Utility glove

Abstract

A utility glove including a glove portion defining a first interior cavity to receive at least a portion of a hand of a user therein, and a cover portion having at least four side edges, wherein at least a portion of the three of the four side edges of the pocket portion are coupled with the glove portion to define a second cavity between the glove portion and the cover portion, a flat portion located at an end of the cover portion, at least one of the four side edges not secured to the glove and defining a flat portion located at an end of the cover portion, and wherein the flat portion is movable to allow viewing of an article located within the second cavity.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a utility glove, and in particular to a glove having an interior compartment adapted to house a watch, compass, or the like, wherein the article is both readily accessible and concealable.

Numerous out-of-doors sports require ready access to articles such as a watch, compass, and the like, in order to track time, location, etc., including hunting, fishing, cross country, skiing, hiking, etc. Typically, these articles are stored within garments as worn by the user, or within other storage devices, such as waist or “fanny” packs, back packs, and the like. This manner of storage can significantly limit the ease of access the user has to such articles and make such access cumbersome and time consuming.

These restrictions to access may be exacerbated with particular applications such as hunting wherein difficulties in accessing a watch or compass located within a pocket may limit allowable movements due to wild game.

One solution has been to place the watch, compass, etc., on back of glove or mitten, however, previous applications have involved overly restrictive securing means such as snaps, hook and loop-type strips, etc., thereby requiring the wearer to make significant movements to access the article. Moreover, permanent exposure of the watch, compass on the back of an associate glove or mitten, whether openly exposed or viewed through a translucent panel, is unacceptable due to reflections of light and glare.

A glove or mitten-type article is needed that provides adequate housing for an article such as a watch, compass, or the like, while simultaneously allowing ready access thereto and seclusion from sight when not being viewed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a utility glove that includes a glove portion defining a first interior cavity to receive at least a portion of a hand of a user therein, and a cover portion having at least four side edges, wherein at least a portion of three of the four side edges of the pocket portion are coupled with the glove portion to define a second cavity between the glove portion and the cover portion, at least one of the four side edges not secured to the glove and defining a flat portion located at an end of the cover portion, and wherein the flat portion is movable to allow viewing of an article located within the second cavity.

The present inventive utility glove provides sufficient housing for an article such as a watch, a compass, or the like, while providing ready access thereto without significant movement by the user and concealment from view to reduce inadvertent glare and reflections. The utility glove disclosed herein is further economical to manufacture, straight forward in operation and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a utility glove embodying the present invention, wherein a flap portion of a cover portion is in a closed position, so as to conceal an article;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the utility glove, wherein the flap portion of the cover portion is in an open position, thereby allowing viewing of the article; and

FIG. 3 is a partial end view of the article and a securing strap of the utility glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The reference numeral 10 (FIG. 1) generally designates a utility glove embodying the present invention. As illustrated, the utility glove 10 includes a plurality of individual finger sleeves 12, however, the glove 10 may include a mitten-type single sleeve. The glove 10 further includes a back portion 14 (FIG. 2) adapted to cover the back of a user's hand, and a front portion (not shown) adapted to cover the palm of the user's hand. The utility glove 10 further includes a cover portion 16 having a first side edge 18, a second side edge 20, a third side edge 22 and a fourth side edge 24. As illustrated, the first side edge 18 is integrally formed with the sleeves 12, and is defined by a sewn line 26. It should be noted that the cover portion 16 and the sleeves 12 may be formed from two separate pieces. Moreover, the cover portion 16 is preferably constructed of translucent material, and more preferably of an opaque material. The second side edge 20 and the third side edge 22 are stitched to the back portion 14 along about ⅓ of an overall length of each of the edges 20, 22, thereby defining a flap 28 that is allowed to move freely with respect to the back portion 14.

The back portion 14 and the cover portion 16 cooperate to define a cavity or compartment 30 therebetween that receives an article 32 therein, such as a watch, a compass, or the like. The glove 10 includes a strap 34 (FIG. 3) having a first end 36 secured to the back portion 14 via a sewn seam 38, and a second end 40 secured to the back portion 14 via a hook-and-loop type fastener 42. The article 32 is secure to the glove 10 within the cavity 30 by extending the strap 34 through a closed loop 44 integrally molded with the article 32.

In operation, the article 32 is easily viewable by manipulating the flap portion 28 of the cover portion 16 to expose the article 32, and is likewise easily concealable from sight by closing the flap portion 28 over the article 32. The configuration of the cavity 30 and the attachment of the cover portion 16 to the back portion 14 provides adequate protection of the article 32 within the cavity 30, while simultaneously allowing easy viewing access thereto without requiring manipulation of a securing device. Moreover, the cover portion 16 provides adequate concealment of the article 32 while not being viewed, thereby reducing or eliminating accidental and inadvertent reflections or glares from the article.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings.

Claims

1. A utility glove, comprising:

a glove portion defining a first interior cavity to receive at least a portion of a hand of a user therein;

a cover portion having at least four side edges, wherein at least a portion of three of the four side edges of the pocket portion are coupled with the glove portion to define a second cavity between the glove portion and the cover portion, at least one of the four side edges not secured to the glove and defining a flap portion located at an end of the cover portion, and wherein the flap portion is movable to allow viewing of an article located within the second cavity.

2. The utility glove of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of three of the four sides of the cover portion is sewn to the glove portion.

3. The utility glove of claim 2, wherein one entire side edge of the cover portion is sewn to the glove portion, and wherein less than or equal to about ⅓ of two other of the side edges are sewn to the glove portion.

4. The utility glove of claim 3, wherein the cover portion comprises at least a select one of translucent and opaque materials.

5. The utility glove of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the glove and cover portions comprise a similar material.

6. The utility glove of claim 5, further including:

a securing member located within the second cavity and adapted to secure an article therein.

7. The utility glove of claim 6, wherein the securing member includes a strap secured to at least a select one of the glove portion and the cover portion by a hook-and-loop type connector.

8. The utility glove of claim 1, wherein one entire side edge of the cover portion is attached to the glove portion, and wherein less than or equal to about ⅓ of two other of the side edges are attached to the glove portion.

9. The utility glove of claim 1, wherein the cover portion comprises an opaque material.

10. The utility glove of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the glove and cover portions comprise a similar material.

11. The utility glove of claim 1, further including:

a securing member located within the second cavity and adapted to secure an article therein.

12. The utility glove of claim 11, wherein the securing member includes a strap secured to at least a select one of the glove portion and the cover portion by a hook-and-loop type connector.

13. The utility glove of claim 1, wherein the glove portion and the cover portion are integrally formed along at least a portion of at least one of the four side edges.