Patent Publication Number: US-2010122397-A1

Title: Thumb glove

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Thumb Glove was invented for young children to curb the habit of thumb and finger sucking. Current products on the market are easily removable from the thumb and fingers by the child; which allows the child to suck their thumb and fingers at will. I needed a solution that my child could not remove. The Thumb Glove is virtually not removable by the child thereby allowing the parent to retrain the child to stop thumb and finger sucking. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The Thumb Glove incorporates a casing in the material around the wrist. A small belt runs through this casing and buckles on the pinky side of the wrist. The belt can then be turned within the casing so as to make the buckle inaccessible to young children. The belt is adjustable to individual wrist sizes. 
     The Thumb Glove has two styles. The first style accommodates traditional thumb suckers and has the thumb covered with cloth halfway up the fingers. The second style covers all of the fingers and the thumb. This glove helps finger suckers, thumb suckers who have switched to a finger and fingernail biters. 
     It can also be used for children who have a cut or incision that needs to heal. Both glove styles use the unique casing and belt design. 
     The Thumb Glove is made from two fabrics sewn together. The top fabric is 100% cotton interlock. The bottom, or palm, fabric is 100% polyester mesh. The mesh allows the palms to “breathe” while the child wears the gloves. The use of cotton fabric gives comfort and flexibility when wearing the gloves. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is the top view of the half-fingered Thumb Glove. The dotted lines in the wrist area are the seams of the casing. The belt runs through this casing. The seams of the two fabrics around the fingers run along the outside of the thumb and pinky area and in between the fingers. 
         FIG. 1   a  is the palm of the glove showing the mesh fabric. The dotted lines again are the seams of the casing and the belt is visible through the mesh fabric. 
         FIG. 2  is the top view of the full-fingered Thumb Glove. The only difference between  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is that the fingers are completely covered in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3  shows the style of belt used in the casing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Making the gloves begins with an approximately 8 by 10 inch block each of cotton interlock and polyester mesh. A pattern has been stamped on the interlock fabric. The two blocks are pinned together with the stamped pattern facing up (there are no insides or outsides with either cloth). The thumb side is sewn together along the stamped pattern up to the outside of the index finger. All seams are double sewn. The excess is trimmed from the thumb side and across the bottom of the wrist up to the edge of the pattern. The fabrics are then unpinned and opened flat. The bottom is then folded upward to where the thumb meets the wrist on the eventual outside of the fabric. The edge is folded under and sewn across. This makes the top of the casing. The bottom of the casing is then sewn across at the edge of the fabric. The two fabrics are then folded back together to the way they were originally. Then the pinky finger outside seam is sewn together. The excess material is trimmed after the seam is sewn. 
     Then the v-seams/full-fingered seams are sewn together and the excess material is trimmed. The half-fingers are trimmed and the glove is then turned right-side out. Once turned, the casing is opened up by cutting a slit in the top fabric of the casing in both materials along the outside seam of the wrist. The belt is then inserted into the casing and fastened. 
     The wrist casing and the buckled adjustable belt fastened snugly around the wrist and turned to the inside distinguishes the Thumb Glove from any other product that discourages thumb sucking. Some products cover the thumb with fabric but are fastened with Velcro which is easily removable by a child. Other products cover the thumb with plastic cylinders to deter thumb sucking. These cylinders have a simple snap closure and do not allow the child to bend their thumb freely thereby inhibiting play and even necessary tasks such as picking up food or holding utensils. The Thumb Glove effectively covers the thumb and doesn&#39;t allow the child to remove the glove. The cotton and polyester fabrics allows for freedom of movement of the thumb and fingers for any activity. 
     The belt of the Thumb Glove removes easily for laundering the glove. The glove can be machine or hand washed and has minimal shrinkage when dried.