Handwear incorporating low-friction thenar segment

Abstract

Handwear articles, such as gloves, mittens and other multi-digit embodiments of handwear, are provided. Articles of the invention are especially suited for such tasks as window cleaning, and comprise one or more low-friction areas suitable for slidably using a shafted tool therewith. High-friction areas are also provided to assist in controlling tools. Handwear of the invention are thus especially useful with respect to handling tools, tool shafts, and any implement where control of the tool shaft and the tool are desirable. Articles of the inventions may also comprise one or more attachment surfaces or fastener pads adapted and arranged such that pairs of the handwear can be utilized or connected together, and such that articles of the invention can be easily attached to many objects having complementary attachment elements to allow the handwear, and the wearer, to operate efficiently in conjunction with many tools, articles, devices and surfaces, and in many environments.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application hereby claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 344,602 of Mahon, as filed on Aug. 30, 2010.INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0002]All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each such individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be so incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0003]The disclosed technology relates to handwear articles such as gloves and mittens, particularly to handwear articles that are used in an industrial or heavy working environment such as window cleaning.BACKGROUND[0004]Handwear articles, such as the type used for window washing, carpentry, gardening, the petrochemical industry, commercial fishing, cold storage, farm work and in the kitchen are typically formed from a knitted fabric made of cotton or polyester material. They may be reinforc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention, comprising on or a pair of handwear items, such as gloves or mittens, are adapted and arranged to be removable quickly and easily from a hand or hands, without the necessity of additional devices or assistance. Thus, the present invention permits a user to remove, and put on, the handwear while still using the remaining hand for other tasks or functions. Window cleaning personnel and many other professionals who use glove, mittens or other handwear often need to take them off in order to do detailed work. The present handwear invention permits a user to remove one glove, while the other gloved hand is full or otherwise occupied, and keep the glove positioned while the user is working, and then easily put the glove back on without the use of the second hand. The invention thus provides means and methods for keeping gloves together while work is taking place.

[0017]The present inventions include slider gloves, gloves that can be taken off and put on quickly, one-finger mitts and mittens made with loop and hook or magnets. When cleaning storefronts, the poling activity is about 10% faster using a slippery version of a device of the present invention. Moreover, the abrasive scrubbers for quickly scrubbing tough dirt like dried food, bird dung, fly dung, human spit, etc., provided in some embodiments of the invention are provided to thereby eliminate the time to pick up and use another tool. Moreover, inflatable spots or channels, such as the thenar pads described herein, and variations thereof, particularly in their inflated configurations, can be adapted and arranged to cause one or more sliding elements to rise above the surface of the handwear (such as a glove or mitten), thus converting the handwear to a sliding configuration. As an example, the inflatable Thenar Pad described herein could be pumped up to help a pole or shaft slide through easier or it could be used to absorb shock from striking tools, such as baseball bats, axes, picks, masonry hammers, sledge hammers and the like.

Problems solved by technology

Conventional gloves are limited, however, in how they function, and in the advantages that they provide to any given task.

These limitations pertain especially to circumstances where conventional gloves are used with tools, tool shafts or other devices.

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