HAND SPECIFIC WORK GLOVE SYSTEM

Abstract

A system is provided for allowing a worker to choose a glove or pair of gloves from an array of glove styles. The array has a variety of gloves having one or more different enhancements. A worker can choose the glove that best fits their need for each hand. The glove enhancements can include but are not limited to one or more of a variety of performance and protection enhancements including: high dexterity, heat resistance, padding, cut resistance, cold protection, water resistance, puncture resistance, or gripper texture.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to work gloves for use in providing protection or enhancement to a user while performing a specific task. More specifically, the present invention relates to a work glove system that provides an array of work glove styles which allows a user to select one or more glove styles for use in performing a specific task.

2. Discussion of Relevant Prior Art

Work gloves are commonly used to protect a user's hands while performing a specific task. For example, a construction worker will use gloves providing padding to protect the users palm and fingers from chaffing and injury. Likewise a jackhammer operator uses anti-vibration gloves that provide a gel layer positioned between the users palm and the jackhammer to reduce the effects of vibration on the user.

Work gloves are commonly sold in pairs in which the glove for the right hand has the same padding and is made out of the same protective material as and the glove for the left hand. In essence, the glove for the right hand is simply a mirror image of the glove for the left hand. The assumption under this approach is that the padding, safety and temperature requirement are the same for both the right and left hands. Although this is adequate if both the right and left hands are expected to function in the same manner during the performance of a task, it is lacking if the right hand is expected to function in a manner dissimilar to or complimentary to the left hand.

For example, during the performance of his or her job, a roofer is expected to hold a shingle with one hand while securing the shingle to the roof with the other hand. To properly perform this task, the roofer needs a heat resistant glove to protect the shingle-holding hand from burns or scrapes and a dexterity enhancing glove to allow the operational hand to pick up nails and use a hammer or operate a nail gun.

Unfortunately, the current pair approach to the manufacture and sale of work gloves requires the roofer to purchase one pair of gloves to obtain one glove having the necessary safety, dexterity and temperature requirement for the right hand, as well as another pair of gloves to obtain another glove having the necessary safety, dexterity and temperature requirements necessary for the left hand. The unneeded gloves from each pair are simply discarded. Accordingly, a need exists for a hand specific work glove system that recognizes the dissimilar safety, dexterity and temperature requirements of each hand during job performance and allows a user to select individual, hand specific gloves rather than requiring the purchase of a job specific work glove pair as is currently required in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a work glove system that provides the user with an array of right-handed and left-handed glove styles wherein each glove possessing at least one of a variety of safety, dexterity and temperature enhancements. This system allows a worker to choose one or more gloves from this style array depending upon enhancements needed by each hand during the performance of the specific job. The gloves in the style array have a variety of singular or plural enhancements that offer the user increased safety, dexterity and temperature protection and/or performance. The user could then choose a second glove from the glove array that provides the appropriate increased safety, dexterity and temperature protection and/or performance for his or her second hand. For example, the roofer could employ the invention by choosing high impact and heat resistant protection glove for use with one hand and a second dexterity glove for use with the user's other hand. This will provide an impact reducing glove for one hand and a high dexterity glove for the other hand and allow the roofer greater comfort while using a hand or power tool in one hand and the ability to hold a small object in the other hand.

The array of hand specific work gloves comprises an array of gloves having one or more safety, dexterity and temperature enhancements such as such as anti-vibration padding, dexterity features, open ended finger portion, gripper fabric, a cuff portion on the glove for ease of glove removal, heat resistance, cut resistance, cold protection, water resistance, or puncture resistance.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an array of gloves in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of a pair of work gloves selected in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an array (10) of various hand specific work gloves. The array (10) is provided with a variety of different gloves for both the right hand and the left hand of a user. Each glove in the array (10) has at least one safety, dexterity and/or temperature enhancement that provides a user with protection and/or performance features. This array (10) of various work gloves provides a consumer with all the various glove style options. A retail store would display the variety of hand specific work gloves in the array (10) and the consumer would then choose an appropriate glove from the array depending on the type of protection needed for each hand during the performance of a job.

More specifically, the style array (10) of hand specific work gloves comprises right and left handed gloves having high dexterity features (20, 40), heat resistant features (22, 42), padding features (24, 44), open fingertips (26,46), cut resistant features (28,48), gripping material such as silicone (30, 52), reinforced palm features (32, 52) such as leather, water resistant features (34, 54), gripping material (36, 56) such as latex, and easy slip-on feature (38, 58).

The glove style having high dexterity features (20, 40) may have synthetic leather padded palm, breathable neoprene between fingers, terry cloth backhand, neoprene knuckle strap, breathable spandex back, and reinforced fingertips.

The glove style having heat resistant features (22, 42) may have Nomex® backhand, Kevlar® threads, PVC palm.

The glove style having anti-vibration features (24, 44) may have gel padded palm, reinforced fingertips, TPR molded knuckle pads, padded leather knuckle strap.

The glove style having open fingertips (26, 46) may have thumb, index & middle fingerless design, reinforced padded palm, and neoprene wrist band.

The glove style having cut resistant features (28, 48) may have a backhand formed of a high strength fabric such as Dyneema®, and protected with a polyurethane coating.

The glove style having gripping material (30, 50) may have a formed of silicone gripping material, reinforced fingertips, and a terry cloth backhand.

The glove style having reinforced palm features (32, 52) may have a palm formed and knuckle strap formed of a high strength material such as split leather and an extended rubberized cuff.

The glove style having water resistant features (34, 54) may be formed of a water resistant material such as water resistant treated leather, fleece lined thumb and fingers, and have a reinforced leather palm and fingertips.

The glove style having latex gripping material (36, 56) may have latex grip palm, breathable knit backhand.

The glove style having easy slip-on features (38, 58) may have elastic flair cuff, reinforced fingertips and palm, and a terry cloth backhand.

Various other features could also be employed but are not limited to puncture resistance, cold resistance, etc. The gloves in the array (10) may also include various combinations of enhancements such as padding and gripping enhancements, water resistance and heat resistance, etc. to meet various needs of various tasks.

Different needs exist for different tasks. Some examples include but are not limited to a welder who needs one high dexterity glove for the hand holding the torch and a heat resistant glove for the hand holding the product being welded. However, a power saw operator might need a padded glove for the hand holding the power saw and a cut resistant glove for the hand holding the material to be cut. Further, a framer could use a fingerless glove for the hand holding nails and a glove having a gel padded palm for the hand holding a hammer. In addition, a pressure washer operator might choose one glove grip enhancing padded glove for the hand holding a sprayer and a waterproof glove for the hand that will be in contact with water. Furthermore, a freezer worker may choose two gloves having protection from cold wherein one of the gloves has an additional enhancement to provide dexterity allowing the worker to write inventory notes, operate a forklift, etc.

FIG. 2 shows work gloves (100) selected from the style array specifically for high-impact use is shown. The gloves (100) include a first glove (44) and a second glove (26). As shown, the first glove (44) has reinforced gel padded palm (104) that reduces impact and vibration for the user. The gel padded palm could be made of anti-vibe palms pads such as silicon or PVC. This glove (44) is used on one hand of a user to provide protection of the hand from vibrations of power tools or the like. The gel padded palm enhancement (104) is included in areas where a hand holds or grips a tool. The first glove (44) could also include an addition enhancement of reinforced covered fingertips (106) that provide added protection for the user's fingers. The second glove (26) includes open ended finger portions (110) that provide a user with high dexterity. These open ended finger portions (110) could also be provided by removable finger tip portions. The second glove (26) is used on a user's other hand. As this glove has open ended finger portions (110), a user has the ability to perform fine-motor activities that would have been very difficult with a gel padded glove (44) having reinforced fingertips (106). The second glove (26) could also have a magnet enhancement (not shown) on the back surface to hold nails. For example, a roofer could employ the first glove (44) on one hand for use with a nail gun. This anti-vibration glove (44) would reduce the impact caused by the nail gun. The roofer would employ second glove (26) on his other hand. This hand with glove (26) with open finger portions could handle small nails.

FIG. 3 shows another combination of gloves selected from the array. Here, a user chose a different second glove (20) which has a palm portion (210) and fingertip portions made of a sturdy fabric. This fabric could be such as deer skin, goat skin, or cow hide leather to provide a user with high dexterity. These portions (210) could be made from a high strength fabric such as Kevlar®, for heat and cut resistance enhancements. Alternatively, these portions (210) could be made from a fire retardant material such as Nomax®, for fire resistance enhancements.

FIG. 4 shows another combination of gloves selected from the array. Here, a user chose yet a different second glove (30) which is provided with a gripper palm portion (310) and gripper fingertip portions that provide a user with high dexterity. The gripper portions (310) could be made of an anti-slip material such as silicone. The gripper portions (310) alternatively could be made of surface grit, patterns, or other known materials that provide a better grip on items held by the gripper portions (310). The addition of gripper portions to the second glove allows a user to perform various functions when increased grip is needed.

FIG. 5 shows another combination of gloves selected from the array. Another second glove is (80) chosen which is provided with a slip-on cuff (410) to allow for a user to easily slip the glove on and off quickly. With an easily removable glove, a user can remove the glove for high dexterous work and then quickly replace the glove for comfort and protection.

The user can choose any number of work gloves (100) from the array. Any number of single or multiple combinations of choices may be made depending in the need of the worker for their task for their hand or hands within the spirit of the invention. Depending on the needs of a user, the user would pick at least one first glove that would employ at least one of a variety of protection features including but not limited to: high dexterity, heat resistance, padding, cut resistance, cold protection, water resistance, puncture resistance, or gripping fabric. Then one or more different gloves could be chosen and employed for the other hand of the user. This second glove would include at least one different protection feature from that of the first.

The foregoing descriptions and drawings of the invention are explanatory and illustrative only, and various changes and details may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. Hand specific work glove system comprising:

a first glove including at least one enhancement;

a second glove having including at least one enhancement other than the enhancement of the first glove.

2. The hand specific work glove system of claim 1 wherein, the first enhancement comprises one of high dexterity, heat resistant material, gel padding, cut resistant material, cold resistant material, water resistant material, puncture resistant material, and gripping material.

3. The hand specific work glove system of claim 2 wherein, the heat resistant material is heavy leather.

4. The hand specific work glove system of claim 2 wherein, said gripping material includes silicone.

5. The hand specific work glove system of claim 2 wherein, said gripping material includes latex.

6. The hand specific work glove system of claim 1 wherein, the second glove includes a means for easy removal.

7. The hand specific work glove system of claim 6 wherein, the means for easy removal is comprised of a slip-on cuff.

8. The hand specific work glove system of claim 1 wherein, the second enhancement comprises one of a high dexterity feature, heat resistant material, gel padding, cut resistant material, cold resistant material, water resistant material, puncture resistant material, and gripping material.

9. The hand specific work glove system of claim 2 wherein, said second enhancement comprises one of a high dexterity feature, heat resistant material, gel padding, cut resistant material, cold resistant material, water resistant material, puncture resistant material, and gripping material.

10. A method of providing hand specific work gloves comprising:

providing a first glove adaptable to the right hand of a user, the first glove having at least one enhancement;

providing a second glove adaptable to the left hand of a user, the second glove having at least one enhancement;

wherein at least one enhancement of the first glove is dissimilar to at least one of the enhancement of the second glove.

11. The method of providing hand specific work gloves of claim 10, wherein the enhancement of the first and second gloves comprises one of high dexterity, heat resistant material, gel padding, cut resistant material, cold resistant material, water resistant material, puncture resistant material, and gripping material.

12. The method of providing hand specific work gloves of claim 11, wherein the enhancement of the first and second gloves comprises at least one of protection or performance enhancement.

13. The method of providing hand specific work gloves of claim 12, wherein the protection enhancement includes one of heat resistance, gel padding, cut resistance, cold protection, water resistance, and puncture resistance.

14. The method of providing hand specific work gloves of claim 12, wherein the performance enhancement includes one of high dexterity means, easy removal means, and gripping material.

15. The method of providing hand specific work gloves of claim 13, wherein the performance enhancement includes one of high dexterity, easy removal, and gripping material.

16. A method of enhancing the performance of a specific job comprising:

providing a hand specific work glove system comprising at least two dissimilar gloves; and,

selecting at least one glove having a desired enhancement from the hand specific work glove system.

17. The method of enhancing the performance of a specific job of claim 16, wherein the enhancement feature comprises at least one of protection means and performance enhancement.

18. The method of enhancing the performance of a specific job of claim 17, wherein the protection enhancement includes one of heat resistance, gel padding, cut resistance, cold protection, water resistance, and puncture resistance.

19. The method of enhancing the performance of a specific job of claim 17, wherein the performance enhancement includes one of high dexterity, easy removal means, and gripping means.

20. The method of enhancing the performance of a specific job of claim 18, wherein said performance enhancement means includes one of high dexterity means, easy removal means, and gripping means.