Protective hand device
A protective apparatus for a person's hand. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a glove having a front and a back side, and wherein the glove has finger compartments. The apparatus includes a cover attached to the back side of the glove and the finger compartments so that a palm pocket and finger pockets are formed. A palm pad is inserted between the glove's back side and the cover, and wherein the palm pad is configured to be adjacent the palm pocket. The apparatus further comprises finger pads inserted between the glove's back side and the cover. The finger pads are configured to be inserted into the finger pockets. The apparatus further comprises a throat member for binding together the glove and the cover. The palm pad has a first density layer joined to a second density layer.
This invention relates to a protective hand device. More specifically, but without limitation, this invention relates to a glove and mitten that is worn by a person in order to protect the hand while working.
Gloves and mittens are generally a fitted covering for the hand, usually made of leather, wool, or cloth. Gloves have a separate sheath for each finger and the thumb. The mitten is a covering for the hand that encases the thumb separately and the four finger together. As those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, hand injuries occurring in work and recreational environments can be painful and debilitating. A particular industry with a high incidence of hand injury is the oil and gas industry, wherein heavy and awkward tubulars must be handled on a repetitive basis. It should be noted that the description herein set out is not limited to only the oil and gas industry; instead, the description is applicable to all areas that a user can injury his (or her) hand due to trauma associated with the user coming into contact with foreign objects.
Prior art gloves and mittens include various cover arrangements that act to protect the hand from injury. Numerous prior art devices have been developed. However, all of the prior art gloves and mittens suffer from the inability to adequately protect the user from hand injury when the hand contacts foreign objects. Hence, an object of the present invention includes providing a protective device for the hand, and wherein the protective hand device prevents injuries to the hand when the user contacts foreign objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA protective apparatus for a person's hand is disclosed. In the most preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a glove having a front side and a back side, and wherein the glove has finger compartments. The apparatus includes a cover attached to the back side of the glove and the finger compartments so that a palm pocket and a plurality of finger pockets are formed. A palm pad is inserted between the glove's back side and the cover, and wherein the palm pad is configured to be inserted into the palm pocket. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of finger pads inserted between the glove's back side and the cover. The finger pads are configured to be inserted into the plurality of finger pockets. The apparatus further comprises a throat member for binding together the glove and the cover. The palm pad has a first density layer joined to a second density layer.
In one preferred embodiment, the cover contains an opening for insertion of the palm pad and the finger pads. The apparatus may further comprise latching means for opening and closing the opening. The latching means, in the most preferred embodiment, is a zipper device.
In the most preferred embodiment, the palm pad has a plurality of slices formed thereon, and wherein the slices are formed through the first density layer and to a depth reaching into the second density layer. The cover may be formed of a stretch knit fabric. Also in the most preferred embodiment, the palm pad has a plurality of slices configured to allow full flexion and extension of the hand and fingers.
In one preferred embodiment, the finger pads contain a plurality of slices, and wherein the slices correspond to the knuckle's on the person's hand. Also, the apparatus may include a thumb pad inserted between the back side of the glove and the cover. The thumb pad may contain a plurality of slices, and wherein the slices may correspond to the knuckle's on the person's thumb.
In a second preferred embodiment, a protective device for a person's hand is also disclosed. The device comprises a mitten having a front side and a back side, a cover attached to the back side of the mitten, and an impact pad inserted between the glove's back side and the cover, and wherein the impact pad comprises a first density pad joined to a second density pad. The cover may contain an opening for insertion of the impact pad. The device may further comprise a throat member for binding together the mitten and the cover and latching means for opening and closing the opening. In the most preferred embodiment, the latching means is a zipper device. The impact pad has a plurality of slots formed thereon, and wherein the slots are formed to a depth reaching into the second density pad in the preferred embodiment.
In a third preferred embodiment, a protective apparatus for a person's hand is disclosed. In this third embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first glove material, a second glove material attached to the first glove material and wherein the first glove material and the second glove material is configured to have a palm area and a finger area. A third glove material is attached to the second glove material so that a pocket area is formed. The apparatus further includes a throat member binding together the first, second and third glove material, and a foam pad received within the pocket area, and wherein the foam pad comprises a first density section joined to a second density section, and wherein the foam pad is configured to cooperate with the palm area and the finger area. The first glove material may contain a gripping surface and the second and third glove material may comprise a stretch knit fabric. In this third embodiment, the foam pad includes a plurality of lateral slices configured to allow flexion and extension of the hand.
An advantage of the invention includes the protection of the back side of the hand including knuckles, joints and fingers. Yet another advantage is that the disclosed apparatus is easy to manufacture. Yet another advantage is that it is easy to install replacement pads. Yet another advantage is that the apparatus allows for full flexion and extension of the hand.
A feature of the present invention is that the apparatus contains a gripping surface. Yet another feature is that the use of a stretch knit material that forms the lining and pockets which enables the lining and pockets to quickly and consistently recover to it's original condition/position on a repetitive basis. Another feature is the throat of the glove, referred to as the cuff of the glove, which serves to bring together and effectively join the multiple ply of fabric that make-up the glove construction into a singular opening in which the wearer can insert his/her hand. The cuff also prevents foreign material from entering the glove during use while still allowing quick removal of the hand from the glove should the need develop.
Still yet another feature is the impact absorbing pads that act to absorb impact energy and shield the wearer's hand from laceration, avulsion, and abrasion. The pads contain deep lateral slices which allow full flexion and extension of the hand/fingers and thumb without sacrificing impact protection. In the most preferred embodiment, the impact pad is made of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA). Another feature of the present invention is that the EVA exhibits a low liquid absorption quality and is non-reactive to many chemicals commonly, particularly found in the oil and gas drilling industry. Still yet another feature is that the impact pads have dual densities (i.e. two (2) layers of densities) i.e. the bottom layer is softer than the top layer.
Referring now to
The mitten 2 further contains the opening 18, and wherein the opening 18 allows insertion of the palm pad 8 and thumb pad 10. The mitten 2 includes the latching means, which in the most preferred embodiment is a zipper device 20. The mitten 2 also includes the throat member 22 which is a band for binding together the various ply material of the mitten. As understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the throat member 22 also helps to keep foreign material from entering the interior of the mitten.
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In
More specifically, and as described with reference to the mitten embodiment, the impact pad and thumb pad 44e have dual layers i.e. a first density layer and a second density layer. Additionally, the impact pad and the thumb pad 44e will have slices formed therein, and in the preferred embodiment, the slices extend through the first (top) density layer into the second (bottom) density layer.
In the preferred embodiment shown in
Referring now to
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Although the invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, it will become apparent that modifications and improvements can be made to the inventive concepts herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The embodiments shown herein are merely illustrative of the inventive concepts and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A protective apparatus for a person's hand, the apparatus comprising:
- a glove having a front side and a back side, and wherein said glove has a plurality of finger compartments;
- a cover attached to the back side of said glove and said finger compartments so that a palm pocket and a plurality of finger pockets are formed;
- a palm pad inserted between said glove's back side and said cover, and wherein said palm pad is configured to be inserted into said palm pocket;
- a plurality of finger pads inserted between said glove's back side and said cover and configured to be inserted into said plurality of finger pockets;
- a throat member for binding together said glove and said cover;
- wherein said palm pad has a first density layer joined to a second density layer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover contains an opening for insertion of said palm pad and said finger pads.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:
- latching means for opening and closing said opening.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said latching means is a zipper device.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said palm pad has a plurality of slices formed thereon.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the slices are formed to a depth reaching the second density layer.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cover is formed of a stretch knit fabric.
8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said palm pad has a plurality of slices configured to allow full flexion and extension of the hand and fingers.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said finger pads contain a plurality of slices, and wherein said slices correspond to the knuckles on the person's hand to allow full flexion and extension of the fingers.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a thumb pad inserted between the back side of the glove and the cover.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said thumb pad contain a plurality of slices, and wherein said slices correspond to the knuckles on the person's thumb.
12. A protective device for a person's hand, the device: wherein said impact pad comprises a first density pad joined to a second density pad.
- a mitten having a front side and a back side;
- a cover attached to the back side of said mitten;
- an impact pad inserted between said glove's back side and said cover, and
13. The device of claim 12 wherein said cover contains an opening for insertion of said impact pad.
14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a throat member for binding together said mitten and said cover.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
- latching means for opening and closing said opening.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said latching means is a zipper device.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said impact pad has a plurality of slots formed thereon.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the slots are formed through said first density pad to a depth reaching the second density pad.
19. A protective apparatus for a person's hand comprising:
- a first glove material;
- a second glove material attached to said first glove material and wherein said first glove material and said second glove material is configured to have a palm area and a finger area;
- a third glove material attached to said second glove material so that a pocket area is formed;
- a throat member binding together said first, said second and said third glove material;
- a foam pad received within said pocket area, and wherein said foam pad comprising a first density section joined to a second density section, said foam pad configured to cooperate with said palm area and said finger area.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first glove material has a gripping surface.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second and third glove material is a stretch knit fabric.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said foam pad includes a plurality of lateral slices configured to allow flexion and extension of the hand, and wherein the slices are formed through said first density section and into said second density section.
Type: Application
Filed: May 17, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 20, 2008
Inventor: Joseph P. Sarkies (Carencro, LA)
Application Number: 11/804,083
International Classification: A41D 13/00 (20060101); A41D 19/00 (20060101); A41D 19/01 (20060101); A41D 19/015 (20060101);