Exercise devices – Hand – wrist – or finger
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-18
2001-01-30
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Hand, wrist, or finger
C482S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179749
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to resistance devices. In a more particular aspect, the present invention is directed to resistance device for thumb and/or hand exercise and rehabilitation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various devices are known for rehabilitation/exercise of thumbs and hands. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,2616,259 to Bendix, Jr. teaches an exerciser for the thumb and grip with internal helical compression springs providing the resistance mechanism. SU 1985-10 and SU 1986-12 teach spring loaded devices for exercise of the hands and/or thumb. North Coast Medical offers a thumb exerciser sold under the trade name Thumbciser™ for thumb strengthening that includes a outer member including a through bore, and inner member extending through the bore and a rubber band(s) extending around the end of the inner member and secured to the outer member. Pressing on the inner member with the thumb stretches the rubber band(s) in the North Coast device. U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,778 to Van Noord teaches a Portable Exercising Apparatus With A Force Gauge. As best seen in
FIG. 4
of Van Noord, the resistance mechanism is provided by an o-ring
116
which is slidably mounted around the inner tube
12
and which rides up a ramped or conical surface
114
of an annular brake mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,205 to Bankston teaches a “Hand Exercising And Frictional Resistant-Type Exercising Device” having, as best seen in
FIG. 4
, a plastic outer tube
114
rotatably moveable on a slightly smaller diameter inner tube
111
having a coating
113
thereon.
These prior art exercise devices have general deficiencies in performance, complexity, and/or lack of adjustability. For example, the spring rate of some of the devices (ex. Bendix, Jr., SU 1986-12 and North Coast Medical devices) provide performance that gets progressively stiffer as the user compresses the spring with their thumb. Accordingly, there has been a long felt and unmet need for a simple and cost effective resistance device, such as for use in exercise of thumbs, hands, and the like which provides constant resistance and which may include an adjustability feature.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a simple resistance device which may include adjustability of the level of resistance. The device finds excellent utility as a thumb and/or hand exerciser. In a first aspect, the resistance device includes an outer member including an axial through bore extending between first and second terminal ends; an inner member received within the through bore and extending out of both the first and second ends, and a friction member, such as an elastomeric sleeve, immovably mounted on the inner member and in operable sliding contact with the through bore thereby providing resistance to relative axial movement between said inner and outer members.
In another aspect, the level of resistance is user adjustable. The adjustability is preferably provided by an inner member further comprised of first and second end members which, when threaded into one another, provides axial compression of an elastomer friction member. This causes radial bulging of the member into contact with the through bore. The user can easily and variably adjust the level of precompression, and thus, the level of axial resistance, such as for exercising the thumb or hand.
In another aspect, at least one low friction washer is provided in contact with an axial end of the friction member thereby minimizing friction between the end member and the friction member and allowing for ease of rotational adjustment of the frictional resistance. Preferably one or more stops (which may be elastomer) are positioned at the ends of the inner member to limit axial travel of the inner member relative to the outer member. The device may optionally include calibration.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides an easily adjustable resistance device.
It is another advantage of the present invention that it provides a substantially constant force over the entire axial stroke.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it may provide exercise of a user's hands and thumb.
The above-mentioned and further features, advantages, and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying descriptions of the preferred embodiments and attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1023756 (1912-04-01), Pons
patent: 2621043 (1952-12-01), Olmstead
patent: 2819060 (1958-01-01), Neidhart
patent: 2819063 (1958-01-01), Neidhart
patent: 3053526 (1962-09-01), Kendall
patent: 3216259 (1965-11-01), Bendix
patent: 3232597 (1966-02-01), Gaydecki
patent: 3583530 (1971-06-01), De Venne
patent: 3637205 (1972-01-01), Bankston
patent: 3820634 (1974-06-01), Poe
patent: 3861815 (1975-01-01), Landaeus
patent: 3885764 (1975-05-01), Pabreza
patent: 4350335 (1982-09-01), Pasbrig
patent: 4563004 (1986-01-01), Mattox
patent: 4580778 (1986-04-01), Noord
patent: 4623146 (1986-11-01), Jackson
patent: 4957279 (1990-09-01), Thorn
patent: 5257680 (1993-11-01), Corcoran et al.
patent: 5392649 (1995-02-01), Yoo et al.
patent: 5720369 (1998-02-01), Thorn et al.
patent: 1183131 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 1277975 A1 (1986-12-01), None
Hand Therapy Catalog, North Coast Medical, 1996, p. 66.
Braeger Denise M.
Thorn Richard P.
Gnibus Michael M.
Lord Corporation
Richman Glenn E.
Wayland Randall S.
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