Patent Description:
Gloves are commonly used for protecting a hand against adverse conditions, such as thermal conditions (cold or heat), chemical conditions (acids, etc.), or mechanical conditions (abrasion or impact). Different protective conditions often have conflicting demands. For example, a comfortable glove providing sensitive control and impact resistance at the same time has contradictory demands.

Although user comfort is desirable for any type of glove, this is especially true for conditions wherein there is prolonged use, such as an industrial worker wearing the glove many hours a day, and during sports. In sports, for example during field hockey, lacrosse and ice hockey, the conflicting demands posed on gloves are especially related to providing impact protection while also maintaining optimal stick contact and control. Especially at elite level sports, the players feel of his/her stick is of utmost importance, and any discomfort may have a negative effect on the performance. It is desirable that the glove may be moved through its range of motion with minimal muscular effort.

<CIT>, which is considered to form the closest prior art, discloses a motorcycle glove. Relative to this document, at least the characterizing features of claim <NUM> are novel.

<CIT> discloses a protective glove for protecting batters from hand injuries. The protective gloves each comprise a pair of protective plates that are releasably secured to the back side of the glove. The protective plates may have a thin layer of shock-absorbing cushioning, such as a resilient polyurethane foam material. This layer of cushioning may be attached to the underside of the plate by a layer of adhesive, and a VELCRO fastener may be secured to the lower face of the cushioning layer by a second layer of adhesive. The VELCRO fasteners allow the protective plates to be releasably attached to corresponding fastener sections on the glove, thereby creating a direct contact between the VELCRO fasteners of the protective plates and the glove. In use, one protective plate covers the back of the hand and the other protective plate covers the lower portions of the fingers. The two protective plates are spaced apart to allow freedom of movement of the knuckles at the base of the fingers between the plates, but the plates are spaced sufficiently close to each other to protect these knuckles. The spacing between the plates may be set sufficiently narrow to prevent a curvature of a baseball from making any substantial contact with the exposed metacarpal phalangeal joints of the batter's hand. Thus, even though the knuckles are not directly covered by the plate in order to provide a desired freedom of movement of the metacarpal phalangeal joints, the nature of the object - i.e. a baseball having a known size and shape - allows these joints to be protected against impact. Although the protective glove of <CIT> provides protection against impact by relatively large objects such as baseballs, it would not offer any protection against smaller objects, such as a tip of a hockey stick, ice hockey stick, ice hockey puck, or an edge of a head of a lacrosse stick.

<CIT> discloses a protector for the back of a hockey glove comprising a layer of relatively rigid and unbreakable material sandwiched between layers of shock absorbing material and formed over the back and around the side of the glove. The finger engaging portions are conventional in form and each include suitable padding of sponge rubber or other shock absorbing material secured to the upper side thereof with additional padding positioned laterally of the glove to provide padding for the knuckles and to permit the finger engaging portions to be bent and flexed.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a glove, that is improved relative to the prior art and wherein a high level of user comfort and protection go hand in hand.

Said objective is achieved with the protective glove according to claim <NUM> of the present invention, that is configured to protect a dorsal side of a hand of a user, and that comprises:.

A "gap" is defined as an unfilled or empty space. The gap between the shell and the back of the hand prevents direct contact between the back of the hand and the shell. In this way, user comfort is increased and muscular effort for moving the hand is reduced. Furthermore, the gap allows for ventilation to even further increase user comfort. The result is a comfortable glove that can be moved through its range of motion with minimal muscular effort.

Moreover, the offset between the shell and the back of the hand that defines the gap not only prevents direct contact between the back of the hand and the shell, but also allows the phalanx protector to move in the offset, i.e. in the gap, between the rigid shell and the back of the hand. In this way, a protection during the full range of motion may be obtained. After all, when the fingers are bent to grab an object, such as a players stick, or to make a fist, the phalanx protectors move relative to the distal edge of the rigid shell, at the location of the knuckles, causing the level of overlap to change.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rigid shell and the phalanx protector define an overlap during a full range of motion from the fingers being extended to the fingers being bent for grabbing an object and vice versa. In this way, increased protection is obtained during the full range of motion of the hand.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the protective glove comprises a further offset between the rigid shell and the phalanx protector at the overlap to thereby allow the phalanx protector to freely move relative to the rigid shell. The phalanx protector may be able to move inside the open space defined by the gap, allowing the phalanx protector to move substantially without any friction in the fee space of the gap, i.e. relative to a distal edge of the rigid shell. The further offset between the rigid shell and the phalanx protector allows the phalanx detector to move at a distance from the rigid shell and thereby prevent direct sliding contact between the phalanx protector and the rigid shell. If the phalanx protector remains at a distance relative to the shell, any shear force there between that would be caused if there would be a sliding contact, is prevented. In this way, user comfort is even further increased, because muscular effort for moving the hand and /or the fingers of the hand is reduced. The further offset also allows for ventilation to even further increase user comfort.

Further preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

In the following description preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, a dorsal side <NUM> and a palmar side <NUM> of a hand <NUM> of a user are shown, respectively. The user is wearing a protective glove <NUM> that is configured to protect the dorsal side <NUM> of his/her hand <NUM>. The back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> is arranged at the dorsal side <NUM>. The palmar side <NUM> is sometimes also referred to as volar side.

The protective glove <NUM> comprises a flexible layer <NUM> that is configured to fit, in particular tightly or snugly fit, against a back <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. The flexible layer <NUM> preferably comprises a fabric.

The flexible layer <NUM> comprises extensions <NUM> that are each configured to extend along and fit against a respective proximal phalanx <NUM> of a finger <NUM>. A rigid shell <NUM> is configured to extend over a metacarpal area <NUM> and over knuckles <NUM> of the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> to thereby protect the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. Said shell <NUM> is supported by said flexible layer <NUM> and is arranged at an offset <NUM> relative to the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> to thereby define a gap <NUM>, i.e. an open or unfilled space, between the shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM>.

The gap <NUM> between the shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> prevents direct contact between the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> and the shell <NUM>. In this way, user comfort is increased and muscular effort for moving the hand <NUM> is reduced. Furthermore, the gap <NUM> allows for ventilation to even further increase user comfort.

In the shown preferred embodiment, the flexible layer <NUM> comprises extensions <NUM> for each of the four fingers <NUM>, and the rigid shell <NUM> extends over each knuckle <NUM> corresponding to one of the four fingers <NUM>. An even further extension <NUM> may extend along and fit against a proximal phalanx <NUM> of the thumb <NUM>.

If the shell <NUM> is exposed to an impact, it distributes the force of this impact over an increased area where the shell contacts the hand, thereby reducing the resulting pressure and consequently reducing the risk of injury. Moreover, the shell <NUM> may distribute the force to areas of the hand that are less prone to injury. For example, an impact at the metacarpal area that comprises the metacarpal bones may be distributed to other areas of the hand.

In order to further reduce the risk of injury resulting from an impact, the shell <NUM> may be supported by said flexible layer <NUM> via a compressible padding <NUM> that is arranged between the flexible layer <NUM> and the rigid shell <NUM>. The compressible padding <NUM> may comprise a compressible foam layer. For example, the foam layer may be Poron© XRD. The shell <NUM> may be made of polycarbonate or any other suitable material.

In the shown embodiment, the compressible padding <NUM> is arranged at an ulnar edge <NUM> and at a radial edge <NUM> of the outer circumference <NUM> of the shell <NUM> and the compressible padding <NUM> is absent in the metacarpal area <NUM> there between to define the gap <NUM> between the shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> at said metacarpal area <NUM>. The metacarpal area <NUM> is defined as an area where the metacarpal bones of the hand are located.

The compressible padding <NUM> is absent at a distal edge <NUM> of the outer circumference <NUM> of the shell <NUM> to define the gap <NUM> between the shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> at the knuckles <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. In order to increase the area of the compressible padding <NUM>, it is preferably furthermore arranged along a proximal edge <NUM> of the outer circumference <NUM> of the shell <NUM>.

One or more than one of the extensions <NUM> that are configured to extend along the proximal phalanx <NUM> of the finger <NUM> preferably support a phalanx protector <NUM> that is configured to extend over the respective proximal phalanx <NUM> and a corresponding knuckle <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. Likewise, a phalanx protector <NUM> may protect a proximal phalanx <NUM> of the thumb <NUM>. Phalanx protectors may provide increased protection of the dorsal side <NUM> of the hand <NUM>, because - in addition to the shell <NUM> protecting the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> - the one or more than one phalanx protector <NUM> also protects at least a part of a dorsal side <NUM> of the fingers <NUM> and/or thumb <NUM>.

At least when the fingers <NUM> are extended, the rigid shell <NUM> and the phalanx protector <NUM> define an overlap <NUM> (<FIG>), thereby providing increased protection during opening of the hand <NUM>. Preferably, the rigid shell <NUM> and the phalanx protector <NUM> define an overlap <NUM> during a full range of motion from the fingers <NUM> being extended (<FIG>) to the fingers <NUM> being bent (<FIG>) for grabbing an object <NUM> and vice versa. In this way, increased protection is obtained during the full range of motion of the hand <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show that the phalanx protector <NUM> extends in the offset <NUM> between the rigid shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. More in particular, the phalanx protector <NUM> extends in the gap <NUM> between the shell <NUM> and the knuckles <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. The offset <NUM> between the shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> that defines the gap <NUM> between the shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> not only prevents direct contact between the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM> and the shell <NUM>, but also allows the phalanx protector <NUM> to move in the offset <NUM>, i.e. in the gap <NUM>, between the rigid shell <NUM> and the back <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. In this way, a protection during the full range of motion may be obtained. After all, when the fingers <NUM> are bent to grab an object <NUM>, such as a players stick, or to make a fist, the phalanx protectors <NUM> move relative to the distal edge <NUM> of the rigid shell <NUM>, at the location of the knuckles <NUM>, causing the level of overlap <NUM> to change Preferably, at least the phalanx protectors <NUM> associated with the ring finger <NUM> and middle finger <NUM> extend in the gap <NUM> between the shell <NUM> and the knuckles <NUM> of the hand.

As can be best seen in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the protective glove <NUM> may comprise a further offset <NUM> between the rigid shell <NUM> and the phalanx protector <NUM> at the overlap <NUM> to thereby allow the phalanx protector <NUM> to freely move relative to the rigid shell <NUM>. The phalanx protector <NUM> may be able to move inside the open space defined by the gap <NUM>, allowing the phalanx protector <NUM> to move substantially without any friction relative to the distal edge <NUM> of the rigid shell <NUM>. The further offset <NUM> between the rigid shell <NUM> and the phalanx protector <NUM> allows the phalanx detector <NUM> to move at a distance from the rigid shell <NUM> and thereby prevent direct sliding contact between the phalanx protector <NUM> and the rigid shell <NUM>. If the phalanx protector <NUM> remains at a distance relative to the shell <NUM>, any shear force there between that would be caused if there would be a sliding contact, is prevented. In this way, user comfort is even further increased, because muscular effort for moving the hand <NUM> and /or the fingers <NUM> of the hand <NUM> is reduced. The further offset <NUM> also allows for ventilation to even further increase user comfort.

The flexible layer <NUM> preferably comprises one or more than one opening <NUM> configured to be situated, during use, i.e. when the protective glove <NUM> is worn, at the metacarpal area <NUM> of the hand <NUM> (<FIG>). The one or more than one opening <NUM>, which is typically a cutout in the flexible layer <NUM>, reduces stretch in the flexible layer <NUM>, and thereby allows the user to move his/her fingers with significantly less resistance. Moreover, the one or more than one opening <NUM> also contributes to user comfort by providing additional ventilation.

The metacarpal area <NUM> is defined as an area where the metacarpal bones of the hand are located. Preferably, the one or more than one opening <NUM> is configured to be arranged, when the protective glove <NUM> is worn, over at least a part of metacarpal bones corresponding to a ring finger <NUM> and a middle finger <NUM> of the hand <NUM>. Especially this area will experience stretch if a continuous flexible layer <NUM> is used, and consequently providing the one or more than one opening <NUM> is this area provides a significant contribution is reducing any resistance experienced by the user when moving the hand and/or fingers <NUM> throughout their range of motion.

A plurality of (not shown) small openings may jointly reduce stretch in the flexible layer <NUM> and provide ventilation. Preferably, the one or more than one opening <NUM> jointly cover an area of at least <NUM><NUM>, and preferably of at least <NUM><NUM>.

In the shown preferred embodiment, at least one of the one or more than one opening <NUM> comprises an area of at least <NUM><NUM>, and preferably of at least <NUM><NUM>. By providing at least one relatively large opening <NUM>, stretch in the flexible layer <NUM> is further reduced and ventilation properties are further increased. Additionally, an edge of the opening <NUM> may function as a living hinge, thereby further reducing resistance experienced by the user when the hand <NUM> is moved throughout its full range of motion.

Additional ventilation and/or weight reduction is obtained if, according to a further preferred embodiment, the rigid shell <NUM> comprises one or more than one through hole <NUM> (<FIG>).

The phalanx protector <NUM> may comprise a similar configuration as the assembly of shell <NUM> and compressible padding <NUM>. More in particular, the phalanx protector <NUM> may comprise a hard shell outer layer <NUM> arranged on top of a compressible padding <NUM>. The compressible padding <NUM> of the phalanx protector <NUM> may be a compressible foam layer. For example, the foam layer may be Poron© XRD. The hard shell outer layer <NUM> of the phalanx protector <NUM> may be made of polycarbonate or any other suitable material.

It is conceivable that the one or more than one extension extend over the length of a whole finger <NUM>, including the proximal phalanx <NUM>, the middle phalanx <NUM> and the distal phalanx <NUM>. However, in order to provide optimal feel and control, especially a feel and control of a sports player of his/her stick, it is preferred that the extensions <NUM> leave at least the distal phalanx <NUM> of a finger <NUM> exposed. In general, the more skin contact with the stick, the better the feel and control. As shown in <FIG>, a palm of the glove <NUM> may also be substantially open to allow direct contact of a user's palm on an object <NUM>, in particular on a handle of a tool, such as a player's stick, also in view of obtaining optimal feel and control of his/her stick.

Claim 1:
Protective glove (<NUM>) configured to protect a dorsal side (<NUM>) of a hand (<NUM>) of a user, comprising:
- a flexible layer (<NUM>) configured to fit against a back (<NUM>) of the hand (<NUM>) and comprising extensions (<NUM>) that are each configured to extend along and fit against a respective proximal phalanx (<NUM>) of a finger (<NUM>);
- a rigid shell (<NUM>) configured to extend over a metacarpal area (<NUM>) and over knuckles (<NUM>) of the back (<NUM>) of the hand (<NUM>) to thereby protect the back (<NUM>) of the hand (<NUM>), wherein said shell (<NUM>) is supported by said flexible layer (<NUM>) and arranged at an offset (<NUM>) relative to the back (<NUM>) of the hand (<NUM>) to thereby define a gap (<NUM>) between the shell (<NUM>) and the back (<NUM>) of the hand (<NUM>); and
- wherein one or more than one of the extensions (<NUM>) that are configured to extend along the proximal phalanx (<NUM>) of the finger (<NUM>) supports a phalanx protector (<NUM>) that is configured to extend over the respective proximal phalanx (<NUM>),
characterized in that
- the phalanx protector (<NUM>) is further configured to extend over a corresponding knuckle (<NUM>) of the hand (<NUM>); and
- wherein, at least when the fingers (<NUM>) are extended, the rigid shell (<NUM>) and the phalanx protector (<NUM>) define an overlap (<NUM>) and the phalanx protector (<NUM>) that extends over the corresponding knuckle (<NUM>) extends in the offset (<NUM>) that defines the gap (<NUM>) between the rigid shell (<NUM>) and the back (<NUM>) of the hand (<NUM>).