Abstract:
A glove includes a plurality of separated elongated sections to receive a plurality of fingers and a thumb therein, said elongated finger sections being tapered toward a longitudinal axis extending between a long finger section and a ring finger section so that when the elongated finger sections are in a flexed condition, the finger sections point to an area of the wrist including the scaphoid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to gloves for the human hand and more particularly relates to a glove having tapered finger sections to accommodate the anatomical structure and natural movement of rotation at the proximal interphalangeal joints of the fingers. 
     Glove construction for protection of the human hand is well known. Particularly, gloves are made to both protect the hand in the environment in which the user is going to be active, that being, for example, work, play, such as baseball, hockey and the like, as well as to protect the wearer when exposed to frigid temperatures. In the manufacture of gloves, it has been a tendency to assume that each finger section is straight and that fingers are anatomically straight and in parallel with each other. Thus, gloves are made with straight finger sections and the finger sections are generally in parallel. That is, when basic glove patterns are cut, they are done so with the finger sections cut to be relatively straight and in parallel. However, in the anatomy of the hands, particularly the fingers, there is a natural tendency of the four fingers, (index, long, ring, and small) to point towards the scaphoid bone in the wrist when the fingers are in flexion. In order words, the long axes of the fingers tend to converge near the wrist when they are closed in a fist. This convergence is secondary to the natural adduction of about 5° and the rotation of about 9° that occurs at the proximal interphalangeal joints of the fingers. These joints do not only function as a hinge joint, but there is also a component of rotation that occurs with joint flexion. This convergence is the motion of the joint towards the midline and the midline can be simply described as an imaginary line between the long and ring fingers. Each finger tends to lean approximately 5° towards this midline, especially with joint flexion. Thus, coupled with the natural rotation of the fingers which also occurs with flexion determines that the fingers tend to point to the same area on the wrist, namely, the scaphoid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide gloves and patterns for gloves that allow for the natural adduction and rotation that occurs with finger flexion. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a glove having finger sections therein to allow rotation of the finger naturally when the fingers are in a hand closure condition. 
     It is even another object of the present invention to provide gloves with finger sections which are at an angle of between 5° and 9° at the proximal interphalangeal joints. 
     More particularly, the present invention provides a glove for a human hand with separated elongated sections to receive a plurality of fingers and a thumb therein. The glove includes a covering having a top portion for covering a back side of the hand, including a top side of the elongated sections to receive a plurality of fingers and a lower portion to cover a palmar side of the hand which includes a bottom side of the elongated sections to receive the plurality of fingers therein. The elongated sections include an index finger section, a long finger section, a ring finger section, and a small finger section. The covering has a first longitudinal axis between the long finger section and the ring finger section wherein the covering for each of the finger sections is angled toward the longitudinal axis. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts into several views. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a bottom schematic anatomical view of the bones of a right-side human hand showing the palm-side details; 
     FIG. 1A 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; 
     FIG. 2 is a palmar side view of a human hand with the fingers shown in an extended position; 
     FIG. 2A is a palmar side view of a human hand showing the fingers in flexion; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pattern for a palmar side of a glove; and, 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a glove of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 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 . 
     The thumb  64  is comprised of the distal phalanx  51 , the interphalangeal joint (IP)  46 , proximal phalanx  41 , diaphysis of proximal phalanx  41 ′, metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP)  36 , metacarpal  31 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  26 . 
     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 , metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP)  37 , metacarpal  32 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  27 . 
     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 , metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP)  38 , metacarpal  33 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  23 . 
     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 , metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP)  39 , metacarpal  34 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  24 . 
     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 , metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP)  40 , metacarpal  35 , and carpometacarpal joint (CMC)  30 . 
     FIG. 1A 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 A 1  pulley  220 , A 2  pulley  222 , and A 3  pulley  224 . The A 2  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 Al pulley  230 , A 2  pulley  232 , A 3  pulley  234 , A 4  pulley  236 , and A 5  pulley  238 . The A 2  pulley  232  and A 4  pulley  236  are considered to be the most important for function. The A 2  pulley  232  is attached to the proximal phalanx  42 - 45 . The A 4  pulley  236  is attached to the middle phalanx  52 - 55 . The A 1  pulley  230  is near the MCP joint  37 - 40 , the A 3  pulley  234  is near the PIP joint  47 - 50  and the A 5  pulley  238  is near the DIP joint  56 - 59 . 
     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 attach 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 A 2  pulley  232  and the A 4  pulley  236 , are very important and must be preserved and protected as much as possible. 
     In FIG. 2 is shown the right human hand  10  looking at a palm  18  side wherein the fingers  65 ,  66 ,  67 , and  68  are shown in an extended condition. The midline X—X is shown as an imaginary line between the long finger  66  and the ring finger  67 . And, as shown, the fingers  65 ,  66 ,  67 , and  68  lean toward this midline. This convergence is generally from about 5° to 9° and occurs at approximately the interphalangeal joints  47 ,  48 ,  49  and  50  of the fingers  65 ,  66 ,  67 , and  68 , respectively. 
     As shown in FIG. 2A, in the flexion or bending of the fingers into a fist, the fingers  65 ,  66 ,  67  and  68  point to the same area of the wrist, which is in the area of the scaphoid  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a pattern  118  for the palmar side of a glove  110  is shown and includes finger sections for each finger. A finger section for the index finger is identified by the numeral  165 , the pattern for the long finger section is identified by the numeral  166 , the finger section for the ring finger is identified by the numeral  167 , and the finger section for the small finger is identified by the numeral  168 . The finger sections are cut at an angle at approximately the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joints. These angles will vary from 5° to 9° towards the midline X—X, as shown in FIG.  2 . This angle of deflection for each of the finger sections occurs at approximately the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint, as indicated by the numeral  147  for the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint for the index finger, at the location identified by the numeral  148  for the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint for the long finger, at the location identified by the numeral  149  for the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the ring finger, and at a location identified by the numeral  150  for the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the small finger. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a completed glove construction  130  of the present invention uses the pattern as shown in FIG. 3 which includes a back covering  128  which is a mirror image of the palmar side pattern  118  of FIG. 3 and a palmar side covering  148 , the palmar side covering being made in accordance with the palmar side pattern  118 . 
     As shown, the glove and glove pattern of the present invention may be used in gloves for work, for play, and for use in a cold environment. Moreover, appropriate padding may be used in selected portions of the glove to protect the wearer for the particular environment in which the glove is to be subjected. For example, in the use as a sport glove, padding may be placed around or on each of the sides above and below the center axis of rotation of the different joints in the fingers and thumb to protect the wearer&#39;s tendons and pulleys. Materials of construction used in the manufacture of the glove will also depend upon the type of activity to which the glove is to be used and may include leather, as well as synthetic leather materials, and elastic materials with the thickness and dimensions of the coverings also being dependent upon the activity or environment to which the glove is to be used. 
     The detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.