HAND SUPPORT APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF USE FOR ENHANCING UPPER BODY EXERCISE
Apparatuses, systems, and methods of use are disclosed for enhancing upper body exercise. An apparatus includes a domed hand support section, the domed hand support section having a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position. The apparatus also includes a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface. When the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open position while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
The present application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/323,865 entitled “HAND SUPPORT APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF USE FOR ENHANCING UPPER BODY EXERCISE,” filed on Apr. 18, 2016
BACKGROUNDPeople spend a great deal of money on bulky upper body fitness machines, weight benches, and barbells, or continually pay for fitness club memberships to use such equipment. However, much of the benefit that can be gained from using such devices can be achieved by doing push-ups: resting the palms of one's hands and toes or knees on the floor and lifting one's body up and down to directly work the arm, shoulder, and chest muscles, while also indirectly working abdominal, back, neck, and other muscles.
However, all the force is necessarily directed through the person's hands and wrists, and, thus, can painfully overuse some muscles. Splaying out one's fingers and palm, and then repeatedly pressing a significant portion of one's body weight against one's hands, can strain the base of the palm, thumb, and fingers; pronating one's wrists can painfully strain one's wrists and forearms. Also, performing push-ups on a hard floor may be hard on the surfaces of the person's palm, thumb, and fingers. While one can perform push-ups with one's hands balled into fists, many find this too painful on the knuckles. Further, while holding one's hands in fists alleviates the wrist pain caused by pronating one's wrists against the ground, this position forces different strains on the wrist by requiring the user to balance on his or her fists to maintain his or her wrists in an upright position. Unfortunately, if the user fails to maintain his or her wrists in an upright position and rolls his or her wrists, serious wrist and arm injuries may result.
In an attempt to facilitate reaping the benefits of push-ups without straining the hands, fingers, and wrist, various devices have been created. Standard push-up handles have a base that rests on the floor with an upraised handle that extends parallel to the ground. Using such push-up handles, instead of the user splaying out his or her hands on the ground, the user grips the handles the way that one would use a barbell and lifts his or her body off the ground. The push-up handles may alleviate strain caused by splaying one's fingers and remove the strain caused by pronating one's wrist. On the other hand, use of the push-up handles still places strain on the wrists by requiring the user to hold his or her wrists in an upright position, and gripping the handles may still be uncomfortable for the user.
Conventional push-up handles are stationary devices and, thus, only facilitate standard up-and-down push-ups. Other floor-based exercise devices enable users to lift their bodies and slide their hands laterally to their bodies to work additional muscles. Some such devices include a reduced-friction sliding board and require the user to wear slideable mitts or gloves. However, such devices not only involve the user splaying out the fingers and pronating the wrists, but also involve somewhat narrow boards that limit the scope of movement. Other devices include a rigid, space-consuming base that supports slideable handles. While these devices eliminate splaying the fingers and pronating the wrists, they have a strictly restricted range of movement, still involve gripping handles, and consume space. Ab wheels allow a user to work other muscles by extending the arms upwardly from the shoulder. Nonetheless, such rolling devices still require tightly gripping the handles and do not provide the benefits of exercises that involve lateral movement.
People also may benefit from upper body exercises, such as curls and lateral raises, that may be performed with dumbbells or kettle bells. However, as users develop different muscles, they will need multiple sets of dumbbells or kettle bells of various weights which both consume storage space and require the user to drag out each of the weights to exercise. Alternatively, a user may have a set of dumbbell handles with removable plates that allow the user to adjust the weight of the dumbbells. Unfortunately, the user still has to drag out pairs of various weight plates, and also has to remove or install weight plates at both ends of each dumbbell to adjust the weights, which may be inconvenient.
It thus would be a significant advance in the art to provide a fitness aid that facilitates upper body exercise without undesirable muscle strains that result from push-ups with or without handle-based devices, that permit a full range of movement, and that do not consume much storage space. It would also be beneficial to provide the capability of dumbbells or kettle bells without the need for multiple dumbbells, kettle bells, or pairs of weight plates.
SUMMARYApparatuses, systems, and methods of use are disclosed for enhancing upper body exercise. An apparatus includes a domed hand support section. The domed hand support section has a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position. The apparatus also includes a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface. When the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open position while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a domed hand support section. The domed hand support section has a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position. The apparatus further includes a wrist brace extending outwardly from the domed hand support section proximate an edge of the recess configured to receive the palm of the user. As a result, while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section, the wrist brace supportively engages an underside of a wrist of the user. The apparatus also includes a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface. When the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open position while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
In a further embodiment, an apparatus includes a domed hand support section. The domed hand support section has a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position. The apparatus further includes a strap configured to extend across the recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand and to maintain the palm of the user's hand within the recess configured to receive the palm. The apparatus also includes a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface. When the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open position while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
In a still further embodiment, an apparatus includes a domed hand support section. The domed hand support section having a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position. The apparatus also includes a wrist brace extending outwardly from the domed hand support section proximate an edge of the recess configured to receive the palm of the user. As a result, while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section, the wrist brace supportively engages an underside of a wrist of the user. The apparatus further includes a strap configured to extend across the recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand and to maintain the palm of the user's hand within the recess configured to receive the palm. The apparatus also includes a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface. When the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open position while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
Another embodiment includes a system configured to assist a user in performing physical exercise. The apparatus includes a domed hand support section. The domed hand support section has a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position. The system additionally includes a strap configured to extend across the recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand and to maintain the palm of the user's hand within the recess configured to receive the palm. The system also includes a surface engagement system securable to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface, the surface engagement system including a plurality of interchangeable weighted members. When the surface engagement system is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open position while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section face and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface. Also, when the domed hand support is lifted using different members of the plurality of interchangeable weighted members, a resistance resulting from lifting the domed hand support is changed.
Additionally, a method of performing upper body exercise is disclosed for using an apparatus according to the present disclosure. A hand is engaged with a domed hand support section, the domed hand support section having a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position. A surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section is deployed on a generally planar support surface. The surface engagement section is configured to slideably move across the generally planar support surface in two dimensions; also, while resting at least a portion of a user's body weight on the domed support section via the user's hand, moving the domed hand support section in both of the two dimensions across the generally planar support surface.
Also, a method of performing upper body exercise using an apparatus is disclosed for using an apparatus according to the present disclosure. A hand is engaged with a domed hand support section of the apparatus. The domed hand support section has a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand. While the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position and a strap configured to extend across a back of the user's hand while the user's hand is received in the plurality of recesses. At least some portion of the user's arm is lifted. A mass of the apparatus provides resistance to the lifting while the user's hand is held in the naturally curved open-position.
Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are further described in detail below.
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for enhancing upper body exercise. In various embodiments described in detail below, a user's hand is received into recesses on a domed hand support section that is configured to receive the user's palm, thumb, and fingers in a naturally open-handed position. A surface engagement section is configured to secure the domed hand support section in a stationary position or to enable the domed hand support to slide or roll to perform various surface-based exercises. Additionally, taking advantage of optional wrist braces or straps to secure the user's hand within the recesses, the user may perform various lifting exercises as described in detail below.
The apparatus 100 includes a domed hand support section 110 that may be either permanently or releasably coupled with a surface engagement section 120, as further described with reference to
The domed hand support section 110 includes a recess 112 configured to receive an underside of a user's hand 113. Specifically, the recess 112 includes a plurality of recesses 114, 116, and 118. A palm recess 114 is configured to receive a palm 115 of the user's hand 113; a thumb recess 116 is configured to an underside of the user's thumb 117; and one or more finger recesses 118 are configured to receive undersides of the user's fingers 119. The embodiment of the apparatus 100 shown in
Referring again to
As described in the background portion of this document, one of the problems faced by a person seeking to perform conventional push-ups with his or her hands flat on the ground is the strain placed on the base of the palm and on the fingers and thumbs because the fingers and thumbs are pressed flat (i.e., beyond the fingers' naturally curved position) by the force of the body weight pressing down on the hands. However, performing push-ups or similar exercises using embodiments according to the present disclosure, a user may press his or her weight on his or her hands without having to stress the muscles of the palm 115, thumb 117, and fingers 119. Instead, embodiments according to the present disclosure, the user can perform push-ups with the fingers and thumbs remaining in curved positions, reducing strain. The curvature of the domed hand support section 110 fully engages the user's palm 115, thumb 117, and fingers 119 and facilitates even distribution of his or her weight across the palm 115, thumb 117, and fingers 119 instead of resting the weight on the edges of the palm or ends of the fingers, as may occur performing conventional, flat-handed push-ups.
In addition to incorporating the features of the apparatus 100 of
In addition to incorporating the features of the apparatus 100 of
The support strap 850 may be an elastic or flexible material to enable the user to fit his or her hand 813 within the hand recess 812 and under the support strap 850. The support strap 850 secures the user's hand 813 within the hand recess 812 to help keep the user's hand 813 within the hand recess 812 when the user exercises using the apparatus 800 as previously described, i.e., moving the apparatus 810 such that the surface engagement section 820 moves over a supporting surface (not shown in
Comparing the apparatus 100 of
Specifically,
The recess 1681 is configured to rollably receive the spherical bearing 1680 to allow easy rolling of the spherical bearing within the domed support member 1610 so that, as lateral forces are applied to the apparatus 1600, the apparatus may move in any direction relative to a plane defined by the support surface 1683. The surface engagement section 1670 includes an open surface engagement section 1620 that includes an opening 1677 through which the spherical bearing 1680 may extend to present a rolling surface 1682 against the support surface 1683. According to a particular embodiment, the surface engagement section 1670 provides a flange 1675 that defines the opening 1677 as having a width that is smaller than a diameter of the spherical bearing 1680 such that the spherical bearing 1680 may partially extend through the opening 1677 but not fall through the opening 1677. Also in a particular embodiment, the flange 1675 may be sized so that when the surface engagement section 1670 is secured to the domed hand support section 1610 at a joint 1660, the spherical bearing 1680 is confined within the recess 1681 such that the spherical bearing 1680 is permitted to roll within the recess 1681 but with limited vertical movement transverse to the surface engagement section 1620 so that the spherical element 1680 does not “wiggle” transverse to the surface engagement section 1620.
The different interchangeable surface engagement sections 1970, 1971, and 1972 also may include different solid or open surface engagement section surfaces to facilitate sliding the system 1900 over a support surface (not shown in
When the user 2501 lifts his or her arm 2503 in an upward direction 2560, the user 2501 exercises various muscles in the user's arm 2503 or in other parts of the user's upper body. Weight of the apparatus 2500 provides resistance. As the apparatus 2500 is raised in the upward direction 2560, secured to the user's hand 2515 as previously described, the apparatus 2500 rotates along a curve 2565 corresponding with natural rotation of the user's hand 2515 during the movement of the arm 2503. The weight of the apparatus 2500 may be changed by interchanging differently-weighted surface engagement sections 2520 and/or differently-weighted spherical bearings 2582, thereby changing the resistance encountered by the user 2501 in raising the apparatus 2500.
When the user 2601 lifts his or her arm 2603 in an upward direction 2660, the user 2601 exercises various muscles in the user's arm 2603 or in other parts of the user's upper body. Weight of the apparatus 2600 provides resistance. As the apparatus 2600 is raised in the upward direction 2660, secured to the user's hand 2615 as previously described, the apparatus 2600 rotates along a curve 2665 corresponding with natural rotation of the user's hand 2615 during the movement of the arm 2603. The weight of the apparatus 2600 may be changed by interchanging differently-weighted surface engagement sections 2620 and/or differently-weighted spherical bearings 2682, thereby changing the resistance encountered by the user 2601 in raising the apparatus 2600.
While the disclosure has been has been set forth herein in reference to specific aspects, features and illustrative aspects, it will be appreciated that the utility of the disclosure is not thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other variations, modifications and alternative aspects, as will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present disclosure, based on the description herein. Any of various elements or features recited herein is contemplated for use with other features or elements disclosed herein, unless specified to the contrary. Correspondingly, the invention that may be hereinafter claimed is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, as including all such variations, modifications and alternative aspects, within its spirit and scope.
Claims
1. An apparatus configured to assist a user in performing physical exercise, the apparatus comprising: wherein when the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section face and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
- a domed hand support section, the domed hand support section having a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position; and
- a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface,
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses includes:
- a first recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand;
- a second recess configured to receive the thumb of the user's hand; and
- a third recess configured to receive the fingers of the user's hand.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the third recess is configured to separately engage one or more of the user's fingers from others of the user's fingers.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of recesses are contained within an outer perimeter of the domed hand support section, such that edges of the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are confined within the outer perimeter of the domed hand support section such that the outer perimeter of the domed hand support section may collide with an object without the edges of the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand striking the object.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a strap configured to extend across the recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand and to maintain the palm of the user's hand within the recess configured to receive the palm.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface engagement section is comprised of a slip-resistant material.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface engagement section is comprised of a slidable material configured to facilitate sliding of the surface engagement section over a support surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the domed hand support section includes a recess configured to partially and rollably receive a spherical bearing, such that the spherical bearing partially extends outwardly from the domed hand support section and through the surface engagement section, such that the spherical bearing rollably supports the surface engagement section above the supporting surface.
9. An apparatus configured to assist a user in performing physical exercise, the apparatus comprising: wherein when the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section face and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
- a domed hand support section, the domed hand support section having a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position;
- a wrist brace extending outwardly from the domed hand support section proximate an edge of the recess configured to receive the palm of the user, such that while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section, the wrist brace supportively engages an underside of a wrist of the user; and
- a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface,
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of recesses includes:
- a first recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand;
- a second recess configured to receive the thumb of the user's hand; and
- a third recess configured to receive the fingers of the user's hand.
11. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the third recess is configured to separately engage one or more of the user's fingers from others of the user's fingers.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of recesses are contained within an outer perimeter of the domed hand support section, such that edges of the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are confined within the outer perimeter of the domed hand support section such that the outer perimeter of the domed hand support section may collide with an object without the edges of the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand striking the object.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a strap configured to extend across the recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand and to maintain the palm of the user's hand within the recess configured to receive the palm.
14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the surface engagement section is comprised of a slidable material configured to facilitate sliding of the surface engagement section over a support surface.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the domed hand support section includes a recess configured to partially and rollably receive a spherical bearing, such that the spherical bearing partially extends outwardly from the domed hand support section and through the surface engagement section, such that the spherical bearing rollably supports the surface engagement section above the supporting surface.
16. An apparatus configured to assist a user in performing physical exercise, the apparatus comprising: wherein when the surface engagement section is deployed on the supporting surface and the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are placed in the plurality recesses on the domed hand support section, the domed face supports the user's hand in the naturally curved open while the user exerts force against the domed hand support section face and that is at least partially directed toward the supporting surface.
- a domed hand support section, the domed hand support section having a plurality of recesses configured to receive a palm, thumb, and fingers of a user's hand while the user's hand is held in a naturally curved open-position;
- a strap configured to extend across the recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand and to maintain the palm of the user's hand within the recess configured to receive the palm; and
- a surface engagement section secured to an underside of the domed hand support section and configured to engage a supporting surface,
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of recesses includes:
- a first recess configured to receive the palm of the user's hand;
- a second recess configured to receive the thumb of the user's hand; and
- a third recess configured to receive the fingers of the user's hand.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of recesses are contained within an outer perimeter of the domed hand support section, such that edges of the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand are confined within the outer perimeter of the domed hand support section such that the outer perimeter of the domed hand support section may collide with an object without the edges of the palm, thumb, and fingers of the user's hand striking the object.
19. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the surface engagement section is comprised of a slidable material configured to facilitate sliding of the surface engagement section over a support surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the domed hand support section includes a recess configured to partially and rollably receive a spherical bearing, such that the spherical bearing partially extends outwardly from the domed hand support section and through the surface engagement section, such that the spherical bearing rollably supports the surface engagement section above the supporting surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2017
Publication Date: Oct 19, 2017
Inventor: Elliott Allen Richter (Durham, NC)
Application Number: 15/488,807