Abstract:
The present invention provides a protective sports glove worn. The glove may be used by athletes during training or in a combative event requiring striking to protect against injury and increase performance, including, but not limited to, total force transference, grip strength, striking force and speed, muscular endurance, time to contraction, etc. These gloves have an adjustable dual strapping wrist tie system to secure the gloves to the contour of the hands and ensure they remain tight and fixed. The dual strapping system seeks to provide increased wrist and hand rigidity that mirrors a tightness of hand wrap bandages for maximal bone and tendon support of the hands and wrists. This system increases the transfer of force to the point of impact.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a combat sports glove designed for improved fit and function. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Combat athletes, especially mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioners, use gloves that generally are cumbersome, thick, non form-fitting and lack in adequate wrist and hand support. These conventional gloves quickly, and with repetitive use, lose the ability to maintain proper fit and function. This can lead to a decrease in force transfer and related hand and fist functioning and also can lead to injury. Another shortcoming of these conventional combat gloves is that, when the glove strikes a target or an opponent, the glove can be loose on the hand and the wrist portion of the glove can be unstable. This shortcoming can lead to improper bone alignment and thus an injury can be experienced by the athlete during training or at a competitive event. 
     Maintaining maximal force transmission in relation to striking force and grip strength are key factors in support performance during stand up or ground combat. Injury prevention is also of great importance to these athletes especially specific to protection related to the hands and fists. In particular, through repeated use and wear, the glove fit may become lose and inadequate to function properly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a protective sports glove worn. The glove may be used by athletes during training or in a combative event requiring striking to protect against injury and increase performance, including, but not limited to, total force transference, grip strength, striking force and speed, muscular endurance, time to contraction, etc. 
     The present invention provides an adjustable dual strapping wrist tie system to secure the glove to the contour of the hand and ensure it remains tight and fixed. The dual strapping system seeks to provide increased wrist and hand rigidity that mirrors a tightness of hand wrap bandages for maximal bone and tendon support of the hands and wrists. 
     This system also advantageously increases the transfer of force to the point of impact. 
     In a first aspect, the present invention provides a protective sports glove comprising: a body having: a dorsal portion; a volar portion; a finger portion for fingers; and a wrist portion for a wrist; wherein the finger portion has a first section for enclosing the second, third, fourth and fifth fingers together and a second section for enclosing the thumb; wherein the dorsal portion has a layer of padding extending over a dorsal side of the first and second sections of the finger portion; wherein the wrist portion of the body has a strap closure for adjustably securing the glove to the wrist and is continuous over the dorsal portion and discontinuous over the volar portion, thereby forming a gap on the volar portion and extending distally and having a termination point prior to the finger portion, and the gap has a thumb-side edge and an opposing-side edge; wherein the strap closure has a primary support strap and a secondary support strap, and each strap has a reversible fastening means; wherein the primary support strap is fixed at the thumb-side edge of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap and through a slot on the opposing-side edge of the gap for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion, the dorsal side of the wrist portion is adapted for reversible fastening; and wherein the secondary support strap is fixed at the opposing-side of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap in a direction opposite that of the support strap for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion overtop the fastened support strap. 
     In a second aspect, the present invention provides a protective sports glove comprising: a body having: a dorsal portion; a volar portion; a finger portion for fingers; and a wrist portion for a wrist; wherein the finger portion has a section for enclosing the fingers, and the region for enclosing the fingers has loops for individually accepting the second, third, forth, and fifth proximal phalanges; wherein the dorsal portion has a layer of padding covering at least the second, third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals and proximal phalanges and associated base knuckles; wherein the wrist portion of the body has a strap closure for adjustably securing the glove to the wrist and is continuous over the dorsal portion and discontinuous over the volar portion, thereby forming a gap on the volar portion and extending distally and having a termination point prior to the finger portion, and the gap has a thumb-side edge and an opposing-side edge; wherein the strap closure has a primary support strap and a secondary support strap, such that each strap has a reversible fastening means; wherein the primary support strap is fixed at the thumb-side edge of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap and through a slot on the opposing-side edge of the gap for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion, the dorsal side of the wrist portion adapted for reversible fastening; and wherein the secondary support strap is fixed at the opposing-side of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap in a direction opposite that of the support strap for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion overtop the fastened support strap. 
     In a third aspect, the present invention provides a protective sports glove for use by persons engaging in combat sports requiring striking with a closed fist and open hand grabbing, the glove comprising: a body having: a dorsal portion; a volar portion; a finger portion for fingers; and a wrist portion for a wrist; wherein the finger portion comprising has a region for accepting the fingers, wherein such that the region for accepting the fingers comprises loops for individually accepting the first, second, third, forth, and fifth proximal phalanges; wherein the dorsal portion comprising has a first layer of padding covering at least the second, third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals and proximal phalanges and associated base knuckles and a second layer of padding covering the thumb metacarpal and proximal phalange; wherein the wrist portion of the body comprising has a strap closure for adjustably securing the glove to the wrist and is continuous over the dorsal portion and discontinuous over the volar portion, thereby forming a gap on the volar portion and extending distally and having a termination point prior to the finger portion, the gap having a thumb-side edge and an opposing-side edge; wherein the strap closure comprising has a primary support strap and a secondary support strap, and each having strap has a reversible fastening means; wherein the primary support strap being is fixed at the thumb-side edge of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap and through a slot on the opposing-side edge of the gap for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion, the dorsal side of the wrist portion adapted for reversible fastening; and the secondary support strap being is fixed at the opposing-side of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap in a direction opposite that of the support strap for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion overtop the fastened support strap. 
     In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a protective sports glove comprising: a body having: a dorsal portion; a volar portion; a finger portion for fingers; and a wrist portion for a wrist; wherein the finger portion has a first section for enclosing the second, third, fourth and fifth fingers together and a second section for enclosing the thumb; wherein the dorsal portion has a layer of padding extending over a dorsal side of the first and second sections of the finger portion; wherein the wrist portion of the body has a gap on the volar portion for adjustably securing the glove to accommodate the wrist, and wherein the gap extends distally along the volar portion and has a termination point prior to the finger portion, and the gap has a thumb-side edge and an opposing-side edge; wherein the wrist portion has a primary support strap and a secondary support strap; wherein the primary support strap has a fastening means on both sides and is fixed at the thumb-side edge of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap and through a slot on the opposing-side edge of the gap for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion, the dorsal side of the wrist portion is adapted for fastening; wherein pulling the primary support strap through the slot acts to narrow the gap to tightly conform the wrist portion to the wrist; and wherein the secondary support strap has a fastening means on the side that attaches to the primary support strap on the dorsal side of the wrist portion and is fixed at the opposing-side edge of the gap and arranged to pass across the gap in a direction opposite that of the primary support strap when the primary support strap is fastened for fastening to the dorsal side of the wrist portion overtop of the fastened primary support strap and affixing to the fastened primary support strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and are not intended to be limiting. Throughout the drawings, like elements are referred to by like numerals. 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom view showing the volar/palm side of a glove showing both straps open according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the dorsal/top side of the glove shown in  FIG. 1  having the primary strap passed through the slot and in an unsecured or unfastened position. 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to that shown in  FIG. 2  with the glove having the primary strap passed through the slot and in a secured or fastened position. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the dorsal side of the glove shown in  FIG. 3  showing both straps in a secured or fastened position. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the volar side of the glove shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view showing the volar/palm side of a glove according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing both straps open. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the dorsal/top side of the glove shown in  FIG. 6  having the primary strap passed through the slot and in an unsecured or unfastened position. 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to that shown in  FIG. 7  with the glove having the primary strap passed through the slot and in a secured or fastened position. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the dorsal side of the glove shown in  FIG. 8  showing both straps in a secured or fastened position. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the volar side of the glove shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  a top view of the dorsal/top side of a glove showing both straps in a secured or fastened position according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the volar side of the glove shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the various embodiments of the present invention are herein described with specific examples, those examples are not intended to be limiting, and those of skill in the art will appreciate and recognize other embodiments and advantages of the present invention. 
     It should be noted that commonly accepted anatomical names are used throughout this document to refer to parts of the hand and corresponding parts of the gloves. The term, dorsal, refers to the back or top of the hand. The term, volar, refers to the bottom or palm-side of the hand. The thumb is understood to be considered the first finger, but is commonly referred to herein as the thumb. The remaining fingers, proceeding from the first finger, are referred to herein as the second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a glove  10  is shown in palmer view. Glove  10  has a dorsal portion (not visible in this view), a volar portion  30 , a finger portion  40 , and a wrist portion  50 . The volar portion  30  contains an elongated thumb slot  32  for allowing thumb movement. Volar portion  30 , in combination with the elongated thumb slot  32 , forms, in a preferred embodiment, a Y-shaped structure  34 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the finger portion  40  is comprised of loops for individually accepting the second  42 , third  43 , fourth  44 , and fifth  45  proximal phalanges. Wrist portion  50  is formed with a gap  52 , having a thumb-side edge  52 A and an opposing-side edge  52 B. A primary support strap  54  is attached to the thumb-side edge  52 A at  54 A and a secondary support strap  56  is attached to the opposing-side edge  52 B at  56 A. The opposing-side edge  52 B contains a slot  57 . 
     In use, an individual places their hand inside glove  10 . The gap  52  allows for the wrist portion  50  and volar portion  30  to open and accommodate the hand, the hand being larger in circumference in some regions than the wrist. The individual&#39;s thumb passes through thumb slot  32  and their second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers pass through loops  42 ,  43 ,  44 , and  45 , respectively, of finger portion  40 . 
     Next, primary support strap  54  is passed through slot  57  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  shows the opposite side of the glove  10  shown in  FIG. 1  with the primary support strap  54  passed through slot  57  and also showing dorsal portion  20 . In some embodiments, dorsal portion  20  contains padding material to protect the dorsal part of the hand and the proximal phalanges portions of the second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers. In use, primary strap  54  is pulled tightly in the direction of the straight arrow shown in  FIG. 2 . In a preferred embodiment, the primary support strap  54  has an elastic portion, preferably near the thumb-side attachment  54 A. As primary support strap  54  is pulled, it narrows or closes the gap  52  and volar Y-shaped structure  34  to tightly conform to the wearer&#39;s hand and wrist, thereby producing a tight, supportive fit. The dorsal side of wrist portion  50  includes a region  58  having means to accommodate removable fastening of the strap closure system (shown in crosshatch), in particular the primary support strap  54 , which in turn also contains a means to facilitate removable fastening. The means to facilitate removable fastening are preferably hook-and-loop type fastening, such as that made by Velcro®. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , the primary support strap  54 , having been pulled tightly as shown in  FIG. 2  is now shown in a fastened position having been pulled in the direction of the straight arrow shown in  FIG. 3 . The primary support strap  54  is pulled back across over the dorsal side of wrist portion  50  in the opposite direction against slot  57  and securely fastened to region  58 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , glove  10  is shown in a dorsal view with the dual strap closure system fully closed and secured. To facilitate removable fastening, the secondary support strap  56  has means to facilitate fastening to the primary support strap on the dorsal side of the wrist portion. To secure secondary support strap  56 , it is, from the unsecured position (shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ), first pulled tightly in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 4  across the volar side of wrist portion  50  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), then around to the dorsal side of wrist portion  50  and then across the dorsal side of wrist portion  50  and fastened overtop of the secured primary support strap  54 , which is already secured to region  58 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the primary support strap  54  has removable fastening means on both of its sides to facilitate fastening to region  58  and to facilitate fastening of the secondary support strap  56 . In further aspects of the preferred embodiment, secondary support strap  56  includes at least a portion of a non-stretch material. 
       FIG. 5  shows the volar-side view of the glove with the straps fastened. 
       FIGS. 6 through 10  show the glove  10  in an alternative embodiment but with a corresponding operation of the dual strap system as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a glove  10  is shown in palmer view. Glove  10  has a dorsal portion (not visible in this view), a volar portion  30 , a finger portion  40 , and a wrist portion  50 . The finger portion  40  according to this embodiment is comprised of loops for individually accepting the thumb (not visible in the figures), second  42 , third  43 , fourth  44 , and fifth  45  proximal phalanges. Wrist portion  50  is formed with a gap  52 , having a thumb-side edge  52 A and an opposing-side edge  52 B. A primary support strap  54  is attached to the thumb-side edge  52 A at  54 A and a secondary support strap  56  is attached to the opposing-side edge  52 B at  56 A. The opposing-side edge  52 B contains a slot  57 . 
     For the use of the dual strap system,  FIGS. 7 through 10  correspond to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , respectively. Like parts are identified by the same numerals. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show a glove according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention and correspond to  FIGS. 4 and 5  and to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . Closure of the dual strap system is as previously described. Glove  10  has a dorsal portion  20 , a volar portion  30 , a finger portion  40 , and a wrist portion  50 . Finger portion  40  is comprised of two separate compartments; one for receiving the thumb and one for receiving the second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers.  FIG. 11  shows the glove  10  in dorsal view with the primary support strap  54  (not shown) already fastened as described in the embodiments above and the secondary support strap  56  being fastened as in  FIGS. 4 and 9 .  FIG. 12  shows glove  10  in palmer view with both straps secured as in  FIGS. 5 and 10 . 
     The present invention provides gloves with improved wrist closure for improved fit and function by providing a dual cross directional strap system with the combination of a primary support strap having an elastic, stretchable portion and a non-stretchable secondary support strap. Advantageously, gloves according to the various embodiments of the invention prevent rapid loosening and maintain proper fit and function for longer periods of time than those of the prior art. 
     Further improvements in fit and function are provided, in certain embodiments of the invention, by inclusion of a volar Y-shaped structure. Here, the glove includes a contouring hand/fist Y-shaped structure to generate a bare-knuckle like contour glove to support maximal force production during striking, while providing a proper fit during open-hand grabbing and repeated transitions between opened and closed hand. This Y-shaped structure is particularly well-suited to mixed martial arts gloves. 
     The gloves may be made of material commonly used to manufacture combat sport gloves. Such materials include leather or vinyl. For padding, commonly known material may be used such as high-density polyurethane. 
     The elements of the present invention described herein may be used in a variety of specific glove types. For example the features may be incorporated into gloves commonly worn in specific combat sports such as boxing, kick-boxing, and mixed martial arts, in which each may use gloves of different weight including, but not limited to, 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz, 16 oz, 18 oz, and 20 oz.