Partially removable glove
A protective glove extends upward from the wrist at least partway toward the elbow but is partially removable from the thumb and four fingers by a seam extending across the back of the hand. The seam is preferably secured with a watertight closure such as a loop and hook fabric fastening strip, a zipper and the like. The glove preferably includes an insulating fabric liner, such as wool or polypropylene fabric, for use in skiing or snow sports. Alternatively, the entire glove may be formed of a non-porous foamed elastic fabric, such as neoprene, for water sports.
The present application claims priority to the provisional application for a “Partially Removable Glove”, having Ser. No. 60/660,797 and attorney docket # 162.01, filed on Mar. 11, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to gloves, and more particularly to insulating gloves used in skiing and other sports.
Gloves intended for skiing and other sports wherein the wearer is exposed to low temperature require multiple or thick layers of insulation, as well as durable waterproof materials and fabrics. Such gloves frequently extend beyond the wrist and cover at least a portion of the forearm below the elbow, thus precluding snow, ice or water from entering under the sleeve of the wearer's jacket.
While such a glove can be very comfortable, the combination of materials and layers provided to achieve such comfort and durability inherently limits the dexterity of the gloves hands. Accordingly, skiers find it necessary to remove the glove from their hand when for example using a cell phone, taking something from their pocket, unfolding a map and the like. Afterwards considerable time and manipulation is required with say the other gloved hand to replace the removed glove.
Others have attempted to solve this problem by providing gloves that allow for the one or more of the fingers to be partially exposed. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,743 teaches deploying a zipper that extends from the base of the thumb on the palm side of the hand around the index finger and back to about the base of the thumb on the back side of the hand. This configuration, while exposing the thumb and index finger requires considerable dexterity to open and close, which can be difficult when the other hand is gloved. Further, as the opening extends around both side of the hand, it can interfere with the wearer's grip and dexterity when the glove is on and removable portion is closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,874 teaches a glove having a series of three opening flaps along the wrist and lower hand portions. While opening the flaps may improve the dexterity of the remaining gloves thumb and fingers, these portions must be removed when the wearer desires the full dexterity of a bare hand. Thus, the wearer must go through the elaborate process of opening the three flaps as well as removing the finger-covering portion in an additional step.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,350 appears to teach a partially removable glove with a flap that covers the thumb and a separate flap or pouch that cover the remaining four fingers. While the thumb covering flat has a seam opening for uncovering only a portion of the thumb, the finger-covering flap is a mitten for all four fingers. The mitten portion flap folds over the back of the hand when the four fingers are exposed, resulting in a seam across the palm. If the seam does not have overlapping fabric from both sides, it is subject to leakage or water, ice and snow, as well as simply drafts. If the palm seam deploys a physical closure or layers of overlapping fabric from both side this extra bulk will interfere with the wearer's grip when the fingers are not exposed. Further, as this glove deploys two separate finger protective flaps, it requires more effort and dexterity to remove and replace with the other hand gloved.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,530 also teaches a glove with a flap that covers the thumb and a separate flap or pouch that covers the remaining four fingers. Both fold back over the back of the hand when the fingers are exposed, thus forming a seam across the palm. Although the finger and thumb covering flaps can be tucked under an elastic band at the wrist, they still leave a seam across the wearer's palm. Further, as this glove also deploys two separate finger protective flaps, it requires more effort and dexterity to remove and replace with the other hand gloved. The palm seam can interfere with the wearer's grip when the fingers are not exposed. Further, it is anticipated that the separate thumb flap will interfere with the gloves flexibility when the hand is full enclosed and protected.
Accordingly, there is a need for a type of ski or other glove that provides thermal insulation, hand protection and moisture exclusion that can be removed quickly to expose the more dexterous bare fingers, as well as replaced quickly. There is also a need for such a glove wherein the means to expose the finger and palms does not in fact render the glove stiffer or cause discomfort when the hand is fully enclosed and protected.
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art and provide a glove that keeps hands protected, warm and dry by enclosing the fingers and thumb in a flexible fabric.
It is yet another objective to provide a glove that extends back from the wrist towards the elbow to provide for maximum protection for water and moisture intrusion.
It is a further objective to provide a glove with the aforementioned benefits and advantages that is partially removable to provide maximum dexterity without removal of the entire glove.
Yet another objective is to provide for the gloves partial removal and replacement in a manner that is rapid and can be performed with the opposite hand fully gloved.
A further objective is to provide the above benefits of partial removal without compromise to the overall water and moisture tightness of the glove.
An additional objective is to provide the qualities and benefits of a partially removable portion yet without interfering in the wearers grip or comfort when the glove is not removed.
A still further objective is to provide a glove wherein the removable portion cannot be readily detached from the glove and thus subject to loss or damage.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIn the specification below the terms above (or upper) and below (or lower) refer to relative positions of elements of the invention with respect to anatomical features, including the hand, wrist, digits, forearm and elbow. Specifically, the terms “above” and “upper” refer to the direction from or at the features that are closer to end of the fingers. In contrast, the term “below” or “lower” refers to features that are closer to the forearm or wrist side of the hand.
In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a glove having a tubular sleeve portion for covering at least the wrist to mid hand, a finger protective portion subdivided into a first tubular member for receiving the thumb and at least a second tubular member for receiving one or more finger. The finger protective portion is detachably connected to the tubular sleeve portion in the backhand oriented side, providing a seam between the tubular sleeve and the finger protective portion.
A second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the finger protective portion is connected to the tubular sleeve portion in the palm oriented side from just below the little finger diagonally across the palm to below the first thumb joint adjacent to the wrist. This configuration provides the maximum dexterity without removal of the entire glove. Further, the resulting seam for partial removal does not interfere with the wearer's grip or cause discomfort. The opening seam on the opposite or backside of the hand is readily rendered substantially watertight such that the wearer's hands are protected, warm and dry by enclosing the fingers and thumb in a flexible material or fabric. In addition, the partial removal and replacement is rapid and can be performed with the gloved hand.
The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Referring to
In accordance with the present invention, partially removable glove 100 generally comprises a tubular sleeve portion 110 for covering from at least about the wrist to mid hand, a finger protective portion 120 subdivided into a first tubular member 124 for receiving the thumb and at least a second tubular 125 member for receiving one or more finger. The finger protective portion 120 encloses the fingers and thumb in a flexible fabric. The finger protective portion 120 is connected to the tubular sleeve portion in the palm oriented side opposite side which cover the back of the wearer's hand it merely overlaps the tubular sleeve 110 to provide a seam 130 between the tubular sleeve 110 and the finger protective portion 120. As illustrated in
Thus, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Further, a handle 160 in the form of a fabric strip, a loop or hook and the like is preferably attached to the finger protective portion 120 close to the edge that forms seam 130. Thus, the wearer can grasp handle 160 to pull the finger protective portion 120 of glove 100 up away from tubular sleeve 110 to expose the wearer's thumb and fingers
It should be appreciated that in the preferred embodiments the distal end of tubular sleeve 110 has a first aperture at edge 112 for receiving the end of the thumb (Th in the Figure) and a second aperture at edge 111 for receiving the remaining four fingers. The end of tubular sleeve 110 is thus closed in region 113, between the thumb and the index finger (I in the figure).
It should be appreciated that the seam 130 is optionally simply the overlapping portion of tubular sleeve 110 and finger protective portion 120. However, depending on the gloves field of use it may be preferable to provide a substantially watertight seal via a closure at seam 130. Such a seal may be providing by lining the mating surface of seam 130 with at least one of “VELCRO” type hook and loop detachable fastener, or providing a closure device such as a zipper, a latch, one or more snaps and the like at or about seam 130. Further, providing a substantially expandable elastic fabric at and around seam 130 can also facilitate a tighter or water tight closure, as the fabric contracts around the hand and/or seal surfaces. It should be appreciated that the glove itself can be fabricated from expandable elastic fabric, foamed elastic fabric, Nylon fabric, leather, thermally insulating flame and fire-resistant fabrics and the like, as well as combinations and/or layers thereof depending on the intended end-use.
Alternatively, as shown in
In addition, any of the embodiments described above may include a cinching cord closure 150 (or any other type of compressing closure, such as a “Velcro” loop, hook and strap, snaps and the like) at the proximal end of the tubular sleeve (proximal end is closest to the elbow), as shown
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A glove comprising,
- a) a flexible tubular sleeve for covering from about between the wrist and the elbow at the proximal end, to about the middle of the hand at the distal end,
- b) a flexible finger protective sleeve open at the first end and subdivided into a first tubular member for receiving the thumb and at least a second tubular member for receiving one or more finger, wherein the closed ends of each tubular member seal the second end of said finger protective sleeve,
- c) wherein said finger protective portion is detachably connected to said tubular sleeve to form an overlapping seam at the portion of the tubular sleeve behind the thumb and fingers.
2. The glove according to claim 1 wherein the overlapping seam is disposed on the portion of said tubular sleeve and said finger protective sleeve behind the thumb and little finger on the back of the hand with said finger protective sleeve connected to said tubular sleeve at least within the palm of the hand.
3. The glove according to claim 1 wherein said first tubular sleeve has a first and second aperture at the distal end, wherein the first aperture is disposed to coincide with the first tubular member of said flexible finger protective sleeve for receiving the thumb and the second aperture is disposed with respect to the second tubular member of said finger protective sleeve for receiving one or more fingers.
4. The glove according to claim 1 further comprising a thermally insulating fabric liner having a first portion disposed within said tubular sleeve for covering at least the back of the hand and the wrist and a second portion extending to cover the thumb and the remaining four finger.
5. The glove according to claim 1 wherein the overlapping seam opening of said finger protective sleeve extends diagonally with respect to the principle axis of the tubular sleeve from about below the little finger to below about the thumb.
6. The glove according to claim 1 further comprising a handle attached to said finger protective sleeve for urging the uncovering of the finger and thumb from the overlapping seam.
7. The glove according to claim 1 further comprising a closure device for gathering the excess fabric surrounding the proximal end of said tubular sleeve to urge it to tightly fit around the corresponding portion of the wrist or forearm.
8. The glove according to claim 7 wherein the closure device is a cinching cord that extends around the corresponding portion of the wrist or forearm.
9. The glove according to claim 4 wherein the portion of the thermally insulating fabric liner that covers the thumb comprises a slot for exposing the thumb tip through the insulating liner.
10. A glove according to claim 4 wherein a portion of the thermally insulating fabric liner extends to overlaps the fabric adjacent to the slot defining two overlapping fabric portions have an inner slot and an outer slot.
11. The glove according to claim 1 wherein the second tubular member of said flexible finger protective sleeve extends to the end thereof for receiving the four fingers.
12. The glove according to claim 1 further comprising a third, fourth and fifth tubular member in said flexible finger protective sleeve wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth tubular members are disposed with respect to said tubular sleeve for separately receiving each of the four fingers of the hand.
13. The glove according to claim 1 wherein the overlapping seam is optionally opened or sealed by a closure.
14. The glove according to claim 13 where the closure provides a substantially watertight seal.
15. The glove according to claim 13 where substantially watertight seal is formed by a closure selected from the group consisting of a pair of hook and loop fabric fastening strips, a zipper, a latch, and one or more snaps.
16. The glove according to claim 14 wherein the seal is rendered substantially watertight by elastic foam fabric covering contacting overlapping surfaces at the seam on both the said tubular sleeve and said finger protective sleeve.
17. The glove according to claim 16 wherein the closure urges the elastic foam fabric that contacts overlapping portion of the seam towards each other to close the seam.
18. The glove according to claim 17 wherein the closure is a cinch cord.
19. The glove according to claim 1 further comprising a stretchable fabric liner comprising a first portion connected to the distal end of said tubular sleeve extending to cover at least one of the thumb and the four finger.
20. The glove according to claim 1 further comprising a fabric liner having a first portion connected to the distal end of said tubular sleeve extending to cover at least one of the thumb and the four finger wherein a portion of said fabric liner covering at least one digit is partially slit around the circumference so as to enable the partial removal and extension of the digit from underneath said fabric liner.
21. A glove comprising,
- a) a flexible tubular sleeve for covering from about between the wrist and the elbow at the proximal end to a point below about the first or lower finger joint on the hand at the distal end,
- b) a flexible finger protective sleeve open at the first end and subdivided into a first tubular member for receiving the thumb and at least a second tubular member for receiving one or more fingers, wherein the closed ends of each tubular member seal the second end of said finger protective sleeve,
- c) wherein said finger protective portion is contiguous with said tubular sleeve on the palm side of the hand and has a closable seam disposed on the backside of the hand running from about below the thumb diagonally, with respect to the principal axis of the forearm, to about below the little finger,
- d) whereby upon removal of the thumb and all four fingers from the finger protective sleeve at the open seam results in the unconnected finger protective portion flapping downward from about the palm side of the hand.
22. A glove according to claim 21 wherein a portion of the fabric that forms said finger protective sleeve on the backside of the hand overlaps a portion of the fabric that forms the distal end of the said tubular sleeve on the backside of the hand.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 1, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 28, 2006
Inventor: Michael White (Santa Rosa, CA)
Application Number: 11/264,411
International Classification: A41D 19/00 (20060101);