Leg handle comprising hollow cylindrical section

Abstract

A leg handle with preferably hollow cylindrical sections, is used to aid in lifting a jumping player, especially for lineouts in Rugby Union. The handles are preferably made of one or more foam sausages attached to a thin stretch fabric sleeve which is placed the leg of the jumper and when jumping allow for secure grasp by lifters. The simple, reusable, easy to use leg handles provide a level of effectiveness, comfort, convenience, and safety not provided by conventional methods. To use, leg handles are applied to one or more legs of a jumper and held in place with tape. When the jumper jumps, one or more lifters place there hands against the leg handle. The lifters lift the jumper higher, support the jumper in the jump while the jumper attempts to intercept a ball, and safely lower the jumper. Leg handles comprising cylindrical sections are embodied with a single sausage; a lower front sausage and a higher back sausage; or as a pair of such sausages integrated into respective legs of a pair of compression shorts.

1 . A leg handle to be worn on a leg of a jumper and engaged by one or more lifters, said leg handle comprising:
 a) a thin stretch fabric material, having a thickness substantially less than about one millimeter,   b) at least one cylindrical section attached to the thin stretch fabric,   wherein the thin stretch fabric material is of sufficient size and shape to be worn around the lower thigh of the jumper,   wherein the thin stretch fabric material is sufficient size and shape wherein at least one wrapping of tape may be applied over below the cylindrical section on the thin stretch fabric without touching the skin of the leg of the jumper, whereby the leg handle is prevented from slipping up during the lift and whereby the skin and hair of the leg of the jumper is not adversely affected,   wherein, when the jumper jumps to obtain a higher position, the jumper is lifted and held in the higher position by the one or more lifters,   whereby the jumper when wearing the leg handle:
 i) is lifted and held in the higher position by at least one lifter, and 
 ii) runs and jumps free of discomfort or interference from the leg handle, and 
   whereby at least one of the lifters:
 iii) readily ascertains the location of the cylindrical section while the jumper is jumping, and 
 iv) securely engages at least one cylindrical section with at least one hand while lifting, supporting, and lowering the jumper. 
   
   
   
       2 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cylindrical section has rounded ends, and   wherein, when attached to the leg of a jumper, all of the edges of the cylindrical section taper smoothly down to the leg of the jumper,   whereby the edges which are engaged the hand of the lifter correspond to the shape of the hand of the lifter.   
   
   
       3 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cylindrical section is about five inches long.   
   
   
       4 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cylindrical section is between about three-quarters of an inch and about one and one-quarter inches in radius.   
   
   
       5 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wall thickness of cylindrical section is between about four and about twenty-nine millimeters.   
   
   
       6 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wall thickness of cylindrical section is between about three-eights of an inch.   
   
   
       7 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cylindrical section is formed from a hollow cylinder.   
   
   
       8 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein thin stretch fabric material forms compression shorts with two short legs,   wherein each of the two short legs are attached to at least one cylindrical section,   whereby at least one of the cylindrical sections is prevented from slipping down by the compression shorts compressing about the waist and legs of the jumper.   
   
   
       9 . The leg handle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the thin stretch fabric material forms a leg sleeve, and   wherein the thin stretch fabric material is capable of being taped to the thigh of the jumper, whereby the leg handle is prevented from slipping down.   
   
   
       10 . A system for supporting a jumper by one or more lifters, said system comprising two leg handles in accordance with  claim 1 , said two leg handles comprising a first leg handle to be worn on a one leg of the jumper and a second leg handle to be worn on the other leg of the jumper,
 wherein, prior to jumping, the first and second leg handles are applied to the corresponding legs of the jumper, and   wherein, when jumping, a first hand of the at least one lifter grips handle of the first leg handle and a second hand of the at least one lifter grips handle of the second leg handle,   whereby when the jumper jumps to higher position the at least one lifter is able to support the jumper with the first hand on the first leg handle and the second hand on the second leg handle.   
   
   
       11 . A method for supporting a jumper by one or more lifters comprising the steps of:
 a) applying at least two of the leg handles of  claim 1  to the legs of the jumper,   b) taping below each of the cylindrical sections,   c) the jumper jumping into the higher position,   d) the one or more lifters ascertaining the location of each cylindrical section,   e) the one or more lifters engaging each handle with each hand,   f) lifting the jumper to a second higher position,   g) holding the jumper firmly in the second higher position until the jumper is able to intercept the ball, and   h) lowering the jumper safely and securely,   i) repeating steps b) through h) for a predetermined period of time,   j) removing the leg handles,   k) reapplying the leg handles, and   l) repeating steps b) through h) for a second predetermined period of time.   
   
   
       12 . A method for supporting a jumper by one or more lifters comprising the steps of:
 a) applying two leg handles to the legs of the jumper, each leg handle comprising at least one cylindrical section and thin stretch fabric, said stretch fabric having a thickness of about one half millimeter,   b) the jumper jumping into a higher position,   c) the one or more lifters gripping one of the handles with each hand,   d) lifting the jumper to a second higher position,   e) holding the jumper firmly in the second higher position until the jumper is able to intercept the ball,   f) lowering the jumper,   g) repeating steps b) through f) at least once,   h) removing the leg handles,   i) reapplying the leg handles, and   j) repeating steps b) through f) at least once.   
   
   
       13 . A unit of compression shorts with integrated leg handles, to be worn over legs of a jumper and engaged by one or more lifters, said compression shorts comprising:
 a) thin stretch fabric material of sufficient size and shape to be worn around the wasted and thighs of the jumper,   b) a plurality of hollow cylindrical sections attached to the thin stretch fabric,   wherein the thin stretch fabric material is sufficient size and shape wherein at least one wrapping of tape may be applied over below each cylindrical section on the thin stretch fabric without touching the skin of the leg of the jumper, whereby the leg handle is prevented from slipping up during the lift and whereby the skin and hair of the leg of the jumper is not adversely affected,   wherein, when the jumper jumps to obtain a higher position, the jumper is lifted and held in the higher position by the one or more lifters,   whereby the jumper when wearing the leg handle:
 i) is lifted and held in the higher position by at least one lifter, and 
 ii) runs and jumps free of discomfort or interference from the leg handle, and 
   whereby at least one of the lifters:
 iii) readily ascertains the location of the cylindrical section while the jumper is jumping, and 
 iv) securely engages at least one cylindrical section with at least one hand while lifting, supporting, and lowering the jumper. 
   
   
   
       14 . The compression shorts with integrated leg handles of  claim 13 ,
 wherein each cylindrical section has rounded ends, and   wherein, when attached to the leg of a jumper, all of the edges of each cylindrical section taper smoothly down to the legs of the jumper,   whereby the edges which are engaged the hands of the lifter correspond to the shape of the hands of the lifter.   
   
   
       15 . The compression shorts with integrated leg handles of  claim 13 ,
 wherein each cylindrical section is about five inches long.   
   
   
       16 . The compression shorts with integrated leg handles of  claim 13 ,
 wherein each cylindrical section is between about three-quarters of an inch and about one and one-quarter inches in radius.   
   
   
       17 . The compression shorts with integrated leg handles of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the wall thickness of each cylindrical section is between about four and about twenty-nine millimeters.   
   
   
       18 . The compression shorts with integrated leg handles of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the wall thickness of each cylindrical section is between about three-eights of an inch.   
   
   
       19 . The leg handle of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the combined thickness of each cylindrical section and the surrounding thin stretch material is less than or equal to about five millimeters.   
   
   
       20 . The compression shorts with integrated leg handles of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the combined thickness of each cylindrical section and the surrounding thin stretch material is less than or equal to about five millimeters.