Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a power tool user includes a glove or other garment having at least one sensor that monitors proximity to the power tool. Glove embodiments can include finger and/or thumb proximity sensors, and/or sensors that detect hand position, finger and/or wrist joint angle, vibration, and/or acceleration. Sensing targets can be retroactively installed on the power tool, and can define warning and/or danger zones. Sensing can be via magnetic, electromagnetic, capacitive, eddy current, and/or range finding means. Sizes of warning and/or target areas can be controlled by selecting targets from a plurality of targets of various detection ranges. Protective responses can vary according to different sensed events, and can include audible, visual, and/or tactile alerts, and/or interruption of power to the tool. Embodiments can record proximity and/or status data during a work session for review, training, and certification purposes. A controller can be physically cooperative with the garment.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a power tool user includes a glove or other garment having at least one sensor that monitors proximity to the power tool. Glove embodiments can include finger and/or thumb proximity sensors, and/or sensors that detect hand position, finger and/or wrist joint angle, vibration, and/or acceleration. Sensing targets can be retroactively installed on the power tool, and can define warning and/or danger zones. Sensing can be via magnetic, electromagnetic, capacitive, eddy current, and/or range finding means. Sizes of warning and/or target areas can be controlled by selecting targets from a plurality of targets of various detection ranges. Protective responses can vary according to different sensed events, and can include audible, visual, and/or tactile alerts, and/or interruption of power to the tool. Embodiments can record proximity and/or status data during a work session for review, training, and certification purposes. A controller can be physically cooperative with the garment.

Abstract: A glove that has a high percentage of low stretch materials and a method for the designing thereof provides an accurate fit to the majority of hand anatomies without relying on material stretch. The method includes determining a hand length, selecting four critical dimensions from among bridge length, thumb length, index finger length, middle finger length, ring finger length, and pinky finger length, and calculating the four selected dimensions such that ratios of the selected dimensions divided by the hand length fall within corresponding ranges, where the corresponding ranges are from 0.46 to 0.49 for the bridge length, from 0.61 to 0.63 for the thumb length, from 0.37 to 0.40 for the index finger length, from 0.40 to 0.43 for the middle finger length, from 0.37 to 0.40 for the ring finger length, and from 0.30 to 0.33 for the pinky finger length.