GLOVE WITH REMOVABLE WIPE PAD

Abstract

This invention relates to a glove comprising a cloth which is removably attached to the back of the glove. The cloth may comprise a microfibre fabric. In addition, the cloth may be mounted on a pad, the pad being removably attached to the back of the glove.

Description

This invention relates to a glove comprising a cloth which is removably attached to the back of the glove.

BACKGROUND

There are many activities where it is recommended or required for the participant to wear a helmet to protect their head, or to wear eyewear such as goggles or sports glasses to protect their eyes. Such activities include riding a bicycle or motorcycle, as well as winter sports such as skiing.

Such helmets comprise an opening which provides the participant with an appropriate field of vision for the activity in question. In order to protect the participant, particularly sensitive areas such as their eyes, from debris, the opening is normally covered by a transparent visor. The visor may have a fixed position, or may be hinged such that can be moved between a first position where it covers the opening and a second position in which the opening is uncovered.

A problem with such visors and eyewear is that when the participant is carrying out the activity in question, the transparent visor or lens of the eyewear can become covered in debris, for example mud, grit, rain, traffic film, insects, etc. This can then reduce the participant's vision through the visor or eyewear. This reduction in vision can be particularly dangerous for high speed activities such as riding a bicycle or motorcycle, or skiing.

The visor or eyewear can usually easily be cleaned once the participant has completed the activity in question, for example when they have returned to a workshop or garage. However, there are situations in which it is difficult or inconvenient for the participant to clean either the visor of their helmet or the eyewear being used, either during the activity or when they have paused the activity prior to continuing it. Alternative ways of cleaning both the visor of a helmet and eyewear have been sought.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a glove comprising a cloth which is removably attached to the back of the glove. An advantage of the cloth being removable is that it can be removed for replacement or cleaning when it has accumulated debris through use. More particularly, the cloth may be removably attached to the back of the hand of the glove or, if the glove comprises a cuff, the back of the cuff of the glove. Gloves that may comprise a cuff include motorcycle gloves and ski gloves. When the phrase “the back of the glove” is used below, it could refer to either the back of the hand of the glove or the back of the cuff of the glove, depending on where the cloth is to be mounted.

In particular, the cloth may comprise a tricot fabric. More particularly, the cloth may comprise a microfibre fabric. In particular, the cloth may comprise a microfibre tricot fabric. This can assist the user when cleaning their visor or eyewear.

More particularly, the cloth may be mounted on a pad, the pad being removably attached to the back of the hand of the glove. In particular, the pad may be covered by the cloth. More particularly, the pad may comprise an absorbent material. For example, the pad may be a polyester/polypropylene nonwoven laminate such as SAF 2783. Mounting the cloth on a pad can improve the process of removing debris from the visor or eyewear by providing cushioning between the user's hand and the visor or eyewear.

In particular, (a) the back of the glove may comprise a magnet, and (b) either the cloth or the pad may comprise a magnet, such that the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present, is removably attached to the back of the glove using the magnets. Providing magnets in the back of the glove can also be useful in a workshop situation (e.g. when the user is carrying out maintenance on their motorcycle or bicycle) by allowing the user to removably attach metal screws, bolts etc. to the back of the glove. Alternatively, (a) the back of the glove may comprise a first part of a hook and loop fastener, and (b) either the cloth or the pad may comprise a second part of a hook and loop fastener, such that the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present, is removably attached to the back of the glove using a hook and loop fastener.

More particularly, the back of the glove may comprise a removable cover which encloses the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present. In particular, (a) the back of the glove may comprise a magnet, and (b) the removable cover may comprise a magnet, such that the removable cover is removably attached to the back of the glove using the magnets. Alternatively, (a) the back of the glove may comprise a first part of a hook and loop fastener, and (b) the removable cover may comprise a second part of a hook and loop fastener, such that the removable cover is removably attached to the back of the glove using a hook and loop fastener.

In particular, the removable cover may comprise a wiper blade on the surface which faces away from the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present. In this way, the wiper blade may provide a means for the user to remove debris from their visor or eyewear either prior to or instead of using the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present.

More particularly, the cloth and/or pad, and the removable cover, may be substantially rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the removable cover may comprise an apex at its front edge. In particular, the removable cover may comprise elongate magnets along each of its sides, and wherein the back of the glove comprises corresponding magnets such that the removable cover is removably attached to the back of the glove using the magnets. More particularly, the removable cover may comprise elongate magnets having a first strength along each of its front, left and right edges, and an elongate magnet having a second strength along its rear edge, wherein the second strength is greater than the first strength. In the context of the removable cover of the invention, the word “front” is used to refer to the part of the removable cover which is closest to the user's knuckles during use, and the word “rear” used to refer to the part of the removable cover which is furthest from the user's knuckles during use.

In particular, the removable cover may comprise a silicone-based material.

More particularly, the removable cover may comprise a tab for assisting the user in peeling back the removable cover to expose the cloth and/or the pad. In particular, the removable cover may be substantially rectangular in shape and the tab may be provided on a front part of either a left or right edge of the removable cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be further described by reference to the following Figures which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a right-hand cycling glove according to one embodiment of the invention with the removable cover peeled back to show where the wipe pad is to be positioned;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the cycling glove of FIG. 1 in which the wipe pad is enclosed by the removable cover;

FIG. 3 shows plan (top) and cross-sectional (bottom) views of a wipe pad according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows right-hand (top) and left-hand (bottom) plan and exploded cross-sectional views of removable cover according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows views of a left-hand cycling glove according to one embodiment of the invention, in an exploded plan view (right) indicating the positioning of the wipe pad and removable cover, and in a plan view (left) which the wipe pad is enclosed by the removable cover;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the removable cover, wipe pad and back of the hand of the cycling glove of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 shows right-hand (top) and left-hand (bottom) plan and exploded cross-sectional views of a removable cover according to an alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 8 shows views of a left-hand cycling glove according to the alternative embodiment of the invention, in an exploded plan view (right) indicating the positioning of the wipe pad and removable cover, and in a plan view (left) which the wipe pad is enclosed by the removable cover,

FIG. 9 shows views of a left-hand motorcycle glove according to an embodiment of the invention, in an exploded plan view (right) indicating the positioning of the wipe pad and removable cover, and in a plan view (left) which the wipe pad is enclosed by the removable cover, and

FIG. 10 shows perspective views of a right-hand motorcycle glove according to an embodiment of the invention, with the removable cover peeled back to show where the wipe pad is to be positioned (left), and in which the wipe pad is enclosed by the removable cover (right).

FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective views of the back of the hand 5 of a right-hand cycling glove 1 according to the invention. The right-hand cycling glove 1 could also be used for motocross.

Attached to the back of the hand 5 of right-hand cycling glove 1 is right-hand removable cover 10. The right-hand removable cover 10 is approximately rectangular in shape. In FIG. 1, the right-hand removable cover 10 is shown in a peeled back position such that it remains attached to the back of the hand 5 along one of the long sides of the rectangle. This is in order to show the position in which removable wipe pad 15 is attached to the back of the hand 5. The direction of attachment to this position is indicated by arrow A. The construction of the right-hand removable cover 10 and the removable wipe pad 15 will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 2 shows the right-hand cycling glove 1 once the removable wipe pad has been attached to the back of the hand 5. The right-hand removable cover 10 is no longer peeled back and instead has been placed over the removable wipe pad such that the removable wipe pad 15 is no longer visible in FIG. 2. In this way, the removable wipe pad 15 is enclosed by the right-hand removable cover 10 in order to protect it from debris. Also shown in FIG. 2 is elongate wiper blade 11 which is provided on the right-hand removable cover 10. The elongate wiper blade 11 is formed from the same material as the right-hand removable cover 10, and is provided on the surface of the right-hand removable cover 10 that faces the user when the cover 10 is in the position such that it encloses the removable wipe pad 15. In other embodiments, the elongate wipe blade 11 could be formed of a different, harder, material to the right-hand removable cover 10.

FIG. 3 shows plan (top) and cross-sectional (bottom) views of the removable wipe pad 15 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In some embodiments, the removable wipe pad 15 may comprise the hook part 20 of a hook and loop fastener. This may be present on the lower surface 15A of the removable wipe pad 15, i.e. the surface which in use is attached to the back of the hand 5 of right-hand cycling glove 1. In the embodiment described below, one or more magnetic strips (generally indicated 20) are provided on the lower surface 15A of the removable wipe pad 15 in order to provide attachment to the back of the hand 5 of the right-hand cycling glove. The use of either a hook and loop fastener or magnets means that the removable wipe pad can easily be replaced, for example after its cleaning effectiveness has been reduced due to the accumulation of debris.

The main body 15B of the removable wipe pad 15 comprises an absorbent pad 25. The main body 15B is surrounded by cloth 30. In particular, the cloth 30 provides the upper surface 15C of the removable wipe pad 15, i.e. the surface that the user will utilise to wipe debris from their visor/eyewear. In this embodiment of the invention, the cloth comprises a tricot microfibre fabric. The plan (top) view of FIG. 3 is a view of upper surface 15C.

At the top of FIG. 4 is shown plan and exploded cross-sectional views of a right-hand removable cover 10, i.e. the version shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also shown at the bottom of FIG. 4 are plan and cross-sectional views of a left-hand removable cover 110. The left-hand removable cover 110 is a mirror image of the right-hand removable cover 10, but is otherwise identical in its construction.

As shown in FIG. 4, both right- and left hand removable covers 10, 110 are substantially rectangular in shape. Both removable covers are formed from a silicone-based material (e.g. food grade silicone rubber). In the context of the removable cover of the invention, the word “front” is used to refer to the part of the right- and left hand removable covers 10, 110 which are nearest to the user's knuckles during use, and the word “rear” used to refer to the part of the right-hand and left-hand removable covers 10, 110 which are furthest from the user's knuckles during use. The rectangular shape is arranged such that the long sides of the rectangle form the front and rear edges of the right-hand and left-hand removable covers 10, 110. Both the right-hand and left-hand removable covers 10, 110 comprise an elongate wiper blade 11, 111 which is provided substantially centrally on the surface of the covers 10, 110 that faces away from the removable wipe pad 15.

The right-hand and left-hand removable covers 10, 110 comprise front edges 35, 135; left and right sides 40, 140 and 45, 145; and rear edges 50, 150. In order to provide removable attachment of the right-hand and left-hand removable covers 10, 110 to their respective glove, they are provided with magnetic strips which are integrated into the right-hand and left-hand removable covers 10, 110. The magnetic strips, indicated M, are provided along the front edges 35, 135 (FM); left and right sides 40, 140 (LM) and 45, 145 (RM); and rear edges 50, 150 (MM). Corresponding magnetic strips are provided in the back of the hand of the glove to which the right- and left hand removable covers 10, 110 are to be attached.

The magnetic strips FM, LM and RM have substantially identical magnetisation. A magnetic strip MM with stronger magnetisation is provided along the rear edges 50, 150. In this way, the user can disengage the weaker magnetic strips FM, LM, RM in order to peel back the right- and left hand removable covers 10, 110 in order to expose the removable wipe pad 15, whilst the right- and left hand removable covers 10, 110 can be retained on the back of the hand of the glove by the magnetic strips with stronger magnetisation MM.

The right-hand removable cover 10 has a tab 55 on the front part of the left side 40. This tab 55 provides somewhere for the user to grip when they wish to peel back the right-hand removable cover 10 to expose the removable wipe pad 15. For the same purpose, the left-hand removable cover 110 is provided with tab 155 on the front part of the right edge 145.

FIG. 5 shows plan views of a left-hand version of the right-hand cycling glove 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. On the left-hand side of FIG. 5 is a plan view of a left-hand cycling glove 100 in a similar position to the right hand cycling glove 1 of FIG. 2. That is, with the removable wipe pad 15 attached to the back of the hand 105 and the left-hand removable cover 110 placed over the removable wipe pad 15 such that the removable wipe pad 15 is no longer visible. For ease of reference, not all of the component parts of left-hand removable cover 110 are labelled in FIG. 5.

On the right-hand side of FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view of the left-hand cycling glove 100. The left-hand removable cover 110 and removable wipe pad 15 are removed from the left-hand cycling glove 100. The back of the hand 105 of the left-hand cycling glove 100 shows the magnetic strip 60 to which the magnetic strip of removable wipe pad 15 is attached in use. Also shown on the back of the hand 105 are the magnetic strips in the left-hand cycling glove 100 that correspond to magnetic strips FM, LM, RM and MM on left-hand removable cover 110. The corresponding magnetic strips are labelled, GFM, GLM, GRM and GMM respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view through the back of the hand 5 of right-hand cycling glove 10. The view is from the left-hand side.

Two layers 65, 70 of a water-resistant non-permeable membrane which form the back of the hand 5 of the right-hand cycling glove 200 are shown, between which are integrated the magnetic strips. Magnetic strips GFM, GLM and GMM are visible in this view. Present, but not visible, is magnetic strip 60 which is for attaching the removable wipe pad 15. FIG. 6 also shows the triangular cross-section of elongate wiper blade 11.

The removable wipe pad 15 is provided with magnetic strip 20 on its lower surface 15A. The right-hand removable cover 10 is shown partially peeled back, with magnetic strips FM, LM and MM visible. Also shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 6 is the cuff seam 75 of the right-hand cycling glove 10, as well as gauntlet section 80 of the glove 200 which in this embodiment is made from neoprene.

At the top of FIG. 7 is shown plan and exploded cross-sectional views of a right-hand removable cover 310 of an alternative embodiment of the invention. Also shown at the bottom of FIG. 7 are plan and cross-sectional views of a left-hand removable cover 410. The left-hand removable cover 410 is a mirror image of the right-hand removable cover 310, but is otherwise identical in its construction. Like features to the right-hand and left-hand removable covers 10, 110 of FIG. 4 are given the same labels.

The right-hand and left-hand removable covers 310, 410 comprise front edges 335, 435; left and right sides 40, 140 and 45, 145; and rear edges 50, 150. The right- and left hand removable covers 310, 410 differ from those of FIG. 4 in that instead of having front edges 35, 135 which are substantially parallel to their respective rear edges 50, 150, removable covers 310, 410 have apex A formed at their front edges 335, 435 by angled front sides 336, 337. In the right-hand removable cover 310, leftmost angled front side 336 is slightly shorter than the rightmost angled front side 337. In the left-hand removable cover 410, leftmost angled front side 336 is slightly longer than the rightmost angled front side 337. In this way, the front edges 335, 435 substantially conform to the user's knuckles during use.

In order to removably attach the right-hand and left-hand hand removable covers 310, 410 to their respective glove, they are provided with magnetic strips which are integrated into the right- and left hand removable covers 310, 410. The magnetic strips, all indicated with the letter M, are provided along the front edges 335, 435 (FM); left and right sides 40, 140 (LM) and 45, 145 (RM); and rear edges 50, 150 (MM). The magnetic strips of the embodiment of FIG. 7 differ from those of FIG. 4 in that those provided along the front edges 335, 435 are provided along leftmost angled front side 336 and rightmost angled front side 337 (FMA, FMB respectively). Corresponding magnetic strips are provided in the back of the hand of the glove to which the right- and left hand removable covers 310, 410 are to be attached. The magnetic strips are otherwise as described in relation to FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 shows plan views of a left-hand cycling glove 400 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, i.e. comprising the left-hand removable cover 410 of FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows similar views to FIG. 5. On the left-hand side of FIG. 8 is a plan view of a left-hand cycling glove 400 with the removable wipe pad 15 attached to the back of the hand 105 and the left-hand removable cover 410 placed over the removable wipe pad 15 such that the removable wipe pad 15 is no longer visible. For ease of reference, not all of the component parts of left-hand removable cover 410 are labelled in FIG. 8. The views of FIG. 8 are similar to those of FIG. 5. Thus, like features with those of FIG. 5 are given the same labels.

On the right-hand side of FIG. 8 is an exploded plan view of the left-hand cycling glove 400. The left-hand removable cover 410 and removable wipe pad 15 are removed from the left-hand cycling glove 400. The back of the hand 105 of the left-hand cycling glove 400 shows the magnetic strip 60 to which the magnetic strip of removable wipe pad 15 is attached in use. Also shown on the back of the hand 105 are the magnetic strips in the left-hand cycling glove 400 that correspond to magnetic strips FMA, FMB, LM, RM and MM on left-hand removable cover 410. The corresponding magnetic strips are labelled, GFMA, GFMB, GLM, GRM and GMM respectively.

FIG. 9 shows plan views of a left-hand motorcycle glove 500 according to a further embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 shows similar views to FIG. 8. There are two main differences between the motorcycle glove 500 and the cycling glove of, for example, FIG. 8. The first is that the motorcycle glove 500 comprises cuff 501 that extends over the user's wrist during use. The second main difference is that removable wipe pad 515 is mounted on the cuff 501 rather than the back of the hand 505 of the glove 500. The removable wipe pad 515 is mounted on the back 502 of the cuff 501 (i.e. the same side as the back of the hand of the glove 500).

On the left-hand side of FIG. 9 is a plan view of a left-hand motorcycle glove 500 with the removable wipe pad 515 attached to the back 502 of the cuff 501 and the left-hand removable cover 410 placed over the removable wipe pad 515 such that the removable wipe pad 515 is no longer visible. Since the left-hand removable cover in FIG. 9 is the same shape as that of FIG. 8 (although it could be larger in size), the component parts are given the same labels as in FIG. 8. In FIG. 9, removable wipe pad 515 is shaped to conform to the shape of removable cover 410, which could be the case for any type of glove in accordance with the invention.

On the right-hand side of FIG. 9 is an exploded plan view of the left-hand motorcycle glove 500. The left-hand removable cover 410 and removable wipe pad 515 are removed from the left-hand motorcycle glove 500. The back 502 of the cuff 501 of the left-hand motorcycle glove 500 shows the magnetic strip 60 to which the magnetic strip 20 of removable wipe pad 515 is attached in use. Also shown on the back 502 of the cuff 501 are the magnetic strips in the left-hand motorcycle glove 500 that correspond to magnetic strips FMA, FMB, LM, RM and MM on left-hand removable cover 410. The corresponding magnetic strips are labelled, GFMA, GFMB, GLM, GRM and GMM respectively.

FIG. 10 shows perspective views of the back of the hand 605 of a right-hand motorcycle glove 600.

Attached to the back of the hand 605 of right-hand motorcycle glove 600 is right-hand removable cover 310. On the left-hand side of FIG. 10, the right-hand removable cover 310 is shown in a peeled back position such that it remains attached to the back 602 of the cuff 601. This is in order to show the position in which removable wipe pad 615 (shaped to conform to right-hand removable cover 310) is attached to the back 602 of the cuff 601. The direction of attachment to this position is indicated by arrow A. The construction of the right-hand removable cover 310 and the removable wipe pad 615 are as described above.

The left-hand side of FIG. 10 shows the right-hand motorcycle glove 600 once the removable wipe pad 615 has been attached to the back 602 of the cuff 601. The right-hand removable cover 310 is no longer peeled back and instead has been placed over the removable wipe pad 615 such that the removable wipe pad 615 is no longer visible. In this way, the removable wipe pad 615 is enclosed by the right-hand removable cover 310 in order to protect it from debris. Also shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 10 is elongate wiper blade 11 which is provided on the right-hand removable cover 310 as described above.

Claims

1. A glove comprising a cloth which is removably attached to the back of the glove.

2. A glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cloth comprises a tricot fabric.

3. A glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cloth comprises a microfibre fabric.

4. A glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cloth is mounted on a pad, the pad being removably attached to the back of the glove.

5. A glove as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pad comprises an absorbent material.

6. A glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein such that the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present, is removably attached to the back of the glove using the magnets.

(a) the back of the glove comprises a magnet, and

(b) either the cloth or the pad comprises a magnet,

7. A glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein

(a) the back of the glove may comprise a first part of a hook and loop fastener, and

(b) either the cloth or the pad may comprise a second part of a hook and loop fastener,

such that the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present, is removably attached to the back of the glove using a hook and loop fastener.

8. A glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back of the glove comprises a removable cover which encloses the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present.

9. A glove as claimed in claim 8, wherein such that the removable cover is removably attached to the back of the glove using the magnets.

(a) the back of the glove comprises a magnet, and

(b) the removable cover comprises a magnet,

10. A glove as claimed in claim 8, wherein the removable cover comprises elongate magnets along each of its sides, and wherein the back of the glove comprises corresponding magnets such that the removable cover is removably attached to the back of the glove using the magnets.

11. A glove as claimed in claim 10, wherein the removable cover comprises elongate magnets having a first strength along each of its front, left and right edges, and an elongate magnet having a second strength along its rear edge, wherein the second strength is greater than the first strength.

12. A glove as claimed in claim 8, wherein such that the removable cover is removably attached to the back of the glove using a hook and loop fastener.

(a) the back of the glove may comprise a first part of a hook and loop fastener, and

(b) the removable cover may comprise a second part of a hook and loop fastener,

13. A glove as claimed in claim 8, wherein the removable cover comprises a wiper blade on the surface which faces away from the cloth, or the cloth and the pad when present.

14. A glove as claimed in claim 8, wherein the removable cover comprises a tab for assisting the user in peeling back the removable cover to expose the cloth and/or the pad.

15. A glove as claimed in claim 14, wherein the removable cover is substantially rectangular in shape and the tab is provided on a front part of either a left or right edge of the removable cover.