Gloves for use on a motorcycle and related methods

Abstract

A glove 30 for use on a motorcycle comprising front 31, back (occluded), fingers 33 and thumb 34 regions, the front comprising a palm region 32 and a thenar crease region 35 (the crease that extends f

Description

15 Field of the Invention The invention relates to gloves for use on a motorcycle and methods of assembling gloves. 20 Background to the Invention and Prior Art Known to the Applicant(s) The closest prior art known to the Applicant is embodied in WO 2004068982 and US20090288236 which discloses a glove for protecting a wearer's hand and / or wrist 25 when impacted against a surface. A wide variety of embodiments have been provided where low coefficient of friction pads or skids have been provided. The skids together form a c-shape with a gap located between the pads so that movements about the wrist and thenar creases are in no way impeded. No skids are provided between the skids with only glove cushioning and leather covering material being provided. Whilst this 30 prior publication offers a number of conceptual advantages, a number of drawbacks have arisen in the application of its teaching. In particular, many of the prior art embodiments suggest the provision of a single skid or pad. Due to the restriction of the 14 08 24 thenar crease, a single pad may be disposed on only one side of the thenar crease which causes one side of the palm to slide whilst the neighbouring side tends to grab the road which causes a twisting action leading invariably to the snapping of the wearer's wrist. Whilst, the prior art also suggests the possibility of disposing two pads or skids, in 5 practice, as shown in figure 1, manufacturers tend to dispose one pad or skid at a time on the glove without any attention to the other skid which leads to poor relative placement of the skids which suffer from the same drawback as a single skid as twisting tends to occur as these often partially overlap the thenar crease or in use displace from their optimal position which likewise leads to potential twisting and snapping of the 10 wrist. These issues are further compounded by the large variety of potential glove sizes and configurations onto which skids are secured. Summary of the Invention 15 In a first broad independent aspect, the invention provides a glove for use on a motorcycle, the glove comprising a front and a back, the front further comprising: a palm region, a palm region comprising an internal surface proximate a hand during use and an external surface opposite the internal surface; a finger region; a thumb region; separately displaceable finger and thumb covers which at least partially enclose the 20 user's fingers; and a thenar crease region located adjacent to a thenar crease of a hand in use; the glove further comprising a side region; the side region being located between the front and back of the glove at the opposite side of the glove to the thumb region; wherein the palm region comprises a skid with a first protruding skid portion which protrudes from the external surface and is provided in a portion of the palm region 25 between the thenar crease region and the thumb region; and a second protruding skid portion which protrudes from the external surface and is provided in a portion of the palm region between the thenar crease region and the side region; the skid further comprising a junction member for spacing the first skid portion from the second skid portion; wherein said junction member is integrally formed with said first and second 30 protruding skid portions. 14 08 24 This configuration is particularly advantageous because it provides two seemingly separate skid portions, in a preferred embodiment, as part of the same skid yet precisely spaced from one another due to the presence of the junction member. This allows precise positioning of the junction member over the thenar crease to ensure that the 5 first skid portion is provided between the thenar crease region and the thumb region whilst the second protruding skid portion is provided between the thenar crease region and the side region. In preferred embodiments, the first protruding skid portion is of a relatively rigid plastics material with a low coefficient of friction compared to the typical coefficient of friction of leather relative to a dry tarmac road surface. 10 In a first subsidiary aspect, the junction member is integrally formed in a single piece of moulded plastics material with the first and second protruding skid portions. This allows the skid to be formed from a single mould to ensure that the spacing between skid portions are maintained during assembly or manufacture of the glove and after being 15 fixed onto the glove. In preferred embodiments, the protruding skid portions are exposed outside of the typical external glove surface which may in practical embodiments be of leather whilst the junction member is located underneath the external surface of the glove in order to be hidden from sight whilst performing the advantageous function of precise location of the respective portions whilst at the same 20 time minimising the risk of twisting on impact during a motorcycling fall. In a further subsidiary aspect, the junction member comprises a flexible point or line allowing the first and second skid portions to accommodate movement about the thenar crease. This further configuration allows the spacing to maintain the advantages 25 mentioned with respect to the previous aspects whilst at the same time allowing the wearer to freely move his / her hand without any restriction due to the presence of the junction member. In a further subsidiary aspect, at least one of the skid portions incorporates a flange 30 about at least part of the perimeter of the portions for one or more of the following: sewing to the glove, adhering to the glove or directly moulding the skid portion to the 14 08 24 palm region. This configuration further improves the glove by improving the attachment of the skids or skid portions to the glove. The presence of the flange avoids any interference between stitches and the ability of the skids to fulfil their low-friction function. Likewise, if the skid portions are adhered to the glove by appropriate 5 adhesives, the flange also avoids any interference with the low-friction capacity of the skid portions. Furthermore, the provision of a perimeter flange is also particularly advantageous to facilitate directly moulding the skid portion onto the palm region which is particularly suited to rapid assembly of the gloves. 10 In a further subsidiary aspect, the flange extends between the skid portions in order to act as the junction member. This configuration offers a further simplification of the skid to better facilitate integration into gloves whilst at the same time ensuring optimal positioning relative in particular to the thenar crease of the wearer. 15 In a further subsidiary aspect, the junction member comprises a third protruding skid portion which extends longitudinally over the thenar crease. This configuration goes against the conventional thinking of simply providing a gap with no skid in the thenar crease whilst at the same time achieving beneficial mobility of the wearer's thumb and fingers and improving the protection offered by the skid. 20 In a further subsidiary aspect, the junction member comprises a flexible point or line on both sides of the third protruding skid portion. This configuration ensures the flexibility of the wearer's wrist whilst ensuring the advantages described previously with respect to the preceding aspects. 25 In a further subsidiary aspect, the glove incorporates a cuff region immediately below the palm region further comprising in the cuff region either a separate skid or a further skid portion. In the first alternative of this advantageous configuration, the provision of a third skid in the cuff region further improves the safety and the protection afforded by 30 the glove overcoming the many prior art embodiments which suffer from the interference with relatively high friction labels which tend to be provided in that region. 14 08 24 Furthermore, it provides a skid structure which is less likely to twist and snap the wearer's wrist by further minimising the prior art tendency of twisting during impact on the road surface. In the second subsidiary aspect, this configuration is particularly advantageous by providing a skid with not only the first and second protruding skid 5 portions but a further skid portion in the cuff region which may preferably be integral with these first two skid portions in order to further improve the placement and maintenance of the relative distances between the skid portions both during manufacturing and during use. 10 In a further subsidiary aspect, the further skid portion which is provided in the cuff region is also joined to the first and second skid portions by the junction member. This configuration offers a more compact and stable collection of skid portions in order to further improve the provision of the benefits outlined previously. 15 In a further broad independent aspect, the invention provides a method for assembling a glove with a front and a back, the front further comprising: a palm region, the palm region comprising an internal surface proximate a hand during use and an external surface opposite the internal surface; a finger region; a thumb region; separately displaceable finger and thumb covers which at least partial enclose the user's fingers; 20 and a thenar crease region located adjacent to a thenar crease of a hand in use; the glove further comprising a side region; the side region being located between the front and back of the glove at the opposite side of the glove to the thumb region; this method comprising the step of providing a first skid and a second skid and employing a spacer to maintain the distance between the first and second skids as the first skid is secured to 25 the glove in a portion of the palm region between the thenar crease region and the thumb region; and the second skid is secured to the glove in a portion of the palm region between the thenar crease region and the side regions. This approach is particularly advantageous as it provides for accurate relative placement 30 of the skids in order to avoid the prior art risk of rotation associated with the inadequate and inconsistent placements. 14 08 24 In a further subsidiary aspect, the spacer is provided as part of an injection mould which comprises at least two cavities suitable for directly moulding the skids onto the glove. By so doing, the distance between the skids is maintained and accurate for each one of the 5 gloves of a particular size. In a further subsidiary aspect, the spacer comprises a junction member for joining together the first and second skids and the method comprises the step of securing the junction member and the skids to the glove. This configuration further improves the 10 positioning of the skids relative to the glove in order to minimise the risk of the prior art embodiments. In a further subsidiary aspect, the junction member incorporates a longitudinal skid; and the method comprises the step of placing the longitudinal skid in line with the crease; 15 whereby the person's second skids are placed in position relative to the thenar crease. This configuration further improves the position of the skids for optimum protection of the wearer's wrist during a fall. Ina further subsidiary aspect, the spacer and the skids are separatable along a line of 20 preferential tearing; whereby once the skids are secured to the glove the spacer may be separated from the skids by a tearing action or a cutting step. This configuration further improves the positioning of the skids relative to the glove whilst at the same time providing a lightweight skid which is accurately placed and only marginally impacts on the wearer's ability to handle objects. 25 In a further subsidiary aspect, the spacer incorporates a frame with a first frame portion corresponding to the first skid and a second frame portion corresponding to the second skid; the spacer further comprising an adjustable member located between the frame portion which may be adjusted to modify the distance between the frame portions. This 30 methodology allows the variable positioning of the skids to accommodate variations in 14 08 24 the glove's shape and configuration whilst at the same time ensuring improved protection of the wearer's wrist during a motorcycling fall. 5 Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a wearer of a motorcycling glove and 2 conventionally disposed pads. 10 Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a wearer's hand with a skid positioned in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the skid in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 2. 15 Figure 4 shows a further schematic view of a wearer's hand with a further skid in accordance with another embodiment. Figure 5 shows a perspective glove equipped with the skid in accordance with a further 20 embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of a spacer with lines of preferential tearing. Figure 7 shows a spacer with a frame with a first and second frame portion which are 25 adjustable relative to one another. Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of a spacer. 14 08 24 Detailed Description of the Figures The disjointed prior art approach to applying pads to a glove invariably leads to the kind of configuration shown in figure 1 where a first pad 1 is disposed over the side of a 5 wearer's hand whilst pad 2 is located partially over the wearer's thenar crease. The consequence of this erroneous position is that a portion of the base of the thumb region may in practice be exposed to preferential contact with the road surface leading to twisting on and during impact with the consequential damage to the wearer's hand. 10 Instead of simply placing the pads or skids on the glove in an independent manner as envisaged in the prior art, figure 2 shows an embodiment of a skid generally referenced 3 with a first skid portion 4 and a second skid portion 5. Skid portions 4 and 5 are joined together by a junction member 6 located between the skid portions. The junction member 6 and the respective skid portions 4 and 5 may, in a preferred embodiment, be 15 formed as a single piece of moulded plastics material. At least one of the skid portions 4 and 5 may have a flange 7 disposed about the perimeter of the skid portion. The flange in effect forms a base area which may either be located underneath leather covering of the glove or exposed and visible on top of the external surface of the glove. The flange may have one more perforation to facilitate the sewing of the skid to the glove. In 20 further embodiments, the flange may be secured to the glove by employing an adhesive. Furthermore, the single piece of plastics material may be directly moulded onto the surface of a glove and be secured to the glove as the moulded plastic sets. In preferred embodiments, the piece of plastics material may be printed directly onto the glove using a 3D printer. In an alternative embodiment, the piece of plastics material may be 25 secured to the glove through a process of compression moulding. In a further embodiment, the piece of plastics material may be cast onto the glove. In a further embodiment, the piece of plastics may be manufactured through hot or cold forming. In a further embodiment, the piece of plastics may be secured to the glove through a step of micro injection. 14 08 24 As can be best seen in figure 3, the junction member may itself possess a skid portion 8 which may be relatively thin compared to previously described skid portions 4 and 5. The principal longitudinal axis X of the additional skid portion 8 may be disposed precisely along at least part of the thenar crease in order to allow the optimal placement 5 of the skid onto the glove during its assembly process. In order to further optimise the location of the skid, the skid portions are provided adjacent to the wrist crease or part of the wrist crease which is illustrated by axis Y. On both sides of the third skid 8 are respectively provide two relatively recessed lines 9 and 10 which allow these to act as flexible hinges around the thenar crease. Whilst these are lines, in preferred 10 embodiments, these may also simply incorporate one or more flex points. Furthermore, the skids may be formed of solid plastics material throughout the height of the skids. This would prevent the potential exposure as in the prior art of the relatively sharp edges of thin skids during severe abrasion in a motorcycling fall. This ensures the advantageous maintenance of low friction not only on immediate impact but during 15 prolonged sliding following impact on a road surface. A lower portion of the skid may comprise two projections extending laterally to be positioned in-line with the wrist crease Y in order to precisely define the location of the skid portions relative to both the thenar crease and the wrist crease. The lower portion of the skid in this embodiment may be flexible and serve primarily for the location of the skid relative to the thenar and 20 wrist creases. In figure 4 a further skid generally referenced 11 is shown. In this configuration, the first and second skid portions may be identical to those described with respect to figures 2 and 3 but may also incorporate an additional skid portion 12 extending underneath the 25 junction member 6 into the cuff region. The upper part of the additional skid portion 12 may be located just below the wrist crease - thus serving to assist in the positioning of the skid relative to both the wrist crease and the thenar crease. In this configuration, this additional skid portion may have a greater length than a width with the greatest length of the portion being in the direction of the wearer's forearm. In the embodiment 30 of figure 4, there are thus 4 raised skid portions which may be provided in a single piece of plastics material in order to offer both scaphoid and wrist protection. In a further 14 08 24 embodiment, the skid may have only 3 raises portions the primary raised portion 4 and 5 and the cuff portion 12. In other words, an embodiment without the intermediate raised portion 8 as shown in figure 3 may also provide advantages over the prior art. 5 Figure 5 shows a glove generally referenced 30 for use on a motorcycle. The glove comprises a front 31 and a back (only slightly visible due to the perspective selected), the front further comprising a palm region 32, the palm region comprising an internal surface proximate a hand during use and an external surface opposite the internal surface; a finger region 33; a thumb region 34; separately displaceable finger 10 and thumb covers which at least partially enclose the user's fingers; and a thenar crease region 35 located adjacent to a thenar crease of a hand in use; the glove further comprising a side region 36; the side region being located between the front and back of the glove at the opposite side of the glove to the thumb region; wherein the palm region 32 comprises a skid 37 with a first protruding skid portion 38 15 which protrudes or is raised from the external surface and is provided in a portion of the palm region between the thenar crease region and the thumb region; and a second protruding skid portion 39 which protrudes or is raised from the external surface and is provided in a portion of the palm region between the thenar crease region and the side region; the skid further comprising a junction member 40 for spacing the first skid 20 portion from the second skid portion. In this embodiment, the junction member also comprises a further raised portion 41 extending longitudinally over the thenar crease. The junction member has two wings 42 and 43 extending on both side of the raised portion 41. The wings may either be located on top of the external surface of the glove or located underneath the external covering which may be of leather or a low friction 25 synthetic material. The skid portion may incorporate a flange which may be tucked under the external covering and facilitate the sewing of stiches to secure the skid to the glove. Stich lines 44 and 45 are shown substantially around the perimeter of skid portions 38 and 39. In addition, in a further embodiment, a cuff region 46 may be provided and equipped with either part of the junction member or an exposed or raised 30 skid portion of the kind described with respect to figure 4. 14 08 24 In figure 6, a further spacer 16 is shown which is temporarily joined to two skids 17 and 18. The spacer has lines of preferential tearing 19 and 20 being offered between the spacer and the skid to allow the removal of the spacer once the skids are secured to a glove. The tearing along the preferential lines of tearing may also be achieved using 5 appropriate machinery such as a cutting machine or a grabbing arm. Figure 7 shows a further spacer incorporating a frame generally referenced 21 with a first frame portion 22 and a second frame portion 23 being separated from one another by adjustable members 24 and 25. Adjustable members 24 and 25 may comprise a 10 threaded bolt or be held frictionaIly within appropriately sized recesses such as recess 26 in each one of the frame portions. The rotation of these may for example cause the frame members to be separated from one another by a selectable distance thus allowing the skids to be precisely located on the gloves in order to avoid the problems associated with the prior art placements as illustrated with respect to figure 1. In particular, the 15 inner sides of members may be provided either side or in-line with the thenar crease whilst the lower sides may be provided above or in-line with the wrist crease in order to appropriately position the skids to the side of the thenar crease and above the wrist crease. Such a spacer may be advantageous for use in injection moulding but also for 3D printing, compression moulding, casting, hot and cold forming, and micro injection. 20 Figure 8 shows an individual spacer in the form of a mould or part of a mould 13 with two cavities 14 and 15 through which individual skids may be placed or formed as they are secured to a glove. The spacer may incorporate an axial guide 27 separating the two halves of the mould and facilitating the placement of the glove so that the thenar crease 25 is over said axial guide. In addition, the lower portion or edge of the mould may be employed for placing in-line with or above the wrist crease, whereby the skids are appropriately placed relative to both the wrist crease and the thenar crease. Such a spacer may be advantageous for use in injection moulding but also for 3D printing, compression moulding, casting, hot and cold forming, and micro injection. 14 08 24

Claims

1. A glove for use on a motorcycle, said glove comprising a front and a back, the front further comprising:5 a palm region, said palm region comprising an internal surface proximate a hand during use and an external surface opposite the internal surface;a finger region;a thumb region;separately displaceable finger and thumb covers which at least partially enclose the10 user's fingers; anda thenar crease region located adjacent to a thenar crease of a hand in use;said glove further comprising a side region; said side region being located between said front and back of said glove at the opposite side of the glove to said thumb region;wherein said palm region comprises a skid with a first protruding skid portion which15 protrudes from said external surface and is provided in a portion of said palm region between said thenar crease region and said thumb region; and a second protruding skid portion which protrudes from said external surface and is provided in a portion of said palm region between said thenar crease region and said side region; said skid further comprising a junction member for spacing said first skid portion from said second skid20 portion; wherein said junction member is integrally formed with said first and second protruding skid portions.

2. The glove according to claim 1, wherein said first protruding skid portion, said second protruding skid portion and said junction member are integrally formed in a single piece25 of moulded plastics material.

3. The glove according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said junction member comprises a flexible point or line allowing the first and second skid portions to accommodate movement about the thenar crease.14 08 244. The glove according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said skid portions incorporates a flange about at least part of the perimeter of said portions for one or more of the following: sewing to said glove, adhering to said glove or directly moulding said skid portion onto said palm region.

55. The glove according to claim 4, wherein said flange extends between said skid portions in order to act as said junction member.

6. The glove according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said junction member10 comprises a third protruding skid portion which extends longitudinally over said thenar crease.

7. The glove according to claim 6, wherein said junction member comprises a flexible point or line on both sides of said third protruding skid portion.

158. The glove according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said glove incorporates a cuff region immediately below said palm region and further comprising in said cuff region either a separate skid or a further skid portion.20 9. The glove according to claim 8, wherein said further skid portion which is provided insaid cuff region is also joined to said first and second skid portion by said junction member.

10. A method of assembling a glove with a front and a back, the front further comprising: 25 a palm region, said palm region comprising an internal surface proximate a hand during use and an external surface opposite the internal surface;a finger region;a thumb region;separately displaceable finger and thumb covers which at least partially enclose the30 user's fingers; anda thenar crease region located adjacent to a thenar crease of a hand in use;14 08 24said glove further comprising a side region; said side region being located between said front and back of said glove at the opposite side of the glove to said thumb region;said method comprising the step of providing a first skid and a second skid and employing a spacer to maintain the distance between said first and second skids as the5 first skid is secured to said glove in a portion of said palm region between said thenar crease region and said thumb region; and the second skid is secured to said glove in a portion of said palm region between said thenar crease region and said side region.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said spacer is provided as part of an injection10 mould which comprises at least two cavities suitable for directly moulding said skids onto said glove.

12. The method according to either claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said spacer comprises a junction member for joining together said first and second skids and said method15 comprises the step of securing said junction member and said skids to said glove.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said junction member incorporates a longitudinal skid; and the method comprises the step of placing said longitudinal skid in line with the thenar crease; whereby said first and second skids are placed in position20 relative to said thenar crease.

14. The method according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein said spacer and said skids are separatable along a line of preferential tearing; whereby once said skids are secured to said glove; said spacer may be separated from said skids.2515. The method according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein said spacer incorporates a frame with a first frame portion corresponding to said first skid and a second frame portion corresponding to said second skid; said spacer further comprising an adjustable member located between said frame portions which may be adjusted to modify the30 distance between said frame portions.

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