Walking Pole Grip with Thumb Pinch Channel and Palm Cradle

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/508,602 filed Jun. 16, 2023, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

This invention relates to a novel device in the general field of handles used with portable pole devices to assist with fitness walking or rehabilitation, and more specifically to handles with specific ergonomic features which may improve support, comfort, stability, and safety. This invention relates to Nordic walking poles, sometimes referred to as exercise sticks, walking sticks, Nordic poles, ski poles, cross country poles, or similar.

Poles or sticks have been used for thousands of years to aid walking or for support while walking, hiking, or for other transport uses. There have been innumerable variations to the design over time. This novel invention further improves upon the walking stick through improvements to the handle design.

Nordic walking is believed to have begun in Finland sometime in the 1930s based on the design of cross country ski poles. One element that differentiates Nordic walking from other pole-based exercise forms, is the participant usually uses two poles. Sometimes the handles of these poles are constructed to be used with either hand and sometimes the handles are constructed so one pole handle is to be used with the right hand and the other pole handle is to be used with the left hand.

Nordic walking has gained popularity for many reasons according to the American Nordic Walking Association. Nordic walking burns 20-46% more calories than walking without using poles. Using the poles engages the upper body as well as the lower body, activating as many as 90% of the body's muscles as opposed to 50% in regular walking. As participants use two poles there is symmetrical body position and better posture. Studies have shown Nordic walking participants lose weight, body mass index, and reduce glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels (Hagner-Derengowska M); and also have improved gait, walking distance (Nakagawa), higher vitamin D levels, improved mental health profiles (Podsiadło S), among other positive parameters.

Nordic walking offers many benefits, including improving upper body strength, posture, fitness, and core stability, though some users, particularly those with medical conditions impacting the hand such as arthritis, experience pain or other difficulties using poles constructed with the prior art. The present invention improves upon the prior art with a resigned and more ergonomic handle that offers the user increased comfort, stability, and ease of use.

The present invention offers three major improvements: contoured thumb channels allowing for a more natural position; a support ledge that allows the wrist to remain in a neutral position and may cradle the ulnar area of the hand and wrist; and eliminates the need for a wrist strap.

The present invention improves upon the prior art by incorporating one or more contoured thumb channels. The thumb support channel(s) is (are) positioned in the top area of the handle allowing the user to place the thumb in a more natural and comfortable position, rather than the extension and abduction position required in a traditionally-designed handle grip. The thumb support channel is generally in a vertical position with the thumb in the generally vertical orientation rather than the generally horizontal position required in the traditionally-designed handle grip, as shown in prior art patent number U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,021 A ().

Several examples of the prior art which include a thumb support, are U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,322,612, 4,750,760, 3,992,021, 8,678,020, and 6,637,773. Each of these prior art utilize a thumb support with hand and thumb in a fist type orientation where the thumb must wrap around the handle grip and incorporate such a thumb support as a means to distribute axial forces. The present invention includes a thumb support in a more natural and vertical orientation as opposed to the fist grip as an improvement to the prior art. In the fist grip, according to Ladd, the metacarpal bone undergoes ulnar translation, flexion, and abduction relative to the distal trapezial surface.

An additional improvement this present invention offers is that the user does not need to squeeze the handle grip firmly with their fingers and thumb in a fist-grip manner. The thumb position is in a more natural position and does not need to be firmly engaged to use the handle grip. A loose or relaxed thumb placement may be used. This advantage is primarily realized when the arm and pole are engaged in the back of body movements. The traditional Nordic walking pole design utilizes the wrist strap to propel the pole forward to the pole tip plant position. The prior art requires the user to tightly grip around the handle grip with fingers and thumb, which may be painful for anyone with a hand or wrist condition.

Prior art patent number U.S. Pat. No. 10,863,804 and the associated prior application patent number US 20190216186 has a conical grip in an effort to prevent hand fatigue by locking the hand in place so that the user may release their fingers and thumb for grip during use, and the grip stop which is intended to absorb some load from the pole striking the ground. A study found the failure of the user to release their grip on the pole handle contributed to the most injuries in Nordic walking, which is thumb damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (Knobloch, 2006). This prior art's design requires the thumb in the fist-grip and as with other above designs may prove difficult for a user with a thumb condition such as arthritis to use the grip. This prior art design does not provide any useful support for the ulnar part of the hand or wrist area.

Prior art patent number US 20220022612 A1 describes an entirely different approach with an adjustable grip and utilizing a different wrist angle. The entire handle rotates to accommodate the Nordic walking pendulum action of the pole plant and then lifting the pole from behind the body to plant the pole next to the body again. This handle grip does not have a thumb support or a wrist ledge support. This invention's novel design is an improvement on the prior art as it limits the wrist action, which could be painful for any person with hand or wrist health conditions, and provides a ledge platform to support the user's hand and/or wrist.

This novel invention improves upon the prior art with the design of the support ledge that allows the wrist to remain in a neutral position and may cradle the ulnar area of the hand and wrist. The present invention improves upon the prior art with a larger and curved ledge in the bottom area of the handle. This ledge may be described as a cradle for the lateral area of the hand and/or wrist. A user may choose to use this cradle ledge or may choose not to position their hand to rest on the cradle ledge. The cradle allows a user to rest the lateral area of their hand and/or wrist. The outer curved section of the cradle design passively keeps the hand in the cradle reducing effort by the participant to keep their hand from moving outwardly away from the pole. By reducing the active force to maintain proper positioning of the hand and wrist, it may reduce pain by not requiring muscle, tendon or ligament usage.

One prior art design, patent number U.S. Pat. No. 10,863,804 B2, is sold under the Urban Poling brand name and has a handle grip consisting of a slit cavity and a flat ledge located in the bottom area of the handle, which is claimed to reduce strain on the wrist. According to the video on the website (urbanpoling.com), which was viewed on Jan. 29, 2024, the training video advises users to press down on the flat ledge for stability and balance and to tighten core muscles. Requiring users to push down using the lateral part of the hand and/or wrist may be difficult and/or painful for some users, such as those with hand injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, or arthritis. The slit cavity in the handle grip requires the user to always use a fist-type grip around the handle and to apply pressure to the grip to obtain the purported benefit of lessening vibration frequency to the wrist. The fist-grip required may be painful to a person with a condition such as a thumb injury or trigger finger, which is common in people with diabetes. This invention improves upon the prior art as the user does not need to maintain a firm grip on the pole handle. A secondary benefit of the ledge of this invention's novel design is that it would aid a user in maintaining contact and control of the Nordic walking pole as it provides an additional point of contact between the user and the pole. This design feature would be beneficial to users who find gripping the handle with their fingers to be painful.

Prior art patent number U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,443 incorporates bottom and top integral protrusions intended as a retaining component as well as support for the second and fifth fingers (commonly known as the index and pinkie fingers). Prior art patent number U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,021 incorporates a lower flange as support for the second and fifth fingers (commonly known as the index and pinkie fingers) rather than the ulnar portion of the hand and wrist. Prior art patent number US 20060163865 utilizes a lower flange as a stop from the hand moving off the handle grip. The present invention improves upon the prior art as the support platform supports the ulnar portion of the hand and wrist.

Prior art patent number U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,870 is a walking aid that utilizes the pole extended in front of a person, which is quite different from the Nordic walking technique in which the pole is placed next to or nearly next to the user's foot. The prior art incorporates an adjustable angle handle grip with the user placing their entire hand on the support in an almost vertical position. The prior art patent document states that the “aid should be of such a length that is below the elbow height of the user” with the “forearm approximately 20 degrees below the horizontal position. Palm vertical, wrist held straight in line with the forearm.” The present invention improves upon the prior art in that the handle grip is held in a position that is consistent with reduced strain on the user's joints, notably the wrist, elbow, and shoulder.

Prior art patent numbers U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,172,935 and 4,139,210 incorporate a small lower flange intended as a means to push off while skiing. The present invention is an improvement to the prior art as it provides a flange that offers support to the ulnar area of the hand or wrist.

Another benefit of this invention is that a wrist strap is not a required element. Many prior art designs (example patent US 20230363501 A1) incorporate the wrist strap. For individuals with balance issues or a history of falls, for example, a wrist strap that connects the pole to a user's wrist may lead to an increase in the number and/or severity of injuries if one were to trip, misstep, or fall. According to a study by Knobloch, the most frequent injury in Nordic walking was to the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb after a fall, as a traditionally designed Nordic walking handle grip keeps the thumb into abduction and extension position.

This novel invention improves upon the prior art of two strapless handle designs that attempt to improve on how traditional Nordic walking poles are used include the Exerstrider (a trademark of Exerstrider Products Inc., Monona Wis., USA; www.exerstrider.com) and the Pacerpole (US patent number US 20190216186 A1) The strapless Exerstrider handle incorporates a central column with a lateral lip for applying a downward force with the hand in a relatively neutral position. However, the small lateral lip is inadequate to provide suitable support for an even distribution of force on the ulnar portion of the hand or to provide adequate support for the wrist. This novel invention, by providing the improved cradle ledge design, also allows the user to increase balance. In the Exerstrider poles, the force exertion occurs at the small joints of the knuckles rather than on the heel of the hand Smaller joints are more prone to injury and strain, and this would also reduce overall comfort. In addition, this handle only fits about 65% of the grip size of the male population The Pacerpole handle design positions the hand closer to a neutral position and provides increased surface area for applying a downward pressure, however the angle is so far forward that ulnar deviation occurs causing excessive wrist strain. Also, the line of force activation is off the pad of the thumb and thus less force can be engaged through to the poles (Patent US 20190216186 A1 ERGONOMIC HANDLES FOR MOBILITY & amp; REHABILITATION DEVICES)

This novel, strapless hand grip is intended to be used with a walking pole, trekking pole, Nordic walking pole, other mobility poles, or as a hand grip to reduce hand, wrist, or other joint strain. The pole grip includes a generally cylindrical body having an axial bore for receiving the shaft of a pole. In the preferred embodiment, the hand grip is designed with finger grooves so as to comfortably fit the natural anatomical shape of the hand, though could be designed without said grooves.

The hand grip of the present invention allows the user to maintain a natural and neutral wrist position which reduces strain on the thumb and wrist; improves balance and stability; and reduces the risk of injury with its easy release, strapless design. The hand grip is designed with a right hand form and a left hand form, though a user may choose to use just one of the forms.

The top of the cylindrical body has two grooves forming channels for the user's thumb. The two position grooves allow the user to choose between a grasp or pinch position, depending on the personal needs or preference of the user. The pinch position on the top of the hand grip reduces stress ten fold compared to the grasp position on the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, according to a research study. (need reference if include) The thumb channel positions allow the user to keep the thumb in a more neutral position,cradle for the ulnar side of the user's hand. This cradle provides support to the hand and/or wrist and may release pressure on the trapeziometacarpal joints and radiocarpal joints.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description, drawings, and claims.

The following discussion of the disclosure regarding the hand grip to be used with a Nordic walking pole, walking stick, trekking stick, mobility aid, or other pole type is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or its applications or uses.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques, steps, and/or components are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefits, and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques, steps, and/or components. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual techniques, steps, and/or components in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and modifications are routinely made during the machining or production of any apparatus, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A machining or production implementation of the present invention may be configured according to the needs and/or requirements of a particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es) or step(s) of the disclosure related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, improved, and/or optimized, and be within the scope of the invention and claims.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present invention is a novel hand grip that is generally cylindrical in design incorporating in the upper sectionor more thumb channel(s), a middle area that may contain grooves for the the fingers to grip the handle, a lower section with a prominent curved ledge platform, and an opening in the bottom area of the grip to accommodate a pole or stick. In the preferred embodiment, the hand grip has a right-hand form and a left-hand form.

While the preferred embodiment has a right-hand form and a left-hand form, a user may choose to use only one of the forms.

The figures illustrate the right-hand form of the novel hand grip. The preferred embodiment has a right-hand form and a left-hand form. The right-hand form is a mirror image of the left-hand form. For the sake of clarity, the descriptions will describe the right-hand form in particular. The descriptions are not intended to be limiting. The illustrations and descriptions are understood to apply to the left-hand form, a mirror image of the right-hand form. So as not to be repetitive, the right-hand form will be described though it is to be understood that the descriptions will apply to the left-hand form. It is to be understood that invention consists of many individual techniques, steps and/or components, and this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual techniques, steps, and/or components in an unnecessary fashion.

The present invention offers three major improvements that may be used individually, in any combination, including all the possible combinations: contoured thumb channel(s) allowing for a more natural position; a curved support platform or ledge that allows the wrist to remain in a neutral position and may cradle the ulnar area of the hand and/or wrist; and eliminates the need for a wrist strap.

illustrate that the hand grip is in a generally cylindrical shape, withillustrating the hand platformsometimes referred to as a cradle or ledge.

illustrate the thumb channelsand. The preferred embodiment has two thumb channels, located in the top section of the hand grip.illustrates the top thumb channel also known as the pinch position, andillustrates the side channel also known as the grasp position.

In the preferred embodiment the thumb support channels are incorporated in the top area of the hand grip allowing the user to place the thumb in a more natural and comfortable position, rather than the extension and/or abduction position generally used in a traditionally-designed hand grip. The thumb support channel is generally in a vertical position with the thumb in the generally vertical orientation rather than the generally horizontal position often required in a traditionally-designed hand grip.

An additional improvement this present invention offers is that the user does not need to squeeze the handle grip firmly with their fingers and thumb in a fist-grip manner, which requires that the metacarpal bone undergoes ulnar translation, flexion, and abduction relative to the distal trapezial surface (Ladd, 2013). The thumb is in a more natural position and does not need to be firmly engaged to use the handle grip. A loose or relaxed thumb placement may be used. This improvement is also evident when the arm and pole are engaged in the back-of-body movements. The traditional Nordic walking pole design utilizes the wrist strap to propel the pole forward to the pole tip plant position. The prior art requires the user to tightly grip around the handle grip with fingers and thumb which may be painful for anyone with a hand or wrist condition.

illustrate the curved platform located on the lower section of the hand grip. The platform allows greater support for the ulnar area of the heel and palm of the hand and/or the wrist. The curved platform (cradle) allows for an even distribution of forces across the hand and for the user to maintain a neutral position of the wrist for greater comfort and support of the wrist and hand. It also provides for increased downward pressure from the hand onto the hand grip of the pole which allows for offloading of pressure from the lower body joints and provides the user an increase in stability which is important for every user, but is especially important for a person with stability or mobility issues.

This novel invention improves upon the prior art with the design of the support ledge that allows the wrist to remain in a neutral position and may cradle the ulnar area of the hand and wrist. The present invention improves upon the prior art with a larger and curved ledge in the bottom area of the handle. This ledge may be described as a cradle for the lateral area of the hand and/or wrist. A user may choose to use this platform or may choose not to position their hand to rest on the platform. The cradle allows a user to rest the lateral area of their hand and/or wrist. The outer curved section of the cradle design passively keeps the hand in the cradle reducing effort by the participant to keep their hand from moving outwardly away from the pole. By reducing the active force to maintain proper positioning of the hand and wrist, it may reduce pain by not requiring muscle, tendon or ligament usage.

Traditional Nordic walking grips incorporate a wrist strap. The wrist strap is utilized in the Nordic walking process. Nordic walkers grip the hand grip and plant the Nordic walking pole near the opposite foot and when the foot is lifted and moves to the forward position, the hand and Nordic walking pole remain stationary and the entire arm transitions to a position behind the torso. The Nordic walker releases the hand grip when their arm straightens behind them and drags the pole forward using the wrist strap and regains their position on the hand grip when the pole is approximately opposite the foot and plants the pole near the foot.

This process is difficult for people with hand and/or wrist issues. The preferred embodiment of this novel invention is a strapless design. The innovative thumb channels and palm cradle allow the user to maintain contact and control of the handle grip and its attached pole without the wrist strap. The user can use a small amount of pressure on the one or a combination of contact points on the handle grip including the thumb channel(s), middle section (finger grip area) and the lower palm platform depending on the needs and preferences of the user. This innovative design allows individuals experiencing hand, finger and/or wrist issues to use the handle grip while lessening pain and discomfort while enjoying the many benefits that exercising in general, and Nordic walking in particular, provide.

While it is the preferred embodiment that this novel invention be strapless, attaching a strap is optional. For individuals with balance issues or a history of falls, for example, a wrist strap that connects the pole to a user's wrist may lead to an increase in number and/or severity of injuries if one were to trip, misstep, or fall. According to a study by Knobloch, the most frequent injury in Nordic walking was to the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb after a fall, as a traditionally-designed Nordic walking handle grip keeps the thumb into abduction and extension position.

An additional improvement this present invention offers is that the user does not need to squeeze the grip firmly with finger(s) and thumb in a fist-grip manner. The thumb position is in a more natural position and does not need to be firmly engaged to use the handle grip. A loose or relaxed thumb placement may be used. This advantage is primarily realized when the arm and pole are engaged in the back of body movements. Traditional Nordic walking pole design utilizes the wrist strap to propel the pole forward to the pole tip plant position. The prior art requires the use to tightly grip around the handle grip with fingers and thumb which may be painful for anyone with a hand or wrist condition.]

illustrate the openingthat accepts a pole or stick, withbeing a cross-section of the hand grip illustrating that the pole extends into the hand grip.

This invention allows users with various conditions impacting the hand or wrist to use the walking pole and gain the fitness and health benefits of Nordic walking.