Abstract:
A safety glove is described, in which steel or hardened plastic or resin caps attach to the underlying glove and provide crush, cut, and bend resistance to the fingers of the wearer. The protective caps cover at least the fingers and thumb of the wearer, and can extend up to the back of the users hand, and attach to the underlying glove via readily adaptable attachment means, such as straps or snaps. The underlying glove may be made of cloth, leather, synthetic materials, or for waterproof purposes, plastic or rubber.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/671,529, filed Jul. 13, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally to safety gloves, and more specifically are related to safety gloves for the human hand that are worn in dangerous work environments, such as in the oilfield. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Hand injuries continue to plague the oilfield industry and still leads the pack as the number one body part injured in oilfield accidents. In years past it was considered a “red badge of courage” of sorts to have missing fingers or part of a finger missing. 
         [0008]    However, considering our hands have 10 digits and routinely go where no hands should ever go, it is understandable but not acceptable that we have so many injuries. A typical workover rig crew member will, on any given job, be wrenching rods, using pipe wrenches, moving power tubing tongs on and off tubing, holding onto and guiding the tubing line on travelling blocks just to mention a few of the dangerous pinch points that are waiting and ready to trap the hands and fingers of a careless or unobservant or untrained worker. The end result is not only an injured worker, but typically a long-term, lost-time or light-duty situation for the employer. 
         [0009]    Preventing hand injuries requires more than just monthly training or weekly tailgate safety meetings. Each individual must be trained in situational awareness and to practice it at all times during a work day. A classic example of this is when an oilfield crew member rests his hand on the polish rod and the stuffing box slides down and crushes his hand. If the individual was practicing situational awareness (“paying attention”, in layman&#39;s terms) he or she would never have put a hand on the polish rod with a sliding mass of steel above the hand. Another example is when an individual has a hand resting on the tubing and it gets shut in the tubing elevators as they are latched. In this instance there are two people involved—the person latching the elevators and the person with the now injured hand—odd that it can happen, but it does repeatedly. Other examples occur when an individual is working with or moving is drill pipe, which is made of heavy grade steel. As the pipe is a tubular material that is hard to readily grasp, it is not uncommon for the pipe to slip and crush an individual&#39;s hand or fingers, amputate one or more fingers, or otherwise damage the worker&#39;s hand so that at least some time is lost from the job in disability and injury rehabilitation, a cost that is felt by both the injured and the oil company from insurance issues. 
         [0010]    Through engineering controls, the industry has evolved over the years to make the workplace as safe as possible. Some of the more notable controls are belt guards on pulleys, chain guards, door guards on power tubing and rod tongs, lock-out tag-out procedures to prevent unexpected start-ups of pumpjacks and other machinery, and the like. 
         [0011]    Avulsion and crush injuries constitute a particularly difficult problem due to extensive damage of vessels and nerves. In cases where a crush is the dominating injury factor causing complex fractures of forearm and carpal bones, shortening of the extremity is necessary for primary vessel and nerve reconstruction. Surgical experience in vessels dissection and optimal sequence of reconstruction procedures using vessels and nerve grafts are of paramount importance. 
         [0012]    The National Safety Council (NSC) reported that in 2001 the cost of workplace injuries totaled $132.1 billion in the U.S. (NSC, 2004). The leading cause of occupational injury treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States is acute hand injuries (lacerations, crush injuries, avulsions and punctures) (Sorock, et al. 2001). Annually, workers with acute hand injuries account for over 1 million emergency department visits in the U.S. (Sorock, et al. 2004). Injuries of the hand have an enormous impact on hand function and quality of life. 
         [0013]    In June of 2004, a U.S. pulp and paper corporation assembled a team of safety managers representing 18 paper mills across the country to analyze hand injury data over a period of 18 months. Based on the analysis, 594 hand injuries were reported of which 120 were Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) recordable injuries. OSHA defines a recordable injury as an injury that goes beyond first aid. Examples of OSHA recordable injuries include those which involve stitches, prescription medication, broken bones or restricted duty (OSHA, 2005). 
         [0014]    Taking a proactive approach to ensuring a safe and healthful workplace is becoming the favored course of action of many corporations in the U.S. Safety training plays an integral role as the paradigm of safety management shifts from a reactive to a proactive stance in injury and illness prevention (Petersen, 1996). In 1997, corporate 
         [0015]    America was estimated to provide roughly two billion hours of training to approximately 60 million employees at an estimated cost of $55 to $60 billion (Industry report, 1999). With the time and money dedicated to safety training, determining the effectiveness of such training is critical. 
         [0016]    In the past, justification for safety training was not needed because most of the training being conducted was required by law (Petersen, 1996). Required safety training was considered a burden born by companies. However, recent trends show that injury reduction is not the only benefit of safety training. Better management and employee relations, improved worker moral, increased production, and lower workers&#39; compensation insurance costs can be achieved as well (O&#39;Toole, 2001; Seo, et al. 2004; Tan, et al. 1991; Sinclair, et al. 2003). Rather than a burden, safety training is now viewed as not only the proper way to conduct business, but also a way to enhance business and offset insurance issues. 
         [0017]    Therefore, in order to reduce hand injuries, corporation safety managers and insurance companies have actively sought strategies for preventing hand injuries through a variety of approaches, including the combination of improved equipment for the users and awareness training. Value-added safety training, training that is not required by law but is supplementary to mandated training, in improving worker knowledge, attitude, and work behavior can be useful in understanding how safety training influences employee&#39;s knowledge, attitude, and behavior concerning hand injury prevention. However, improved equipment for the user in the field can more is directly affect safety, so long as the equipment works and does not hinder the user&#39;s typical tasks when the equipment is in place. 
         [0018]    The inventions disclosed and taught herein are directed to safety gloves having crush, cut, and bend-related finger and hand injuries. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The objects described above and other advantages and features of the invention are incorporated in the application as set forth herein, and the associated appendices and drawings, related to systems for safety gloves with enhanced finger, thumb, and hand protection, particularly for use in oilfield operations to prevent finger crushing, breaking, and appendage loss. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these figures in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a bottom schematic anatomical view of the bones of a right-side human hand showing the palm-side details. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1B  illustrates is a bottom schematic anatomical palm-side view of the bones, and selected details of the pulleys and tendons of a right-side human hand. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a safety glove assembly in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of the safety glove assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a thumb-side elevational view of the safety glove assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a finger-side elevational view of the safety glove assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a frontal finger-tip elevational view of the safety glove assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates a rear, wrist-opening elevational view of the safety glove assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary finger-guard member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of a further embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
       [0032]    While the inventions disclosed herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, only a few specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The figures and detailed descriptions of these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the breadth or scope of the inventive concepts or the appended claims in any manner. Rather, the figures and detailed written descriptions are provided to illustrate the inventive is concepts to a person of ordinary skill in the art and to enable such person to make and use the inventive concepts. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    The Figures described above and the written description of specific structures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope of what Applicants have invented or the scope of the appended claims. Rather, the Figures and written description are provided to teach any person skilled in the art to make and use the inventions for which patent protection is sought. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all features of a commercial embodiment of the inventions are described or shown for the sake of clarity and understanding. Persons of skill in this art will also appreciate that the development of an actual commercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the present inventions will require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the developer&#39;s ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Such implementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are not limited to, compliance with system-related, business-related, government-related and other constraints, which may vary by specific implementation, location and from time to time. While a developer&#39;s efforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of skill in this art having benefit of this disclosure. It must be understood that the inventions disclosed and taught herein are susceptible to numerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Lastly, the use of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a,” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relational terms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like are used in the written description for clarity in specific reference to the Figures and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims. 
         [0034]    Applicants have created a safety system for use as an overlayment or is attachment to standard work gloves, particularly useful for work in the oil filed, wherein the safety system reduces user injuries to the hand and/or fingers. 
         [0035]    Turning now to the figures,  FIG. 1A  is a schematic anatomical view of the bones of a right human hand  10  looking at a palm  18  side. Shown are the radius  20 , ulna  21 , radiocarpal joint (RC)  23 ′, distal radio ulnar joint (DRUJ)  22 , wrist  12 , thumb  64 , index finger  65 , long finger  66 , ring finger  67 , and small finger  68 . The carpus  69  comprises eight carpal bones, seven of which are shown in  FIG. 1  and includes the hamate bone  71  with its hook-like protrusion, the scaphoid  24 ′ and the lunate  25 . 
         [0036]    The thumb  64  is comprised of the distal phalanx  51 , the interphalangeal joint (IP)  46 , proximal phalanx  41 , diaphysis of proximal phalanx  41 ′, metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  36 , metacarpal  31 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  26 . 
         [0037]    The index finger  65  is comprised of the distal phalanx  60 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  56 , middle phalanx  52 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  47 , proximal phalanx  42 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  37 , metacarpal  32 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  27 . 
         [0038]    The long finger  66  is comprised of the distal phalanx  61 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  57 , middle phalanx  53 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  48 , proximal phalanx  43 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  38 , metacarpal  33 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  23 . 
         [0039]    The ring finger  67  is comprised of the distal phalanx  62 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  58 , middle phalanx  54 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  49 , proximal phalanx  44 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  39 , metacarpal  34 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  24 . 
         [0040]    The small finger  68  is comprised of the distal phalanx  63 , distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)  59 , middle phalanx  55 , proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP)  50 , proximal phalanx  45 , metacarpalphalangeal joint (MCP)  40 , metacarpal  35 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  30 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 1B  shows the skeletal anatomy, pulley system, and flexor tendons of the thumb  64  and fingers  65 - 68  of the right hand  10 . The thumb  64  includes the flexor tendon (flexor pollicis longus)  200  and the three pulleys  220 - 224  of the thumb  64 ; an A1 pulley  220 , A2 pulley  222 , and A3 pulley  224 . The A2 pulley  222  is the most important for function and is attached to the proximal phalanx  41  of the thumb  64 . The respective pulleys  230 - 238  are also shown for each of the index finger  65 , long finger  66 , ring finger  67 , and small finger  68 . Each finger  65 - 68  has five pulleys  230 - 238 ; an A1 pulley  230 , A2 pulley  232 , A3 pulley  234 , A4 pulley  236 , and A5 pulley  238 . The A2 pulley  232  and A4 pulley  236  are considered to be the most important for function. The A2 pulley  232  is attached to the proximal phalanx  42 - 45 . The A4 pulley  236  is attached to the middle phalanx  52 - 55 . The A1 pulley  230  is near the MCP joint  37 - 40 , the A3 pulley  234  is near the PIP joint  47 - 50  and the A5 pulley  238  is near the DIP joint  56 - 59 . 
         [0042]    The flexor tendons  202 - 208  are shown as one unit for each finger  65 - 68 , but actually there are two flexor tendons to each unit. They are the flexor digitorum superficialis and the flexor digitorum profundus (shown as one,  202 - 208 ). These tendons  202 - 208  travel underneath the pulleys  230 - 238  and the flexor digitorum profundus tendon attaches to the distal phalanx  60 - 63  of each finger  65 - 68 . The tendons  202 - 208  move back and forth below the pulleys  230 - 238 , via muscles (not shown) attached to the proximal end of the tendons. This movement of the tendon  202 - 208  produces finger  65 - 68  flexion. The pulleys  230 - 238  prevent the flexor tendons  202 - 208  from bowstringing or moving away from the bone with finger  65 - 68  flexion. If the pulleys  230 - 238  are damaged and no longer function, the tendons  202 - 208  will bowstring with a resultant significant loss of finger motion as well as grip strength. As such, pulleys  230 - 238 , especially the A2 pulley  232  and the A4 pulley  236 , are very important and must be preserved and protected as much as possible. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, and as will be discussed in more detail herein, protective padding for each finger  65 - 68  can be placed in an anatomically designed fashion over the A2 and A4 pulley regions. When the A2 and A4 pulleys  232  and  236  are preserved, adequate finger  65 - 68  motion and grip strength is maintained. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an exemplary impact protection assembly  100  for the front, sides, and back of fingers and finger tips, including the thumb, in association with a glove underlayment.  FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of the protection assembly  100  in association with a glove underlayment.  FIG. 4  illustrates a thumb-side view of the impact protection assembly;  FIG. 5  illustrates a finger-side view of the impact protection assembly.  FIG. 6  illustrates a front, finger-forward view of the impact protection assembly of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 7  illustrates a wrist-side, rear view of the impact protection assembly  100  in association with an underlying glove.  FIG. 8  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary finger-guard member in accordance with the present disclosure. These figures will now be discussed in conjunction with each other. 
         [0044]    The impact protection assembly  100  provides impact, bend, and amputation protection to a glove wearer by not only the shape, but the material. Instead of trying to protect individual fingers, which is not always prudent in oilfield type operations, the protection assembly  100  acts to cover the thumb in a first section  100 ′ and the fingers in a second, one-piece finger section  100 ″. Alternatively, the fingers may be protected by a two-piece, “lobster-claw” arrangement, wherein a first piece,  101 , protects fingers  65  and  66  (see,  FIG. 1 ), while a second piece  103  protects fingers  67  and  68 . The is assembly may extend upward over the back of the hand to a variety of locations, depending on the particular use and level of protection sought. That is, the back face  106  of the assembly  100  may extend to just past the pulleys  230  in the users hand, or may extend upward over the top of the back of the user&#39;s hand, toward the wrist. In further accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the protection assemblies ( 100 ′,  100 ″) have an angle or radius of curvature along the bottom face, and the top face, that is substantially the same as the angle, or radius of curvature of the user&#39;s hand and/or thumb, particularly as defined by the finger flexor tendons. Exemplary values for the radius of curvature range from about 0.9 cm to about 4.0 cm, depending upon the individual finger. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the assemblies  100  comprise a top face  106  and opposite bottom face  108 , as well as opposite, spaced-apart side walls  102  and  104 , which adjoin the top and bottom faces to form an assembly having an open, interior recess  110  sized and shaped to fit one or more human hand digits, e.g., a thumb, or two, three, or four fingers. As also shown in the figure, and in accordance with aspects of the invention, the side walls  102  and  104  taper in height, from the opening of the recess  110  toward the tip of the assembly  112 . The taper may be a straight taper, much like a triangle, but more preferably is tapered in a curved manner, the taper following the general radius of curvature of a human hand or thumb, as may be appropriate. 
         [0046]    In use, a user typically first dons an underlayment glove, which may be of cloth (such as cotton), synthetic material, leather, metal (e.g., chain mail mesh), or rubber. The impact protection assembly is then slide on over the underlayment glove, such that the fingers and thumb extend into the interior cavities of the assembly  100 . The assembly is then attached to the underlayment glove. In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, depending upon the material that the assembly  100  is made from, the assembly  100  may be integrally formed with an underlayment glove. In other is aspects of the present disclosure, the assembly  100  is attached to the underlayment glove via a suitable attachment means, such as straps, or snaps (or the equivalent) within the interior of the assembly  100  that coordinate with such attachment features on the outside surface of the underlayment glove. 
         [0047]    The protection provided by assembly  100  is provided by the combination of the shape and span of coverage of the assembly (e.g., covering at least two at a time, and preferably four at a time, fingers), as well as the material the assembly  100  is made of. The protection assembly  100  may be made of any number of suitable materials, including metal (e.g., steel or a metal or metal alloy of particular hardness) which acts to protect the fingers, knuckles, and can extend into the carpal bone area; plastic; polymeric resins; or synthetic materials, such as carbon-fiber or the like, as well as combinations thereof. For example, a protection assembly  100  is contemplated wherein the underside is made of a first, separate material, such as carbon fiber, Kevlar, or a flexible synthetic material, and a second, harder material on the outer face of the first material. The under glove can be made of any suitable material, including stretch fabric such as cotton or a synthetic material, or combination thereof, or it can be made of leather, rubber, or a combination of such materials. As indicated above, the protection assembly can be integral with an underlying, separate glove, such as by an appropriate attachment means, or it can be removed from and put on/inserted over the user&#39;s glove, e.g., as an attachment. 
         [0048]    Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of the inventions described above can be devised without departing from the spirit of Applicant&#39;s invention. For example, the crush resistant assemblies may be fabricated directly with and integral with an underlying glove. Further, the various methods and embodiments of the methods of manufacture and assembly of the system, as well as location specifications, can be included in combination with each other to produce variations of the disclosed methods and embodiments. Discussion of singular elements can is include plural elements and vice-versa. 
         [0049]    The order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split into multiple steps. Similarly, elements have been described functionally and can be embodied as separate components or can be combined into components having multiple functions. 
         [0050]    The inventions have been described in the context of preferred and other embodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has been described. Obvious modifications and alterations to the described embodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by the Applicants, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicants intend to fully protect all such modifications and improvements that come within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims.