US20120272425A1

US20120272425A1 - Archery device

Info

Publication number: US20120272425A1
Application number: US13/506,460
Authority: US
Inventors: Randall W. Peck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-22
Filing date: 2012-04-20
Publication date: 2012-11-01

Abstract

A system and method for an archery device for placement of a bow and to reduce torque applied to a bow, the archery device including: a securing component to secure the archery device to a hand of a person; a thumb side to be positioned adjacent a thumb line in a palm of the hand, wherein the thumb side is substantially straight and configured to engage a riser of a bow placed onto the palm of the hand; a finger side to be positioned on fingers of the hand, wherein the finger side configured to provide a rest for the fingers and to prevent the fingers from being wrapped around the riser; and a palm side to be positioned at least partially in the palm of the hand and to facilitate stability of the archery device in the hand.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to archery and, more specifically, to an archery device that facilitates placement and beneficial holding of a bow riser in the user's hand.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to aspects of art that may be related to aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
As generally known, an archer employs a bow to shoot an arrow. An archery bow may have an arm or riser and a string attached at each end of the riser. The archer holds the bow riser in one hand and with his other hand places the base of an arrow on the string (i.e., an elastic string) of the bow. The base of the arrow may have a notch or slot, for example, to facilitate placement and stability of the arrow on the bow string. The archer then pulls or draws the string away from the bow riser, holding the arrow on the string, and then releases the drawn string and arrow to shoot the arrow. The string returns to its initial position, propelling the arrow.
While there are various types of historic and modern bows, bows generally have a filament or string, as indicated, attached to a riser or handle (or limbs) that store or release mechanical energy imparted by the user drawing the string. In general, archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling projectiles such as arrows with the use of a bow or similar delivery systems. Archery may be used for hunting, combat, recreation including target practice and competition, and so on. One who practices archery may be called an “archer” or “bowman.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the invention may become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an archery device that facilitates placement of the riser of a bow in the archer's hand in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the archery device placed on a hand of a user and to be engaged with a riser of a bow in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a similar archery device that facilitates placement of the riser of a bow in the archer's hand in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front of another similar archery device placed on a user's hand and that facilitates placement of the riser of a bow in the archer's hand in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back of the archery device of FIG. 4 on the user's hand in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a simple bow.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical representation of a user or archer preparing to shoot an arrow with a bow, the archer utilizing an archery device of FIGS. 4 and 5 in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary method of using an archery device in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary method of placing an archery device and bow in the archer's hand in accordance with embodiments of the present techniques; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill in the art and having the benefit of this disclosure.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary archery device 10 that facilitates placement and beneficial grasp of the riser of a bow in an archer's hand. The archery device 10 is generally flat and thin, and fits in the archer's hand, e.g., in the palm of the hand. The front surface 11 of the archery device 10 is depicted as generally flat. However, in other embodiments, the front surface 10 (and/or the back surface) may have additional structural features such as raised portions or cavities, for example. In operation, the device 10 is placed in the archer's hand (bow hand) and receives the riser (arm, grip) of the bow as the archer places the riser into their hand. As discussed below, the archery device 10 is configured structurally to provide for increase accuracy via: (1) beneficial and desired placement of the bow riser in the hand; and (2) preventing the fingers from wrapping around the bow riser and applying undue torque to the bow.
In this example, the archery device 10 has a thumb side 12, a finger side 14, and palm sides 16L and 16S, all which cumulatively form the perimeter of the archery device 10. The thumb side 12, finger side 14, and short palm side 16S are substantially straight. The long palm side 16L is semi-curved with substantially straight portions. Of course, the various sides 12, 14, 16S, and 16L, respectively, may be straight, curved, have curved portions, or other geometries. Further, as apparent in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the two palm sides 16S and 16S are disposed between and couple the thumb side 12 with the finger side 14. In this example, the palm sides include a short palm side 16S and long palm side 16L.
In certain embodiments, the thumb side 12 intersects the palm sides 16S and 16L at an angle, e.g., 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, or there between. In the illustrated embodiment, the thumb side 12 intersects with the respective palm sides 16S and 16L at an angle of about 45 degrees. Of course, again, other angle degrees may be employed, and also the intersections may be curved or less sharp than depicted. As for the finger side 14, it may be generally perpendicular to the palm sides 16S and 16L. Other geometries may be employed. Moreover, the intersections between the finger side 14 and the palm sides 16S and 16L may be generally abrupt, or instead gradual or curved as depicted in FIG. 1. Lastly, an archery device 10 in accordance with the present techniques may be characterized as having more than the sides 12, 14, 16S, and 16L to constitute the perimeter. In any case, as discussed below, a purpose of the archery device 10 is to facilitate the user or archer's correct or beneficial hand and riser placement, and grip of the bow.
As for materials of construction, the archery device 10 may be plastic, leather, wood, metal, or other materials. The thickness of the archery device 10 may be, for example, 1/16″, ⅛″, 3/16″, ¼″, and so forth. The archery device 10 may be formed, for example, by first making a plate or sheet of the material and then stamping or cutting several devices 10 from the plate or sheet. On the other hand, the archery device 10 may be formed via molding, such as injection molding, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the thumb side 12 may be in the range of 1 inch to 2 inches (e.g., 1.25″, 1.5″, 1.75″, etc.), and the finger side 18 may be in the range of 1.75 inches to 3.75 inches (e.g., 2.0″, 2.5″, 3.0″), for example. The semi-curved long palm side 16 has a perimeter length in the range of 4 inches to 7 inches, for example.
FIG. 2 shows the archery device 10 placed in an archer's hand 20, and in position to receive a bow riser or grip. The thumb side 12 of the archery device 10 typically rests adjacent the thumb 22 or thumb line of the hand 20. In operation, as the bow riser is placed in and supported by the archer's hand 20, the riser of the bow rests in the area 24 of the palm 26 adjacent the thumb 18 and engages the thumb side 12 of the archery device 10. Advantageously, the device 10 may facilitate desired positional placement of the riser in the archer's hand 20. The finger side 14 of the archery device 10 rests adjacent the fingers 28 at or above the finger line of the hand 20, or even above the first knuckle 30 of the fingers 28 in certain embodiments. Generally, the finger side 14 will rest above the finger line but below the first knuckle of the finger 28 to promote a relaxed and comfortable position for the fingers 28 on the archery device 10. Moreover, the fingers 28 may engage an upper portion of the palm sides 16S and 16L, though the finger side 18 should typically be the primary perimeter side to engage the fingers 28. The size and configuration of the device 10, and actual placement of device 10 in the hand 20, may depend on personal benefit or what is desired to the user, what is recommended by a trainer for a user, the most comfortable and relaxed fit of the fingers 28, and so on. Further, various sizes, such as small, medium, larger, and extra large of the archery device 10 may be constructed.
In operation of the archery device 10 in a hand 20 supporting a riser of a bow shooting an arrow, the fingers 28 may engage an upper portion of the back surface of the device 10, and may remain extended or straight, or may partially curl and rest on the finger side 12 of the archery device 10. Beneficially, the device 10 prevents the archer from wrapping their hand 20 or fingers 28 around the riser of the bow and applying too much torque to the bow. As known to the skilled artisan, a full or firm grasp of the bow riser by the fingers 28 is typically detrimental and generally applies too much torque to the bow, resulting in decreased accuracy of the propelled arrow.
Lastly, it should be apparent that while the archery device 10 is depicted in a left hand 20, the archery device 10 may be employed in a right hand by turning over the archery device 10. Further, the archery device 10 may also include, be placed in, or attached to a glove or partial glove, or slide over a glove, and so forth, to facilitate position and securing of the archery device 10 in the hand 20 for receiving a bow riser. However, if the device 10 includes or is attached to glove, then it may be problematic to utilize the device 10 by merely turning over the device 10.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary archery device 10′ having a second thumb side 12′ so that the same archery device 10′ may be used by either the left or right hand, due to the symmetry of the archery device 10′ around it central vertical axis. The device 10 may include or be attached to a partial glove or finger holder, for example, and be utilized in either the left or right hand. In all, a single device 10′ may be used in either the left or right hand, even if including certain components (e.g., strap, partial glove, finger wrap, etc.) that secures or places on the device 10′ to the hand 20, if those components have symmetry for either hand.
It should be noted that a thumb side 12 or 12′ when not used adjacent the thumb may contribute to a palm side 16S in the palm perimeter portion. Notably, both the base palm portions 16S are short palm portions similar to the short palm portion 16S depicted in the archery device of FIG. 1. Lastly, it should be emphasized the above discussion regarding the archery device 10 of FIG. 1, such as with materials, benefit, and other features, applies to the instant archery device 10′ of FIG. 3.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the front and back, respectively, of an archery device 32 placed on a hand 20. The archery device 32 has a component the same or similar to the archery device 10′ of FIG. 3 attached to a three finger holder 34. The component 10′ may also be sewn or placed inside a cover 36. Foam may be included. In the illustrated embodiment, the finger holder 34 has three finger loops including a finger loop for the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, respectively. It should be noted that a same archery device 32 may be worn by either the left or right hand, as the base component 10′ is symmetrical about its vertical axis. The finger loops of the finger holder 34 maybe elastic and/or adjustable with a strap, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the finger holder 34 is elastic without a strap, and with the three elastic finger loops to be placed on the fingers 28. Of course, more or less than three finger loops may be employed.
More broadly, it should be noted that a base component 10 or 10′ may be secured in a variety of gloves, finger holders including having wrist wraps, or gloves with finger apertures, and so forth, such as secured via a pocket or cover. The pocket or cover may be sewn or otherwise attached, such as via an adhesive, Velcro, and the like, and may be of various materials, such as a cloth material, leather, plastic, and so forth. The gloves, as mentioned, may be of various sizes, such sizes labeled as small, medium, and large, for example, and also for the right and/or left hand.
In general, such devices having a base component 10 or 10′, including archery device 32, may provide for placement of the base component 10 and 10′ relative to the hand 20. Indeed, such devices may position the component 10 and 10′ in an adequate position to facilitate desired placement of the bow riser in the hand 20. In other words, with the component 10 and 10′ in position and the bow engaging the thumb side 12 of the component 10 and 10′, for example, the bow may be properly placed on the palm (e.g., at the area of the palm below the base of the thumb), and also in position to engage the fingers. The archery device 32 and other similar configurations maintain functionally the facilitating beneficial placement of the hand 20 relative to the riser of a bow, and also avoiding or reducing undue torque applied to the riser by the archer when gripping the riser of the bow.
FIG. 6 is an exemplary simple bow 40 in which the archery device 10, 10′, and 32 may be employed to grasp the bow 40. The bow 40 has a handle or riser 42 and a string 44. An archer may generally hold or support the riser 42 with his hand 20 at a middle portion 46 of the riser 42, for example. As appreciated by the skilled artisan, a handle or grip 47 to engage the hand 20 may be provided (e.g., at the middle portion 46) on the riser 42.
In this example, the string 44 is coupled to the riser 42 at the ends 48 of the riser 42. The string 42 is generally elastic and may be polyester, waxed polyester, braided polyester, polyethylene, or other materials. As should be apparent, the archery device 10 may also be utilized with more complex bows, such as a compound bow, mechanical bow, and so on. Indeed, compound and mechanical bows are generally more common generally, including in hunting and target competitions, for example, and archers employing these more complex bows may benefit from the reduced torque applied by the hand (with the devices 10, 10′, and 32 preventing the fingers from detrimentally wrapping around and grasping firmly the bow) and more beneficial placement of the hand and fingers on the bow riser.
It is should be noted that the archery device 10, 10′, and 32 may more commonly employed with a compound and/or mechanical bow. For an archer using a mechanical and/or compound bow, for example, the archer may have an archery device 10, 10′, and 32 in their hand 20 engaging the riser of the bow. The archery device 10, 10′, and 32 facilitates avoiding undue torque applied to the riser by the archer when the archer grips riser of the bow. In contrast, a tendency of an archer may be to grip the riser tightly with some or all fingers, for example. However, as appreciated by the skilled artisan for accuracy, the fingers should generally be relaxed and simply resting on or near the riser. The archer device 10, 10′, and 32 beneficially provides a place to rest the fingers to help avoid a tendency to too strongly grip the bow, or to even touch the bow with the fingers. Advantageously, as indicated, the archery device 10, 10′, 32 may preclude the user or archer from wrapping their fingers around the riser or handle of the bow. Moreover, as also indicated, the archery device 10, 10′, and 32 may beneficially facilitate a desirable placement of the bow riser or grip in the palm of the hand. In other words, the bow riser or grip may engage or abut the thumb side 12 of the device 10, 10′, and 32, for example. The bow riser may rest on the palm bone adjacent or below the thumb, for example, which may be considered a desired position for the bow in the hand.
FIG. 7 depicts the archery device 32 positioned on an archer's hand 20 and engaged with a riser 50 of a bow, such as a compound or mechanical bow. The archery device 32 is placed on and secured to the hand 20 via the finger holders 34, which may be elastic or somewhat elastic.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base component 10′ of the archery device 32 is disposed inside a pocket or cover 36, and the cover 36 coupled to one or more of the finger holders 34. However, in other embodiments, the base component 10′ while attached to the finger holders 34, for example, is exposed and not in a cover 36. Nevertheless, as depicted, the thumb side 12 of the archery device 32 abuts the riser 50 (through a cover 36 or no cover), and aids in position the riser 50 in the hand 20, i.e., in the palm 26 of the hand 20. It may be advantageous that the thumb side be substantially straight to facilitate adequate abutment with the riser 50. Lastly, the fingers 28 of the hand 20 rest atop the finger side 18 of the archery device 32, and beneficially are precluded from wrapping around the riser 50.
In sum, the riser of the bow rests against the thumb side 12, which facilitates proper placement of the riser in the hand. The substantially-straight thumb side is parallel with the riser. The knuckles of the fingers may be at about a 45 degree angle relative to the vertical riser of the bow. The finger side 14 rests above the finger line and below first knuckle 30 of the fingers 28, which facilitates precluding the archer from gripping or tightly wrapping the fingers around the riser of the bow. Thus, undue torque applied to the bow may be avoided. It should be noted that the fingers 28 may be in a relaxed position, as depicted. Moreover, the fingers 28 may be extended somewhat straight or somewhat curled, for example.
To fabricate archery device 32, a component (e.g., 10, 10′) is formed by either molding the component or stamping the component from a sheet of material, for example. A finger holder, such as a cloth or leather, is made or obtained. The component is then secured to the finger holder. The component may be glued to the glove without a cover, for example. On the other hand, the component may be held in a cover that is attached to the finger holder. The cover may be cloth, leather, etc., and may be coupled to the finger holder via glue, thread, and the like. Further, a piece of foam may be glued to the component 10 or 10′, for example, prior to a cover being placed around the component 10 or 10′.
Again, for the various embodiments of the archery device disclosed herein in accordance with the present techniques, a purpose or goal is to properly place the bow in the hand and to reduce the grip or torque of an archer's hand against the bow to improve accuracy. A beneficial approach is to place a bow in hand and have the knuckles of the hand at about a 45 degree angle relative to the bow, and to place the bow along the thumb line. 9). The archer then pulls back on the bow string and the bow should be held in the hand by the force of the string, for example. It is generally better for accuracy, for the archer not to wrap their fingers tightly around the bow to hold the bow, but instead to use the force of the string to hold the bow.
FIG. 8 is a method 200 for using an archery device, such as the various embodiments of the archery device (e.g., archery device 10, 10′, 32) discussed above, to avoid or reduce undue torque applied to the riser by the archer when gripping the riser of the bow. In the method 200, the archery device is placed (block 202) in a first hand (e.g., hand 20, bow hand) of the person or archer. The bow (i.e., the riser) is positioned (block 204) in the first hand on the archery device. An arrow is put (block 206) on the string of the bow, and the arrow and string are pulled (block 208) with the archer's second hand. The arrow and string are then released (block 210) to propel the arrow. Advantageously, the archery device facilitates supporting the bow and propelling the arrow without applying excessive torque to the bow.
FIG. 9 is an exemplary method 240 of placing an archery device on and bow riser in the archer's hand, such as may correlate with blocks 202 and 204 of FIG. 8. The archery device employed in this exemplary method may include a finger holder, such as with the archery device 32. Securing the finger holder snugly to the hand may beneficially position the base component 10′ of the archery device 32 attached to the finger holder in position relative to the hand.
First, the archery device 32 is placed (block 242) on the hand 20 (e.g., bow hand) of the archer. The bow riser 50 is placed in the hand 20, and the thumb side 12 of the archery device 32 is rested (block 244) against the riser 50. The knuckles of the hand 20 are positioned (block 246) at about a 45 degree angle with the vertical riser 50. Other configurations and angles may be employed. The finger side 14 of the archery device 32 is positioned (block 248) above the finger line of the hand 20. Indeed, the finger side 14 may actually be positioned above the first knuckle of the fingers 28. Lastly, the fingers are relaxed (block 250) on the finger side 14 of the archery device 32. Now, the archer's hand is in position to support the bow without applying excessive torque to the riser 50.
In one embodiment, the archery device 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is called a “True Shot Coach” and incorporates the archery device 10 or 10′ as a base component 10 or 10′. The base component employed in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is archery device 10′ (base component 10′). Of course, the archery device 32 could instead incorporate the archery device 10′ as a base component 10 in lieu of the base component 10′. In either case, the archery device 32 may include a cover 36 (e.g., fabric, felt, cloth, polyester, etc., sewn or partially sewn) around the base component 10 or 10′. A finger holder 34 may be attached to the cover 36 and having three elastic finger loops for the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger respectively, for example. In an alternate embodiment, the archery device 32 may have a finger holder 34 with only two finger loops, one for the index finger and one for the ring finger, for instance, and with the two finger loops adjustable in tightness around the fingers, for example. In these examples, the base component 10 or 10′ is plastic, such as ABS, PP. etc., which may provide for stiffness. Of course, the base component 10 or 10′ may instead be other materials, such as wood or metal, for example. In certain embodiments, a layer of foam, such as closed cell foam, polyester foam, etc., is glued to base component 10 or 10′ prior to installation of the cover 36, to provide for resiliency. The foam may be glued on the surface of the base component 10 or 10′ that will face the palm of the archer's hand 20. The finger holder 34 may be attached (e.g., sewn, glued, etc.) to the cover 36 before or after installation of the cover 36 around the base component 10 or 10′. The fabric or polyester for the finger holder 34 and cover 36 may be die-cut, for example, and then assembled (sewn, tacked, etc.) prior to installation.
To employ the archery device 32 (e.g., labeled a True Shot Coach), the archery device 32 is placed on the bow hand 20 of the user with the finger holder 34 placed on the respective fingers, and with the finger side 14 of the base component 10 or 10′ adjacent the fingers and the opposite end of the base component 10 or 10′ toward the palm. The bow riser 50 or grip is placed in the palm 26 adjacent the thumb 22 with a thumb side 12 of the base component 10 or 10′ abutting the riser 50 or grip. The fingers 28 of the hand 20 are basically extended, and in an approximate 10 o'clock position for a right-handed archer (bow hand is left hand) or an approximate 2 o'clock position for a left-handed archer (bow hand is right hand). Then, the bow or string is drawn (and with the arrow in place on the string) while maintaining the position of the archery device 32. The fingers 28 are then relaxed on the finger side 12 and the upper back portion of the base component 10 or 10′, prior to releasing the bow string to propel the arrow.

Claims

1. An archery device for placement of a bow and to reduce torque applied to a bow, the archery device comprising:

a securing component to secure the archery device to a hand of a person;

a thumb side to be positioned adjacent a thumb line in a palm of the hand, wherein the thumb side is substantially straight and configured to engage a riser of a bow placed onto the palm of the hand;

a finger side to be positioned on fingers of the hand, wherein the finger side configured to provide a rest for the fingers and to prevent the fingers from being wrapped around the riser; and

a palm side to be positioned at least partially in the palm of the hand and to facilitate stability of the archery device in the hand.

2. The archery device of claim 1, wherein the securing component comprises a finger holder.

3. The archery device of claim 1, wherein the securing component comprises an elastic finger holder.

4. The archery device of claim 1, wherein the finger side, at least one thumb side, and at least one palm side comprise substantially a perimeter of the archery device.

5. The archery device of claim 1, wherein the finger side, at least one thumb side, and at least one palm side comprise substantially a perimeter of a base component the archery device.

6. The archery device of claim 5, wherein a thickness of the base component is in the range of 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch.

7. The archery device of claim 1, wherein the archery device is configured to promote relaxing of fingers of the hand in lieu of gripping the riser with the fingers.

8. The archery device of claim 1, wherein the archery device when positioned in the hand prevents a full grip of the hand around the riser.

9. The archery device of claim 1, wherein a length of a thumb side is in the range of 1 inch to 2 inches.

10. The archery device of claim 1, wherein a length of a palm side is in the range of 4 inches to 7 inches, and wherein a length of a finger side is in the range of 1.75 inches to 3.75 inches.

11. An archery device configured to:

fit on a hand of a person, wherein the hand comprises a bow hand of the person;

promote proper placement of a riser of a bow in the hand of the person, wherein the archery device is separate from the bow; and

prevent fingers of the hand from wrapping around the riser, prevent the fingers of the hand from gripping the rise, and reduce torque applied by the hand to the riser.

12. The archery device of claim 11, wherein the archery device comprises:

a securing component to position the archery device on a hand of a person;

a base component comprising:

a palm side to be positioned at least partially in the palm of the hand and to facilitate stability of the archery device in the hand; and

a cover that surrounds the base component and couples the base component to the securing component, wherein the archery device provides a surface comprising at least the finger side for the fingers to rest in a relaxed position.

13. The archery device of claim 12, wherein the archery device when placed on the hand prevents a full grip of the hand around the riser.

13. (canceled)

14. The archery device of claim 12, wherein a length of the finger side is in the range of 1.75 inches to 3.75 inches.

15. The archery device of claim 12, wherein a thickness of the base component is in the range of 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch.

16. A method of using an archery device to facilitate shooting of an arrow with a bow, the method comprising:

placing the archery device on a first hand of a person;

positioning a riser of the bow on the archery device;

disposing a base of an arrow on a string of the bow with a second hand of the person;

pulling the arrow and string with the second hand; and

releasing the arrow and string from the second hand to propel the arrow without applying excessive torque to the bow with the first hand.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein placing comprises placing the archery device on the first hand via a finger holder of the archery device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein positioning comprises resting the riser against a thumb side of the archery device, wherein the thumb side is substantially straight.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein positioning comprises positioning the riser at about a 45 degree angle with knuckles of the first hand.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising relaxing fingers of the first hand while pulling and releasing with the second hand.