Abstract:
A protective hand guard, equipped with rigid inserts, with a primary use as a defensive deterrent to attack or assault. The inserts protrude from a fabric covering, which fits around a hand, similarly to a fingerless glove or a mitt. Specifically, the rigid inserts can be positioned either in the knuckle-side or palm-side of the hand, and held in place within pockets of an over covering. The rigid inserts are cushioned at their bases and mounted within the pockets, to provide comfort and absorption of impacts against the inserts. The inserts can be curved to follow the natural contours of the knuckle or palm, as desired.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a glove type of hand guard, equipped with rigid inserts, with a primary use as a defensive deterrent to attack or assault. Specifically, the rigid inserts can be positioned either in the knuckle-side or palm-side of the hand, and held in place within pockets of an over-covering. The rigid inserts are cushioned at their bases, to provide comfort and absorption of impacts against the inserts. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Defense from personal, physical attack is vital for the safety of any persons who must subject themselves to situations that place them in potential harm from assailants. Chemical deterrents, such as mace or pepper spray may only infuriate an assailant, and firearms or other weapons, can be difficult to access at a moments notice, and further escalate a confrontation to violence. Martial arts type of arm guards and shields might be useful in defensive situations, but these guards are typically for defending against attacks alone. Additionally, martial arts or other ‘open-handed’ defense techniques, require training and strength that many persons lack. A new and simple system for a protective hand guard is needed that better provides a counter attacking measure without the need for extensive training, to provide an immediate defensive protection against would-be assailants. 
         [0003]    A hand guard specially suited for a defensive deterrent and countermeasure in the event of a hand-to-hand assault is needed that dampens impact force, while providing protection to the user in an unobtrusive form. Such a hand guard must be especially suited for use by women or any other persons in need of an easy, quick and simple deterrent to assault, without requiring an overpowering strength, simply and efficiently. 
         [0004]    The present invention addresses these deficiencies in prior guards, and meets these needs. Furthermore, the aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following figures and description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a hand guard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a hand guard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a hand guard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a portion of a rigid insert of a hand guard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a sectioned view of a rigid insert of a hand guard along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a protective hand guard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0011]    Reference characters included in the above drawings indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as discussed herein. The description herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and the description herein is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. It should be understood that the above listed figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views, graphic symbols, diagrammatic or schematic representations, and phantom lines. Details that are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention by one skilled in the technology of the invention, or render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    A hand guard for use as a defensive protection is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . The hand guard  15  is specially suited for a defensive deterrent and countermeasure in the event of a hand-to-hand assault. The hand guard dampens impact force, while providing protection to the user in an unobtrusive form. The protective hand guard of the present invention is especially suited for use by women or any other persons in need of an easy, quick and simple deterrent to assault, without requiring an overpowering strength. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the hand guard  15  includes a cover  17  formed from of a flexible material  16 , shaped to fit on a hand  20  of a user. The hand includes fingers  33 , and a thumb  34 , with a first or index finger  33 A, opposed to the thumb. The hand also has a palm side  35  with a palm pad or ‘palm heel’  36 , which is near the wrist  31 . The palm side of the hand is opposed to a backside  38 , which includes a knuckle ridge  39 . 
         [0014]    The flexible material  16  of the cover  17  may be any conventional and preferably breathable glove material, such as a leather, cotton fabric, or rubberized material. Most preferably, a breathable and dimpled fabric is utilized for the cover, as typified by the dimpled, “Clarino” brand of synthetic leather glove material. The cover includes a palm panel  17 P, for covering the palm side  35  of the hand  20 , and a knuckle panel  17 K, for covering the backside  38  of the hand. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6 , the cover  17  of the hand guard  15  preferably includes a flap  18  for the easy fitting and removal of the cover from the hand  20  of the user. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the flap can be a first flap  18 A that fits over a second flap  18 B. The two flaps are preferably equipped with an adhere-able closure  40 . A velcro type of closure is preferred for quick and easy placement and removal of the hand guard onto the hand, with the first flap adhere-able to the second flap in fitting on the hand of the user. The first flap is preferably an extension of the palm panel  17 P of the cover, and the second flap is preferably an extension of the knuckle panel  17 K of the cover. Other known closures, such as zippers, clips, adhesive or simply an elastic connection between the palm panel and the knuckle panel are considered as alternative closure and fitting systems for the hand guard. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the cover  17  of the hand guard  15  is ‘fingerless,’ as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , To stay in place on the hand  20  of the user, the cover in the fingerless embodiment, preferably includes a connector strip  24  positioned approximately between the index finger  33 A and the thumb. The connector strip connects the palm panel  17 P to the knuckle panel  17 K of the cover. 
         [0017]    The term “approximately” is used herein to refer to a range of values or relative orientations, understood by a person skilled in the pertinent field or skill, as being substantially equivalent to the herein stated values in achieving the desired results, a range typical to the accuracy and precision of conventional tooling, instrumentation or techniques, or a functionally equivalent range of features that produce equivalent results to those described herein. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a rigid insert  22  is incorporated into the hand guard  15 . The rigid insert includes an exposed ridge bar  25  mounted upon, or as preferred, integral to a base plate  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The exposed ridge bar may be referred to simply as the ‘bar,’ and the rigid insert may be simply referred to simply as the ‘insert.’ The rigid insert is positioned within the cover, and abuts to the hand  20  of the user, and is positioned between the fingers  33  and the wrist  31  of the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0019]    The exposed ridge bar  25  of the rigid insert  22  extends from the base plate  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and the rigid insert includes a base cushion  27  adhered to the base plate, preferably with the aid of a strong layer of plate adhesive  30 A. The plate adhesive can be any adhesive for adhering the materials of the base plate and the base cushion, as selected by those skilled in adhesive technologies. The base cushion is positionable between the base plate and the hand  20 , and most preferably the base cushion is glued to the base plate of the rigid insert. The base cushion is most preferably a high density type of closed cell foam material, selected to provide a maximum of cushioning and absorption of impact to the rigid insert, at a minimum of total thickness. A most preferred base cushion is neoprene, cut and adhered to the base plate as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0020]    The exposed ridge bar  25  of the rigid insert  22  is outwardly extendable from the hand  20  when the cover is fitted on the hand of the user. The bar is preferably formed from a light and easily machined metal, such as an aluminum alloy. Other materials including metals, composites and plastics are considered for forming the bar, such as a titanium, a carbon fiber, or a high impact poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC) as typified by “Vintec” brand of Type II PVC. 
         [0021]    The cover  17  of the hand guard  15  includes a bar slot  28  that receives the bar  25  of the rigid insert  22 . The base plate  26  of the insert is positioned beneath the cover, and the exposed ridge bar extends or protrudes through the ridge slot of the cover, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The bar slot may be located on the palm panel  17 P of the cover, the knuckle panel  17 K of the cover, or both. 
         [0022]    When positioning the rigid insert  22  on the palm side  35  of the user&#39;s hand  20 , the bar slot  28  is a palm slot  28 P, and receives a palm insert  22 P. Most preferably, the palm insert is positioned proximate to the palm at the palm heel  36  of the user&#39;s palm, as shown in  FIG. 2 . With the rigid insert in the palm side position, proximate the palm heel, the hand guard can be utilized as a defensive blocking shield against an attacker, or as an offensive striking tool or weapon. Additionally, with the base plate  26  set over the palm of the user&#39;s hand, the palm comfortably supports the base cushion  27  of the rigid insert. 
         [0023]    Alternatively, when positioning the rigid insert  22  on the back or knuckle side  38  of the user&#39;s hand  20 , the bar slot  28  is a knuckle slot  28 K, and receives a knuckle insert  22 K. Most preferably, the knuckle insert is positioned proximate to the knuckle ridge  39 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . With the rigid insert in the knuckle side position, proximate to the knuckle ridge, the hand guard can also be utilized as a defensive, blocking shield against an attacker, or as an offensive striking tool or weapon. Additionally, with the base plate  26  set over the knuckle ridge of the user&#39;s hand, the backside of the hand comfortably supports the base cushion  27  of the rigid insert. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment of the hand guard  15 , the rigid insert  22  is curved to match the natural curvature of the hand  20  of the user. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the knuckle insert  22 K can include a convex, or outward curvature. The knuckle insert curvature most preferably follows the natural curve of the typical user&#39;s knuckle ridge  39 . 
         [0025]    Likewise, in another alternative, the palm insert  22 P may also be curved with either a convex or a concave curvature, as desired. However, because the typical user&#39;s palm heel  36  is approximately flat, the palm insert is most preferably straight and without curvature, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0026]    To firmly contain and immobilize the rigid insert within the cover  17  of the hand guard  15  without shifting or movement during use, the cover preferably includes a base pocket  29 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The base pocket is sized to receive the base plate  26  and the base cushion  27  of the rigid insert, and is most preferably formed of the same flexible material  16  as the cover. A layer of a pocket adhesive  30 B is preferably employed to adhere the base cushion to a pocket base layer  17 B, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The pocket adhesive can be any adhesive for adhering the materials of the base plate cushion and the pocket base layer, as selected by those skilled in adhesive technologies. The palm insert  22 P most preferably fits within a palm pocket  29 P, and the knuckle insert  22 K most preferably fits within a knuckle pocket  29 K. A With the rigid insert held within the base pocket, the exposed ridge bar protrudes through the respective bar slot  28  in the cover of the hand guard. Specifically, with the palm insert held within the palm pocket, the exposed ridge bar protrudes through the palm slot  28 P, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Likewise, with the knuckle insert held within the knuckle pocket, the exposed ridge bar protrudes through the knuckle slot  28 K, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    When wearing the hand guard  15  there is immediate access to a defensive deterrent from attack, as opposed to most other deterrents, which require a moment for the user to access or arm. The hand guard is easily transported and can be quickly slipped on, and worn without being obtrusive. Importantly, the hand guard of the present invention provides for an immediate defense from an attacker, thereby increasing the user&#39;s chances to safely escape and seek help and acting as a strong, additional deterrent for any would-be attacker. 
         [0028]    Having now described my invention, to those persons skilled in the art to which it pertains, it may become apparent that the need to make modifications without deviating from the intention of the design as defined by the appended claims.