Apparatus for protecting a worker's hand

An apparatus for protecting a worker's hand and wrist, particularly from the power saws is used in a meat cutting or lumber cutting environment. The apparatus provides a generally planar armor plate covering the back of the wrist, hand and fingers. An insulating layer covers the lower surface of the armor plate. The armor plate is segmented into hingably related wrist, hand and finger plates. The finger plate may be compound, with separately hinged index finger and outer finger plates. A glove, worn by the user, is connected to the armor plate by a plurality of adjustable straps.

CROSS-REFERENCES 
There are no applications related to this application filed in this or any 
foreign country. 
BACKGROUND 
The meat cutting and forest products industries have a high incidence of 
hand injuries due to the use of various types of power saws. Repetitive 
movements over long periods of time tend to promote fatigue and behavior 
which results in injury. The speed at which work must be accomplished, 
typically to keep up with an assembly line, also puts workers at risk. 
Additionally, particularly within the meat cutting industry, cold 
temperatures tend to reduce manual dexterity and increase the number of 
injuries. 
Safety equipment has resulted in some protection for workers, but has 
generally fallen short of what is needed. One type of known 
hand-protecting apparatus is the wire mesh glove. Such a glove 
incorporates the strength of steel with the flexibility of mesh to give 
significant protection against injury, particularly from knife blades. 
However, saw blades tends to grab the mesh and compound the injury; as a 
result use of such gloves is typically not recommended for use by workers 
using saws. 
As a result, there is a significant unsatisfied need for a protecting 
apparatus that is suitable for use in protecting workers' hands from a 
variety of power equipment, including power saws in particular. 
SUMMARY 
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that satisfies the above 
needs. A novel apparatus for protecting a worker's hand 50 is provided 
that provides some or all of the following structures. 
A generally planar armor plate 100, typically includes hingably related 
wrist, hand and finger plates. The wrist plate 130 typically includes a 
singular plate body 132 carrying an inner flange 136 and an outer flange 
138. The plate body also typically defines fastener attachment slots 134, 
where a fastening strap 600 used to encircle the user's wrist may be 
attached. 
In a preferred embodiment, a hand plate 160 is formed of a plurality of 
segments 162, 164, 166, which are themselves hingably related. The 
segments typically provide downwardly directed inner and outer flanges 
172, 174. Slight variation in the width of the segments staggers the 
flanges so that relative movement of the segments does not cause the 
flanges to touch each other. The middle segment typically defines fastener 
attachment slots 170, where a fastening strap 650 used to encircle the 
user's hand may be attached. 
A finger plate 190 is hingably carried by the hand plate and provides 
protection for the user's fingers. Three versions of the finger plate are 
disclosed. As seen in FIG. 1, the finger plate may be a singular plate, or 
as seen in FIG. 2, a compound plate allows for separate protection of the 
index and outer fingers. As seen in FIG. 3, the compound plate may be 
angled, which may tend to protect the hand better where several fingers 
are involved in grasping, while the index fingers are involved in guiding 
a work piece. 
An insulating layer 400 is carried by the bottom surface of the armor 
plate. A nylon glove 500 is attached to the armor plate by fastening 
means, such as adjustable straps. 
It is therefore a primary advantage of the present invention to provide a 
novel apparatus for protecting a worker's hand that is strong enough to 
give absolute protection against circular and band saws. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus 
for protecting a worker's hand that allows free movement of the user's 
fingers, while safely protected beneath a shield of armor. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus 
for protecting a worker's hand that provides a plurality of hinged plates, 
thereby better adjusting to the movements of the worker's hand and 
fingers. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus 
for protecting a worker's hand that is adaptable to any size hand because 
all the joints in the armor plate are hinged. 
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel 
apparatus for protecting a worker's hand that optionally provides a 
compound finger plate that better conforms to the movements of individual 
fingers.

DESCRIPTION 
Referring in general to the figures, an apparatus 50 for protecting a 
worker's hand and wrist constructed in accordance with the principles of 
the invention is seen. The apparatus provides a generally planar armor 
plate 100 covering the back of the wrist, hand and fingers. An insulating 
layer 400 covers the lower surface of the armor plate. The armor plate is 
segmented into hingably related wrist 130, hand 160 and finger plates 190. 
A glove 500, worn by the user, is connected to the armor plate by a 
plurality of adjustable straps. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the upper surface 102 of a first version of the armor 
plate 100 is seen. The armor plate provides a wrist plate 130, a segmented 
hand plate 160 and a finger plate 190. In the preferred version of the 
invention, the armor plate is formed from 18 or 20 gauge stainless steel. 
The armor plate may be formed for either the left or right hand, or a 
version suitable for either hand may be made. Typically, the version of 
the invention seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, having a compound finger plate, are 
suited for use with only the left or right hand, while the version having 
a unitary finger plate may be constructed to be usable with either hand. 
As seen in FIGS. 1-3, a wrist plate 130 is 4.25 inches in width and 2 
inches in length (in the lengthwise direction of the apparatus 50) in a 
preferred embodiment. The wrist plate provides an upper surface 140, which 
is seen in FIGS. 1-3, and a lower surface 142, which is best seen in the 
cross-sectional view of FIG. 4. The wrist plate provides a plate body 132 
carrying an inner flange 136 and an outer flange 138. The inner and outer 
flanges are best seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1C. The inner 
and outer flanges serve several purposes. First, they tend to keep the 
apparatus 50 centered about the user's wrist and hand. Second, they tend 
to protect the side of the hand and wrist to some degree. Also, the 
flanges tend to aid in positioning the wrist strap 600, as will be seen. 
The plate body 132 defines inner and outer fastener attachment slot pairs 
134 which are usable in supporting wrist strap 600. In a well-understood 
manner, a strap may be fed into one slot and back out the other slot, 
thereby frictionally engaging the plate body. 
A plurality of joint fastening points 144 allow the attachment of a hinged 
joint 300. The hinged joint 300 pivotally connects the wrist plate 130 to 
the hand plate 160. Each hinged joint provides elongate forward and rear 
plates 302, 304 joined by a piano type hinge 306. The fastening points 
144, which attach the wrist plate to the joint 300, may be formed by any 
type of fastener or fastening method. In a preferred embodiment, fastening 
points 144 are spot welds, and therefore do not require drilling, screws 
or other fasteners. Such a fastening method provides a smooth surface 
which is unlikely to snag or bind. 
As seen in FIG. 1-3, in the preferred embodiment, a hand plate 160 is 
formed of an inner plate segment 162, a middle plate segment 164 and an 
outer plate segment 166. The three segments are related to each other and 
to the wrist plate by hingable fastening means such as hinged joints 300, 
of the type described above. Such a hinged joint typically allows pivoting 
motion over a range of approximately 300 degrees (although this is not 
possible when the apparatus 50 is being worn). Fastener attachment points 
180 are typically spot welds. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the middle and inner plate 
segments are 15/8" long and approximately 43/4" wide. The outer plate 
segment is typically 1" long and approximately 5" wide. As is seen in 
FIGS. 1-3, the outer plate segment is typically wider than the middle 
plate segment, which is wider than the inner plate segment. This causes 
the inner and outer flanges 172, 174, carried by the plate body 168 of 
each plate segment to be staggered with respect to the flanges of adjacent 
plate segments. This is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 1C, where the 
forward end of the apparatus 50 is seen to be generally wider than the 
rearward end. The staggered plate structure reduces or eliminates contact 
between the flanges of adjacent plate segments. 
The plate segments 162, 164, 166 of the hand plate 160 each provide a plate 
body 168 carrying an inner flange 172 and an outer flange 174. The inner 
and outer flanges are best seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1B. 
The inner and outer flanges of the hand plate tend to perform much the 
same functions as the flanges of the wrist plate. First, they tend to keep 
the apparatus 50 centered about the user's hand. Second, they tend to 
protect the side of the hand and wrist to some degree. Also, the flanges 
tend to aid in positioning the hand strap 650, as will be seen. 
The plate segments each have a top surface 176, seen in FIG. 1, and a 
bottom surface, seen in FIG. 4 attached to the insulating layer 400. 
In the preferred embodiment, the plate body of the middle plate segment 
defines inner and outer fastener attachment slot pairs 170 which are 
usable in supporting hand strap 650 in the manner described above. 
Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 1A, a finger plate 190 is seen. The 
plate 190 has a top surface 196, a bottom surface 198, and supports inner 
and outer flanges 192, 194. Fastening points similar to fastening points 
230 of the compound finger plate 220 allow the attachment of a pivoting 
joint 300, which is in turn connected to the hand plate 160. 
Referring next to FIG. 2, a compound finger plate 220 provides an index 
finger plate 222 and an outer finger plate 224. Both plates 222, 224 pivot 
by means of a pivoting joint 300 with respect to the hand plate 160. Each 
plate provides a protective top surface and a bottom surface carrying an 
insulating layer 400. Fastening points 230 secure the pivoting joint 300 
to the the plates 222, 224. Inner and outer flanges 232, 234 are similar 
to the flanges of the finger plate 190. 
Referring to FIG. 3, an angled compound finger plate 250 is similar to the 
compound finger plate 220, but provides an outer finger plate that is 
pivotably mounted at an angle to the hand plate 160. This arrangement may 
be beneficial, depending on the nature of the work performed. 
As seen in FIG. 4, an insulating layer 400 is carried by the lower surface 
104 of the armor plate. The insulating layer is typically applied by 
adhesive or other fastening means and serves to promote warmth and 
comfort, and may also absorb some shock energy, in the event that the 
armor plate 100 is struck by a saw. The insulating layer may be made of 
any type of rubber, foam rubber or similar material, and may be compound 
in nature where multiple layers are desired. 
Still referring to FIG. 4, the armor plate may curve somewhat, past the end 
of the finger tips of the glove. 
As seen in FIG. 4, a glove 500 is carried below and adjacent to the 
insulating layer. The glove is typically made of nylon, although other 
materials could be used if desired. The fabric used is typically chosen so 
that the glove allows the user to move the entire hand with ease and full 
dexterity. In a cold environment, such as a meat packing plant, it may be 
desirable to include some insulation in the construction of the glove. 
As seen in FIG. 4, a wrist strap 600 and a hand strap 650 connect the armor 
plate 100 and insulating layer 400 to the glove 500 when the user is 
wearing the glove. The use of both straps is desirable, since this keeps 
the apparatus 50 firmly in place about the user's hand and forearm. 
The straps 600, 650 adjustably attach to the fastener attachment slots 134, 
170, as described above, allowing the user to adjust the strap length as 
needed. 
To use the apparatus for protecting a worker's hand, the worker first puts 
on the glove 500 and secondly puts on the armor plate 100 by using the 
straps 600, 650. The straps are adjusted to keep the armor plate firmly in 
place. The worker then proceeds with the job, typically in the meat 
cutting or saw mill industries, with the protective advantages apparatus. 
The previously described versions of the present invention have many 
advantages, including a primary advantage of providing a novel apparatus 
for protecting a worker's hand that is strong enough to give absolute 
protection against circular and band saws. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus 
for protecting a worker's hand that allows free movement of the user's 
fingers, while safely protected beneath a shield of armor. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus 
for protecting a worker's hand that provides a plurality of hinged plates, 
thereby better adjusting to the movements of the worker's hand and 
fingers. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus 
for protecting a worker's hand that is adaptable to any size hand because 
all the joints in the armor plate are hinged. 
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel 
apparatus for protecting a worker's hand that optionally provides a 
compound finger plate that better conforms to the movements of individual 
fingers. 
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail 
and with reference to certain preferred versions, other versions are 
possible. For example, the dimensions given above are somewhat flexible, 
in that the invention could be practiced in much the same manner with 
similar, though different, dimensions. Therefore, the spirit and scope of 
the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the 
preferred versions disclosed. 
In compliance with the U.S. Patent Laws, the invention has been described 
in language more or less specific as to methodical features. The invention 
is not, however, limited to the specific features described, since the 
means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention 
into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or 
modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately 
interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.