A multi-function glove that has attached a wrist band, a little finger sheath, a ring finger sheath and a truncated sheath that fits into a middle finger, an index finger and the thumb. The glove has attached a side-hinged viewing flap that covers a paper pad such as a POST-IT® paper pad. The glove also has attached a zippered pocket that extends vertically from the little finger sheath to the wrist band. The pocket is dimensioned to conveniently store and remove a writing implement. The middle finger, index finger and thumb projecting from the truncated cavities allow the writing implement to be easily grasped and maneuvered.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally pertains to gloves, and more particularly to a multi-function glove that includes a sheath covered little finger and ring finger, and a truncated sheath that covers the middle finger, the index finger and the thumb. The glove also includes a pocket for holding a writing implement, and a viewing flap that encloses a paper pad.

BACKGROUND ART

A glove is a garment that covers the whole hand having separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb. Gloves that have an opening but no sheath for each finger are called “fingerless gloves”. Fingerless gloves having one large opening rather than individual openings for each finger are called gauntlets. Gloves which cover the entire hand or fist but do not have separate finger openings or sheaths are called mittens. A hybrid of a glove and a mitten contains open-ended sheaths for the four fingers but not the thumb. Lastly, disposable gloves are often used by individuals such as health care professionals for hygiene and contamination protection measures.

Prior art gloves have provided protection and comfort to hands against cold or heat, damage by friction, abrasions or chemicals, and disease. Generally, gloves provide a guard for what a bare hand should not touch. In contrast, the inventive multi-function glove not only functions as a protective glove, but also has attached a writing implement, a paper pad and a combination of truncated sheaths that expose the middle and index fingers and the thumb. The exposed fingers and thumb allow a person to easily grasp and maneuver the writing implement.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related:

The D675,398 patent discloses a multi-function glove having five finger sheaths, a zippered pocket that contains a writing implement and a viewing flap having a transparent window that interfaces with a paper pad. The inventor of this patent is also the inventor of the instant application which includes several improvements.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,637 patent discloses a glove having a back surface to which is attached a utility device that includes a driver's license, credit cards, pencils and the like.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,521 patent discloses a glove having a pocket attached thereto. The pocket is dimensioned to retain and protect a timepiece that can be viewed through a transparent window located on the pocket.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,242 patent discloses a pocket for holding a packet of dispensable paper tissues. The pocket is configured to be attached to a glove or other like articles of clothing.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The multi-mode glove is designed to provide a user of the glove with convenient and easy access to a writing implement and to a memo pad, both of which are attached to the glove. In its basic design configuration the multi-function glove is comprised of:

A. An outer cover attached to an inner cover to form a glove enclosure having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end has attached a little finger sheath, a ring finger sheath, a middle finger truncated sheath, an index finger truncated sheath, a thumb truncated sheath, and a wrist band attached around the outer and inner covers.

B. A pocket dimensioned to enclose a writing implement. The pocket has an upper end located adjacent the little finger sheath, and a lower end located adjacent the wrist band.

C. A viewing flap comprising:(1) A lower section having a perimeter border attached to the outer cover of the glove. The perimeter border has an inner side, an outer side, an upper side and a lower side, wherein the four sides enclose an opening, and the inner side of the perimeter border has a first attachment means.(2) An upper section having a perimeter border having an inner side, an outer side, an upper side and a lower side. The outer side of the upper section is hingedly attached to the outer side of the lower section. The four sides enclose an opening that coincides with the opening on the inner section. The inner side of the perimeter border has a second attachment means that interfaces with the first attachment means located on the inner section which allows the lower section to be secured to the upper section.(3) A transparent material attached to the edges of the opening on the upper section of the viewing flap, and

D. A paper pad removably attached to the outer cover of the glove into the opening on the lower section.

The viewing flap attachment means preferably consists of a set of hook and loop fasteners. When the fasteners interface a hollow area is formed between the upper and lower sections of the viewing flap.

A zipper is utilized to facilitate the insertion and removal of the writing implement from the pocket. Attached to the lower end of the pocket is a pointed cavity that is dimensioned to receive the pointed end of the writing implement. The cavity is especially important to collect any ink that may leak from a ball-point pen.

In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to produce a multi-function glove that provides a convenient and accessible writing implement and a paper pad. The glove also exposes the middle finger, the index finger and the thumb to allow a person to easily grasp and maneuver the writing implement.

In addition to the primary object of the invention it is also an object of the invention to provide an invention that:can be made in various sizes,can be made of various materials and colors,can be helpful to many individuals in various occupations,is durable and long-lasting,is easily cleaned and maintained,can be used by both men and women, adults and children, andis cost effective from both a manufacturer's and consumer's point of view.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment of a multi-function glove10which is shown and described as a glove that is worn on the left hand when a person is right-handed. This allows a person to basically utilize the functionally of the glove with their dominant right-hand. However, a right-handed glove10that is worn by a left-handed person is a mirror image of the left-handed multi-function glove10. The preferred embodiment of the multi-function glove10, as shown inFIGS. 1-9, is comprised of the following inventive elements: an outer cover12, an inner cover14, a wrist band40, a zippered pocket44and a viewing flap60. The inventive elements function in combination with a paper pad104and a writing implement106.

The outer cover12is integrally attached to the inner cover14to form a glove enclosure16having an upper end18and a lower end20. The outer cover12, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, also has attached the hook section22of a hook and loop fastener26. The upper end18of the enclosure16has attached a little finger sheath30, a ring finger sheath32, a middle finger truncated sheath34, an index finger truncated sheath36, and a thumb truncated sheath38. The fingers protruding from the truncated sheaths32,34,36provide a user of the glove10with the necessary dexterity to properly grasp and utilize the writing implement106. The truncated sheaths are stitched at their outer edges to prevent the material from unraveling. The wrist band40, which is attached to the lower end20of the outer and inner covers12,14is made of a resilient material42to maintain the glove10secured to a person's wrist. The elements comprising the glove enclosure16are made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, cotton, rayon and a knitted fabric. The polyamide is also referred to by its trademark NYLON®.

The zippered pocket44is dimensioned to enclose a writing implement106such as a ball-point pen108or a pencil110that is no longer than the length of the zipper46. The zippered pocket44has an upper end48that is located adjacent the little finger sheath30, and a lower end50that is located adjacent the wrist band40. At the lower end50of the zippered pocket44is attached by an attachment means52a molded pointed cavity54. A molded pointed cavity54is attached at the lower end50of the zippered pocket44by an attachment means52. The cavity54dimensioned to receive the pointed end of the writing implement106to prevent any leakage from a ball-point pen108from soiling the glove10and to prevent the lower end50of the zippered pocket44from tearing. The zipper46of the zippered pocket44is preferably made of plastic and the molded pointed cavity54is made of plastic, metal such as aluminum, or a reinforced material. The attachment means52for attaching the cavity54is comprised of an adhesive or stitching.

The viewing flap60, as shown best inFIGS. 3 and 4, is comprised of a lower section62, an upper section82and a transparent material102. The lower section62has a perimeter border64that has attached a loop section66of a hook and loop fastener68which allows the lower section62to be attached to the hook section22located on the outer cover12of the glove10. The perimeter border64has an inner side70, an outer side72, an upper side74and a lower side76. The four sides enclose an opening78and the inner side70of the perimeter border64has attached a first attachment means80.

The upper section82has a perimeter border84having an inner side86, an outer side88, an upper side90and a lower side92. The outer side88of the upper section82is hingedly attached by a first attachment means94that preferably consists of a living lunge96. The four sides86-92enclose an opening98that coincides with the opening78on the lower section62. The inner side86of the perimeter border84has a second attachment means100that interfaces with the first attachment means80located on the lower section62to allow the lower section62to be secured to the upper section82. The first and second attachment means80and100can consist of a pair of detents81, a set of magnets83or a hook and loop fastener85.

To complete the viewing flap60, a transparent material102and a paper pad104is utilized. The transparent material102is attached to the edges of the opening98on the upper section82of the viewing flap60. The material used for the transparent material is preferably comprised of clear celluloid. As an “option”, the transparent material102can include a substantially centered opening103that allows a mark to be placed on the paper pad104without opening the viewing flap60. Additionally, the centered opening103allows a card(s) to be slid out of the viewing flap60with a nudge of a finger or the like. The paper pad104, which can consist of a POST-IT® and is removably attached to the outer cover12of the glove10into the opening on the lower section62. Also, indicia56can be applied to selected areas of the multi-function glove10.

While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.