GLOVE WITH REINFORCED FINGERS
A glove for protecting a hand of a user includes a main glove body configured to receive a metacarpal of the hand and a glove finger coupled to the main glove body and extending longitudinally away from the glove main body. The glove finger is configured to receive a finger of the hand, and the glove finger includes a panel defining a rolled tip arrangement at an end of the glove finger. The glove further includes a fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the panel and positioned to extend between the panel and a fingertip of the finger of the hand.
The present disclosure relates generally to clothing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to gloves, in particular gloves that include reinforcements in specific areas, for example the fingertips, including the thumb.
Gloves are used to protect users' hands in a variety of applications. Gloves facilitate handling objects while preventing the users' hands from coming in direct contact with contaminants, such as dirt or rust, or potentially dangerous surfaces, such as sharp edges, moving parts, heat sources, and the like. Over extended periods of use, gloves can become worn or lose functionality and require repair or replacement. Due to how users commonly grasp objects, this wear commonly occurs first at the ends of the fingers of the gloves near the user's fingertips, including the tip of the thumb.
SUMMARYAt least one embodiment relates to a glove for protecting a hand of a user. The glove includes a main glove body configured to receive a metacarpal of the hand and a glove finger coupled to the main glove body and extending longitudinally away from the glove main body. The glove finger is configured to receive a finger of the hand, including a thumb, and the glove finger includes a panel defining a rolled tip arrangement at an end of the glove finger. The glove further includes a fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the panel and positioned to extend between the panel and a fingertip of the finger of the hand. Further embodiments comprise an extended back panel that “wraps” around the fingertip to form a reinforcement in the fingertip area by “doubling” the material covering the fingertip. Further embodiments comprise an extended palm panel that “wraps” around the fingertip to form a reinforcement in the fingertip area by “doubling” the material covering the fingertip. Additional embodiments comprise a fingertip reinforcement that is joined to the back panel such that the fingertip reinforcement is joined over the back panel, rather than under the panel, such that the overlap seam of the fingertip reinforcement is on the external (away from a user's finger) portion of the back panel, rather than the internal (contacting a user's finger) portion of the back panel. As used herein, “finger” or “fingertip” means the distal portion of any finger of the hand, including the thumb.
Further embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a glove for protecting a hand of a user. The method includes providing a first panel at least partially defining a main glove body configured to receive a metacarpal of the hand, coupling a second panel to the first panel, the second panel at least partially defining a glove finger configured to receive a finger of the hand, and the finger having a fingertip. The second panel extends continuously from a bottom surface of the glove finger to a top surface of the glove finger adjacent the fingertip of the finger. In embodiments, the method further includes bonding a fingertip reinforcement to an interior surface of the second panel such that the fingertip reinforcement is positioned to extend between the fingertip and the second panel. In embodiments, the method further includes bonding a fingertip reinforcement to an exterior surface of the second panel such that the fingertip reinforcement is positioned to extend between the fingertip and the second panel. In embodiments, the method further includes bonding a fingertip reinforcement to an interior surface of the second panel such that the fingertip reinforcement is positioned to extend between the fingertip and the second panel. Disclosed embodiments comprise a reinforced region overlapping the back panel such that the ridge formed by the overlap is raised on the outside of the glove, thus removing the risk of a user “catching” a fingertip as the finger is inserted. Disclosed embodiments can comprise heat-resistant and fire-retardant materials, for example yarns, fabrics, felts, and other fibrous blends having better fire retardant properties, higher heat resistance, lower heat transference, improved durability when exposed to constant heat or bursts of high heat, together with adequate strength and abrasion resistance, improved softness, better breathability, improved moisture regain, increased flexibility and comfort, and other performance criteria. Disclosed embodiments can comprise fire retardant/heat resistant fibers including polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyphenylene-2, 6benzobisoxazole (PBO), modacrylic, p-aramid, m-aramid, polyvinyl halides, wool, fire resistant polyesters, fire resistant nylons, fire resistant rayons, cotton, and melamine. Disclosed embodiments can comprise impact-resistant materials, for example plastics, Kevlar, laminates, and the like.
This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in anyway limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices or processes described herein will become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.
Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring generally to the Figures, a glove is shown including certain features that improve wear resistance of the glove relative to traditional gloves. In embodiments, each finger of the glove has a rolled tip arrangement in which a palm panel extends continuously across a fingertip of the user, from below the user's finger to above the user's finger without any laterally-extending seams. A seam between the palm panel and a back panel of the glove is positioned away from the fingertip, along a top side of the glove, wherein the palm panel can be attached over the back panel, such that the terminus of the palm panel overlaps the back panel, thus eliminating the impediment of a “ridge” formed by at the attachment site on the interior of the glove. This moves the seam away from areas that experience relatively high amounts of wear, improving the life of the glove.
In embodiments, the glove further includes a fingertip reinforcement at the end of each of the index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers. The fingertip reinforcements extend continuously along an interior surface of the glove, adjacent the user's fingertips, from below the user's finger to above the user's finger. In embodiments, the fingertip reinforcements extend continuously along an exterior surface of the glove, adjacent the user's fingertips, from below the user's finger to above the user's finger, including the thumb. The fingertip reinforcements increase the thickness of the glove near the fingertips, for example by a factor of 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.5, or the like, increasing the amount of wear that the glove can experience prior to failure. The thickness increase can vary in different areas of the glove, for example in embodiments, the thickness of a single fingertip reinforcement can differ from the thickness of another fingertip reinforcement of the glove. The fingertip reinforcements are, in embodiments, bonded to the corresponding panels of the glove, reducing the potential for the fingertip reinforcements to separate from the panels if part of finger of the glove is worn through.
The rolled tip arrangement and the continuous arrangement of the fingertip reinforcement each improve the durability, shock-resistance, impact resistance, and heat-resistance of the glove. Traditional gloves do not include the rolled tip arrangement or the fingertip reinforcements, instead having a single layer of material with a seam extending laterally across the fingertip. Seams are commonly weaker than the surrounding parts of the glove. By way of example, a seam may be compromised by solely severing the thread of a seam, whereas the surrounding material would have to be worn entirely through to expose a user's finger. Because the fingertip of the user is commonly the first part of the user's hand that contacts an object, placing the seam at the fingertip causes the seam to repeatedly come into contact with items handled by the glove wearer. This causes the seam to fail prematurely, exposing the user's hand after a relatively short period of use. In embodiments described herein, the seam between the palm panel and the back panel is positioned away from the fingertip, reducing wear on the seam. Further, this seam is positioned along the top side of the finger, which experiences even less contact with other objects that the bottom side of the finger, further reducing wear on the seam.
The fingertip reinforcements increase the thickness of the glove near the fingertip. If the glove did not include the fingertip reinforcements, the user's fingers would be exposed after wearing through only a relatively thin portion of the glove. However, because of the addition of the fingertip reinforcement, once the outer layer of the glove becomes worn completely through, the fingertip reinforcement further protects the finger, further prolonging the life of the glove. In embodiments, the fingertip reinforcement further protects the finger, prolonging the life of the glove once the inner layer of the glove becomes worn completely through.
Some traditional gloves include an outer protective layer and an inner insulative layer extending throughout the entirety of the glove. The fingertip reinforcements of the glove described herein offer certain benefits not provided by these traditional gloves. Traditional dual-layer gloves increase the thickness of the entire glove. In contrast, the disclosed fingertip reinforcements only increase the thickness of the glove in targeted areas where the potential for wear is highest. Because the fingertip reinforcements do not extend along the entirety of the glove, the amount material used is reduced relative to traditional dual-layer gloves. This reduces the cost and weight of the glove relative to traditional dual-layer gloves, as well as providing an improved experience for the user by increasing the flexibility of the glove as compared to multilayer devices.
In some embodiments, the glove described herein is used during welding. Welders typically wear protective clothing, such as welding gloves, to protect against the heat generated by a welding torch and to protect against sputtering metal generated during the welding process. During the welding process, a welder must squeeze the trigger of a welding torch for prolonged periods of time. Squeezing the trigger for such extended amounts of time can be quite painful to a user, in particular to his or her middle and index fingers because, typically, those are the fingers squeezing the trigger and enduring the majority of the stress. Over time, welders may develop disorders or conditions, such as arthritis, carpel tunnel, and the like during this occupational exposure. In addition to experiencing abrasion from rubbing against other objects, welding gloves also experience wear from repeatedly coming into contact with heated objects (e.g., objects that are hot enough to char burn, or melt the material of the glove). This wear is primarily experienced at the fingertips of the glove, as this is the part of the hand commonly used to manipulate objects when welding. Moving the seams of the fingers away from the fingertips reduces this wear as well. Further, the additional thickness provided by the fingertip reinforcements helps to insulate the fingers of the user at the most common point of contact without having to insulate the entire glove. The additional thickness also provides cushioning in areas where force is applied through the glove by the user.
Referring to
As described herein, a longitudinal direction extends along a length the glove (e.g., between a wrist of a user to the fingertips of the user). Distal indicates something that is closer to the ends of the fingers of the glove, and proximal indicates something that is closer to the opening that receives a user's hand. A lateral direction extends along a width of the glove (e.g., between a side of the user's hand and the user's thumb). Inner indicates something that is closer to the thumb side (e.g., closer to a centerline of a body of a user wearing the gloves), and outer indicates something that is farther from the thumb side. A vertical direction extends along a thickness of the glove 10 (e.g., between the user's palm and a back of the user's hand). A top of the glove corresponds to the back of a user's hand, and a bottom of the glove corresponds to a palm of the user's hand. Interior refers to features within the glove 10, and exterior refers to features outside the glove 10. Disclosed embodiments comprise a total glove length of 300 mm and a glove opening of 170 mm. Further embodiments comprise a total glove length of 300 mm, a glove opening of 170 mm, and 25 mm (as measured from the fingertip) reinforcement regions.
The glove 10 includes a palm portion or main body, shown as main glove body 20, configured to contain a main portion of the user's hand containing the metacarpals. Coupled to a first end of the main glove body 20 is a wrist portion, shown as cuff 30, configured to receive the wrist and/or forearm of the user. The cuff 30 defines an aperture or opening, shown as inlet 32, through which a user can insert their hand into the glove 10. Coupled to a second end of the main glove body 20 opposite the cuff 30 are a series of fingers configured to receive the phalanges of the user's fingers. The fingers include a first finger or index glove finger, shown as index finger 40, a second finger or middle glove finger, shown as middle finger 42, a third finger or ring glove finger, shown as ring finger 44, and a fourth finger, little glove finger, or pinky glove finger, shown as pinky finger 46, configured to receive an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a pinky finger (i.e., a little finger) of the user, respectively. Each of these fingers of the glove 10 may extend longitudinally away from the main glove body 20. Each of these fingers of the glove 10 may be at least partially separated from one another (e.g., having a gap extending laterally between adjacent fingers) to facilitate individual movement of each finger. Coupled to a side of the main glove body 20 between the cuff 30 and the index finger 40 is a fifth finger or thumb glove finger, shown as thumb 50, configured to receive a thumb of the user. The thumb extends laterally outward from the main glove body 20. Together, the main glove body 20, the cuff 30, the index finger 40, the middle finger 42, the ring finger 44, the pinky finger 46, and the thumb 50 define an inner volume configured to receive a hand and/or a wrist of the user.
The glove 10 may include a variety of different materials. By way of example, the glove may use fabric, leather, plastics, or other materials. The glove 10 may include flexible materials to facilitate movement of the user's hand. The glove 10 may include multiple different materials. By way of example, a finger of the glove 10 may utilize a first material layered onto a second material. In embodiments, the two materials can have different properties, for example abrasion-resistance and heat-resistance, or the like.
Referring to
In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
The palm panel 100 includes a center portion, shown as main palm portion 102, that extends along a user's palm. The main palm portion 102 may form a bottom surface of the glove 10 when the glove 10 is complete. Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the inner side as shown in
The palm panel 100 further includes another center portion, shown as main index portion 120, that extends along a bottom surface of a user's index finger. The main index portion 120 extends longitudinally away from the main palm portion 102. A lateral bend line, shown as bend line 122, extends between the main index portion 120 and the main palm portion 102. The main index portion 120 bends relative to the main palm portion 102 about the bend line 122 when a user flexes their index finger.
Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the left side as shown in
The palm panel 100 further includes another center portion, shown as main index tip portion 150, that extends longitudinally away from the main palm portion 102 in the flat pattern. A lateral bend line, shown as fingertip bend line 152, extends between the main index portion 120 and the main index tip portion 150. The main index tip portion 150 is bent relative to the main palm portion 102 about the fingertip bend line 152 such that the main index tip portion 150 extends along a top surface of a user's index finger near the fingertip when the glove 10 is in a completed state. The fingertip bend line 152 extends laterally across the fingertip of the user.
Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the left side as shown in
The palm panel 100 further includes another center portion, shown as main pinky portion 170, that extends along a bottom surface of a user's pinky finger. The main pinky portion 170 extends longitudinally away from the main palm portion 102. A lateral bend line, shown as bend line 172, extends between the main pinky portion 170 and the main palm portion 102. The main pinky portion 170 bends relative to the main palm portion 102 about the bend line 172 when a user flexes their pinky finger.
Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the left side as shown in
Referring to
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The back panel 300 includes a center portion, main portion, knuckle portion, or hand back portion, shown as knuckle portion 302, that extends along the back of a user's hand. Specifically, as shown, the knuckle portion 302 extends across a user's most proximal knuckles. The knuckle portion 302 may form a top surface of the glove 10 when the glove 10 is complete. Coupled to and extending longitudinally away from the knuckle portion 302 are a series of finger portions, shown as index portion 310, middle portion 312, ring portion 314, and pinky portion 316. The index portion 310, the middle portion 312, the ring portion 314, and the pinky portion 316 are configured to extend along top surfaces of a user's index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger, respectively. The index portion 310, the middle portion 312, the ring portion 314, and the pinky portion 316 are configured to bend relative to the knuckle portion 302 about longitudinally-extending bend lines, shown as bend line 320, bend line 322, bend line 324, and bend line 326, respectively. Specifically, the index portion 310, the middle portion 312, the ring portion 314, and the pinky portion 316 are configured to bend when the user flexes their corresponding fingers.
A first cut separates the index portion 310 from the middle portion 312, such that the index portion 310 defines an index connection edge 330 and the middle portion 312 defines a middle connection edge 332, both of which extend longitudinally in the flat pattern of the back panel 300. A second cut separates the middle portion 312 from the ring portion 314, such that the middle portion 312 defines a middle connection edge 334 and the ring portion 314 defines a ring connection edge 336, both of which extend longitudinally in the flat pattern of the back panel 300. A third cut separates the ring portion 314 from the pinky portion 316, such that the ring portion 314 defines a ring connection edge 338 and the pinky portion 316 defines a pinky connection edge 340, both of which extend longitudinally in the flat pattern of the back panel 300. The first, second, and third cuts facilitate independent movement of the fingers of the glove 10.
Referring to
Referring to
The central finger panel 400 includes a first center portion, shown as main middle portion 402, that extends along a bottom surface of a user's middle finger. Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the back side as shown in
The central finger panel 400 further includes another center portion, shown as main middle tip portion 420, that extends laterally away from the main middle portion 402 in the flat pattern. A fingertip bend line 422 extends between the main middle portion 402 and the main middle tip portion 420. The fingertip bend line 422 extends longitudinally in the flat pattern and laterally in the completed glove 10. The main middle tip portion 420 is bent relative to the main middle portion 402 about the fingertip bend line 422 such that the main middle tip portion 420 extends along a top surface of a user's middle finger near the fingertip when the glove 10 is in a completed state. In the completed state of the glove 10, the fingertip bend line 422 extends laterally across the fingertip of the user.
Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the back side as shown in
The central finger panel 400 includes a second center portion, shown as main ring portion 442, that extends along a bottom surface of a user's ring finger. Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the back side as shown in
The central finger panel 400 further includes another center portion, shown as main ring tip portion 460, that extends laterally away from the main ring portion 442 in the flat pattern. A fingertip bend line 462 extends between the main ring portion 442 and the main ring tip portion 460. The fingertip bend line 462 extends longitudinally in the flat pattern and laterally in the completed glove 10. The main ring tip portion 460 is bent relative to the main ring portion 442 about the fingertip bend line 462 such that the main ring tip portion 460 extends along a top surface of a user's ring finger near the fingertip when the glove 10 is in a completed state. In the completed state of the glove 10, the fingertip bend line 462 extends laterally across the fingertip of the user.
Coupled to a thumb side (i.e., the back side as shown in
Referring to
A cut separates the main middle portion 402 and the inner middle portion 404 from the main ring portion 442 and the outer ring portion 448. Along this cut, the main middle portion 402 defines a palm connection edge 482 and the inner middle portion 404 defines an index connection edge 484, both of which extend longitudinally in the flat pattern of the palm panel 100. Along the cut, the main ring portion 442 defines a palm connection edge 486 and the outer ring portion 448 defines a pinky connection edge 488, both of which extend longitudinally in the flat pattern of the palm panel 100. In the completed state of the glove 10, the palm connection edge 482 and the palm connection edge 486 extend substantially laterally and the index connection edge 484 and the pinky connection edge 488 extend substantially vertically.
Referring to
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In some embodiments, the panels of the glove 10 are coupled to one another along a series of seams.
Referring to
A second series of seams extend laterally across a width of the glove 10, coupling the back panel 300 to the palm panel 100 and the central finger panel 400 to form fingertip portions of the glove 10. A ninth seam extends laterally along the glove 10, coupling the index tip connection edge 228 of the palm panel 100 to the index tip connection edge 362 of the back panel 300. A tenth seam extends laterally along the glove 10, coupling the middle tip connection edge 514 of the central finger panel 400 to the middle tip connection edge 360 of the back panel 300. An eleventh seam extends laterally along the glove 10, coupling the ring tip connection edge 504 of the central finger panel 400 to the ring tip connection edge 358 of the back panel 300. A twelfth seam extends laterally along the glove 10, coupling the pinky tip connection edge 238 of the palm panel 100 to the pinky tip connection edge 356 of the back panel 300.
Referring to
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As shown, the flat pattern of the fingertip reinforcement 800 has a length L measured longitudinally across the top portion 802 and the bottom portion 804. In some embodiments, the length L is approximately 28 mm. The top portion 802 has a width Wi, and the bottom portion 804 has a width W2, each measured laterally. In some embodiments, the width W2 is approximately 24 mm. The width W2 is greater than the width W1. The length L is greater than the width W2 is greater than the width W1. The top portion 802 has an area Ai, and the bottom portion 804 has an area A2. The area A2 is larger than the area Ai. The fingertip reinforcement 800 may have a substantially constant thickness throughout. Accordingly, a volume of the top portion 802 may be larger than a volume of the bottom portion 804. In some embodiments, each of the fingertip reinforcements 800 are the same size. In other embodiments, the fingertip reinforcements 800 vary in size based on the size of the associated finger of the glove 10.
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
As shown, the seam between the index tip connection edge 228 and the index tip connection edge 362 is positioned above the finger F and distal (e.g., longitudinally forward) of the first knuckle K1. In other embodiments, this seam is positioned rearward of the first knuckle K1. As shown, the top portion 802 and the bottom portion 804 are positioned entirely forward of the first knuckle K1. In other embodiments, the top portion 802 and/or the bottom portion 804 extend rearward of the first knuckle K1.
As shown in
Because the top portion 802 of the fingertip reinforcement 800 has a greater area than the bottom portion 804, a greater amount (e.g., area, volume, etc.) of material extends across a bottom side of the finger F than across the top side of the finger F. In some embodiments, the top portion 802 is approximately the same size and shape of a fingernail of the finger F. Because most gripping action takes place along a bottom side of the finger F, this arrangement places more material where a greater amount of wear would normally be experienced, increasing the life and/or reducing the weight of the glove 10 when compared to a fingertip reinforcement 800 having equal amounts of material above and below the finger F.
In some embodiments, the fingertip reinforcement 800 is made from a different material than the outer layer or outer layers (e.g., the palm panel 100, the back panel 300, the central finger panel 400, etc.) of the glove 10. In some embodiments, the fingertip reinforcements 800 are more insulative than the outer layer (e.g., to reduce heat loss at the fingertips). In some embodiments, the fingertip reinforcements 800 have a greater coefficient of friction with the finger F than the coefficient of friction of the outer layer with the finger F. This may help prevent the glove 10 from slipping on a user's hand. In some embodiments, the outer layer is more abrasion resistant than the fingertip reinforcements 800.
The fingertip reinforcements 800 are bonded to the interior surfaces of the corresponding layers (e.g., the palm panel 100, the central finger panel 400). This bonding may be performed while the panel is still in a flat pattern (i.e., prior to folding or bending the panels of the glove 10), as shown in
By bonding the fingertip reinforcements 800 to the outer layer, the fingertip reinforcements 800 can be placed anywhere on the interior surface of the glove 10 without having to provide a suitable location for threads to couple the fingertip reinforcements 800 to the outer layer. In some embodiments (e.g., as shown in
Referring to
The thumb reinforcement 900 has a width W measured laterally and a length L measured longitudinally. In some embodiments, the thumb reinforcement 900 has a substantially triangular shape with rounded corners. In some embodiments, the length L is approximately 33.5 mm. In some embodiments, the width W is approximately 33 mm.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above. Such variation may depend, for example, on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations of the described methods could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps, and decision steps.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the glove as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. For example, the fingertip reinforcements 800 of the exemplary embodiment shown in at least
Claims
1. A glove for protecting a hand of a user, comprising:
- a main glove body configured to receive metacarpals of the hand;
- a glove finger coupled to the main glove body and extending longitudinally away from the glove main body, wherein the glove finger is configured to receive a finger of the hand, and wherein the glove finger includes a panel defining a rolled tip arrangement at an end of the glove finger; and
- a fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the panel and positioned to extend between the panel and a fingertip of the finger of the hand.
2. The glove of claim 1, wherein the glove finger is one of an index glove finger configured to receive an index finger of the hand, a middle glove finger configured to receive a middle finger of the hand, a ring glove finger configured to receive a ring finger of the hand, or a pinky glove finger configured to receive a pinky finger of the hand.
3. The glove of claim 2, wherein the glove finger is the index glove finger, wherein the glove finger is the index glove finger, further comprising the middle glove finger, the ring glove finger, and the pinky glove finger, and wherein the index glove finger, the middle glove finger, the ring glove finger, and the pinky glove finger are arranged in a Gunn pattern.
4. The glove of claim 3, wherein the panel is a first panel, further comprising a second panel extending continuously from an end of the middle glove finger to an end of the ring glove finger, and wherein the first panel extends continuously from the end of the index glove finger to an end of the pinky glove finger.
5. The glove of claim 1, wherein the glove finger is a first glove finger and the fingertip reinforcement is a first fingertip reinforcement, the glove further comprising:
- a second glove finger, a third glove finger, and a fourth glove finger each defining a corresponding rolled tip arrangement;
- a second fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of to the second glove finger;
- a third fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the third glove finger; and
- a fourth fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the fourth glove finger.
6. The glove of claim 1, wherein the panel is a first panel, further comprising a second panel coupled to the first panel by a seam, wherein the seam extends laterally across the glove finger.
7. The glove of claim 6, wherein the second panel is a top panel that extends across a top surface of the glove finger above the finger, and wherein the seam is positioned along the top surface of the glove finger.
8. The glove of claim 7, wherein the first panel is a bottom panel that extends continuously across a bottom surface of the main glove body, a bottom surface of the glove finger below the finger, and a top surface of the glove finger above the finger.
9. The glove of claim 1, wherein the fingertip reinforcement does not extend into the main glove body.
10. The glove of claim 1, wherein the fingertip reinforcement includes a top portion positioned to extend above the finger of the hand and a bottom portion positioned to extend below the finger of the hand, and wherein a volume of the top portion is less than a volume of the bottom portion.
11. A method of manufacturing a glove for protecting a hand of a user, comprising:
- providing a first panel at least partially defining a main glove body configured to receive a metacarpal of the hand;
- coupling a second panel to the first panel; the second panel at least partially defining a glove finger configured to receive a finger of the hand, the finger having a fingertip, wherein the second panel extends continuously from a bottom surface of the glove finger to a top surface of the glove finger adjacent the fingertip of the finger;
- bonding a fingertip reinforcement to an interior surface of the second panel such that the fingertip reinforcement is positioned to extend between the fingertip and the second panel.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first panel is coupled to the second panel at a seam, wherein the first panel is one of (a) a top panel defining a top surface of the main glove body or (b) a bottom panel defining a bottom surface of the main glove body, and wherein the second panel is the other of (a) the top panel or (b) the bottom panel.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first panel is a top panel at least partially defining a top surface of the main glove body and a top surface of the glove finger, wherein the second panel is a bottom panel at least partially defining a bottom surface of the main glove body and a bottom surface of the glove finger, and wherein the first panel is coupled to the second panel at a seam extending across the top surface of the glove finger.
14. A method of manufacturing a glove for protecting a hand of a user, comprising:
- providing a first panel at least partially defining a main glove body configured to receive a metacarpal of the hand;
- coupling a second panel to the first panel; the second panel at least partially defining a glove finger configured to receive a finger of the hand, the finger having a fingertip, wherein the second panel extends continuously from a bottom surface of the glove finger to a top surface of the glove finger adjacent the fingertip of the finger;
- wherein said panels overlap adjacent to the fingertip, thus forming a reinforced region.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 11, 2020
Publication Date: Dec 22, 2022
Inventor: Thomas Barry Fitzgerald (Simi Valley, CA)
Application Number: 17/776,138