Hand adapter for resistance band

Abstract

The present invention relates to exercise equipment and more particularly to a hand adapter for use with a resistance band, wherein the hand adapter provides an unobstructed gripping surface and transfers the band's resistive forces through the user's metacarpals, wrist, and forearm in a linear, compressive force which stabilizes the wrist throughout an exercise movement, thereby providing increase control and decreased likelihood of injury.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand adapter device for use with a resistance band, the hand adapter comprising:
 a pad having a distal end, a proximal end, a top surface, and a bottom surface;   a finger loop coupled to the top surface and comprising a portion of the distal end;   a base comprising a portion of the proximal end; and   a loop coupled to the base for selectively retaining an end of the resistance band.   
     
     
         2 . The hand adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a flexible, non-elastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The hand adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible, non-elastic material is selected from the group consisting of nylon, suede, leather, and webbing. 
     
     
         4 . The hand adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of finger loops. 
     
     
         5 . The hand adapter of  claim 4 , further comprising four finger loops. 
     
     
         6 . The hand adapter of  claim 5 , wherein the finger loops are configured to receive the second, third, fourth, and fifth phalanges of a user. 
     
     
         7 . The hand adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising two pads, each pad having a base comprising a loop, wherein one end of the resistance band is selectively retained by the loop of one base of one pad, and the other end of the resistance band is selectively retained by the loop of the other base of the other pad. 
     
     
         8 . The hand adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the loop is comprised of nylon webbing. 
     
     
         9 . The hand adapter of  claim 4 , wherein each finger loop is configured to receive at least one phalange of a user. 
     
     
         10 . The hand adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the base is positioned over a user's wrist and the pad is positioned over the user's palm when the user's phalange is maximally inserted into the finger loop.