Patent ID: 8341763

Claim:
A reinforcing element for an article of clothing configured for bending in a first direction and resisting bending in a second direction, the reinforcing element comprising: at least one elongate element comprising: a bending area disposed along the at least one elongate element that is configured to correspond to a finger joint of a wearer when worn, wherein the bending area allows a bending of the reinforcing element in the first direction and blocks a bending of the reinforcing element in the second direction, and a substantially rigid interconnection area disposed along the at least one elongate element that is adapted to correspond to a finger bone segment of the wearer when worn, wherein the substantially rigid interconnection area is integrally coupled to the bending area and comprises: a gutter-shaped curvature in a transverse cross-section having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is adapted to extend along a length of a backside surface of the finger bone segment and is adapted to extend laterally around sides of the finger bone segment of the wearer when worn; and at least one rib coupled to the outer surface of the gutter-shaped curvature and shaped to extend along the length of the outer surface without extending substantially across the bending area integrally coupled to the substantially rigid interconnection area.