Sports lifting aid
View Patent ↗A grippable sports device in the form of a band is configured for use as a lifting aid and comprises a main body for placing in a position on the limb of a sports player for use during a sports game, the main body comprising fixing means for fixing the main body in a substantially fixed position directly on the player's limb, with the main body further including a non-slip surface configured to enable a second player of the sports game to firmly grip the main body. When the sports band is in a fixed position on a wearer, the fixing means substantially encircles a portion of the wearer's limb. The grippable sports band is particularly useful in a line-out in the game of Rubgy Union.
1. A sports lifting aid, comprising:
a main body configured to be positioned on the thigh of a sports player for use during a sports game, said main body comprising fixing means that substantially encircles a portion of said thigh to thereby fix said main body in a substantially fixed position directly on said thigh of said player and said main body further comprising grip means to enable a second player of said sports game to grip said main body and thereby lift said first player,
wherein:
said lifting aid is in the form of a sports band not constituting a part of a pair of shorts, said grip means comprises a non-slip grip surface specifically configured to enable said second player of said sports game to grip said main body and at least a portion of said fixing means substantially comprises an elastic or elasticized material for effecting said fixing by virtue of the elastic tension provided by said elastic material.
2. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when said lifting aid is in use said lifting aid is configured to remain in a substantially fixed position on a portion of the thigh of said first player.
3. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-slip grip surface comprises a ridge that provides an abutting surface.
4. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-slip grip surface comprises a ridge wherein said ridge is formed as an integral part of said main body.
5. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-slip grip surface comprises a ridge arranged to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis passing through open ends of said band.
6. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-slip grip surface comprises a plurality of protruding members wherein said plurality of protruding members comprises a plurality of different shapes.
7. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said non-slip grip surface comprises a plurality of protruding members in the form of an array of raised points.
8. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-slip grip surface comprises a plurality of protruding members in the form of an array of ridges.
9. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-slip grip surface comprises a plurality of protruding members in the form of an array of raised members interspersed with orifices, said raised members and orifices collectively forming a honeycomb structure.
10. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fixing means comprises silicone rubber.
11. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fixing means comprises an elastic portion and a non-elastic portion.
12. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fixing means does not include use of an adhesive.
13. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said lifting aid does not comprise an adhesive tape.
14. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said band comprises a substantially fully walled sleeve.
15. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said band comprises a non-fully walled sleeve.
16. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in addition to said fixing means said lifting aid further comprises an additional fixing means in the form of a strap.
17. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fixing means further comprises a second fixing means in the form of a strap, said second fixing means comprising a loop and pile fixing arrangement.
18. A lifting aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said grip surface comprises at least one protruding member in the form of a ridge for further aiding said second player to raise said first player off of the ground, said ridge configured to abut against at least a first hand of said second player to thereby prevent said hand slipping beyond said ridge.