Variable tension exercising glove

Abstract

A variable tension exercise glove construction (10) including a glove member (20) having a glove section (21) and gauntlet section (22) that covers a portion of a user's forearm and a tension unit (12) that includes a fabric panel (42) provided on the gauntlet section (22) and a plurality of elastic tension bands (30) secured on one end to the end of the finger (25) and thumb portions (26) of the glove section; wherein, the other end of the elastic tension bands (30) are attached to a movable tension pad (34) that is adapted to be releasably engaged with a selected portion of the fabric panel (42) on the gauntlet section (22) of the glove member (20).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to the field of therapeutic/exercise gloves in general and in particular to a variable tension exercising glove having a unique tensioning arrangement.

[0006] 2. Description of Related Art

[0007] As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,527,244; 5,538,488; 3,944,220; and, 4,815,729, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse glove constructions having a variety of different tensioning arrangements.

[0008] While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical device to exercise a user's fingers and wrist as well as the anterior and posterior forearm muscles, biceps and triceps.

[0009] Unfortunately the prior art constructions only extend as far back on the user's arms as their wrist and as a consequence thereof, these variable tension gloves are of only limited utility.

[0010] Furthermore, the tensioning arrangements employed in the prior art constructions are relatively crude in operation and normally require that each of the finger tensioning bands be adjusted on an individual basis which is rather time consuming and inefficient to say the least.

[0011] As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved variable tension glove apparatus that not only extends half way up the user's forearm to exert resistance that works against the user's anterior and posterior muscles, as well as the biceps and triceps, but also includes a unique simultaneous tension adjustment feature; and, the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Briefly stated, the variable tension exercise glove that forms the basis of the present invention comprises in general a glove unit, a tensioning unit, and a tensioning adjustment unit both operatively associated with the glove member to vary the resistance applied to the glove unit at a selected angle between 0 and 50°.

[0013] As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, the glove unit includes a glove member having a glove section and a gauntlet section. The tension unit in turn includes a plurality of elastic tension bands affixed on one end to the finger and thumb portions of the glove section, and a movable tension pad affixed on the other end of the elastic tension bands and adapted to be releasably engaged with a selected portion on the gauntlet section of the glove member.

[0014] In addition, the tension adjustment unit includes: a fabric panel disposed on the gauntlet section of the glove member which is adapted to releasably engage the movable tension pad of the tension unit; and, an elongated elasticized strap element affixed on one end to a portion of the glove section wherein the other end of the elasticized strap element is adapted to releasably engage a selected portion of the fabric panel on the gauntlet panel to preposition the back of a user's hand at an angle that varies between 0° and 50°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the variable tension glove construction;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the glove construction with the tension unit and the tension adjustment unit partially disengaged therefrom;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the glove construction with the tension unit and the tension adjustment unit engaged therewith;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the glove construction with the securing straps in their disengaged state; and,

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the glove construction with the securing straps engaged over the tension adjustment unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particularly to FIG. 1, the variable tension glove construction that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number 10. The construction 10 comprises in general a glove unit 11, a tension unit 12, and a tension adjustment unit 13. These units will now be described in seriatim fashion.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the glove unit 11 comprises a glove member 20 having a conventional glove section 21 and a rearwardly extending split gauntlet section 22 provided with an elongated opening 23 to facilitate the insertion of a user's hand, wrist, and forearm into the glove member 20 in a well recognized fashion.

[0023] In addition, the glove section 21 of the glove member 20 is provided with a plurality of exteriorly mounted discrete curved guide elements 24 disposed at spaced locations along the rear surface of the finger 25 and thumb 26 portions of the glove section 21 and an elongated guide element 27 that extends laterally across the back of the glove section 21 at a point spaced from the juncture of the finger 25 and thumb 26 portions with the remainder of the glove section 21 for reasons that will be explained shortly.

[0024] Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 4, it can be seen that the tension unit 12 comprises a plurality of elastic tension band members 30 the distal ends 31 of which are fixedly secured to the distal end of the finger 25 and thumb portions of the glove section 21 the intermediate portions of which 32 are threaded through the plurality of discrete guide elements 24 and the elongated guide element 27 and the proximal ends 33 of which are fixedly secured at spaced locations to a movable tension pad 34 the upper and lower surfaces of which are provided with both components of a hook 35 and loop 36 fastener.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the tension adjustment unit 13 comprises in general an anchor member 40 and a capture member 41; wherein, the fabric panel 42 is adapted to be selectively and releasably engaged with the hook component 35 on the movable tension pad 34 of the tension unit 12 to vary the resistance of the elastic tension bands 30 in proportion to the distance of the tension pad 34 from the tips of the user's fingers and thumb.

[0026] In addition, the capture member 41 includes an elongated elasticized capture strap element 43 having one end captively secured to the top of the elongated guide element 27 wherein, the bottom surface of the free end of the capture strap element 43 is provided with a hook component 46 that is adapted to releasably engage both the fabric panel 42 of the anchor member 40 and the loop component 36 on top of the movable tension pad 34 to retain the movable tension pad 34 in place relative to the fabric panel 42.

[0027] It should also be noted at this juncture that the capture strap element 43 can be employed independently of the movable tension pad 34 to initially position the back of a user's hand at an angle of from 0° to 50° relative to a horizontal surface.

[0028] As can further be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 1 through 5, the gauntlet section 22 of the glove member 20 is further provided with a plurality of securing strap elements 28 having free ends that have hook components 29 that are adapted to releasably engage the fabric panel 42 to the user's forearm; wherein, one or more of the securing strap elements 28 will overlie portions of the tension unit 12 and the capture member 41.

[0029] Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

[0030] Having thereby described the subject matter of the present invention, it should be apparent that many substitutions, modifications, and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention as taught and described herein is only to be limited to the extent of the breadth and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A variable tension glove construction comprising

a glove unit including an elongated glove member having a glove section adapted to cover the user's hand and a gauntlet section extending rearwardly from the glove section and adapted to cover the user's hand and a gauntlet section extending rearwardly from the glove section and adapted to cover a portion of a user's forearm

a tension unit including a plurality of elastic tension bands having one end fixedly secured at the distal ends of the finger and thumb portions of the glove section and having another end fixedly secured to a movable tension pad; and,

means for releasably engaging said tension pad at selected locations on the gauntlet section of said glove member for varying the tension of said elastic tension bands relative to the finger and thumb portions of the glove section.

2. The construction as in claim 1; wherein, the finger and thumb portions of the glove section are provided with a plurality of exteriorly mounted discrete guide elements that are dimensioned to slidably receive selected ones of said plurality of elastic tension bands.

3. The construction as in claim 2; wherein, the glove section is further provided with an elongated guide element that is spaced rearwardly relative to said finger and thumb portions of the glove section.

4. The construction as in claim 1; wherein, said means for releasably engaging said tension pad at selected locations on the gauntlet section includes a pair of cooperating hook and loop fasteners disposed selectively on the bottom of the tension pad and the top of the gauntlet section.

5. The construction as in claim 4; wherein, said means for releasably engaging said tension pad at selected locations on the gauntlet section further includes at least one strap element adapted to overlie and frictionally engage the tension pad against the gauntlet section.

6. The construction as in claim 1; wherein, the gauntlet section is provided with a plurality of securing strap elements that are adapted to overlie the elastic tension band and/or the tension pad.

7. The construction as in claim 4; wherein, the gauntlet section is provided with a plurality of securing strap elements that are adapted to overlie the elastic tension band and/or the tension pad.

8. The construction as in claim 1; wherein, the gauntlet section is provided with an elongated opening and a plurality of securing strap elements that are adapted to close said opening.

9. The construction as in claim 8; wherein, at least some of said plurality of securing straps are adapted to captively engage the plurality of elastic tension bands and/or the movable tension pad against the gauntlet section.

10. The construction as in claim 3; wherein, the glove member is further provided with an elasticized capture strap element that is fixedly secured on one end to the elongated guide element and has a free end adapted to overlie the movable tension pad and be releasably engaged with selected portions of the gauntlet section of the glove member.

11. The construction as in claim 5; wherein, the gauntlet section is provided with an elongated fabric panel that comprises the loop component of a hook and loop fastener.

12. The construction as in claim 11; wherein, the bottom of the movable tension pad is provided with the hook component of a hook and loop fastener.

13. The construction as in claim 12; wherein, the glove section is provided with an elongated guide element that is attached to one end of an elasticized securing strap element having a free end adapted to overlie the tension pad and be releasably engaged with the elongated fabric panel on the gauntlet section of the glove member.

14. The construction as in claim 13; wherein, the free end of the securing strap element is provided with the hook component of a hook and loop fastener.

15. The construction as in claim 14; wherein, the top of the movable tension pad is provided with the loop component of a hook and loop fastener wherein the loop component is adapted to releasably engage the hook component on the top of the movable tension pad

16. The construction as in claim 1 further comprising

means for pre-positioning the back of the glove section at a variable angle ranging from 0° to 50°.

17. The construction as in claim 16; wherein, the means for pre-positioning the back of the glove member comprises an elongated elasticized strap member having one end associated with the back of the glove section and having a free end adapted to releasably engage a selected portion of the gauntlet section of the glove member.