Sleeve with external assistance during an arm motion

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing external assistance during a throwing motion include a detachable sleeve comprising a torso and an arm. A first elastic portion has a first end affixed to a front side of the torso and a second end affixed to a top surface of the arm. A second elastic portion has a first end affixed to a back side of the torso and a second end affixed to the top surface of the arm. A third elastic portion is provided with a first end, a second area, a third area, and a second end, wherein the first end is affixed to the torso, the second area is disposed on the top surface of the arm, the third area is disposed on a bottom surface of the arm, and the second end encircles the user's throwing hand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing external assistance to arm and shoulder muscles, comprising:
 a detachable sleeve comprising a torso region configured to receive at least part of a torso of a user and an arm region configured to receive at least part of an arm of the user;   a first elastic portion with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a front side of the torso region and the second end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a top surface of the arm region;   a second elastic portion with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a back side of the torso region and the second end of the first elastic portion is affixed to the top surface of the arm region; and   a third elastic portion with a first end, a second area, a third area, and a second end, wherein the first end of the third elastic portion is affixed to the torso region, the second area is disposed on the top surface of the arm region, the third area is disposed on a bottom surface of the arm region, and the second end of the third elastic portion is configured to encircle a hand of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable sleeve comprises a shirt. 
     
     
         3 . The system  claim 1 , wherein the detachable sleeve comprises a neoprene material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm region of the detachable sleeve is formed from a different material than the torso region of the detachable sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first elastic portion or the second elastic portion is external to the detachable sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth elastic portion with a first end, a second end, and a middle, wherein the first end of the fourth elastic portion is affixed to the arm region, the middle is disposed on the bottom of the arm region, and the second end of the fourth elastic portion is affixed to a tab that is removably connected to a back side of the end of the arm region.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first elastic portion, the second elastic portion, the third elastic portion or the fourth elastic portion comprises a plurality of separate elastic components. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first elastic portion has a first modulus of elasticity, the second elastic portion has a second modulus of elasticity, the third elastic portion has a third modulus of elasticity, the fourth elastic portion has a fourth modulus of elasticity and wherein at least one of the first, second, third, or fourth modulus of elasticity is different from the other moduli of elasticity. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the detachable sleeve comprises at first layer of material and a second layer of material, and wherein at least one of the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least part of the third elastic portion or the fourth elastic portion is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         11 . A system for providing external assistance to arm and shoulder muscles, comprising:
 a detachable sleeve comprising a torso region configured to receive at least part of a torso of a user and an arm region configured to receive at least part of an arm of the user;   a first elastic portion with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a front side of the torso region and the second end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a top surface of the arm region;   a second elastic portion with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a back side of the torso region and the second end of the first elastic portion is affixed to the top surface of the arm region;   a third elastic portion with a first end, a second area, a third area, and a second end, wherein the first end of the third elastic portion is affixed to the torso region, the second area is disposed on the top surface of the arm region, the third area is disposed on a bottom surface of the arm region, and the second end of the third elastic portion is configured to encircle a hand of the user; and   a fourth elastic portion with a first end, a second end, and a middle, wherein the first end of the fourth elastic portion is affixed to the arm region, the middle is disposed on the bottom of the arm region, and the second end of the fourth elastic portion is affixed to a tab that is removably connected to a back side of the end of the arm region.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the detachable sleeve comprises a shirt. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the detachable sleeve is formed from a neoprene material. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first elastic portion, the second elastic portion or the fourth elastic portion is located external to the detachable sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first elastic portion, the second elastic portion, the third elastic portion or the fourth elastic portion comprises a plurality of separate elastic components. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first elastic portion has a first modulus of elasticity, the second elastic portion has a second modulus of elasticity, the third elastic portion has a third modulus of elasticity, the fourth elastic portion has a fourth modulus of elasticity and wherein at least one of the first, second, third, or fourth modulus of elasticity is different from the other moduli of elasticity. 
     
     
         17 . A method for providing external assistance to arm and shoulder muscles, comprising:
 providing a detachable sleeve comprising:
 a torso region with a front side configured to fit at least part of a chest of a user and a back side configured to fit at least part of a back of the user, and 
 an arm region configured to receive at least part of a throwing arm of a user; 
   providing a first elastic portion with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first elastic portion is affixed to the front side of the torso region and the second end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a bottom surface of the arm region;   providing a second elastic portion with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first elastic portion is affixed to a back side of the torso region and the second end of the first elastic portion is affixed to the top surface of the arm region; and   providing a third elastic portion with a first end, a second area, a third area, and a second end, wherein the first end of the second elastic portion is affixed to the torso region, the second area is disposed on the top surface of the arm region, the third area is disposed on a bottom surface of the arm region, and the second end of the second elastic portion is configured to encircle a throwing hand of the user,   wherein the first elastic portion, the second elastic portion, and the third elastic portion are operable to provide assistance to at least one muscle supporting an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the user's arm during an arm motion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein operable to provide assistance to at least one muscle supporting the UCL of the user's throwing arm further comprises:
 operable to load a first tension in the first elastic portion and a second tension in the third elastic portion during a windup of the arm motion.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein operable to provide assistance to at least one muscle supporting the UCL of the user's arm further comprises:
 operable to release the first tension in the first elastic portion and the second tension in the third elastic portion during a forward motion of the user's aim during the arm motion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein operable to provide assistance to at least one muscle supporting the UCL of the user's arm further comprises:
 operable to load a third tension on the first elastic portion and a fourth tension on the second elastic portion during a follow through of the arm motion.