Hand protector

Abstract

A hand protector for protecting at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the hand. In one embodiment, the hand protector includes a protective surface capable of arching over the edge of a human hand and the adjacent areas, and one or more straps for maintaining the protective surface in place. In a second embodiment, the hand protector includes a tubular protective surface capable of wrapping around the portion of the human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas. Variants of the first and second embodiments include raised lips situated along one or more edges of the protective surface to meet functional and/or aesthetic requirements, and one or more pouches to store one or more objects.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED REASEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable. REFERENCE TO A COMPUTER LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a hand protector, and more specifically, a hand protecting device having a protective surface that can be positioned over the edge of a human hand between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the hand.

2. Description of Related Art

The human hand is subject to a variety of localized stresses during everyday life. In particular, the edge of the hand delimited by the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the hand are subject to a variety of localized compressive and shear forces that can not only cause discomfort to a person, but also trigger a variety of damages to the different hand organs.

For instance, in a retail work environment, the weight exercised by the hooks of clothes hangers or by the straps of shopping bags produce localized compressive and shear forces on the hands of clerks that are not only unpleasant, but that may abrade the skin and damage, among others, the dorsal I interosseous muscle of the hand, the dorsal I interosseous bone, the joints connecting the metacarpal III bone and the proximal, medial and distal phalanx of the finger, the lumbrical muscles, the radial artery of the index finger, and the proper palmar digital nerve.

Any protective device providing relief to the hands of a retail operator or of a similarly situated operator should not only protect against localized compressive and shear forces, but also be adapted for the working environment of the operator. More specifically, such a protective device should be shaped and constructed to be worn on and off rapidly, and to be easily carried around when not in use, by keeping it either in a pocket of the employee, on the hand, or around the wrist. Such a protective device must also be easy to store within the work area, for instance, in a retail operation, near the cash register or near a fitting room, and meet certain aesthetic requirement to fit within the design and color schemes of the work environment, such as the refined decor of an upscale retail establishment.

Because of the different work environments within which such a hand protector may be employed, different materials and design shapes may be required. In an upscale department store, an elegant design may be preferred, possibly with different color selections. In a dry cleaning environment, a more utilitarian construction may be preferred instead. In a construction environment, a rigid construction may be preferred to protect the hands of a worker from the loads provided by ropes or similar objects.

Therefore, there is a need for a hand protector that will prevent or reduce injuries to the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and to the adjacent areas of the hand.

There is a further need for a hand protector that can be rapidly worn and easily stored by the user.

There is a still further need for a hand protector that can be manufactured from a variety of materials, colors, and design combinations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a hand protector for protecting at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and of the adjacent areas of the hand.

In one embodiment, the hand protector according to the present invention includes a protective surface capable of arching over the edge of the human hand, and one or more straps for maintaining the protective surface in place. In a variant of the first embodiment, one or more raised lips may be provided along one or more edges of the protective surface to meet either functional and/or aesthetic requirements. In another variant, one or more pouches may be positioned on the protective surface and/or on the one or more straps to store one or more objects such as keys.

In a second embodiment, the hand protector comprises a tubular protective surface capable of arching over at least a portion of the edge of the human hand. Such a tubular surface is designed to wrap around the fingers of the hand, except the thumb, and also the hand portion comprised between the thumb and the other fingers. As in the first embodiment, variants of the second embodiment include one or more raised lips situated along one or more edges of the protective surface to meet either functional and/or aesthetic requirements, and one or more pouches on the protective surface to store one or more objects such as keys.

Both the first and second embodiments are suitable for manufacturing form a variety of materials, both pliable and rigid, and in a variety of colors.

It is an advantage of the present invention to protect the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the hand.

It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a hand protector that can be manufactured from a variety of materials and a variety of designs to meet individual protection and storage requirements.

Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a hand protector comprising one or more raised lips around its edges to meet either functional and/or aesthetic considerations.

Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a hand protector with one or more pouches where keys or a similar object may be stored.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention comprising a protective surface and a strap.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the protective surface of the first embodiment having a C-shaped perimeter, while FIG. 2B is a front view the first embodiment as worn by a user and equipped with the protective surface of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the protective surface of the first embodiment having a perimeter shaped like a filled numeral eight.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a variant of the first embodiment having raised lips on opposing edges of the protective surface.

FIGS. 5A-5C are detail cross-sectional views of different cross-sectional profiles of the raised lips of FIG. 4, wherein the profile of FIG. 5A has a curved cross-section, the profile of FIG. 5B has a substantially square cross-section, and the profile of FIG. 5C has a hook-shaped cross-section.

FIGS. 6A-6B are detail top views of a key pouch included in another variant of the first embodiment, wherein the key pouch illustrated in FIG. 6A maintains the key in place by means of a pocket, and wherein the key pouch illustrated in FIG. 6B maintains the key in place by means of a clip.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the second embodiment and FIG. 7B is a front view.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 4, further comprising a pouch for storing a key or a similar object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A detailed description of embodiments of the invention is provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to employ the present invention in virtually any detailed system, structure, or manner.

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of the invention. A hand protector 10 includes a protective surface 12 that is capable of arching over at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the hand, and that is maintained in position by one or more straps 14 wrapping around the hand.

The one or more straps 14 are preferably connected to opposite edges of protective surface 12, and may be secured to protective surface 12 in a variety of ways; for instance, the one or more straps 14 may be stitched to protective surface 12.

The perimeter of protective surface 12 may be contoured in a variety of shapes to meet either functional and/or aesthetic requirements. For instance, protective surface 12 may have a perimeter of a square shape, of an oblong shape, of an oblong shape with rounded corners (as shown in FIG. 1), of a circular shape, of an oval shape, of a “C” shape (as indicated in FIG. 2A by reference numeral 16), or of a “filled numeral eight” shape (as indicated in FIG. 3 by reference number 18, wherein the “filled numeral eight” shape is defined as being composed of two substantially circular shapes attached at the periphery and assuming the shape of a number “8” without the inner openings). When a “C” shape is employed, the thumb can rest within a cavity of the “C,” as shown in FIG. 2B, while the thumb can rest between one of two cavities of a “filled numeral eight” shape when such a shape is employed.

Further, protective surface 12 may be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as pliable materials, rigid materials, or a combination thereof. Pliable materials provide a close fit of the protective surface with the edge of the hand and the adjacent areas, while rigid materials provide a greater resistance to compressive, shear, and abrasive forces acting against the hand. A combination of pliable and rigid materials is also possible, in order to protect selectively different portions of the edge of the hand and adjacent areas, and a multi-layered material may also be used, for instance, a two-layer combination with suede leather on the outer surface to provide greater resistance to possible threats against the hand, and a cotton fabric on the inner surface for improved comfort.

Examples of pliable materials are fabrics, inclusive of ballistic-grade fabrics such as Kevlar®; padded fabrics; non-woven fabrics such as flannels; leather, including suede; synthetic sheets such as rubber sheets; and pliable foams such as urethane foams. Pliable materials provide not only a close fit, but also make it easier to store the hand protector during non-use. In the case of a retail clerk intending to protect the edges of her hands and the adjacent areas against impacts and abrasions caused by clothes hanger hooks and straps of shopping bags, the clerk can easily store the hand protector in her pocket until use is required, or conveniently store it near a cash register or a fitting room.

Examples of rigid materials include a variety of plastic materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Both pliable and rigid materials may be provided in a variety of colors and designs to meet individual taste and image considerations.

The one or more straps 14 preferably extend around the hand in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm and connect opposite edges of the protective surface. The one or more straps may also be produced from a variety of materials and with a variety of configurations; for instance, an extensible material may be used, such as an elastomeric material, Spandex®, or even a coiled cable. An extensible material enables the user not only to achieve a tight fit around the hand, but can also to slide the hand protector over the thumb and to position it around the wrist during periods of non-use.

Alternatively, the one or more straps 14 may be manufactured from a non-extensible material, preferably in a plurality of segments. For instance, each of the one or more straps may be composed of two segments that interconnect with hook and loop fabric, with a tongue and buckle combination, or with a pin and hole combination.

The one or more straps 14 may be of different widths. For example, if only one strap is employed, the strap may be wide enough to extend for the entire length of protective surface 12 along a direction parallel to the fingers, or may otherwise be less wide then the length of protective surface 12.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a hand protector 20 that is a variant of first embodiment 10. One or more edges of protective surface 22 are raised to form one or more lips 24 around the perimeter of protective surface 22. As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, lips 24 may have a variety of cross-sectional shapes, such as a rounded shape 26, a substantially square shape 28, or a hook shape 30. When hook shape 30 is employed, protective surface 22 is folded back to form the hook shape 30 having a free end that extends in a direction opposite to the edge of protective surface 22. Hook shape 30 preferably carries a stitching running along a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the wrist, which stitching connects the free end of hook shape 30 with protective surface 22. Such a stitching may be positioned either at the extremity of the free end of hook shape 30, or somewhere between the root and the extremity of the free end.

Lips 24 serve both a functional and an aesthetic purpose. From a functional standpoint, lips 24 prevent the sliding off hand protector 20 of any objects positioned on protective surface 22 (for instance, hooks of clothes hangers and straps of shopping bags). From an aesthetic standpoint, lips 24 provide for a more appealing design of hand protector 20 by introducing variations in shape and possibly in color. This may be relevant if hand protector 20 is employed to protect the hands of high end retail store clerks that routinely have contacts with customers. In general, the designs of hand protectors 10 and 20 lend themselves to different, individualized color schemes, to comply with the different color schemes of different clients, to meet changing user tastes, or to be imprinted or embroidered with distinctive insignia or logos.

Turning now to FIG. 8, there is shown another variant of the first embodiment. A hand protector 50 comprises one or more pouches for storing keys or similar objects. Each pouch may have a different construction, and is preferably shaped by a portion of the external side of the protective surface to provide a first wall of the pouch, and by a flap 52 extending from the protective surface to form a second wall of the pouch that covers at least a portion of the first wall. Alternatively, the one or more pouches may be positioned on the one or more straps, or both on the protective surface and the one or more straps.

The first and second walls may be joined together in a variety of ways. Preferably, matching portions of the first and second walls are connected with hook and loop fabric that is disposed either around the edges of the first and second walls, or in certain areas of the first and second walls, for instance, along parallel stripes. Additionally, the pouch or part of the pouch may be reinforced to protect either the user or the outside environment from the sharp edges of the objects contained. In this regard, the walls of the pouch may be padded, or may comprise a rigid plate.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, the one or more keys may be retained within the pouch in a variety of ways. Turning first to FIG. 6A, a key 32 may be restrained in place by inserting the stem of key 32 into a pocket 34 extending from first wall 36, wherein the stem of key 32 is housed within pocket 34. Further, the head of key 32 may be anchored to first wall 36 with a hook, a ring, or a loop 38 extending from first wall 36 and entering the hole in the head of key 32. Turning now to FIG. 6B, a key 40 may also be retained within the pouch by an elastic strap extending from first wall 42, or, instead of an elastic strap, by a metal or plastic clip 44.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. A hand protector 46 comprises a protective surface that is tubular in shape, and that is slidable over a human hand to wrap around the fingers (except for the thumb), and also around the portion of the hand comprised between the fingers (except for the thumb) and the thumb.

Like the first embodiment, the second embodiment may exhibit different design configurations, and may be made of a rigid or pliable material, of a combination of rigid and pliable materials, or of a multi-layered material. The second embodiment may also carry one or more lips 48 around the edges, and a pouch for storing objects such as one or more keys.

Hand protector 46 may be employed in different ways. In one application, hand protector 46 is wrapped around the fingers (except the thumb), and the portion of the hand comprised between the fingers (except the thumb) and the thumb, in order to offset compressive, shear and abrasive forces caused by objects with concentrated loads, such as clothes hanger hooks. In another application, hand protector 46 may be wrapped only around the fingers (except for the thumb) to protect against concentrated loads against only the fingers, such as the loads generated by the straps of shopping bags. In still another application, hand protector 46 may be slid over the wrist and/or a portion of the forearm to protect against shear loads on those body parts, caused for instance by the straps of shopping bags, or simply to store hand protector 46 while not in use.

While the invention has been described in connection with the above described embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hand protector comprising:

a protective surface capable of arching over at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the human hand; and

one or more straps for maintaining the protective surface in place over the at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger.

2. The hand protector of claim 1, wherein the protective surface has a perimeter selected from the group consisting of a square shape, an oblong shape, an oblong shape with rounded corners, a circular shape, an oval shape, a C-shape, and a filled numeral eight shape.

3. The hand protector of claim 1, wherein the protective surface comprises a pliable material.

4. The hand protector of claim 3, wherein the pliable material is selected from the group consisting of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a padded fabric, leather, suede, and pliable foam.

5. The hand protector of claim 4, wherein the fabric is ballistic fabric.

6. The hand protector of claim 1, wherein the contoured surface is made of a rigid material.

7. The hand protector of claim 6, wherein the rigid material is a plastic material.

8. The hand protector of claim 1, wherein the contoured surface is made of a combination of a pliable and a rigid material.

9. The hand protector of claim 1, wherein the protective surface is made of a multi-layered combination of a plurality of materials.

10. The hand protector of claim 1, wherein the one or more straps surround the hand in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm.

11. The hand protector of claim 10, wherein the one or more straps are made of an elastomeric material.

12. The hand protector of claim 10, wherein the one or more straps are made of coiled cable.

13. The hand protector of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more straps comprises a plurality of interconnected segments.

14. The hand protector of claim 13, wherein the plurality of segments are interconnected with a system selected from the group consisting of a hook and look fabric, a buckle and tongue combination, and a pin and hole combination.

15. The hand protector of claim 1, wherein the protective surface comprises one or more raised lips on at least one edge of the protective surface.

16. The hand protector of claim 15, wherein the one or more raised lips have a shape selected form the group consisting of a rounded shape, a square shape, and a hook shape, and wherein the hook shape has a free end extending towards the inner portion of the protective surface.

17. The hand protector of claim 16, wherein the protective surface is made of a fabric material, wherein the hook shape is maintained in position by a stitching running in a direction substantially parallel to the wrist of a user, and wherein the stitching connects the free end of the hook shape with the protective surface.

18. The hand protector of claim 1, further comprising one or more pouches for storing one or more objects.

19. The hand protector of claim 18, wherein each of the one or more pouches comprises a first wall that is integral with the hand protector, and a second wall comprising a flap that extends from the hand protector and that covers at least a portion of the first wall.

20. The hand protector of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the first and second walls are joined by hook and look fabric.

21. The hand protector of claim 19, further comprising means for retaining the one or more objects anchored to the first wall.

22. The hand protector of claim 18, wherein the pouch is at least partially padded.

23. A hand protector comprising a tubular protective surface capable of arching over at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the human hand, wherein the tubular protective surface is suitable for wrapping around the fingers of the human hand except the thumb, and wherein the tubular protective surface is further suitable for wrapping around the portion of the human hand comprised between the thumb and the other fingers.

24. The hand protector of claim 23, wherein the tubular protective surface comprises one or more raised lips on at least one edge of the tubular protective surface.

25. The hand protector of claim 24, wherein the one or more raised lips have a shape selected form the group consisting of a rounded shape, a square shape, and a hook shape, and wherein the hook shape has a free end extending towards the inner portion of the protective surface.

26. The hand protector of claim 1, further comprising one or more pouches for storing one or more objects.