Abstract:
In a system for securing gloves to an object at least one glove has an opening defined through a selected portion of the glove having a proximal end and an opposite distal end. A clasping mechanism, such as a carabiner, passes through the opening. The clasping mechanism facilitates securing the glove to the object.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to gloves and, more specifically, to a system for securing a pair of gloves to an object.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Users of gloves (such as work gloves) often lose their gloves when not in use. Some systems are used to prevent loss of gloves, such as the use of metal clips secured to opposite ends of strips of elastic fabric. With such systems, one clip is secured to a glove or mitten and the opposite clip is secured to a sleeve of a jacket. The problem with such systems is that they are not sturdy and are only useful when the weather is such that a jacket is typically worn.  
           [0005]    Most typical point of sale systems for gloves include only disposable packaging or attachment systems. Nothing in the packaging is useful except for the gloves. Thus, the packaging provides no added value to the gloves and, therefore, does not enhance sales.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for a system for securing gloves when not in use and for a system that enhances the value of glove packaging.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, which in one aspect, is a system for securing gloves to an object. At least one glove has an opening defined through a selected portion of the glove. A clasping mechanism passes through the opening. The clasping mechanism facilitates securing the glove to the object.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, the glove has a proximal end and an opposite distal end. The opening through the glove is defined adjacent the proximal end. An opening reinforcement reinforces the opening. A carabiner has a body member and a gate member. A selected one of the body member or the gate member passes through the opening. The carabiner facilitates securing the glove to the object.  
           [0009]    These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the invention employing a carabiner.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with the carabiner in an opened state.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in which the carabiner is attached to a belt.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in which the carabiner is attached to a belt loop.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention employing an outward sweeping clasping member.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention employing a slide clasp mechanism.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention employing a spring clasp mechanism. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Also, as used herein, “gloves” includes any hand covering, including “mittens.” 
         [0018]    Referring now in detail to the figures, where like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-4 show one embodiment  10  of the invention, in which one or more gloves  12  each has a proximal end  14  and an opposite distal end  16 . A selected corner  18  of each glove  12 , adjacent to the proximal end  14 , defines a hole  20  passing there through. The hole  20  is typically reinforced with a grommet  22 , or other reinforcement (e.g., stitching, in the case of fabric gloves; or local melting, in the case of nylon gloves). A clasping mechanism, such as a carabiner  30 , passes through the hole  20  and facilitates the securing of the gloves  12  together and to other objects.  
         [0019]    Typically, a carabiner  30 , includes a substantially C-shaped body member  32  and a gate member  34  that is hingedly attached to body member  32  at a pivot point  36 . The gate member  34  typically opens inwardly and is spring loaded to cause it to tend toward being in a closed position. An engagement surface at the end of the gate member opposite of the pivot point  36  will typically prevent the gate member  34  from opening outwardly.  
         [0020]    The carabiner  30  may be used as a point-of-sale hanging device used to display the gloves  12 , or it may be used to secure the gloves  12  around a user&#39;s belt  40 , as shown in FIG. 3, or to a belt loop  42 , as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the invention offers the advantage of enhancing the sales of the gloves  12 , while providing the user a convenient and secure way to carry the gloves  12  when not in use. Thus, the invention allows gloves  12  to be secured to either a user&#39;s belt  40  or belt loop  42  when not in use. This prevents the loss of the gloves  12 . As is readily apparent, the invention may be used to affix the gloves  12  to a backpack (not shown), suspenders (not shown), a brief case (not shown), or any other object capable of receiving the clasping mechanism  30 . Because the clasping mechanism  30  may be used both to hang the gloves  12  on a display rack (not shown) and to secure the gloves  12  when not in use, the invention is more desirable than gloves with conventional packaging.  
         [0021]    In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the clasping mechanism  50  may employ an outwardly extending gate member  54 . Such an embodiment would offer quicker release of the gloves.  
         [0022]    In another alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the clasping mechanism could include a slide clasp mechanism  60 . The slide clasp mechanism  60  could comprise a single slide clasp (not shown). However, in one embodiment, the slide clasp mechanism  60  could include a first slide clasp  62  and a second slide clasp  66 . The first slide clasp  62  has a first clasping mechanism  64  and an opposite first slide clasp end  72 . The second slide clasp  66  has a second clasping mechanism  68  and an opposite second slide clasp end  74 . The first slide clasp end  72  is joined to the second slide clasp end  74  to allow rotation of the first slide clasp  62  relative to the second slide clasp  64 . A rotating joint  70  may be used to join the first slide clasp end  72  to the second slide clasp end  74 .  
         [0023]    In yet another alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, a spring clasp  80  may serve as the clasping mechanism. Spring clasps  80  are relatively inexpensive. While not shown, a pair of oppositely disposed spring clasps  80  may also be used in a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 6, in accordance with the invention.  
         [0024]    The above-described embodiments are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.