Mitten

Abstract

A thumb-less mitten comprising an elastic seamless tube of knitted fabric, having a first end section at which the tube is closed, a hand section and a second end section at which the tube is open, the sections being integrally formed;wherein the second end section comprises a first portion which has a smaller lateral extent than the hand section.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The present invention relates to mittens, in particular to mittens not having a separate thumb section—“thumb-less mittens”, especially to thumb-less mittens that are suitable for children. More particularly, the invention relates to thumb-less mittens made from fabric in a seamless tube.[0002]The problem with traditional hand-wear (e.g. mittens and gloves), especially those designed for children or for users who are incapable of putting mittens or gloves on by themselves, is that it is often very difficult to fit the hand-wear on the user. This can be on account of several factors, including a difficulty in getting the hand into the opening of the hand-wear and a difficulty in getting the correct digits (i.e. fingers and thumbs) in the correct portion of the hand-wear; such difficulties are exacerbated in young child users who are often unwilling to co-operate with the person who is fitting the glove on them.[0003]The problem of fitting the hand-wear is made even wo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]This solves the problems associated with garments of the prior art for several reasons as detailed below. The thumb-less design of the mitten presents an advantage in the ease with which the mitten may be fitted on a user, particularly where that user is a child. The removal of a separate thumb portion means the user need not be persuaded to place the correct digit in the correct portion, meaning correct orientation of the hand in the mitten is made easier. Further, the lack of a thumb portion renders it more difficult for a user to pull off the mitten once it has been fitted. Firstly, although the mitten of the present invention provides sufficient dexterity for gripping objects (e.g. using a clenched fist grip), the dimensions of the hand section, coupled to the lack of a thumb portion, mean that gripping one gloved hand with the other and removing the mittens is made less easy. Secondly, with conventional gloves / mittens having a thumb portion, the user (especially a child user) often attempts to remove the glove / mitten by using the thumb portion as a tag to pull on, for example by placing the thumb portion in the user's mouth and moving the hand away from the mouth; the lack of a thumb portion in the present invention removes this possibility of removal, thereby making it harder to remove the mitten. In addition, the mitten does not have a right or wrong hand (i.e. the mitten can be worn equally on either hand), further increasing the ease of fitting for a young child user.

[0034]The present invention provides several further advantages in addition to those outlined above. The mitten of the present invention provides the arm of a user with additional insulation. The single unit for the hand means it is easy to get on and keeps the hand warm, while the stretch of the fabric allows for movement of the hand and fingers and thumb. In addition, the construction of the present invention leads to several advantages (in addition to those previously described) which may not have previously been realised: (i) the lack of separate finger / thumb sections means that the surface area of the mitten is reduced, thereby reducing heat loss; (ii) there are no double section of fabric (as would occur at any regular seam or where and section folds back on another section—e.g. a thumb section onto the palm of the hand), and thus the fabric of the mitten can be thicker without the usual resulting loss of movement or discomfort caused by increased bulk at doubled sections. The mitten can therefore be made of a thicker and possibly more insulating fabric without the usual resulting discomfort that comes with increased bulk; (iii) the lack of a thumb section can reduce the likelihood of thumbs being bent back during a fall.

Problems solved by technology

Further, the lack of a thumb portion renders it more difficult for a user to pull off the mitten once it has been fitted.

Firstly, although the mitten of the present invention provides sufficient dexterity for gripping objects (e.g. using a clenched fist grip), the dimensions of the hand section, coupled to the lack of a thumb portion, mean that gripping one gloved hand with the other and removing the mittens is made less easy.

Secondly, with conventional gloves / mittens having a thumb portion, the user (especially a child user) often attempts to remove the glove / mitten by using the thumb portion as a tag to pull on, for example by placing the thumb portion in the user's mouth and moving the hand away from the mouth; the lack of a thumb portion in the present invention removes this possibility of removal, thereby making it harder to remove the mitten.

A seam running around the entire periphery of the mitten (for example as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,509) is not required, which greatly increases the comfort for the user: such a long seam could cause irritation for the user, which in the case of the child could prompt the child to attempt to remove the mitten.

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