Elastic exercise device

Abstract

An exercise device includes an elastic member having a first hand portion and a band portion. The first hand portion includes a first finger sheath portion and a second finger sheath portion. The band portion extends from the first hand portion. The band portion has a generally rectangular flat sheet shape. The finger sheath portions of the first hand portion are aligned along a first plane. Preferably, the first plane is substantially perpendicular to a surface plane of the band portion, such that openings for the finger sheath portions of the first hand portion are formed in the surface plane of the band portion. The exercise device preferably consists of a single molded piece, wherein the single molded piece is the elastic member. The exercise device preferably includes a second hand portion like the first hand portion (preferably mirror symmetrical), with the band portion extending there between.

1 . An exercise device consisting of a single molded piece, wherein the single molded piece comprises an elastic material, and the single molded piece comprises:
 a first hand portion, the first hand portion comprising a first finger sheath portion; and   a band portion extending from the first hand portion, wherein the first hand portion and the band portion are integral parts of the single piece.   
   
   
       2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the first finger sheath portion has a generally oval shaped opening. 
   
   
       3 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein the opening has an opening width at least two times greater than an opening height. 
   
   
       4 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hand portion further comprises a second finger sheath portion located adjacent the first finger sheath portion. 
   
   
       5 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the second finger sheath portion is larger than the first finger sheath portion. 
   
   
       6 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the first hand portion further comprises a web portion extending between the first finger sheath portion and the second finger sheath portion. 
   
   
       7 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the second finger sheath portion is directly adjacent to and in physical contact with the first finger sheath portion. 
   
   
       8 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the first hand portion further comprises a third finger sheath portion and a fourth finger sheath portion, such that the first, second, third, and fourth finger sheath portions are formed along a same finger plane, and such that openings for the first, second, third, and fourth finger sheath portions are formed in a band plane of the band portion. 
   
   
       9 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein a first web portion extends between the first and second finger sheath portions, wherein a second web portion extends between the second and third finger sheath portions, and wherein a third web portion extends between the third and fourth finger sheath portions. 
   
   
       10 . The exercise device of  claim 9 , wherein the single molded piece further comprises a second hand portion, the second hand portion being identical to the first hand portion, except that the second hand portion is mirror symmetrical to the first hand portion, and wherein the band portion extends between the first hand portion and the second hand portion such that the first hand portion is connected to the second hand portion by the band portion. 
   
   
       11 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the band portion has a generally rectangular flat sheet shape. 
   
   
       12 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the single molded piece further comprises a second band portion extending from the first hand portion. 
   
   
       13 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicon, silicon-based rubber, latex, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . An exercise device comprising an elastic member, wherein the elastic member comprises:
 a first hand portion, the first hand portion comprising:
 a first finger sheath portion, 
 a second finger sheath portion; and 
   a band portion extending from the first hand portion,
 wherein the first hand portion and the band portion are integral parts of the elastic member, 
 wherein the band portion has a generally rectangular flat sheet shape, and 
 wherein the finger sheath portions of the first hand portion are aligned along a first plane, wherein the first plane is substantially perpendicular to a surface plane of the band portion, such that openings for the finger sheath portions of the first hand portion are formed in the surface plane of the band portion. 
   
   
   
       15 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , wherein the exercise device consists of a single molded piece, and wherein the single molded piece is the elastic member. 
   
   
       16 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , wherein the elastic member further comprises a first web portion extending between the first finger sheath portion and the second finger sheath portion. 
   
   
       17 . A method of exercising arm muscles using the exercise device of  claim 14 , the method comprising:
 placing fingers of a hand at least partially in the finger sheath portions;   retaining the band portion at a distal location relative to the first hand portion; and   pivoting a wrist of the hand to perform a wrist extension and/or wrist abduction motion while stretching the band portion to provide resistance to the wrist extension and/or wrist abduction motion.   
   
   
       18 . A method of exercising hand and arm muscles using the exercise device of  claim 14 , the method comprising:
 placing fingers of a hand at least partially in the finger sheath portions;   retaining the band portion at a distal location relative to the first hand portion while the hand is in a partially closed configuration; and   opening the hand while stretching the band portion to provide resistance to the hand opening.   
   
   
       19 . A method of exercising hand muscles using the exercise device of  claim 14 , the method comprising:
 placing fingers of a hand at least partially in the finger sheath portions; and   spreading the fingers relative to each other to perform a finger abduction motion while stretching the elastic member at the finger sheath portions to provide resistance to the spreading of the fingers.   
   
   
       20 . A bilateral exercise device consisting of a single molded piece of elastic material, wherein the single molded piece comprises:
 a left hand portion, the left hand portion comprising:
 a first left finger sheath portion, 
 a second left finger sheath portion, 
 a first left web portion extending between the first left finger sheath portion and the second left finger sheath portion, 
 a third left finger sheath portion, 
 a second left web portion extending between the second left finger sheath portion and the third left finger sheath portion, 
 a fourth left finger sheath portion, and 
 a third left web portion extending between the third left finger sheath portion and the fourth left finger sheath portion; 
   a right hand portion, the right hand portion comprising:
 a first right finger sheath portion, 
 a second right finger sheath portion, 
 a first right web portion extending between the first right finger sheath portion and the second right finger sheath portion, 
 a third right finger sheath portion, 
 a second right web portion extending between the second right finger sheath portion and the third right finger sheath portion, 
 a fourth right finger sheath portion, and 
 a third right web portion extending between the third right finger sheath portion and the fourth right finger sheath portion; and 
   a band portion extending between the left hand portion and the right hand portion,
 wherein the left hand portion, the right hand portion, and the band portion are integral parts of the single molded piece, 
 wherein the band portion has a generally rectangular flat sheet shape, 
 wherein the finger sheath portions of the left hand portion are aligned along a first plane, wherein the first plane is substantially perpendicular to a surface plane of the band portion, such that openings for the finger sheath portions of the left hand portion are formed in the surface plane of the band portion, and 
 wherein the finger sheath portions of the right hand portion are aligned along a second plane, wherein the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the surface plane of the band portion, such that openings for the finger sheath portions of the right hand portion are formed in the surface plane of the band portion.