Hand Exercise Device with Buried Web and Friction Belly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand exercise devices fail to provide full natural range of motion resistance, leading to muscular imbalance and increased risk of injury, as they primarily focus on gripping motions while neglecting finger and thumb extension and abduction exercises.

Innovation Solution

A device with a specially designed flexion member and extension member that allows for full natural planes of motion resistance, featuring a 'buried web' design to maintain consistent resistance throughout exercises, and a 'friction belly' to secure the extension member, enabling independent control of flexion and extension actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If standard hand exercise devices are used that only resist gripping motions, then grip strength is improved, but finger and thumb extensor and abductor muscles remain weak leading to muscular imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip strengthVSAvoidmuscular balance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the resistance mechanism into two independent members: a flexion member with vertically oriented cords for gripping exercises, and an extension member with horizontally oriented cords for extension and abduction exercises. This segmentation allows independent training of opposing muscle groups, resolving the contradiction by enabling both grip strength improvement and extensor muscle development without muscular imbalance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The exercise device achieves multi-functionality by integrating both flexion and extension resistance capabilities into a single unit. The flexion member and extension member work together to provide comprehensive hand exercise coverage, allowing the device to improve both gripping strength and extensor strength, thereby maintaining muscular balance while enhancing overall hand strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If hand exercises are limited to gripping motions only, then flexor muscles are strengthened, but extension and abduction motions are neglected causing tissue avascularity and increased injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexor muscle strengthVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamically oriented cords: vertically oriented cords in the flexion member for flexion exercises, and horizontally oriented cords in the extension member for extension and abduction exercises. This dynamic design ensures that all natural planes of hand motion are exercised, improving blood supply and reducing injury risk while maintaining flexor strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If resistance is not provided throughout the full range of motion, then exercise simplicity is maintained, but resistance lulls occur reducing exercise effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise simplicityVSAvoidexercise effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cords are pre-positioned and pre-tensioned within their respective members (vertically oriented in flexion member, horizontally oriented in extension member) to ensure continuous resistance is available throughout the full range of motion. This preliminary arrangement eliminates resistance lulls and maintains exercise effectiveness without complicating the user interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If the extension member is not securely attached, then device assembly is simplified, but the extension member may detach during use compromising safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidattachment security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The extension member is secured to the flexion member using a friction belly that creates friction-based retention. This beforehand securing mechanism prevents detachment during use while maintaining relatively simple assembly, resolving the contradiction between assembly simplicity and attachment security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device enhances muscle strength, balance, blood flow, and nerve stimulation, reducing treatment times and injury risk by allowing comprehensive hand, wrist, and forearm training, addressing the limitations of prior art by providing continuous resistance across all motion planes.

Implementation Method 1

an extension member (20) inserted into the flexion member (30)... a friction belly to secure the extension member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8343015B2Hand exercise device

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 ZACHARY TERRY

AI summary

The present invention relates to an exercise device that allows the user to strengthen the muscles that close the hand, against the resistance of a flexion member, as well as to strengthen the muscles that open the hand and spread the digits, against resistance of an extension member, all through full natural planes of motion, without lulls of resistance during the exercise. The device is always taut, due to its unique design, either resisting finger and thumb flexion and adduction or finger and thumb extension and abduction. The result of consistent use is maximum strength, balance and blood flow to the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow.