Energy diffusing glove insert

Abstract

An energy diffusing pad insertable within a glove. The pad includes a resilient material having a first and a second surface, and a front and rear portion. The first surface is positionable against a user's palm such that when the pad is aligned over the user's palm, the first surface of the cushion contacts at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm while not contacting the user's Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles. The glove may include a pouch to retain the pad while in use. When in use, the pad is positioned over the user's palm, where the pad forms a bridge over the raised, bony thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm. The pad diffuses the pressure of the grasped object away from the region between the thenar and hypothenar eminences, thus protecting the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles. A cushioned insert may be included within a portion of the pad to provide additional cushioning and protection of the Median and Ulnar nerves.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Utility Pat. Application No. 10/460,319, filed Jun. 11, 2003, entitled ENERGY DIFFUSING GLOVE INSERT, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

n/a

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cushioning one's hands during athletic activities that involve prolonged squeezing, carrying or gripping actions and more specifically to a glove insert that protects critical nerves in the user's hand by dampening the force, shock and vibration imparted to the user's central palm and by diffusing the pressure away from the center of the palm toward lateral regions in the user's hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many athletic activities involve prolonged or intense gripping or squeezing of hard objects, which can adversely affect critical nerve regions in the athlete's arm. This can be due to the intense shock, pressure and vibration imparted upon the critical nerves in the user's palms. For example, during weightlifting, the weightlifter grasps a barbell, dumbbell or arms of a weight machine. Due to the lifting of heavy weights, the pressure applied to the weightlifter's hands as they support the bar can be intense. Cyclist's hands do not support heavy weight, but instead must hold on tightly to handlebars for long periods of time, perhaps hours during long road rides, and over treacherous, rocky terrain, when riding off-road. Tennis players, racquetball players and golfers can even experience numbness and weakness in their hands long after they have finished playing.

When people place their hands on a hard object, the primary contact between the palm of their hands and the hard object's surface are the hard, bony prominences at the base of the thumb and the lateral side of the hands called the Thenar and Hypothenar eminences, respectively. These two areas bear the brunt of the pressure and keep the pressure from the object away from the neurovascular bundles. However, under the intense and/or prolonged pressure associated with the gripping process, as is common in the activities described above, these bony prominences separate slightly thereby allowing some of the pressure to be applied to the neurovascular bundles that run between the two bony prominences.

The Thenar and Hypothenar musculature at the sides of the hands provide a natural protective region to the branches of the Medial and Ulnar neurovascular region that extend to the athlete's fingers. However, when the hands are wrapped around a hard, cylindrical object, or placed flat on a solid surface, this natural protective region separates and allows pressure from the object or surface to be applied directly to the Medial and Ulnar branches. The could result in numbness in the fingers, swelling of the hands, and tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a variant of Ulnar nerve damage due to prolonged exposure to pressure, vibration and the shock of impact.

After a short time, the pressure from intense gripping restricts the circulation in the neurovascular bundles causing decreased blood flow and a tingling in the hands. Continuous pressure such as in a prolonged bike ride or intense weightlifting can cause numbness and permanent damage to the user's hands. Further, the athlete's performance can be severely limited from the injury, pain and numbness due to the constant assault on the palm of the hand and the Median and Ulnar neurovascular complexes caused by intense and prolonged grasping of an object.

It is therefore desirable to have a pad of cushioned material that decreases the pressure over the soft and bony tissue prominences of the hand due to prolonged or intense grasping of an object, and diffuses the pressure over a larger area.

It is further desirable to have a glove insert apparatus that can be introduced within a glove, and that protects the neurovascular nerve bundles of the user's hand while creating a stable platform upon which the hand can rest during physical activity.

It is also desirable to have a glove insert apparatus with the aforementioned characteristics that can be formed as an integral part of the glove.

It is also desirable to have a glove insert apparatus with varying density levels of cushioning material in order to create different optimal levels of protection, while still allowing the user to firmly and comfortably grasp the object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the art with respect to energy diffusing glove inserts and provides a novel and non-obvious method and apparatus for protecting a user's hands during activities that involve prolonged and/or intense grasping or squeezing by providing a resilient cushion that is insertable within a glove and is positioned over the user's thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm to diffuse the pressure against the vulnerable Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles. The present invention provides a flexible cushion that is positioned over the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm in order to reduce the effects of vibration and shock, which may lead to problems such as tennis elbow, golfer's elbow and bursitis.

The present invention advantageously provides an energy diffusing pad insertable within a glove. The pad includes a resilient material having a first and a second surface, and a front and rear portion, wherein the first surface is positionable against a user's palm such that when the pad is aligned over the user's palm, the first surface of the resilient material contacts at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm.

In another aspect of the invention, an energy diffusing glove insert is provided. The insert includes a resilient cushion positionable within a glove so as to be aligned with selected portions of a user's palm in order to diffuse pressure exerted by a graspable object away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a glove with energy diffusing capabilities for diverting pressure from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's hand is provided. The glove is adaptable for covering at least a user's palm while allowing the user to grasp an object. The glove includes a resilient cushion positionable within the glove so as to be aligned with the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm in order to diffuse pressure exerted by the graspable object away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.

In still another aspect of the invention, a method of diffusing pressure away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's hand during grasping activities is provided. The method includes providing a resilient cushion, providing a glove adapted to receive the cushion therein, and inserting the cushion within the glove such that the cushion is aligned with selected portions of the user's palm.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of diffusing pressure from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's hand during grasping activities. The method includes providing a glove having a resilient cushion integrally inserted therein, the cushion positionable between an inner surface of the glove and a user's palm, and placing the glove over the user's palm such that a first surface of the cushion contacts at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm and a second surface of the cushion contacts the inner surface of the glove.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention placed upon the thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm;

FIG. 4A is a side, perspective view of the Median neurovascular bundle of a user's forearm and hand and its relationship to the space between the thenar and hypothenar eminences that are protected by the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a side, perspective view of the Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's arm that are protected by the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention used by a cyclist;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention used by a weightlifter;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention including an insert of protective material to further reduce shock vibration and pressure;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the alternate embodiment of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of a glove having an interior pouch that retains the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing Figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of the energy diffusing glove insert of the present invention. A flexible, resilient pad 10 is adaptable to be inserted within a glove in order to diffuse pressure away from critical nerves in a user's hand. Pad 10 includes left and right front corners, 12 and 14, respectively, and left and right rear corners, 16 and 18, respectively. Pad 10 is substantially wedge-shaped, with a wider rear region 20 and a narrower front region 22. Although the size and dimensions of pad 10 can vary depending upon the size of the user's palm and size of the glove that pad 10 will be inserted in, typical dimensions of pad 10 are 3 1/4 inches from the front region 22 to the rear region 20 as indicated by A and 3½ inches at the widest part of the pad, i.e. the rear region 20, as indicated by B. Pad 10 is advantageously formed to protect the user's hand while allowing the user to maintain flexibility and a firm grip on an object.

Pad 10 may be comprised of any flexible and/or resilient material that provides energy diffusion and protection to the vulnerable nerve bundles of a user's hand. Specifically, it provides protection to the Median and Ulnar Neurovascular complexes of a user's palm. The material of pad 10 may be comprised of, for example, polyurethane foam, although other resilient materials may be used. The density of the material of pad 10 can vary depending on a user's specific needs.

FIG. 1 illustrates pad 10 having upper surface 24 and lower surface 26 (FIG. 2). When pad 10 is in use, it is typically inserted within a glove, and surface 24 contacts the user's palm, while the user's hand wraps around and grips an object. Lower surface 26 (shown in FIG. 2) remains in contact with the interior of the glove during use and remains proximate the object being grasped. Alternately, pad 10 can be inserted within a pouch that is formed in the interior, palm-side of the glove. In this embodiment, pad 10 does not contact the user's skin. In either case, surface 26, although not in direct contact with the object since it is inside of a glove, receives the force of the object being grasped, while surface 24, which is opposite force-bearing surface 26, either contacts the user's palm, or is proximate the palm, separated by only the material of the glove. In each embodiment, the resilient material comprising pad 10 provides a cushion that dampens the force from the object and re-directs the force over a larger area of the user's palm.

Surface 26 is typically comprised of a textured or tacky surface to minimize slippage or unwanted pad movement when pad 10 is inserted within the glove. Surface 24 is typically comprised of non-abrasive, softer material to provide a smooth surface when in contact with the user's skin. FIG. 2 is a side view of pad 10. FIG. 2 shows pad 10 as it would typically rest upon a user's open palm. Rear region 20 is of a definable thickness C that is typically greater than the thickness D of front region 22. The thicker, rear region 20 provides greater cushioning and protection to the bony prominences of the user's palm during grasping, while the front region 22 is thin enough to allow the user to grasp the object while maintaining flexibility.

FIG. 3 illustrates pad 10 upon a user's open hand. During use, pad 10 is inserted within a glove. Conversely, pad 10 can first be placed on the user's open palm as illustrated in FIG. 3, and a glove pulled over the pad. In another embodiment, pad 10 can be formed as an integral part of a glove. FIG. 3 shows pad 10 without a glove in order to show how pad 10 is positioned on the user's open palm. Flat surface 24 rests upon the user's palm while tapered surface 26 faces up where it will contact the inside surface of the glove. The object being grasped will apply pressure directly upon surface 26. Viewed from the rear, rear region 20 of pad 10 can be seen to have a definable thickness as it rests upon the user's palm. The positioning of pad 10 upon the user's palm is critical to the invention, and pad 10 is advantageously designed to conform to a human palm's natural shape in order to diffuse pressure away from critical nerves in the user's arm and hand.

With pad 10 inserted within a glove, the user can grasp an object (i.e. a bicycle's handlebars, a barbell, or a tennis racket). Surface 24 of pad 10 is pressed into the user's palm by the force of the object. During maintained lifting or grasping of the object, surface 24 of pad 10 remains in contact with the user's palm. Without pad 10 between the user's palm and the object there would be direct pressure exerted by the object against the user's palm since there would be nothing between the object and the user's skin other than the thin glove material. Pad 10 acts as a cushion to diffuse the direct pressure applied by the object on the user's hand.

Thus, during the athletic activity, pressure is applied by the object being grasped in the direction of P, as shown in FIG. 3. Initially, pad 10 does not contact the entire surface of the user's palm. As seen in the view of FIG. 3, only the outer, bony protuberances, known as the thenar and hypothernar eminences, of the user's palm are in contact with surface 26 of pad 10. When the user grasps the object, pressure P from the object is directed toward pad 10, which provides a bridge that diverts pressure toward these eminences. Without pad 10, the region 32 between the eminences would also bear the brunt of pressure P. Although pad 10 may ultimately contact the entire surface of the user's palm due to the pressure applied by the object, pad 10 diffuses the brunt of the pressure laterally, out toward the sides of pad 10 where the thenar and hypothenar eminences are located, and away from the Median and Ulnar Neurovascular complexes, which are exposed between the thenar and hypothenar eminences.

The thenar muscles are located proximate the raised, soft, fleshy part of the palm, just under the thumb, as shown in FIG. 3 as 28. The hypothenar muscles of the hand are located proximate the outer ridge of the hand. This region is also characterized by a raised, fleshy region, indicated as 30 in FIG. 3. Pad 10 rests across these two regions and bridges the gap between them, providing a support that protects the “valley” between the two regions, where portions of the Median and Ulnar Neurovascular complexes are located. Region 32 under surface 24 of pad 10 can be seen directly above this “valley” between the thenar and hypothernar eminences.

Pad 10 receives the downward pressure P applied by the object through the glove and diffuses this pressure away from the Median and Ulnar Neurovascular complexes. The resilient material of pad 10 cushions the force applied by the object during prolonged or intense grabbing. The pressure P exerted by the object is diverted laterally toward the thenar and hypothernar regions, which are anatomically designed to handle the effects of shock, vibration and pressure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show, respectively, the Median 17 and Ulnar 19 nerve bundles in a human arm. Both sets of nerve bundles extend through the user's palm and are susceptible to downward pressure between the thenar and hypothernar regions of the palm. The Median nerves 17, in particular, travel through the virtual center of the user's palm. This area, represented by region 32 in FIG. 3, does not have the raised, fleshy regions that serve to protect the thenar and hypothenar muscles. Pad 10 advantageously diverts pressure away from this region to protect the nerves from the shock associated with activities that involve prolonged or intense grasping.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate exemplary uses of pad 10. In FIG. 5, pad 10 can be seen within a cycling glove 36. The cyclist could first don a pair of cycling gloves, and slide pad 10 within the interior of each glove 36. Alternately, the cyclist can place pad 10 upon their open palm and slide the glove 36 over pad 10. In an alternate embodiment, pad 10 is formed as an integral part of glove 36, perhaps retained within a pouch situated inside glove 36, or on the exterior, palm-side of the glove. Further, the cyclist may choose not to use gloves and simply position pad 10 between the cyclist's palms and the handlebars. In each case, pad 10 forms a layer of protection between the user's palm and the object being grasped.

In FIG. 5, the cyclist's right hand is turned outward in a somewhat unnatural position on the handlebars solely for the purpose of illustrating pad 10 of the present invention in use. The cyclist positions pad 10 directly over the thenar and hypothernar regions of his palm, and grasps the handlebars. A cyclist may spend hours grasping the handlebars, often over jarring terrain. Therefore, the pressure is typically exerted by the user downward upon the handlebars. Pad 10 provides a cushion for the user's palm and diverts the force exerted by the handlebars upon the user's hands away from the user's critical nerve regions and laterally toward the raised, fleshy protuberances of the cyclist's palms.

In a similar fashion, the weightlifter in FIG. 6 inserts pad 10 within gloves 36 prior to performing a lifting exercise. Or, as described above, weightlifter's gloves could include a pocket that retains pad 10, or pad 10 may be used without gloves. In the exemplary use of pad 10 shown in FIG. 6, the weight from the barbell is exerted down upon the weightlifter's hands. Although the pressure applied to the user's hands may be of a shorter duration than during cycling, the heavy weights on the ends of the barbells impose a large force on the weightlifter's hands. Pad 10, positioned over the thenar and hypothernar regions of the weightlifter's palms, diffuses the downward pressure of the barbell protects the weightlifter's Median and Ulnar Neurovascular complexes from damage.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Pad 10 includes a cushioning insert 34 of a material of a different density than the material comprising pad 10. Insert 34 provides supplementary cushioning and additional protection to the user's neurovascular nerve bundles. While pad 10 receives the brunt of the force exerted by the grasped object and must therefore be comprised of a substantially firm material, insert 34 can be comprised of a material of lower density in order to provide a softer layer of cushion to the user's nerve bundles.

Insert 34 can be included in any portion of pad 10. In one embodiment, insert 34 is situated at the lower, rear portion of pad 10, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this fashion, insert 34 rests directly over the region between the thenar and hypothernar eminences of the palm, where the Median and Ulnar Neurovascular complexes are most susceptible to pressure. It is within the spirit of the invention to supply a support pad 10 of varying size, thickness and density, depending upon the size of the user's hands and/or their medical requirements. Pad 10 may be of a larger thickness toward the rear 20 of the pad in order to provide more protection, and narrower toward the front 22 in order to allow the user a firmer grip upon the object. Further, insert 34 can be of any predetermined size, thickness and density. Users with different size hands and/or specific medical requirements may choose an insert 34 with a higher density material for greater protection, while others may wish to insure more comfort by having a lower density insert 34, resulting in greater cushioning effect. The latter may be applicable for activities that involve less intense grasping functions such as racquet sports, shooting or the use of vibration machinery.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention. Glove 36 includes a pouch 38 that is sized to receive pad 10. Pouch 38 may be formed on the exterior surface of the palm-side of glove 36. Alternately, pouch 38 may be formed within glove 36 on the interior of the palm-side of the glove, thus maintaining a smooth grasping surface on the exterior surface of glove 36. FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary version of the invention where pouch 38 is formed on the interior surface of the palm side of glove 36. Pouch 38 can be formed from any pliable material that allows for pad 10 to be inserted therein. Pouch 38 could be sealed permanently, thus assuring that pad 10 always remains inside of the glove. Alternately, pad 10 can be temporarily sealed within pouch 38 by any typical sealing mechanism such as VELCRO® or a zipper.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. An energy diffusing pad comprising:

a resilient material having a first and a second surface and a front and rear portion, wherein the first surface is positionable proximate a user's palm such that when the pad is aligned over the user's palm, the first surface of the material contacts at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm in order to protect the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.

2. The pad of claim 1, wherein the resilient material is insertable within a glove.

3. The pad of claim 1, the resilient material comprised of polyurethane foam of a predetermined density.

4. The pad of claim 3, the resilient material further including a resilient insert, the insert positionable over the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles, the insert having a different density than that of the resilient material.

5. The pad of claim 4, the insert having a lower density than that of the resilient material.

6. An energy diffusing glove insert comprising a resilient cushion positionable within a glove so as to be aligned with selected portions of a user's palm in order to diffuse pressure exerted by a graspable object away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.

7. The glove insert of claim 6, wherein the selected portions of the user's palm are the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm.

8. The insert of claim 6, the cushion comprised of polyurethane foam of a predetermined density.

9. The insert of claim 8, the cushion further including an interior region, the interior region positionable over the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles, the interior region having a different density than that of the cushion.

10. The insert of claim 9, the interior region having a lower density than that of the cushion.

11. The insert of claim 6, wherein the cushion is removable from the glove and insertable within another glove.

12. The insert of claim 6, wherein the insert is formed as an integral portion of the glove.

13. The insert of claim 12, the insert removably retained in a pouch in the glove.

14. A glove with energy diffusing capabilities for diverting pressure from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's hand, the glove covering at least a user's palm while allowing the user to grasp an object, the glove comprising:

a resilient cushion positionable within the glove so as to be aligned with at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm in order to diffuse pressure exerted by the graspable object away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.

15. The glove of claim 14, the glove further comprising a pouch for removably retaining the cushion.

16. The glove of claim 15, the pouch situated within an inner surface of the glove.

17. The glove of claim 14, the cushion comprised of polyurethane foam of a predetermined density.

18. The glove of claim 17, the cushion further comprising a resilient insert, such that when the user's hand is within the glove, the insert is aligned over the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles, the insert having a different density than that of the cushion.

19. The glove of claim 18, the insert having a lower density than that of the cushion.

20. A method of diffusing pressure away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's hand during grasping activities, the method comprising:

providing a resilient cushion;

providing a glove adapted to receive the cushion therein;

positioning the cushion within the glove such that the cushion is aligned with at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm.