WORK GLOVES

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a work glove (10) which comprises a fingertip protector (12) attached to the forward end of the glove.

Description: The present invention relates to work gloves which are designed to protect the fingertips of a worker from external shocks and mechanical stresses, whereby preventing accidental injuries from occurring when a worker is engaged in machining and other heavy-duty works that might cause damage to fingers. It has been a common practice that a worker wears fabric or leather work gloves when he operates a dangerous machine having exposed moving parts (such as rolls) or carries heavy articles. Work gloves are indispensable for heavy-duty works such as press operation, grinding, and carrying of heavy articles. According to usage, work gloves are provided with rubber coating for waterproofing, electrical insulation, and slip prevention. Not only do work gloves prevent the worker's hands from becoming dirty, but they also protect the worker's hands from a slight bruise and scratch during work. In actual workshops, however, there often occur the damage to fingertips which cannot be prevented by the commonly used work gloves. For example, a worker often gets his fingertips caught between rolls or scratched by a grinder. Other common accidents are the crushing of fingertips that occurs when the fingers are caught under a heavy object or the fingers are caught between a sling and an object to be lifted by a crane. Conventional work gloves are useless for the protection of fingertips in heavy-duty works, and the worker's own carefulness has been the only possible way of avoiding accidents. Work gloves according to the preamble of claim 1 are known from GB-A-534 846. It is object of the invention to provide work gloves for better protection of the tips of the finger against shocks which can occur when workers are engaged in machining. The solution of the invention is described in claim 1. In the following embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings. It is an object of the present invention to provide work gloves which are characterized in that each tip is provided with a fingertip protector. It is another object of the present invention to provide work gloves which are characterized in that the fingertip protector is constructed such that it can be easily removed from the tip of a worn glove and attached to the tip of a new one. The work gloves of this invention will protect the worker's fingers from accidents that might occur during heavy-duty works. The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of the fingertip protector. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the work glove of an example, with the fingertip protector shown in Fig. 1 attached. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the work glove of a second example of the invention. Fig. 4 a perspective view of the work glove of this invention which is in use. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the work glove of a third example of the invention. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 to 12 are perspective views of the fingertip protectors to be enclosed in the work glove. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the work glove of a fourth example of the invention. Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the work glove of a fifth example of the invention. Fig. 16 an exploded perspective view the work glove as shown in Fig. 15. Figs. 17 to 21 are perspective views of the fingertip protectors to be externally attached to the glove. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the work glove of a sixth example of the invention. Fig. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the work glove as shown in Fig. 22. Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the work glove of a seventh example of the invention. Fig. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the work glove as shown in Fig. 24. Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the work glove of an eighth example of the invention. Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the work glove as shown in Fig. 26. Fig. 2 shows a first example of the invention. It is designed for a mitten. The fingertip protector 12 as shown in Fig. 1 is externally attached to the mitten 16 so that the second to fifth fingers are covered. If necessary, the thumbtip protector 12 may be attached to the thumb of the mitten. Fig. 3 shows a second example of the invention. In this example, the fingertip protector 12 is attached to the forward end of the square glove 28 which is used for gripping hot objects in a steel mill and the like, so that the fingertips 14 are effectively protected. The work glove proper is made of thick cloth like canvas so that it withstands heavy-duty works. The fingertip protector 12 may take on any shape. It should preferably be made of hardened steel which is not easily crushed by great forces and shocks applied to it. It may also be made of reinforced plastics and ceramics. The fingertip protector attached to the external end of the work glove covers the fingertips almost completely. Thus the fingertips are protected from scratch, crush, fracture, and other injuries when they receive excessive mechanical stresses during heavy-duty works. The fingertip protector also prevents the fingertips from being caught by rolls as shown in Fig. 4. Even though the fingertip protector 12 comes into contact with the rolls 30, it is not caught by the rolls but it simply slips on the rolls. Figs.5 and 6 show a third example of the invention. The mitten 16 has a bag 34 that extends from the forward end to the back of the major part for four fingers. This bag 34 accommodates the fingertip protector 12. The mouth of the bag 34 is closed by means of the hook & loop fastener 36 and 38 as represented by Vercro's fastener. The fingertip protector 12 enclosed in the bag 34 has a U-shape so that it surrounds the tips and nails of the second and fifth fingers as shown in Fig. 5. The work gloves and bags may be made of cloth, leather, or rubber according to their usage as in the conventional work gloves. The fingertip protector 12 may be made of metal, plastics, or ceramics which are hard and strong enough to protect fingers. The shape of the fingertip protector should preferably be properly changed according to the usage. For the works which are liable to cut or catch fingers, the fingertip protector 12 should have a form as shown in Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 so that the fingertip protector covers the fingers almost entirely. Where a worker is liable to get his fingertips caught but not liable to get his fingertips cut, the fingertip protector 12 may have a shape as shown in Fig. 9 that it protects only the backside of the fingers. For protection of fingertips from cutting only, the fingertip protector 12 may have a shape as shown in Figs. 10 to 12. Where the fingertip protectors 12 as shown in Figs. 10 to 12 are used, it is not necessary for the bag 34 to extend from the forward end of the glove. In that case, the bag 34 covering the forward end alone will suffice as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 (the fourth example). In the case of the work glove 16 as shown in Fig. 5 the fingertip protector 12 is retained in the bag 34 by means of the hook & loop fasteners 36 and 38. For the retention of the fingertip protector 12, the mouth of the bag 34 may be partly sewn on to the glove proper. Alternatively, the fingertip protector 12 may be retained in the bag 34 by attaching projections to both sides of the opening and engaging the projections with slits formed on the mouth of the bag. In the third and fourth examples, the fingertip protector 12 is designed to protect the second to fifth fingers all together; but it may be modified such that it protects the fingers individually or in proper group. Figs. 15 and 16 show a fifth example of the invention. In this example, the fingertip protector is detachably attached to the glove by means of the retainers fixed to the glove. The fingertip protector is formed in U-shape as illustrated so that it protects the tips of the second to fifth fingers in a mitten 16. The retainer 40 is a short strap sewn on to the glove. Hook & loop fasteners 36 and 38 are attached to the retainer and the glove, respectively. To attach the fingertip protector 12 to the glove 16, the two retainers 40 are passed through the holes 12a formed at both ends of the fingertip protector and turned back so that the fasteners (36 and 38) engage with each other. In this example, the shape of the fingertip protector 12 should be properly changed according to the usage as in the third example mentioned above. If it is necessary to protect the fingers entirely, the fingertip protector 12 as shown in Fig. 17 should be used. If it is necessary to protect only the fingertips, the fingertip protector 12 may have the shape as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. To protect the tips and back of the fingers, the one shown in Fig. 20 should be used. To protect only the back of the fingers, the one shown in Fig. 21 should be used. It is possible to secure the fingertip protector 12 to the glove 16 by means of hook & loop fasteners attached to the inside of the fingertip protector and the forward end of the glove. Figs. 22 and 23 show a sixth example of the invention. The glove 16 has two short straps 42 on the back side thereof. A snap 44a (socket) is sewn on to one end of the strap 42, and a snap 44b (stud) is sewn on to the glove 16. A hole 12b for the strap 42 to pass through is made on the upper side of the fingertip protector 12. To secure the fingertip protector 12 to the glove 16, the strap 42 is passed through the hole 12a and the snap 44a on the strap is fitted to the snap 44b on the glove. For the firmer securing, the fingertip protector 12 may be provided with a vertical partition wall 46 to be inserted into a slit 16a formed between the third finger and the fourth finger as shown in Fig. 23. Figs. 24 and 25 show a seventh example of the invention. The work glove in this example is provided with the bag 48 which entirely covers the fingertip protector 12 mounted on the outside of the glove. The bag 48 is secured to the glove 16 by means of hook & loop fasteners 50 and 52. In this example, the bag 48 entirely covers the fingertip protector 12 to provide protection for it. Figs. 26 and 27 show an eighth example of the invention. The fingertip protector 12 designed to protect the fingertips alone is secured to the glove 16 by means of the hook & loop fasteners 50 and 52 attached to the inside of the fingertip protector and the forward end of the glove. This example produces the same effect as the eleventh example mentioned above, and in addition, it has an advantage that the fingertip protector 12 can be attached very easily. As mentioned above, the present invention provides a work glove provided with a fingertip protector which securely protects the fingertips from excessive mechanical forces during heavy-duty works. Thus the work glove prevents scratch, crush, fracture, and other injuries to the fingers. The fingertip protector is easily removed from the worn glove and secured to a new one for reuse.

Claims: Work glove with a rigid finger protection (12) attached to the glove, the glove comprising a fingerless portion for receiving the second through the fifth finger and means for detachably attaching finger protector (12) to the work glove, characterized in that the finger protector (12) is in form of a fingertip protector. Work glove according to claim 1, characterized in that the fingertip protector (12) is shaped as an arc extending around the forward end of the fingerless portion. Work glove according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fingertip protector (12) is formed as a cap covering the fingerless portion on all sides. Work glove according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the attaching means comprises a bag (34;48) provided at the outside of the fingerless portion and extending there around at least at the forward end thereof, the fingertip protector (12) being accommodated in the space formed between the inner side of the bag (34;48) and the fingerless portion. Work glove according to claim 4, characterized in that the bag (34;48) entirely covers the fingertip protector (12) and is secured to the glove by means of hook & loop fasteners. Work glove according to claim 5, characterized in that a first hook & loop fastener is provided on an inner surface near a mouth of the bag (34;48) and a second hook & loop fastener which engages the first hook & loop fastener as provided on a bag of said fingerless portion so that the bag (34;48) is firmly fixed to the fingerless portion by engagement of said first hook & loop fastener with said second hook & loop fastener. Work glove according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the attaching means is formed as straps (40,42) fixed to the glove and extending through holes (12a, 12b) provided in the protector (12). Work glove according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the attaching means is formed as hook & loop fasteners. Work glove according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fingertip protection (12) is attached on the outside to the glove.

Inventors: ABE, MITSUO
Applicants: DAIDO TOKUSHUKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A41D13
IPC codes: A41D19