Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to gloves worn to protect the hands of an individual. More particularly, the present invention relates to gloves worn by American football players to protect their hands during play or practice. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Gloves are worn in a variety of sports for purposes such as protection of the hands and to enhance the grip or feel of an athlete. American football players encounter particular needs to protect their hands. The need to protect a player&#39;s hands from injury is particularly acute for some positions. For example, offensive line play can place significant demands, such as impacts with other players, upon the hands of the linemen. Similarly, defensive players, especially along the defensive line, can risk harm or injury to their hands during the normal course of play. For this reason, protective gloves are often worn by football players, particularly offensive linemen and defensive players. Such protective gloves often include padding to soften blows to portions of the player&#39;s hand. Cushioning may be particularly desirable along portions of a hand with less from the soft tissue of the hand, such as the knuckles or fingers, or areas for which contact frequently occurs, such as the heal of the hand. Padding may be added to a protective glove by stitching a layer of pliable material, such as fabric, leather, etc., over a pad of material to retain the pad in place while the glove is worn. Unfortunately, the stitching to retain padding itself may be particularly apt to fray, tear, break, or otherwise degrade, particularly since padding may often be placed so as to protect areas of frequent contact on a player&#39;s hand. Further, stitching necessarily penetrates the fabric of the glove, which weakens the fabric itself and renders it susceptible to ripping and/or tearing. If a glove will be exposed to moisture, such as perspiration or precipitation, which can further weaken stitching and lead to material cracking as the moisture dries. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a glove for protecting the hands of an athlete, such as offensive linemen, defensive football players, and other athletes from damage due to striking other players or equipment while avoiding problems associated with failure of stitching used in attaching padding to a glove. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, padding may be situated between an outer glove layer and an inner glove layer, with the outer layer than being laminated to secure it to the inner glove layer with the padding thereby secured between the inner layer and the outer layer. A glove in accordance with the present invention may comprise one or more portions constructed by laminating pads between an outer layer and an inner layer, with the one or more laminated portion being joined, for example by conventional stitching, to other laminated and/or non-laminated portions to form a whole glove to cover a wearer&#39;s hand. Laminated padding portions may be segmented to enhance flexibility, particularly a long finger and/or thumb portions where articulation may be desired. 
         [0007]    A glove in accordance with the present invention may comprise one or more laminated padded portions. A laminated padded portion may comprise an inner layer, an outer layer, an adhesive layer bonding the outer layer to the inner layer, and at least one pad secured between the inner layer and the outer layer. The bond between the inner layer and the adhesive layer and between the outer layer and the adhesive layer may be formed through heat and pressure, but may also be formed through radio frequency or ultrasonic bonding processes. The amount of heat and pressure applied to form the bonds may depend upon the specific material utilized for the adhesive layer, which may be a thermoplastic polymer, such as polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin or vinyl. In general, heat and pressure induces the adhesive layer to infiltrate the structure of the inner layer and/or the outer layer. Upon subsequent cooling, the adhesive layer becomes securely bonded to the inner layer and/or the outer layer. 
         [0008]    A glove in accordance with the present invention may comprise at least a first padded portion and at least a second portion. The at least a first padded portion may be affixed to at least a second portion to form a cavity such that the glove may be detachably retained on the hand of a wearer inserted into the cavity. A laminated portion may comprise an inner layer that contacts the hand of a wearer when the glove is worn, an outer layer that comprises the outer layer of the glove when the glove is worn, and at least one pad, or optionally a plurality of pads, secured between the outer layer and the inner layer without stitching. The at least one pad may be positioned so that when the glove is worn the pads protect portions of the hand of the wearer without covering a finger or thumb joint of the wearer. Pads of the at least one laminated portion may be positioned to protect the heel of the hand, knuckles, portions of a finger, portions of a thumb, etc. Laminated portions may comprise palm portions, back portions, thumb portions, etc. The at least a second portion may comprise non-laminated portions. Non-laminated portions may be constructed of an elastic material(s). 
         [0009]    The present invention also provides methods for forming protective gloves. Methods in accordance with the present invention may comprise preparing at least one laminated portion by forming pads, cutting an inner layer, and cutting an out layer. The pads may be adhered to desired locations on the inner layer, and then the outer layer may be laminated to the inner layer. Adhering pads to desired locations on the inner layer may comprise positioning the pad to protect the heel of the hand, knuckles, portions of fingers, portions of thumbs, etc., and then securing the pads in place with tape, adhesives, etc. The pads may be positioned such that when the formed glove is worn the pads do not cover a joint of a thumb and/or finger. At least a second portion may be formed, and the at least one laminated portion may be affixed to the at least one additional portion to form a cavity such that the glove may be detachably retained on the hand of a wearer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]    The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a palm view of a glove in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a back view of a glove in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a laminated portion of a glove in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross sectional view of a laminated portion of a glove in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method of forming a glove in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different components, steps, or combinations of components or steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. 
         [0017]    Gloves in accordance with the present invention provide padding to protect the hand of a wearer by laminating padding between an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer may be oriented between the padding and the hand of a wearer when the glove is worn, and the outer layer may be oriented external to the padding when the glove is worn. In accordance with the present invention, a glove may comprise one or more portions or regions for which padding is retained by laminating an outer layer to an inner layer. The padding may be segmented to permit enhanced flexibility and articulation. Other glove portions, which may or may not provide padding for a wearer, may be joined to the laminated portion to form an entire glove to be worn by a user. Portions of a glove may be joined together by stitching, gluing or other adhesives, lamination, or any other method. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a glove  100  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Glove  100  may comprise a palm portion  110  that is a first laminated padded portion. Palm portion  110  may comprise an outer layer of, for example, a rubber or TPU material laminated to an inner layer to secure between the outer layer and the inner layer a plurality of pads  120 . Of course, laminated padded portion  110  of glove  100  may also comprise a plurality of finger extensions and thumb extensions, although a glove in accordance with the present invention may also be partially or entirely fingerless, or a glove in accordance with the present invention may incorporate separate finger and/or thumb portions that are not integral with a laminated padded palm portion. Palm portion  110  may be joined to other components of glove  100  by a variety of attachment methodologies, such as seam  130 . Other attachment methodologies may also be used, such as adhesives, lamination, etc. By affixing the various portions of a glove in accordance with the invention a cavity may be formed that permits the glove to be detachably retained on the hand of a wearer. Glove  100  may include a wrist cuff  170 . Wrist cuff  170  may provide an attachment tab  180  that utilizes hook and loop fasteners to secure the glove  100  securely to the hand of wearer  105 . Of course, other fastener types may be utilized, such as snaps, buttons, and the like. Further, wrist cuff  100  may simply be sufficiently elastic to open to slide over the hand of wearer  105  but still retain a snug fit to retain glove  100  on the hand of wearer  105 . 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , palm portion  110  and associated plurality of pads  120  lacks any seam to retain pads  120  within palm portion  110 . By limiting the use of seams to secure padding  120 , a glove in accordance with the present invention reduces the risk of failure by stitching to secure pads during wear and tear incurred naturally during use of glove  100 . Further, the lack of stitching to secure pads  120  enable the construction of glove  100  to be simplified and standardized to provide uniform and consistent results. As shown in the example of  FIG. 1 , pads  120  may be referred to as heel pads, in that they are positioned so as to protect the heel of the hand of the wearer  105  when the glove  100  is worn. If heel pads  120  are used, their number, arrangement, size, and orientation may vary from that shown in the example of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an illustration of a glove  100  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated from the back of the hand.  FIG. 2  illustrates glove  100  with a pressed and stitched padded back portion  140  comprising a plurality of pads  150 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , back portion  140  extends up each of the four fingers of glove  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , padding  150  may comprise multiple pads  150  situated along each finger and knuckle when glove  100  is worn to permit the wearer to flex and/or articulate each finger. Multiple pads  150  may be formed by compressing a single piece of a compressible material, such as neoprene, to form individual pads separated by grooves  152 . One or more stitch  154  may secure padded back portion  140  to an interior layer of glove  100 . One or more stitch  154  may be used in conjunction with an adhesive to secure padded back portion  140 , although either a stitch or an adhesive may be used individually. If used, stitch  154  may extend through some, all, or none of grooves  152  and/or the perimeter of pads  150 . Further, stitch  154  may comprise one or multiple independent stitches. In the example of  FIG. 2 , padding comprises three pads  150  situated along each finger, which may be referred to as finger pad(s). 
         [0021]    An additional pad  155  may be situated near the base of each finger to protect the knuckle, which may be referred to as knuckle pad. Knuckle pads  155  may comprise a part of padded back portion  140  or may comprise one or more additional portions of glove  100 . Knuckle pads  155  may be formed and/or secured to glove  100  similarly to finger pads  150 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , knuckle pads  155  may be contained within knuckle portion  157 . Knuckle portion  157  may be situated underneath padded back portion  140  and/or other portions of glove  100 . The exterior of knuckle portion  157  may be any type of material, such as synthetic leather, nylon, etc. Optionally, each finger pad  150  and/or knuckle pad  155  may have a size and/or shape suited to the portion of the finger and/or hand protected when glove  100  is worn. The size and/or shape, and even the location, of a pad such as pad  150  may vary based upon the size of the glove  100 , the type of athlete for which glove  100  is intended, the position played by the athlete for which glove  100  is intended, etc. Some of the pads  150  and/or knuckle pads  155  illustrated in the example of  FIG. 2  may be omitted, while additional pads may be added, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  further illustrates a padded thumb portion  160 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , padded thumb portion  160  may comprise two thumb pads  165  along the thumb of a wearer of glove  100 . Padded thumb portion  160  may be fabricated using materials and/or techniques similar to those described above for back portion  140 . For example, a groove  102  may be pressed into a neoprene pod and a stitch  164  may be used to secure thumb portion  160  to glove  100 . An additional knuckle pad  166  may be located near base of the thumb. Knuckle portion  160 , which may be fabricated using materials and/or techniques similar to those described for knuckle portion  157 . The plurality of pads  165  permits enhanced flexibility and articulation of the thumb of an athlete while wearing glove  100 . The number, size, shape, and/or location of pads  165  may vary to suit the likely needs of the intended wearer. 
         [0023]    Non-laminated portion  190  may comprise any type of material, and may be crafted of an elastic material to facilitate flexibility and secure fit of glove  100  when worn by wearer  190 . A plurality of holes  192  may provide ventilation for glove  100 . Portion  190  may comprise additional padding  195  that may be secured, for example, using an adhesive or by stitching padding to an inner layer of portion  190 . Padding  195  may be formed from compressed neoprene or any other padding material. Portion  190  may be secured to other portions of glove  100  using stitched seams  130 , although adhesives or other fastening types may be used. Seams  130  may be located well away from pads, thereby reducing unnecessary wear and damage to seams  130 . In the view illustrated in  FIG. 2 , seam  130  has been positioned near the center of the back of the hand of wearer  105 , rather than near the knuckles of wearer  105 , thereby decreasing stress on seam  130  when glove  100  is flexed, but still protecting the knuckles and fingers with pads  150 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a view of palm portion  110  and plurality of pads  120  are illustrated. Plurality of pads  120  may comprise any number, size, shape, and configuration of padding. As described above, considerations such as hand size, sport, and position of the intended wearer of a glove in accordance with the present invention may render various numbers of pads to be used in varying sizes, shapes, properties, and/or arrangements. The exterior of palm portion  110  may comprise any type of material. A durable, pliable, material with grippability, such as rubber or TPU, may be used as exterior of palm portion  110 . 
         [0025]    Line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3  indicates a cross section of palm portion  110  further illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , beneath exterior layer  112  pads  120  may comprise a first padding material portion  122 , a second padding material portion  124 , and a third padding material portion  126  to provide cushioning and protection for the hand of the wearer of glove  100 . First padding material portion  122 , second padding material portion  124 , and third padding material portion  126  may comprise the same or different types of material. Materials suitable for use as padding material in conjunction with gloves in accordance with the present invention comprise, for example, various types of foam, silicone, rubber, compressible fibers, and the like. Padding material may, for example, be cut and/or compression molded to the size and/or shape desired for a particular pad location. 
         [0026]    Exterior layer  112  may be molded to form depressions to receive pads  122 ,  124 , and  126 . Pads  122 ,  124 ,  126  may be situated between an outer layer  112  and an inner layer  114 . Outer layer  112  may comprise the external material of glove  100  and may be formed of rubber or TPU. However, additional materials may be applied to outer layer  112  to provide a desired feel, water resistance, grip, durability, or other performance characteristic. Inner layer  114  may contact the skin of the hand of wearer, but need not. If inner layer  114  contacts the skin of a wearer, a material such as lycra may be used. However, various liners or other materials may be interposed in inner layer  114  and the hand of a wearer when the glove is worn to provide desired comfort, feel, texture, moisture management, or other performance characteristics. Adhesive layer  113  may secure pads  122 ,  124 ,  126  and outer layer  112  to inner layer  114 . Any type of adhesive may be used for adhesive layer  113 . Adhesive layer  113  may be a thermoplastic polymer that forms bonds with outer layer  112 , inner layer  114 , and/or pads  122 ,  124 ,  126  through the application of sufficient heat and pressure, thereby joining outer layer  112 , inner layer  114 , and pads  122 ,  124 ,  126 . Alternatively, adhesive layer  113  may be a material that forms bonds through radio frequency or ultrasonic bonding processes, for example. With Regard to the use of a thermoplastic polymer as adhesive layer  113 , the amount of heat and pressure applied to form bonds depends upon the specific material used, which may be, for example, polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, or vinyl. Suitable thermoplastic polymers formed from these materials may be supplied by Bemis Associates, Inc. of Shirley, Mass., United States. In general, heat and pressure induces adhesive layer  113  to soften or melt so as to infiltrate the structure of outer layer  112 , inner layer  114 , and/or pads  122 ,  124 ,  126 . Upon subsequent cooling, adhesive layer  113  becomes securely bonded to outer layer  112 , inner layer  114 , and/or pads  122 ,  124 ,  126  to form an integrated laminated padded portion, such as palm portion  110 . 
         [0027]    A laminated portion of glove in accordance with the present invention may be constructed in methods such as method  500  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In step  510 , pads may be formed having the desired size, shape, and/or physical properties for a laminated padded portion of a glove. For example, individual pads may be cut or molded to a desired size and shape from a material possessing the desired compressibility. For example, step  510  may cut pads having a variety of sizes and shapes from a foam material. In step  520 , the inner layer for the laminated padded portion may be cut. Inner layer may be cut from lycra, nylon, polyester, cotton, or any type of fabric. In step  530 , the outer layer for the laminated padded portion may be cut. Outer layer may be cut from any type of fabric. Coatings may be applied to the outer layer to provide desired properties, or outer layer may be cut from a material possessing desired properties itself, for example, rubber, TPU, and/or synthetic leather may be durable, flexible, and grippable. Step  520  and step  530  may use die cutting or other techniques to cut the desired amount and shape of fabric, leather, or other type of material from a sheet. Steps  510 ,  520 , and  530  may be performed in any order, including simultaneously. 
         [0028]    In step  540 , the outer layer cut in step  530  may be shaped to receive the pads formed in step  510 . Step  540  may comprise, for example, molding an outer layer formed of a rubber or a TPU material to form depressions into which pads may be inserted. The size and shape of such a depression formed in step  540  may correspond to the size and shape of pads formed in step  510 . Further, step  540  may form depressions of multiple sizes and shapes to receive pads of multiple sizes and shapes. In step  550  the pads formed in step  510  may be inserted into the outer layer shaped in step  540 . For example, in step  550  pads may be inserted into depressions having a shape and size corresponding to the inserted pad. 
         [0029]    In step  560  an adhesive may be provided for use in assembling the laminated portion. Any type or types of adhesive may be provided in step  560 . For example, a heat activated flexible tape adhesive such as is available from Bemis® Corporation may be cut to an appropriate size and shape. In step  570  the pads formed in step  510  and the outer layer cut in step  530  may be assembled to be retained to the inner layer cut in step  520 . Step  570  may use double sided tape or any type of adhesive. In step  580 , the outer layer may be laminated to the inner layer, thereby retaining the pads between the inner layer and the outer layer to form a laminated padded portion. Laminating in step  580  may comprise, for example, applying any heat and/or pressure needed to activate the adhesive provided in step  560  and assembled in step  570 . For example, a glove portion with a portion of heat activated flexible tape used as an adhesive may be heated to approximately 200° F. to activate the beamis. In step  590 , the laminated padded portion may be affixed to one or more other glove portions, some or all of which may be laminated padded portions, to form a glove. Step  590  may use stitching, adhesives, or any other technique. 
         [0030]    Gloves in accordance with the present invention may provide laminated padded portions in locations other than the palm. Further, multiple laminated padded portions may be provided in a single glove in accordance with the present invention. A glove in accordance with the present invention may combine one or more laminated padded portion with any number of additional portions of any type. For example, a glove in accordance with the present invention may combine multiple laminated padded portions with any combination of non-laminated padded portions, non-padded portions, ventilated portions, stretchable portions, etc. Further any type of material may be used to fabricate the outer layer, inner layer, and pads of laminated portions of a glove in accordance of the present invention. 
         [0031]    Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments may be practiced that do not depart from the scope of the present invention. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be practiced in methods in accordance with the present invention, nor need all steps be carried out in the specific order described.

Technology Category: a