Patent Publication Number: US-2011072552-A1

Title: Glove With Compartment

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to gloves and, more specifically, to gloves that include a compartment for storing personal items. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Items such as keys, bankcards, credit cards, identification cards, cash and driver&#39;s licenses are typically kept in a wallet, purse, or pocket. During exercise or other vigorous activity, such items may not be easily or comfortably kept on a person. For example, exercise apparel may not have pockets, storing items in pockets during such activities may be bothersome, and there is a risk the items may fall out of a person&#39;s pockets during exercise. Thus, a person commonly has a need for a place to keep such items during exercise. 
     Gloves are used in many activities for purposes of performance or protection. Such activities include weight lifting, operating a wheel chair, skiing, bicycling, tennis, running, and golf. These activities are facilitated by gloves that are substantially tight fitting and that do not constrain the movement of the hand. 
     Gloves with pockets for storing items are known. However, such gloves are not suitable for vigorous activities such as those mentioned above. The gloves are not tight fitting, have pockets that are too small to accommodate relatively large items, have pockets that are not useful for storing the items mentioned, have pockets that cause the glove to constrict around the hand when filled, have pockets that cause a glove to obstruct the flexibility of the hand when filled, have pockets that are too large or that do not immobilize or hold items securely, or have pockets that are not easily accessible by the wearer. 
     The need for an exercise glove that is substantially tight fitting and at the same time provides storage for small or large items presents a number of issues that have not been addressed by the prior art. Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     SUMMARY 
     The various embodiments of the present disclosure overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a substantially tight fitting exercise glove with a compartment for storing a variety of articles including substantially large and rigid items such as a driver&#39;s license, keys, credit cards, and identification cards or flexible items such as cash. The flexibility of the hand is not compromised when such items are stored in the glove compartment. The contents of the compartment are easily accessible even when the glove is worn. 
     Generally described, the glove is adapted to facilitate any vigorous, strenuous, or otherwise active endeavor, including but not limited to exercise, sports, yard work, wheelchair operation, and the like, and may provide protection, for example, from the elements, from friction, or to improve the wearer&#39;s grip. The glove at least partially envelops the hand, and may or may not enclose the fingers and/or thumb. At minimum, the glove embodiments described herein include a back panel that extends at least partially across the back of the wearer&#39;s hand. 
     The glove includes a compartment that is configured to receive items. According to one aspect of the disclosure, the compartment is substantially the size of the back of a hand, and is adapted to rest against the back of the hand when the glove is worn. 
     According to another aspect, the tightness of the glove can be adjusted using any of various possible adjusting features; the compartment is formed in or on the glove so as not to inhibit this adjustment, but rather to cooperate with the adjusting features. For example, the compartment may be integral to an arrangement that tightens the glove around a hand. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the tightening arrangement is a flap that is permanently or detachably anchored to the back panel of the glove along a first edge of the flap. The flap can be pulled across and detachably connected to the back panel of the glove, for example, by regions of hook-and-loop fasteners or by other means for detachably connecting material. The tightness of the glove can be adjusted as points of connection of the flap to the back of the glove are adjusted. Specifically, although the anchored edge provides a permanently or selectively fixed point of connection between the flap and the glove, the hook-and-loop fasteners enable the opposite end of the flap to be attached at different points to the glove according to what is comfortable to the user when the compartment is filled with one or more items. 
     In alternative embodiments, the compartment is not necessarily part of the tightening arrangement but is part of a structure that can be adjusted along with such a tightening arrangement. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, the interior of the compartment is secured by a closure that is easily accessible, particularly when the glove is worn. For example, where the glove includes a flap that includes a compartment, a first edge of the flap is anchored to the glove and hook-and-loop fasteners are configured to releasably secure the flap to the back panel of the glove so that the glove lies substantially against the back of the wearer&#39;s hand. An opening or access to the compartment is positioned adjacent the anchor point between the flap and the glove, and a closure such as a zipper is configured to selectively open and close the opening. In other words, an access is positioned nearer to the anchor point adjacent the proximal end of the flap and opposite the distal end of the flap. This is an ergonomic arrangement that allows an item to set in the pocket defined by the compartment while the compartment is zipped up or otherwise closed. Further, operating the closure of the compartment does not inadvertently detach the flap when the flap is releasably secured to the back panel of the glove so as to close or tighten the glove on the user&#39;s hand. 
     For example, the access of the compartment is provided to enable a top wall of the compartment and a bottom wall of the compartment to separate, i.e., to pull apart to reveal the interior of the compartment. In certain embodiments, the opening is adjacent the inside of the hand and the bottom of the compartment is adjacent the outside of the hand. As used herein, the “inside” of the hand refers to the portion of the hand adjacent the thumb and the “outside” of the hand refers to the blade or outside of the hand. 
     In certain embodiments, the compartment is expandable. An exemplary embodiment of an expandable compartment includes gussets that connect the top wall of the compartment to the base wall of the compartment. As the top wall is separated from the base wall, the gussets define sidewalls of a pocket for receiving items. The gussets collapse when the compartment is closed. Other exemplary embodiments of compartments include pockets. The pockets can be layered against the inside of one of the walls of the compartment or partition walls can extend between the gussets to define pockets. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, the compartment does not constrain movements of the hand. To that end, the compartment is positioned above the radius to avoid restricting flexing of the hand at the wrist, and may include a portion that is separate from the back panel of the glove. This aspect is particularly useful in embodiments in which the compartment is configured to be coextensive with the back of the wearer&#39;s hand, i.e., the compartment is substantially the size of the back of the hand. Alternatively described, the base wall of the compartment is partially separated from the back of the glove. This arrangement provides that the base wall and top wall of the compartment are not stretched significantly along with the glove during certain hand movements, such as making a fist, nor does the compartment restrict such movements. This separation permits the compartment to float on the back of the hand rather than conforming to the shape of the hand with certain hand movements. In certain embodiments, for example, the separate portion may be the portion of the base wall that is adjacent to a knuckle area of the glove. 
     The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of the present invention, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand wearing a glove according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the glove of  FIG. 1 , a flap of the glove being partially detached from the glove. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the glove of  FIG. 1 , a compartment of the glove being open. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of the glove of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 5-7  are partial perspective views of glove compartments, according to alternative exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are partial perspective views of a glove, according to another alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a hand wearing a glove according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials, or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     In general, the embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a glove that includes a compartment. The illustrated gloves and compartments are provided for purposes of teaching although many different configurations of gloves and compartments can incorporate the teachings of the disclosure. As used herein, the term glove is expansively defined as an article that is shaped to at least partially cover a hand or that is otherwise configured to be worn on a hand. The term compartment is expansively defined as a structure for storing an item. For example, a compartment can include a pocket, a pouch, a receptacle, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     The illustrated gloves are configured so as to be substantially tight-fitting around a hand as is common for many types of exercise gloves. As used herein, the term tight-fitting means substantially closely conforming to any of the contours of the wearer&#39;s hand without necessarily being elastic. The gloves can be formed from flexible materials, fabrics or cloths, leather, elastic material, soft plastics, combinations thereof, and the like. All or part of the glove may be water resistant or water proof to protect the wearer&#39;s hand and belongings from the flow of fluids such as sweat or water. 
     Referring to a first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the illustrated glove  10  includes a sleeve with a palm panel  12 , a back panel  14 , finger and thumb openings  16 , and a wrist opening  18 . The term “panel” is used herein to identify a particular area or section of the article, and does not imply limitation to a single or seamless piece of material. 
     The glove  10  includes a tightening arrangement to tighten the glove around the hand. The illustrated tightening arrangement includes a flap  20  that connects or otherwise controls the relative positions of a first section  22  of the back panel  14  to a second section  24  of the back panel  14 . 
     The sections  22 ,  24  are partially separated from one another by a slit  26  that extends from the wrist opening  18 . Generally, the slit  26  expands the wrist opening  18  so that a hand can easily be inserted therethrough. 
     An anchored edge  30  of the illustrated flap  20  is connected in part to the first section  22  and can detachably and adjustably connect to the back panel  14  by a touch fastener such as one or more hook-and-loop fasteners so as to draw the first section  22  toward the second section  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, a hook region  32  is positioned on the second section  24  and a loop region  34  is positioned on the inside surface of the flap  20 . The flap  20  can pivot along the anchored edge  30  away from the back panel  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and can pivot into a face contacting arrangement with the back panel  14  there by overlapping the hook region  32  and the loop region  34  to form a mating connection. Overlapping portions of the hook region  32  and the loop region  34  detachably connect to one another and thereby secure the flap  20  to the second section  24 . In alternative embodiments, the loop region  34  can be positioned on the second section  24  and the hook region  32  can be positioned on the inside surface of flap  20 . The hook region  32  is typically more abrasive and the loop region  34  is typically less abrasive and the position of each can be selected to limit irritation to the hand. Those skilled in the art will recognize that hook-and-loop fasteners are only one example of various touch fasteners that are suitable in that they provide suitable means for connection that maximizes adjustability and strength of the connection without requiring the wearer to match up male and female components. Other examples of suitable touch fasteners include magnetic or reusable adhesive surfaces, and directional adhesives. Additionally, use of various other types of fasteners such as hook-and-eye fasteners, zippers, or snaps is contemplated, as such mechanical fasteners are not inconsistent with the principles taught herein. 
     In an embodiment described in further detail below, the flap is separable from the remainder of the glove using a detachable connection along the anchored edge  30 . In such an embodiment, the loop region can be positioned on the back panel such that the back of the glove is not abrasive when worn without the flap. 
     The illustrated flap  20  includes a compartment  40 . The illustrated compartment  40  includes a base wall  42  and a top wall  44  that are connected to one another along respective edges. In the illustrated embodiments, the compartment  40  is formed in or on the flap  20 . One or more items can be stored in the space between the walls  42 ,  44  and a closure  46  permits the compartment to be selectively opened and closed. The illustrated closure  46  is a hidden zipper although other closures can include hook-and-loop fasteners, hook-and-eye fasteners, reusable adhesive strips, clasps, snaps, clips, buttons, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     The illustrated compartment  40  is configured such that the walls  42 ,  44  are connected along a bottom edge  48  and along portions of side edges  50 ,  52 . The zipper that defines closure  46  selectively connects the walls  42 ,  44  along portions of the side edges  50 ,  52  and along a top edge  54 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the zipper of closure  46  can be unzipped to allow the top wall  44  to be partially separated from the base wall  42 . A pocket  60  is defined by the portions of the walls  42 ,  44  that remain connected along edges  48 ,  50 ,  52 . It should be noted that the illustrated closure is offset from the anchored edge  30  as shown. 
     The illustrated compartment  40  is further optimally configured such that access thereto can be accomplished adjacent the anchored edge  30  of the flap  20 , i.e., adjacent to the inner edge of the hand or near the thumb. With such a configuration, the user does not apply a force that could inadvertently detach the flap  20  from the second section  24  or along the anchored edge  30  when accessing the compartment  40 . Specifically, after operating the closure  46  to open the compartment  40 , at least part of the top wall  44  can be pulled outwardly and toward the distal end  31  of the flap  20 . This motion is opposite the motion that is used to detach the flap  20  from the second section  24 . For example, to detach the flap  20  so as to separate the first section  22  from the second section  24  to loosen the glove  10 , the distal end  31  of the flap  20  is pulled toward the edge  30 . In addition, this configuration makes it easy to orient the compartment  40  with the closure  46  of the compartment  40  facing the user such that the user can operate the closure  46 , insert items into the compartment  40 , and remove items from the compartment  40 . In other words, the opening of the compartment  40  is positioned such that a highly ergonomic position of palm down and thumb oriented between parallel and perpendicular to the wearer&#39;s body allows easy operation of the closure  46  and access to the compartment  40  with the opposite hand. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  demonstrates an alternative arrangement for the closure  46  that allows access, for example, starting by moving the zipper pull along and then away from the anchored edge  30  to open the compartment, as shown in the figure. It is contemplated that rather than extending toward the wrist, yet another embodiment (not shown) includes a closure that is the mirror image along a horizontal line, extending instead toward the knuckles. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the opening process is determined at least in part by the type of closure used, and accordingly, the pertinent teaching is that the closure is to be operated in a manner that does not undesirably detach the flap  20 , cause articles to fall out, or loosen the fit of the glove  10 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the compartment  40  is substantially the size of the back of the intended wearer&#39;s hand. The compartment  40  extends longitudinally from substantially the wrist area of the hand to substantially the knuckle area of the hand and extends transversely from substantially the inside edge of the index finger to substantially the outside edge of the ring finger. The configuration described herein permits the compartment  40  to be relatively large while facilitating performance comparable to that which can be achieved while wearing a typical glove that does not have a compartment. Hence, the compartment  40  is large enough to contain, for example, one or more credit cards, driver&#39;s licenses, or gym membership cards, which typically are manufactured with standard dimensions of approximately 3.37 inches by 2.1 inches. To enclose such cards, the interior of the compartment  40  is substantially rectangular and is somewhat larger than a standard card to allow some clearance to easily insert and remove the cards and to store more than one such card. The compartment may also be large enough to enclose one or more keys, such as the typical car key, which are often well over three inches long. The corners of the illustrated compartment  40  are preferably rounded to facilitate smooth operation of the closure  46 . 
     The illustrated hook-and-loop regions  32 ,  34  extend substantially the width of the compartment  40  but extend only along a portion of the length of the compartment  40 . An attached portion of the compartment  40 , here defined by the hook-and-loop regions  32 ,  34 , extends longitudinally from the wrist area toward the knuckle area although the hook-and-loop regions  32 ,  34  are spaced apart from the knuckle area. As such, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a free portion  62  of the compartment  40  is not attached to the back panel  14  but rather is cantilevered or floats above the back panel  14 . This arrangement permits the size of the compartment  40  to be maximized without compromising the flexibility of the glove  10 . The size, number, and position of hook-and-loop regions  32 ,  34  are optimized so as to stabilize the compartment against the back of the hand. 
     The illustrated glove  10  includes a clip  70  that permits attaching the glove  10 , for example, to a waistband, neckline, or other edge of an article of clothing. The illustrated clip  70  has a proximal end  72  that is attached to the flap  20  and a distal end  74  that extends over the flap  20  near distal end  31 . It should be noted that the distal end  31  can be used to grasp the flap  20  to separate the hook and loop regions  32 ,  34 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the clip  70  can comprise any suitable means for attaching the glove  10 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 5-10 , additional exemplary embodiments are illustrated. Where the elements introduced and described above are present and substantially similar in this embodiment, the same element number has been used. The description of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 5-10  will be directed to features that were not described in the first exemplary embodiment and description of features that were described in the first exemplary embodiment will be limited. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , various exemplary compartment configurations are illustrated.  FIG. 5  is a partial view of the compartment  40  with the top wall  44  pulled back along the bottom edge  48  to reveal its interior. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the walls  42 ,  44  are connected along the bottom edge  48  and the closure  46  can selectively connect the walls  42 ,  44  along the side edges  50 ,  52  and the top edge  54 . One or more flat pockets  80  that are layered and connected to the base wall  42  and are configured to hold credit cards in a tiered manner. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the walls  42 ,  44  are connected along the bottom edge  48 , gussets  82  provide collapsible side walls that connect the base wall  42  and the top wall  44 , and the closure  46  selectively connects the walls  42 ,  44  along the side edges  50 ,  52  and the top edge  54 . The gussets  82  permit the opening to the compartment  40  to expand such that an item can be easily inserted into the compartment  40  or removed from the compartment  40 . The gussets  82  also allow the compartment  40  to conform to accommodate larger items and smaller items while snugly holding any such items in place so as to prevent them undesirably shifting about during the user&#39;s work-out or activity. Referring to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , additional walls can extend between the gussets  82  to partition and define pockets in the compartment  40 . 
     Referring to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the flap  20  can be fully detached from the glove  10  by separating the flap  20  along its anchored edge  30 . The illustrated glove  10  includes a second zipper (not shown) or other suitable means for detachably connecting the anchored edge  30  that permits the flap  20  to be selectively detached and reattached. To permit the glove to tighten around the hand when the flap  20  is detached, the illustrated glove includes a third zipper  84  or other suitable fastener that can selectively open and close the slit  26 , which can be positioned elsewhere on the glove as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The present invention has been illustrated in relation to a particular embodiment which is intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the illustrated embodiments are capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the teachings. For example, as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “base”, “bottom”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “middle”, “lower”, “front”, and “rear” do not limit the elements of the glove to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish the elements from one another. 
     The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.