Hand-conditioning apparatus
United States Patent Perrine Apr. 29, 1975 [54] HAND&#39;CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Walter E. Perrine, 3001 N. 55 Dr., 1,248&#39;190 W960 France Phoenix, Ariz. 85031 [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1973 Primary ExaminerLawrence W. Trapp [21] A l N 410 786 Attorney, Agent, or FirmWarren F. B. Lindsley [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 128/52; 128/55 Hand condItIonmg apparatus for use In the regimen [51] lnt. Cl A61h 7/00 associated with the practice of karate p y g con 7 [58] FIeld of Search 128/-6, 5] 55 no] Conditioning impacts on the hand, which toughens [56] References Cited the hand in an improved manner while reducing the hazard of injury as compared with conventional hand UNITED STATES PATENTS conditioning routines. 1.750.303 3/1930 Goodrich 1223/55 ux 2.l48,66l 2/1939 Thierer 128/26 UX 5 Clams, 7 Drawing Flgures HAND-CONDITIONING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the practice of karate as an art of self defense the empty hand is employed as a weapon. and an important part of the regimen involved is the conditioning of the hand to develop its strength and resilience. This is typically accomplished through the use of various punishing types of exercises such as the striking of rigid objects with the fist. the edge of the open hand or the tips of the fingers. In such exercises the control over the impact received by the hand is relatively limited and the possibility of injury to the hand is a significant hazard. Therefore, the need for hand conditioning apparatus for reducing or eliminating this hazard while toughening the hand is evident.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed. a novel and useful hand conditioning apparatus is provided which toughens the hand in a controlled manner.  
  It is. therefore. an object of the invention to provide a novel hand-conditioning apparatus.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide a handconditioning apparatus which develops the strength and resilience of the hand ofthe user while significantly reducing the hazard of injury to the hand.  
  A further object of this invention is to provide a hand-conditioning apparatus in which the forces applied to the hand as well as the frequency of their application is readily controlled.  
  A still further object of this invention is to provide a hand-conditioning apparatus which is more effective than conventional exercises in the development of strength and resilience in the hand of the user.  
  A still further object of this invention is to provide such a reciprocating hand-conditioning apparatus which may be actuated automatically or manually.  
  Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:  
  FIG. I is a perspective view of a hand-conditioning apparatus showing a broken line image of the users clenched fist in position for the conditioning of his knuckles;  
  FIG. 2 shows a portion of the apparatus with the open hand of the user resting on the ball support in position for the application of conditioning impacts to the tips of his fingers:  
  FIG. 3 shows the users clenched fist in position on the ball support at an angle allowing the application of conditioning impacts to the side of the hand;  
  FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 5 shows an electro-mechanical schematic of the moving parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 6 is a modification of the structure shown in FIGS. 1-5 wherein the hand-conditioning mechanism is actuated by a bicycle chain transmission mechanism;  
 and 1 FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the structure shown in FIG. 6.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDD EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference. FIG. 1 discloses a handconditioning apparatus 10 housed in a step-shaped structure 11. The top surface 11A of the lower step of structure 11 supports a ball support 12. The top surface 118 of the top step of structure 11 is a cover for a rectangular enclosure 13 which contains electrical and mechanical components employed to drive a ram structure 14 in a reciprocating fashion. The ram structure is controlled by an ON-OFF switch 15, speed control 16 and mechanical clutch lever 17. all mounted on surface 118. Hand crank 18, shown as a broken-line image in FIG. 1. may be mounted on either side of the apparatus in crank sockets 19. 19&#39;. Suction cups may be mounted on the four corners of the bottom of the apparatus for ease in mounting on a plane surface with cups 20A. 20B. and 20C. shown in FIG. 1. A broken line image of the users clenched fist 21 is shown in position on ball support 12.  
  Ram structure 14 comprises a rod 23. a flat. rectangular plate 24 attached at its center to the end of rod 23, and a pad assembly 25 which is removably attached to plate 24. Pad assembly 25 comprises two parts. namely an impact pad 26 and a mounting clip 27. The impact pad 26 has dimensions approximately equal to those of plate 24. Mounting clip 27. which is permanently attached to pad 26. comprises a plate formed of metal or plastic having a flat rectangular center portion of the same dimensions as pad 26 and having U-shaped ends which fit over and grip the ends of plate 24 as shown in FIG. 1. Pad assembly 25. as described. may be readily attached to or removed from plate 24 by placing clip 27 over one end of plate 24 by sliding it over one side thereof into the position shown in FIG. 1. It is of course removed again by simply sliding it off one side. Ease ofattaching and removal of pad assembly 25 is desirable to permit alternate attachment of similar assemblies having pads of different materials. hardness or softness desired for a particular purpose and at different stages of the conditioning regimen.  
  In operation. ram structure 14 moves back and forth in a reciprocating manner along a line colinear with the longitudinal axis of rod 23. The impact pad 26 is thus caused to apply repetitive impacts to the knuckles of the clenched fist 21 as it rests on ball support 12.  
  The reciprocating motion of ram structure 14 may be produced either manually or it may be motor-driven. The position of clutch lever 17, as shown in FIG. 5, energizes or deenergizes the means for driving ram structure 14. When pulled back toward the user. in the position shown in FIG. 1, crank 18 is engaged and the user may turn the crank with his free hand to produce the reciprocating action. Thus. for conditioning the left hand. crank 18 would conveniently be installed as shown in FIG. 1 on the user&#39;s right-hand side of the conditioning apparatus. For conditiong the right hand. crank 18 is installed in crank socket 19. as shown in FIG. 1, where it could be operated by the users left hand. For motordriven operation. clutch lever 17 is moved forward away from the user. Switch 15 provides ON-OFF control of motor power and speed control 16 is rotated to adjust the motor speed which relates directly to the frequency of the reciprocating action of ram structure 14.  
  The severity or force of the successive impacts applied to the users hand may be varied by adjusting the position of ball support 12 along the longitudinal axis of the hand conditioning apparatus 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, ball support 12 comprises a vertical center post 28 supporting at its top end a cylindrical ball 29 and flaring out at its lower end to form a flange 30 below which is formed a threaded stud 31 extending colinearly with the axis of post 28. Ball support 12 is mounted on surface 11A of structure 11 by thrusting stud 31 through slot 33 in surface 11A which is parallel to the line of motion of rod 23 and which is vertically aligned with the axis of rod 23. When ball support 12 is in position the lower surface 34 of flange 30 rests on surface 11A and it may be moved along the length of slot 33 to adjust its proximity to pad 26. The desired position of ball support 12 is secured by means of a nut or other tapped device which is screwed over threaded stud 31 from the underside of structure 11 and tightened against the underside of surface 11A.  
 FIG. 2 illustrates a users open hand 35 in an appropriate position on ball support 12 for the application of bracket 41, electric motor 42, first and second V-belts 43 and 44 respectively. a rheostat 45, switch 15, and terminals 47 and 48 for connection to an electric power source. not shown.  
  Pulleys 36. 37 and 38 are typical of the type employed with V-belts having annular grooves tapered so that the width of the groove becomes smaller toward the bottom of the groove. Thus. as the V-belt is tightened against the annular groove it becomes more tightly wedged into the pulley and the degree of coupling is increased. Conversely as belt tension is decreased. surface contact between belt and pulley is reduced until belt and pulley become so loosely engaged as to provide no effective mechanical coupling. Pulleys 36 and 38 have one annular groove each. while pulley 37 has two adjacent grooves, the first groove of pulley 37 carrying V-belt 43 and the second groove of pulley 37 carrying V-Belt 44. As indicated in FIG. 5, belt 43 is also coupled to pulley 38, which is mounted on shaft 49 of motor 42. and belt 44 is coupled to pulley 36, which is mounted on crank shaft 51.  
  Clutch bracket 41 is a U-shaped bracket having its legs pivotally secured in rectangular enclosure 13 near their ends and which has attached to its closed end clutch lever 17. The pivoting axis of bracket 41 is parallel with the mutually parallel axes of pulleys 36, 37 and 38 and ofidler 39. A pin 52 journaled between the legs of clutch bracket 41 serves as an axle for idler wheel 39. ldler wheel 39 is in the form ofa pulley having two annular grooves 53 and 54 with the groove 53 being aligned with V-belt 43 and groove 54 being aligned with V-belt 44. The assembly comprising clutch bracket 41, clutch lever 17, pin 52 and idler 39 serves as a means for coupling pulley 37 either to pulley 36 for manual operation or to pulley 38 for electrical drive.  
  In the position of the assembly. as shown in FIG. 5, coupling between pulleys 37 and 38 occurs. Clutch lever 17 has been pushed forward away from the user of the apparatus. In this position bracket 41 forces groove 53 of idler 39 against V-belt 43 to provide the tension in belt 43 essential to the substantial coupling of pulley 38 to pulley 37 while at the same time relaxing tension in V-belt 44 so that belt 44 provides essentially no coupling between pulleys 36 and 37. With belt 43 tightly coupled to pulleys 37 and 38, mottor 42 turns pulley 38, and pulley 38 by means of belt 43 turns pul ley 37. Rocker arm 40 attached at one end to rod 23 of ram structure 14 is pivotally attached by pin 56 to one face of pulley 37 at a point slightly removed from the center of rotation of pulley 37. The pivoting axis of rocker arm 40 is thus parallel to the axis of rotation of pulley 37. As pulley 37 is rotated by the means described above, the horizontal component of the rotational displacement of pin 56 causes rocker arm 40 to move rod 23 of ram structure 14 back and forth in the desired reciprocating motion through sleeve support 55. Sleeve support 55 is mounted in the vertical wall of enclosure 13 as shown in FIG. 1.  
  1f clutch lever 17 is pulled back toward the user of the apparatus. idler 39 is disengaged from belt 43, decoupling motor 42 therefrom. lf clutch lever 17 is drawn still farther in the direction of the user of the apparatus. groove 54 of idler 39 engages belt 44, applying pressure at point 57 to belt 44 to provide effective coupling between pulleys 36 and 37 so that the turning of crank 18 produces rotation of pulleys 36 and 37 and the desired reciprocating action in rocker arm 40 and ram structure 14.  
  With manual operation. the user has direct control of the frequency or repetition rate of the reciprocating action. When the electric motor drive is employed. motor speed is controlled by means of rheostat 45, which is a variable resistor connected between the source of electric power connected to terminals 47 and 48 and the motor windings. As the resistance of rheostat 45 is increased by rotating speed control 16, the motor speed is decreased. Conversely. as the resistance of rheostat 45 is decreased. motor speed increased. Motor 42 is disconnected from the power source when not in use by opening ON-OFF switch 15.  
  The hand-conditioning apparatus 10 is portable and may be placed on a table or other convenient support for use. To prevent the apparatus from undesired motion while in operation as might otherwise be induced by the reaction to the reciprocating action, suction cup supports are provided at the four corners of structure 11. As shown in FIG. 4. the suction cup supports are attached by means of screws 58 to structure 11.  
  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the hand-conditioning apparatus may be a floor mounted structure actuated by the well known bicycle-type transmission mechanism 151. Structure 150 comprises a frame 152 supporting a bicycle-type seat 153 on a frame and an adjustably positioned handlebar rod 155 mounted at the front end on a horizontally arranged cross bar 156 of frame 152. The front end of cross bar 156 is fixedly attached and supported by an enclosure 157 which houses a pulley drive arrangement 158.  
  The bicycle structure 150 also includes a downwardly and rearwardly extending fork member 159 which is secured by welding to the bottom of the seat support bar 154 and a horizontal floor supported rectangular portion 160 of structure I50.  
  A sprocket crank housing 161 is mounted at the lower end of seat support bar 154 and is adapted to receive and support in rotative relationship a pedal crank 162 with its foot pedals 163 and large sprocket gear 164 attached thereto in the usual manner.  
  Manual rotation of pedal crank 162 by foot pressure applied to pedals 163 causes the large sprocket gear 164 to be rotated and by means of the usual drive chain 165 drives a smaller sprocket gear 166 attached to a shaft 167 rotatably mounted in enclosure 157. A second gear 166&#39; attached to shaft 167 causes gear 168 attached to shaft 169 rotatably mounted in enclosure 157 at the top portion thereof to rotate by means of drive chain 170.  
  Ram structure 14, shown in FIG. l-S, is pivotedly attached at one end by pin 171 to one face of gear 168 at a point slightly removed from the center of its rotation to cause the reciprocating action of ram structure 14 and pad assembly 125, described for FIGS. l-S, to engage the user&#39;s hands positioned on handlebar rod 155.  
  Thus, a means is provided in FIGS. 6 and 7 for conditioning both hands at one time in the manner described for the structure of FIGS. l-S while exercising the legs and feet of the user in the usual bicycle exercising manner.  
  The hand-conditioning apparatus herein described thus provides a unique and highly flexible means for conditioning the hands of the user. The frequency of application of the conditioning impacts as well as the force of the applied impacts are readily and effectively controlled by the mechanism described so that the user may begin with less severe applications and he may then gradually increase the severity of the treatments as the condition of the hand progresses. Additional flexibility and control is provided by the removable and interchangeable impact pads. The hazard of injury to the hand is appreciably reduced by the degree of control provided and by the improved facility for a gradual increase in severity. The rapid impacting action provided by the apparatus hastens the conditioning effect. producing faster results than may be obtained by conventional hand conditioning means.  
  Although but two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. An apparatus for providing hand conditioning impacts on the hand of a user comprising:  
 a frame, f a reciprocating ram having a hand engaging surface at one end mounted on said frame, means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said ram, and means for positioning and supporting the hand of the user in the path of movement of said ram for receiving impacts of said ram on the hand of the user, said means for positioning and supporting the hand of the user comprises a support adjustably positioned on said frame at one of a number of positions within the path of movement of said ram. said support comprises an object around which the hand of the user may grasp is within the path of movement of said ram. 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said ram embodies a dual purpose control comprising a manually operable crank. an electric motor and control means for selectively connecting either said crank or said motor to said ram for movement thereof. 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said ram comprises a bicycle-type, pedal driven chain drive mechanism connected to said ram for causing reciprocating movement thereof through the leg movement of the user. 4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for positioning and supporting the hand of the user comprises a ball supported on a pedestal which is selectively positioned along the axis of movement of said ram. 5. The apparatus for providing hand conditioning impacts on the hand of a user set forth in claim 1 wherein:  
 said frame comprises a bicycle-type configuration including a pedal driven chain drive mechanism fixedly mounted upright on a platform-like base. a handlebar and bicycle seat fixedly mounted on said frame in the known positions said reciprocating ram being mounted on said frame for movement against the handlebar, said ram having a hand engaging surface at one end. said pedal driven chain drive mechanism being connected to said ram for causing reciprocating movement thereof. said apparatus providing the dual function of excerising the legs of a user while simultaneously providing controlled impacts on his hands.