Hand shield glove

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new and improved glove for protecting the hand of an individual when using tools that might cause impact to the hand. The present invention incorporates a glove that shields the index finger and thumb areas of the hand from harm resulting from a blow from a hammer, mallet, maul or similar tool. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new and improved glove with a protective thumb shield and index finger shielding for working with a hammer or chisel wherein the shielding protect the hand from impact as a result of the hammer. The glove may be incorporated with permanent shields or with removable shields.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/514,470 filed Oct. 24, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a new and improved glove that protects the hand from injury when hammering on a chisel or other related tool. More particularly, the present invention relates to a glove with steel shields for protection of the index finger and thumb.

2. Description of Related Art

Numerous hand tools create the potential for injury to the hands. Various injuries are included, but not limited to, cutting one's hand or finger, creating wounds in the skin or even breaking a bone of the hand, and causing injury to the muscles and tendons of the bone. Certain hand tools may include, but are not limited to, hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, and other commonly known devices. Some protection may be afforded through any number of protective gloves that currently exist in the art.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,612 to Patton describes a work glove which incorporates stiff protective members around the back of each finger and around the back of the hand. The drawbacks to this invention include both the lack of flexibility in the device and the lack of focused protection for both the thumb and index finger.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,849 to Thurston et al. describes a work glove which incorporates numerous small steel plates secured within a flexible glove to protect the hand from being crushed. The drawbacks to this invention include both the lack of protection for the thumb and index finger joint. In addition, the metal plates are included only on the backhand side and don't protect any joints from sharp objects or other injuries.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,575 to Pakulak describes a safety glove with embedded steal caps to protect the finger tips and steel cylinders to protect the part of the fingers between the joints. The drawbacks to this invention includes both the lack of protection for the joints and additional weight incurred from the amount of steel embedded in the glove.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,695 to Burtoff describes a protective glove of similar design with Pakulak but also with a large metal or rigid plastic encasing that surrounds the palm and back portion of the hand. The drawbacks to this invention are also similar to that of Pakulak.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,344 to Rokus describes a safety glove that contains a reinforcement means in the palm area, hollow finger elements, and metallic cups for the fingers. Again, this invention is similar to the previous two and has many of the same drawbacks.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,951,190 to Gambee describes a finger and hand guard that has multiple sections that are connected by jointed members. This invention is intended to cover a large portion of the hand and fingers including such joints, and has the drawback of limited maneuverability and added weight.

The present invention consists of a hand shield glove that is reinforced with a protective shield(s) or a steel shield principally over the thumb and index finger area to reduce the weight of the glove, allow for greater flexibility, and maintain a substantial amount of protection from using hand tools such as a hammer or chisel and thus differs greatly from the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and improved glove for individuals when using hand tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new and improved glove for protection of a user's thumb area and index finger area when using a hammer, mallet, maul or similar tool to hammer at or onto a striking implement such as a chisel, pry bar, spike, or similar tool that would be held by the hand holding the chisel, pry bar, spike, or similar tool. The hand holding the chisel, pry bar, spike, or similar tool is what would need protection from the blows of the hammer, mallet, maul or similar tool.

The outer and possible inner layers of the glove may be of any material known in the art, including but not limited to leather, plastic, rubber, or cloth. Additionally, the protective shield(s) may be of such material that would necessarily retard the impact of a hammer, mallet, maul or similar tool that might normally cause a physical impact injury to the hand. The protective shield(s) may include such materials as steel or any other metal alloy, a wire weave of material or flexible protective material commonly found in bullet proof vests, hard plastic, or any other solid material that could retard the impact of a hand tool. The shield could be of any thickness sufficient to protect the hand as is known in the art. Such thickness may be less than about one millimeter for a shield made of a hard substance such as steel or like material. The protective shield may also be designed and shaped to adapt to the curvature of the joint or knuckle of the finger or thumb that is protects.

The protective shield(s) may be generally sewn or secured into the outer or possible inner layers, or between both, of a glove such that the outer and inner layers are the flexible layers that secure the protective shield(s) in place. One embodiment of the invention may include a complete inner and outer layer of the glove that is stitched or attached in a similar means together around the area where the shielding exists to secure the shielding in place, where the double shielding around the rest of the glove acts as additional protective flexible shielding and possibly insulation. Another embodiment of the invention may include an inner layer of the glove that is only large enough to encompass the inside layer of the protective shielding and not encompass the entire inside layer of the glove, but exists only to secure the protective shielding inside the glove and allow for one layer of flexible glove material to exist between a hand wearing the glove and the protective shielding.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the protective shield(s) is secured to a glove to protect the thumb and index finger and adjacent portions of the hand. In another preferred embodiment, the protective shield is fitted within the glove and shaped to protect the joints or knuckles of a finger or thumb or both. The glove may be adapted for both the right and left hand, more particularly for the hand that will hold the striking tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention while in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present invention incorporates protective shields into a glove to protect the thumb and index finger from injury as a result of the use of various hand tools such as a hammer or chisel. FIG. 1 is a top view of glove 2. Glove 2 is a left-handed glove with representations made for finger shield 22 and thumb shield 20. Glove 2 has an open end 6 for insertion of a hand and a closed end 8.

Closed end 8 of glove 2 has a thumb section 10, an index finger section 12, middle finger section 14, ring finger section 16, and pinky finger section 18. When being worn, an individual would insert one hand into glove 2 with a thumb going into thumb section 10, an index finger going into index finger section 12, a middle finger going into middle finger section 14, a ring finger going into ring finger section 16, and a pinky finger going into pinky finger section 18.

Finger shield 22 and thumb shield 20 may optionally be made of steel, aluminum, metal or metal alloy, weave of metal wire, hard plastic, or any other material that can substantially retard an impact of a hand tool and protect the hand. Additionally, finger shield 22 and thumb shield 20 are preferably either square, rectangular, round, or oval in shape.

Thumb shield 20 protects a general area of the thumb and hand that is represented by at least some portion of both the first proximal phalanx bone area, the first metacarpal bone area, and at least a portion of the joint in between the two bones of the thumb that is to be protected by the glove.

Finger shield 22 protects a general area of the index finger and hand that is represented by at least some portion of both the second middle phalanx bone area, the second proximal phalanx bone area, possibly a part of the second metacarpal bone area, and at least a portion of the joints in between the three bones of the finger that is to be protected by the glove.

The presence of thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 allow for extra insulation and added protection should an individual strike their hand when using a hand tool such as a hammer and chisel. Thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 do not entirely protect the hand holding a striking implement such as a chisel from the trauma resulting from an accidental impact with a hammer. However, placement of shield 20 and 22 afford a great amount of protection to the hand holding a striking implement in that the most likely areas of the hand are shielded from an accidental impact. Because the entire surface of glove 2 is not encased in shielding, the glove of the present invention is relatively light in weight while offering significant impact protection from activities such as hammering a chisel.

Ideally, the non-shielded part of the glove is made of a flexible form fitted material such as leather, rubber, soft plastic, cloth, or other material of similar qualities and characteristics. Additionally, the embodiment of the present invention may exists as a mitt that does not separate the fingers into a glove, has a separate pocket for the thumb, and still maintains the novel protection of the present invention.

Thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 may be fixedly attached, permanently or temporarily, to glove 2 with fastening 24. Suitable types of attachments for fastening 24, include, for example, stitching, adhesive, snaps, hook and loop fastener such as VELCRO®, and other suitable fasteners to fixedly attached thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 to glove 2. Alternatively, thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 may be removable attached to glove 2. As shown in FIG. 2, thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 may be inserted into pocket 26 and pocket 28 respectively. Different types of thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 may be inserted depending on the type and amount of protection needed or desired. For example, a relatively thick thumb shield 20 may be used in one application, then taken out and replaced with a relatively thinner thumb shield 20 for a different application. The choice of thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 may depend on the strength of the shield compared with the type of protection desired. Pocket 26 and pocket 28 may have a closure such as a snap, hook and loop fastener such as VELCRO®, or other fastening capability for securing thumb shield 20 and finger shield 22 into pocket 26 and pocket 28, respectively.

FIG. 2 represents a side view of glove 2 wherein finger shield 22 extends from a portion of the second metacarpal bone area, over the second proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the second middle phalanx bone area and thumb shield extends from a portion of the primary metacarpal bone area, over the first proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the first distal phalanx bone area.

FIG. 3 represents a side view of a glove 2 holding a chisel 30 between the index finger and thumb where the representations are made for finger shield 22 and thumb shield 20. One embodiment of the present invention is to protect the hand from the strike of a hammer 32 while the hand is holding an implement such as chisel 30. Finger shield 22 covers an area of the index finger knuckle, which may also be referred to the joint in between the second proximal phalanx bone and the second middle phalanx bone. Finger shield 22 may extend down the length of the index finger to the second metacarpal bone area.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A protective glove comprising:

a. a flexible, form fitting glove having an open end and closed end, said open end is form fitted for insertion of a hand having four fingers, a thumb, a palm side, and a non-palm side, said closed end is form fitted for accepting said four fingers and said thumb of said hand with an internal cavity for each of finger and said thumb;

b. an outer layer of material to make up said flexible form fitting glove;

c. at least one protective finger shield that covers some portion of a non-palm side of an index finger of said hand and an optional side or sides of said index finger of said hand at or about the second middle phalanx bone area and the second proximal phalanx bone area; and

d. at least one protective thumb shield that covers some portion of a non-palm side of said thumb of said hand and an optional side or sides of said thumb of said hand at or about a first proximal phalanx bone area, a first metacarpal bone area, and a joint in between said first proximal phalanx bone area and said first metacarpal bone area of said hand that is to be protected by said glove.

2. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein said protective index finger shield and said protective thumb shield are optionally made from one of a group of materials comprising: steel, aluminum, metal or metal alloy of similar character and strength to steel or aluminum, weave of metal wire, or hard plastic.

3. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein said outer layer of material of said flexible form fitting glove is optionally made from one of a group of materials comprising: leather, rubber, soft plastic, or cloth.

4. The protective glove of claim 1, further comprising an inner layer.

5. The protective glove of claim 4, wherein said inner layer of material of said flexible form fitting glove is optionally made from one of a group of materials comprising: leather, rubber, soft plastic, or cloth.

6. The protective glove of claim 4, wherein said protective index shield and said protective thumb shield are attached to said form fitting glove and said outer layer and said inner layer of said flexible form fitting glove encompasses said protective index shield and said protective thumb shield within said form fitting glove.

7. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein said finger shield is square, rectangular, round, or oval shaped.

8. The protective glove of claim 1 wherein said thumb shield is square, rectangular, round, or oval shaped.

9. The protective glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is made of leather.

10. The protective glove of claim 1 wherein the finger shield extends from a portion of the second metacarpal bone area, over the second proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the second middle phalanx bone area.

11. The protective glove of claim 1 wherein the thumb shield extends from a portion of the primary metacarpal bone area, over the first proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the first distal phalanx bone area.

12. A method of using a protective glove, comprising:

providing a glove for a hand holding an implement;

securing at least a first protective shield along a forefinger portion of the glove between about a mid-knuckle finger region and about a base knuckle finger region;

securing at least a second protective shield along a thumb portion of the glove between about a mid-knuckle thumb region and about a base knuckle thumb region wherein the first and second protective shields provide impact prevention while the hand holds the implement in a longitudinal direction through the hand with fingers of the glove wrapped there around.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein said mid-knuckle finger region comprises a joint between a second middle phalanx bone area and second proximal phalanx bone area, and said base knuckle finger region comprises a joint between said second middle phalanx bone area and a second metacarpal bone area.

14. The method as in claim 12, wherein said mid-knuckle thumb region comprises a joint in between a first proximal phalanx bone area and a first metacarpal bone area.

15. The method as in claim 12, wherein said first protective shield and second protective shield comprise steel, aluminum, metal, metal alloy, weave of metal wire, or hard plastic.

16. The method as in claim 12, wherein said protective glove comprises leather, rubber, soft plastic, or cloth.

17. The method as in claim 12, wherein the first protective shield extends from a portion of the second metacarpal bone area, over the second proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the second middle phalanx bone area.

18. The method as in claim 12, wherein the second protective shield extends from a portion of the primary metacarpal bone area, over the first proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the first distal phalanx bone area.

19. A protective glove comprising:

a glove for covering a hand;

a first protective shield for protecting the index finger of the hand; and

a second protective shield for protecting the thumb of the hand.

20. The protective glove of claim 19 wherein, the first protective shield extends from a portion of the second metacarpal bone area, over the second proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the second middle phalanx bone area and the second protective shield extends from a portion of the primary metacarpal bone area, over the first proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the first distal phalanx bone area.