Gaming glove

Abstract

A glove for participants of video gaming includes various palmar grip surfaces and a cushion overlying the flexor pollicis brevis and/or opponens pollicis muscles to protect the thumb and palm, and avoid fatigue and repetitive motion injury. The cushion can be a gel pack suitable for heating or cooling, and can be replaced while playing. The glove can also include electrodes on the inner surface for the application of TEMS and/or TENS to the wearer, even during play.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hand-worn device for use by one playing a video game and combat fatigue and injury to the abductor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and other muscles flexing, pronating, and abducting the thumb.

2. The State of the Art

With the advent of computers and computer games, injury to the operator's hands or fingers due to repetitive motion has become prevalent. Typically typists suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, an irritation of the tendons passing from the forearm, through the carpal tunnels in the wrist, to the fingers. Other conditions include Trigger Finger, Trigger Thumb, and DeQuervain's synovitis, which affect the tendons of the thumb. The tendons are surrounded by a synovium or lining, which allows them to slide within the canal. As the canal bends, especially due to the overlying transverse carpal ligament, continued movement of the tendon across the bend irritates the tendon and/or the synovium, causing the pain associated with these types of synovitis.

In addition to repetitive motion injuries, other soft tissue injuries can occur because of the operator's hand being kept in a given condition for long periods of time. For example, in video gaming, a user typically holds a control console in both hands (as shown in FIG. 1) while gaming. The console is supported by each hand by pinching between the thumb on one side and the palm and/or fingers on the other side. The continuous pressure exerted for extended periods of time can cause cramping. Frequent, sudden pressure can cause injury to the flexor brevis pollicis muscle, which flexes the thumb (i.e., moves the thumb towards the palm). As seen in FIG. 1, the user typically activates most of the controls on the console using the thumbs, and hence tendons for the muscles flexing and abducting the thumb, the abductor pollicis and flexor brevis pollicis muscles, can become irritated, possibly presenting as synovitis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it would be beneficial to provide a glove that alleviates or reduces the trauma associated with extended periods of video gaming in which the hands are maintained in an essentially fixed position for extended periods and the thumbs are required to move quickly and repetitively.

Accordingly, in one embodiment this invention provides a glove, comprising, a plurality of friction strips (i) extending across the palmar portion, (ii) at two or more of the medial knuckle joints, and/or (iii) associated with the proximal phalanges, a friction pad at the thumb pad, and most preferably a pad extending over the thenar space to protect the flexor pollicis brevis and opponens pollicis muscles, and those in the same area, from soft tissue injuries. Preferably a pair of gloves is supplied, as most video game consoles require the use of two hands.

In a more preferred embodiment, the glove also has electrodes to provide TENS (transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation) and/or TEMS (transcutaneous electronic muscle stimulation) to relieve and treat the user's hands later or even while engaged in video gaming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view or user's perspective view showing the user's hands and a video game control console.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the palmar side of a glove according to this invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the glove taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the glove taken along line 44 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

As explained in the Background section, a person playing a video game typically participates in the game using a control console that is held using both of the person's hands. As shown in FIG. 1, the console 101 has a center section connecting left 103 and right 105 portions, which are held, respectively, by the user's left 107 and right 109 hands. The console is often controlled on the front surface with the user's left 111 and right 113 thumbs engaging controls on top surface of the respective left and right portions of the console; some consoles have control instruments on the edge, too. The console is typically held by the left portion being pinched between the thumb 111 and the proximal side of the middle finger 115 (when the wrist is rotated as shown in the figure) of the left hand. Often, the index finger 117 is used on the edge or side of the console to help the user stabilize the console. The grip on the right portion of the console is essentially the same.

It should be apparent that a person maintaining the position shown in FIG. 1 can suffer cramping, soft tissue injuries by continuous pressing of the console onto parts of the hands, and by repetitive movements of the thumbs on the control buttons on the console.

To facilitate the user's extended video gaming activity, the present glove 201, shown in FIG. 2, has a body made of any suitable glove material. Typical materials include leather, cotton, wool, nylon (as used in batting gloves), synthetic woven materials, and various synthetic materials such as faux leather (typically polyurethane of a given thickness) and thick non-woven materials that are suitable for forming and being used as a glove. The manufacture of the glove body is well-known in the art, as gloves have been made for well over a century. The glove body preferably should cover the palmar surface 201p, the thumb 201t, the proximal phalange 201pp, and may extend down to cover the wrist 201w.

Disposed at various places on the inner surface of the glove body (which includes the palmar surface) are plural gripping surfaces, which can be made of rubber, dense foam, or any synthetic polymeric material having high friction and preferably also providing a cushioning effect. The placement of these gripping surfaces may likely vary among users, as each individual may have a preferred hand position for holding the console, and a different hand size, whereby the placement of the gripping surface can vary among users. Therefore, it is contemplated within this invention that a tape can be used by which the user can apply the gripping surface prior to use, and after one or more uses, remove the existing gripping surface and apply a new one. Alternatively, the inner portion of the glove can be provided with mechanically-receptive devices (such as the hook or loop portions of a mechanical fastener like that sold under the VELCRO brand), and the user can position a gripping surface(s) having related mechanically engageable surfaces as desired. The inner portion of the glove can have markings for suggested positions for the gripping surfaces, and over time the user can change the orientation of the gripping surface to suit an individual need and gaming style. In another embodiment, the gripping surfaces are permanent. As shown in FIG. 2, the gripping surface 203a may extend from the side edge of the hand to the knuckles, or in 203b from the wrist to the knuckles, or wherever desired. It is preferred that inner knuckle gripping surfaces 203k be provided, as well as the surfaces 203pp at the joint between the proximal and mediate phalanges. It is also preferred that the pad of the thumb 203t at the distal phalange be provided with a gripping surface.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 2. It is preferred that the inner surface 301 of the glove be solid of a material such as those mentioned above. The outer surface 303 covering the back of the hand, although also shown as solid, is preferably a porous mesh that allows the user's hand to breathe. Also preferably, on the inside of the inner surface is an absorbent pad 305, optionally replaceable, for absorbing perspiration; and optionally for providing additional cushioning.

Returning to FIG. 2, in another embodiment the glove is provided with a pocket 401 in which is housed a cushion 403, such as a gel pack or a dense foam. The cushion is preferably replaceable through an opening 405 to the pocket, although the pocket can be eliminated and the cushion can be permanently adhered to the inside surface, or the pocket containing the cushion can be sewed permanently therein. Gel packs are well-known, and are also well-know to be able to be heated or cooled. In this invention, a number of gel packs can be held in the refrigerator or freezer for cooling, allowing for a gel pack in the pocket to quickly be replaced with a cool/cold one. Although shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 as residing inside the glove, the pocket can also be disposed on the outer surface of the glove, or two pockets, one inside and one outside, can be used. FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view through line 4-4 shown in FIG. 2, in which the grip strips can be seen on the outside of the inner (palmar) surface, and the cushion and pocket are disposed adjacent the meaty portion of the thumb. Also shown are optional electrodes 407 (the leads are not shown) by which TENS and/or TEMS can be delivered to the thumb muscles during play to help resuscitate the muscles. The electrodes can be placed in other sections of the glove, depending on which muscles are desired to be treated or refreshed. TENS and TEMS are well-known physical therapy techniques.

The foregoing description is meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes, modifications, and additions may become apparent to the skilled artisan upon a perusal of this specification, and such are meant to be within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A glove for use in video gaming, comprising:

A. a glove body defining an inner, palmer surface and an outer, dorsal surface, the glove having an inside surface and an outside surface, and having a thumb portion;

B. a plurality of grip surfaces disposed on the inner surface of the glove;

C. a grip surface on a palmar finger pad portion; and

D. a cushion disposed at the bottom of the thumb portion effective to overly the flexor pollicis brevis and/or opponens pollicis muscles when the glove is used.

2. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the grip surfaces extend across the palmar surface.

3. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein, when the glove is worn, the grip surfaces are present on at least one of the inside knuckle surfaces.

4. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the glove extends at least partially up at least one finger and, when the glove is worn, the grip surfaces are present on at least one of the joints where the proximal and intermediate phalange meet.

5. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the cushion is disposed in a pocket and is replaceable.

6. The glove defined in claim 5, wherein the pocket is disposed on the inside of the palmar surface.

7. The glove defined in claim 6, wherein the pocket is disposed on the outside of the palmar surface.

8. The glove defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two electrodes effective to contact a wearer's hand.

9. The glove defined in claim 8, wherein one electrode is disposed on the inside of the palmar surface and the other electrode is disposed on the inside of the dorsal surface.

10. The glove defined in claim 1, further comprising a perspiration-absorbing pad disposed on the inside of the palmar surface.

11. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the grip surface on the finger pad portion is a grip surface on the thumb pad.

12. The glove defined in claim 11, further comprising a second grip surface on the pad portion of the index finger.

13. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the grip surfaces are removeable from and reattachable to the glove body.

14. The glove defined by claim 13, wherein the grip surface can be reattached to the glove body at a desired location on the glove body.