Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02893041 2015-05-20
CA Application
Blakes Ref: 12329/00001
1 GLOVES FOR ADJUSTING AND CONTROLLING RESISTANCE TO HAND MOVEMENT,
2 AND RELATED METHODS THEREOF
3
4 BACKGROUND
6 [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to gloves and
methods for use thereof.
7 More specifically, the present disclosure is related to gloves having
variable resistance, which
8 are beneficial for enhancing athletic performance, muscle strength,
development, flexibility, and
9 rehabilitation, etc. of hands, including digits and related body parts
(e.g., wrist, forearm).
11 [0002] Many activities require the exercise, use, conditioning.
training, strengthening,
12 .. improvement, and/or otherwise development of various muscles in the
hand(s), including fingers
13 and
related body parts (e.g., wrist, forearm). A subject's hand(s) might also
become injured, at =
14 which point various rehabilitative treatment methods and/or physical
therapy would be
warranted.
16
17 [0003] Examples of devices available for the conditioning,
development and/or strength
18 .. training of hand muscles and related body parts include hand exercise
grippers, hand exercise
19 squeeze balls, hand dynamometers, hand exercise webs with several holes
to place fingers in,
and hand exercise elastic bands.
21
22 [0004] Examples of rehabilitative treatment methods for hand and
related injuries include
23 placing an individual's hand in containers of sand or rice to gradually
practice grabbing and
24 twisting handfuls of the rice or sand. Moreover, methods available for
conditioning,
.. development and/or strength training are generally interchangeable with
related methods for
26 rehabilitative treatment.
27
28 [0005] The above-described devices and methods are limited in
typically allowing for
29 .. movement of one or a limited number of sections of the hand, and in only
one or a limited
number of directions and/or ranges of motion. For instance, squeeze balls
limit a user's
31 movement to incorporating most or all of the fingers of the hand to grip
the squeeze ball, and in
32 some instances roll the squeeze ball on a flat surface. As a result,
squeeze balls do not engage
33 a user in a number of finger articulations, such as adduction and
abduction, as well as allow for
34 movement of individual fingers at varying levels of resistance in any
one of three general
1
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1 directions (-x, -y, and ¨z). Similar limitations and drawbacks exist for
rubber bands, hand
2 exercise grippers, and even for containers of rice or sand. Namely,
containers of rice or sand
3 do not provide for a controlled, variable resistance mechanism for
movement of the hand in
4 various directions, and further limit the user to remaining in a
stationary position while using the
container device.
6
7 [0006] Accordingly, there exists a need for devices and methods
thereof for enhancing
8 athletic performance, muscle strength, development, flexibility, and
rehabilitation, etc. of hands,
9 including fingers and related body parts, said devices having variable
resistance in all available
directions of motion, and said devices not limited to stationary use by the
user.
11
12 SUMMARY
13
14 [0007] According to embodiments of the present invention, a glove
is provided. The glove
has a top surface and a bottom surface, where each of the top surface and the
bottom surface
16 has an inner and an outer surface. The glove includes a plurality of
connection points
17 positioned across an outer surface area of the glove. A plurality of
resistance bands is also
18 included, and configured to be removable attached to the plurality of
connection points. At least
19 one adjustable resistance mechanism is connected to the glove. The at
least one adjustable
resistance mechanism is configured to adjust degrees of resistance to motion
via the plurality of
21 resistance bands. The glove is also configured to allow for movement of
the hand and digits of
22 the hand in all available directions.
23
24 [0008] According to alternate embodiments of the present invention,
a glove is provided
having a top surface and a bottom surface. Each of the top surface and the
bottom surface has
26 an inner and an outer surface. The glove includes a plurality of
resistance bands fixably
27 attached throughout an outer surface area of the glove. The glove is
configured to allow for
28 movement of the hand and digits in all available directions.
29
[0009] Optionally, the at least one adjustable resistance mechanism can be
configured to
31 individually control and/or adjust resistance for at least one and up to
all of
32 metacarpophalangeal flexion movement. metacarpophalangeal extension
movement,
33 metacarpophalangeal abduction movement, metacarpophalangeal adduction
movement, and
34 metacarpophalangeal circumduction movement.
2
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1
2 [0010] Optionally, the at least one adjustable resistance mechanism
can also be configured
3 to individually control and/or adjust resistance for at least one and up
to all of interphalangeal
4 flexion movement and interphalangeal extension movement.
6 [0011] Optionally, the at least one adjustable resistance mechanism
can also be configured
7 to individually control and/or adjust resistance for digit flexion
movement and digit extension
8 movement,
9
[0012] Optionally, the at least one adjustable resistance mechanism can
also be configured
11 to individually control and/or adjust resistance for digit adduction
movement and digit abduction
12 movement.
13
14 [0013] Optionally, the at least one adjustable resistance mechanism
can also be configured
to individually control and/or adjust resistance for digit circumduction
movement.
16
17 [0014] Optionally, the at least one adjustable resistance mechanism
can also be configured
18 to individually control and/or adjust resistance for thumb movement.
19
[0015] A method for adjusting and controlling resistance to hand movement
is also provided
21 herein. The method includes applying a glove to cover the hand, the
glove having a plurality of
22 resistance bands. Degrees of resistance to motion are adjusted via the
resistance bands on the
23 glove.
24
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
26
27 [0016] The present disclosure may be better understood, and its
numerous features and
28 advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the
accompanying
29 drawings.
31 [0017] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a glove according to one
embodiment of the present
32 invention.
33
34 [0018] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a glove according to another
embodiment of the present
invention.
3
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1
2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
3
4 [0019] As used herein "substantially", "relatively", "generally",
"about", and "approximately"
are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the
characteristic so
6 modified. They are not intended to be limited to the absolute value or
characteristic which it
7 modifies but rather approaching or approximating such a physical or
functional characteristic.
8
9 [0020] In this detailed description, references to "one
embodiment", "an embodiment", or "in
embodiments" mean that the feature being referred to is included in at least
one embodiment of
11 the invention. Moreover, separate references to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment". or
12 "embodiments" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however,
neither are such
13 embodiments mutually exclusive, unless so stated, and except as will be
readily apparent to
14 those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention can include any variety of
combinations and/or
integrations of the embodiments described herein.
16
17 [0021] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments
18 only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used
herein, the singular forms, "a",
19 "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless
the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the root terms
"include" and/or "have",
21 when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, integers, steps,
22 operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of at
23 least one other feature, integer, step, operation, element, component,
and/or groups thereof.
24
[0022] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising." "includes,"
"including," "has,"
26 "having" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-
exclusive inclusion. For
27 example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list
of features is not
28 necessarily limited only to those features but may include other
features not expressly listed or
29 inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
31 [0023] As used herein, and unless expressly stated to the contrary,
"or" refers to an
32 inclusive-or and not to an exclusive-or. For example, a condition A or B
is satisfied by any one
33 of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not
present), A is false (or not present)
34 and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
4
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1
2 [0024] Various embodiments of the present disclosure will now be
described, by way of
3 example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, a glove 10 according to embodiments of the
present
6 invention is provided. The glove 10 can cover the entirety of a human
hand 11, including each
7 of a plurality of digits 15, or fingers, in reference to the digits 15 of
the human hand 11. The
8 digits 15 of the human hand 11 include a thumb 16.
9
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the glove 10 can be configured to individually
and/or completely
11 cover each of the digits 15 of the human hand 11.
12
13 [0027] Alternatively, although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the
glove 10 can be configured to
14 cover less than all of the digits 15 of the human hand 11; or the glove
10 can be configured to
partially cover one and up to all of the digits 15 of the human hand 11 (e.g.,
the glove 10 can
16 have openings at one and up to all of the tips of said digits 15). It is
also envisioned that the
17 glove 10 can also be configured to partially cover one and up to all of
the digits 15 of the human
18 hand 11, said covering available in varying levels of coverage (e.g.,
partial coverage, covering
= 19 any one and up to all of the digit(s) of the hand but only covering
up to the first joint of said
digit(s), completely covering only two of the digits of the human hand, and
partially covering the
21 rest, etc.).
22
23 [0028] In embodiments, the glove 10 can be configured to allow for
movement of the hand
24 11 and the digits 15 in all anatomically available and/or allowable
directions. The glove 10 can
also be configured to allow for adjustable tension and/or restricted movement
in any one and up
26 to all of the anatomically available and/or allowable directions, hand
and finger articulations, and
27 movements.
28
29 [0029] In certain embodiments, the glove 10 can be configured to
allow for movement in
limited directions. As an example, in cases where the user is injured and
cannot move his/her
31 index finger, the glove 10 be configured to allow for movement of digits
15 with the exception of
32 the index finger. As another example, in cases where the user desires to
train only a select
33 number of digits 15, a glove 10 can be configured to allow for only
certain degrees of movement
34 for said select number of digits 15.
5
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1 [0030] The glove 10 can include a top surface 12 and a bottom
surface (not illustrated).
2 The top surface 12 of the glove 10 is the surface that is closest in
contact with a top surface of
3 the hand 11; and the bottom surface of the glove 10 is the surface that
is in closest in contact
4 with a bottom surface (such as a palm) of the hand 11. It will be
appreciated that the top
surface 12 and bottom surface of the glove 10, respectively, also includes
those surfaces which
6 extend over and one and up to all of the digits 15 of the human hand 11,
whether partially or
7 completely, or any variance in degree of coverage:
8
9 [0031] The top surface 12 and bottom surface of the glove 10 can
each include an inner and
an outer surface (not illustrated). The inner surface of the top surface 12 of
the glove 10 can
11 generally be in direct contact with the top surface of the hand 11.
Likewise, the outer surface of
12 the top surface 12 of the glove 10 can correspond a portion of the total
outer surface area of the
13 glove 10. The inner surface of the bottom surface of the glove 10 can
generally be in direct
14 contact with the palm of the hand 11. The outer surface of the bottom
surface of the glove 10
can correspond to a portion of the total outer surface area of the glove 10.
16
17 [0032] The glove 10 can also include a plurality of connection
points 13 positioned across
18 .. an outer surface area of the glove 10. In embodiments, the connection
points 13 can be
19 present on a portion and up to substantially all of the top surface 12
of the glove 10, with no
resistance bands present on or connected to parts located across the bottom
surface of the
21 glove 10. In particular, the connection points 13 can be present on a
portion and up to
22 substantially all of the outer surface of the top surface 12 of the
glove 10.
23
24 [0033] Alternatively, the connection points 13 can be present on a
portion including up to
substantially all of only the bottom surface of the glove 10, with no
connection points 13 present
26 on the top surface 12 of the glove 10. In particular, the connection
points 13 can be present on
27 a portion and up to substantially all of the outer surface of the bottom
surface of the glove 10,
28
29 [0034] The connection points 13 can also be present on portion(s)
and/or regions across the
entire outer surface area of the glove 10, meaning at least portions and/or
regions located on
31 both the outer surfaces of the top surface 12 and bottom surface of the
glove 10. In particular,
32 the connection points 13 can be present on a portion and up to
substantially all of the outer
33 surfaces of both the top surface 12 and the bottom surface of the glove
10.
34
6
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1 [0036] In embodiments, the connection points 13 can be located at
positions corresponding
2 to digit 15 joint locations, in accordance with the anatomy of the hand
11. As shown in FIG. 1,
3 the connection points 13 are generally positioned at joint locations,
knuckle locations, locations
4 close to the tips of the digits 15, and locations corresponding to the
locations on the top surface
area of the hand 11.
6
7 [0036] In certain embodiments, the connection points 13 can be
evenly or uniformly
8 distributed throughout all or a portion of the outer surface area of the
glove 10. In alternate
9 embodiments, the connection points 13 can be non-uniformly distributed
throughout all or a
select portion(s) of the outer surface area of the glove 10,
11
12 [0037] The glove 10 also includes a plurality of resistance bands
14 spread across the outer
13 surface area of the glove 10. As such, suitable connection points 13
include, but are not limited
14 to, connection points 13 that are configured to anchor the plurality of
resistance bands 14 to the
glove 10.
16
17 [0038] Similar to the connection points 13, the resistance bands 14
can be present on a
18 portion and up to substantially all of only the top surface 12 of the
glove 10, on a portion and up
19 to substantially all of only the bottom surface of the glove 10, or the
resistance bands 14 can be
present on a portion and up to substantially all of the surface area across
the entire outer
21 surface area of the glove 10, meaning at least portions of both the top
12 and bottom surfaces
22 of the glove 10,
23
24 [0039] In particular, with regard to the above-described
configured, the resistance bands 14
can be present on a portion and up to substantially all of only the outer
surface of the top
26 surface 12 of the glove 10, on a portion and up to substantially all of
only the outer surface of
27 the bottom surface of the glove 10, or the resistance bands 14 can be
present on a portion and
28 up to substantially all of the surface area across the entire outer
surface area of the glove 10,
29 meaning at least portions of both outer surfaces of the top 12 and
bottom surface of the glove
10.
31
32 [0040] In certain embodiments, the resistance bands 14 can be
uniformly or evenly
33 distributed throughout all or a portion of the outer surface area of the
glove 10. regardless of
34 whether the resistance bands 14 are present on all or a part of the top
surface 12, all or a part of
7
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1 the bottom surface of the glove 10, or on all or a part of both top 12
and bottom surfaces of the
2 glove 10.
3
4 [0041] In alternate embodiments, the resistance bands 14 can be non-
uniformly distributed
throughout all or a select portion(s) of the outer surface area of the glove
10.
6
7 [0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a glove 10 embodiment where the
resistance bands 14 substantially
8 exist within the planar surface or planar surface area of the hand 11
and/or the glove 10, the
9 planar surface being substantially parallel to the surface of the hand 11
and/or the glove 10.
That is to say, substantially no portion of the resistance bands 14 extend to
an area that is
11 outside of the planar surface or planar surface area of the hand 11
and/or glove 10.
12
13 [0043] Alternatively, any portion(s) of the resistance bands 14 can
be configured to extend
14 outside of the planar surface or the planar surface area of the hand 11
and/or glove 10, as
shown in FIG. 2.
16
17 [0044] Returning to FIG. 1, the resistance bands 14 can be
configured to be removably
18 attached to the connection points 13. For example, the resistance bands
14 can be removably
19 attached to the connection points via anchoring mechanisms (not
illustrated). Other suitable
mechanisms for removably attaching the resistance bands 14 to the connection
points 13
21 include, but are not limited to, snap-fit closure mechanisms, tie
strips, bendable wire strips.
22 adhesives, VELCRO fasteners, removable joints, clips, and the like.
23
24 [0045] The connection points 13 also be configured to
removably attach the resistance
bands 14 to the glove 10 via, for example, snap-fit closure mechanisms, tie
strips, bendable
26 wire strips, adhesives, VELCRO fasteners, removable joints, clips, and
the like.
27
28 [0046] The glove 10 can also include at least one adjustable
resistance mechanism(s) (not'
29 illustrated) connected to the glove 10. In embodiments, the adjustable
resistance mechanism(s)
can be connected to or positioned at the outer surface area of the top surface
12 of the glove
31 10. Alternatively, the adjustable resistance mechanism(s) can be
connected to or positioned at
32 the outer surface area of the bottom surface of the glove 10. In cases
where it is desired, the
33 adjustable resistance mechanism(s) can be connected to or positioned at
both the outer surface
34 of the top surface 12 and bottom surface of the glove 10.
8
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1 [0047] As such, in cases where there are multiple adjustable
resistance mechanisms, the
2 placement of the mechanisms is not particularly limited. For example, one
or more adjustable
3 resistance mechanisms can be placed on the outer surface area of the
upper surface 12 of the
4 glove 10, and the remainder can be placed on the outer surface area of
the lower surface of the
glove 10. Alternatively, all of the adjustable resistance mechanisms can be
placed entirely on
6 the upper surface 12 of the glove 10; or entirely on the lower surface.
7
8 [0048] Adjustable resistance mechanism(s) can also be secured or
attached adjacent to the
9 glove 10, such as at or near a location of where a user's wrist would be
located. In
embodiments, adjustable resistance mechanism(s) can also be secured to the
glove 10 by way
11 of a wire, rope, or a thread.
12
13 [0049] Suitable adjustable resistance mechanisms include, but are
not limited to, a dial
14 tensioner, an adjustable knob, and/or a series of buttons connected to
the glove 10. With a dial
tensioner, the resistance of the glove 10 can be adjusted based on a position
of the dial, and
16 similarly with changing a position of an adjustable knob. Regarding a
series of buttons as an
17 adjustable resistance mechanism, the glove 10 can be configured such
that the resistance of
18 the glove is controlled by push button configuration, similar to that of
a remote control glove for
19 a television, or thermostats in a house.
21 [0050] In embodiments, the at least one adjustable resistance
mechanism can be
22 configured to be able to adjust values or degrees of resistance to
motion via the plurality of
23 resistance bands 14.
24
[0051] In cases where it is desired, the glove 10 can include a single
adjustable resistance
26 mechanism to control or adjust separate regions of the glove 10 to
separate levels and/or
27 degrees of resistance. Alternatively, the glove 10 can include multiple
adjustable resistance
28 mechanisms, each of which may be configured to or adapted to adjust
and/or control the
29 resistance of separately assigned areas of the glove 10.
31 [0052] In certain embodiments, the adjustable resistance
mechanism(s) can also be
32 configured to control or allow for adjusting separate regions of the
glove 10 to separate degrees
33 of resistance. For example, the adjustable resistance mechanism(s) can
be configured to
34 control or adjust the resistance of the thumb 16 area to a separate
level of resistance than the
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1 index finger, or to a separate level of resistance than any one and up to
all of the remaining
2 digits 15.
3
4 [0053] For example, the glove 10 can be configured to have one or
more than one
adjustable resistance mechanism(s) configured to allow for separately
adjusting the degree or
6 level of resistance for each individual digit 15. For example, each digit
15 can also have its level
7 of resistance controlled by its own uniquely assigned adjustable
resistance mechanism.
8 Alternatively, a glove 10 can be configured having only one adjustable
resistance mechanism,
9 where the adjustable resistance mechanism is configured to only allow for
the adjustment
and/or control of the resistance of the thumb 16 and/or all adjustable
resistance areas of the
11 glove 10.
12
13 [0054] Accordingly, it will be appreciated that gloves of the
present disclosure can be
14 configured to have any number of adjustable resistance mechanism(s),
which can further be
configured to control and/or adjust the resistance corresponding to any one
and up to all of the
16 anatomically allowable and/or anatomically available movements of the
hand 11 and
17 corresponding digits 15.
18
19 [0055] As such, fingers, a type of digit on the human hand 11, can
undergo several types of
articulations and/or movements, based in part on its joint structure, Fingers
contain both
21 metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, with the exception of
the thumb, or the
22 opposing digit on the human hand. The thumb is discussed separately and
in greater detail
23 further below.
24
[0056] Metacarpophalangeal joints are located between the metacarpal bones
and the
26 phalanges of the fingers. MetacarpopKalangeal joints are of the
condyloid kind, formed by the
27 reception of the rounded heads of the metacarpal bones into shallow
cavities on the proximal
28 ends of the first phalanges.
29
[0057] Metacarpophalangeal joints are capable of flexion, extension.
adduction, abduction,
31 and circumduction movements. Metacarpophalangeal flexion movements
generally involve a
32 bending of the joint resulting in a decrease of angle, such as moving
the base of the fingers
33 toward the palm of the hand. On the other hand, metacarpophalangeal
extension movements
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1 generally involve a straightening of the joint resulting in an increase
of angle. such as moving
2 the base of the fingers away from the palm of the hand.
3
4 [0058] As for adduction and abduction movements,
metacarpophalangeal adduction
movements involve a medial movement toward the axial line of the hand, such as
movement of
6 the fingers toward the middle finger. Metacarpophalangeal abduction
movements involve a
7 lateral movement away from the axial line of the hand, such as moving the
fingers away from
8 the middle finger. Metacarpophalangeal adduction and abduction are
limited however, and
9 generally cannot be performed when the fingers or digits are flexed.
11 [0059] Finally, metacarpophalangeal circumduction movements are
movements in which
12 flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction movements are sequentially
combined As such,
13 generally any joint whereby flexion, extension, adduction, and abduetion
movements can occur
14 is also capable of circurnduction movement
16 [0060] Interphalangeal joints are joints located between the
fingers bones, or phalanges, of
17 the hand. In human hands, with the exception of the thumb, two sets of
interphalangeal joints
18 exist (1) proximal interphalangeal joints (PIJ or PIP); and (2) distal
interphalangeal joints (DIJ or
19 DIP). Proximal interphalangeal joints are located between the first
(proximal) and second
(intermediate) phalanges, and distal interphalangeal joints are located
between the second and
21 third phalanges.
22
23 [0061] The only movements capable of being performed by
interphalangeal joints are
24 flexion and extension movements. Interphalangeal flexion movements
generally involve the
bending of the joint resulting in a decrease of angle, such as moving the
distal two segments of
26 the fingers toward the base of the finger. On the other hand,
interphalangeal extension
27 movements generally involve the straightening of the joint resulting in
an increase of angle, such
28 as moving the distal two segments of the fingers away from the base of
the fingers.
29
[0062] With regard to the thumb, the human thumb has carpometacarpal,
31 metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints. The carpometacarpal
(CMC) joint of the
32 thumb is also referred to the first carpometacarpal joint, or the
trapeziometacarpal joint (TMC),
33 because it connects the trapezium to the first metacarpal bone.
34
11
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1 [0063] The CMG joint of the thumb is capable of flexion, extension,
abduction, adduction,
2 and opposition movements. The CMC thumb joint flexes and extends in a
plane parallel to the
3 palm. Flexion movements of the CMC thumb joint involve bending the joint
resulting in a
4 decrease of angle, such as moving the bone below the thumb toward the
hand and slightly
forward. Extension movements of the CMC thumb joint involve straightening the
joint resulting
6 in an increase of angle, such as moving the bone below the thumb away
from the hand and
7 slightly back.
8
9 [0064] With regard to adduction and abduction movements of the CMC
thumb joint, the
CMC joint adduct and abduct in a plane perpendicular to the palm. Adduction
movements
11 involve medial movement toward the midline of the body, such as moving
the bone below the
12 thumb toward the back of the wrist; whereas abduction movements of the
CMC thumb joint
13 involve lateral movement away from the midline of the body, such as
moving the bone below the
14 thumb toward the front of the wrist.
16 [0065] Finally, opposition movements of the CMC thumb joint involve
diagonal movement of
17 the thumb across the palm of the hand making contact with the fingers.
Given the vast amount
18 activities that the typical human can undertake using his/her hands
(e.g., playing various sports,
19 musical instruments, keyboard typing, grabbing, gripping, and holding
items, etc.) the CMC
(carpometacarpal) joint of the thumb can require a great deal of strength and
flexibility training.
21 Likewise, the CMC joint can be stressed repeatedly in its three main
planes of movement:
22 abduction¨adduction, flexion¨extension, and opposition and subject to
debilitating conditions
23 such as arthritis.
24
[0066] The metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the thumb acts somewhat as a
hinge joint,
26 and is capable of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction movements.
Flexion movements
27 of the MCP joint of the thumb generally involve bending the joint
resulting in a decrease of
28 angle, such as moving the base of the thumb toward the heel of the hand.
Extension
29 movements of the MCP joint of the thumb generally involve straightening
the joint resulting in an
increase of angle, such as moving the base of the thumb away from the heel of
the hand. MCP
31 joint flexion and extension movements generally occur in a plane
parallel to the palm.
32
33 [0067] Abduction movements of the MCP thumb joint involve lateral
movement away from
34 the midline of the body, such as a slight movement of the base of the
thumb away from the back
12
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1 of the hand; whereas adduction movements of the MCP thumb joint involve
medial movement
2 toward the midline of the body, such as a slight movement of the base of
the thumb toward the
3 back of the hand. As with adduction and abduction movements of the CMC
thumb joint, the
4 MPC thumb joint also adducts and abducts in a plane perpendicular to the
palm.
6 [0068] Unlike the remaining digits of the human hand, the thumb has
only two phalanges
7 and therefore only one interphalangeal (IP) joint. The interphalangeal
joint of the thumb is
8 capable of flexion and extension/hyperextension movements. In flexion
movements, the IP joint
9 of the thumb is bent resulting in a decrease of angle, such as moving the
distal segments of the
thumb toward the base of the thumb.
11
12 [0069] Extension/hyperextension movements of the IP joint of the
thumb involve
13 straightening of the joint resulting in an increase of angle, such as
moving the distal segments of
14 the thumb away from the base of the thumb.
16 [0070] Accordingly in view of the above, gloves of the present
disclosure can be configured
17. to individually control and/or adjust the resistance of at least one
and up to all of
18 metacarpophalangeal digit flexion, metacarpophalangeal digit extension,
metacarpophalangeal
19 abduction, metacarpophalangeal adduction, and/or metacarpophalangeal
circumduction
movement(s). The resistance can be controlled by one or more than one
adjustable resistance
21 mechanism(s) in multiple configurations, as discussed above.
22
23 [0071] In embodiments, the adjustable resistance mechanism(s) of
gloves of the present
24 disclosure can also be configured to individually control and/or adjust
resistance for at least one
and up to all of interphalangeal flexion and interphalangeal extension
movement(s); and/or digit
26 flexion and digit extension movement(s).
27
28 [0072] Moreover, the adjustable resistance mechanism(s) of the
glove a10 can also be
29 configured to individually control and/or adjust resistance for and one
and up to all of adduction
and abduction resisted movement; and/or flexion and extension resisted
movement.
31
32 [0073] With regard to adduction and abduction resisted movement,
lines 17, as shown in
33 FIG. 1, indicate the resistance between the digits 15 (e.g., fingers)
for abduction and adduction
34 movements.
13
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1 [0074] Gloves and devices of the present disclosure can also be
configured to individually
2 control and/or adjust resistance for circumduction movement. Moreover, it
will be appreciated
3 that the glove 10 can also be configured to individually control and/or
adjust the resistance for
4 any one and up to a combination of all of the thumb movements, as
described above.
6 [0075] In embodiments, the material of the resistance bands is not
particularly limited, and
7 can be made of any strong, resilient, durable, flexible and non-toxic
rubber, composite, or plastic
8 material, such as natural and synthetic rubbers or a blend of synthetic
rubbers, nylons,
9 polyesters, and vinyl plastics. In embodiments, illustrative examples of
suitable materials that
the first and second portions can be made of include, but are not limited to,
neoprene plastic,
11 isoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene, ethylene-propylene,
butyl, chloroprene, nitrile
12 rubber, polyurethane, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,
and mixtures thereof.
13
14 [0076] In embodiments, the material of the glove is not
particularly limited, and can be made
of animal material (e.g., wool, silk, leather), plant material (e.g., cotton,
flax, jute, hemp), and/or
16 synthetic materials (nylon, polyester, acrylic fibers, latex and latex
composites) and
17 combinations thereof.
18
19 [0077] Suitable material for the glove also includes gripping
material, such as any slip
resistant, high friction and vibration dampening material capable of enhancing
the overall
21 strength and grasping capabilities of the glove.
22
23 [0078] In embodiments, portions of the glove can be reinforced with
additional material.
24 Said additional material can be located at one and up to all of the tips
of the digits of the glove,
the palm surface, the portion of the hand between the thumb and index finger,
and/or at the
26 location of one and up to all of the connection points.
27
28 [0079] The additional or reinforcing material can also be located
across portions up to and
29 including all of the surface area of the lower surface of the glove, and
across portions including
up to and including all of the surface area of the upper surface of the glove.
31
32 [0080] The additional of reinforcing material can be of the same or
different material than
33 the material of the glove. In embodiments, the material type of the
additional material is not
34 particularly limited and can be made of animal material (e.g., wool,
silk, leather), plant material
(e.g., cotton, flax, jute. hemp), and/or synthetic materials (nylon,
polyester, acrylic fibers, latex
14
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1 and latex composite materials) and combinations thereof. Suitable
material type also includes
2 gripping material, such as any slip resistant, high friction and
vibration dampening material
3 capable of enhancing the overall strength and grasping capabilities of
the glove.
4'
[0081] In embodiments, the glove can be lined with additional material on
the inner surface
6 of and one of the inner surface(s) of the top and bottom surface(s) of
the glove.
7
8 [0082] In certain embodiments, one and up to all of the digit tips
of the glove can be open,
9 thereby exposing the tip(s) of the digit(s) or finger(s).
11 [0083] With reference to FIG. 2, a glove 20 according to alternate
embodiments of the
12 present disclosure is illustrated. The glove 20 includes a top surface
22 and a bottom surface
13 (not illustrated). Both the top surface 22 and the bottom surface of the
glove 20 can also
14 include an inner and an outer surface. The inner surface of the top
surface 22 of the glove 20
can generally correspond to the surface of the glove that is closest in
contact to a top surface of
16 a hand 21, and the inner surface of the bottom surface of the glove 20
can generally correspond
17 to the surface of the glove that is closest in contact to a bottom
surface of the hand 21 (e.g.,
18 where a palm of the hand 21 is located).
19
[0084] The glove 20 can be configured to substantially cover the hand 21,
including a
21 plurality of digits 25 with a thumb 26, similar and corresponding to
configurations for glove 10 of
22 FIG. 1 contemplated herein. As such, the above description regarding
coverage configurations
23 of glove 10 of FIG. 1 applies to glove 29 of FIG. 2 and is incorporated
herein by reference in its
24 entirety. Accordingly, for sake of brevity and clarity, the above
description regarding coverage
configurations will not be repeated herein.
26
27 [0085] A plurality of connection points 23 can also be provided
across the outer surface
28 area of the glove 20. The glove 20 can also include a plurality of
resistance bands 24
29 removably attached throughout the outer surface area of the glove 20. As
shown in FIG. 2, in
cases where it is desired, the resistance bands 24 can extend outside of a
planar surface of the
31 hand 21 (see e.g., the resistance bands 24 extending across the space
between the thumb 26
32 and index finger of FIG. 2).
33
34 [0086] The resistance bands 24 can be removably attached to the
glove 20 at the
connection points 23. The above description regarding the resistance bands 14
and the
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1 connection points 13 of glove 10 of FIG. 1 applies in its entirety to
glove 20 of FIG. 2, and is
2 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Accordingly, the above
description regarding
3 the resistance bands 14 and connection points 13 of FIG. 1 will not be
repeated herein for sake
4 of brevity and clarity.
6 [0087] The glove 20 can also include at least one adjustable
resistance mechanism 27.
7 The above description regarding adjustable resistance mechanism(s) with
regard to the glove
8 10 of FIG. 1 applies to glove 20 of FIG. 2, and is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
9 Accordingly, the above description regarding adjustable resistance
mechanism(s) will not be
repeated herein for sake of brevity and clarity.
11
=
12 [0088] Gloves of the present invention also include embodiments
where resistance band(s)
13 are fixably or substantially permanently attached or affixed to the
glove. Namely. instead of
14 being removably attached to the glove, the resistance bands can be
substantially permanently
affixed to the glove.
16
17 [0089] Suitable examples for fixably attaching resistance bands to
the glove include, but are
18 not limited to, sewing, molding, stapling, clamping, superficially
attaching resistance bands to
19 the outer surface of the glove, and/or tying resistance bands into the
material and/or surface of
the glove, and/or applying adhesive(s) between the resistance bands and the
material and/or
21 surface of the glove, and the like.
22
23 [0090] In cases where resistance band(s) are fixably attached to
the glove, the glove can
24 also be configured to allow for a set degree and/or set range of
resistance values. Therefore,
instead of including an adjustable resistance mechanism to control or adjust
the resistance of
26 the glove, the glove can be pre-configured to allow for a set degree
and/or a set range of
27 resistance values associated with various hand and finger articulations
and movements.
28
29 [0091] For example, gloves where -esistance bands are fixably
attached to the glove can be
configured to allow for a set degree and/or a set range of resistance values
for at least one and
31 up to all of: metacarpophalangeal digit flexion movement,
metacarpophalangeal digit extension
32 movement, metacarpophalangeal abduction movement, metacarpophalangeal
adduction
33 movement, metacarpophalangeal circumduction movement, interphalangeal
flexion movement,
34 interphalangeal extension movement, digit flexion movement, digit
extension movement,
16
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1 adduction and abduction movement, thumb movement, flexion resisted
movement, extension
2 resisted movement, and/or circumduction resisted movement.
3
4 [0092] Also provided herein are methods for controlling and
adjusting hand movement.
Methods include applying a glove to cover a hand. The glove can include a at
least one
6 resistance band. The resistance band(s) can be similar to those described
herein,
7
8 [0093] Methods can further include adjusting and controlling
degrees of resistance to motion
9 using the resistance band(s) of the glove. The motion(s) that can be
adjusted include any
motion capable of being anatomically performed by a hand, including but not
limited to any one
11 of the above-described motions.
12
13 [0094] It will also be appreciated that gloves of the present
disclosure can be used in
14 methods for rehabilitating a subject, and well as in methods for
engaging in athletic and
movement-related activities and exercising. More specifically, gloves of the
present disclosure
16 can be used while engaged in any number of athletic, movement-related,
and/or sporting
17 activities, such as playing football, baseball, running, walking,
playing tennis, and the like. In
18 any one of these sports and/or activities, a user's hand can be engaged
in, e.g., throwing a ball,
19 grasping a bat or racquet, catching a ball, and/or grabbing and holding
onto surfaces. Because
it is not necessary for a user to remove the glove when engaged in such
activities, a user can
21 benefit from added resistance to various engaged joint and muscle
groups.
22
23 [0095] Accordingly, it may be beneficial for the user to utilize
the glove while simultaneously
24 engaged in activities to, for example, provide for additional training,
strength conditioning,
flexibility development, muscle development, and the like in various ranges of
movement, as
26 well as for rehabilitative treatment. As noted above, a user can utilize
the glove of the present
27 disclosure and wear it on his/her hand while catching a ball. This way,
various joints and
28 muscles that are typically used to grip and hold the ball can be further
strengthened and
29 enhanced, by adding resistance to said joints and muscles through the
glove.
31 [0096] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means plus
32 function elements in the claims below are intended to include any
structure, or material, for
33 performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as
specifically claimed. The
34 descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have
been presented for
17
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1 purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or
limited to the embodiments
2 disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art
3 without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments.
The terminology
4 used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments,
the practical
application or technical improvement over technologies found in the
marketplace, or to enable
6 others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments
disclosed herein.
7
8 [0097] It will be appreciated that not all of the features,
components and/or activities
9 described above in the general detailed description in relation to
embodiments of the present
disclosure or the examples are required, that a portion of a specific feature,
component and/or
11 activity may not be required, and that one or more further features,
components and/or activities
12 may be required, added or performed in addition to those described.
Still further, the orders in
13 which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they
are performed.
14
[0098] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been
described above
16 with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages,
solutions to problems,
17 and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to
occur or become more
18 pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential
feature of any or all the
19 claims.
21 [0099) After reading the specification, skilled artisans will
appreciate that certain features
22 are, for clarity, described herein in the context of separate
embodiments, may also be provided
23 in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that
are, for brevity,
24 described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided
separately or in any
subcombination.
26
27 [00100] In the foregoing, reference to specific embodiments and the
connections of certain
28 components is illustrative. It will be appreciated that reference to
components as being coupled
29 or connected is intended to disclose either direct connection between
said components or
indirect connection through one or more intervening components as will be
appreciated to carry
31 out the methods as discussed herein. As such, the above-disclosed
subject matter is to be
32 considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims
are intended to cover all
33 such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall
within the true scope of
34 the present invention.
18
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1
2 [00101] Further, references to values stated in ranges include each and
every value within
3 that range, and the endpoints of said ranges. Thus, to the maximum extent
allowed by law, the
4 scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest
permissible interpretation of
the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or
limited by the foregoing
6 detailed description.
7
8 [00102] Although the above description includes reference to certain
specific embodiments,
9 various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Any examples provided
herein are included solely for the purpose of illustration and are not
intended to be limiting in any
11 way. Any drawings provided herein are solely for the purpose of
illustrating various aspects of
12 the description and are not intended to be drawn to scale or to be
limiting in any way. The
13 scope of the claims appended hereto should not be limited by the
preferred embodiments set
14 forth in the above description, but should be given the broadest
interpretation consistent with the
present specification as a whole.
19
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