Abstract:
A safety glove for use in the oil and natural gas extraction industries whereas a unique design on the dorsal portion of the glove is provided, the dorsal portion comprising a plurality of raised protective members extending substantially along the entire length of the finger and thumb portions of the glove.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention provides a glove construction particularly adapted to protect the hands and fingers of workers in the oil and natural gas extraction industries. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Workers in the oil and gas extraction industry often handle large pipes and heavy tools, such as steel wrenches. These items are typically handled in the presence of mud, crude oil, lubricating fluids such as a mixture of diesel fuel and mud, and other natural and synthetic lubricants. These lubricants assist in drilling for and extracting petrochemical compounds. The difficulty of gripping pipes and tools in the presence of such lubricants creates a working environment susceptible to impacts occurring to the dorsal, or back, side of the hand. These impacts have historically resulted in a large number of hand injuries to workers. The injuries are typically expressed as simple or hairline fractures to the following group of bones: metacarpals, proximal phalanges, intermediate phalanges, are distal phalanges; injuries can also occur to the distal interphalangeal joints, the proximal interpalangeal joints and the metacarpophalangeal joints. 
         [0005]    Gloves typically used in oil and gas extraction are common knit gloves with raised polymer dots on the palm side. Although these gloves provide a grip function, they have a short lifespan and lack protection from dorsal impacts. 
         [0006]    Recently, several companies have developed fitted gloves for sport or work with molded polymer rubber elements on the dorsal side. These gloves, however, are not optimized for impact protection to selected bones and joints. Further, the gloves are not optimized for impact protection to the entire nail bed of the fingernails. 
         [0007]    Sport gloves for goalies in the sports of soccer, lacrosse and hockey have dorsal hand protection provided by segmented thick foam padding on the dorsal side of the glove. However, the gloves are not optimized for the dexterity required by oil and gas extraction workers and have no protection for the hand joints noted above. The foam padding does not taper at the distal phalanges and is not designed to protect against sharp blows from metal objects. Fitted gloves for sport or work consist of one or more molded plastic or carbon fiber elements located over the metacarpophalangeal joints but do not protect other hand joints or substantial protection of the above-listed bones. 
         [0008]    What is desired is to provide a glove for use in the oil industry and natural gas extraction industries which protects the back portion of the worker&#39;s hand while maintaining a high level of hand dexterity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a glove construction designed to reduce the occurrence of injuries to the back of the hand of workers in the oil and natural gas industries. This is accomplished by protecting certain bones and their associated joints during impact to the back of the hand with protective elements located on the dorsal (back) side of a glove (or mitten) over the metacarpals, proximal phalanges, intermediate phalanges, and distal phalanges. The protective elements may also be located over the distal interphalangeal joints, the proximal interphalangeal joints and the metacarpophalangeal joints. 
         [0010]    The glove of the present invention maximizes dorsal impact protection while maintaining a high level of hand dexterity. Interference from tools and handled materials is reduced while hand flexibility is maintained, allowing full manipulation of tools and materials. The glove back comprises multiple protective elements generally located over the metacarpals, proximal phalanges, intermediate phalanges, and distal phalanges; the distal interphalangeal joints, the proximal interphalangeal joints and the metacarpophalangeal joints. The protective elements are raised above the surface of the glove fabric; and at the distal phalanges, preferably extend laterally to cover the entire nail bed of the wearer&#39;s fingernails. 
         [0011]    The protective elements preferably slop laterally at distal phalanges to each side, reducing interference with adjacent phalanges (the protective elements preferably slope laterally at all phalanges). The protective elements having a width less than the fabric beneath the elements so that the fabric can stretch as the hand and fingers of the wearer are flexed in order to increase the comfort and fit of the glove. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the dorsal side of the glove of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged top plan view of one finger of the glove shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side plan view of the finger shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the finger shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a rear plan view of the finger shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view on line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged area from  FIG. 6  indicated by arrow  8  to show how the plastic projection on the glove penetrates into the fabric of the glove; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view on line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken on the same line as  FIG. 6  illustrating when the finger of the glove when the finger is bent; and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 11-15  illustrate an alternate construction of the protective members on the dorsal side of the glove of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a plan view of the dorsal side of glove  10  is illustrated. 
         [0025]    It should be noted that identical reference numerals in the figures refer to the same element. 
         [0026]    The dorsal (back) side of glove  10  comprises a plurality of protective members  12  secured to fingers  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 , and protective member  22  secured to thumb portion  23 . The elongated and raised protective members  12  and  22  are fixed to a rubber base  24  member which, in turn, is fixed to the glove fabric on the corresponding finger/thumb portion. Member  12  and  22  have a front sloped portion  13 , segmented portions  17  ( FIG. 2 ) and back sloped portion  15 . Base member  24  includes portion  25  to provide additional protection to the sides of the wearer&#39;s distal bones. 
         [0027]    The protective members  12  is located substantially over the corresponding proximal phalanx, intermediate (or middle) phalanx, and distal phalanx finger bones of the wearer. Protective members  12  overlays the distal interphalangeal joints and the proximal inter phalangeal joints of the finger bones. 
         [0028]    The protective member  22  is located substantially over the corresponding metacarpal, proximal phalanx, and distal phalanx thumb bones of the wearer. Protective member  22  also overlays the distal interphalangeal joint and the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb bones. Members  40  are located over the metacarpals of the finger bones and element  43  is located over the metacarpophalangeal joints of the finger bones, providing additional protection to the back hand of the wearer. 
         [0029]    Protective members  12 ,  22 ,  40  and  43  are raised above the glove dorsal surface  16  to further reduce the force of impacts and have a height in the range between  2 mm and  15 mm. The glove material  18  beneath protective members  12 ,  22 ,  40  and  43  preferably comprises knitted, flexible fabric. 
         [0030]    In a first alternate glove construction, the protective members are located substantially over each of the metacarpals, proximal phalanges, intermediate phalanges, and distal phalanges of four digits, excluding the thumb. In a second alternate glove construction, the protective members are located substantially over each of the metacarpals, proximal phalanges, intermediate phalanges, and distal phalanges of four digits, excluding the thumb, and protective elements located substantially over the proximal phalange and distal phalange of the thumb. 
         [0031]    Protective members  12 ,  22 ,  40  and  43  are formed to specific shapes to increase flexibility, protection and dexterity and are formed to specific shapes via thermal molding/casting. The portions  13  of protective members  12  and  22  slope downward at the distal phalanges toward the distal region (tip) of fingers to reduce interference or snagging from tools or materials being manipulated. In addition, portions  13  at distal phalanges extend laterally such that they cover the entire nail bed of the wearer. The portions  25  of protective members  12  and  22  at distal phalanges also slope laterally to each side to reduce interference with adjacent phalanges (note that other portions of the protective members  12  and  22  may slope laterally at all phalanges). Protective members  12  and  22  are preferably designed such that their width is less than the width of the fabric  18  beneath the member so that the fabric can stretch as the thumb and fingers of the wearer are flexed while also increasing the comfort and fit of glove  10 . 
         [0032]    The protective members  12  and  22  comprise a plurality of segments  17  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) to increase flexibility, the segmentation including partial voids, or gaps,  19  to maintain overall strength and adhesion to the substrate material. The segmentation is located at the distal interphalangeal joints and the proximal interphalangeal joints of the finger bones, and the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb bones. The spacing between adjacent segments are preferably in the range between 0.5 mm and 4 mm. 
         [0033]    It should be noted that the protective members  12 ,  40  and  43  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  have spacing between them at specific locations along the length of the bones of the fingers to allow for fabric bunching and flexing. Typical spacing (reference letters a and b) between the protective members  15 ,  43  and  46  range from about 2 mm to about 18 mm (note that dimensions a and b can be equal, a can be greater than b or a can be less than b). Examples of specific locations of these spaces are as follows:
       1. Spaces located proximal to the metacarpo-phalangeal joints, over the metacarpals of the four fingers, excluding the thumb.   2. Located distal of the metacarpophalangeal joints, over the proximal phalanges, of the four fingers, excluding the thumb.   3. Located proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joints, over the metacarpals, and distal of the metacarpophalangeal joints, over the proximal phalanges, of the four fingers (to allow for fabric bunching over the metacarpophalangeal joints, specifically when the metacarpals and proximal phalanges are in complete extension.)   4. Located at the distal interphalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints or the metacarpophalangeal joints, or a combination thereof;       
 
         [0038]    The protective members  12 ,  22 ,  40  and  43  can be fabricated from:
       1. Polymers, rubber, silicone, plastic, gel, foam, metal, glass fibers, glass beads, carbon, high strength fibers, viscoelastic polymers or a combination thereof;   2. Oil resistant polymers; and   3. Thermoplastic elastomeric material with a hardness range of 30 Shore A to 45 Shore D.       
 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 11-15 , protective members  12 ,  22 ,  40  and  43  may comprise separate upper (outer) layer  50  and lower (inner) layer  52 , the layer  50  being harder than layer  52 . The hard upper layer  50  protects from direct impacts to the back of the hand, and distributes the impact over a larger surface area reducing localized pressure (force per area). The softer lower layer  52  absorbs and redirects a portion of the impact laterally, away from the hand. 
         [0043]    Layer  50  has a hardness in the range between 70 shore A to 50 shore D, layer  52  having a hardness in the range between shore A to 50 shore A. 
         [0044]    Protective members  12 ,  22 ,  40  and  43  are adhered to the glove surface through stitching, heat application, sonic welding, or other known methods, or a combination thereof, and may be adhered to the glove surface such that no stitching is exposed on the surface of the glove. An alternate design does not expose the glove material at the distal phalanges, proximal phalanges and intermediate phalanges. 
         [0045]    Examples of the glove material beneath the protective members  12 ,  22 ,  40  and  43  are woven fabric, non-woven fabric, natural or synthetic leather, fire resistant fabric, or cut resistant fabric. 
         [0046]    While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.