Patent Publication Number: US-6658668-B2

Title: Oven glove with gripping element

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to heat protective devices such as pot holders and oven mitts which enable a wearer or user to handle hot items from an oven or microwave. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A heat protective hand covering device such as an oven mitt or pot holder is often used during cooking to handle hot items in the kitchen. However, because oven mitts and pot holders are relatively large, thick and bulky, it is often difficult to securely grasp and move a pan or dish from an oven or microwave. In addition, the oven mitt or pot holder frequently becomes soiled because part of the mitt or pot holder invariably gets into the food that the dish contains. Further, oven mitts and pot holders often. provide limited heat protection and there is a risk of burning the hand when handling the hot item for an extended period of time. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,556 to Mehler discloses a soil resistant and heat reflective oven mitt including a panel comprising an absorbent layer and an exterior heat reflecting and stain resisting layer on each side of the absorbent layer. The panel defines a hand receiving portion including a thumb cot attached thereto. One shortcoming of the oven mitt of the Mehler patent is that the mitt is large, thick and bulky, making it difficult for a wearer to grasp a dish. Further, the wearer must wash off any soiled material collected on the surface of the mitt. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A principal object of the present invention is to provide a hand covering device comprising a gripping element attached to a thumb piece so as to enable a wearer to securely grip hot items and reduce soilage on the thumb piece. 
     A more specific object of the invention is to provide a heat protective device comprising a gripping element that is attached to a thumb piece and extends outwardly from the thumb piece so as to permit the wearer to position the gripping element over an edge of a hot item to enable the item to be moved. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a glove device that may be conveniently and comfortably worn upon the hands while protecting the hands from injury due to burns. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand covering device for handling hot items in a kitchen, said hand covering device comprising: a hand covering member having a front side including heat retardant material; a thumb piece affixed to said hand covering member, said thumb piece including heat retardant material; and a gripping element affixed to said thumb piece for enabling gripping of an item, said gripping element extending outwardly from said thumb piece away from said heat retardant material of the thumb piece. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a glove device is provided for enabling a wearer to remove hot items from an oven or microwave, the glove device comprising: a hand receiving member including an opening for receiving a hand of the wearer, said member having a palm side, and said palm side including heat retardant material; said hand receiving member further including a thumb receiving portion including heat retardant material; and a gripping projection secured to said thumb receiving portion for enabling the wearer to grip hot items, said projection extending outwardly from said thumb receiving portion so as to permit said projection to be positioned over an edge of a hot item to enable the item to be moved. As used herein, the word “glove device” is intended to cover both mitts and gloves with separate fingers. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an oven glove device for handling hot items, said glove device comprising: a main panel including a hand receiving portion having a palm side, said palm side including at least one heat retardant pad; a thumb piece affixed to said main panel said thumb piece including at least one heat retardant pad; and a gripping element attached to said thumb piece, said gripping element projecting outwardly from said thumb piece. 
     Further features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing the front or palm side of an oven glove in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the front or palm side of an oven mitt in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a hand covering device or glove device is shown, which is generally denoted  10 . Although a right-handed glove device is shown, it will be understood that the hand covering device can also be a left-handed covering device and that either one hand covering device or a pair of such hand covering devices can be provided to handle hot items. The hand covering device  10  includes a hand receiving member or a hand covering member  12  that forms a main panel of device  10 . The hand receiving member  12  includes an opening  14  for receiving the hand of a user. A thumb piece or thumb receiving member  16  is formed integrally with, or affixed to, the hand receiving member  12 . The glove device  10  also includes four finger extensions or finger receiving members  18  which are formed integrally with, or attached to, the hand receiving member  12 . As described thus far, glove device  10  is of conventional construction and it will be appreciated that gloves of other shapes and configurations can be employed. 
     Glove device  10  also includes a gripping element  20  which is attached to the thumb piece  16  and extends outwardly from the thumb piece  16 . The gripping element  20  preferably extends perpendicularly with respect to the thumb piece  16  as illustrated but can extend at a different angle so long as element  20  is able to perform its gripping function. 
     The front or palm side of the main panel of member  12 , as well as the thumb piece  16 , and each of the finger extensions  18  include heat retardant areas  22  which allows a wearer to handle hot items for prolonged periods of time without sustaining burns. The heat retardant areas  22  preferably comprise heat retardant pads  23  of different sizes adapted to be accommodated on the corresponding portion of glove device  10 . 
     In a specific, non-limiting example, the heat retardant pads  23  are positioned on the finger extensions  18  and are approximately ⅛ inch thick, 2 inches long and ½ inch wide. The retardant pads  23  are adapted to prevent heat from reaching the fingers. Similarly, the front or palm side of member  12  can be totally covered with a single heat retardant pad  23  or can be covered by a plurality of heat retardant pads  23  as illustrated. Although such pads are advantageous, it will be appreciated that the heat retardant areas  22  can be comprised of heat retardant material formed integrally with or affixed to the finger extensions  18 , thumb piece  16  and the front or palm side of the hand receiving member  12 . 
     Gripping element  20  is preferably a fire retardant element constructed of a heat resistant or heat retardant plastic material or of wood. The gripping element  20  can be physically constructed in various geometrical shapes including square or rectangular and can also be of a round cylindrical shape. In general, the size and shape of the gripping element  20  is selected so as to permit the gripping element  20  to be positioned a sufficient amount over an edge of a hot dish, pot, pan or like item to enable the dish or item to be moved using the element  20 . It will be appreciated that because the gripping element  20  is positioned over the edge of a dish or pot a sufficient amount, the tip of the thumb piece  16  does not make contact with the contents of the dish, thus reducing soilage of the glove device  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment is similar to that of FIG.  1  and like elements have been given the same reference numerals. The embodiment of FIG. 2 mainly differs from that of FIG. 1 in that device  10  of FIG. 2 is an oven mitt with a single mitt portion  24  for receiving the fingers of the hand of a wearer. A heat retardant area  22  covers both mitt portion  24  and a portion of thumb piece  16  surrounding gripping element  20 . Other configurations can also be used. 
     In a further, non-illustrated embodiment, hand covering device in the form of a pot holder (not shown) is provided with a thumb piece with a gripping element corresponding to that described above. 
     Although the invention has been described above in relation to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.