Abstract:
A thumb protection device for preventing injury to a person&#39;s thumb while playing a sport such as baseball includes a tubular main member of a padding material. The tubular main member fits snugly over the thumb of a user and includes a slit to facilitate wearing of the device by persons having widely varied thumb sizes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to body protection devices and more particularly pertains to a new thumb protection device for preventing injury to a person&#39;s thumb while playing a sport such as baseball. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of body protection devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,508 describes a cap for protecting the tip of a finger within a work glove. Another type of body protection device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,985 having a rigid cap member, support member and base engaging the root of the thumb of a user. U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,117 discloses a rigid half-pipe shaped thumb protector incorporated into an athletic glove. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not provide the combination of an open end for maximum feel with protection for the complete circumference around a distal joint of a thumb. The distal joint of the thumb provides greater circumference than the portions directly adjacent to the joint and therefore this joint receives enhanced impact force when the hand is used impacted. The need remains for a device that maximizes feel, readily fits various thumb sizes, and protects the medial joint portions of a user&#39;s thumb while playing sports. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally comprises a tubular main member of a padding material. The tubular main member fits snugly over the thumb of a user and includes a slit to facilitate wearing of the device by persons having widely varied thumb sizes. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a new thumb protection device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention positioned for use within a sport glove. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 3  thereof, a new thumb protection device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the thumb protection device  10  generally comprises a tubular main member  20  that has a pair of open ends  22 ,  24 . Thus, the tubular main member  20  is designed for sliding over a thumb  2  of a user to cover a medial portion  4  of the thumb  2 . The tubular main member  20  is constructed of a padding material  26  for cushioning impact forces applied to the medial portion  4  of the thumb  2  while playing a sport. 
   The tubular main member  20  includes a slit  30  extending from a proximal end  32  of the tubular main member  20  such that the proximal end  32  is expandable in diameter for accommodating thickening of the thumb  2  approaching a root  6  of the thumb  2 . The slit  30  is alignable with a top side  8  of a hand  9  of the user for facilitating free flexing of a middle joint  3  of the thumb  2 . 
   Reinforced edging  34  is coupled to the tubular main member  20  around the ends  22 , 24  and the slit  30 . 
   The tubular main member  20  has a length of between 2 and 4 inches sufficient for covering a distal joint  5  of the thumb  2 . 
   The tubular main member  20  is constructed of a resilient material such as rubber or plastic. 
   In one implementation of the invention, the tubular main member  20  is highly suitable for use in combination with a sport glove  40  having a thumb portion  42  designed for fitting over the thumb  2  of the user. The tubular main member  20  has an outer diameter cross-sectional area less than an interior cross-sectional area of the thumb portion  42 . Thus, the tubular main member  20  is insertable into the thumb portion  42  for providing padding to the thumb  2  while the thumb  2  is inserted into the sport glove  40 . In one embodiment of the invention, the sport glove  40  comprises a baseball glove in which the thumb portion  42  is positioned adjacent to a gap in finger portions of the glove to form a pocket or basket for receiving a baseball or softball in the basket between the thumb portion  42  and the rest of the finger portions. 
   Due to the singular proximity of the thumb portion  42  to the pocket area of the sport glove, the thumb of the user&#39;s hand is highly exposed and vulnerable to the impact of a baseball, softball, or other sport ball on the pocket of the sport glove, and the thumb protection device  10  of the invention greatly enhances the protection of the user&#39;s thumb provided by the sport glove  40 . 
   In use, the thumb  2  is inserted through the tubular main member  20  such that the tubular main member  20  covers the medial portion  4  of the thumb  2 . The slit  30  is aligned with the top side of the hand of the user for facilitating free flexing of the middle joint of the thumb  2 . The thumb  2  and tubular main member  20  are inserted into the thumb portion  42  of the sport glove  40  when the user inserts the hand into the sport glove  40 . The sport glove is then used as it would regularly be used for the particular sport being played. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.