Grip assist apparatus with palm arch support

Abstract

A grip assist apparatus that may be worn on either hand that includes a symmetrical non-slip gripping portion that includes a substantially stiff palm arch support, a wrist portion, and a releasable wrist fastener.

1 . A grip assist apparatus for weight lifting, wherein said grip assist apparatus is wearable on either hand, said grip assist apparatus comprising:
 a symmetrical non-slip gripping portion comprising:
 a finger end; 
 an end piece at said finger end of said gripping portion; 
 a flexible area adjacent to said end piece; 
 a substantially stiff palm arch support adjacent to said flexible area; and 
   a first wrist attachment end and a second wrist attachment end, wherein each of said first wrist attachment end and said second wrist attachment end is adjacent to said palm arch support;   a wrist portion comprising a first strap and a second strap, wherein each of said first strap and said second strap comprises an attachment end and a free end and wherein said attachment end of said first strap being attached to said first wrist attachment of said gripping portion, and said attachment end of said second strap being attached to said second wrist attachment of said gripping portion; and   a releasable wrist fastener attached to said first and second straps, said wrist fastener being dimensioned and shaped to fasten said first strap to said second strap such that said grip assist apparatus is secured around the wrist of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first wrist attachment end and said second wrist attachment end of said gripping portion is angled such that when said first strap and said second strap of said wrist portion are secured about the wrist of the user via said fastening means, said first and second straps and said gripping portion form a funnel-shaped enclosure around the wrist and base of the hand, said enclosure having an opening that is larger at a distal end than at a proximal end. 
     
     
         3 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first strap and said second strap of said wrist portion are each substantially rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said gripping portion is a unitary gripping portion formed from a single material. 
     
     
         5 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wrist fastener comprises:
 a first section having a ring at one end, said first section being attached to said first strap; and   a second section attached to said second strap;   wherein said grip assist apparatus may be fastened to the wrist by inserting said second section through said ring of said first section.   
     
     
         6 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said second section comprises a first length of hook-type fastener and a second length of corresponding loop-type fastener, such that said grip assist apparatus may be secured to the wrist when said second section is inserted through said ring of said first section by locking said first length of hook-type fastener to said second length of loop-type fastener. 
     
     
         7 . A grip assist apparatus for weight lifting comprising:
 a symmetrical non-slip gripping portion, dimensioned to cover a palm of a human hand from at least one finger to below a wrist joint such that movement of a thumb is not impeded, and wherein said gripping portion has a rigidity such that said gripping portion is self-supporting and will remain extended in front of the palm and of the fingers to allow said gripping portion to be manipulated by the human hand on which said grip assist apparatus is worn, and wherein said gripping portion is sufficiently flexible to allow said gripping portion to be easily wrapped around a lifting bar using only the tip of said at least one finger of the human hand on which said grip assist apparatus is worn;   a wrist portion attached to said gripping portion; and   a releasable fastener attached to said wrist portion.   
     
     
         8 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said wrist portion comprises a first strap and a second strap, each of said first strap and said second strap having an attachment end and a free end, the attachment end of said first strap being attached to said first wrist attachment end of said gripping portion, the attachment end of said second strap being attached to said second wrist attachment end of said gripping portion, and wherein said releasable fastener is attached to said first and second straps. 
     
     
         9 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each of said first wrist attachment end and said second wrist attachment end of said gripping portion is angled such that when said first strap and said second strap of said wrist portion are secured about the wrist of the user via said fastener, said first and second straps and said gripping portion form a funnel shaped enclosure around the wrist and base of the hand, having an opening that is larger at the distal end than at the proximal end. 
     
     
         10 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said gripping portion is a unitary gripping portion formed from a single material. 
     
     
         11 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said gripping portion further comprises a finger end and an end piece at said finger end of said gripping portion. 
     
     
         12 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said gripping portion is formed of a non-slip material. 
     
     
         13 . A grip assist apparatus for weight lifting, said grip assist apparatus comprising:
 a non-slip gripping portion comprising:
 a finger end; 
 a flexible area adjacent to said end piece; 
 a substantially stiff palm arch support adjacent to said flexible area; and 
 a first wrist attachment end and a second wrist attachment end, wherein each of said first wrist attachment end and said second wrist attachment end is adjacent to said palm arch support; 
   a wrist portion comprising a first strap and a second strap, wherein each of said first strap and said second strap comprises an attachment end and a free end and wherein said attachment end of said first strap being attached to said first wrist attachment of said gripping portion, and said attachment end of said second strap being attached to said second wrist attachment of said gripping portion; and   a releasable wrist fastener attached to said first and second straps, said wrist fastener being dimensioned and shaped to fasten said first strap to said second such that said grip assist apparatus is secured around the wrist of the user.   
     
     
         14 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of said first wrist attachment end and said second wrist attachment end of said gripping portion is angled such that when said first strap and said second strap of said wrist portion are secured about the wrist of the user via said fastening means, said first and second straps and said gripping portion form a funnel-shaped enclosure around the wrist and base of the hand, said enclosure having an opening that is larger at a distal end than at a proximal end. 
     
     
         15 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first strap and said second strap of said wrist portion are each substantially rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         16 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said gripping portion is a unitary gripping portion formed from a single material  17 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said gripping portion is formed of a non-slip material. 
     
     
         17 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said wrist fastener comprises:
 a first section having a ring at one end, said first section being attached to said first strap;   and a second section attached to said second strap;   wherein said grip assist apparatus may be fastened to the wrist by inserting said second section through said ring of said first section.   
     
     
         18 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said second section comprises a first length of hook-type fastener and a second length of corresponding loop-type fastener, such that said grip assist apparatus may be secured to the wrist when said second section is inserted through said ring of said first section by locking said first length of hook-type fastener to said second length of loop-type fastener. 
     
     
         19 . The grip assist apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising an end piece at said finger end of said gripping portion.