IMPACT-RESISTANT SAFETY GLOVES AND ASSOCIATED ASSEMBLIES

Abstract

A safety glove is described, in which steel or hardened plastic or resin caps attach to the underlying glove and provide crush, cut, and bend resistance to the fingers of the wearer. The protective caps cover at least the fingers and thumb of the wearer, and can extend up to the back of the users hand, and attach to the underlying glove via readily adaptable attachment means, such as straps or snaps. The underlying glove may be made of cloth, leather, synthetic materials, or for waterproof purposes, plastic or rubber.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/671,529, filed Jul. 13, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally to safety gloves, and more specifically are related to safety gloves for the human hand that are worn in dangerous work environments, such as in the oilfield.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hand injuries continue to plague the oilfield industry and still leads the pack as the number one body part injured in oilfield accidents. In years past it was considered a “red badge of courage” of sorts to have missing fingers or part of a finger missing.

However, considering our hands have 10 digits and routinely go where no hands should ever go, it is understandable but not acceptable that we have so many injuries. A typical workover rig crew member will, on any given job, be wrenching rods, using pipe wrenches, moving power tubing tongs on and off tubing, holding onto and guiding the tubing line on travelling blocks just to mention a few of the dangerous pinch points that are waiting and ready to trap the hands and fingers of a careless or unobservant or untrained worker. The end result is not only an injured worker, but typically a long-term, lost-time or light-duty situation for the employer.

Preventing hand injuries requires more than just monthly training or weekly tailgate safety meetings. Each individual must be trained in situational awareness and to practice it at all times during a work day. A classic example of this is when an oilfield crew member rests his hand on the polish rod and the stuffing box slides down and crushes his hand. If the individual was practicing situational awareness (“paying attention”, in layman's terms) he or she would never have put a hand on the polish rod with a sliding mass of steel above the hand. Another example is when an individual has a hand resting on the tubing and it gets shut in the tubing elevators as they are latched. In this instance there are two people involved—the person latching the elevators and the person with the now injured hand—odd that it can happen, but it does repeatedly. Other examples occur when an individual is working with or moving is drill pipe, which is made of heavy grade steel. As the pipe is a tubular material that is hard to readily grasp, it is not uncommon for the pipe to slip and crush an individual's hand or fingers, amputate one or more fingers, or otherwise damage the worker's hand so that at least some time is lost from the job in disability and injury rehabilitation, a cost that is felt by both the injured and the oil company from insurance issues.

Through engineering controls, the industry has evolved over the years to make the workplace as safe as possible. Some of the more notable controls are belt guards on pulleys, chain guards, door guards on power tubing and rod tongs, lock-out tag-out procedures to prevent unexpected start-ups of pumpjacks and other machinery, and the like.

Avulsion and crush injuries constitute a particularly difficult problem due to extensive damage of vessels and nerves. In cases where a crush is the dominating injury factor causing complex fractures of forearm and carpal bones, shortening of the extremity is necessary for primary vessel and nerve reconstruction. Surgical experience in vessels dissection and optimal sequence of reconstruction procedures using vessels and nerve grafts are of paramount importance.

The National Safety Council (NSC) reported that in 2001 the cost of workplace injuries totaled $132.1 billion in the U.S. (NSC, 2004). The leading cause of occupational injury treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States is acute hand injuries (lacerations, crush injuries, avulsions and punctures) (Sorock, et al. 2001). Annually, workers with acute hand injuries account for over 1 million emergency department visits in the U.S. (Sorock, et al. 2004). Injuries of the hand have an enormous impact on hand function and quality of life.

In June of 2004, a U.S. pulp and paper corporation assembled a team of safety managers representing 18 paper mills across the country to analyze hand injury data over a period of 18 months. Based on the analysis, 594 hand injuries were reported of which 120 were Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) recordable injuries. OSHA defines a recordable injury as an injury that goes beyond first aid. Examples of OSHA recordable injuries include those which involve stitches, prescription medication, broken bones or restricted duty (OSHA, 2005).

Taking a proactive approach to ensuring a safe and healthful workplace is becoming the favored course of action of many corporations in the U.S. Safety training plays an integral role as the paradigm of safety management shifts from a reactive to a proactive stance in injury and illness prevention (Petersen, 1996). In 1997, corporate

America was estimated to provide roughly two billion hours of training to approximately 60 million employees at an estimated cost of $55 to $60 billion (Industry report, 1999). With the time and money dedicated to safety training, determining the effectiveness of such training is critical.

In the past, justification for safety training was not needed because most of the training being conducted was required by law (Petersen, 1996). Required safety training was considered a burden born by companies. However, recent trends show that injury reduction is not the only benefit of safety training. Better management and employee relations, improved worker moral, increased production, and lower workers' compensation insurance costs can be achieved as well (O'Toole, 2001; Seo, et al. 2004; Tan, et al. 1991; Sinclair, et al. 2003). Rather than a burden, safety training is now viewed as not only the proper way to conduct business, but also a way to enhance business and offset insurance issues.

Therefore, in order to reduce hand injuries, corporation safety managers and insurance companies have actively sought strategies for preventing hand injuries through a variety of approaches, including the combination of improved equipment for the users and awareness training. Value-added safety training, training that is not required by law but is supplementary to mandated training, in improving worker knowledge, attitude, and work behavior can be useful in understanding how safety training influences employee's knowledge, attitude, and behavior concerning hand injury prevention. However, improved equipment for the user in the field can more is directly affect safety, so long as the equipment works and does not hinder the user's typical tasks when the equipment is in place.

The inventions disclosed and taught herein are directed to safety gloves having crush, cut, and bend-related finger and hand injuries.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects described above and other advantages and features of the invention are incorporated in the application as set forth herein, and the associated appendices and drawings, related to systems for safety gloves with enhanced finger, thumb, and hand protection, particularly for use in oilfield operations to prevent finger crushing, breaking, and appendage loss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these figures in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

FIG. 1A illustrates a bottom schematic anatomical view of the bones of a right-side human hand showing the palm-side details.

FIG. 1B illustrates is a bottom schematic anatomical palm-side view of the bones, and selected details of the pulleys and tendons of a right-side human hand.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a safety glove assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the safety glove assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a thumb-side elevational view of the safety glove assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a finger-side elevational view of the safety glove assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates a frontal finger-tip elevational view of the safety glove assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 illustrates a rear, wrist-opening elevational view of the safety glove assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary finger-guard member in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

While the inventions disclosed herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, only a few specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The figures and detailed descriptions of these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the breadth or scope of the inventive concepts or the appended claims in any manner. Rather, the figures and detailed written descriptions are provided to illustrate the inventive is concepts to a person of ordinary skill in the art and to enable such person to make and use the inventive concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures described above and the written description of specific structures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope of what Applicants have invented or the scope of the appended claims. Rather, the Figures and written description are provided to teach any person skilled in the art to make and use the inventions for which patent protection is sought. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all features of a commercial embodiment of the inventions are described or shown for the sake of clarity and understanding. Persons of skill in this art will also appreciate that the development of an actual commercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the present inventions will require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the developer's ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Such implementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are not limited to, compliance with system-related, business-related, government-related and other constraints, which may vary by specific implementation, location and from time to time. While a developer's efforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of skill in this art having benefit of this disclosure. It must be understood that the inventions disclosed and taught herein are susceptible to numerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Lastly, the use of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a,” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relational terms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like are used in the written description for clarity in specific reference to the Figures and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims.

Applicants have created a safety system for use as an overlayment or is attachment to standard work gloves, particularly useful for work in the oil filed, wherein the safety system reduces user injuries to the hand and/or fingers.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1A is a schematic anatomical view of the bones of a right human hand 10 looking at a palm 18 side. Shown are the radius 20, ulna 21, radiocarpal joint (RC) 23′, distal radio ulnar joint (DRUJ) 22, wrist 12, thumb 64, index finger 65, long finger 66, ring finger 67, and small finger 68. The carpus 69 comprises eight carpal bones, seven of which are shown in FIG. 1 and includes the hamate bone 71 with its hook-like protrusion, the scaphoid 24′ and the lunate 25.

The thumb 64 is comprised of the distal phalanx 51, the interphalangeal joint (IP) 46, proximal phalanx 41, diaphysis of proximal phalanx 41′, metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP) 36, metacarpal 31, and carpometacarpal joint (CMC) 26.

The index finger 65 is comprised of the distal phalanx 60, distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) 56, middle phalanx 52, proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) 47, proximal phalanx 42, metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP) 37, metacarpal 32, and carpometacarpal joint (CMC) 27.

The long finger 66 is comprised of the distal phalanx 61, distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) 57, middle phalanx 53, proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) 48, proximal phalanx 43, metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP) 38, metacarpal 33, and carpometacarpal joint (CMC) 23.

The ring finger 67 is comprised of the distal phalanx 62, distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) 58, middle phalanx 54, proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) 49, proximal phalanx 44, metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP) 39, metacarpal 34, and carpometacarpal joint (CMC) 24.

The small finger 68 is comprised of the distal phalanx 63, distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) 59, middle phalanx 55, proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) 50, proximal phalanx 45, metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP) 40, metacarpal 35, and carpometacarpal joint (CMC) 30.

FIG. 1B shows the skeletal anatomy, pulley system, and flexor tendons of the thumb 64 and fingers 65-68 of the right hand 10. The thumb 64 includes the flexor tendon (flexor pollicis longus) 200 and the three pulleys 220-224 of the thumb 64; an A1 pulley 220, A2 pulley 222, and A3 pulley 224. The A2 pulley 222 is the most important for function and is attached to the proximal phalanx 41 of the thumb 64. The respective pulleys 230-238 are also shown for each of the index finger 65, long finger 66, ring finger 67, and small finger 68. Each finger 65-68 has five pulleys 230-238; an A1 pulley 230, A2 pulley 232, A3 pulley 234, A4 pulley 236, and A5 pulley 238. The A2 pulley 232 and A4 pulley 236 are considered to be the most important for function. The A2 pulley 232 is attached to the proximal phalanx 42-45. The A4 pulley 236 is attached to the middle phalanx 52-55. The A1 pulley 230 is near the MCP joint 37-40, the A3 pulley 234 is near the PIP joint 47-50 and the A5 pulley 238 is near the DIP joint 56-59.

The flexor tendons 202-208 are shown as one unit for each finger 65-68, but actually there are two flexor tendons to each unit. They are the flexor digitorum superficialis and the flexor digitorum profundus (shown as one, 202-208). These tendons 202-208 travel underneath the pulleys 230-238 and the flexor digitorum profundus tendon attaches to the distal phalanx 60-63 of each finger 65-68. The tendons 202-208 move back and forth below the pulleys 230-238, via muscles (not shown) attached to the proximal end of the tendons. This movement of the tendon 202-208 produces finger 65-68 flexion. The pulleys 230-238 prevent the flexor tendons 202-208 from bowstringing or moving away from the bone with finger 65-68 flexion. If the pulleys 230-238 are damaged and no longer function, the tendons 202-208 will bowstring with a resultant significant loss of finger motion as well as grip strength. As such, pulleys 230-238, especially the A2 pulley 232 and the A4 pulley 236, are very important and must be preserved and protected as much as possible. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, and as will be discussed in more detail herein, protective padding for each finger 65-68 can be placed in an anatomically designed fashion over the A2 and A4 pulley regions. When the A2 and A4 pulleys 232 and 236 are preserved, adequate finger 65-68 motion and grip strength is maintained.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an exemplary impact protection assembly 100 for the front, sides, and back of fingers and finger tips, including the thumb, in association with a glove underlayment. FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the protection assembly 100 in association with a glove underlayment. FIG. 4 illustrates a thumb-side view of the impact protection assembly; FIG. 5 illustrates a finger-side view of the impact protection assembly. FIG. 6 illustrates a front, finger-forward view of the impact protection assembly of FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 illustrates a wrist-side, rear view of the impact protection assembly 100 in association with an underlying glove. FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary finger-guard member in accordance with the present disclosure. These figures will now be discussed in conjunction with each other.

The impact protection assembly 100 provides impact, bend, and amputation protection to a glove wearer by not only the shape, but the material. Instead of trying to protect individual fingers, which is not always prudent in oilfield type operations, the protection assembly 100 acts to cover the thumb in a first section 100′ and the fingers in a second, one-piece finger section 100″. Alternatively, the fingers may be protected by a two-piece, “lobster-claw” arrangement, wherein a first piece, 101, protects fingers 65 and 66 (see, FIG. 1), while a second piece 103 protects fingers 67 and 68. The is assembly may extend upward over the back of the hand to a variety of locations, depending on the particular use and level of protection sought. That is, the back face 106 of the assembly 100 may extend to just past the pulleys 230 in the users hand, or may extend upward over the top of the back of the user's hand, toward the wrist. In further accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the protection assemblies (100′, 100″) have an angle or radius of curvature along the bottom face, and the top face, that is substantially the same as the angle, or radius of curvature of the user's hand and/or thumb, particularly as defined by the finger flexor tendons. Exemplary values for the radius of curvature range from about 0.9 cm to about 4.0 cm, depending upon the individual finger.

As shown in FIG. 8, the assemblies 100 comprise a top face 106 and opposite bottom face 108, as well as opposite, spaced-apart side walls 102 and 104, which adjoin the top and bottom faces to form an assembly having an open, interior recess 110 sized and shaped to fit one or more human hand digits, e.g., a thumb, or two, three, or four fingers. As also shown in the figure, and in accordance with aspects of the invention, the side walls 102 and 104 taper in height, from the opening of the recess 110 toward the tip of the assembly 112. The taper may be a straight taper, much like a triangle, but more preferably is tapered in a curved manner, the taper following the general radius of curvature of a human hand or thumb, as may be appropriate.

In use, a user typically first dons an underlayment glove, which may be of cloth (such as cotton), synthetic material, leather, metal (e.g., chain mail mesh), or rubber. The impact protection assembly is then slide on over the underlayment glove, such that the fingers and thumb extend into the interior cavities of the assembly 100. The assembly is then attached to the underlayment glove. In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, depending upon the material that the assembly 100 is made from, the assembly 100 may be integrally formed with an underlayment glove. In other is aspects of the present disclosure, the assembly 100 is attached to the underlayment glove via a suitable attachment means, such as straps, or snaps (or the equivalent) within the interior of the assembly 100 that coordinate with such attachment features on the outside surface of the underlayment glove.

The protection provided by assembly 100 is provided by the combination of the shape and span of coverage of the assembly (e.g., covering at least two at a time, and preferably four at a time, fingers), as well as the material the assembly 100 is made of. The protection assembly 100 may be made of any number of suitable materials, including metal (e.g., steel or a metal or metal alloy of particular hardness) which acts to protect the fingers, knuckles, and can extend into the carpal bone area; plastic; polymeric resins; or synthetic materials, such as carbon-fiber or the like, as well as combinations thereof. For example, a protection assembly 100 is contemplated wherein the underside is made of a first, separate material, such as carbon fiber, Kevlar, or a flexible synthetic material, and a second, harder material on the outer face of the first material. The under glove can be made of any suitable material, including stretch fabric such as cotton or a synthetic material, or combination thereof, or it can be made of leather, rubber, or a combination of such materials. As indicated above, the protection assembly can be integral with an underlying, separate glove, such as by an appropriate attachment means, or it can be removed from and put on/inserted over the user's glove, e.g., as an attachment.

Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of the inventions described above can be devised without departing from the spirit of Applicant's invention. For example, the crush resistant assemblies may be fabricated directly with and integral with an underlying glove. Further, the various methods and embodiments of the methods of manufacture and assembly of the system, as well as location specifications, can be included in combination with each other to produce variations of the disclosed methods and embodiments. Discussion of singular elements can is include plural elements and vice-versa.

The order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split into multiple steps. Similarly, elements have been described functionally and can be embodied as separate components or can be combined into components having multiple functions.

The inventions have been described in the context of preferred and other embodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has been described. Obvious modifications and alterations to the described embodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by the Applicants, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicants intend to fully protect all such modifications and improvements that come within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims.

Claims

1. A protective hand assembly, comprising:

A first formed protective cover sized to cover a thumb of a user;

A second formed protective cover sized to cover a two or more fingers of a human hand;

An underlayment glove attachable to the formed protective cover,

Wherein both the first and second protective covers comprise oppositely spaced top and bottom faces, and oppositely spaced side walls, the faces and side walls being at approximately 90 degree angles to each other; and

Wherein the side walls of each of the first and second protective cover follow the radius of curvature of the human hand, the fingers of the human hand, or the thumb of the human hand, as appropriate.

2. The protective assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is made of metal or a polymeric material.

3. The protective assembly of claim 1, wherein the top face of the protective cover extends from the second knuckle of the fingers to wrist of the hand, including the general middle regions of the back of the hand.