Abstract:
A glove particularly useful for cycling includes a plurality of finger elements, a thumb element, a dorsal side panel and a palmar side panel. The finger elements cover the fingers, the thumb elements cover a thumb, the dorsal side panel covers a back or dorsal side of the hand and the palmar side panel covers a palm of the hand. Shock absorbing pads are provided on the palmar side of the glove to extend along opposed sides of the ulnar nerve when in a use condition. Moreover, one of the ulnar protective pads is placed generally between the ulnar and the median nerves and thereby off loads the stress on the ulnar nerve in the wrist area of the wearer when a wearer is gripping objects, such as the handle bars of a bicycle or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to gloves for the human hand and particularly for the protection of the ulnar and median nerves in the wrist area of the human hand. More particularly, this invention relates to a protective glove for use in sports for applications where the hands of the wearer are exposed to high impact or stress over prolonged periods of time such as, for example, as in the sport of long distance cycling. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of Prior Art 
         [0004]    Glove construction for protection of the human hand is well known. In addition, there are a number of patents which teach gloves claimed to be particularly useful in the playing of sports. Moreover, there are a number of patents which teach gloves claimed to be particularly useful for long distance cycling and in the protection for the median and ulnar nerves of the human hand. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,704,939; U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,276; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,809 teach padding used in the palm areas of the hand which are conducive for use in weight lifting and cycling. 
         [0005]    The median and ulnar nerves in the hand pass through separate canals within the wrist area of the hands and when the wrist area of the hand is subjected to stress on these nerves over an extended period of time, the nerves can become involved and potentially suffer a condition such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This prolonged exposure to stress is prevalent in long distance cycling. 
         [0006]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,751 is directed to a glove for allegedly preventing carpal tunnel syndrome and teaches resilient protective padding which extends along opposed sides of the median nerve along the wrist area and into the palm of the wearer. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,514 is directed to a glove with pads for protecting the median and ulnar nerve of the hand and teaches devices to hold these pads in place in relation to the median and ulnar nerves. Specifically, the protective pads are positioned so that one of the pads extends along the metacarpals of the thumb in an area distal to the scaphoid and along the metacarpal of the index finger. A second pad extends along the metacarpal of the small finger along the ulnar nerve terminating at the pisiform. 
         [0008]    However, there is a continued need for protective gloves which are specifically designed for off loading the stress exerted upon the ulnar and median nerves in the wrist area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a glove for use in sports and occupational applications where the hands of the wearer are exposed to hand gripping functions for extended periods of time such as, for example, long distance cycling. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective glove which is constructed to enable or facilitate easy closure of the glove when in use. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a protective glove which includes zones free of padding at selected areas to enhance the closure and use of the glove in a closed or semi-closed condition. 
         [0012]    More particularly, the present invention provides a protective glove having a palm side, a dorsal side, a thumb stall, and plurality of finger stalls for receipt of the index finger, the long finger, the ring finger and the small finger, with an opening therein for receiving a person&#39;s hand therethrough. The palm side of the glove is provided with a palmar side panel which includes shock absorbing pads located to be along opposed sides of an ulnar nerve in the wrist area of a human hand. The shock absorbing pads may include a first shock absorbing pad positioned along the medial side to the proximal end of a metacarpal of a little finger of the human hand and adjacent to or over the pisiform in the wrist area and a second shock absorbing pad positioned to be between the median and ulnar nerves in the wrist area of the hand and over a portion of the capitate, the hamate, and the lunate bones in the wrist. 
         [0013]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to accompanying drawings forming a part of a specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in several views. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of the bones and nerves of the right side human hand shown in palm side detail; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a palm side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the palmar side details of a glove for a right hand; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a dorsal side view of the glove of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a palmar side schematic representation of a right human hand showing the location of the median and ulnar nerves and the protective pad details in relation to these nerves; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a palmar side view of another embodiment of the present invention showing the palmar side details of the glove; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic anatomical view of the bones of a right human hand  10  looking at a palm side. Shown are the radius  20 , ulna  21 , radiocarpal joint (RC)  23 ′, distal radio ulnar joint (DRUJ)  22 , wrist  12 , thumb  64 , index finger  65 , long finger  66 , ring finger  67 , and small finger  68 . A carpus comprising eight carpal bones which are shown in  FIG. 1  includes the capitate bone  97 , the pisiform  99 , the hamate bone  71  with its hook-like protrusion, the scaphoid  24 ′ and the lunate  25 . 
         [0023]    The thumb  64  is comprised of the distal phalanx  51 , the interphalangeal joint (IP)  46 , proximal phalanx  41 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  36 , metacarpal  31 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  26 . 
         [0024]    The index finger  65  is comprised of the distal phalanx  60 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  56 , middle phalanx  52 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  47 , proximal phalanx  42 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  37 , metacarpal  32 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  27 . 
         [0025]    The long finger  66  is comprised of the distal phalanx  61 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  57 , middle phalanx  53 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  48 , proximal phalanx  43 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  38 , metacarpal  33 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  23 . 
         [0026]    The ring finger  67  is comprised of the distal phalanx  62 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  58 , middle phalanx  54 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  49 , proximal phalanx  44 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  39 , metacarpal  34 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  24 . 
         [0027]    The small finger  68  is comprised of the distal phalanx  63 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  59 , middle phalanx  55 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  50 , proximal phalanx  45 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  40 , and metacarpal  35 . 
         [0028]    Also as shown in  FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of the median and ulnar nerve systems. The median nerve is identified by the numeral  104  and the ulnar nerve is identified by the numeral  102 . In the wrist area of the hand, the ulnar nerve  102  is positioned between the pisiform  99  and the lunate  25 . Also shown for illustrative purposes is the location for the two shock absorbing pads which are positioned on opposite sides of the ulnar nerve  102  and adjacent to or over the pisiform  99 . A first shock absorbing or ulnar protective pad  152  is medial to the ulnar nerve  102  and the second ulnar protective pad  154  is positioned lateral to the ulnar nerve  102  between the ulnar nerve  102  and the median nerve  104 . The positioning of pad  152  is along the medial side of the proximal end of the metacarpal  35  of the small finger  68 . The positioning for the ulnar protective pad  154  is generally over a portion of the capitate bone  97 , the hamate bone  71  and the lunate  25 . 
         [0029]    As best shown in  FIG. 2  is a preferred embodiment of a glove  150  of the present invention, particularly useful in cycling or the like. The glove  150  includes a palmar side panel  151  and a dorsal side panel  153  ( FIG. 2A ). The panels  151  and  153  are attached along opposite sides with an opening  149  therein to receive the hand  10  therethrough. The glove  150  is provided with a plurality of finger and thumb elements  155   a - 155   e . The finger elements include the small finger element  155   a , the ring finger element  155   b , the long finger element  155   c , the index finger element  155   d  and the thumb element  155   e . All of the finger and thumb elements  155   a - 155   e  may include open distal ends exemplified as open distal ends  147   a - 147   e  to receive the fingers  65 ,  66 ,  67  and  68  of a human hand and the thumb  64  therethrough. The finger and thumb elements  155   a - 155   e  are also provided with padding at selected points therealong to protect the pulleys and tendons of the fingers and thumbs. Protective pads  157   a ,  157   b ,  157   c , and  157   d  are positioned along the finger elements  155   a ,  155   b ,  155   c  and  155   d , respectively, between the distal interphalangeal joints  59 ,  58 ,  57  and  56  and the proximal interphalangeal joints  50 ,  49 ,  48  and  47 , respectively. Also as shown in  FIG. 2  shock absorbing or protective pads  159   a ,  159   b ,  159   c  and  159   d  are positioned to cover the proximal phalanxes  45 ,  44 ,  43  and  42  of the small finger  68 , the ring finger  67 , the long finger  66 , and the index finger  65  respectively, and between the proximal interphalangeal joints  50 ,  49 ,  48  and  47  and the metacarpalphalangeal joints  40 ,  39 ,  38  and  37 . Also provided in the preferred glove  150  are expansion zones in the finger elements  155   a - 155   d  and identified as expansion zones  161   a ,  161   b , and  161   c , said expansion zones including a stretchable material positioned to be over the proximal interphalangeal joints  50 ,  49 , and  48 , respectively. The palmar side of the glove is also provided with palmar protective pads  160   a  and  160   b  which are positioned to extend across the palmar side of the glove. The palmar protective pads  160   a  and  160   b  are positioned to extend transversely of the metacarpals  35 ,  34 ,  33  and  32  to protect the nerves and tendons anterior to the metacarpals  35 ,  34 ,  33  and  32 . An optional space  160   c  is provided between the pads  160   a  and  160   b  and is positioned to extend transversely across the palmar side of the human hand thereby allowing for easier flexion of the hand upon closure. The metacarpalphalangeal joints  40 ,  39 ,  38 , and  37  are located between each of the finger pads  159   a  and palm pad  160   a  thereby allowing for unencumbered use of these joints. The thumb element  155   e  is also provided with palmar side padding. A thumb shock absorbing pad  156  proximal to the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36  is provided to protect the metacarpal  31  and thumb shock absorbing pad  158  is provided to protect the nerves, pulleys and tendons along the proximal phalanx  41  distal to the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36 . In expansion zone  161   e , an elastomeric stretchable material is provided over the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36  of the thumb  64 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the ulnar protective pads  152  and  154  are positioned along opposed sides of the ulnar nerve  102  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 2A  glove  150  includes a dorsal side panel  153  which is attached along its outer periphery  153   a  to the palmar side panel  151  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , is a schematic representation of the ulnar nerve  102  and median nerve systems  104  of the human hand  10  and the depiction of the protective paddings and specific location of these protective pads  152 ,  154  on opposed sides of the ulnar nerve system  102  and the median nerve system  104 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the ulnar protective pad  102  is positioned medial to the ulnar nerve  102  along the proximal end and generally along the medial side to the metacarpal  35  of the small finger  68 . The proximal terminating end of the ulnar protective pad  152  is adjacent to the pisiform  99  but may extend over the pisiform  99 . The ulnar protective pad  154  is generally positioned between the ulnar nerve  102  and the median nerve  104  and, as best shown in  FIG. 1 , extends over a portion of the capitate  97 , the hamate  71 , and the lunate  25 . 
         [0032]    Shown in  FIG. 4  is another preferred embodiment of the present invention which depicts an additional pad  252  which crosses over the ulnar nerve  102 , as best shown in  FIG. 6  and discussed hereinafter. The glove  150   a  is also provided with a plurality of finger elements  165   a ,  165   b ,  165   c  and  165   d , as well as a thumb element  165   e . The finger elements  165   a ,  165   b ,  165   c  and  165   d  are provided with distal openings  169   a ,  169   b ,  169   c  and  169   d  therein to receive fingers  68 ,  67 ,  66  and  65  therethrough, respectively. The thumb element  165   e  is also provided with an opening  169   e  in the terminating end thereof to receive a thumb  64  therethrough. Palmar protective pads  170   a  and  170   b  are provided to extend transversely of the metacarpals  35 ,  34 ,  33 , and  32  proximal to the metacarpalphalangeal joint  40 ,  39 ,  38  and  37  of the finger  68 ,  67 ,  66  and  65 , respectively. A space  170   c  between pads  170   a  and  170   b  is provided to allow easier movement of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers when in use. The thumb element  165   e  is also provided with thumb protective pads  176  and  178 . Protective pad  176  is positioned to extend over the thumb metacarpal  31  proximal to the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36  and protective pad  178  extends over the pulleys and tendons of the proximal phalanx  41  distal to the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36 . The ulnar protective pad  252  is provided to overlie the protective pads  152  and  154 , as best shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a section of the glove  150  shown in  FIG. 2  showing the relationship between the ulnar protective padding  152  and  154  to the ulnar nerve  102  and the median nerve  104  when placed upon the hand of the wearer. Particularly pad  152  extends along the medial side of ulnar nerve  102  and pad  154  is disposed generally between the ulnar nerve  102  and the median nerve  104 . As shown in  FIG. 5  the glove  150  includes an outer palmar side panel  151  which extends over the ulnar protective pads  152  and  154  and also includes an inner glove lining  165  which is the palmar side inner lining of the glove  150 . The outer skin of a wearer is identified by the numeral  167 . 
         [0034]    Shown in  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the glove  150   a  which is a modification of the glove as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 5 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the glove of  150   a  as shown in  FIG. 4  and particularly illustrates the additional pad  252  which is disposed to extend over the pads  152  and  154  and is spaced from the ulnar nerve  102 . In the glove  150   a  an outer palmar side panel  151   a  is provided to cover the ulnar protective pad  252  and an inner palmar side glove lining  165  is also provided. 
         [0035]    In a preferred glove, the pads  152  and  154  are between one-eighth (⅛) and one-quarter (¼) of an inch in thickness and generally between one-quarter (¼) and one-half (½) of an inch in width. The pad  252  also has a thickness of about one-eighth (⅛) to one-quarter (¼) inch and is of a sufficient width to extend over the ulnar protective pads  152  and  154 . 
         [0036]    The gloves  150  and  150   a  are generally constructed of leather or appropriate flexible synthetic materials. The expansion zones in the gloves  150  and  150   a  are covered with stretchable or elastic materials, such as, for example, 2-way SPANDEX® which allows flexion of the joints when in use. The protective padding is generally rubber or any appropriate foam or cushioning material well known for glove padding. 
         [0037]    The detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom where modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.