Patent Publication Number: US-2005114982-A1

Title: Reinforced protective glove

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/526,416 filed Dec. 1, 2003 and entitled PROTECTIVE GLOVE, which application is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to gloves and, more specifically, to protective gloves used in material handling industries.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Many industries require workers to manually handle heavy rigid objects. Consequently, workers are subject to the constant risk of blunt trauma injuries to the hand. It is far too common that a worker has a hand crushed, struck, or pinched by such objects as crates, boxes, bins, or large pieces of raw materials. This type of hand injury is costly both in terms of medical costs and lost productivity. Injured workers typically endure considerable pain and a long recuperation. In many cases, part of the hand is permanently disabled or severed.  
      In such industries, it is common for workers to wear gloves to provide some protection against injury. However, prior gloves typically protect only against abrasion and provide no significant protection against blunt force trauma to the hands from manual cargo and material handling activities. Some gloves do provide padding; however such padding has limited ability to absorb the impact of heavy objects and provides little protection against soft tissue injuries and bone fracture. Moreover, padding typically makes the glove thicker and stiffer. Accordingly, tactile perception is reduced and gripping of objects is made more difficult. Furthermore, the stiffness of the gloves inhibits free movement of the fingers and wrist.  
      In view of the foregoing what is needed is a glove protecting the hand from blunt force injury. Such a glove should permit articulation of the fingers and wrist and provide palm and finger tip surfaces having good gripping ability and permitting good tactility.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a reinforced glove for reducing blunt force trauma to the hand. According to an embodiment of the invention the glove includes a liner shaped to fit over a human hand and made of a flexible material. The liner typically has wrist, metacarpal, and phalangeal portions corresponding to the wrist, metacarpals, and phalanges of the hand. A number of reinforcing members made of rigid material secure to portions of the liner in a manner permitting articulation of the liner by a wearer.  
      The phalangeal portions of the liner may be protected by distal, middle, and proximal guards secured to the liner in positions corresponding approximately to the distal, middle, and proximal bones of the hand. A distal guard may be embodied as a cup enclosing the posterior side of the liner over the distal phalanx bone, leaving the anterior side thereof exposed to facilitate gripping.  
      Middle and proximal guards may secure to the liner in positions corresponding approximately to the middle and proximal phalanx bones of the hand. The middle and proximal guards may include an annular portion substantially encircling the phalangeal portion and positioned at the approximate position of the base, or proximal end, of the middle or proximal phalanx bones. An extension may secure to the annular portion and cover a portion of the posterior side of the phalangeal portions. The extension typically extends from the annular portion toward the head, or distal end, of the middle or proximal bone. The distal, middle, and proximal guards may secure to the liner spaced apart from one another, leaving the anterior side of the liner over the phalangeal joints exposed to facilitate articulation thereof.  
      A metacarpal guard may secure to the posterior side of the metacarpal portion of the liner, leaving the anterior side thereof exposed. In some embodiments, the metacarpal guard comprises supports extending around the lateral sides of the liner approximately to the anterior side. The supports proximate the side of the liner corresponding to the radius bone of the forearm may define a cutout sized to receive the phalangeal portion of the liner corresponding to the thumb of a wearer.  
      A wrist guard may secure to the wrist portion of the liner. The wrist guard typically covers the posterior side of the wrist portion and portions of the anterior side to facilitate insertion of the hand of a user in the glove. The wrist guard may secure to the liner spaced apart from the metacarpal guard such that the portion of the liner over the wrist joint is exposed to permit articulation thereof.  
      As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention provides a glove having a plurality of reinforcing members permitting articulation of the wrist and phalangeal joints. It will also be readily appreciated that the invention provides a glove having portions of the anterior side of the liner exposed to facilitate gripping and tactile perception. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the posterior side of a protective glove, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the anterior side of a protective glove, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a phalangeal portion and corresponding guards, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of phalangeal portion having an outer layer for securing the guards to the liner;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a distal phalangeal guard, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a distal phalangeal guard in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a middle or proximal phalangeal guard, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a middle or proximal phalangeal guard, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a phalangeal portion and corresponding guards in a curled position, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a metacarpal guard, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a wrist guard, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a side view of a wrist guard and metacarpal guard in combination with a liner, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of a wrist guard, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 14  is a top view of a fastening strap, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 15  is a top view of a jig for retaining a liner and reinforcing members during construction of a glove, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the jig of  FIG. 12 , in accordance with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 17  is a cutaway perspective view of a phalangeal portion of a jig, in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      A glove  10  may have a posterior side  12 , illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and an anterior side  14 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A glove  10  may also define a distal end  16  and a proximal end  18 . In the illustrated embodiment the glove  10  comprises a liner  20  and reinforcing members  22 . The liner  20  may be shaped to fit over a human hand and have phalangeal portions  24  corresponding to the fingers of the hand. The liner  20  may likewise include a metacarpal region  26  corresponding to the metacarpal and carpal bones of the hand of a wearer and a wrist region  28  corresponding to the heads of the ulna and radius bones of the forearm.  
      The liner  20  may be constructed of a flexible material such as fabric, leather, flexible polymer, or like material. The liner  20  may be water impervious or porous depending on the application. For example, in maritime applications the liner  20  may be constructed of a water impervious material. Alternatively, the glove  10  may be used as an insert inside an outer glove, in which case the outer glove may be water impervious while the glove  10  is made of a fabric chosen to facilitate comfortable wearing of the glove  10 .  
      The reinforcing members  22  may protect the hand from blunt force trauma. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing members  22  fasten to the glove  10  to facilitate good articulation of the fingers and wrist as well as griping with the anterior side  12  of the glove  10 . In typical applications, the reinforcing members  22  are made of a lightweight, rigid material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Other crush-resistant materials, for example, a metal or fiber, may be used. The reinforcing members  22  may include distal phalangeal guards  30  (or distal guards  30 ), middle phalangeal guards  32  (or middle guards  32 ), proximal phalangeal guards  34  (or proximal guards  34 ), protecting, respectively, the distal, middle, and proximal phalanx bones, of the hand. The reinforcing members  22  may likewise include a metacarpal guard  36  and wrist guard  38  protecting the metacarpal bones and the heads of the ulna and radius bones, respectively.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , a distal guard  30  may secure to the phalangeal portion  24  and extend from slightly past the approximate location  40  of the distal-middle joint of the wearer to the distal end  16 . A middle phalangeal guard  32  secures to the phalangeal portion  24  and extends from slightly past the approximate location  42  of the middle-proximal joint toward the distal end  16 , leaving a gap  44  between itself and the distal guard  30 . A proximal guard  34  may secure to the phalangeal portion  24  and extend from slightly past the approximate location  46  of the proximal-metacarpal joint toward the distal end  16 , leaving a gap  48  between itself and the middle guard  32 . The proximal guard  34  may be secured to the liner  20  such that a gap  50  exists between the proximal guard  34  and the metacarpal guard  36 , leaving the liner  20  exposed over the approximate location  46  of the proximal-metacarpal joint.  
      The distal guard  30 , middle guard  32 , and proximal guard  34  may be glued, stitched, riveted, or otherwise fastened to the phalangeal portion  24 . In some embodiments, a fastening strip  52  may be stitched, or otherwise fastened, to the liner  20  to capture the guards  30 , 32 , 34 . For example, the strip  52  may have a distal end  54  secured near the distal end  16  of the phalangeal portion  24 . The strip  52  may pass through an aperture in the distal guard  30 , extending over a portion of the distal guard  30  and fastening to the phalangeal portion  24  within the gap  44 . Alternatively, the strip  52  may fasten near the distal end of the phalangeal portion  24  and extend over the entire posterior side of the distal guard  30 , rather than passing through an aperture or like structure. Furthermore, during manufacture, it may be desirable to secure the distal end  54  of the strip  52  to the liner  20  before passing the strip  52  through an aperture formed in the distal guard  30  and fastening the strip  52  to the liner  20  within the gap  44 .  
      The strip  52  may also pass over the middle guard  32  and proximal guard  34  and be fastened in the gaps  48 , 50 . In some embodiments, separate strips  52  secure each guard  30 - 34  to the liner  20 . The strip  52  may be made of any flexible and resilient material capable of securing the guards  30 - 34  to the liner  20 . In some embodiments, the strip  52  has a reflective outer surface serving to enhance visibility of the wearer.  
      In some embodiments, the middle guard  32  and proximal guard  34  may encircle, or substantially encircle, the phalangeal portion  24 . Accordingly, a guard  32 , 34  may be secured to the anterior side  14  of the liner  20  by a fastener  54 , such as via stitching or a fastening strip  56 . The stitching or fastening strip  56  may secure to the liner  20  such that the guard  32 , 34  is captured between the stitching  56 , or fastening strip  56 , and the liner  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an alternative embodiment, an outer layer  58  may fit over the liner  20  and guards  22  and be shaped as a glove. The outer layer  58  may be stitched to the liner  20  to retain the guards  22  in the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, the distal guard  30 , middle guard  32 , and proximal guard  34  may be retained by stitching the outer layer  58  to the liner  20  at the locations  40 , 42 , 46  of the distal-middle, middle-proximal, and proximal-metacarpal joints, respectively.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , a distal guard  30  may be embodied as a cup  60  covering the posterior side  12  of the phalangeal portion  24  near the distal end  16  and extending approximately to the anterior side  14  of the distal portion  40 , leaving the anterior side  14  of the liner  20  exposed. A cup  60  may have an aperture  62  formed on the posterior side  12  thereof through which the fastening strip  52  may pass to secure the cup  60  to the phalangeal portion  24 .  
      Fingertip gripping and tactility is important to allow for safe and effective handling of objects. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to expose the anterior side  14  of the liner  20 , inasmuch as the distal guard  30  is made of a rigid material that may not be as suitable for gripping as the liner  20 . In a like manner, the flexible liner  20  may permit improved tactile perception as compared to the rigid material of the distal guard  30 . In some embodiments a cup  60  may have cutouts  66 , exposing portions of the lateral side of the phalangeal portion  24 , as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
      Notwithstanding the exposure of the anterior side  12  of the liner  20 , the distal guard  30  reduces blunt force injuries. Pinching of the distal guard  30  will result in application of force at the anterior side  14  and at the lower edge  64  of the cup  60 , rather than on the finger of a wearer.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , a middle guard  32  and proximal guard  34  may include an annular portion  70  encircling, or substantially encircling, the phalangeal portion  22 . An extension  72  may secure to, or be formed monolithically with, the annular portion  70  and extend therefrom toward the distal end  16 , covering a substantial portion of phalangeal portion  24  over the middle or proximal bones of the wearer. The annular portion  70  may have a width  74  sufficiently small as to leave a substantial portion of the anterior side  12  of the liner  20  exposed in order to facilitate gripping and tactile sensation. The part of the annular portion  70  positioned on the anterior side  14  of the liner  20  may have an outer surface that is textured or coated to improve gripping. In some embodiments, the middle guard  32  and proximal guard  34  are cut from tube shaped material such that the extension  72  is arcuate in shape and has the same radius of curvature as the annular portion  70 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment, the middle guard  32  and proximal guard  34  may be molded plastic, rather than cut from tube shaped stock. Molds made of carbon fiber, or like material, could be used to mold plastic guards  32 , 34  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In other embodiments the guards  32 , 34  are made of carbon fiber or like composite material. In such embodiments, the annular portion  70  may have a circular cross section, as illustrated. The extension  72  may extend from the annular portion  70  as in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , the configuration and disposition of the distal guard  30 , middle guard  32 , and proximal guard  34  may facilitate articulation of the glove. As the finger curls, as illustrated, engagement of the finger with the annular portion  70  causes the extensions  72  of the middle and proximal guards  32 , 34  to remain substantially aligned over the middle and proximal phalanx bones, respectively. Bending of the finger may also cause gathering of material in regions  80 , 82 . Inasmuch as the annular portion  70  has a small width  74  and is positioned near the joint, the material in regions  80 ,  82  is allowed to expand laterally, uninhibited by the guard  32 , 34 , thereby facilitating articulation of the glove  10 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , a metacarpal guard  36  may secure to the posterior  14  of the liner  20  in the metacarpal portion  26 . In some embodiments, the metacarpal guard  36  conforms to the contours of the hand. The metacarpal guard  36  may cover the posterior side  12  of the metacarpal region  26  and have legs  90   a - 90   c  extending therefrom toward the anterior side  14 . Legs  90   a,   90   b  may be positioned on either side of the phalangeal portion  24  corresponding to the thumb, providing a cutout  92  to receive the phalangeal portion  24  corresponding to the thumb of a wearer. In some embodiments, articulation of the thumb may be facilitated by omitting the leg  90   a.  Leg  90   c  may extend from the posterior side  14  toward the anterior side  14  on the ulnar side of the liner  20 . The legs  90   a - 90   c  may transmit force between the anterior side  14  and posterior side  12  such that the force exerted on the metacarpals of the hand is reduced. However, the disposition of the legs  90   a - 90   c  also leaves the anterior side  14  of the liner  20  uncovered, thereby facilitating gripping and tactile perception. In some embodiments an aperture  94 , or apertures  94 , formed in an upper plate  96  covering the posterior side of the metacarpal portion  26  may receive a strap, or like structure fastening the metacarpal guard  36  to the liner  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 11 , a wrist guard  38  may secure to the wrist region  28  of the liner  20  to protect the heads of the ulna and radius bones of the wrist. The wrist guard  38  may be embodied as a ring  100  encircling or substantially encircling the wrist portion  38  of the liner  20 . In some embodiments, the ring  100  may define a gap  102  positioned over the anterior side  14  of the wrist portion  28  in order to facilitate donning of the glove  10 . A wrist guard  38  may have an aperture  104 , such as a slit  104 , or slits  104 , for receiving a strap, or like structure, for securing the wrist guard  38  to the liner  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 12 , the metacarpal guard  36  and wrist guard  38 -may secure to the metacarpal region  26  and wrist region  28 , respectively, of the liner  20 . The metacarpal guard  36  and wrist guard  38  may be spaced apart to leave a gap  110  therebetween. In typical applications, the gap  110  will straddle the approximate location  112  of the wrist joint of a wearer to permit articulation thereof.  
      A metacarpal guard  36  may secure to the liner  20  by glue, thread, rivets, or like fastening means. For example, the metacarpal guard  36  may be glued directly to the liner  20 . In the illustrated embodiment a fastening strap  114  may pass over the posterior side  12  of the metacarpal guard  36  and insert through the apertures  94  formed in the metacarpal guard  36 . The strap  114  may secure at points  116  to the liner  20  to capture the metacarpal guard  36  between itself and the liner  20 .  
      In a like manner, a wrist guard  38  may secure to the liner  20  by means of glue, thread, rivets, or like fastening means. In the illustrated embodiments, a strap  118  passes over a portion of the wrist guard  38  and extends through the aperture  104 , or apertures  104 . The strap  118  may secure to the liner  20  at points  120  to capture the wrist guard  38  between itself and the liner  20 . The straps  114 , 118  may be made of a reflective material to enhance visibility of the wearer.  
      In still other embodiments, the metacarpal guard  36  and wrist guard  38  secure to the line  20  by means of the outer layer  58 . For example, the outer layer  58  may be stitched, or otherwise secured, to the liner  20  near the locations  46  of the proximal-metacarpal joint and near the location  112  of the wrist joint to capture the metacarpal plate  36 . The liner  20  may also secure to the outer layer  58  at or near the cuff  122  in order to capture the wrist guard  38 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , in some embodiments a wrist guard  38  may be embodied as two semi-rings  123   a,   123   b  matable with one another to encircle, or substantially encircle, the wrist of a wearer. In some embodiments, engagement portions  124  may be provided at each edge of each semi-ring  123   a,   123   b  such that the semi-rings  123   a,   123   b  are retained against lateral movement when engaged. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement portions  124  are embodied as tongues  125  formed on semi-ring  123   a  engaging grooves  126  formed on semi-ring  123   b.  The semi-rings  123   a,   123   b  may secure to the liner  20  by any means discussed hereinabove, such as fastening straps, capture between the liner  20  and an outer layer  58  or coating material, rivets, thread, glue, or the like.  
      To facilitate insertion of a wearer&#39;s hand through the wrist guard  38 , wrist portion  28  of the liner  20  may have a flap  127  having a fastening means  128   a  secured thereto, such as VELCRO. The liner  20  may have a mating fastening means  128   b  engaging the fastening means  127   a  to secure the flap  127 . Thus, a user wishing to don the glove  10  may release the fastening means  128   a,    128   b;  pull the flap  127  away, causing the semi-rings  123   a,   123   b  to separate; insert the hand into the glove  10 ; draw the flap  127  over the liner  20  to cause the semi-rings  123   a,   123   b  to reengage; and reengage the fastening means  128   a,   128   b  to retain the flap  127 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a glove  10  may be stretched over a jig  130 . In some embodiments the jig  130  may bias the liner  20  toward engagement with the reinforcing members  22  such that the reinforcing members  22  may be slid over the liner  20  and be held in place by the biasing action of the jig  130 . For example, the distal guard  30 , middle guard  32 , and proximal guard  34  may deform the jig  130  as they are slid over the liner  20  and be held in place by the restoring force of the jig  130 . The metacarpal guard  36  and wrist guard  38  may secure to the jig  130  and liner  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  during manufacture. The jig  130  may be made of an elastic material, such as steel or plastic.  
      The ability of the jig  130  to retain the reinforcing members  22  may facilitate securement of the reinforcing members  22  to the liner  20 . For example, with the reinforcing members  22  retained with respect to the liner  20 , a fastening strip  52  and straps  114 , 118  may be stitched manually, or by machine, over the reinforcing members  22  to substantially permanently fasten the reinforcing members  22  to the liner  20  as described hereinabove. In some instances a curved needle may be suitable for stitching the reinforcing members  22  to the liner  20 . In an alternative embodiment, a coating material may be applied to the liner  20  and reinforcing members  22  which, when cured, will both render the liner  20  water impervious and capture the reinforcing members  22  between the coating and the liner  20 . In some embodiments, a coating will be applied only to the anterior side  14  of the glove to enable the posterior side  16  of the liner  20  to stretch and breathe while providing an anterior side having improved grip. The coating may be applied by spraying the glove  10  or by dipping a portion of the glove  10  in a coating material.  
      A jig  130  may expand the liner  20  in three directions. Accordingly, the jig  130  may include two frames  132   a,   132   b  having phalangeal portions  134 , a metacarpal portion  136 , and a wrist portion  138  mimicking the shape of the hand. The frames  132   a,   132   b  may be placed over one another spaced apart from one another and joined at the distal ends of the phalangeal portions  134  and proximate the wrist portions  138 . The wrist portions  138  may secure to a spacer bracket  140  having a cross section sized to maintain the shape of the wrist portion  28  of the liner  20 .  
      The phalangeal portions  134  of the frames  132   a,    132   b  may be joined as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , with the a distal portion  150  of each phalangeal portion  134  being sloped, or angled, with respect to the remainder of the frame  132   a,   132   b,  such that a securement portion  152  of the frame  132   a  may be positioned proximate a corresponding securement portion  152  of the frame  132   b  while maintaining a separation distance  154  between the frames  132   a,   132   b.  The securement portions  152  of each phalangeal portion  134  of the frame  132   a  secure to a corresponding securement portion  152  of each phalangeal portion  134  of the frame  132   b.    
      While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the liner  20  and reinforcing members  22  may be made of variety of materials. The reinforcing members may be positioned either inside or outside of the liner  20  and may secure to the liner by a variety of means. Furthermore, the glove  10  may be used as an outer glove or as an insert for an outer glove. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.