Glove thumb guard

Abstract

This invention relates to protecting a thumb from sports related injury. The invention provides a rubber layer under a hard cap to provide for increased frontal and dorsal thumb protection without reducing hand flexibility. The invention is a glove comprising a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb, a protective pad proximate the outer distal end, a cap mounted on the protective pad, and an overmould mounted between the protective pad and the cap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The invention relates generally to hand protection. More particularly, the invention relates to protecting a thumb from sports related injury. Specifically, the invention provides a rubber layer under a hard cap to provide for increased frontal and dorsal thumb protection without reducing hand flexibility in a lacrosse glove.[0003]2. Background Information[0004]Many contact sports require players to wear gloves due to the risk of injury to the player's hands. Sports such as lacrosse naturally leave the thumb exposed to more severe injury due to its position on a lacrosse stick. While a player's hand grasps a lacrosse stick, the thumb rests on top of the lacrosse stick and protrudes outwardly and along the lacrosse stick where it is exposed to injury. This can lead to thumbs being “stoved” or pushed violently back into the knuckle and palm from contact with another player. Additionally, the dorsal side of the thumb is exposed w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The thumb protected glove of the present invention includes a glove having a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb. The dorsal side of the thumb sheath includes a protective pad that securely holds a cap on the dorsal side of the distal end of the thumb, as well as extending over the thumb tip. An overmould layer of rubber or other elastomeric material is adhered to the underside of the cap, and resides between the dorsal padding and the cap, which provides a resilient material for absorbing the shock of an impact. The overmould provides two spaced walls adjacent to the thumb tip, which further dampens an impact by flexing and bending inwardly, while still resisting the force.

Problems solved by technology

Many contact sports require players to wear gloves due to the risk of injury to the player's hands.

Sports such as lacrosse naturally leave the thumb exposed to more severe injury due to its position on a lacrosse stick.

This can lead to thumbs being “stoved” or pushed violently back into the knuckle and palm from contact with another player.

Additionally, the dorsal side of the thumb is exposed when a player is holding a lacrosse stick, which causes injuries from the common “slashing” motion of an opponent's lacrosse stick.

This restricts the range of movement and puts the player at a disadvantage because a relatively fixed gripping position is not always desired in a dynamic sport.

Additionally, rigid bodies are not sufficient protection for a thumb tip.

Inertial movement of a thumb within the glove will result in stoving or damage to the thumb tip because the rigid protection could impact the thumb.

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