Ergonomic jump rope handle

Abstract

The present invention is a handle for a jump rope comprising a gripping portion, an extension member, and a rotation mechanism housing. The gripping portion is held by the user's fingers, while the user's thumb extends down the extension member which is fixed to the gripping portion's distal end and extends downward and laterally away from the gripping portion. The housing is attached with a distal end of the extension member and contains an opening for the jump rope. When gripped, the housing is positioned below and laterally away from the user's wrist joint, improving ergonomics and reducing wrist strain. The housing may incorporate various mechanisms for secure rope attachment and smooth rotation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle for receiving an end of a jump rope and for being grasped by a hand of a user, the hand including fingers, a thumb, and a wrist joint, the handle comprising:
 a gripping portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the gripping portion defining a first longitudinal axis;   an extension member fixed at a first end thereof with the distal end of the gripping portion, extending away from the gripping portion at a first angle, and terminating at a second end, the extension member defining a second longitudinal axis; and   a housing fixed with the second end of the extension member and including a proximal side and an opposing distal side;   wherein center points of both the distal side of the housing and the proximal side of the housing define a third longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the gripping portion, the housing receiving through a first opening of the distal side the end of the jump rope, with the end of the jump rope being retainable within the housing and freely rotatable around the third longitudinal axis;   whereby when the user grips the gripping portion with his fingers and places his thumb on top of the extension member and positions the gripping portion horizontally, the housing is positioned at a lower vertical position relative to the first longitudinal axis and farther away from the user's wrist joint than the gripping portion.   
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first longitudinal axis and the third longitudinal axis is at least one inch, and a lateral distance between the proximal side of the housing and the distal end of the gripping portion is at least one inch. 
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension member has a top surface that is concave in transverse cross-section for receiving the thumb of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the extension member is larger than a thickness of the extension member. 
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed as a hollow cylinder or a conical frustum wherein the distal side is disposed distally from the gripping portion, and the proximal side of the cylinder or conical frustum is also at least partially open at a second opening. 
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the jump rope includes a stop fixed therewith, the stop having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first opening, whereby with the stop of the jump rope disposed within the housing, the end of the jump rope is inhibited from exiting the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The handle of  claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a flanged bushing made from a low friction material and positioned within the first opening of the housing, whereby the end of the jump rope traverses the bushing and is free to rotate therewithin, the stop free to rotationally slide against the flanged bushing but not to exit the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a first ball bearing fixed with the distal side, whereby the end of the jump rope traverses the ball bearing, the stop free to rotate against the ball bearing but not to exit the ball bearing and the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes two ball bearings and a spindle extending through each ball bearing, one end of the spindle projecting outwardly from the distal side of the housing and configured for attachment with the end of the jump rope. 
     
     
         10 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion includes an ergonomic placeholder for at least one of the fingers. 
     
     
         11 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion has a transverse cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, elliptical, and rounded shapes. 
     
     
         12 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal axis of the extension member forms a first angle with the first longitudinal axis of less than 90-degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal axis of the extension member forms a second angle with the third longitudinal axis of greater than 90-degrees. 
     
     
         14 . A handle for receiving an end of a jump rope and for being grasped by a hand of a user, the hand including fingers, a thumb, and a wrist joint, the handle comprising:
 a gripping portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the gripping portion defining a first longitudinal axis, wherein the gripping portion includes an ergonomic placeholder for at least one of the fingers, and wherein the gripping portion has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, elliptical, and rounded shapes;   an extension member fixed at a first end thereof with the distal end of the gripping portion, extending away from the gripping portion at a first angle, and terminating at a second end, the extension member defining a second longitudinal axis, wherein the extension member has a top surface that is concave in cross-section for receiving the thumb of the user, and wherein a width of the extension member is larger than a thickness of the extension member;   a housing fixed with the second end of the extension member and including a proximal side and an opposing distal side;   wherein center points of both the distal side of the housing and the proximal side of the housing define a third longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the gripping portion, the housing receiving through a first opening of the distal side the end of the jump rope, with the end of the jump rope being retainable within the housing and freely rotatable around the third longitudinal axis;   wherein the second longitudinal axis of the extension member forms the first angle with the first longitudinal axis of less than 90-degrees;   wherein the second longitudinal axis of the extension member forms a second angle with the third longitudinal axis of greater than 90-degrees;   wherein the housing is formed as a hollow cylinder or a conical frustum wherein the distal side is disposed distally from the gripping portion, and the proximal side of the cylinder or conical frustum is also at least partially open at a second opening;   wherein the end of the jump rope includes a stop fixed therewith, the stop having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first opening, whereby with the stop of the jump rope disposed within the housing, the end of the jump rope is inhibited from exiting the housing;   wherein the housing includes a first ball bearing fixed with the distal side, whereby the end of the jump rope traverses the ball bearing, the stop free to rotate against the ball bearing but not to exit the ball bearing and the housing;   wherein a distance between the first longitudinal axis and the third longitudinal axis is at least one inch, and a lateral distance between the proximal side of the housing and the distal end of the gripping portion is at least one inch; and   wherein the extension member is fixed with the gripping portion and the housing with at least one continuous curve;   whereby when the user grips the gripping portion with his fingers and places his thumb on top of the extension member and positions the gripping portion horizontally, the housing is positioned at a lower vertical position relative to the first longitudinal axis and farther away from the user's wrist joint than the gripping portion.