Weight lifting grip device

Abstract

A support for use with exercise equipment, the support configured to fit within the hand of a user between the hand the exercise equipment. A body of the support is configured to aid in filling the space between the palm of the user and the exercise equipment. The support provides added comfort to the user and aid in aligning the user with respect to the exercise equipment to reduce the chance for injury and to provide greater comfort during exercise.

1 . A weight lifting grip support comprising:
 a body with a first end adjacent a pinkie finger of a hand of a user and a second opposite end adjacent a thumb of the user's hand;   a surface of the body configured to fit within a palm of the user, the palm surface extending generally from the first end to the second end;   an open sided groove formed in the body generally opposite the palm surface, the groove sized to receive a gripping portion of exercise equipment through the open side and releasably attach the support to the exercise equipment, the groove extending generally from the first end to the second end;   a thumb groove formed in the body adjacent the second end;   the body thicker adjacent the first end and narrower adjacent the second end.   
   
   
       2 . The support of  claim 1 , further comprising the groove including a surface treatment to enhance grip on the exercise equipment. 
   
   
       3 . The support of  claim 1 , further comprising the palm surface including a palm swell. 
   
   
       4 . The support of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is shaped to receive a round bar and the groove is sized to extend about more than half of the circumference of a bar within the groove, and further comprising the support made of a resilient deformable material which deforms to permit the bar to be positioned within the groove through the open side and removed from the groove through the open side. 
   
   
       5 . The support of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap extending generally between the first end and the second end to releasably hold the support to the user's hand. 
   
   
       6 . The support of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap extending across the open side of the groove, the strap releasable to selectively hold the exercise equipment within the groove and permit removal of the exercise equipment from the groove. 
   
   
       7 . The support of  claim 1 , wherein the support is a first support and the body of the first support is configured to fit within a right hand of the user and further comprising a second support, the second support including a body configured to fit within a left hand of the user, but otherwise similarly configured to body of the first support. 
   
   
       8 . A method of using exercise equipment, the method comprising:
 providing a first support including a body with a palm side and an opposing groove for engaging the exercise equipment, the body further including a first end and a second opposite end, with the palm side and the groove extending generally from the first end to the second end, and a thumb groove formed on the palm side adjacent the second end;   a user engaging the first support in a right hand with the palm side adjacent a palm of the right hand and a thumb of the right hand extending within the thumb groove;   the user grasping the exercise equipment with the exercise equipment received within the groove of the first support, the body of the first support filling between the palm of the user's right hand and the exercise equipment, with the body thicker adjacent the first end than adjacent the second end, the user's fingers and thumb extending across the open side of the groove about the exercise equipment;   the user pushing the exercise equipment to perform an exercise;   the user removing the first support from the exercise equipment upon completion of the exercise.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing a second support similarly configured to the first support and generally a mirror image of the first support;   the user engaging the second support in a left hand with the palm side adjacent a palm of the left hand and a thumb of the left hand extending within the thumb groove;   the user grasping the exercise equipment with the exercise equipment received within the groove of the second support, the body of the second support filling between the palm of the user's left hand and the exercise equipment, with the body thicker adjacent the first end than adjacent the second end, the user's fingers and thumb extending across the open side of the groove about the exercise equipment;   the user performing an exercise with the exercise equipment;   the user removing the second support from the exercise equipment upon completion of the exercise.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the user engaging a piece of exercise equipment with the first support, performing a second exercise, and removing the first support from the exercise equipment upon completion of the second exercise. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the user releasably attaching the first support to the right hand prior to engaging the exercise equipment and the first support remaining attached to the user's right hand when the first support is disengaged from the exercise equipment. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first support is releasably attached to the right hand of the user by a strap extending over the palm surface generally between the first end and the second end. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising releasably attaching the first support to the exercise equipment prior to performing the exercise and releasing the first support from the exercise equipment upon completion of the exercise. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first support is releasably attached to the exercise equipment by extending a releasable strap across the open side of the groove after engaging the exercise equipment and performing the exercise.