Portable enclosed variable resistance hand grip training devices and methods

Abstract

A strength training device includes a flexible outer body and inner glove defining an enclosed chamber therebetween. The enclosed chamber is partly filled with a resistance media that at least partly surrounds the inner glove. The resistance media may include different types of resistance elements to realize an improved degree of variable internal resistance to hand movement of a user's hand inside the glove. The training device is highly portable and provides effective hand, wrist, and forearm strength development without mess or spillage of the resistance media.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 63 / 852,121 filed Jul. 28, 2025 and 63 / 752,458 filed Jan. 31, 2025, the complete disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The field of the invention relates generally to portable fitness and strength training devices and methods, and more specifically to portable hand, wrist and forearm strength training devices and associated methods of manufacture and training.

[0003] The benefits of an improved hand grip strength are numerous. For example, improved hand grip strength may enhance athletic performance and occupational performance in many types of hands on jobs involving physical activity, material handling, and the use of tools. Hand grip strength also generally correlates with a reduced risk of injury in athletic competition and for occupational hazards, while affording functional strength for daily tasks outside of athletic or work activities. In view of such benefits, a variety of devices are known and in use by persons to improve their grip strength via various different training exercises performed with the devices.

[0004] While known hand, wrist and forearm grip devices and methods may realize improved grip strength for concerned users, they remain disadvantaged in some aspects. Improvements are therefore desired.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following Figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an exemplary enclosed hand grip and forearm training device showing internal components thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the enclosed hand grip and forearm training device taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 3 is an end view of the enclosed hand grip and forearm training device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In order to understand the inventive concepts described herein to their fullest extent, some discussion of the state of the art and certain problems and disadvantages that exist in the art is set forth below, followed by exemplary embodiments of improved hand and forearm strength training devices which overcome such problems and disadvantages in the art.

[0010] Rice bucket training is a conventional form of hand grip training that is particularly effective as a resistance training tool. Rice bucket training includes various hand and forearm movements performed while a trainee's hands are submerged in an open bucket of rice to improve grip strength and dexterity. For example, a rigid five gallon bucket may be filled with about 25-30 lbs of rice providing sufficient space and volume for the user to submerge both hands at once in the rice inside the bucket, either partially or completely, to perform various different hand movements exercising different muscles in different ways.

[0011] Rice bucket training, in particular, provides variable resistance training that is not easily duplicated in other types of hand grip training tools such as stress balls and hand gripper tools. Conventional stress balls and hand grippers, typically involve isolated resistance in a single hand motion rather than engaging the entire hand through multiple resistance points simultaneously as rice bucket training does. As the hands are worked through the resistance of the rice, various forearm muscles are engaged as well, leading to comprehensive strength development. This approach capitalizes on burstiness, which means the sporadic, intense effort required during rice bucket exercises. It also introduces an element of perplexity, forcing muscles to adapt to changing resistance levels within the rice.

[0012] Conventional rice bucket workouts are limited in some aspects, however, that are undesirable for many users. For example, rice bucket training tends to be messy as rice tends to spill from the open bucket during the exercises, requiring some undesirable cleanup after working out. Spillage of rice from the bucket can also result in inconsistent resistance training over time as the amount of rice in the bucket may vary over time. Finally, hand grip workouts would be desired in situations where rice buckets are simply not practical, such as for travelers in locations away from their customary workout locations. The rice buckets are relatively large, relatively heavy, and subject to spillage and are therefore not conveniently transported to different locations like other types of portable exercise equipment. Cleaner and more portable hand grip, wrist and forearm exercise solutions are therefore desired that offer beneficial variable resistance workouts like rice bucket training does.

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of enclosed hand grip and forearm training devices are accordingly disclosed herein to solve the problems and disadvantages above. Method aspects are in part explicitly discussed and in part implicit in the following discussion.

[0014] In one embodiment, a grip training device include a flexible outer body or pouch defining an enclosed chamber including resistance media that functions to provide variable resistance, and an integrated inner, ambidextrous glove disposed within the enclosed chamber and surrounded by the granular resistance media. The resistance media may include a combination of different types of resistance elements to realize an improved degree of variable internal resistance for hand, wrist, and forearm strength development for a user to perform exercises with his or hand in the glove. The granular media may include, for example, different shapes of rice grains or rice pellets, one or more different shapes of synthetic pellets such as plastic pellets, grains of sand, and round resilient resistance elements (which may be of different sizes) functioning as compressible stress balls inside the enclosed chamber.

[0015] Each of the rice, plastic, sand, or stress ball elements in the resistance media provides a different type of dynamic resistance in the chamber that provides a greater degree of variable resistance than any of the elements could provide on their own, and which could not be achieved in an open rice bucket. Because the granular resistance media is enclosed and contained in the chamber of the device, the device is mess free and therefore beneficially realizes desired variable resistance for hand and forearm strength training without the cleanup that rice buckets require.

[0016] The enclosed device accommodates only one hand of the user with a corresponding amount of resistance media outside of the glove (but internal to the chamber) to sufficiently perform grip strength hand movements for the one hand with a desired degree of variable resistance in and by the resistance media. As such, and unlike a larger rice bucket that may be used with both hands, the device is relatively lightweight and highly portable for use in any location desired. The device is soft and flexible and may be packed in a person's luggage or easily carried by hand for use in a car, a train, an airplane, a hotel room, or in different rooms of a person's residence such as the kitchen, family room or bedroom. Also, instead of leaning over or stooping over a stationary rice bucket, the user may comfortably use the device in a more upright position, as well as move around while using the device.

[0017] Turning now to the figures, an exemplary enclosed hand, wrist and forearm training device 100 includes an outer body 102, which is sometimes referred to as a shell or a pouch or a bag, and an inner glove 104 attached to the body 102 at an open end 106 where a user may insert his or her hand into the glove 104. The body 102 defines a closed internal chamber or receptacle 108 that extends between an outer surface of the glove 104 and an interior surface of the body 102. The chamber 108 is partly filled and occupied by a resistance media 110 and is partly empty allowing the media 110 to displace and move within the chamber 108. As such, when a user's hand is inserted into the glove 104, the person's fingers inside the glove are either partly or completely submerged in the resistance media 110 in the chamber 108 as shown in FIG. 1. The body 102 is flexible, however, such that the user can extend his or hand inside the glove 104 in a downward direction inside the chamber 108 to submerge most, if not all, of the user's gloved hand in the resistance media 110 while collapsing the top of the body 102. Likewise, the user can invert the device 100 from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and raise his or hand upright while the hand is inside the glove and the media 110 will fall inside the chamber 108 and surround the user's hand, a maneuver that is generally not possible with a rice bucket to allow for further beneficial hand movements targeting muscles in another way.

[0018] The resistance media 110 may include a combination of resistance elements such as granular material 112 and non-granular material 114 and 116. The granular material 112 in exemplary embodiments may include rice grains or rice pellets of the same shape or different shape, synthetic materials of the same or different shape fabricated from plastic (and specifically thermoplastic grains or pellets) and other suitable materials, and / or sand. Combinations of rice, synthetic materials, other materials, and sand may likewise be present in the granular material 112. In the mixture of such a combination of granular materials, variable resistance is beneficially realized to a desired degree as the media may be relatively easier or harder to displace while the user moves their hand. Each of the materials utilized in the media mixture may provide a different degree of strength training resistance to optimize the resistance in the chamber 108.

[0019] The non-granular material 114, 116 in the media 110 may be a resilient compressible material which in combination with the granular material 112 provides still further variation in the overall resistance to hand movements inside the chamber 108. In the example, shown, different sizes of non-granular material 114, 116 are shown that are generally spherical in shape and therefore provide the function of stress balls inside the enclosed chamber 108. Non-round shapes of compressible material are possible in further and / or alternative embodiments, however. The compressible elements 114, 116 may be squeezed or deformed and provide a different type of resistance to hand movements inside the chamber 108 than the granular media 112 provides. The larger element 116 may further provide a higher degree of resistance than the smaller element 114 inside the chamber 108. The number of smaller and larger elements 114, 116 may further be increased or decreased inside the chamber to provide desired amounts of resistance in different embodiments. The elements 114, 116 provide varied grip training intensities, allowing users to target specific muscle groups based on the positioning of their hand within the chamber 108. The elements 114, 116 may be strategically positioned inside the bag for optimal dynamic resistance as the device 100 is used.

[0020] While exemplary materials for the media 110 have been described, other suitable materials could likewise be utilized with similar effect and benefit in other embodiments. Different embodiments of the training device 100 may be provided with more or less resistance provided in different media having different constituent materials (or different ratios of constituent materials) to meet the needs of different users via specific selection of the granular and non-granular materials utilized. Additionally, the amount of media 110 may be provided in different amounts of measured quantity in the chamber 108 to vary the dynamic resistance of the material as it reacts to hand movement and grip strength exertion. Variations in resistance and sensory feedback during training is possible using different formulations of the media110.

[0021] In contemplated examples, the body 102 may be fabricated from a synthetic polymer such as neoprene exhibiting sufficient strength, flexibility, and durability for longtime use and enjoyment of the device 100. Additionally, the body 102 is waterproof and protects the media 110 while also insulating it from environmental effects such as heat or cold that could affect its performance, while also having an ability to stretch and recover without tearing as the device is used. In another embodiment, however, materials other than neoprene may be utilized as desired with corresponding strength, durability, flexibility, stretchability and reliability in the device 100. Certain known materials such as cotton may lack the needed strength, durability, flexibility, stretchability and reliability and therefore would preferably be avoided.

[0022] The body 102 in the example shown is generally irregularly shaped in front view with upper and lower tapered portions and is therefore wider near the middle than at the top and bottom ends as shown in FIG. 1 to facilitate the insertion of the user's hand and extension of the user's fingers to perform desired hand movements in the chamber 108. The body 102 in front view shown in FIG. 1 is wider than the user's hand and all five of the user's fingers extending between opposing sides of the body 102 and has a generally flat bottom end that may be seated on a surface such as a bench, a tabletop, a countertop, etc. which resists downward forces applied by the user in exercising the hand that is inserted into the glove 104. As shown in FIG. 2 the profile of the body 102 is considerably thinner in side view and more regular in shape with opposed generally straight and box-like side walls. As shown in FIG. 3, the body 102 is generally rectangular with rounded corners. The body 102 is flexible, however, and may assume different shapes as it is used. While a particular shape of the body 102 is depicted in FIGS. 1-3, a variety of alternative shapes of the body 102 are possible in alternative embodiments while otherwise realizing similar functionality.

[0023] The glove 104 is configured as an ambidextrous glove for left hand and right hand use and also is made of a durable and flexible material which may be different from the body 102. As such, five fingers are provided in the glove as shown to fit, for example, the right hand of the user. The glove 104, including the fingers, separates the user's hands and fingers from the media 110 such that the user's hands and fingers are not in contact with the media 110, although the media 110 provides resistance to movement of the gloved hands and fingers of the user. Once the exercises with the user's right hand are completed, the device 100 can be rotated 180° from the position shown in FIG. 1 for use with the user's left hand. The device 100 can first be used to exercise the right hand when inserted therein and then used to exercise the left hand thereafter with the left-hand inserted therein in a universal manner. If a user wants to exercise both hands at once, two devices 100 can be used simultaneously with one on each hand. In lieu of ambidextrous gloves, right-handed and left-handed versions of the device 100 with non-ambidextrous gloves are possible. Also, a larger version of the device 100 with two gloves 104 is possible so that both hands of the user can be exercised at once via gloved hands submerged in the media 112.

[0024] The end 106 of the chamber 108 where the glove 104 is attached is sewn shut with reinforced seams, integrating an open-ended breathable, flexible glove 104 that allows both left-handed and right-handed users to insert their hand securely. The oval shaped end 106 defines an opening as shown in FIG. 3 for the user to insert their entire hand. Some elasticity may optionally be provided so that the opening 106 conforms to fit the user's wrist once the hand is inserted. A sufficient amount of media 110 is provided in the chamber 108 to allow for full hand immersion for resistance training in the chamber 108 without mess or spillage of the media 110. Users may therefore beneficially engage in hand, wrist, and forearm strengthening exercises in a clean and controlled environment with the device 100.

[0025] In use, the user adjusts training intensity by modifying hand insertion depth, motion, and squeezing pressure against the internal resistance elements in the media 110. The glove 104 and body 102 allow for durability, flexibility, and a comfortable user experience, ensuring effective hand and forearm strengthening.

[0026] The benefits and advantages of the inventive concepts are now believed to have been amply illustrated in relation to the exemplary embodiments disclosed.

[0027] An embodiment of a strength training device has been disclosed including an outer body fabricated from a synthetic polymer having a strength and ability to stretch and recover without tearing in a durable manner. An inner glove is integrated with the outer body at one end thereof, and the inner glove is disposed within the outer body. An enclosed chamber extends between the outer body and the inner glove, and an amount of resistance media partly fills the enclosed chamber and at least partly surrounds the inner glove in the enclosed chamber while leaving a remainder of the enclosed chamber empty. The resistance media functions to provide a variable resistance to movement of a user's hand while inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength as the resistance media is displaced inside the enclosed chamber. The outer body is portable and partly collapsible to allow a varying degree of submersion of a user's gloved hand in the resistance media without mess or spillage of any of the amount of resistance media.

[0028] Optionally, the amount of resistance media may include a granular material. The granular material may include a synthetic plastic material. The amount of resistance media may also include a mixture of different granular materials, wherein each of the different granular materials functions to provide a different degree of strength training resistance in the mixture. The amount of resistance media may include different shapes of granular material. The amount of resistance media may additionally include a non-granular material, which may be a resilient compressible material. The resilient compressible material may include at least a first ball and a second ball of respectively different size.

[0029] The outer body may optionally be fabricated from neoprene and the inner glove may be an ambidextrous glove.

[0030] Another embodiment of a strength training device has been disclosed. The strength training device includes a flexible and portable body, and a glove attached to and being disposed internal to the flexible and portable outer body. A closed chamber extends between an inner surface of the flexible and portable outer body and an outer surface of the glove, and an amount of resistance media only partly filling the closed chamber and also partly surrounding the outer surface of the glove, whereby the amount of resistance media includes a combination of granular materials which function to provide a dynamic variable resistance to movement of a user's hand inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength while the amount of resistance media is displaced inside the closed chamber. The flexible and portable body is partly collapsible to allow a varying degree of submersion of a user's gloved hand in the amount of resistance media without mess or spillage of any of the amount of resistance media.

[0031] Optionally, the combination of granular materials may be selected from the group of rice, synthetic material, plastic, and sand. The combination of granular materials may include different shapes of granular material. The amount of resistance media may also include at least one non-granular material. The non-granular material may be a resilient compressible material, and the resilient compressible material may define at least one stress ball. The flexible and portable outer body may be fabricated from neoprene, and the glove may be an ambidextrous glove.

[0032] A method of manufacturing a strength training device has also been disclosed. The method includes providing a flexible and at least partly collapsible outer body; partially filling the flexible body with an amount of resistance media, the amount of resistance media being selected to leave portion of the flexible body empty; and attaching a glove to the flexible outer body, wherein attachment of the glove encloses the amount of resistance media and prevents any spillage thereof, and wherein when attached the inner glove extends toward and is disposed at least partially in the resistance media within the flexible outer body and allowing a varying degree of submersion of a user's gloved hand in the resistance media via partial collapse of the flexible outer body. The amount of resistance media includes: a granular material including synthetic plastic material which functions to provide a variable resistance to movement of a user's hand inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength while the granular material is displaced inside the enclosed chamber; or a combination of granular and non-granular media which collectively functions to provide a dynamic variable resistance to movement of a user's hand inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength.

[0033] Optionally, providing the flexible and at least partly collapsible outer body may include providing a neoprene body. Providing the neoprene body may include forming a flexible outer body to have a generally flat end, a major side having an irregular shape that is wider than the glove and a user's hand when inserted in the glove and with tapered sections above and below the midportion, and a minor side having a regular shape. Attaching the glove to the flexible outer body may include attaching an ambidextrous glove.

[0034] As further options, attaching the glove to the flexible outer body may include sewing an open end of the glove to the flexible body with reinforced seams. The method may also include forming an oval-shaped opening for insertion of the user's hand in the glove. Forming the oval-shaped opening may also include forming the oval-shaped opening with an elastic material.

[0035] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A strength training device comprising:an outer body fabricated from a synthetic polymer having a strength and ability to stretch and recover without tearing in a durable manner;an inner glove integrated with the outer body at one end thereof, the inner glove being disposed within the outer body;an enclosed chamber extending between the outer body and the inner glove; andan amount of resistance media partly filling the enclosed chamber and at least partly surrounding the inner glove in the enclosed chamber while leaving a remainder of the enclosed chamber empty, wherein the resistance media functions to provide a variable resistance to movement of a user's hand while inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength as the resistance media is displaced inside the enclosed chamber; andwherein the outer body is portable and partly collapsible to allow a varying degree of submersion of a user's gloved hand in the resistance media without mess or spillage of any of the amount of resistance media.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the amount of resistance media includes a granular material.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the granular material includes a synthetic plastic material.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the amount of resistance media includes a mixture of different granular materials, wherein each of the different granular materials functions to provide a different degree of strength training resistance in the mixture.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the amount of resistance media includes different shapes of granular material.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the amount of resistance media further includes a non-granular material.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the non-granular material is a resilient compressible material.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the resilient compressible material includes at least a first ball and a second ball of respectively different size.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer body is fabricated from neoprene.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner glove is an ambidextrous glove.

11. A strength training device comprising:a flexible and portable body;a glove attached to and being disposed internal to the flexible and portable outer body;a closed chamber extending between an inner surface of the flexible and portable outer body and an outer surface of the glove; andan amount of resistance media only partly filling the closed chamber and also partly surrounding the outer surface of the glove, whereby the amount of resistance media includes a combination of granular materials which function to provide a dynamic variable resistance to movement of a user's hand inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength while the amount of resistance media is displaced inside the closed chamber;wherein the flexible and portable body is partly collapsible to allow a varying degree of submersion of a user's gloved hand in the amount of resistance media without mess or spillage of any of the amount of resistance media.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the combination of granular materials is selected from the group of rice, synthetic material, plastic, and sand.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the combination of granular materials includes different shapes of granular material.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the amount of resistance media further includes at least one non-granular material.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the non-granular material is a resilient compressible material.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the resilient compressible material defines at least one stress ball.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the flexible and portable outer body is fabricated from neoprene.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the glove is an ambidextrous glove.

19. A method of manufacturing a strength training device comprising:providing a flexible and at least partly collapsible outer body;partially filling the flexible body with an amount of resistance media, the amount of resistance media being selected to leave portion of the flexible body empty; andattaching a glove to the flexible outer body, wherein attachment of the glove encloses the amount of resistance media and prevents any spillage thereof, and wherein when attached the inner glove extends toward and is disposed at least partially in the resistance media within the flexible outer body and allowing a varying degree of submersion of a user's gloved hand in the resistance media via partial collapse of the flexible outer body;wherein the amount of resistance media includes:a granular material including synthetic plastic material which functions to provide a variable resistance to movement of a user's hand inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength while the granular material is displaced inside the enclosed chamber; ora combination of granular and non-granular media which collectively functions to provide a dynamic variable resistance to movement of a user's hand inside the inner glove to develop hand, wrist, and forearm strength.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the flexible and at least partly collapsible outer body comprises providing a neoprene body.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the neoprene body further comprises forming a flexible outer body to have a generally flat end, a major side having an irregular shape that is wider than the glove and a user's hand when inserted in the glove and with tapered sections above and below the midportion, and a minor side having a regular shape.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein attaching the glove to the flexible outer body comprises attaching an ambidextrous glove.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein attaching the glove to the flexible outer body comprises sewing an open end of the glove to the flexible body with reinforced seams.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising forming an oval-shaped opening for insertion of the user's hand in the glove.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein forming the oval-shaped opening further comprises forming the oval-shaped opening with an elastic material.

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