1-6. (canceled)
7) A training glove that comprises:
a) a generally oval band to substantially enclose the palm portion of the hand having an aperture through which the thumb can pass,
b) at least 2 substantially rigid elongated splinting members each having a proximal end and a distal end, being attached at the proximal end thereof to said generally oval band and disposed generally about an axis nearly perpendicular to said band,
c) a generally circular restraining band attached to each of said splinting members distal from the attachment with said oval band for securing two adjacent fingers of the user’s hand two said rigid elongated splinting members wherein said splinting members limit the finger flexion at the base of these two fingers.
8) A training glove according to claim 7 that further comprises a third substantially rigid elongated splinting member having a proximal end and a distal end, being attached at the proximal end thereof to said generally oval band and disposed generally about an axis nearly perpendicular to said band, said third splinting member also having a generally circular restraining band attached thereto wherein the 3 substantially rigid elongated splinting members are adjacent to each other for securing 3 adjacent fingers in the circular bands thereof and are splayed apart to spread the 3 adjacent fingers of the user’s hand.
9) A training glove according to claim 8 wherein each generally circular restraining band is fabricated from a stretchable material.
10) A training glove according to claim 8 wherein said generally oval band is a generally linear strap having engaging connections means at opposing ends.
11) A training glove according to claim 10 wherein the engaging connection means is hook and loop fastening material at the opposing ends of the linear strap.
12) A training glove according to claim 8 wherein each of said generally circular restraining bands is attached to the distal end of each of said splinting members.
13) A training glove according to claim 7 wherein the aperture on said generally oval band is substantially oval having a principle axis substantially perpendicular to said band.
14) A training glove according to claim 13 wherein the generally oval band has a bulge around the substantially oval aperture thereof, the bulge generally conforming to the shape of the substantially oval aperture.
15) A training glove according to claim 7 wherein the proximal end of the substantially rigid elongated splinting members is disposed substantially aligned with the center of the aperture of the generally oval band.
16) A training glove according to claim 7 wherein the glove has an undercarriage that extends downward to least about the center of the oval band and upward in the shape of the fingers that are to be attached to the rigid elongated splinting members, wherein the rigid elongated splinting members are then disposed between the undercarriage and a portion of the band that extends upward in the shape of the fingers that are to be attached to the rigid elongated splinting members.
17) A training glove according to claim 16 wherein the undercarriage is fabricated from a stretchable fabric bonded foamed elastomer.
18) A training glove according to claim 7 wherein the oval band is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, vinyl, naugahyde and leather applications.
19) A training glove that comprises:
a) a means for fittingly attaching the glove over the palm portion of the players hand to leave the thumb and the wrist to move freely,
b) a means for restraining the flexure of the joint at the base of the 2 or more of the 3 digits between the first and third digit from the thumb when the wrist is flexed.
20) A training glove according to claim 19 wherein the means for partially restraining the flexure of the joint at the base of the 2 or more of the 3 digits between the first and third digit from the thumb are substantially rigid elongated splinting member members having a proximal end and a distal end, being attached at the proximal end thereof to said generally oval band and disposed generally about an axis nearly perpendicular to said band.
21) A training glove according to claim 19 wherein substantially rigid elongated splinting are splayed to spread apart the fingers connected thereto.
22) A training glove according to claim 19 further comprising means for restraining the flexure of the joint at the base of the first 3 digits adjacent to the thumb when the wrist is flexed.
23) A process for restraining hand and finger movement to aid in basketball play, the process comprising the steps of:
a) providing a training glove having a band member for connection across the palm of the user’s hand and connected finger splinting members that attach to 2 or more fingers while permitting substantially free motion of the user’s thumb and wrist,
b) attaching 2 or more immediately adjacent fingers of the user to the finger splinting members of the training glove,
c) securing the oval band around the palm of the hand to limit the movement of first joint of the user’s 2 or more fingers that are attached to the finger splinting members.
24) A process for restraining hand and finger movement to aid in basketball play according to claim 23 wherein said band is capable of opening to a generally linear strap having complimentary hook and loop fasteners at opposing ends thereof, and said step of securing further comprises connecting the complimentary hook and loop fastener wherein the linear strap is a closed band that surrounds the palm of the hand but allows flexure of the wrist.
25) A process for restraining hand and finger movement to aid in basketball play according to claim 23 wherein the finger splinting members of the training glove is a generally circular restraining band that is fabricated from a stretchable material for receiving a finger during said step of attaching the user’s 2 or more immediately adjacent fingers to the finger splinting members of the training glove, wherein the second finger joints of the user’s 2 or more fingers that are attached to the finger splinting members are capable of flexing while the first joints are restraining from flexing when the user flexes the wrist in releasing a basketball.
26) A process for restraining hand and finger movement to aid in basketball play according to claim 23 wherein said step of securing the oval band occurs before said step of attaching 2 or more immediately adjacent fingers of the user to the finger splinting members of the training glove.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for training an animal in which an audible and a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said apparatus comprising:
a transmitting unit sending a coded signal having an identification code, a stimulation type code, and a stimulation level code, said stimulation type code including a beep code and a shock code; and
a receiver unit including
a receiver responsive to said coded signal from said transmitting unit;
a processor for decoding said coded signal;
a speaker producing a beep in response to said beep code, said speaker controlled by said processor;
a switch array controlled by said processor in response to said shock code, said processor controlling a plurality of pulse streams applied to said switch array, a number of said plurality of pulse streams related to a value of said stimulation level code;
a transformer electrically connected to said switch array, said transformer producing an output pulse having a pulse voltage related to said number of said plurality of pulse streams applied to said switch array; and
at least one electrode electrically connected to said transformer and located proximal the animal;
whereby said animal is stimulated by said electrode when said electrode is energized by said transformer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of pulse streams has a fixed pulse width, a fixed pulse frequency, and a fixed amplitude.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor has a plurality of output connections that connect to a plurality of switches forming said switch array, each of said plurality of switches forcing a specified current through said transformer.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor monitors said receiver for said coded signal, verifies said identification code, determines whether a beep is to be generated, determines whether a shock is to be generated, and generates said plurality of pulse streams.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transmitting unit includes a beep switch, a shock switch, and a stimulation level switch.
6. An apparatus for training an animal in which a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said apparatus comprising:
a processor that monitors for a coded signal, verifies an identification code in said coded signal, determines whether an electrical stimulation is to be generated, and generates a plurality of pulse streams;
a switch array controlled by said processor, said processor controlling a number of said plurality of pulse streams applied to said switch array;
a transformer electrically connected to said switch array, said transformer producing an output pulse having a pulse voltage related to number of said plurality of pulse streams applied to said switch array; and
at least one electrode electrically connected to said transformer and located proximal the animal;
whereby said animal is stimulated by said electrode when said electrode is energized by said transformer.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said processor determines whether a beep is to be generated and further including a speaker producing a beep, said speaker controlled by said processor.
8. An apparatus for training an animal in which a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said apparatus comprising:
a processor that monitors a receiver for a coded signal, verifies an identification code in said coded signal, determines whether an electrical stimulation is to be generated, and generates a plurality of pulse streams; and
a means for producing an electrical stimulation based on an output of said processor.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for producing said electrical stimulation includes varying a current flowing through a transformer.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said processor determines whether a beep is to be generated and further including a speaker producing a beep and further including a means for producing a beep.
11. An apparatus for training an animal in which a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said apparatus comprising:
a means for receiving a coded signal;
a means for decoding said coded signal; and
a means for producing an electrical stimulation based on said coded signal.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for producing said electrical stimulation includes varying a current flowing through a transformer.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a means for producing a beep.
14. In an apparatus for training an animal in which a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, a memory medium comprising software programmed to provide for controlling the stimulation applied to the animal by a process comprising:
a) receiving an electronic signal representing a request message to stimulate the animal, said request message including an identification code, and a stimulation level code;
b) determining whether an electrical stimulation is to be generated to stimulate the animal;
c) generating a plurality of pulse streams; and
d) outputting said plurality of pulse streams to a switch array that produces a signal having a current corresponding to said stimulation level code.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said process embodied in said memory medium further includes verifying a coded signal from said identification code.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said process embodied in said memory medium further includes:
e) determining whether a beep is to be generated to stimulate the animal; and
f) generating a control signal for operating a sound generating device;
17. A method for training an animal in which an audible and a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said method comprising:
a) monitoring for a coded signal representing a request message to stimulate the animal, said coded signal including an identification code and a stimulation level code;
b) determining whether an electrical stimulation is requested;
c) producing said electrical stimulation if requested, said electrical stimulation based on a current level corresponding to said stimulation level code, said step of producing said electrical stimulation further including a step of outputting a plurality of pulse streams to a switch array that produces said current level.
18. The method of claim 17 further including verifying said coded signal from said identification code.
19. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of:
d) determining whether an audible stimulation is requested; and
e) producing said audible stimulation if requested.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of producing said electrical stimulation includes:
c1) determining said current level corresponding to said stimulation level code;
c2) generating at least one input pulse stream having a fixed pulse width, a fixed frequency, and a fixed pulse voltage;
c3) applying at least one input pulse stream to a switch array to produce said current level in a pulse transformer; and
c4) producing a stimulation pulse stream from said at least one input pulse stream.
21. A method for training an animal in which a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said method comprising:
a) monitoring for a coded signal representing a request message to stimulate the animal, said coded signal including an identification code and a stimulation level code;
b) determining whether an electrical stimulation is requested; and
c) if said electrical stimulation is requested:
c1) determining a number of pulse streams to be applied to a switch array to produce a current corresponding to said stimulation level code;
c2) generating said number of pulse streams having a fixed pulse width, a fixed frequency, and a fixed pulse voltage;
c3) generating a current from said number of pulse streams;
c4) generating an output pulse stream from said current; and
c5) making said output pulse stream available to the animal.
22. The method of claim 21 further including the steps of:
d) determining whether an audible stimulation is requested; and
e) producing said audible stimulation if requested; and
23. The method of claim 21 further including a step of verifying said coded signal from said identification code.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein said coded signal includes a stimulation type code.
25. A method for training an animal in which a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said method comprising:
a) monitoring a receiver for a coded signal representing a request message to stimulate the animal, said coded signal including an identification code and a stimulation level code; and
b) if an electrical stimulation is requested by said coded signal:
b1) determining a current corresponding to said stimulation level code;
b2) generating said current from at least one input pulse stream having a fixed pulse width, a fixed frequency, and a fixed pulse voltage;
b3) applying said current to a transformer to generate an output pulse stream from said input pulse stream; and
b4) making said output pulse stream available to the animal.
26. The method of claim 25 further including the step of:
c) controlling an audible device if an audible stimulation is requested by said coded signal.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein said coded signal includes a stimulation type code.
28. The method of claim 25 further including a step of verifying said coded signal from said identification code.
29. A method for training an animal in which an audible and a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said method comprising:
a) monitoring for a coded signal representing a request message to stimulate the animal, said coded signal including an identification code and a stimulation level code;
b) determining whether an electrical stimulation is requested;
c) producing said electrical stimulation if requested, said electrical stimulation based on a current level corresponding to said stimulation level code;
d) determining whether an audible stimulation is requested; and
e) producing said audible stimulation if requested.
30. A method for training an animal in which an audible and a variable level electrical stimulation is applied to the animal, said method comprising:
a) monitoring for a coded signal representing a request message to stimulate the animal, said coded signal including an identification code and a stimulation level code;
b) determining whether an electrical stimulation is requested; and
c) producing said electrical stimulation if requested, said electrical stimulation based on a current level corresponding to said stimulation level code, said step of producing said electrical stimulation comprising:
c1) determining said current level corresponding to said stimulation level code;
c2) generating at least one input pulse stream having a fixed pulse width, a fixed frequency, and a fixed pulse voltage;
c3) applying at least one input pulse stream to a switch array to produce said current level in a pulse transformer; and
c4) producing a stimulation pulse stream from said at least one input pulse stream.