Exercise equipment handle grips

Abstract

The device is an exercise equipment hand grip that can be removeably installed on a piece of exercise equipment. The hand grip permits the user to maintains an open grip of the hand. The hand grip can be a soft visco-elastic, urethane, close cell foam, rubber or similar material. The hand grip has a generally cylindrical shape where one end of the cylinder has a larger circumference than the other end. The device thereby has a cone like shape with the narrow end held at the thumb side of the palm and the larger diameter end fits at the side of the palm. The holder includes a lengthwise opening that allows the holder to be placed over the bar grips of numerous exercise equipment and devices such as handles on weight machines, bar bells, dumb bells and EZ curl bars.

1 . A removable exercise equipment hand grip apparatus creating an increased diameter for an open grip of the user's hand comprising:
 a) a soft visco-elastic, urethane, close cell foam, rubber or similar material having a generally cylindrical shape with a first end and a second end wherein the second has a larger circumference than the first end; and   b) the hand grip further comprising an opening along the length of the hand grip and extending to an annulus within the hand grip extending from the first end to the second end.   
   
   
       2 . The hand grip of  claim 1  wherein the hand grip may be installed over the handle of exercise equipment causing the equipment handle to be cushioned and the circumference of the equipment to be grasped by a user's hand is increased. 
   
   
       3 . The hand grip of  claim 1  further comprising the user's palm opposite the thumb grasping the larger circumference of the hand grip. 
   
   
       4 . The hand grip of  claim 1  wherein the first end has a diameter of approximately 2 inches and the second end has a diameter of approximately 2½ inches and the annulus has a diameter of approximately 1 to 1⅛ inch. 
   
   
       5 . A removable exercise equipment hand grip dimensioned to fit over an exercise equipment bar comprising:
 a) a hand grip having a first end and a second end comprising a side opening to an annulus of the hand grip that can fit over a hand hold of exercise equipment;   b) the hand grip further comprising a rubber or visco-elastic material; and   c) the hand grip wherein the length between the first end and the second end is at least 4 inches.   
   
   
       6 . The hand grip of  claim 5  further comprising a first end having an outside diameter of approximately 2 inches and a second end having an outside diameter of approximately 2½ inches. 
   
   
       7 . A removable cone shaped, flexible urethane hand grip that opens and fits as a sleeve over dumbbell handles, barbells, EZ curl bars, or exercise machine handles and further comprising the user holding a larger diameter end of the grip with the side of the palm opposite the thumb. 
   
   
       8 . The hand grip of  claim 7  further comprising opening the grip of the user's hand when using exercise equipment. 
   
   
       9 . The hand grip of  claim 7  wherein the user's hand grip is caused to be more open while using the exercise equipment, thereby requiring increased finger, forearm, wrist and bicep strength to control the exercise equipment. 
   
   
       10 . The hand grip of  claim 7  comprising the user to hold the equipment more securely and squarely.