Patent Publication Number: US-6990690-B2

Title: Lacrosse glove

Description:
All patents and publications mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to protective sports gloves, and more specifically, but without limitation, to a lacrosse glove having a cuff constructed and positioned to provide increased protection for a user of the glove. 
   Various protective sporting gloves have been developed over the years for use in lacrosse, hockey, and other similar contact sports. These gloves are designed protect the user of the glove, or player of the sport, against impacts and blows to their hands during participation in the sporting event. Unfortunately, as the protection provided by these gloves increases, the user of these prior art gloves experiences a reduction in the amount of flexibility he has in his hand due to the configuration of the glove. This reduction in flexibility can substantially reduce the effectiveness and level of play of a participant wearing the glove. Traditionally, however, as the level of flexibility allowed by a protective glove remains high, the protection provided by that glove has been limited. It is known in the art to provide a wrist guard on a sports glove to provide protection for participants&#39; wrists between the cuff and hand portions of the glove. However, most of these prior art wrist guards limit the flexibility and therefore often removed by a user of the glove. 
   There are several areas of the hand that need to maintain an increased level of flexibility and yet still need a high level of protection. These areas include the various joints of the fingers and hand including the wrist. The wrist area can be especially problematic due to the high degree of flexibility within the wrist. For example, the hand can extend in the direction from the back of the forearm to the palm side of the forearm in a range of approximately 180°. This degree of rotation combined with the size of the wrist and forearm areas that need to be protected through this full range of motion presents increased problems. 
   For example, as the hand flexes towards the palm side of the forearm, any cuff located on the back of the glove will be drawn towards the hand and away from the forearm and wrist areas. Conversely, when the hand is flexed towards the back of the forearm, any cuff located underneath the glove will be pulled toward the hand and away from the palm side of the forearm. As such, a flexing of the hand at the wrist reduces the protective covering for the wrist and forearm. 
   Compounding this issue is the very padding located at the wrist and forearm areas. In order to sustain as complete of a range of motion as possible for the hand at the wrist, the padding or protection on the forearm and wrist should not substantially restrict the flexibility of the forearm, wrist and hand. Otherwise, the amount of the rotational range of the hand when flexed at the wrist will be limited due to the increased padding and protective materials in the glove. 
   In some instance, the configuration of the cuff itself limits the range of movement for the hand and the flexibility in the glove. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. D462,146, 4,677,698, 4,497,073, 6,550,069, and 6,543,057 all disclose types of protective sports gloves in which the configuration of the glove limits range of movement of the hand at the wrist. In these prior art patents, the interaction between the cuff guard, wrist guard, hand guard, limits the range of movement of the hand at the wrist. This combined with the shape of the cuff on these gloves and the attachment of the individual elements of the cuff to one another substantially reduces the flexibility and range of motion of a wearer of the glove. As such, the users&#39; ability to properly participate in the sport is limited. 
   What is needed then is a protective sports glove that provides adequate protection for the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm of a user of the glove and still maintains a large range of motion for the various joints of the hand and wrist of a user of a glove. 
   This needed glove should protect a wearer of the glove from impacts from impacts from the equipment used within the game, such as hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, pucks, balls, skates, and the like, as well was impacts between participants. This needed glove should provided substantial protection to the participants fingers, hands, wrists, and forearms while maintaining as much flexibility within the glove as possible. The flexibility is desired to allow the user to properly participate in the sport while the protection is required to reduce injury while participating in the sport. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Disclosed herein is a protective sports glove used to protect the fingers, the hand, the wrist, and at least a portion of the forearm of a user of the protective sports glove. The protective sports glove comprises a hand portion, including a palm section and a back section, a plurality of finger portions extending from the hand portion, a thumb portion extending from the hand portion proximate to the finger portions, and a cuff portion attached to the hand portion distal from the finger and thumb portions. The cuff portion includes a plurality of protection sections extending from the hand portion and aligned substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of sports glove. The hand portion, finger portions, and thumb portion include multiple protective elements used to protect a user&#39;s hand, fingers, thumbs, and wrist from impact during participation in the sporting event. 
   Also included is a protective sports glove comprising a back section, a palm section attached to the back section, and a cuff portion attached the back section. The back section includes a plurality of protective elements used to protect the hand of a user of the glove. The cuff includes a plurality of protection sections extending from the back section substantially parallel with the forearm of the user of the glove when the glove is worn by the user. The protection sections include a protection side having padding and protective elements. Each protection section also includes a flared end bent upward towards the protection side of the protection sections. 
   Also included is a wrist portion engaging the hand portion and the cuff portion. The wrist portion substantially covers the attachment between the hand portion and the cuff portion and facilitates in the protection of the user&#39;s wrist, while maintaining the flexibility in the wrist. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a sports glove to protect the hand, wrist, and forearm of a user of the glove during participation in the sport. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a sports glove that maintains the flexibility of the joints in the user&#39;s wrist and hand during participation of a sport while adequately protecting the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm of a user of the glove. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a protective glove that has a cuff comprised of elongated protection sections substantially aligned in an arcuate form. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a sports glove that has a cuff portion including protection sections and designed to allow a large range of motion in the hand of a user of the glove. 
   Another object of the current invention is to provide a protective sports glove that has multiple wrist and forearm protection section pivotally attached to allow independent movement and independent absorption of forces applied to the wrist and forearm areas. 
   Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, upon a reading of the following disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the back side of one embodiment of the glove of the current invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the palm side of one embodiment of the glove of the current invention.  FIG. 2  shows a user&#39;s hand approaching the glove for insertion. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the protective side of one embodiment of the protective glove of the current invention.  FIG. 3  shows a user&#39;s hand inserted into the glove with a portion of the forearm extending out from underneath the cuff of the glove. 
       FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the cuff portion of the glove.  FIG. 4  shows the underside of the cuff portion that is nearest the skin of a user of a glove. 
       FIG. 5   a  shows a view of one embodiment of the protection sections attached to one another. 
       FIG. 5   b  shows the protection sections of  FIG. 5   a  arranged in an arc like alignment. 
       FIG. 6   a  shows an alternate embodiment of a subassembly of the cuff portion. 
       FIG. 6   b  shows a view of the subassembly similar to  FIG. 6   a.    
       FIG. 7   a  shows a top view of one of the individual protection sections shown in  FIG. 6   a  and  FIG. 6   b.    
       FIG. 7   b  shows a side view of the protection section shown in  FIG. 7   a.    
       FIG. 7   c  shows an end view taken along lines  7   c  of  FIG. 7   b.    
       FIG. 8  shows the protection sections shown in  FIGS. 6   a – 7   c  arranged in an arc like design. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring generally now to  FIGS. 1–8 , a protective glove used in sports is shown and generally designated as the numeral  10 . The protective glove  10  can be used in numerous sports, including lacrosse, hockey, and the like. The protective glove  10  includes a longitudinal axis  12  and comprises a hand portion  14 , a plurality of finger portions  16 , a thumb portion  18 , and a cuff portion  20 . The hand portion  14  includes a palm section  22  and a back section  24 , while the plurality of finger portions  16  extend from the hand portion  14 . The thumb portion  18  also extends from the hand portion  14  proximate to the location of the finger portions  16 . 
   The back section  24  of the hand portion  14  includes a plurality of protective elements  26  positioned to protect the hand of a user of the protective glove  10  from impact. Each finger portion  16  and thumb portion  18  includes a grip section  28  and a back section  30 . The back sections  30  also include a plurality of protective elements  26  positioned on the back sections  30  of the finger portions  16  and thumb portion  18  to protect a user of the glove  10  from impact. The protective elements  26  can be padding, plastic, rubber, leather, and other items and materials known in the art to provide protection from impact. 
   The cuff portion  20  is attached to the hand portion  14  distal from the attachment between finger portions  16  and thumb portion  18  to the hand portion  14 . The cuff portion  20  includes a plurality of protection sections  32  extending from the hand portion  14  and aligned substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis  12 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a user&#39;s hand  100  can be inserted and protected by the glove  10 . Specifically, a user&#39;s fingers  102 , thumb  104 , wrist  106 , and forearm  108  can be protected by the glove  10 . The protection for the user&#39;s forearm  108  is at least a partial protection of the lower part of the user&#39;s forearm  108  that is nearest the user&#39;s wrist  106 . 
   The cuff portion  20  includes a cuff opening  21  between the end protection sections  32 . The cuff opening  21  facilitates a full range of a user&#39;s hand  100  when the user wearing a glove  10 . 
   In a preferred embodiment of the glove  10 , the plurality of protection sections  32  are elongated in shape. Each protection section  32  includes a width  34  that increases as each protection section  32  extends away from the hand portion  14 . This is best viewed in  FIG. 7   a . These protection sections  32  include sides  36  that are contoured and facilitate the expansion of the width  34 . 
   Each protection section  32  also includes a protection side  38  and a flared end  40  bent towards the protection side  38 . The flared end  40  facilitates flexibility within the glove by not restricting the range of movement of the hand at the wrist. This full range of movement is facilitated by the degree  41  of the bend located in the flared end  40  of each protection section  32 . This can also be described as the distance  42  in which the flared end  40  raises off parallel with respect to the remainder of the protection section  32 . 
   In a most preferred embodiment, the flared end starts to raise approximately half way along the length  44  of the flared end  40 . Also, the distance  42  with which the flared end  40  raises with respect to the rest of the protection section  32  is approximately 25% of the overall length  44  of the elongated protection section  32 . 
   Each protection section  32  is also attached to the adjacent protection sections  32 . This attachment can be accomplished by various techniques, including, but not limited to, elastic, tied, Velcro®, snapped, and the like. The attachment can occur on the protection side  38  or the user&#39;s side  39  of each protection section  32 . In a preferred embodiment each protection section  32  is elastically attached to each adjacent protection section  32 . The plurality of protection sections  32  are arranged in an arc, or an arc like formation, to substantially conform to the shape of the forearm  108  of a user the glove  10 . This formation substantially protects the top and sides of the user&#39;s forearm  108 . 
   The protection sections  32  can also include attachment apertures  46  used to facilitate attachment between the non-adjacent protection sections  32 . This attachment between these non-adjacent protection sections  32  can be accomplished through numerous techniques, including, but not limited to, elastic, tied, Velcro®, snapped, stitched, and the like. In a preferred embodiment there are at least three protection sections, while in a more preferred embodiment there are four protection sections, while in a most preferred embodiment there are five protection sections that are “bell-shaped” as seen in  FIGS. 6A–6B . 
   The cuff portion  20  also includes an intermediary section  48  connecting the elongated protection section  32  to the hand portion  14 . The intermediary section  48  includes at least one attachment location  50  used to attach the intermediary section to the hand portion  14 . This attachment location can include the use of adhesives, Velcro®, snaps, elastic, tied, stitched, and the like, to secure the cuff portion to the hand portion  14 . The intermediary section  48  includes a liner  52  used to facilitate connection between the elongated protection sections  32  and the intermediary section  48 . The liner  52  can be of any material suitable for a liner known in the art, but preferably comprises spandex. 
   In an alternate embodiment, the intermediary section  48  includes a connection strip  54  with openings  56  to attach the elongated protection section  32  to the intermediary section  48 . The protection sections  32  can be attached through fasteners  57  to the openings  56  and the connection strip  54 , then to the intermediary section  48 . The fasteners  57  can be several items and techniques known in the art, including, but not limited to snaps, tied fabric, elastic, and the like. 
   In a most preferred embodiment a centrally located protection section  33  has an increased width  34 ′ with the respect to the widths  34  of the remaining protection sections  32 . This wider protection section  33  can be designed to be centrally located on the top portion of a user&#39;s forearm  108  when the user is wearing the glove  10  to provide additional protection in an area of potentially increased impact. 
   The glove  10  further includes a wrist portion  58  engaging the hand portion  14  and the cuff portion  20 . The wrist portion  58  substantially covers the attachment between the hand portion  14  and the cuff portion  20  and facilitates protecting the junction between the hand portion  14  and the cuff portion  20 . The wrist portion can have multiple protective elements  26  positioned along its outer surface to protect a wearer of the glove  10  from impacts. The positioning and spacing between the multiple protective elements  26  on the wrist portion  58  facilitates the maintenance of a substantial level of flexibility in the wrist. 
   In an alternate embodiment, each protection section  32  includes at least one side  36  that is coterminous with at least one side  36  of an adjacent protection section  32 . This relationship is best illustrated in  FIG. 5A . Preferably, this coterminous relationship extends along a majority of the length  44  of the protection section  32 . 
   The protection sections  32  are pivotally attached to adjacent protection sections  32  by pivot attachments  37 . The pivot attachments  32  allow independent movement of one protection section  32  relative to adjacent protection sections  32 . The pivotal attachment facilitates the reduction in movement of adjacent protection sections  32  when a single protection section  32  absorbs an impact, or contact, during participation in the sporting event. In a preferred embodiment, the pivotal attachment is a flexible attachment accomplished through elastic. However, other forms of pivotal attachment can be used. 
   Alternately, the glove  10  can be described a glove protecting the hand  100 , wrist  106  and forearm  108  of a user of the glove  10 . The glove  10  comprises a back section  20  that includes a plurality of protective elements  26 , a palm section  22  attached to the back section  24 , and a cuff portion  20  attached the back section  24 . The cuff portion  20  includes a plurality of the protection sections  32  extending from the back section  24  substantially parallel with the forearm  108  of the user. 
   Also, the plurality of the protection sections  32  are arcuately aligned to substantially conform to the shape of the forearm  108  of the user. This alignment along with the configuration of the protection sections  32  facilitates protection of the wrist  106  and forearm  108  of the user of the glove  10 . 
   Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Lacrosse Glove, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.