Therapeutic glove

• US 5,697,103 A
• Filed: 06/15/1995
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Personal Expression I Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Personal Expression I Incorporated
• Inventors: Wiggins, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanatta, Amy B.
• Application Number:
  US08/490,567
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 2/163, 2/161.7, 2/161.2, 2/159, 2/162, 2/16, 2/160, 2/161.1, 2/161.6, 2/917
• US Class Current: 2/159
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/00 Gloves brush bodies shaped as gloves A46B5/04; gloves for washing the body A47K7/02; gloves for domestic washing or cleaning A47L13/18; surgical gloves A61B42/10; swimming gloves A63B31/02; as accessories for games or sports, e.g. baseball, boxing or golf gloves A63B71/14; gloves for glove-boxes B25J1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0034 Retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0048 with cuff securing features
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0089 Joints between glove and cuff or garment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/01582 with means to restrain or support the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0407 Anchored at two end points, e.g. installed within an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4001 Arrangements for attaching the exercising apparatus to the user's body, e.g. belts, shoes or gloves specially adapted therefor weights worn on the user's body A63B21/065; exoskeletons in general B25J9/0006, for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about A61H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4019 to the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/16 for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/917 Hand or wrist covering

Abstract

A therapeutic glove for exercising the fingers of a hand includes a glove body having finger and thumb portions each with a tip, an anchor rod for each finger and thumb portion, an elastic resistance band extending along the back of each finger and thumb portion from the tip to the anchor rod, an adjustable wrist portion using a hook and loop type fastener, and an elastic resilient band located on the back of the glove and connected to the anchor rod for each finger at one end and releasably connected to the wrist portion at the opposite end.

Claims

1. A therapeutic glove for exercising the fingers of the hand, comprising:

a glove body having finger portions each with a tip and a thumb portion with a tip, said glove body having a back adapted to overlie the back of the hand, a palm-covering portion for covering the palm of the hand, a rear opening for receiving the hand, a wrist portion adjacent said rear opening for securing the glove to the hand, and a middle part positioned between the finger portions and the rear opening for covering the knuckle of the hand;

anchor rod means for each of said finger and thumb portions;

an elastic resistance band located on said finger and thumb portions and connecting said tips with said anchor rods;

a center line longitudinal axis;

a first brace means adjacent to said anchor rod means for providing lateral strength for said glove body;

said first brace means being a transverse first brace extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a second brace means adjacent to said anchor rod means for providing lateral strength for said glove body;

said second brace means being a transverse second brace extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and

whereby whenever the fingers and the thumb of the hand are closed, the elastic resistance bands are stretched and exert a reverse counterforce tending to pull the fingers and the thumb back straight so as to open the hand and aid in exercising the fingers of the hand.

2. The therapeutic glove according to claim 1, wherein said anchor rod means are located in said middle part of the glove.

3. The therapeutic glove according to claim 1, wherein said wrist portion further comprises

a plurality of loops disposed thereon and extending across the back of the glove adjacent said rear opening;

an adjustment strap having a top and a bottom, said top and bottom of said adjustment strap having a plurality of hooks disposed thereon, whereby said hooks on said bottom of said strap engage said loops on said wrist portion to secure the glove to the hand; and

a retaining tab for further adjusting the fit of the glove.

4. The therapeutic glove according to claim 3, wherein said retaining tab has a top and a bottom, said bottom of said retaining tab having a plurality of loops disposed thereon, whereby said loops on said bottom of said retaining tab engage said hooks on said top side of said adjustment strap to further adjust the fit of the glove.

5. The therapeutic glove according to claim 4, further comprising

elastic resilient bands having a first end and a second end;

and

said resilient bands disposed on said back of the glove and connected at said first ends to said anchor rod means of said finger portions and connected at said second ends to said top of said retaining tab, whereby the tension of said resilient bands can be adjusted according to the placement of said retaining tab on said adjustment strap of said wrist portion.

6. The therapeutic glove according to claim 5, wherein said elastic resistance band and said elastic resilient band are each a part of the same continuous band.

7. The therapeutic glove according to claim 5, wherein said elastic resistance band is separate and distinct from the elastic resilient band.

8. A therapeutic glove for exercising the fingers of the hand, comprising:

a glove body having finger portions each with a tip, a rear opening, a back adapted to overlie the back of the hand, a palm covering portion for covering the palm of the hand, a front end comprised of said finger portions into which a finger of the hand may be inserted, a wrist portion adjacent said rear opening for securing the glove to the hand, and a middle part positioned between said front end and said rear opening for covering the knuckles of the hand;

an elastic resistance band disposed on said finger portions and connecting together said tip and said wrist portion;

a first brace means adjacent to said elastic resistance band for providing lateral strength for said glove body;

a center line longitudinal axis;

said first brace means being a transverse first brace extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a second brace means adjacent to said elastic resistance band for providing lateral strength for said glove body; and

said second brace means being a transverse second brace extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

9. The therapeutic glove according to claim 8, wherein said wrist portion further comprises:

a plurality of loops disposed thereon and extending across the back of the glove adjacent said rear opening;

an adjustment strap having a top and a bottom, said top and bottom of said adjustment strap each having a plurality of hooks disposed thereon and having a plurality of loops disposed thereon, whereby said hooks on said bottom of said strap engage said loops on said wrist portion to secure the glove to the hand; and

a plurality of individual retaining tabs with there being one retaining tab for each elastic resistance band such that the tension can be adjusted for each finger individually.

10. The therapeutic glove according to claim 9, wherein each of said individual retaining tabs has a top and a bottom, said top and said bottom of said individual retaining tab having a plurality of hooks disposed thereon, whereby said hooks on said bottom of said individual retaining tab engage said loops on said top side of said wrist portion, and said hooks on said top of said tab engage said loops on the bottom side of said adjustment strap to further adjust the fit of the glove.

11. The therapeutic glove according to claim 10, wherein said elastic resistance bands having a first end and a second end and being disposed on said back of the glove, said first ends connected to said tip of said finger portions and said second ends connected to said top of said individual retaining tab, whereby the tension of said resistance bands can be adjusted according to the placement of each of said retaining tabs on said wrist portion.