Abstract:
This invention relates to gloves ( 10 ) and wipers fitted to gloves that enable wearers of the gloves to wipe debris from eye shields, such as goggles and face-coverings, visors ( 5 ) in helmets. More specifically, the invention relates to a glove ( 10 ) that comprises a covering for the hand and fingers of a wearer and means for wiping the eye shield to remove debris. The wiping means ( 30 ) is located on the glove to enable wiping of the eye shield with natural hand movements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to hand-wear for wearers of helmets having face-enclosing visors and for wearers of goggles. The invention has particular, although not exclusive, application to motorcyclists and snow skiers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An inherent problem with wearing goggles or a face-covering visor on a helmet at the same time as wearing gloves is the removal of items from the surface of the goggles or visor that impair vision. 
         [0003]    This problem is commonly found among motorcyclists in conditions where mud, dust, tar particles, insects, water from rain and the like lodge on the visor and impair the vision of the helmet wearer. Snow skiers have a similar problem with snow and ice that lodges on ski goggles or other forms of eye-wear. In both cases, wearing gloves reduces a user&#39;s ability to remove the vision impairing items. Removing the gloves to wipe the items clear of the visor or goggles is a nuisance because the motorcyclist may be travelling on a highway or in traffic and because the skier may not be in a position to stop on a slope or may be out in very cold conditions. 
         [0004]    One solution used in motorcycle and open-car racing is the use of tear-off visor strips applied to the surface of a visor. Vision impairing items lodged on a strip are removed when the strip is torn-off to reveal a clean underlying strip. 
         [0005]    Another simpler and less expensive option involves using a rag to wipe the vision impairing items from the visor or goggles. However, retrieving a rag from a closed pocket can be difficult for a motorcycle rider and skier because both hands are required to control the motorcycle or to stay upright on the skis. The act of retrieving the rag and placing it back inside a pocket is complicated by the reduced dexterity of the motorcyclist or skier due to wearing gloves 
         [0006]    It is an object of the invention to alleviate the above problem by providing an improved means for removing vision impairing debris from a visor or goggles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a glove for use by wearers of eye shields, such as goggles and face-covering visors in helmets, the glove having: 
         [0008]    a body for at least partially covering the hand and fingers of a wearer; 
         [0009]    means for wiping the eye shield to remove debris; 
         [0010]    wherein the at least one wiping means is located on the glove to enable wiping of the eye shield with natural hand movements. 
         [0011]    The location of the wiping means is important for improving the ease of use of the wiping means. Using natural hand movements to apply the means to the eye shield improves accuracy so specific spots of debris can be targeted and, more importantly, improves comfort and ease of use. The ease of use is improved by virtue of the user avoiding having to contort their arm and hand to apply the wiping means to the eye shield with sufficient force and control to effectively remove debris. 
         [0012]    The term “debris” is taken to include water, snow, ice, mud, insects and road grime such as dust and tar particles. 
         [0013]    The wiping means is formed as a flexible wiping strip or squeegee such as a rubber strip. 
         [0014]    The wiping strips may be located on fingers or a thumb of the glove, and are preferably located on the glove such that when the glove is fitted to a wearer the wiping strips coincide with one or more of the following locations: 
         [0015]    along the side of the little finger that is opposite to the ring finger; 
         [0016]    along the side of the index finger that is opposite to the middle finger; or 
         [0017]    along the side of the thumb that is opposite to the index finger. 
         [0018]    The glove has at least one surface scrubbing portion for scrubbing the eye shield to loosen debris so that subsequent wiping of the eye shield with the wiping means removes the loosened debris. 
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment, the glove is formed from two or more pieces of fabric or leather and fabric lining that are sewn together to form a glove and the wiping means is located to coincide with a seam of the glove. In this embodiment, the at least one wiping strip is sewn into the glove at the seams of those locations. 
         [0020]    The at least one scrubbing portion is located on the body to coincide with the fingers of the wearer and more preferably to coincide with the palm-side of the fingers. In such location the wearer has optimum dexterity for applying and varying pressure through the scrubbing portions onto the eye shield and for moving the scrubbing portions over the eye shield. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment, scrubbing portions are located on either or both sides of a wiping strip to enable the wearer to scrub and wipe in the same hand, finger or thumb action. In such an alternative embodiment, the scrubbing portions are located in abutment with either or both sides of the wiping means. 
         [0022]    In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a wiper for removing debris from an eye shield, the wiper comprising: 
         [0023]    a sleeve for slipping over the finger or thumb of a glove; 
         [0024]    means formed on the exterior of the sleeve for wiping over the eye shield to remove debris. 
         [0025]    The wiper includes at least one scrubbing portion formed on the exterior of the sleeve for scrubbing the eye shield to loosen debris so that subsequent wiping of the eye shield with a wiping strip removes the loosened debris. 
         [0026]    The at least one scrubbing portion is formed on the sleeve relative to the wiping means such that, when slipped over the finger or thumb of the glove, the at least one scrubbing portion coincides with the palm-side of a wearer&#39;s finger or thumb and the wiping means coincides with the side of the wearer&#39;s finger or thumb. 
         [0027]    Alternatively, the wiper includes scrubbing portions on either or both sides of the wiping means to enable the wearer to scrub and wipe in the same hand, finger or thumb action. In such an alternative embodiment, the scrubbing portions are preferably located in abutment with either or both sides of the wiping means. 
         [0028]    Referring to the first aspect, the invention provides, in other words, a glove for use by wearers of eye shields, the glove comprising:
       (a) a body shaped to receive and at least partially cover the hand and fingers of a wearer; and   (b) a wiper adapted to remove debris from an eye shield upon wiping the wiper across the eye shield; and wherein the wiper is located on the glove at a position that enables wiping of the eye shield with natural hand movements.       
 
         [0031]    Referring to the second aspect, the invention provides, in other words, a wiper for removing debris from an eye shield, the wiper comprising:
       (a) a sleeve for slipping over a finger or a thumb of a glove; and   (b) at least one wiper element on the exterior of the sleeve for wiping over the eye shield to remove the debris.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention as typically used to wipe a visor. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the palm of a glove formed in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3A  is a section view along the line  2 - 2  of the thumb of the glove in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 3B  is a section along the line  2 - 2  of the thumb of the glove in  FIG. 1  with an alternative arrangement of the rubber strip and abrasive portions. 
           [0039]      FIG. 3C  is a section along the line  2 - 2  of the thumb of the glove in  FIG. 1  showing the wiping strip sewn into a seam of the glove. 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wiper formed in accordance with the second aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0041]    A glove  10  formed in accordance with an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1  as typically used by a wearer to wipe rain  6  from a visor  5  of, for example, a motorcycle helmet  7 . 
         [0042]    Although the glove  10  is described in reference to a glove for motorcycling applications, gloves formed in accordance with the invention may be utilised in motor sport, emergency services by, for example, fire fighters and in a broad range of industrial applications, including oil drilling applications. 
         [0043]    The glove  10 , as seen from the palm-side ( FIG. 2 ), includes index, middle, ring and little finger portions  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  respectively and are formed, or in other words, shaped to receive the fingers of a wearer of the glove  10 . The glove  10  also includes a thumb portion  20  for receiving the thumb of a wearer of the glove  10 . 
         [0044]    Each finger portion  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  includes an scrubbing portion in the form of a scrubbing strip  26 . Each scrubbing strip  26  has a raised profile. The profile may comprise intersecting lines of ridges or an array of raised dots. The raised profile enables a wearer of the glove to rub the scrubbing strips  26  over debris that has lodged on the surface of a motorcycle helmet visor, ski goggles or similar eye shields to loosen the debris that has lodged on and stuck to the visor, goggles or eye shields. 
         [0045]    The material from which the scrubbing strip  26  is formed may be any suitable material that is flexible and durable, such as rubber, Teflon or both. In some applications, such as fire fighting and motor sport, the gloves are exposed to high temperatures. Accordingly, the scrubbing strip  26  of such gloves must have the additional property of heat resistance. In this circumstance, the scrubbing strip  26  is formed of a silicon rubber or compound or any other material that has the required properties of flexibility, durability and heat resistance. 
         [0046]    The scrubbing strips  26  are located on the palm-side of the finger portions  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  to apply the scrubbing strips  26  to the eye shield in a natural hand and arm movement. The term “natural” refers to the comfort and ease with which a user can perform the hand and/or arm movement. For example, positioning of the scrubbing strips  26  at locations that require a wearer to contort the hand or arm or to strain the hand or arm to place the scrubbing strips  26  on a visor or goggles and then perform a wiping action is an unnatural movement. 
         [0047]    Such placement of the scrubbing strips  26  provides the glove wearer with greater dexterity and thereby enables greater accuracy and comfort in moving the scrubbing strips  26  over an eye shield. 
         [0048]    Once the debris is loosened, it may be removed by dragging a wiping means across the eye shield to displace the loose debris from the eye shield. The wiping means are formed as wiping strips  30  from natural, synthetic or wiper blade rubber to have a squeegee effect. 
         [0049]    In a more general sense, however, the wiping strips  30  are made of the same materials described above in relation to scrubbing strips  26 , particularly in relation to high temperature applications. 
         [0050]    Wiping strips  30  are located along a side of the little finger portion  18  that is opposite to the ring finger portion  16 , along a side of the index finger portion  12  that is opposite to the middle finger portion  14  and along the side of the thumb portion  20  that is opposite to the index finger portion  12 . These locations are selected to enable the glove wearer to drag the wiping strips  30  across an eye shield with the most natural hand and arm movements and, at the same time, to avoid the wiping strips  30  interfering with the normal use of the glove. The term “natural” defined above, with reference to the scrubbing strips, has the same definition in respect of the hand and/or arm movements used to wipe the wiping strips  30  across an eye shield. 
         [0051]    It will be appreciated, however, that any number of wiping strips may be incorporated into the glove and on any finger or thumb portion  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  or  20  such that the wiping strip  30  can be dragged across an eye shield using natural and comfortable hand and arm movements. 
         [0052]    The wiping strips  30  have a rectangular profile raised above the surface of the glove and a flattened base portion  22  to prevent the wiping strip  30  being pulled from the glove ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). In an alternative embodiment, the portion of the wiping strip  30  raised above the surface of the glove  10  may have a triangular profile or other profile that is effective to wipe loose debris from the surface of an eye shield. 
         [0053]    To facilitate ease of use of the glove, the scrubbing strips  26  may be located on one or both sides of a given wiping strip  30  such that scrubbing and wiping of the debris from an eye shield occurs in a single hand and arm movement. 
         [0054]    The wiping strips  30  are preferably added to the glove during manufacture and, ideally, are sewn into the seams  22  of the glove  10  ( FIG. 3C ) whereby the material forming the glove  10  extends to a short distance along the side of the wiping strip  30  to form part of the seam  22 . 
         [0055]    The wiping strips  30  can also be attached to the glove  10  by gluing, bonding, fusing or other conventional attachment method. 
         [0056]    Similarly, the scrubbing strips  26  are added during manufacture of the glove by a suitable attachment method, including any of the methods mentioned above in respect of attaching the wiping strips  30  to the glove  10 . 
         [0057]    Wiping strips  30  and scrubbing strips  26  may be retrofitted to an existing glove by virtue of wiper  40  ( FIG. 4 ). The wiper  40  comprises a cylindrical sleeve  42  shaped to snugly fit over a finger or thumb portion  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  or  20  of a glove. The wiper  40  includes a scrubbing strip  26  and a wiping strip  30  for respectively loosening and removing debris from an eye shield when the wiper  40  is fitted to a finger or thumb portion of a glove. 
         [0058]    The snug fitting of the sleeve  42  over the finger or thumb portions  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  or  20  ensures that the wiper stays securely in position during the scrubbing and wiping movements of the wiper  40  over an eye shield. 
         [0059]    The sleeve  42  and wiping strip  30  may be extruded as a unitary construction either in cylindrical or sheet form. In sheet form, the sleeve is formed by heat welding or crimping the sheet to form the desired sleeve shape for snugly fitting over a finger or thumb portion  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  or  20  of a glove. 
         [0060]    The scrubbing strip  26  is attached to the sleeve  42  by gluing, bonding, welding or other conventional attachment method. 
         [0061]    The scrubbing strip  26  is located on the sleeve at a position relative to the wiping strips  30  to coincide with the palm-side of a wearers finger or thumb when the wiping strip  30  coincides with the side of the wearer&#39;s finger or thumb. These respective locations enable the wiper  40  to be fitted to a glove such that the scrubbing strip  26  and wiping strip  30  are in the same relative locations as the scrubbing strips  26  and wiping strips  30  on the glove  10  in  FIG. 2 . These relative locations enable use of the wiper  40  with natural hand and arm movements to facilitate comfort and ease of use. 
         [0062]    In an alternative form, the scrubbing strips  26  on the wiper  40  may be located on one or both sides of the wiping strip  30  in the same manner as exemplified in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0063]    Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.