Grip strength device

• US 7,470,217 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Danielle E. Jones-Glaser
• Original Assignee: Danielle E. Jones-Glaser
• Inventors: Jones-Glaser, Danielle E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome W.
• Application Number:
  US11/228,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20060063647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 482/49, 482/44, 482/47, 482/10, 733/790.1, 733/790.2, 733/790.4, 285/239
• US Class Current: 482/49
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0085 using pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/16 for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/20 for vaginal muscles or other sphincter-type muscles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/909 Mechanical indicator

Abstract

The grip strength device is configured to gauge the grip strength of contracted muscles or aid in exercising particular muscles by providing resistance against the contracted muscles. The grip strength device is inserted into a user'"'"'s vagina or held in a user'"'"'s hand. The user either contracts the pubococcygeal or hand muscles depending on the casing used. The grip strength device has a removable casing containing a first fluid, a first bellows, a second bellows and a pressure gauge. The first bellows has a closed end and a first valve in communication with the casing. The second bellows has a second fluid. The second bellows has a second valve connected to the pressure gauge, and a closed end abutting the closed end of the first bellows. Pressure applied to the removable casing is communicated from the first bellows to the second bellows and measured by the pressure gauge.

Claims

1. A device for measuring grip strength of muscles, comprising:

a removable casing containing a first fluid;

a first bellows having a closed end, the first bellows being in fluid communication with the casing, the first bellows and the casing forming a first fluid system partially filled with the first fluid;

a second bellows containing a second fluid, the second bellows having a closed end abutting the closed end of the first bellows and forming a second fluid system; and

means for measuring and displaying pressure exerted on the second fluid system by the first fluid system when the casing is compressed.

2. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 1, further comprising a first valve connected between the casing and the first bellows, the first valve providing fluid communication between the casing and the first bellows.

3. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid sheath disposed between the casing and the first and second bellows.

4. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 1, wherein said means for measuring and displaying pressure comprises:

a second valve connected to said second bellows;

a tube extending from the second valve; and

a pressure gauge connected to the tube;

whereby said first bellows expands when said casing is compressed, thereby compressing said second bellows and forcing fluid into the tube, the pressure gauge measuring and displaying the pressure.

5. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 4, further comprising a hinge joining said pressure gauge to said tube.

6. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 4, wherein said pressure gauge is selected from the group consisting of a dial-indicator gauge, a linear gauge, and an electronic LED read-out gauge.

7. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 1, wherein said casing is cylindrical, being adapted for insertion into a woman'"'"'s vagina for measuring the grip strength of vaginal muscles.

8. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 1, wherein said casing has a plurality of finger grooves defined therein, whereby the device is adapted for measuring finger grip strength.

9. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 8, further comprising a rigid outer lining disposed over at least one of the finger grooves, whereby the device is adapted for measuring the grip strength of fewer than all of the fingers of a hand.

10. A device for measuring grip strength of muscles, comprising:

a removable casing containing a first fluid;

a first bellows having a closed end and having a first valve forming a fluid conduit between the first bellows and the casing;

a second bellows containing a second fluid, the second bellows having a second valve and having a closed end abutting the closed end of the first bellows; and

a pressure gauge connected to the second valve;

whereby pressure applied to the removable casing is communicated from the first bellows to the second bellows and measured by the pressure gauge.

11. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 10, further comprising a rigid sheath disposed between the casing and the first and second bellows.

12. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 10, further comprising a tube disposed between said second valve and said pressure gauge.

13. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 12, further comprising a hinge joining said pressure gauge to said tube.

14. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 10, wherein said pressure gauge is selected from the group consisting of a dial-indicator gauge, a linear gauge, and an electronic LED read-out gauge.

15. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 10, wherein said casing is cylindrical, being adapted for insertion into a woman'"'"'s vagina for measuring the grip strength of vaginal muscles.

16. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 10, wherein said casing has a plurality of finger grooves defined therein, whereby the device is adapted for measuring finger grip strength.

17. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 16, further comprising a rigid outer lining disposed over at least one of the finger grooves, whereby the device is adapted for measuring the grip strength of fewer than all of the fingers of a hand.

18. A device for measuring grip strength of muscles, comprising:

a removable casing defining a cavity, the casing being compressible;

a first fluid disposed within the cavity of the casing;

a first bellows having a closed end and having a first valve forming a fluid conduit between the first bellows and the casing cavity;

a second bellows having a second valve and having a closed end abutting the closed end of the first bellows;

a second fluid disposed within the second bellows;

a tube extending from the second valve, the second valve forming a fluid conduit between the second bellows and the tube;

a rigid sheath extending axially between the casing and the first and second bellows; and

a pressure gauge connected to the tube;

whereby pressure applied to the removable casing is communicated from the first bellows to the second bellows and measured by the pressure gauge.

19. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 18, wherein said casing is cylindrical, being adapted for insertion into a woman'"'"'s vagina for measuring the grip strength of vaginal muscles.

20. The device for measuring grip strength according to claim 18, wherein said casing has a plurality of finger grooves defined therein, whereby the device is adapted for measuring finger grip strength.