Wrist rotation controller for bowlers

Abstract

A device and method for restricting or enhancing wrist rotation uses an armband with an outer surface with loop or hook fasteners. An elongated flexible non-stretchable device wraps outwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent over-rotation of the wrist or wraps inwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent under-rotation of the wrist. The elongated device has an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and an inner surface with hook or loop fasteners. The elongated device can be removably and adjustably attached to the armband, and has a first connecting device affixed to the lower end portion. A gauntlet has a second connecting device affixed at the dorsal side of the thumb that is compatible with the first connecting device. The gauntlet may be constructed from material stretchable in a transverse direction of the hand but not stretchable in a longitudinal direction of the hand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wrist rotation controller for restricting or enhancing wrist rotation, comprising:
 an armband having an outer surface having one of loop fasteners and hook fasteners;   an elongated flexible non-stretchable device adapted to be wrapped outwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent over-rotation of the wrist and to be wrapped inwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent under-rotation of the wrist, the elongated flexible non-stretchable device having an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and an inner surface having one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners, the elongated flexible non-stretchable device being removably and adjustably attachable to the armband, and having a first connecting device affixed to the lower end portion; and   a gauntlet having a second connecting device affixed at the dorsal side of the thumb and compatible with the first connecting device.   
     
     
         2 . The wrist rotation controller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gauntlet is made of material stretchable in a transverse direction of the hand but not stretchable in a longitudinal direction of the hand.   
     
     
         3 . The wrist rotation controller of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a palm covering, a backhand covering, an expandable side panel, and a thumb gusset;   wherein the second connecting device is affixed to the thumb gusset; and   and wherein at least one of the palm covering, backhand covering, expandable side panel, and thumb gusset is stretchable in the transverse direction but not stretchable in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         4 . The wrist rotation controller of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the palm covering, the backhand covering, and the thumb gusset form a thumb hole, and encompass the thumb metacarpal from the thumb carpometacarpal joint to and at least partially including the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint;   the palm covering and the backhand covering form a first finger hole, and encompass the first finger metacarpal from the first finger carpometacarpal joint to and completely encompassing the first finger metacarpophalangeal joint; and   palm covering, backhand covering, and expandable side panel form common second through fourth finger-hole, and progressively expose the second through fourth finger metacarpophalangeal joints.   
     
     
         5 . The wrist rotation controller of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one knuckle window having therein stretchable fabric located within the backhand covering.   
     
     
         6 . The wrist rotation controller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of:
 the inner surface of the elongated flexible non-stretchable device being provided with low profile hook fasteners; 
 the first connecting device being one of a buckle loop, a hook, a snap, and a clasp; 
 the second connecting device being one of a buckle pin, an eye, a snap, and a clasp; 
 the upper end portion of the elongated flexible non-stretchable device having a width of at least about two inches; and 
 the lower end portion of the elongated flexible non-stretchable device tapering down to a width of about one inch. 
   
     
     
         7 . The wrist rotation controller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the armband further having at least one of:
 a two slot buckle; and 
 an inner layer of stretchable fabric, a middle layer of stretchable, resilient, non-absorbent sponge-like material, and an outer layer of stretchable fabric material that includes the loop portion of hook and loop fastener. 
   
     
     
         8 . A gauntlet for a wrist rotation controller for restricting or enhancing wrist rotation having an elongated flexible non-stretchable device adapted to be wrapped outwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent over-rotation of the wrist and to be wrapped inwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent under-rotation of the wrist, the gauntlet comprising:
 a connecting device affixed at the dorsal side of the thumb and operable to be connected to the elongated flexible non-stretchable device.   
     
     
         9 . The gauntlet of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the gauntlet is made of material stretchable in a transverse direction of the hand but not stretchable in a longitudinal direction of the hand.   
     
     
         10 . The gauntlet of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a palm covering, a backhand covering, an expandable side panel, and a thumb gusset;   wherein the connecting device is affixed to the thumb gusset; and   and wherein at least one of the palm covering, backhand covering, expandable side panel, and thumb gusset is stretchable in the transverse direction but not stretchable in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         11 . The gauntlet of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the palm covering, the backhand covering, and the thumb gusset form a thumb hole, and encompass the thumb metacarpal from the thumb carpometacarpal joint to and at least partially including the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint;   the palm covering and the backhand covering form a first finger hole, and encompass the first finger metacarpal from the first finger carpometacarpal joint to and completely encompassing the first finger metacarpophalangeal joint; and   palm covering, backhand covering, and expandable side panel form common second through fourth finger-hole, and progressively expose the second through fourth finger metacarpophalangeal joints.   
     
     
         12 . The gauntlet of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one knuckle window having therein stretchable fabric located within the backhand covering.   
     
     
         13 . A method for restricting or enhancing wrist rotation, comprising the steps of:
 providing an armband with an outer surface having one of loop fasteners and hook fasteners;   providing an elongated flexible non-stretchable device having an upper end portion, a lower end portion, an inner surface having one of hook fasteners and loop fasteners, and a first connecting device affixed to the lower end portion;   removably and adjustably attaching the elongated flexible non-stretchable device being to the armband using the hook and loop fasteners;   wrapping the elongated flexible non-stretchable device outwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent over-rotation of the wrist or inwardly around the forearm when in use to prevent under-rotation of the wrist;   providing a gauntlet having a second connecting device affixed at the dorsal side of the thumb and compatible with the first connecting device; and   connecting the first connecting device to the second connecting device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 making the gauntlet out of material stretchable in a transverse direction of the hand but not stretchable in a longitudinal direction of the hand.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 assembling the gauntlet to include a palm covering, a backhand covering, an expandable side panel, and a thumb gusset, at least one of the palm covering, the backhand covering, the expandable side panel, and the thumb gusset being stretchable in the transverse direction but not stretchable in the longitudinal direction; and   affixing the second connecting device to the thumb gusset.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 forming a thumb hole using the palm covering, the backhand covering, and the thumb gusset, and encompassing therewith the thumb metacarpal from the thumb carpometacarpal joint to and at least partially including the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint;   forming a first finger hole using the palm covering and the backhand covering, and encompassing therewith the first finger metacarpal from the first finger carpometacarpal joint to and completely encompassing the first finger metacarpophalangeal joint; and   forming a common second through fourth finger-hole using the palm covering, the backhand covering, and the expandable side panel, and progressively exposing therewith the second through fourth finger metacarpophalangeal joints.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 providing at least one knuckle window having therein stretchable fabric within the backhand covering.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 providing the inner surface of the elongated flexible non-stretchable device with low profile hook fasteners.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 at least one of:
 the first connecting device being one of a buckle loop, a hook, a snap, and a clasp; 
 the second connecting device being one of a buckle pin, an eye, a snap, and a clasp; 
 the upper end portion of the elongated flexible non-stretchable device having a width of at least about two inches; and 
 the lower end portion of the elongated flexible non-stretchable device tapering down to a width of about one inch. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 providing the armband further with at least one of:
 a two slot buckle; and 
 an inner layer of stretchable fabric, a middle layer of stretchable, resilient, non-absorbent sponge-like material, and an outer layer of stretchable fabric material that includes the loop portion of hook and loop fastener.