A removable gripping aid

Abstract

A removable gripping aid is provided for increasing the diameter of a handle. The aid has a flexible strap extending from a first end 5 to a second end 4 and has an inner face 1 and an outer face 2. T

Description

09 07 24 The present invention relates to an apparatus for increasing the diameter of handles, a method of using said apparatus and a method of making said apparatus. The apparatus can be securely attached and easily removed from a variety of different handles to assist users with impaired grip, 5 e.g., those users suffering from arthritis. Introduction The ability to effectively grip may be impacted by several factors including damage to a user’s 10 hands through disease or injury, birth defects or increased age. For such users, it can be difficult to grip handles on items commonly found in the user’s home e.g., cookware, utensils, and doors. Users with diseases such as arthritis can find it particularly difficult to effectively grip handles. Arthritis is a common condition which causes pain and inflammation in a joint and, in the UK alone, 15 is estimated to affect more than 10 million people of all ages. The most commonly affected joints include those within the hands. This results in difficulty with being able to fully close and clench an affected hand and also can reduce grip strength. Devices which act as a gripping cover for handles are well known. However, such devices are 20 usually concerned with protecting users from handles which may become hot or are designed to increase gripping friction only. A drawback of these devices is that they may be difficult for users with decreased hand strength and / or dexterity to attach and remove from handles. This can be inconvenient where utensils such as cookware or cutlery are to be cleaned or if a user wants to use a gripping device on more than one handle, and thus requires multiple gripping devices. 25 GB2424388A discloses a pan handle cover comprising an elongate element of heat-resistant material e.g., silicone rubber, that is of a longitudinally-split tubular configuration with its longitudinal flanks bending in resiliently to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the pan handle cover has longitudinally-extending grooves in its inner surface and is ridged on the outer 30 surface. The device may be partially capped at the free end of the handle. Since the longitudinal flanks bend in resiliently to one another, attaching and removing the device can be difficult for users with reduced dexterity or grip strength. 09 07 24 US2018 / 0279838A1 discloses a flat piece of heat resistant material, preferably leather, rolled around on itself and fastened at one end, making the split where the edges come together not fastened to each other. The device thus acts as a sleeve which is slid onto the panhandle. A disadvantage of this device is that due to the sealed end, the device cannot be attached to closed 5 handles. US2018 / 0220849 discloses a disposable cover for handles, in particular for hot handles on cookware or lab equipment. In one embodiment, the cover comprises a single layer of a paperboard material having entirely corrugated outer and inner surfaces. The presence of tear 10 lines allows a portion of the cover to pulled upwards to form a splatter shield to protect against oil or food splatter. Since the handle cover is made from paper and designed to be disposable, the cover is not secured. US3072955 discloses a tubular body portion made of a resilient flexible material with the inner 15 surface having a plurality of spaced parallel ribs extending the length of the body portion. The tubular body portion is parted along its length, allowing the body to be opened out to allow attachment of the device to handles e.g., pan handles. This device is also difficult for users with impaired gripping strength to easily attach to handles of different size and form. 20 US8800112B1 discloses a flexible gripping wrap, secured using a first recessed ledge which is adapted to overlay, interface with, and attach to a second recessed ledge. In another embodiment, the wrap features a series of offset cylindrical pockets which, when the wrap is in a cylindrical shape, allow a locking rod to be passed through. The issue with such locking mechanisms is that even if the wrap is made of an elastomeric material, the variety of handle 25 sizes the wrap can be wrapped around is limited. WO2014 / 018916A1 discloses a variety of products for use in the kitchen and home, in particular a lid tab formed of silicone with a slot on one end and a tab on the other end. The lid tab may be secured to a handle by wrapping the lid tab around the handle and passing the tab end through 30 the slot. The lid tab is intended to be used on pots or pans that may get hot. US4697377A discloses a finger grip attachment for a fishing rod. The finger grip attachment has an elongated resiliently yieldable flat strip, where one end portion of the strip is enlarged and formed with a single circular finger hole and a circular retaining hole. The other end portion is 09 07 24 formed with a retainer, which is adapted to interact with the circular retaining hole. A disadvantage of this device is that it can be difficult for users with reduced dexterity to insert a finger through the circular finger hole. 5 There is a need for an improved device that may be attached and secured easily to handles to facilitate gripping and subsequently removed by people with an impaired grip. Aspects of the Invention 10 According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a removable gripping aid for increasing the diameter of a handle, the aid comprising: a flexible strap extending from a first end to a second end, the flexible strap comprising an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face and outer face are separated by the body of the strap; 15 a slot extending through the body of the flexible strap at the second end, said slot being configured to receive and hold at least the first end of the flexible strap; and at least one spacing element located on the inner face in a middle section between the first end and the second end of the flexible strap. 20 Attaching the removable gripping aid to a handle increases the overall diameter of the handle i.e., the handle to be gripped is made wider or thicker because of the additional layer wrapped around the handle. This allows users who struggle to fully clench their hand to form a better grip on the handle. 25 It will be appreciated that the cross section of a handle is not always a perfect circle. Therefore, the term “diameter” is not intended to be strictly limited as defined in a geometric sense. Instead, the term “diameter” also includes the largest cross-sectional dimension in the radial plane of a handle at its widest point. 30 Handles to which the gripping aid may be attached and removed from include open handles (where one end of the handle is attached to an object and the other end is free) or closed handles (where both ends of the handle are attached to an object). Examples of open handles include handles used on cookware such as saucepans, on tools such as screwdrivers and hammers, or on doors, where the handle may be a lever. Open handles may be static i.e., they do not move 09 07 24 in relation to the object they are attached to. Alternatively, handles may have a degree of movement in relation to the object they are attached to e.g., door levers or rotary controls. Examples of closed handles include curved or D-shaped handles, which may also be found on items such as doors or teapots. 5 The flexible strap has a body, which separates apart the inner face from the outer face. The dimension from the inner face to the outer face through the body of the flexible strap may be referred to as the “thickness” of the strap. 10 Preferably, the thickness of the strap is at least about 1 mm i.e.. at least about 3 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the strap may be at least about 5 mm i.e., at least about 7 mm. The thickness of the strap may up to about 50 mm i.e., up to about 40 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the strap may be up to about 30 mm i.e., up to about 20 mm or up to about 10 mm. 15 In some embodiments, attachment of the removable gripping aid onto a handle increases the diameter of the handle because when the inner face contacts the surface of the handle, the outer face is separated from the surface of the handle by the body of the flexible strap. In other embodiments, at least part of the inner face contacts the surface of the handle to separate apart 20 the outer face from the surface of the handle. Preferably, the gripping aid will increase the diameter of a handle by at least about 10 %, at least about 30 %, or at least about 50 %. 25 In some embodiments, the gripping aid will increase the diameter of a handle by up to about 200 %. However, in other embodiments the gripping aid will increase the diameter by up to about 150 % e.g., by up to about 100 %. Typically, the diameter of handles used on e.g., cookware, tools and doors range from about 2 30 cm to 3 cm. Handles on these items with a diameter of about 5 cm or more are typically considered as large handles. The removable gripping aid may increase the diameter of handle with a diameter of about 2 cm to 3 cm to about 4 cm to 5 cm. For example, in one embodiment when the gripping aid is attached to a handle with a diameter of about 2 cm, the diameter will be increased to about 4 cm i.e., the diameter is increased by about 100 %. In another embodiment, 09 07 24 when the gripping aid is attached to a handle with a diameter of about 3 cm, the diameter will be increased to about 4 cm i.e., the diameter is increased by about 30 %. The strap is preferably made from a flexible material which allows it to easily be wrapped around 5 a handle, thus forming a tubular configuration. The tubular configuration can but does not need to form a perfect cylinder. Instead, due to the flexibility of the material, the gripping aid may be wrapped around a variety of irregular handle shapes. Preferably, the gripping aid naturally lies in an open and flat configuration when not in use, so a 10 user does not need to exert extraneous effort to prise open the gripping aid to attach it to a handle. The removable gripping aid could be composed of a single material or made from layers of the same material or layers of different material e.g., a laminate structure. The removable gripping aid could also be made from a composite material. 15 Preferably, the removable gripping aid comprises e.g., consists of, a non-slip material to prevent unwanted sliding or slipping by providing a high-friction surface to hold the gripping aid in place. This makes it easier for the user to maintain grip on the gripping aid when wrapped around a handle and also helps to keep the at least first end of the gripping aid held in the slot, preventing it from slipping out. 20 Any surface of the gripping aid e.g., the inner face, outer face, side walls etc., may be textured, contoured and / or dimpled. This also prevents unwanted sliding or slipping, makes it easier for users to maintain grip when the gripping aid is wrapped around a handle and helps keep the at least first end of the gripping aid held in the slot. 25 Preferably, the removable gripping aid is made from a material which is durable, flexible, inherently non-slip, strong and / or heat resistant. The removable griping aid is also preferably made from a material that can be easily manufactured into the shape of the gripping aid by layering or moulding. 30 The removable gripping aid could be composed of any suitable material including paper, foam, plastics and elastomers. Preferably, the removable gripping aid comprises silicone rubber, which is a type of elastomer. 09 07 24 Alternatively, embodiments where the removable gripping aid is made from paper or cardboard are particularly advantageous for when the gripping aid is intended to be disposable. For example, the removable gripping aid, when made from paper or cardboard, may be utilised as a single use aid. 5 The flexible strap extends from a first end to a second end. The term “end” is used to describe the end portion of the strap rather than just the tip i.e., a portion of the strap leading along the longitudinal axis of the strap to the edge of the strap. In between the two end portions of the strap lies a “middle section”. The middle section is not necessarily the centre of the flexible strap. The 10 boundaries of the first end, second end and middle section are not relatively defined in relation to where each boundary lies on the strap. The second end of the strap is preferably wider than the first end of the strap. This allows for the presence of a slot in the second end of the strap which is suitably configured to receive and hold 15 at least the first end of the strap i.e., the first end of the strap can be passed through the slot and held in the slot. By suitably configured, we mean that the slot is orientated and sized in any suitable way to at least allow the first end of the strap to pass through the slot. The slot may also be suitably orientated and sized so that the at least first end of the flexible strap, when passed through the slot, is held in place. For example, the slot is preferably wide enough to accommodate 20 the width of the first end of the strap and thin enough to constrict the first end of the strap. In embodiments where the gripping aid comprises a non-slip material, the first end of the strap may also be secured by friction. The slot may also be suitably orientated and sized to accommodate a securing means to further secure the at least first end of the strap. In one embodiment, the slot lies transverse to the longitudinal axis of the strap and is dimensioned to allow at least the first 25 end of the strap to be passed through the slot and held in place. Pulling the first end through the handle allows the gripping aid to be wrapped around a variety of different handle shapes and sizes. Thus, the first end of the gripping aid may be pulled through the slot which will hold the first end of the strap, allowing the gripping aid to be wrapped around 30 larger handles. Pulling the first end further through the slot results in the middle section of the gripping aid being held by the slot, allowing the gripping aid to be wrapped around thinner handles. Preferably, the removable gripping aid comprises at least one flange on the side edge of the second end of the flexible strap. If the strap has two flanges e.g., one flange on each edge of the 09 07 24 second end of the strap, the two flanges may be of the same or similar shape and / or size or may be asymmetrical. The size of the flanges can be shaped in order to allow a better grip for lefthanded or right-handed users. 5 In one embodiment of the invention, one flange is suitably shaped to accommodate placement of a user’s thumb when gripping the removable gripping aid when wrapped around a handle. The strap also comprises an inner face and an outer face. The inner face of the strap is intended to face the outer surface of the handle to which the gripping aid is attached by the user, whilst the 10 outer face is intended to be gripped by the user. The gripping aid comprises at least one spacing element located on the inner face in the middle section of the flexible strap. The at least one spacing element contacts at least part of the surface of the handle and increases the diameter of the handle by spacing apart the surface of the handle 15 and the outer face of the aid. As an example, the at least one spacing element could be a pad made of the same material as the removable gripping aid, or it could be a gel pad. Preferably, the at least one spacing element is a rib which extends in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the strap. Such a rib is referred to here as a transverse rib. When a plurality of ribs is used, each rib can make contact with the surface of the handle the gripping aid is wrapped around. 20 Gaps between each rib enables the removable gripping aid to curl around a handle. Preferably, the at least one spacing element extends perpendicular from the inner face of the flexible strap by at least about 1 mm i.e., at least about 3 mm. In some embodiments, the at least one spacing element extends perpendicular from the inner face of the flexible strap by at least 25 about 5 mm i.e., at least about 7 mm. The at least one spacing element may extend perpendicular from the inner face of the flexible strap by up to about 50 mm. However, in other embodiments the at least one spacing element may extend from the inner face of the flexible strap by up to about 40 mm, up to about 30 mm, up 30 to about 20 mm or up to about 10 mm. In embodiments where the removable gripping aid comprises at least one spacing element, the thickness of the flexible strap is usually up to about 30 mm, preferably up to about 20 mm and 09 07 24 most preferably up to about 10 mm. The thickness of the strap will usually be at least about 1 mm, at least about 3 mm, at least about 5 mm or at least about 7 mm. The removable gripping aid may comprise a securing means for securing the strap when in the 5 slot. The securing means may comprise a plurality of protrusions on the inner face and / or the outer face of the flexible strap. The plurality of protrusions could, for example, extend along the longitudinal axis of the flexible strap and be separated so that the gap between adjacent protrusions is suitably dimensioned to accommodate the wall of the slot i.e., the thickness of the flexible strap. Alternatively, a protrusion may be located on the inner wall of the slot and could be 10 configured to engage with at least one of a plurality of suitably shaped holes, pockets, voids or indents lying within the flexible strap. Protrusions may be extrusions of the same material as the flexible strap. Alternatively, the protrusions may be additional material suitably attached to the flexible strap which is the same or 15 different to the material of the flexible strap. Protrusions on either the inner and / or outer face, or within the slot itself, may be spherical, rectangular, square, triangular, oval or polyhedral in shape. Preferably, the removable gripping aid comprises at least one cutaway section located and extending through the first end of the flexible strap i.e., a first cutaway section. This aids the user 20 in manipulating and tightening the gripping aid by being suitably dimensioned to allow a user’s fingers to be placed through the cutaway section. The gripping aid may also comprise at least one cutaway section located and extending through the second end of the flexible strap i.e., a second cutaway section. The terms “first cutaway section” and “second cutaway section” do not necessarily relate to a numerical amount of cutaway sections, but rather refer to the location of 25 the cutaway section. Preferably, the at least one cutaway section is reinforced to increase the strength and longevity of the cutaway section(s). Reinforcement could be achieved merely by an increased thickness of the material making the removable gripping aid in relation to the thickness of the flexible strap. 30 Alternatively, the cutaway sections could be reinforced by adding an additional second material to the outer rim of the cutaway section such as hardened plastic, metal and / or bonded additional materials e.g., carbon fibre. The additional second material may also be located within the body of the flexible strap. 09 07 24 In one embodiment, the removable gripping aid comprises two reinforced cutaway sections, the first cutaway section located in the first end of the flexible strap and the second cutaway section located in the second end of the strap. 5 In embodiments of the removable gripping aid where the at least one cutaway section is not present, the user may manipulate and tighten the aid by gripping the first end and / or second end. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing the diameter of a handle using the removable gripping aid according to the first aspect, wherein the 10 first end of the flexible strap is inserted into the slot located in the second end of the flexible strap and pulled through the slot until the at least one spacing element contacts the surface of the handle. The removable gripping aid may first be formed into a tubular configuration, slid onto a handle 15 and subsequently tightened around open handles. Alternately, the gripping aid may be wrapped around an open or closed handle and the first end of the flexible strap inserted into the slot. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a use of the removable gripping aid according to the first aspect to increase the diameter of a handle. 20 In one embodiment, the user grips the removable gripping aid whilst placing their left or right thumb on a suitably shaped and sized flange located on the appropriate side edge of the second end of the flexible strap. 25 According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making the removable gripping aid according to the first aspect by moulding. Typically, the mould used will be a negative of the shape of the removable gripping aid to be made. The mould may an open top mould or a closed mould. Embodiments where a closed 30 mould is used are particularly advantageous for making the gripping aid via rotational moulding or injection moulding techniques. Injection moulding in particular typically facilitates faster and / or large scale manufacture. Open top moulding is a simple moulding technique which can be advantageous in small scale manufacture. In one embodiment, the method comprises moulding silicone rubber. 09 07 24 The method may further comprise a step of curing. In some embodiments, the mould is removed once the removable gripping aid is fully cured. In other embodiments, the removable gripping aid is partially cured in the mould, whereupon the mould is removed and the partially cured removable 5 gripping aid is allowed to cure fully outside of the mould. The skilled person would appreciate that there are different methods of moulding which may be used to make the removable gripping aid. Furthermore, skilled person would also understand that many other materials may be used to make the gripping aid and other techniques may be 10 used, such as assembly by gluing together individual parts or using cut out processes. Detailed Description of the Invention Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with 15 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the inner face of a reference example of a removable gripping aid (not claimed); 20 FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the inner face of a first embodiment of the removable gripping aid; FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the inner face of a second embodiment of the removable gripping aid; 25 FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the removable gripping aid; FIG. 5 shows a side view of the first embodiment of the removable gripping aid; FIG. 6 shows a side view of the first embodiment of the removable gripping aid when curled into 30 a tubular configuration; FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the removable gripping aid when wrapped around a handle, with the first end of the flexible strap inserted into the slot located in the second end of the flexible strap; 09 07 24 FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the removable gripping aid when wrapped around a handle of a pan, with the first end of the flexible strap inserted into the slot located in the second end of the flexible strap. 5 In FIG. 4, a removable gripping aid made of silicone rubber according to the present invention is shown. A flexible strap extends from a first end 5 to a second end 4 and has an inner face 1 and an outer face (not shown). In a middle section between the first end 5 and the second end 4 of the strap lies four transverse ribs 13 which extend in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis 10 of the strap. The ribs do not extend through the entire width of the strap. A slot 6 lies parallel to the plurality of ribs in the second end 4 and is configured to receive the first end 5 of the strap. A securing means to secure the strap when the first end 5 is inserted into the slot 6 is present in the form of a single line of dimples 14. 15 A first cutaway section 10 is located in the first end of the strap and reinforced by element 12 by making the part of the perimeter of the cutaway section thicker than the side wall 3 of the strap. A second cutaway section 9 is located in the second end 4 of the flexible strap and is also reinforced by element 11 by making part of the perimeter of the cutaway section thicker than the side wall 3 of the strap. The second end 4 of the flexible strap is made wider than the first end 5 20 of the flexible strap by the presence of two flanges 7 and 8. In this embodiment, flange 7 is a different size and shape to 8, with flange 8 shaped so that a user when gripping the gripping aid can use the flange for placement of their thumb. The inner face 1 and outer face 2 of the removable gripping aid can both be seen in FIG. 5. 25 The same reference numerals are used in all the other drawings for the same features and are equivalent. In FIG. 1, a reference example of a removable gripping aid (not claimed) has no spacing elements, 30 securing means or cutaway sections and shows that flanges 7 are of the same shape and size. In FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the removable gripping aid has a larger flange 8 for placement of a user’s thumb and does not have an additional securing means. 09 07 24 To attach the removable gripping aid to a handle, the first end 5 of the strap is inserted into the slot 6 in the second end of the strap, thus forming the removable gripping aid into the tubular configuration shown in FIG. 6. Flexibility of the strap in the region where the spacing element is located is maintained by virtue of the gap present between each rib. 5 The removable gripping aid is first formed into a tubular configuration and a handle inserted into the gripping aid. The removable gripping aid is then tightened around the handle by placing fingers in one or both of cutaway regions 9 and 10 and tightening the strap around the handle by pulling the first end 5 through the slot 6 until the ribs make contact with the surface of the handle. 10 Alternatively, the gripping aid is first wrapped around a handle and the first end 5 of the strap inserted into the slot 6 in the second end of the strap. The removable gripping aid is then tightened around the handle by placing fingers in one or both of cutaway regions 9 and 10 and tightening the strap around the handle by pulling the first end 5 through the slot 6. 15 The removable gripping aid, once attached to a handle as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 is easily removed by pulling the first end 5 out of the slot 6, either keeping it in a tubular configuration or taking the first end 4 of the flexible strap out of the slot 6 entirely. The gripping aid is then ready to be attached to another handle. 20 To make the removable gripping aid, liquid silicone rubber is poured into a negative open top negative mould in the shape of the gripping aid. The silicone rubber is allowed to fully cure and is then removed from the mould. 25 Embodiments of the present invention has been described with reference to the particular examples shown in the drawings. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the examples described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

09 07 241. A removable gripping aid for increasing the diameter of a handle, the aid comprising:a flexible strap extending from a first end to a second end, the flexible strap comprising an 5 inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face and outer face are separated by the body of the strap;a slot extending through the body of the flexible strap at the second end, said slot being configured to receive and hold at least the first end of the flexible strap; andat least one spacing element located on the inner face in a middle section between the 10 first end and the second end of the flexible strap.

2. A removable gripping aid according to Claim 1, wherein the removable gripping aid comprises a non-slip material.15 3. A removable gripping aid according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the removable gripping aid comprises silicone rubber.

4. A removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible strap comprises a securing means for securing at least the first end of the flexible strap when inserted 20 into the slot.

5. A removable gripping aid according to Claim 4, wherein the securing means comprises a plurality of protrusions on the flexible strap separated such that the gap between adjacent protrusions is dimensioned to accommodate the wall of the slot.

256. A removable gripping aid according to Claim 4, wherein the securing means comprises at least one protrusion on the wall of the slot, said at least one protrusion being configured to engage at least one of a plurality of indents in the flexible strap.30 7. A removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the second end of the flexible strap is wider than the first end of the flexible strap.09 07 248. A removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one spacing element is a pad.

9. A removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein each spacing element 5 comprises a transverse rib.

10. A removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the flexible strap comprises at least one cutaway section located and extending through the body of the first end of the flexible strap.1011. A removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the flexible strap comprises at least one cutaway section located and extending through the body of the second end of the flexible strap.15 12. A removable gripping aid according Claim 10 and / or 11, wherein said at least one cutaway section is reinforced.

13. A removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the flexible strap comprises two asymmetric flanges on the side edge of the second end of the flexible strap.2014. A method of increasing the diameter of a handle using the removable gripping aid of any of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the first end of the flexible strap is inserted into the slot located in the second end of the flexible strap and pulled through the slot until the at least one spacing element contacts the surface of the handle.2515. Use of a removable gripping aid according to any of Claims 1 to 13 to increase the diameter of a handle.

16. A method of making the removable gripping aid of any of Claims 1 to 13 by moulding.3017. A method of making the removable gripping aid according to Claim 16, wherein the method further comprises curing.

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