WORK GLOVE

Abstract

A glove includes a body portion defining a space to receive a body portion of a hand, and a plurality of digit portions extending from the body portion, including a set of finger portions and a thumb portion, wherein each digit portion defines an elongated digit receiving space. For each finger portion, the plurality of annular ribs is located along a rib section of the finger portion, wherein the rib section of the finger portion has a rib section length that is no more than thirty-three percent of the full length of the finger portion. An end section of each finger portion lacks any annular ribs.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to gloves and, more specifically, to a work glove with ribbing features.

BACKGROUND

Work gloves of a variety of types are known, including gloves having a polymer coating. U.S. Pat. No. 8,719,964 describes one example of a polymer coating and related glove or other article.

FIGS. 1A-1C show a prior art glove 10, with a coating such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,719,964, where the glove also includes ribbing features. Generally, ribbing can aid in grip when provided. The ribbing features of glove 10 include ribs 12 on the palm area of the body portion 15 of the glove and annular ribs 14, 16 on the digit sections of the glove (both fingers and thumb). Each rib is formed by a thickening of the glove material, which may be a fabric or, in some areas, a fabric with a polymer coating. The ribs on each finger part of the glove include a plurality of annular ribs 14 that extend along a base section 18 of the finger that runs a distance sufficient to run the length of the proximal phalanges of a wearers hand, past the second knuckle and onto the initial portion of the wearer's intermediate phalanges. The ribs of each finger part also include a plurality of annular ribs 16 that extend along a tip section 20 of the finger part, where the wearer's distal phalanges are located. A gap section 22, with no annular ribs, is provided between set of ribs 14 and the set of ribs 16. The grip side of the body portion 15 of the glove 10 is made up of both a ribbed surface area section 17 and a non-ribbed surface area section 19. Likewise, the grip side of each digit portion of the glove includes ribbed surface area sections 21 and 23 that are spaced apart by a non-ribbed surface area section 25. While the glove 10 provides good gripping, the extent of the ribbing provided creates other problems. Specifically, excessive bunching in the region of the first knuckle during finger bend by a wearer, and limited tactile feel at the finger tips. In the glove 10, for each finger portion, the length of the ribbed base section 18 is at least 30% of the full length of the finger portion, and combined length of the ribbed base section 18 and the tip section 20 is at least 55% of the full length of the finger portion.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a glove that addresses one or more the above-noted issues.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a glove includes a body portion defining a space to receive a body portion of a hand, and a plurality of digit portions extending from the body portion, including a set of finger portions and a thumb portion, wherein each digit portion defines an elongated digit receiving space. Each finger portion includes a full length defined between a proximal location and a distal tip of the finger portion, wherein the proximal location is where the finger portion joins the body portion. Each finger portion includes a plurality of annular ribs formed thereon, each annular rib comprising an exterior protrusion on the finger portion resulting from a thickening of a glove material. For each finger portion, adjacent ribs of the plurality of annular ribs are separated by a gap resulting from a thinner segment of glove material. For each finger portion: the plurality of annular ribs are located along a rib section of the finger portion, wherein the rib section of the finger portion has a rib section length that runs from the proximal location to a distal edge of the annular rib that is most distal from the body portion, wherein the rib section length is no more than thirty-three percent of the full length, and wherein an end section of the finger portion runs from the distal edge of the annular rib that is most distal from the body portion to the distal tip of the finger portion, and the end section of the finger portion lacks any annular ribs.

In another aspect, a glove includes a body portion defining a space to receive a body portion of a hand, the body portion including a grip side and a back side, wherein the grip side includes a body grip surface area, wherein the body grip surface area includes a ribbed body grip surface area section and a non-ribbed body grip surface area section, wherein the ribbed body grip surface area section includes a plurality of adjacent ribs thereon, wherein each of the ribs is formed by a thickening of a glove material, wherein the non-ribbed surface area section lacks any ribs. Five digit portions extend from the body portion, wherein each digit portion defines an elongated digit receiving space, wherein each digit portion includes a grip side and a back side, wherein the grip side of each digit portion defines a digit grip surface area, wherein the digit grip surface area of each digit portion includes a ribbed digit grip surface area section and a non-ribbed digit grip surface area section. Each digit portion includes a full length defined between a proximal location and a distal tip of the digit portion, wherein the proximal location is where the digit portion joins the body portion. For each digit portion, the ribbed digit grip surface area section extends a ribbed length that runs from the proximal location to an intermediate position along the digit portion, wherein the ribbed length is no more than thirty-five percent of the full length and includes a plurality of adjacent ribs formed thereon, each of the ribs of the digit portion results from a thickening of the glove material. For each digit portion, the non-ribbed digit grip surface area section runs from the intermediate location to the distal tip of the digit portion, and the non-ribbed digit grip surface area section lacks any ribs. A total grip surface area is defined by a combination of the body grip surface area of the grip side of the body portion and the digit grip surface area of the grip side of each of the five digit portions. A total ribbed grip surface area is defined by a combination of the ribbed body grip surface area section of the grip side of the body portion and the ribbed digit grip surface area section of the grip side of each of the five digit portions. The total ribbed grip surface area is between 40% and 50% of the total grip surface area.

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. 1A is a back side view of a prior art glove (right-handed);

FIG. 1B is a palm side or grip side view of the prior art glove (right-handed);

FIG. 1C is another palm side or grip side view of the prior art glove (left-handed);

FIG. 2A is a back side view of a glove according to the invention; and

FIG. 2B is a palm side or grip side view of the glove according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2B, a glove 50 includes a body portion 52 defining an internal space to receive a body portion of a hand, and a plurality of digit portions 54 extending from the body portion 52. The digit portions include four finger portions 54′ and a thumb portion 54″. Each digit portion 54 defines an elongated internal digit receiving space. The glove also includes a wrist portion 56, which may be generally tubular and have elastic qualities for gripping a wearer's wrist.

Each finger portion 54′ includes a full length 60 defined between a proximal location 62 and a distal tip 64 of the finger portion. The proximal location 62 is where the finger portion 54′ joins the body portion. Each finger portion 54 includes a plurality of annular ribs 64 formed thereon. Each annular rib 64 is formed as an exterior protrusion on the finger portion resulting from a thickening of a glove material. The glove material may, for example, be a fabric or, in some areas, a fabric with a polymer coating. For each finger portion 54′, adjacent ribs of the plurality of annular ribs 64 are separated by a gap 66 resulting from a thinner segment of glove material. For each finger portion 54′ the annular ribs 64 are located along a rib section 68 of the finger portion, wherein the rib section of the finger portion has a rib section length 70 that runs from the proximal location 62 to a distal edge of the annular rib 64′ that is most distal from the body portion. Here, the rib section length 70 is no more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the full length 60 (e.g., length 70 no more than thirty percent (30%) of length 60). The end section 72 of each finger portion runs from the distal edge of the annular rib 64′ that is most distal from the body portion to the distal tip 65 of the finger portion, and the end section 72 of the finger portion lacks any annular ribs.

It is understood that, as to each finger portion 54′, its full length 60 will typically be different than the full length 60 of the other finger portions 54′, to best match with a typical wearer's hand. Similarly, the rib section length 70 of each respective finger portion 54′ will typically be different than the rib section length 70 of at least some of the finger portions 54′.

The thumb portion 54″ of the glove 50 includes a full length 60″ defined between a set location 62″ and a distal tip 65″ of the thumb portion, where the set location 62″ is where the thumb portion 54″ joins the body portion 52. The thumb portion 54″ includes a plurality of annular ribs 64″ formed thereon, where each annular rib 64″ is formed by an exterior protrusion on the thumb portion resulting from a thickening of the glove material. Adjacent annular ribs 64″ are separated by a gap 66″ resulting from a thinner segment of glove material. The annular ribs 64″ are located along a rib section 68″ of the thumb portion, wherein the rib section 68″ has a rib section length 70″ that runs from the set location 62″ to a distal edge of the annular rib 64″ of the thumb portion that is most distal from the body portion 52. The rib section length 70″ is no more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the full length 60″ (e.g., length 70″ no more than thirty percent (30%) of length 60″). The end section 72″ of the thumb portion runs from the distal edge of the annular rib 64″ of the thumb portion that is most distal from the body portion 52 to the distal tip 65″ of the thumb portion, and the end section 72″ of the thumb portion lacks any annular ribs.

The above-described configuration improves glove performance. In particular, limiting the length of ribbed section 68 ensures that the ribs 64 do not extend to and past the second knuckle of a wearer's hand, which reduces bunching when the wearer's fingers bend to grip an object. Moreover, by having no ribs on the full end section 72 of each finger portion 64, adverse impact to the tactile feel of the wearer's fingers is reduced.

The body portion 52 of the glove 50 includes a grip side, shown in FIG. 2B, and a back side, shown in FIG. 2A. The grip side includes a body grip surface area 84, which is made up of a ribbed body grip surface area section 84a and a non-ribbed body grip surface area section 84b. The ribbed body grip surface area section 84a includes a plurality of adjacent ribs 86 thereon, wherein each of the ribs 86 is formed by a thickening of a glove material, and the non-ribbed surface area section 84a lacks any ribs.

Each digit portion includes a grip side, shown in FIG. 2B, and a back side, shown in FIG. 2A. The grip side of each digit portion defines a digit grip surface area 88, wherein the digit grip surface area 88 of each digit portion includes a ribbed digit grip surface area section 88a and a non-ribbed digit grip surface area section 88b.

A total grip surface area of the glove is defined by a combination of the body grip surface area 84 of the grip side of the body portion 52 and the digit grip surface areas 88 of the grip side of all of the five digit portions 54. A total ribbed surface area is defined by a combination of the ribbed body grip surface area section 84a of the grip side of the body portion 52 and the ribbed digit grip surface area sections 88a of the grip side of all of the five digit portions. The total ribbed grip surface area of the glove 50 is between 40% and 50% of the total grip surface area of the glove 50 (e.g., between 44% and 46% of the total grip surface area).

In this regard, the body portion 15 of the prior art glove 10 includes a grip surface area made up of ribbed surface area section 17 and non-ribbed surface are section 19, and each digit includes a digit grip surface area made up of the ribbed surface area sections 21 and 23 and non-ribbed surface area section 25. The total grip surface area of glove 10 is made up of surface area sections 17 and 19 on the body portion and surface area sections 21, 23 and 25 on all of the digit portions. The total ribbed grip surface area of the glove 10 is made up of surface area section 17 of the body portion and the surface area sections 21 and 23 of all of the digits. The total ribbed grip surface area of the prior art glove 10 is more than 60% of the total grip surface area of the glove 10.

Thus, the glove 50 provided herein, has reduced ribbing compared to glove 10, but the glove 50 provides better overall performance as compared to glove 10.

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 body portion defining a space to receive a body portion of a hand;

a plurality of digit portions extending from the body portion, including a set of finger portions and a thumb portion, wherein each digit portion defines an elongated digit receiving space;

wherein each finger portion includes a full length defined between a proximal location and a distal tip of the finger portion, wherein the proximal location is where the finger portion joins the body portion;

wherein each finger portion includes a plurality of annular ribs formed thereon, each annular rib comprising an exterior protrusion on the finger portion resulting from a thickening of a glove material;

wherein, for each finger portion, adjacent ribs of the plurality of annular ribs are separated by a gap resulting from a thinner segment of glove material;

wherein, for each finger portion: the plurality of annular ribs are located along a rib section of the finger portion, wherein the rib section of the finger portion has a rib section length that runs from the proximal location to a distal edge of the annular rib that is most distal from the body portion, wherein the rib section length is no more than thirty-three percent of the full length, and wherein an end section of the finger portion runs from the distal edge of the annular rib that is most distal from the body portion to the distal tip of the finger portion, and the end section of the finger portion lacks any annular ribs.

2. The glove of claim 1, wherein, for each finger portion, the rib section length is no more than thirty percent of the full length.

3. The glove of claim 1,

wherein the thumb portion includes a full length defined between a set location and a distal tip of the thumb portion, wherein the set location is where the thumb portion joins the body portion;

wherein the thumb portion includes a plurality of annular ribs formed thereon, each annular rib of the thump portion comprising an exterior protrusion on the thumb portion resulting from a thickening of a glove material;

wherein adjacent annular ribs of the plurality of annular ribs on the thumb portion are separated by a gap resulting from a thinner segment of glove material;

wherein, for the thumb portion: the plurality of annular ribs are located along a rib section of the thumb portion, wherein the rib section of the thumb portion has a rib section length that runs from the set location to a distal edge of the annular rib of the thumb portion that is most distal from the body portion, wherein the rib section length of the thumb portion is no more than thirty-three percent of the full length of the thumb portion, and wherein an end section of the thumb portion runs from the distal edge of the annular rib of the thumb portion that is most distal from the body portion to the distal tip of the thumb portion, and the end section of the thumb portion lacks any annular ribs.

4. A glove, comprising:

a body portion defining a space to receive a body portion of a hand, the body portion including a grip side and a back side, wherein the grip side includes a body grip surface area, wherein the body grip surface area includes a ribbed body grip surface area section and a non- ribbed body grip surface area section, wherein the ribbed body grip surface area section includes a plurality of adjacent ribs thereon, wherein each of the ribs is formed by a thickening of a glove material, wherein the non-ribbed surface area section lacks any ribs;

five digit portions extending from the body portion, wherein each digit portion defines an elongated digit receiving space, wherein each digit portion includes a grip side and a back side, wherein the grip side of each digit portion defines a digit grip surface area, wherein the digit grip surface area of each digit portion includes a ribbed digit grip surface area section and a non- ribbed digit grip surface area section;

wherein each digit portion includes a full length defined between a proximal location and a distal tip of the digit portion, wherein the proximal location is where the digit portion joins the body portion;

wherein, for each digit portion, the ribbed digit grip surface area section extends a ribbed length that runs from the proximal location to an intermediate position along the digit portion, wherein the ribbed length is no more than thirty-five percent of the full length and includes a plurality of adjacent ribs formed thereon, each of the ribs of the digit portion results from a thickening of the glove material;

wherein, for each digit portion, the non-ribbed digit grip surface area section runs from the intermediate location to the distal tip of the digit portion, and the non-ribbed digit grip surface area section lacks any ribs;

wherein a total grip surface area is defined by a combination of the body grip surface area of the grip side of the body portion and the digit grip surface area of the grip side of each of the five digit portions;

wherein a total ribbed grip surface area is defined by a combination of the ribbed body grip surface area section of the grip side of the body portion and the ribbed digit grip surface area section of the grip side of each of the five digit portions;

wherein the total ribbed grip surface area is between 40% and 50% of the total grip surface area.