancements attached or integrated on the racquet frame. These enhancements may include but are not limited to: one or more LEDs, a sound amplification device, an electromagnetic vibration emitter, and other such enhancements as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. In a further embodiment, the game racquet responds electronically to ball impact on at least one of the strings, and subsequently performs and action or actions including but not limited to making a sound or sounds, triggering lights, triggering LEDs, triggering another type of automation on the racquet such as a vibration emitter within the handle.

Abstract: Tennis racquet comprises a tennis racquet throat “Triple-Asymmetrical-Yokes system showing the innovative geometric properties and detailing the most relevant angles and lineal general measurements, A tennis racquet throat “Triple-asymmetrical-Yokes” system, comprising: an racquet throat supporting three-asymmetrical-yokes all measured from racquet main-shaft-handle-longitudinal-axis, main-yoke support two-asymmetrical-stretch-shafts diagonally-aligned, and interconnects with right-yoke-left-straight-shaft and left-yoke-right-straight-shaft, main-yoke-lower-square-shaft interconnects with top-octagonal-symmetrical main-handle-shaft, right-yoke support two-asymmetrical-shafts, left-straight-shaft which interconnects to main-yoke-right-stretch-shaft, right-yoke-curved-shaft which form part of the lower-portion-head-frame-loop, left-yoke support two-asymmetrical-shafts, said left-straight-shaft which interconnects to main-yoke-left-stretch-shaft, left-curved-shaft which form part of the lower-portion of head-fra

Abstract: A sports racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and configured for supporting a quantity of racquet string generally about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material and including a head portion and a handle portion. The head portion is formed of first and second hoop regions. At least one of the first and second hoop regions includes a first set of projections extending from one of the first and second hoop regions across the string plane and engaging the other of the first and second hoop regions. The first set of projections space apart the first and second hoop regions by a first predetermined dimension to define a plurality of through-hoop region openings. The handle portion is formed of first and second handle regions directly coupled together without defining either a plurality of handle openings.

Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes two halves having two spaced apart hoop regions, two handle regions and two mating surfaces. One of the halves includes a set of projections extending from one of the mating surfaces. At least one of the halves defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to engage the bores. At least two of the projections are stepped projections having a proximal section and a distal section. The transverse cross-sectional area of the proximal section is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the distal section. Two of the bores are configured to receive the corresponding distal sections, but not the proximal sections, of the two stepped projections, such that the projected height of the proximal section of the two stepped projections substantially defines the spacing between the hoop portions.

Abstract: A sports racquet extends along a longitudinal axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes a first frame half coupled to a second frame half. The first and second halves include first and second hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The first and second handle regions include first and second distal end sections, first and second proximal sections and first and second central sections, respectively. The first and second proximal end sections include transversely extending end wall segments that form a butt end wall. The transverse cross-sectional area of the coupled first and second proximal ends is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the coupled first and second distal end sections.

Abstract: The badminton racket (1) includes a frame (2), a handle (4) and a shaft (6) connecting the frame to the handle. It defines a first direction (D1) parallel to a longitudinal axis (X1) of the shaft, a second direction (D2) perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to a plane (P8) in which strings (8) extend mounted in the frame (2), and a third direction (D3) perpendicular to the first and second directions (D1, D2) and the plane (P8) of the strings. The bending rigidity of the shaft (6) in the third direction (D3) is greater than its bending rigidity in the second direction (D2).

Abstract: A racket frame 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 8, and a pair of throats 6 extending from the head 4 to the shaft 8. A flexural rigidity G15 of the throats 6 in a low load range (from 5 kgf to 15 kgf) is equal to or greater than 600 kgf/mm but equal to or less than 900 kgf/mm. A flexural rigidity G55 of the throats 6 in a high load range (from 45 kgf to 55 kgf) is equal to or greater than 900 kgf/mm but equal to or less than 1200 kgf/mm. A rigidity ratio (G15/G55) of the flexural rigidity G15 and the flexural rigidity G55 is equal to or greater than 0.70 but equal to or less than 0.85.

Abstract: A sports racquet comprising a handle portion, a paddle portion, which is provided with at least a solid ball striking surface, and a neck portion, which rigidly connects said handle portion and said paddle portion. The paddle portion comprises at least a first cavity having a first longitudinal axis, which is substantially unperpendicular to said main reference plane.

Abstract: A sports racquet for impacting a game ball and for facilitating the opening of a cap on a bottle. The sports racquet includes a head portion and a handle portion. The handle portion has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is coupled to the head portion. The proximal end defines a recess, and includes a projection spaced apart from a fulcrum. The recess is sized to removably receive a portion of the cap. The projection is configured to catch a portion of an underside of the cap and the fulcrum is configured to bear against the top of the cap as one or both of the handle portion and the bottle serve as a lever for prying the cap off of the bottle.

Abstract: A system and methods for creating a strong game racket using multiple inflation bladders. A strong game racket frame comprising a handle, a throat member coupled to the handle, a bridge portion coupled to the throat member and a head frame couple to the throat member. A method for creating a strong game racket comprising the acts of placing a pre-preg first bladder into a mold cavity shaped like a racket frame, placing various pre-formed members and/or secondary mold members into the cavity, and placing a second and/or third pre-preg bladder into the mold cavity above the first bladder and any pre-formed members and/or secondary mold members. After the mold is configured it is closed, pressurized, and heated so that the strong composite game racket can be cured.

Abstract: A sports product may include a support member and an impact region configured to impact an object. The impact region may be coupled to the support member. The sports product may also include a shear thickening material in at least one of the support member or the impact region. The shear thickening material may be configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object.

Abstract: A sports racquet frame is formed from a plurality of frame sections, some sections formed of a single tubular member and other sections formed of double tubular members. The double tube sections preferably contain string port holes. Also, different frame sections can be made of different materials, e.g., carbon fiber-reinforced composites and aluminum.

Abstract: A racquet frame has one or more string holes formed therein and a string bed plane, along which the string holes extend. The racquet frame is preferably formed by providing a frame bearing structure, which is aimed at providing flexural stiffness to said racquet frame, and structurally integrating the frame bearing structure with a frame binding structure, which is aimed at providing torsional stiffness to the racquet frame. The mutual integration of the frame bearing structure and the frame binding structure forms a composite frame structure, in which one or more of said string holes may be provided.

Abstract: A tennis racquet frame including a handle, a rim and arms connecting the handle and the rim and wherein each arm includes two fingers extending one above and one below the rim when the racquet frame is laid flat on a support surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing at least a portion of a sports racquet frame that comprises a step a) of providing a moldable tube structure containing a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder. The first and second inflatable bladders are positioned on opposite first and second regions of the moldable tube structure. At an intermediate region, the tube structure comprises one or more cross channels, which pass through the moldable tube structure. The method according to the present invention comprises also a further step b) of inserting said tube structure inside a mold forming a mold cavity of a desired shape. Mold members are inserted into the cross channels of the tube structure, so that the outer surface of the mold member faces the inner surface of the corresponding cross channel.

Abstract: A racket string 10 of the present invention includes a synthetic fiber. The cross section is flattened by heating, compressing, and deforming the string after it has been formed, and an indentation is made in any part of the string. The flattened string is wound in a substantially non-twisted state. A method for producing the racket string includes heating the string at a temperature of Tg (° C.) or more and Tm ?10 (° C.) or less, where Tg (° C.) represents a glass transition point and Tm (° C.) represents a melting point of a main synthetic fiber constituting the string, compressing and deforming the string between rollers 7a and 7b that are arranged with a predetermined clearance therebetween; and then cooling and winding up the string.

Abstract: A sports racquet frame is formed from a plurality of frame sections, some sections formed of a single tubular member and other sections formed of double tubular members. The double tube sections preferably contain string port holes. Also, different frame sections can be made of different materials, e.g., carbon fiber-reinforced composites and aluminum.

Abstract: Novel sports articles are manufactured from acetylated wood. There is a process for manufacturing such articles from acetylated wood involving treating wood billets with the acetylation process and then shaping them into the desired sport article and then finishing the article with some durable finish such as varnish or shellac.

Abstract: A composite sports racquet frame including a frame made of composite material, the frame including a head portion configured to receive and surround a string bed with a plurality of string segments, and a handle portion. The head portion includes a tip section on an opposite end of the frame from the handle portion, and the tip section includes a solid cross-section substantially throughout and the remainder of the head portion includes a hollow cross-section substantially throughout.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a string for a ball game racket including at least two parallel filaments, wherein only portions of the filaments are interconnected. Moreover, the disclosure relates to method of producing such a string. A first method includes the steps of providing at least two string filaments, bringing the string filaments together into a parallel configuration and combining portions of the string filaments. An alternative production method includes the steps of providing a string and slitting portions of the string so as to produce at least two parallel filaments of the string, only portions of which are interconnected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a band, and/or fingerholds of thumb and index finger, or fingerholds of thumb and middle finger, or fingerholds of thumb and third finger, or a fingerhold of thumb, or a fingerhold of middle finger, or a fingerfold of index finger, or a fingerhold of third finger. Pushing down the fingerhold of thumb, the racket grip is turned to promote inward rotation, and pushing up the fingerhold of thumb, the racket grip is turned to promote outward rotation, or pushing the fingerhold of index finger to the side of its fingerhold, the racket grip is turned to promote outward rotation, or pushing the fingerhold of middle finger to the other side of its fingerhold, the racket grip is turned to promote outward rotation, or pushing the fingerhold of third finger to the other side of its fingerhold, the racket grip is turned to promote outward rotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing at least a portion of a sports racquet frame that comprises a step a) of providing a moldable tube structure containing a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder. The first and second inflatable bladders are positioned on opposite first and second regions of the moldable tube structure. At an intermediate region, the tube structure comprises one or more cross channels, which pass through the moldable tube structure. The method according to the present invention comprises also a further step b) of inserting said tube structure inside a mold forming a mold cavity of a desired shape. Mold members are inserted into the cross channels of the tube structure, so that the outer surface of the mold member faces the inner surface of the corresponding cross channel.

Abstract: A sports racket is provided with a uniform elongated string bed, uniform main strings and cross strings segments, a uniform elongated sweet spot, a uniform head structure, robust yoke design, and handle.

Abstract: Provided is a shaped body for production of sports equipment such as tennis, squash, and badminton rackets, golf clubs, hockey and ice hockey sticks and baseball bats. The shaped body includes a core of two tubular resonant bodies, running parallel to and spaced at a distance from each other and surrounded by a common covering. A spacer body with convexly curved opposed ends is arranged between the resonant bodies, whereby the mass of the resonant bodies is greater than that of the spacer body. The vibrations of the two vibrating systems, in the form of the resonance bodies, are overlaid in an advantageous manner, by means of the coupling of the resonance bodies. The invention further relates to a method for the production of the shaped body and the use of the shaped body in sports equipment.

Abstract: An institutional badminton racket including a head and a flexible plastic handle. The head has a metal rim around a shuttlecock striking face, and a neck rigidly secured to the rim, where the neck includes a hollow throat extending from the rim away from the striking face with lateral openings through the throat. The handle connecting end includes a first portion extending into the hollow throat, a second portion surrounding the throat, pin portions extending through the throat lateral openings and integral with the first and second portions, and a pair of wings extending generally in the plane in a lateral direction toward the head and including openings therethrough. A Y-clamp is secured around the handle connecting end and the head rim adjacent the head neck and including pins extending through the wing openings.

Abstract: Fast, strong and steady racket swing can be made, without having a special skill. Providing a band which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and/or providing a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger, or a fingerhold for a thumb, which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and by pushing down or pushing up the fingerholds, the racket grip is turned to the side of fingerhold or to the other side of fingerhold, and inward or outward rotation operations of the racket grip continue, making the best use of a series of racket swing which started from the take-back.

Abstract: Game apparatus, e.g., a game racquet or a golf club, with selectively variable and maintainable weight distribution, e.g. by moving material (e.g., liquid and/or solid weight members) within or on the apparatus and selectively positioning the weight(s) and maintaining weight position in or on the apparatus.

Abstract: A simple, light-weight, hand-held device, which consists of two (2) working parts. FIG. I (the main handle), with firmly attached to it an aluminum guide channel, or rigid plastic which (for very practical purposes), runs nearly the length of the handle, thereby providing the necessary assurance that the hoop (FIG. 4) properly enters the assembly located at the very bottom of the handle, thereby placing FIG. 4 in the (intended) rolling position. A reasonable viewing of prior art (Exhibits A-B and C), as compared with my invention, confirms that the basic, main feature for “launching” the hoop (found in my invention), is totally lacking in the prior art . . . therefore, making my invention to be a significant improvement. Also, as my drawings indicate, FIG. 5, with the two (2) “Ls” makes it possible to have full control of the area of hoop “travel”, which would be most beneficial to joggers, as well as other users of my device.

Abstract: An institutional badminton racket including a head and a flexible plastic handle. The head has a metal rim around a shuttlecock striking face, and a neck rigidly secured to the rim, where the neck includes a hollow throat extending from the rim away from the striking face with lateral openings through the throat. The handle connecting end includes a first portion extending into the hollow throat, a second portion surrounding the throat, pin portions extending through the throat lateral openings and integral with the first and second portions, and a pair of wings extending generally in the plane in a lateral direction toward the head and including openings therethrough. A Y-clamp is secured around the handle connecting end and the head rim adjacent the head neck and including pins extending through the wing openings.

Abstract: The invention concerns a racket for ball and shuttlecock games such as tennis, squash or badminton. With the objective of generally improving the playing characteristics of the racket and to adapt the racket to the ergonomic movements of the layer on serving, receiving and returning the ball with more effective utilization of the striking force, the racket has an S shaped configuration throughout and has a midline 5 running in a common S shape for the striking part 1, the shaft 2 and the grip 3, such that the upper and lower points of intersection of the head frame 6 and the striking part 1 lie on the midline 5, while the arrangement of shaft 2 and grip 3 follows the course of the midline 5 in their longitudinal extension and the cross sections of the profiles 6.1; 6.2 of the headframe 6 and shaft 2 are different in the halves of the racket separated by the midline 5—FIG. 1.

Abstract: This tennis racquet frame comprises a handle (2), a rim (4) and arms (6) connecting this handle and this rim. Each arm comprises two fingers (101, 102) extending one above and one below the rim when the racquet frame is laid flat.

Abstract: A sports racquet frame is formed from a plurality of frame sections, some sections formed of a single tubular member and other sections formed of double tubular members. The double tube sections preferably contain string port holes. Also, different frame sections can be made of different materials, e.g., carbon fiber-reinforced composites and aluminum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ball racquet having a vibration attenuating compound inserted within the frame of the racquet. The attenuating compound comprises a gel formed from an expoxidized vegetable oil. The gel compound can be placed in varying parts of the racquet. Furthermore more than one insert can be placed within the hollow confines of the racquet structure.

Abstract: A simple, light-weight, hand-held device, which consists of two (2) working parts. FIG. I (the main handle), with firmly attached to it an aluminum guide channel, or rigid plastic which (for very practical purposes), runs nearly the length of the handle, thereby providing the necessary assurance that the hoop (FIG. 4) properly enters the assembly located at the very bottom of the handle, thereby placing FIG. 4 in the (intended) rolling position. A reasonable viewing of prior art (Exhibits A-B and C), as compared with my invention, confirms that the basic, main feature for “launching” the hoop (found in my invention), is totally lacking in the prior art . . . therefore, making my invention to be a significant improvement. Also, as my drawings indicate, FIG. 5, with the two (2) “Ls” makes it possible to have full control of the area of hoop “travel”, which would be most beneficial to joggers, as well as other users of my device.

Abstract: Defined, is a sport racket with innovative uniform elongated spring bed, uniform man strings and cross strings segments, uniform elongated sweet spot, uniform head structure, innovative robust yoke design, and handle. The sports racquet includes a frame, a yoke and a string-bed. The frame includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a yoke portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head portion includes an upper region, and first and second side regions. The yoke is coupled to the first and second side regions. The head portion and the yoke define a string bed area. The string bed is formed of a number of cross and main string segments. The main string segments include at least one central main string segment and at least two peripheral main string segments. Each central main string segment has first and second ends wherein the first end engages the head portion and the second end engages the yoke.

Abstract: Structure of toy tennis racket, which mainly improves composition of hitting face of toy tennis racket; it stretches string that one side is adhesive across holes around head of tennis racket in horizontal and longitudinal to make network, so that one side of this network is adhesive face and another side is the hitting face; such combination makes hitting face of toy tennis racket that can produce rebound force owing to the flexible network, furthermore, such racket may provide best ventilation effect to reduce wind resistance, you can hit ball easily as if playing with real tennis racket.

Abstract: A racket frame has a head hoop, a connecting segment, at least two through holes and a handle. The head hoop has a bottom end and a string. The connecting segment is connected with the bottom end of the head hoop and has a yoke, two shafts and a throat. The yoke is formed on the bottom end of the head hoop. The shafts are respectively mounted with the yoke and each shaft has an upper end, a lower end and two sidewalls. The throat is connected to the lower ends of the shafts. The at least two through holes are formed respectively and symmetrically through the sidewalls of the head hoop or the sidewalls of the shaft between the upper end and the lower end. The handle is connected with the connecting segment and has a proximal end.

Abstract: In a racket frame, a yoke part is disposed between left and right portions of a bifurcated throat part continuous with a head part and with a shaft part. A ball-hitting face is formed with the yoke part and the head part. The head part and the yoke part have a plurality of string holes formed in penetration therethrough to insert longitudinal and transverse strings therethrough. Longitudinal string holes formed outside left and right sides of the yoke part connected with the left and right portions of the throat part are extended to the throat part to form extended longitudinal string holes open on an outer surface of the throat part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a racquet that is provided for use in games in which it is used for striking a ball that has a tail, the tail being in the form of a plurality of elongate streamer elements that are anchored to the ball. Such a ball generally has a mass less than 30 g and thus requires the racquet to have a mass less than 200 g. In order to avoid tangling of the tail of the ball with the racquet after the ball has been struck with the racquet, the frame of the racquet is provided with anti-tangle formations that effectively space the exposed part of the strings of the racquet from the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame by between 20 and 30 mm.

Abstract: A multifunction badminton unit includes a badminton racket and a badminton. The badminton racket is provided with plural luminous elements, a control switch and a buzzer mutually connected by an electric wire, and the head of the badminton is also provided with plural luminous elements, a control switch and a buzzer connected together by an electric wire. The control switches of the badminton racket and the badminton head are respectively actuated to start a cell to produce electric energy to be transmitted by the electric wire to the buzzer or to the luminous elements for giving out sounds or light. In addition, the nets of the badminton racket are coated with fluorescent paint. Thus, the badminton can conveniently be played at night or at a dim place by means of light of the luminous elements or the fluorescent paint and the sounds of the buzzer.

Abstract: A method for making strings for sport rackets includes a step of extruding two wires of different materials and a step of twining the two wires along an axis to form a string. The string includes a core wire of a first material and a sun-wire of a second material is twined to the core wire. No acid-wash is needed and the two steps can be completed within one machine.

Abstract: A racket frame has a head hoop, a connecting segment, a handle and two prestressing devices. The head hoop has a bottom end and a string. The connecting segment is connected with the head hoop and has a yoke, two shafts and a throat. The yoke is formed on the bottom end of the head hoop. The shafts are respectively mounted with the yoke and each shaft has a mounting hole. The handle is connected with the connecting segment.

Abstract: A racket frame including a yoke part disposed between left and right portions of a throat part continuous with a head part and a shaft part; a string-mounting part, including the yoke part and the head part, which surrounds the ball-hitting face; and string holes formed on the string-mounting part. In this construction, supposing that a total of longitudinal string holes whose axial directions are parallel with a line drawn from an apex of the ball-hitting face to a center of a gripping part and transverse string holes whose axial directions are parallel with a widthwise direction, of the racket frame, which is orthogonal to the axial direction of the racket frame is Ns1 and that a total of all of the string holes is N1, a ratio of Ns1 to N1 is set to not less than 0.70 nor more than 1.0.

Abstract: Finger sleeve grip pressure tennis training device. An improved swing for tennis through the GRIP LOOSE finger sleeve-training device is provided through less grip pressure. When wearing the finger sleeve there is a sound when the tennis player grips the tennis racquet too tight. There is a battery, sound module, wire, and a snap disc sensor on the inside of the said finger sleeve.

Abstract: A sports racquet has a plurality of opposed string holes for anchoring the ends of the strings, at least one pair of contiguous string holes are replaced with an enlarged string hole having opposed bearing surfaces for securing the ends of a pair of contiguous string segments. Preferably, a plurality of contiguous enlarged string holes are employed along the sides, tip, and heel or throat bridge of the racquet, in order to reduce the weight of the racquet head. Also, preferably, the enlarged string holes are defined by a pair of opposed interior walls of the frame extending between the frame's inner and outer surfaces, thereby forming a truss-like internal structure for stiffening the frame. Moreover, the frame preferably has interior wall portions that extend between the string holes. Such wall portions lie in the string bed plane and underlie the string portions on the exterior of the frame.

Abstract: A sports racquet including a frame, a string bed, and at least one cantilevered member. The frame includes a head portion coupled to a handle portion. The head portion includes a distal region, first and second side regions, and a proximal region. A string bed is formed of a plurality of cross string segments and a plurality of main string segments. The cantilevered member has a first section coupled to one of the regions, such that at least one point on the first section remains substantially fixed in relation to the region to which the first section is coupled, and a second section that is deflectable relative to the region to which the first section is coupled. At least one of the string segments is operably engaged with the member, such that when a ball impacts the string segment, the second section deflects inward toward the string bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing at least a portion of a sports racquet frame that comprises a step a) of providing a moldable tube structure containing a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder. The first and second inflatable bladders are positioned on opposite first and second regions of the moldable tube structure. At an intermediate region, the tube structure comprises one or more cross channels, which pass through the moldable tube structure. The method according to the present invention comprises also a further step b) of inserting said tube structure inside a mold forming a mold cavity of a desired shape. Mold members are inserted into the cross channels of the tube structure, so that the outer surface of the mold member faces the inner surface of the corresponding cross channel.

Abstract: A ball game device comprising a body 10 adapted to receive a hand 24 and a wrist 25 of a user 26, the body 10 presenting two hitting surfaces 14 for hitting a ball 20. The body 10 comprises two panels 12 with a cavity 22 therebetween for receiving the hand 24 and wrist 25 through an opening 23. The device may also be supplied in kit form.