Glove for Sports People and Tradesmen

Abstract

A glove (10) for use by sports people and tradesmen includes a partial hand covering portion (12) having openings through which fingers and thumb can protrude. There is also a wrist covering portion (14) connected to the hand covering portion. The hand and wrist covering portions are adapted to absorb sweat. The glove also includes gripping means (18) formed on the palm side of the hand covering portion, and means for retaining the position of the glove during hand movement at locations where the hand covering portion meets the fingers and thumb and where the wrist covering portion meets the arm.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to improvements in gloves and, in particular, to gloves for use by any person that is involved in activities requiring stable and effective gripping by, and manipulation of, the hand, such as sports people and tradesmen.[0002]The invention has particular application to reducing or mopping up sweat build up in the palm, wrist and fingers of the hand, to improving hand grip and control of hand held sports equipment and mechanical tools, and to preventing, or assisting in the recovery of, hand and wrist injuries.[0003]The invention also has application to absorbing or dampening the vibration or shock experienced by the hand when a person is engaged in sports or trade activities.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0004]People undergoing an activity involving extreme physical exertion often experience profuse sweating in the palm, wrist and fingers of their hands which may hamper them in efficiently continuing, or maintaining the standard of, tha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]Preferably, the wrist covering portion includes a plurality of magnetic means for assisting in recovery from wrist injuries.

Problems solved by technology

People undergoing an activity involving extreme physical exertion often experience profuse sweating in the palm, wrist and fingers of their hands which may hamper them in efficiently continuing, or maintaining the standard of, that activity.

This is especially a problem for players of racquet sports, but equally affects other sports people and tradesmen, such as operators of high powered, manually supported, drills and jack hammers.

For such people, the problem may eventually lead to a lack of effective grip and, in some cases, to injuries to wrist and fingers.

However, sweat bands only absorb a portion of the sweat and do not prevent sweat from below the wrist adversely affecting the grip and control exerted by the hand.

These and other devices have been used separately or in a stand alone manner by people involved in activities requiring stable and effective gripping by, and manipulation of, the hand, such as sports people and tradesmen, all without much success.

The prior art is littered with many gloves that have sought to address these and other problems in the field, but nearly all have involved bulky, uncomfortable to wear, and unreliable shapes and forms that do not allow the user the freedom of hand and wrist movement that they may require for their activity.

However, the glove fully covers the fingers, and has reinforcing pads overlaying the high wear parts of the finger portions.

The users fingers are therefore not exposed, and may have their movement impeded by the layered material that covers them.

However, the glove assembly is complex and time consuming to assemble, and may be prone to loss of its parts.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,651 discloses a non-finger tip covering, wrist support glove made of material which, although identified as being breathable and stretchable, is very bulky and may be uncomfortable to wear.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,660 discloses a full hand covering glove having a back portion to which is attached a protective package made from one or more layers of abrasion and impact resistant material, such as overlaid layers of foam and cowhide, and so is poorly suited to activities requiring supple hand, wrist and finger movement.

Although assisting with grip, the grip pads limit the flexibility of the glove, and so the glove is ill suited to sports activities.

However, the glove does not cover the joint between the thumb and the palm, and so sweat may build up in that area and inhibit the user.

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