Finger Exercising Device

Abstract

An exercising device, especially for exercising the fingers, on which a base member is provided, on which the forearm is adapted to rest with the hand in a predetermined position, while finger loops carried by the device are disposed near the said position and are adapted for receiving the fingers of the hand. Biasing springs connected to the finger loops resist movement thereof so that the fingers can be exercised by flexing thereof. The finger loops are arranged so as to be in two differently suspended sets so that the hand can be disposed with the palm up when using one loop set or the palm down when using the other loop set whereby the fingers can be exercised in different manners.

Description

The present invention relates to an exercising device and especially to an exercising device for exercising the fingers.

Exercises are often required for the fingers to strengthen the fingers, the hand, the wrist, and the forearm, or for therapeutic reasons when the fingers or portions of the hand have been injured. Heretofore, there has not been provided any scientifically designed exercising device for exercising the fingers in such a manner that reasonably predictable therapeutic results can be obtained.

The muscles pertaining to the fingers accomplish flexing of the fingers and bending thereof and extend along the fingers and hand and into the forearm and it is, at times, desirable to exercise these muscles, as well as to flex the finger and knuckle joints for reasons of therapy or development. Proper exercise of such muscles and joints should be balanced to provide for proper results while, at the same time, individual exercise of one or more fingers or joints may be needed.

Also, there are times when it is desirable for a certain degree of traction to be employed in connection with therapy and exercize of the fingers and heretofore known procedures for exercising the fingers of the hand have been deficient in providing for any degree of traction.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an exercising device for the fingers of the hand which is operable for influencing muscles pertaining to the fingers and to the hand and also to the wrist and forearm.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an exercising device of the nature referred to which is relatively inexpensive and which is compact so that it can be moved about readily.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an exercising device in which different muscles can be selectively exercised.

Still another object is the provision of a device of the nature referred to which is readily adjustable to provide for different degrees of resistant to movement of the fingers during exercising and to accommodate for hands of a different size.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following detailed specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view drawn at enlarged scale showing the device in use in one manner.

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4 but shows the device to use in another manner.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view drawn at enlarged scale showing an adjustment associated with the device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an exercise device is provided having a base member with an upwardly facing surface on which the forearm is adapted to rest with the hand in a predetermined position along the base member. Near the hand position, finger loops are provided for receiving the fingers of the hand and connected between the finger loops and base member are springs for resisting movement of the finger loops when the fingers are flexed.

The springs are connected to the base member at the end opposite the end where the forearm is received.

The finger loops referred to comprise first finger loops connected directly to the ends of the springs and resistant to movement in a horizontal direction and which are engaged by the fingers of the hand when the forearm rests on the base member with the palm of the hand uppermost.

Cord-like elements are also connected to the springs and lead over rollers or pulleys disposed above the position where the hand is located and then downwardly and are connected to second finger loops which are engaged by the fingers when the hand is disposed palm down. This last mentioned arrangement provides for resistance to movement of the finger loops in the vertical direction.

The finger loops which are engaged when the hand is disposed with the palm down and which are biased to resist flexing of the fingers downwardly. When the hand is palm down, the fingers tend to flex only at the knuckle joints and the resistance to movement thereof is thus effective for influencing the muscles and the like associated with the metacarpal-phalangeal joints and which constitute the knuckle regions at the base of the fingers.

The other finger pieces, which are engaged by the fingers when the hand is disposed palm up, are employed when flexing the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of the fingers, which are the finger joints and located between the knuckles referred to above and the final finger sections. By providing the combination of finger loops resistant to flexing of the fingers in the aforementioned manner, substantially complete exercising of the muscles pertaining to the hand can thus be obtained.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the device according to the present invention comprises a base member 10 which has an upwardly facing surface 12 leading from one end toward the center and inclined upwardly toward the center. Resting on surface 12 is a mat 14 of resilient material, such as foamed rubber, or elastomer, and which provides a cushion for a forearm resting thereon and likewise inhibits slipping of the forearm on the base member.

Distributed along the base member adjacent surface 12 are strap elements 16 for detachably securing forearm 18 in position on the inclined surface of the base member. The strap elements are adjustable and may advantageously be formed of cooperating elements of Velcro fabric.

With forearm 18 in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the hand 20 is in a predetermined position near the middle of the length of base member 10. Near this position are first finger engageable means which may consist of flexible strap-like loops 22. Loops 22 are connected to flexible, substantially inextensible, elements such as cords 24 which extend upwardly from the loops and pass about rollers or pulleys 26 carried by support means connected to the base. Such support means might comprise rod 28 secured to the upper ends of bars 30, the lower ends of which are fixed to opposite sides of the base member.

On the opposite sides of the rollers or pulleys 26 from the finger loops the elements 24 are connected each to one end of a respective tension spring 32, the other end of which is connected at 34 to the end of base member 10 opposite inclined surface 12.

The ends of springs 32 to which cord-like elements 24 are connected carry second finger engageable means in the form of the strap-like finger loops 36.

As will best be seen in FIG. 6, the connection of the springs 32 with the base member 10 is effected by a threaded rod 38 and a nut 40 which are relatively adjustable so as to bodily shift the position of the spring thereby to influence the bias the spring exerts on the respective finger loops. Each threaded rod 38 is clamped to the base member as by a stud and wing nut 42.

The device is shown in operation in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, a hand 20 is arranged palm down and the fingers are engaged with the finger loops 22. With the palm down and the fingers engaged by the finger loops as illustrated in FIG. 4, if the fingers are moved downwardly as indicated by arrow 44, the knuckle joints at the base of the fingers will be flexed and the muscles pertaining to such motion of the finger in the respective direction will be exercised. The fingers can be exercised individually or in groups and the spring pertaining to each finger loop can be adjusted to provide for the desirable resistance to movement of the respective finger.

In FIG. 5, the hand is disposed palm up and the final joint of each finger is engaged in a respective finger loop 36. With the hand arranged in this manner, the fingers are flexed in the direction indicated by arrow 46, bending at each joint and thus exercising all of the joints of the finger. As before, the fingers can be exercised individually or in groups.

When the hand is disposed as shown in FIG. 5, the device also exerts traction on the finger and hand, tending to straighten out joints which might be defective due to tight tendons or healed fractured. Also, as before, the individual springs can be adjusted, as desired, to obtain the desired degree of resistance to flexing of the respective fingers or the desired degree of traction applied thereto.

It will be appreciated that the device according to the present invention is relatively inexpensive to construct and is compact so that it is readily portable and that it is flexible with respect to the manner in which exercises can be carried out by using the device.

While the device is illustrated with two sets of four finger loops each, it will be understood that the thumb could also be exercised by availing of the illustrated finger loops, or by the addition of a further finger loop if so desired.

In general, an individual using the device will be able to retain the fingers in engagement with the finger loops, but in the event there is any difficulty in this respect, a detachable clip 48 as shown in FIG. 1 can be provided which will tend to confine the finger in the respective finger loop and thus prevent the finger from readily slipping out of the finger loop.

The device according to the present invention is useful by physical therapists and is also inexpensive enough to permit patients to purchase one for their own use and can be employed, not only for the purposes of therapy, but also for the purposes of muscle development.

The present invention is described as a finger exercising device, but it will be apparent that the device influences not only the fingers but the entire hand and wrist and forearm and is, thus, of more general benefit than for use merely in the exercising of the fingers. It will be understood, accordingly, that the description and claims are to be considered in this light.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a device, especially for use in finger exercises, comprising a base member having an upwardly inclined facing surface extending therealong toward the center from one end on which the forearm is adapted to rest with the hand in a predetermined position along the inclined surface of the base member, finger loop engageable means disposed above and near the center position of said base member, certain of said finger loop means being positioned in one location on said base member and suspended in a particular manner so that the fingers of the hand can be engaged with said finger loop means in the palms up position for applying force in a generally horizontal direction, and certain other of said finger loop means being positioned for use in the palms down position in a second location and suspended in a different manner for applying force in a generally downward direction, whereby said certain finger loop means and said certain other finger loop means collectively exercise the muscles in the entire hand, wrist and forearm, and biasing means connected to said finger loop means and resisting movement thereof upon flexing of the fingers engaged thereby.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said means connected to said finger engageable means comprise spring means connected at one end to said finger engageable means and at the other end to said base member.

3. A device according to claim 1 which includes retaining means for detachably retaining a forearm on said surface with the hand in said predetermined position.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said surface carries a resilient surface layer to cushion the forearm and to inhibit slipping of the forearm on said surface.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which said finger loop engageable means comprises finger loop means, said biasing means comprising spring means, first means connecting one end of said spring means to said base member near the other end thereof, and second means connecting the other end of said spring means to said finger loop means.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which said second means includes roller means supported on said base member and positioned above said predetermined position, and flexible substantially inextensible means connected at one end to said finger loop means and at the other end to said spring means and entrained over said roller means.

7. A device according to claim 6 in which said roller means are in the form of pulley means, a rod from which the pulley means is suspended, and upright bars secured at the bottom to the sides of said base member and connected at the top to said rod.

8. A device according to claim 5 in which said second means includes roller means supported on said base member and positioned above said predetermined position, flexible substantially inextensible means connected at one end to said spring means and entrained over said roller means, said certain finger loop means including first finger loop means connected to the other end of said inextensible means and said certain other finger loop means including second finger loop means connected to said other end of said spring means.

9. A device according to claim 8 in which said spring means comprises a plurality of springs, a respective first means connecting one end of each spring to said base member, a respective one of said flexible inextensible means connected at one end to the other end of each spring entrained over said roller means, said first finger loop means comprising a respective first finger loop connected to the other end of each inextensible means, and said second finger loop means comprising a respective second finger loop connected to the said other end of each spring.

10. A device according to claim 9 in which each said first means is adjustable to vary the resistance to movement of the finger loops connected to the respective spring.

11. A device according to claim 9 in which said finger loops are flexible strap-like loops, and clip means receivable on a said finger loop to assist in retaining a finger in the loop.