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

[0031]Preferably, the elements may also provide an enhanced grip for a user of the mittens. For example, the element material may be chosen to have a ‘tacky’ feel to aid such grip: silicone is particularly advantageous in this respect. Further, the plurality of spots may provide a further important advantage, namely that they may help to reduce pilling of the knitted fabric making up the mitten, and may also reduce the pull-through of loops which make up the knitted fabric. The elements may therefore increase the durability of the mittens, and maintain a tidy visual appearance throughout the life of the mittens. Thus, although it will be appreciated that the precise number and positioning of the elements is not critical, there will preferably be sufficient coverage of the hand section by the elements to provide a reasonable increase of grip to the user and protection to the surface from pilling and snagging, preferably on both sides of the mitten.

[0032]According to a further aspect of the present invention, the one or more elements may be made of a material which is reflective to light—for example a reflective component (e.g. a reflective dye) may be included in the material from which the elements are made. The elements may be made of silicone which has been impregnated with a fluorescent or luminescent dye, in particular a non-water-based dye. This can increase the visibility of a user of the gloves, which is particularly advantageous when the user is a child, for example to make the child user more visible to car drivers or similar. Alternatively, or in addition, the mittens may be knitted with a material (e.g. wool) which includes a reflective, fluorescent, or luminescent dye.

[0033]In a further aspect of the present invention, the open end of the mitten may have some silicone or rubber on the inside edge. This can prevent the second end section, in particular th

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 t

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