DANCE EQUIPMENT FOR HANDS

Abstract

Equipment includes hand coverings, such as gloves or mittens, that are equipped with dance taps and comprise tap gloves. The tap gloves are constructed for use with a hard surface, to strike the hard surface with the tap gloves according to “hand tap dance” moves such that the tap gloves mimic the sounds made by metal-soled tap shoes when persons engage in conventional tap dancing activity on a dance floor. The equipment can be used by persons to participate in dance maneuvers using only their hands and arms.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional patent application that claims priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/446,434 filed on Feb. 24, 2011, titled “Dance Equipment For Hands”, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dance is an activity enjoyed by many. As a recreational and social activity, dance takes many forms and has many adherents. For example, tap dance is a form of dance in which taps are worn on the soles of dance shoes, and tap dance techniques are employed so the taps make distinctive sounds during a tap dance session. Persons, on their own, may practice tap dance techniques, or may participate in group dances. Conditions can limit the opportunities for persons to participate in dance, such as the need for dance shoes and for sufficient floor space to perform the dance techniques.

Opportunities for participating in dance can also be limited by a person's constraints in terms of limited mobility or agility. For example, persons with physical or neurological disabilities may not have sufficient physical strength or dexterity to engage in dance, which would otherwise be an activity for which they would welcome participation. Dance can be a therapeutic activity that can reduce pain, increase agility, and improve well-being, as well as contribute toward an improved outlook, memory, and disposition.

From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need to facilitate participation in dance under a greater variety of conditions and physical abilities. The present invention fulfills this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Equipment described herein is useful for providing opportunities to participate in dance under a greater variety of conditions and physical abilities. The equipment described herein permits persons to participate in dance activities, and more particularly, to mimic with their hands the tap dance steps traditionally performed in metal-soled tap shoes. The equipment described herein brings dance participation without the need for tap shoes and for large floor space. The equipment also facilitates dance participation by those of limited mobility, strength, and agility. In this way, a greater variety of persons under a greater variety of conditions can participate in dance activity.

The equipment described herein can be used by persons to participate in dance maneuvers using only their hands and arms. The equipment includes hand coverings, such as gloves or mittens, that are equipped with dance taps. Such equipment will be referred to as “tap gloves” in this disclosure. The tap gloves are constructed for use with a hard surface, to strike the hard surface with the tap gloves according to “hand tap dance” moves such that the tap gloves mimic the sounds made by metal-soled tap shoes when persons engage in conventional tap dancing activity on a dance floor.

Dancers can wear the tap gloves and participate in hand tap dance when conditions (e.g., lack of floor space) or their physical abilities (e.g. lack of mobility or strength) would otherwise preclude dance activity. The tap gloves are preferably used in conjunction with a tap dance board that can be placed on a desk or table in front of a dancer, so the dancer can strike the board with the taps of the tap gloves in time to music, singing, and the like. In this way, the tap gloves permit persons to engage in physical movement that is enjoyable and also increases socialization.

Other features and advantages of the present invention should be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment, which illustrates, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows tap gloves constructed in accordance with the invention, with the left side of the drawing to show the dorsal side of a tap glove, and the right side of the drawing to show the palmar side of a tap glove.

FIG. 2 shows a tap glove from FIG. 1 with details of construction for tap attachment.

FIG. 3 shows a tap glove of FIG. 1 with details of construction for tap attachment.

FIG. 4 shows a dance board constructed in accordance with the invention for use with the tap gloves of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 shows construction detail of the FIG. 4 dance board.

FIG. 6 shows a top surface of the dance board illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows hand coverings constructed in accordance with the invention. The hand coverings are also referred to herein as tap gloves. The tap gloves accommodate a person's hand, having space for receiving the fingers and thumb of the person. The tap gloves also include two taps that are attached to the gloves, a “toe” tap attached to a finger tip area of the glove on the palmar side, and a “heel” tap attached to the heel portion of the glove, near the wrist. The two taps themselves are constructed of a material that is sufficiently hard to make a tapping or clicking sound when the taps are struck against a board or other hard surface. The dance board may be constructed, for example, of wood or pressboard or the like. The sounds made by the tap gloves on the dance board are similar to the sounds made by persons who wear tap shoes and engage in conventional tap dance on a dance floor. That is, the sounds made by a person who wears the tap gloves of FIG. 1 will mimic the sound made by a conventional tap dancer, and increases the sense of participation by the hand tap dance participant during a “hand tap dance” session.

The FIG. 1 tap gloves are illustrated with a separate glove finger for each finger of a user's hand. The tap gloves, however, also may be provided as a tap mitten having a thumb receiving portion and a finger receiving portion that receives all fingers of a user's hand. Thus, the tap gloves can accommodate persons who may have a hand that does not include all four fingers and thumb of a hand.

FIG. 2 shows a tap glove from FIG. 1 with details of construction for attachment of the “toe” tap. FIG. 2 shows a fastening mechanism to increase stability of the toe tap. For example, in FIG. 2, the fastening mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop fastening mechanism such as a “Velcro” brand fastening product. This type of fastening mechanism can include a “hook” part and a “loop” part such that one part is fixed to the palmar surface of the tap glove and the other part is fixed to a surface of the toe tap that faces the tap glove. The fastening mechanism holds the toe tap relative to the palmar glove surface so as to prevent relative movement between the two during a dance session. The lack of relative movement increases stability. Moreover, the fastening mechanism itself can provide a relatively soft or compressible area that absorbs shock forces from the taps during a hand tap dance session.

FIG. 3 shows the tap gloves of FIG. 1 with details of construction for tap attachment. The FIG. 3 attachment can be used for both the toe tap and the heel tap. FIG. 3 shows a ring attachment mechanism that helps ensure that the attachment of the tap can withstand prolonged use, so that the tap will remain attached to the glove at the desired attachment location. The tap illustrated in FIG. 3 includes eyelets or bores through the tap itself. Rings can be passed through the eyelets and through the glove material. The rings provide a permanent fastening mechanism that gives a sturdy and durable attachment of the tap to the glove. The rings also accommodate the dancer's hand and permit easier movement of the hand and glove relative to the tap board during dance. That is, the rings accommodate the curvature of a dancer's fingers and hands, and facilitate movement of the tap relative to the tap board while maintaining the attachment of the tap to the tap glove.

The glove can be constructed of a material through which a ring may pass at an attachment location without destroying the glove itself in the area of the attachment. For example, the glove may be constructed of a sturdy cloth material, or knitted material, or leather or other heavy gauge fabric material constructed from natural or man-made materials.

FIG. 4 shows the underside of a dance board constructed in accordance with the invention for use with the tap gloves of FIGS. 1-3. The board is generally flat (planar) to provide a uniform surface on which it is easier to strike the taps and make the desired dance sounds. The board will typically rest on a dancer's lap, and therefore the underside of the board can be provided with a relatively soft or cushioned non-slip material. A material with elastic properties can be advantageous for absorbing the tap movement induced to the board during the tap activity, and will tend to prevent the board from moving out of place during use.

FIG. 5 shows construction detail of the FIG. 4 dance board and shows the non-slip material used on the board's underside for the illustrated embodiment. The non-slip material is constructed with plies of material having spaced-apart open areas. The non-slip material provides some cushion effect.

FIG. 6 shows a top surface of the dance board illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The top surface provides a smooth, yet relatively hard dance surface against which the taps of the tap gloves are struck or tapped during the dance activity, mimicking the sounds of conventional tap dancing that are produced by the soles of the tap shoes against a dance floor. The illustrated tap board of FIGS. 4-6 is constructed of wood, but those skilled in the art will know of alternate materials that provide a suitably firm surface to be balanced on a dancer's lap while also providing the desired tap sound when the tap gloves are used against the top surface of the board. The illustrated board is configured as a wood board with a leather, vinyl, or adhesive material that is taped, adhered, or otherwise attached around the outer edges of the board for easier and more comfortable handling, while the center portion of the board is left exposed to show the wood grain, for esthetic interests. For example, the illustrated embodiment is edged in gaffer's tape.

Thus, the present invention provides equipment for persons to participate in dance activities, and more particularly, to mimic with their hands the tap dance steps traditionally performed in metal-soled tap shoes. The equipment described herein brings dance participation without the need for tap shoes and for large floor space. The equipment also facilitates dance participation by those of limited mobility, strength, and agility.

The present invention has been described above in terms of a presently preferred embodiment so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. There are, however, many configurations for network access control systems not specifically described herein but with which the present invention is applicable. The present invention should therefore not be seen as limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but rather, it should be understood that the present invention has wide applicability with respect to network access control generally. All modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements and implementations that are within the scope of the attached claims should therefore be considered within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a hand covering that covers fingers of a person and heel of the person's hand;

a toe tap attached to a finger portion of the hand covering on a palmar surface;

a heel tap attached to a heel portion of the hand covering;

wherein the toe tap and heel tap are constructed of a sufficiently hard material such that a tap sound is produced when the hand covering is worn and the toe tap and heel tap are struck against a hard surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hard surface comprises a dance board.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toe tap and heel tap are constructed of metal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand covering comprises a glove with compartments that receive each of the person's fingers and thumb.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand covering comprises a covering with a finger compartment configured to receive at least one finger of the person's hand and a thumb compartment configured to receive a thumb of the person's hand.