Abstract:
A glove, particularly useful for automobile mechanic work and other types of working environments or sports which brings the dorsal side of the hand in contact with hard objects or the like which may result in injuries to the knuckles of the fingers, thumb and dorsal side of the hand is provided with padding positioned to circumscribe the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and the thumb. The pad covers the distal ends of the metacarpals and the proximal ends of the proximal phalanxes of the fingers with padding being absent at the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This continuation-in-part application claims priority to and benefit from, currently pending, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/132,090 filed on May 18, 2005 entitled “Glove with Dorsal Side Knuckle Protective Padding”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to gloves for the human hand and specifically gloves to protect the dorsal side knuckle areas of the hand. More particularly, this invention relates to a glove which is useful for playing sports or in work wherein padding is provided to protect the dorsal side knuckle areas of the hand with minimum restriction of movement of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and the thumb. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Glove construction for protection of the human hand is well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,226 teaches a dress glove construction which completely covers the fingers and which includes resiliently expandable materials in selected areas to accommodate hands of different sizes. In contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,122 teaches a protective glove which has a wraparound construction for a protective glove which leaves the thumb and finger ends exposed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,609 teaches a protective glove which includes shock absorbing cells disposed at selected portions along the top of the glove. U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,980 teaches a hand glove with a polyurethane foam pad in the palm portion of the glove. U.S. Pat. No. 1,149,139 teaches a grip golf glove and includes a plurality of ventilating apertures which are positioned over or adjacent to the individual knuckles of each finger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,014 is directed to a workman&#39;s glove and teaches knuckle protecting surfaces which are added along a protective-hand enclosing sheet which is preferably porous and of rubber cloth or filamentary mesh with a plurality of knuckle protecting cushion pads disposed along the top rear surface of the glove and a transverse pad covers the knuckles on the back of the hand. Moreover, there are a number of patents for gloves which teach protection of the boney prominence areas of the hand. Although hand protection from direct shocks and abrasions is found in gloves with the current art, what is needed is a glove which provides protection for the dorsal side knuckle area of the hand while minimizing interference with the rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and thumb. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a glove which protects the dorsal side knuckle area of the hand without unduly restriction of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and thumb. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a glove for a human hand which may be useful in the playing of sports or in selected work environments wherein the knuckle areas of the hand are subjected to endeavors which may be injurious to the knuckles area of the hand. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a work glove particularly for use in work areas where the wearer is constantly abrading or subjecting the knuckle area to contact with work pieces such as, for example, an automobile engine or the like. 
     More particularly, the present invention provides a glove for protection of the dorsal side knuckle area of the hand. The glove is provided with a covering for the hand with separate elongated sections to receive a plurality of fingers therein. A first protective pad is attached along a dorsal side of the covering and is located below the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joint of the fingers. A second protective pad is attached to the dorsal side of the covering and is located above the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers. There is an absence of padding at the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and in like reference characters which designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top schematic anatomical skeletal structure of a right side human hand showing a dorsal-side detail; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view showing the positioning for padding of a preferred glove of the present invention showing the dorsal-side detail and seen overlapping the skeletal structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cut-away section taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the glove of the present invention showing the palm-side of the glove; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the glove of the present invention showing the dorsal-side of the glove; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view showing the positioning of padding of another preferred glove of the present invention showing the dorsal-side detail and seen overlaying the skeletal structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view showing the positioning for padding of even another preferred glove of the present invention showing the dorsal-side detail and seen overlaying the skeletal structure of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic anatomical view of the skeletal structure of the dorsal side of a right human hand  10 . Shown are the radius  20 , ulna  21 , radio carpal joint (RC)  23 ′, distal radio ulnar joint (DRUJ)  22 , thumb  64 , index finger  65 , long finger  66 , ring finger  67 , and small or little finger  68 . The carpus  69  comprises eight carpal bones, seven of which are shown in  FIG. 1  and includes the hamate bone  71  with its hook-like protrusion, the scaphoid  24 ′ and the lunate  25 . 
     The thumb  64  is comprised of the distal phalanx  51 , the interphalangeal joint (IP)  46 , proximal phalanx  41 , diaphysis of proximal phalanx  41 ′, metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  36 , metacarpal  31 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  26 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     The small or little 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 , metacarpal  35 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  30 . 
     In  FIGS. 2 ,  6  and  7  are three embodiments showing the positioning of padding of the present invention overlaying the skeletal structure of the dorsal side of the human hand. These FIGS. show only a right hand but it is realized that a left hand utilizes symmetrical placement of the padding, materials, thicknesses and the like herein described. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a preferred glove  100 , particular useful as a work glove, such as those used by auto mechanics which are constantly being rubbed and “banged” against metal parts of an automobile engine, is provided for the right human hand. The glove  100  includes a palmer side panel  102  and a dorsal side panel  104 . The two panels are generally stitched or otherwise attached along their outer periphery and define a plurality of finger stalls and a thumb stall. The finger stalls are identified by the numerals  250  for the index finger,  252  for the long finger,  254  for the ring finger and  256  for the small finger. The thumb stall is identified as  248 . The glove  100  is also provided with an opening  103  to receive the human hand therein. The glove panels  102 ,  104  are made of any suitable material known in the art, such as leather, or the like. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the top portion of the dorsal side panel  104  covers a U-shaped pad  112  which includes a first transversely extending pad portion  114  and a substantially parallel second transversely extending second pad portion  116  with a longitudinally extending connecting pad  115 . The first pad portion  114  extends along the dorsal side of the distal end of the metacarpals  32 ,  33 ,  34  and  35  of the index finger  65 , long finger  66 , ring finger  67  and small finger  68 , respectively. The first pad  114  and the second pad portion  116  are positioned so that the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints  37 ,  38 ,  39  and  40  of the index finger  65 , long finger  66 , ring finger  67 , and small finger  68 , respectively, are absent of padding. Preferrably, longitudinally extending pad  115  extends along the thumb side of the index finger  65  thereby connecting first pad portion  114  with second pad portion  116  along the metacarpalphalangeal joint  37 . As shown, the U-shaped pad  112 , including the first pad portion  114  and the second pad portion  116 , is of unitary construction. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the padding  114  and  116  extends above the knuckle area of the fingers so that in a bent condition the padding surrounds the knuckle but does not interfere with the bending movement and flexibility of the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers with an open end distal to the little finger  56 . Also as shown in  FIG. 2  is a third pad  118  which is provided along the proximal phalanx  41  of the thumb  64  below the interphalangeal joint  46  and above the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36  so that the joints  36  and  46  are absent of padding and therefore minimizes interference with movement and flexibility of the thumb. 
     Shown in  FIG. 6  is another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the pad to protect the knuckle areas of the hand is of unitary construction as identified by the numeral  212 . A first pad portion  214  is positioned to cover the same areas of the finger as the pad  114  as shown in  FIG. 2  and the second pad portion identified by the numeral  216  is positioned to cover the same areas of the dorsal side of the hand as the second pad portion  116  in  FIG. 2 . Again, the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints  37 ,  38 ,  39  and  40  are free of padding therefore providing relatively free movement of the knuckles. However, padding is provided between the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints  37 ,  38 ,  39  and  40  to provide additional protection to the areas between the knuckles of each finger. The additional padding identified by the numeral  220  is positioned between the metacarpalphalangeal joints  37  and  38  whereas the padding  222  is positioned between the metacarpalphalangeal joints  38 ,  39  and padding identified by the numeral  224  is positioned between the metacarpalphalangeal joints  39  and  40 . As shown, the pads  220 ,  222 ,  224  include ring shaped cut-outs surrounding each joint of each finger. Also, as shown in  FIG. 6  a third pad  218  of oval construction is positioned to surround the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36  of the thumb. 
     Shown in  FIG. 7  is even another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the pad to protect the knuckles area of the hand includes generally U-shaped pad  312  with a first pad portion  314  and a second pad portion  316  which covers the same areas of the fingers as the pad  112  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The padding  312  is configured to include padding between the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers also. Additionally, padding shown as U-shaped pads  330 ,  332 ,  334 , and  336  are provided to protect the proximal interphalangeal joints  47 ,  48 ,  49  and  50  of the index finger, long finger, ring finger, middle finger and small finger, respectfully. U-shaped pads  330 ,  332 ,  334  and  336  are positioned to cover the distal end of the proximal phalanxes  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  45  and the proximal end of the middle phalanxes  52 ,  53 ,  54  and  55  with the absence of padding over the proximal interphalangeal joints  47 ,  48 ,  49  and  50 . A generally U-shaped pad  340  is also provided to circumscribe the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36  of the thumb. Additionally, pad  318  is provided along the inside of the proximal phalanx  41  of the thumb  64 . The pad  318  is positioned below the interphalangeal joint  46  and above the metacarpalphalangeal joint  36  of the thumb  64 . Even further, a U-shaped pad  342  is provided to circumscribe the distal radio ulnar joint  22  of the wrist area of the hand. 
     Also in  FIG. 7  an expansion motion zone  350  is provided to include additional flexibility in the use of the glove. Motion zone  350  includes an area extending along the inside of the glove between the thumb  64  and the index finger  65  to the wrist area. A thin strip of flexible material or webbing is generally provided in the area identified by the numeral  350  which enables easy expansion and movement of the thumb when in a use condition. 
     The detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.