Protective Sport Glove

Abstract

An armored protective sport glove for use in historical-type armed combat having an underlying durable flexible glove with extending cuff having rivets and washers. A contoured armored backplate with padded underlayment is attached to the underlying glove, the backplate connecting with underlying material strips which over and along the back of the fingers and thumb providing connections for overlapping finger and thumb plates which flare at the knuckles and wrap exposed portions of the hand and thumb. The contoured overlapping plates and underlying material connection strips connected with one another and to the underlying glove at specific positions allowing for increased mobility and ease of replacement of worn or broken materials. Fingertip protection is increased by use of soft durable connection means decreasing the risk of smashed or pinched fingertips. Pivot points at the wrist increase mobility at the wrist and thumb.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present invention claims priority to U.S. provisional application 62 / 501,608 filed May 4, 2017 by the present inventor.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of Invention[0002]The present invention provides hand protection and is designed for use in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) or Western Martial Arts (WMA).2. Discussion of the State of the Art[0003]Historically, gloves used in armored combat involving swords and other implements such as those used by Japanese samurai during the Heian period (years 794-1185 A.D.) or those used by the European knights of the late Middle Ages were constructed from tough hides or leather with overlapping metal scales or plates attached thereon using rivets or braided cords made of hide or silk. Wrist guards extended from the glove portions upwards toward the elbow. While these gloves were designed to protect the user during armed combat (such as wielding swords, mallets and other combat implement...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a modern fighting glove that provides better protection and comfort for users during historical type fighting competitions. It increases wrist mobility with a flexible cuff and protects against slicing blows with individual washers that dissipate energy away from the center of the blow. It also increases fingertip protection with soft but durable connection means that decrease the risk of smashing or pinching fingers. The armor plates are connected to the glove with minimal connections, allowing for easy replacement without needing to remove and reattach the armor plates piece by piece. The glove also provides increased overall protective utility with contoured armor plates that flare at the knuckles and wrap those parts of the hand and thumb areas that are exposed to injury during combat. Additionally, the glove allows for easy removal and replacement of worn or broken elements.

Problems solved by technology

The costs and time associated with fabrication dictated a multi-use glove that in some ways compromised protection during combat to allow for diversification of use.

While these prior art modern fighting glove designs tend to follow historical design approaches in terms of contour and plating attachment in order to retain the look of the historical designs, they create similar compromises in terms of protective coverage of the wearer as their historical predecessors.

Other drawbacks of modern protective gloves is that there is no easy way to remove and replace worn undergloves without removing and reattaching each individual protective plate.

Further, the protective plates of modern prior art gloves do not allow for mobility because they are connected individually and directly to the underlying glove.

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