GLOVE WITH PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE

Abstract

A glove includes a glove body in a shape of a hand and having a palm side and a dorsal side opposite the palm side. A protective structure is located on the dorsal side and includes a first layer of material, a second layer of material and a plurality of foam members sandwiched between the first layer of material and the second layer of material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to work gloves and, more specifically, to gloves to protect the knuckle areas of the hand.

BACKGROUND

Glove construction for protection of the human hand is well known. A variety of protective features for the knuckle region of the hand are also known. For example, gloves that incorporate a molded thermoplastic rubber protectant applied to the knuckle and/or finger region are known. The thermoplastic rubber is effective, but somewhat stiff/rigid.

It would be desirable to provide a glove with an alternative protective feature for the knuckle region.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a glove includes a glove body in a shape of a hand and having a palm side and a dorsal side opposite the palm side. A protective structure is located on the dorsal side and includes a first layer of material, a second layer of material and a plurality of foam members sandwiched between the first layer of material and the second layer of material.

In another aspect, a glove includes a glove body in a shape of a hand and having a palm side and a dorsal side opposite the palm side. A protective structure is located on the dorsal side and includes a plurality of compression molded foam segments interconnected by a plurality of foam-free segments.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a left-hand glove;

FIG. 2 is a dorsal side top plane view of the glove;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the protective structure region of the glove;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section through the protective structure along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a protective structure for a right-hand glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a glove 10 includes a glove body 12 in a shape of a hand (e.g., shaped to receive a hand therein) and having a palm side 14 and a dorsal side 16 opposite the palm side. A protective structure 20 is located on the dorsal side and includes discrete areas of foam segments or members for protecting areas of the dorsal side of a user's hand. By way of example, the foam segments or members may be EVA foam or some other compression molded foam material.

The protective structure 20 is a separate unit that is connected to the material 18 (e.g., lycra) of the dorsal side 16 of the glove body. Here, the structure includes a lower layer of material 22, an upper layer of material 24 and a plurality of foam members 26 sandwiched between the lower and upper layers. By way of example, the layers 22 and 24 may be of a lycra material, and the layers and heat and compression are applied to the layers, with the foam members therebetween, to form a direct adhering bond of layer 22 to layer 24 in certain areas and to form an adhering bond between the lower layer 22 and the bottoms of the foam members 26 and an adhering bond between the upper layer 24 and top and sides of the foam members 26.

Here, the foam members 26 are spaced apart from each other across the dorsal side to form a plurality of major segments of the protective structure and a plurality of minor segments 32 of the protective structure. Each major segment 30 includes at least one foam member 26, encapsulated by the layers 22 and 24. Each minor segment 32 lacks any foam and is made up of the two layers 22 and 24 only. Each minor segment 32 has a thickness Tm that is no more than twenty-five percent of a thickness TM of a thickes one of the major segments. Among the minor segments 32 is a peripheral band 34 of the protective structure, which surrounds the interior regions of the protective structure. Each major segment 30 is bounded by a surrounding minor segment (e.g., to encapsulate the foam members 26), and the major segments 30 are interconnected to each other by the minor segments 32.

The peripheral band or edge region 34 of the protective structure is secured to the glove body (e.g., by stitching 40 or adhesive) and the interior region 36 of the protective structure overlies, but can move relative to the glove body. As shown, the interior region may include a plurality of through openings 38 (e.g., here elongated slots). At least a majority (here all) of the through openings 38 are located in minor segments 32 of the protective structure. The through openings 38 further enhance the ability of different portions of the interior region 36 of the protective structure to flex and move relative to each other and the glove body.

Here, the protective structure 20 extends over a knuckle region of the dorsal side of the glove body, with a slight extent along each finger portion, so as to be positioned primarily for protecting the knuckles of a wearer's hand. However, the protective structure, or additional protective structures of the same type, could be located in other areas, such as further along the finger regions of the glove body or toward the wrist region of the glove body.

In one embodiment, a thin printed layer is applied to the dorsal side of the glove body beneath the protective structure 20, which may provide an offset color that is visible through the openings 38 for enhanced wearer appeal.

In the illustrated embodiment, each major segment 30 is generally triangular in shape in top plan view of the dorsal side. However, variations in shape are possible

It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only, is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that other changes and modifications are possible.

Claims

1. A glove comprising:

a glove body in a shape of a hand and having a palm side and a dorsal side opposite the palm side;

a protective structure on the dorsal side, the protective structure comprising a first layer of material, a second layer of material and a plurality of foam members sandwiched between the first layer of material and the second layer of material.

2. The glove of claim 1, wherein the plurality of foam members are spaced apart from each other across the dorsal side to form a plurality of major segments of the protective structure and a plurality of minor segments of the protective structure, each major segment including at least one foam member, each minor segment lacking any foam.

3. The glove of claim 2, wherein each minor segment has a thickness that is no more than twenty-five percent of a thickness of a thickest one of the major segments.

4. The glove of claim 2, wherein the minor segments include a peripheral band of the protective structure and multiple interior regions of the protective structure.

5. The glove of claim 2, wherein each major segment is bounded by surrounding minor segment.

6. The glove of claim 2, wherein the major segments are interconnected to each other by the minor segments.

7. The glove of claim 1, wherein the first layer of material, the second layer of material and the foam members are adhered to each other as a unit.

8. The glove of claim 7, wherein the first layer of material, the second layer of material and the foam members are integrated via heat and compression that forms a bond therebetween.

9. The glove of claim 2, wherein the protective structure includes a peripheral edge region that is secured to the glove body and an interior region that overlies, but can move relative to the glove body.

10. The glove of claim 9, wherein the interior region includes a plurality of through openings.

11. The glove of claim 10, wherein at least a majority of the through openings are located in minor segments.

12. The glove of claim 9, wherein each foam member comprises a compression molded foam material.

13. The glove of claim 9, wherein the protective structure extends over a knuckle region of the dorsal side.

14. The glove of claim 9, wherein a printed layer is applied to the dorsal side of the glove body beneath the protective structure.

15. A glove comprising:

a glove body in a shape of a hand and having a palm side and a dorsal side opposite the palm side;

a protective structure on the dorsal side, the protective structure comprising a plurality of compression molded foam segments interconnected by a plurality of foam-free segments.

16. The glove of claim 15, wherein the protective structure includes a peripheral edge region that is secured to the glove body and an interior region that overlies, but can move relative to the glove body.

17. The glove of claim 16, wherein the interior region includes a plurality of through openings located in foam-free segments of the interior region.

18. The glove of claim 17, wherein the protective structure extends over a knuckle region of the dorsal side.

19. The glove of claim 18, wherein a printed layer is applied to the dorsal side of the glove body beneath the protective structure.

20. The glove of claim 15, wherein the protective structure includes a bottom layer of material, a top layer of material and a plurality of compression molded foam members sandwiched therebetween, wherein each compression molded foam segment is bounded on its bottom side by the bottom layer of material and is bounded on its top side by the top layer of material, and each foam-free segment is formed by the top layer of material bonded to the bottom layer of material.