GB2598393A

GB2598393A - Skipping rope handle

Info

Publication number: GB2598393A
Application number: GB2013690.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Amanna Benjamin
Original assignee: Boxraw Ltd
Current assignee: Boxraw Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-01
Filing date: 2020-09-01
Publication date: 2022-03-02
Also published as: GB202013690D0

Abstract

This invention relates to skipping rope handles 10 including a chiral (mirrored, enantiomorphs, reflected) external surface having three-fold rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis of said handle, and to skipping ropes (100; figure 4) including such skipping rope handles. The handle comprises a thumb grip portion 22, and finger grip portion 24, which comprise three primary finger grip facets 48. The finger grips twist in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction and the width of the finger grip portions reaches the maximum circumference 58 closer to the end of the handle, the finger grip facets 48 may be substantially kite-shaped. Furthermore, the thumb grip portion may have three primary grip facets 26, offset from the finger grip facets. The maximum width of the thumb grip portion could be midway along the thumb grip, the maximum radius of the finger grip portion could be the same or greater than the thumb grip portion. There could also be a cylindrical collar region 42 between the finger and thumb grip portions.

Description

SKIPPING ROPE HANDLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to skipping rope handles, and to skipping ropes including skipping rope handles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known that skipping using a skipping rope or jump rope is an excellent form of exercise. In particular, skipping provides a good cardio-vascular workout and can allow a user to improve their fitness and lose weight.

Skipping is commonly used as a form of exercise and as a training aid by boxers.

Skipping can improve a boxer's stamina, as well as speed. Skipping can also improve coordination.

Boxers will typically skip for relatively long periods of time, often between 10 minutes and 30 minutes. Throughout the workout it is necessary for the boxer to grip the handles of the skipping rope or jump rope. As traditional skipping rope handles have a circular cross-sectional shape, this becomes increasingly difficult over time, especially as the boxer's hands become sweaty. The boxer will, therefore, tend to increase their grip on the handles, leading to strain in their hands, wrists and arms.

Against this background it is desirable to provide an improved skipping rope handle, that aids grip of the handle during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a skipping rope including a chiral external surface having three-fold rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis of said handle. This means that although the skipping rope handle has rotational -2 -symmetry it does not have mirror symmetry.

The skipping rope handle preferably comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. The external surface preferably includes at least three facets arranged such that the handle has three-fold rotational symmetry about the longitudinal axis. In preferred embodiments the skipping rope handle comprises a thumb grip portion adjacent the proximal end of the handle, and a finger grip portion adjacent the distal end of the handle, the finger grip portion including three primary finger grip facets.

Each of the primary finger grip facets preferably has the form of a twisted plane, such that the primary finger grip facets twist around the longitudinal axis of the handle in a direction from the distal end of the handle towards the proximal end of the handle. In some embodiments each of the three primary finger grip facets twists around the longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction. In other embodiments each of the three primary finger grip facets twists around the longitudinal axis in an anticlockwise direction. In this way the twisted planes of the primary facets provide the chirality and form either a left-handed or a right-handed handle.

Preferably a maximum width of each of the primary finger grip facets, in a circumferential direction, is closer to the distal end of the handle than to the thumb grip portion. Each of the primary finger grip facets may be substantially kite-shaped.

In preferred embodiments the thumb grip portion includes three primary thumb grip 25 facets.

The three primary thumb grip facets are preferably offset from the three primary finger grip facets in a circumferential direction. In other words the three primary thumb grip facets are not aligned in a longitudinal direction with the three primary finger grip facets.

A maximum width of each of the primary thumb grip facets, in a circumferential -3 -direction, is preferably midway along the length of the thumb grip portion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each of the primary thumb grip facets may be rhombus-shaped.

A maximum effective radius of the finger grip portion is preferably the same as or greater than a maximum effective radius of the thumb grip portion.

In some embodiments the finger grip portion includes a collar region having a cylindrical outer surface between the primary finger grip facets and the thumb grip portion.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a skipping rope comprising an elongate flexible member, a first handle connected to a first end of the elongate flexible member and a second handle connected to a second end of the elongate flexible member, each of the first and second handles being according to the first aspect of the invention and the two handles being enantiomorphs.

In preferred embodiments the first handle comprises a thumb grip portion adjacent the proximal end of the handle, and a finger grip portion adjacent the distal end of the handle, and the finger grip portion includes three primary finger grip facets. Each of the primary finger grip facets has the form of a twisted plane, such that the primary finger grip facets twist around the longitudinal axis of the handle in a clockwise direction from the distal end of the handle towards the proximal end of the handle. In preferred embodiments the second handle comprises a thumb grip portion adjacent the proximal end of the handle, and a finger grip portion adjacent the distal end of the handle, and the finger grip portion includes three primary finger grip facets. Each of the primary finger grip facets has the form of a twisted plane, such that the primary finger grip facets twist around the longitudinal axis of the handle in an anti-clockwise direction from the distal end of the handle towards the proximal end of the handle. In this way the first handle is a right-handed handle and the second handle is a left-handed handle. -4 -

Preferred and/or optional features of each aspect and embodiment described above may also be used, alone or in appropriate combination, in the other aspects and embodiments also.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from a distal end of a first skipping rope handle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from a proximal end of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view from a first side of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view from a second side of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1, with the skipping rope handle rotated 90° about its longitudinal axis relative to Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view from a third side of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1, with the skipping rope handle rotated 900 about its longitudinal axis relative to Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view from a fourth side of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1, with the skipping rope handle rotated 90° about its longitudinal axis relative to Figure 6; Figure 8 is a proximal end view of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1; -5 -Figure 9 is a distal end view of the skipping rope handle of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a plan view from the side of a second skipping rope handle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a proximal end cap of a third skipping rope handle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a distal end cap and internal weight of the third skipping rope handle of Figure 11; and Figure 13 is a skipping rope or jump rope including the first handle of Figure 1 and the second handle of Figure 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first skipping rope handle 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 9.

The handle 10 is generally elongate, extending between a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14. A longitudinal axis 16 of the handle 10 extends between the proximal end 12 and the distal end 14. The proximal end 12 is preferably configured for attachment to a suitable elongate flexible member such as a rope or cable to form a skipping rope.

The handle is preferably of unitary or one-piece construction. The handle 10 may be made of any suitable rigid material such as plastic, wood or metal.

In the illustrated embodiment a proximal end surface 18 at the proximal end 12 of the skipping rope handle 10 includes a recess 20 for receiving a suitable coupling or connector for attachment to the flexible member of the skipping rope. The coupling may include a swivel attachment or swivel bearing. Alternatively, the -6 -flexible member of the skipping rope may be connected directly at the proximal end 12 of the handle 10, in a manner known in the art.

The handle 10 includes a proximal grip portion or thumb grip portion 22 adjacent the proximal end 12 of the handle 10 and a distal grip portion or finger grip portion 24 adjacent the distal end 14 of the handle 10. In use, a user's hand will grip the handle 10 such that the user's thumb is in contact with a part of the thumb grip portion 22 and the user's fingers extend around and contact at least a part of the finger grip portion 24.

The thumb grip portion 22 has a polyhedral shape and includes three primary faces or facets 26. In this embodiment each primary facet 26 is substantially planar. In other embodiments each primary face 26 may be concave. The primary facets 26 are spaced around the thumb grip portion 22 such that an angle between planes of adjacent facets 26 is approximately 600.

As shown most clearly in Figure 6, each primary facet 26 is preferably substantially rhombus-shaped or kite-shaped. In this embodiment each primary facet 26 has the shape of a truncated rhombus; the truncation occurring at an intersection of the proximal end surface 18 with the primary facet 26. While the primary facet 26 is substantially rhombus-shaped, one or more of the edges of the primary facet 26 and/or one of more vertices of the primary facet 26 may be curved or rounded.

In other embodiments the primary faces 26 may be oval, or the primary faces 26 may have any other suitable shaped perimeter. Preferably the primary faces or primary facets 26 have a maximum width (in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 16) approximately midway along a length of the thumb grip portion 22 (in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 16). This maximum width of each primary facet 26 preferably defines a maximum effective diameter of the thumb grip portion 22 of the handle 10. In this embodiment the maximum width is defined between opposite first and second vertices 28, 30 of each of the primary facets 26. -7 -

As shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 4, in the illustrated embodiments the first and second vertices 28, 30 of adjacent primary facets 26 are not in contact, such that a ridge or apex region 32 is defined between adjacent primary facets 26. A 5 secondary or proximal facet 34 is disposed between each of the apex regions 32 and the proximal end 12 of the handle 10. Accordingly, the thumb grip portion 22 comprises three secondary facets 34. Each secondary facet 34 includes two side edges 36 defined by edges of adjacent primary facets 26. In this embodiment, each secondary facet 34 is substantially triangular. A surface of each secondary facet 34 10 may be planar, or may have a convex curvature.

A transition facet 38 extends from each of the apex regions 32 in a direction towards the distal end 14 of the handle 10. Accordingly, the thumb grip portion 22 comprises three transition facets 38. Each transition facet 38 includes two side edges 40 defined by edges of adjacent primary facets 26. In this embodiment, each transition facet 38 is substantially triangular. A surface of each transition facet 38 may be planar, or may have a convex curvature.

The distal grip portion or finger grip portion 24 extends from the thumb grip portion 20 22. The finger grip portion 24 therefore extends between the thumb grip portion 22 and the distal end 14 of the handle 10.

In this embodiment a collar region 42 of the finger grip portion 24 is disposed adjacent the thumb grip portion 22. The collar region 42 is substantially cylindrical.

The collar region 42 of the finger grip portion 24 may comprise an embossed design or pattern, or embossed indicia. The embossed indicia may comprise an indication of whether the handle 10 should be gripped in a left hand or a right hand.

A distal cap region 44 of the finger grip portion 24 is disposed at the distal end 14 of the handle 10. In this embodiment the perimeter surface of the distal cap region 44 forms a tapered cylinder, and a distal end surface 46 of the handle 10 is substantially circular. -8 -

The finger grip portion 24 comprises three primary faces or facets 48. In this embodiment each primary facet 48 is substantially planar. In particular, each primary facet 48 is in the form of a twisted plane, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 4.

The twist of the plane of each primary facet 48 is such that a longitudinal axis 50 of the primary facet 48 is not parallel to the longitudinal axis 16 of the handle 10. Furthermore, the twist of the plane of each primary facet 48 is in the same relative direction. In this way, the primary facets 48 effectively twist or spiral around the finger grip portion 24 of the handle 10. In this embodiment the primary facets 48 twist in a clockwise direction around the longitudinal axis 16 when moving from the distal end 14 of the handle 10 towards the thumb grip portion 22 of the handle 10.

The primary facets 48 are spaced around the finger grip portion 24 such that an angle between planes of adjacent facets 48, at any given position along the longitudinal axis 16 of the handle 10, is approximately 60°.

Each of the primary facets 48 extends between the collar region 42 and the distal cap region 44. As shown most clearly in Figure 4, each primary facet 48 is preferably substantially kite-shaped. In this embodiment each primary facet 48 has the shape of a truncated kite; a first truncation occurring at an intersection of the collar region 42 and the primary facet 48, and a second truncation occurring at an intersection of the primary facet 48 with the distal cap region 44. While the primary facet 48 is substantially kite-shaped, one or more of the edges of the primary facet 48 and/or one of more vertices of the primary facet 48 may be curved or rounded.

Preferably the primary faces or primary facets 48 have a maximum width (in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 16) nearer the distal cap region 44 than the collar region 42 (in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 16). In this embodiment the maximum width is defined between opposite first and second vertices 52, 54 of each of the primary facets 48.

An inter-facet or interfacial surface 56 is defined between adjacent primary facets 48. As such, the finger grip portion 24 comprises three inter-facet surfaces 56. Each inter-facet surface 56 extends between the collar region 42 and the distal cap region 44. It will be appreciated that, due to the twist of each of the primary facets 48, each of the inter-facet surfaces 56 also twists around the handle 10 along the length of the finger grip portion 24, as shown most clearly in Figure 6.

Each inter-facet surface 56 has a minimum circumferential dimension corresponding to the distance between first and second vertices 52, 54 of adjacent primary facets 48. This minimum dimension defines a shoulder region 58 of the inter-facet surface 56, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. Each inter-facet surface 56 further comprises a distal region 60 that extends from the shoulder region 58 towards the distal cap region 44, and a transition region 62 that extends from the shoulder region 58 towards the collar region 42. Each inter-facet surface 56 may be planar or may have a convex curvature.

A maximum effective radius of the finger grip portion 24 is defined by a radial distance between the longitudinal axis 16 of the handle 10 and a radially outermost point of the shoulder region 58 of the inter-facet surface 56.

The maximum effective radius of the finger grip portion 24 may be substantially the same as the maximum effective radius of the thumb grip portion 22.

The primary facets 48 of the finger grip portion 24 are offset from the primary facets 26 of the thumb grip portion 22 in a circumferential direction. As shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 6, each of the primary facets 48 of the finger grip portion 24 is substantially longitudinally aligned with a respective one of the transition facets 38 and a respective one of the secondary facets 34 of the thumb grip portion 22. Similarly, each of the primary facets 26 of the thumb grip portion 22 is substantially longitudinally aligned with a respective one of the inter-facet surfaces 56 of the finger grip portion 24.

In use, a user places the pad of their thumb on one of the primary facets 26 of the -10 -thumb grip portion 22. The user then wraps their fingers around the finger grip portion 24 of the handle 10 such that a pad of one or more of their fingers contacts one of the primary facets 48 of the finger grip portion 24. The shape and the twist of each of the primary facets 48 of the finger grip portion 24 are preferably such that the pads of all of the user's fingers naturally contact the primary facet 48.

As described above, in this embodiment the primary facets 48 of the finger grip portion 24 twist in a clockwise direction around the longitudinal axis 16 when moving from the distal end 14 of the handle 10 towards the thumb grip portion 22 of the handle 10. This introduces a handedness to the handle 10. In this way, the handle 10, and in particular the finger grip portion 24 of the handle 10, can be considered to be chiral. In particular a handle with such a clockwise twist is designed to be held in a right hand of a user. It will also be appreciated that the chiral configuration of the handle means that although the handle has rotational symmetry it does not have mirror symmetry.

A handle 10' designed to be held in the left hand of the user is illustrated in Figure 10. This handle 10' is the same as the handle of the first embodiment except that the primary facets 48' of the finger grip portion 24' twist in an anti-clockwise direction around the longitudinal axis 16' when moving from the distal end 14' of the handle 10' towards the thumb grip portion 22' of the handle 10'.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a further embodiment of a handle 10". In this embodiment the handle 10" comprises a proximal end cap 64" that engages in the recess 20" in the proximal end surface 18" of the skipping rope handle 10" (shown in Figure 11). In particular the proximal end cap 64" comprises a threaded portion 66" that engages with a threaded portion of the recess 20". To form a skipping rope or jump rope, an end of an elongate flexible member 102 extends through a bore or aperture 68" in the proximal end cap 64". An interior of the proximal end cap 64" may include suitable bearings that engage with the elongate flexible member 102.

The handle 10" further comprises a removable distal end cap 70" that forms the distal cap region 44" of the finger grip portion 24" (see Figure 12). In this embodiment the finger grip portion 24" of the handle 10" is hollow such that the handle 10" comprises an interior space or cavity (not shown). The distal end cap 70" is attached to or provided at an end of a weight block 72". In this embodiment the weight block 72" is substantially cylindrical. The weight block 72" is sized to be received in the cavity of the handle 10". The distal end cap 70" includes a threaded portion 74" that engages with a threaded portion disposed at the distal end 14" of the finger grip portion 24" of the handle 10". The weight block 72" allows the handle 10" to be tailored to suit a particular user, or allows the weight of the handle 10" to be changed for a particular exercise regime.

As shown in Figure 13, a skipping rope (or jump rope) 100 is preferably formed by connecting handles 10, 10' to each end of an elongate flexible member 102. Preferably a first, right-handed handle 10 (i.e. a handle 10 designed to be held in the right hand of a user) is disposed at a first end 104 of the elongate flexible member 102 and a second, left-handed handle 10' (i.e. a handle 10' designed to be held in the left hand of a user) is disposed at a second end 106 of the elongate flexible member 102. The handles 10, 10' of the skipping rope 100 are therefore enantiomorphs.

The flexible member 102 of the skipping rope 100 may be formed from any suitable material such as plastic, vinyl cord, rubber tube, nylon, rope, leather, or metal cable. In some embodiments the flexible member 102 may be beaded or weighted.

The shape and configuration of the skipping rope handles of the present invention have the advantage that the handles are less liable to slip within a user's grip, for example when the user's hand becomes sweaty. Furthermore, the ergonomic design means that a user is able to focus pressure on the tips or pads of the fingers, allowing a user to use the skipping rope for longer, without experiencing strain in their hand and wrist.

Other modifications and variations not explicitly disclosed above may also be -12 -contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

-13 -CLAIMS1. A skipping rope handle including a chiral external surface having three-fold rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis of said handle.
2. A skipping rope handle as claimed in Claim 1, comprising: a proximal end and a distal end, the longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends; a thumb grip portion adjacent the proximal end of the handle; and a finger grip portion adjacent the distal end of the handle, the finger grip portion including three primary finger grip facets.
3. A skipping rope handle as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each of the primary finger grip facets has the form of a twisted plane, such that the primary finger grip facets twist around the longitudinal axis of the handle in a direction from the distal end of the handle towards the proximal end of the handle.
4. A skipping rope handle as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each of the three primary finger grip facets twists around the longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction.
5. A skipping rope handle as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each of the three primary finger grip facets twists around the longitudinal axis in an anti-clockwise direction.
6. A skipping rope handle as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein a maximum width of each of the primary finger grip facets in a circumferential direction is closer to the distal end of the handle than to the thumb grip portion.
7. A skipping rope handle as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein each of the primary finger grip facets is substantially kite-shaped.
8. A skipping rope handle as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein the -14 -thumb grip portion includes three primary thumb grip facets.
9. A skipping rope handle as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the three primary thumb grip facets are offset from the three primary finger grip facets in a circumferential direction.
10. A skipping rope handle as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein a maximum width of each of the primary thumb grip facets in a circumferential direction is midway along the length of the thumb grip portion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.
11. A skipping rope handle as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 10, wherein a maximum effective radius of the finger grip portion is the same as or greater than a maximum effective radius of the thumb grip portion.
12. A skipping rope handle as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 11, wherein the finger grip portion includes a cylindrical collar region between the primary finger grip facets and the thumb grip portion.
13. A skipping rope comprising an elongate flexible member, a first handle connected to a first end of the elongate flexible member and a second handle connected to a second end of the elongate flexible member, each of the first and second handles being as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 and the two handles being enantiomorphs.
14. A skipping rope as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the first handle is as claimed in Claim 4 or any claim dependent on Claim 4, and the second handle is as claimed in Claim 5 or any claim dependent on Claim 5.