Hand Exerciser

Abstract

A new and improved method and apparatus for exercising the hand is disclosed herein. A stretchable web, with an array of spaced apertures is molded over a rigid frame. The web has multiple portions, wherein each portion is made of a different material with different resistance levels.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A hand-held exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a rigid frame;    a resiliently deformable web tensioned to the frame, the web being comprised of an array of apertures sized to accommodate human fingers, wherein the web has at least a first portion and at least a second portion, wherein the first portion is made of a first material and the second portion is made of a second material, wherein the first material has a different resistance level than the second material, wherein the web is a single sheet of material.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least a first portion has a resistance level which is different from the resistance of the at least a second portion by a factor of at least two.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the web has multiple portions, wherein each portion is made of different material, wherein each different material has a different resistance level.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the web is molded over and around the frame.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the apertures on the at least a first portion are a different shape than the apertures on the at least a second portion, and the different shapes have different resistance levels  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the web has multiple portions, wherein each portion's apertures are a different shape than the apertures on the other portions.  
   
   
       24 . A method for exercising, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web with at least a first portion and at least a second portion, wherein the first portion is made of a first material and the second portion is made of a second material, wherein the first material has a different resistance level than the second material, wherein the web is a single sheet of material;    molding the web onto a substantially rigid hand-held frame;    inserting associated fingers into apertures;    pulling the web toward an associated body; and,    releasing the tension on the web.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein providing a web with at least a first portion and at least a second portion, wherein the first portion is made of a first material and the second portion is made of a second material, wherein the first material has a different resistance level than the second material further comprises the step of: 
 providing a web with multiple portions, wherein the portions are made of materials with different resistance levels.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein providing a web with at least a first portion and at least a second portion, wherein the first portion is made of a first material and the second portion is made of a second material, wherein the first material has a different resistance level than the second material further comprises the step of: 
 providing a web with at least a first portion and at least a second portion, wherein the apertures of the first and second portions are different shapes with different resistance levels.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing a web with at least a first portion and at least a second portion, wherein the apertures of the first and second portions are different shapes with different resistance levels further comprises the step of: 
 providing a web with multiple portions, wherein the apertures of the portions are different shapes with different resistance levels.    
   
   
       28 . A hand-held exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a rigid frame, the frame being capable of being hand-held;    a resiliently deformable web tensioned to the frame, the web being comprised of an array of apertures sized to accommodate human fingers, wherein the web has at least a first portion and at least a second portion, wherein the first portion is made of a first material and the second portion is made of a second material, wherein the first material has a different elasticity modulus than the second material, wherein the web is a single sheet of material.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the first material has an elasticity modulus that is approximately twice the elasticity modulus of the second material.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the web has multiple portions, wherein each portion is made of different material, wherein each different material has a different elasticity modulus.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein at least one of the portions has a material that has an elasticity modulus that is approximately twice the elasticity modulus of at least one other portion.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the apertures on the at least a first portion are a different shape than the apertures on the at least a second portion, and the different shapes have different elasticity moduli.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the web has multiple portions, wherein each portion's apertures are a different shape than the apertures on the other portions.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the material of the first portion has an elasticity modulus of approximately 3 MN/m 2  and the material of the second portion has an elasticity modulus of approximately 6 MN/m 2 .  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the different portions have an elasticity modulus of from between approximately 1 MN/m 2  to approximately 10 MN/m 2 .