Exercise devices – Hand – wrist – or finger – Having individual structure engaging each finger used
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-23
2001-01-30
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Hand, wrist, or finger
Having individual structure engaging each finger used
C482S044000, C601S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179750
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand exercise system and more particularly pertains to strengthening and testing the individual fingers of the hands of users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of exercise devices of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, exercise devices of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of strengthening or testing the fingers of users through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 130,457 to F. Wenzel discloses an improvement in finger exercisers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,719 to Kuhlman discloses a finger exercising device. U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,469 to Brook et al. discloses a continuous passive motion devices and methods. U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,849 to Kuiken et al. discloses a finger extender. U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,191 to Beenken discloses a finger rehabilitation/exercise device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,052 to Charles et al. discloses a finger exerciser. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,488 to Villepigue discloses an exercising glove.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a hand exercise system that allows strengthening and testing the individual fingers of the hands of users.
In this respect, the hand exercise system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of strengthening and testing the individual fingers of the hands of users.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved hand exercise system which can be used for strengthening and testing the individual fingers of the hands of users. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of exercise devices of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved hand exercise system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved hand exercise system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a hand exercise system. First provided is an upper planar plate. The upper planar plate has a planar upper surface with an upper edge and a parallel lower edge. The upper planar plate also has parallel side edges there between. A lower plate is next provided. The lower plate has a planar lower surface with an upper edge and a parallel lower edge. Parallel side edges are provided between the upper edge and parallel lower edge. Next provided is a sidewall. The sidewall couples the upper and lower plates to thereby retain them in a spaced parallel relationship. It also forms a housing with a chamber there within. Five slots are formed in the upper plate extending from adjacent the lower edge to adjacent the upper edge. The slots are spaced closer together at the upper edge than at the lower edge. The slots are even more widely spaced at an intermediate extent proximate to the lower edge. Each slot has an upper slot portion. The upper slot portion extends downwardly from the upper surface of the upper plate to an intermediate extent of the slot. An enlarged track is formed within the upper plate. A lower slot portion is formed beneath the upper plate. A slide member is slidably received within each slot. Each slide member is fabricated of an electrically conductive material. Each slide member has an intermediate enlarged section within the track of the slot. Each slide member also has a downwardly extending connector. Each slide member also has an upwardly extending electrically conductive T-shaped member. An electrically insulated component is secured above the T-shaped member for receiving a finger of a user. Primary electrical contacts are located on the upper surface, along the length of and on opposite sides of the slots. The primary electrical contacts are adapted to be contacted by the slide member periodically as the slide member moves along the slot to thereby close a circuit. A plurality of apertures are provided. The apertures are shaped as numbers. The apertures are formed in the upper plate laterally spaced from the primary electrical contacts. A light bulb is provided beneath each aperture. A battery and electrical connectors are provided. The battery and electrical connectors couple each light bulb to the primary electrical contacts for the illumination of the light bulb when the slide member contacts the various associated electrical contacts. A transparent dome is formed on the upper surface adjacent the upper edge of the upper planar plate. An illuminator is provided within the transparent dome. Electrical connectors extend downwardly from the transparent dome are adapted to illuminate the illuminator when any slide member contacts the uppermost electrical contacts proximate to the upper edge. A rotatable cylindrical post is provided within the housing and journaled in the sidewall adjacent to the lower edge. Such post, when rotated by a user, may increase or decrease the tension needed to push the slide members. A plurality of resilient elastic bands are next provided. Each band has a first end coupled to a corresponding connector of a slide member. Each band has a second end coupled to the post for lengthening or shortening the normal distance between the posts and each slide member. An associated tightening component extends through a sidewall for rotation by a user to effectively lengthen or shorten the effective length of the elastic bands. The tightening component includes a knob with an elastomeric washer between the knob and the sidewall. The tightening component also includes a screw coupling the knob and the cylindrical post. The tightening component further includes coupling axial slots and associated axial projections between the knob and cylindrical member to allow mutual rotation the slots and projections are coupled. This is for locking and unlocking purposes to thereby vary the force needed to effect the movement of the slide members within the slots.
FIG. 6
shows a locked orientation. Loosening the screw would relieve the tension in the washer whereby the knob and post couple rotated to a desired tension. Thereafter the screw would be tightened to compress the washer and lock the system.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods an
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