U.S. patent application number 14/521702 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-30 for system for converting a water bottle into an ergonomically correct free weight and process for doing the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Rufus Dorsey, Lisa Maria Nomura-Rodgers. Invention is credited to Rufus Dorsey, Lisa Maria Nomura-Rodgers.
Application Number | 20150119208 14/521702 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52996059 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150119208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nomura-Rodgers; Lisa Maria ;
et al. |
April 30, 2015 |
SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING A WATER BOTTLE INTO AN ERGONOMICALLY CORRECT
FREE WEIGHT AND PROCESS FOR DOING THE SAME
Abstract
A conversion system can be used for converting a water bottle
into an ergonomically correct free weight. The conversion system
includes an upper loop that is configured to encircle the water
bottle. A handle portion is joined to the upper loop and configured
to accommodate a palm of hand and human fingers against the water
bottle and a thumb outside of the handle portion. A lower loop is
configured to encircle the water bottle. Accommodating the thumb
outside of the handle portion prevents stress on an abductor
pollicis brevis muscle, an abductor pollicis longus muscle, an
abductor pollicis muscle and a dorsal interosseous muscle that is
proximate the thumb while permitting movement of the water bottle
by the over-hand grip.
Inventors: |
Nomura-Rodgers; Lisa Maria;
(South Pasadena, CA) ; Dorsey; Rufus; (Studio
City, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nomura-Rodgers; Lisa Maria
Dorsey; Rufus |
South Pasadena
Studio City |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52996059 |
Appl. No.: |
14/521702 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61895558 |
Oct 25, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/93 ;
220/755 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/072 20130101;
B65D 23/106 20130101; A63B 2225/682 20130101; A63B 21/0602
20130101; B65D 25/2805 20130101; A63B 21/4019 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/93 ;
220/755 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/06 20060101
A63B021/06; B65D 25/28 20060101 B65D025/28 |
Claims
1. A conversion system for converting a water bottle into an
ergonomically correct free weight; the conversion system
comprising: an upper loop, configured to encircle the water bottle;
a handle portion, joined to the upper loop and configured to
accommodate human fingers and palm of a human hand against the
water bottle and a thumb outside of the handle portion; a lower
loop, configured to encircle the water bottle; wherein
accommodating the thumb outside of the handle portion prevents
stress on an abductor pollicis brevis muscle, an abductor pollicis
longus muscle, an abductor pollicis muscle and a dorsal
interosseous muscle that is proximate the thumb while permitting
movement of the water bottle by a human arm.
2. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the lower loop and the
upper loop are at least ten millimeters thick in order to secure
the lower loop to the water bottle while preventing plastic
deformation of the lower loop while the water bottle is moving.
3. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein the handle portion is
at least twenty millimeters wide in order to prevent plastic
deformation of the handle portion when the handle portion is being
moved as part of the ergonomically correct free weight.
4. A process for converting a water bottle to an ergonomically
correct free weight comprises: providing the water bottle having
known dimensions; and joining a conversion system to the water
bottle; wherein the conversion system further comprises: an upper
loop configured to encircle the water bottle; a handle portion,
attached to the upper loop; a lower loop attached to the handle
portion; wherein the lower loop is configured to encircle the water
bottle.
5. The process of claim 4, further comprising inserting a human
hand between the handle portion and the water bottle wherein a
thumb on the human hand rests upon the handle portion while fingers
on the human hand rest below the handle portion.
6. The process of claim 5, further comprising: maneuvering the
water bottle with a human arm.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional patent
application U.S. Ser. No. 61/895,558 filed on Oct. 25, 2013, the
entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The embodiments herein relate generally to exercise
equipment.
[0003] Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, when water
bottles were used as weights they could slip out of a user's hands,
since the diameter of a water bottle is larger than a standard
dumbbell hand grip. Additionally, many users have compromised grip
strength due to arthritis and other hand and wrist injuries.
Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve this problem. As used
in this application a "human hand" is defined to comprise four
fingers and a thumb, though other anatomical arrangements may work
with the embodiments discussed below as well.
SUMMARY
[0004] A conversion system can be used for converting a water
bottle into an ergonomically correct free weight. The conversion
system includes an upper loop that is configured to encircle the
water bottle. A handle portion is joined to the upper loop and
configured to accommodate a palm of a human hand and associated
fingers against the water bottle. A lower loop is configured to
encircle the water bottle. Accommodating the thumb outside of the
handle portion prevents stress on an abductor pollicis brevis
muscle, an abductor pollicis longus muscle, an abductor pollicis
muscle and a dorsal interosseous muscle that is proximate the thumb
while permitting movement of the water bottle by the arm
muscles.
[0005] In some embodiments, the lower loop and the upper loop can
be at least ten millimeters thick in order to secure the lower loop
to the water bottle while preventing plastic deformation of the
lower loop while the water bottle is moving. The handle portion can
be at least twenty millimeters wide in order to prevent plastic
deformation of the handle portion when the handle portion is being
moved as part of the ergonomically correct free weight.
[0006] A process for converting a water bottle to an ergonomically
correct free weight includes the following steps, which are not
necessarily in order. First, providing the water bottle having
known dimensions. Next, joining a conversion system to the water
bottle. The conversion system can further comprise an upper loop
configured to encircle the water bottle. A handle portion can be
attached to the upper loop. A lower loop can be attached to the
handle portion. The lower loop can be configured to encircle the
water bottle.
[0007] In some embodiments the process can further include
inserting a human hand between the handle portion and the water
bottle wherein a thumb on the human hand rests upon the handle
portion while fingers on the human hand rest below the handle
portion. In some embodiments the process can further include
maneuvering the water bottle with the human arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] The detailed description of some embodiments of the
invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures,
wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the
figures.
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of
the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the
invention in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[0011] By way of example, and referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment
of conversion system 10 comprises lower loop 14 mechanically
coupled to handle portion 12. Handle portion 12 is further
mechanically coupled to upper loop 14.
[0012] In some embodiments, lower loop 14 has an inner diameter of
64 millimeters and an outer diameter of 88 millimeters in order to
accommodate a 24 ounce to 1.5 liter water bottle. However, other
size water bottles could have other dimensions. Experimentation has
shown that making lower loop 14 twelve millimeters thick is ideal
for securing lower loop 14 to bottle 16 while preventing plastic
deformation. However, a range of at least ten millimeters can still
be effective. In embodiments, where bottle 16 has uniform thickness
where lower loop 14 and upper loop 14 are joined to bottle 16, then
lower loop 14 and upper loop 14 would be uniformly size.
[0013] In some embodiments, handle portion 12 is 123 millimeters
between points on upper loop 14 and lower loop 14 which are most
proximate one another while being 275 millimeters from upper loop
14 to lower loop 14 at points most distant one another. Handle
portion 12 can be 25.4 millimeters wide in order to accommodate a
human user's hand grip, that is, an over-hand grip in palm of hand,
on an inside surface and thumb on an outside surface of handle
portion 12. In some embodiments, handle portion 12 can be at least
twenty millimeters wide in order to prevent plastic deformation of
handle portion 12 when handle portion 12 is being moved as part of
an ergonomically correct free weight.
[0014] Turning to FIG. 2, as used in this application, ergonomic
means "intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or
injury." The stress or injury or present concern has to do with a
few muscles in the thumb: the abductor pollicis brevis muscle, the
abductor pollicis longus muscle, the abductor pollicis muscle and
the dorsal interosseous muscle that is proximate the thumb.
Grabbing a water bottle with the human hand causes strain on some
or all of these muscles. However, when conversion system 10 is
used, there is no need to grab with the thumb. Further, the thumb
can rest to the side of the other four fingers, causing no strain
on the abductor pollicis brevis muscle, the abductor pollicis
longus muscle, the abductor pollicis muscle and the dorsal
interosseous muscle that is proximate the thumb.
[0015] Once conversion system 10 is placed on bottle 16, bottle 16
functions as a free weight that does not require gripping of the
thumb. In fact, all muscle groups in the hand can relax and the
weight of bottle 16 can rest upon a human user's arm. For users
with arthritis in a hand, this can be an effective way to exercise
without causing joints to become painful. This combination of
features is collectively defined as "an ergonomically correct free
weight".
[0016] A process enables use of a water bottle as an ergonomically
correct free weight. The process involves, first, providing water
bottle 16 having known dimensions. Then, joining conversion system
10 to water bottle 16 wherein conversion system 10 further
comprises: upper loop 14 having sufficient diameter to surround the
water bottle. Handle portion 12 is attached to upper loop 14. Lower
loop 14 attached to handle portion 12 and having sufficient
diameter to surround water bottle 16. After that, inserting a human
hand between handle portion 12 and water bottle 16. A thumb on the
human hand rests upon handle portion 12 while fingers on the human
hand rest below handle portion 12. Finally, maneuvering water
bottle 16 with the human hand. As used in this application a "water
bottle" means any vessel that can contain drinking water.
[0017] Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that
numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the
functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide
variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the
present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the
breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments
described above.
* * * * *