Protective Glove

Abstract

A protective glove 2 comprises a hand portion 4, a cuff portion 6 and an adjustable fastener 46, a dorsal region of the hand 4 and cuff 6 portions comprise an ulnar layer 36 extending from an ulnar edge of the glove to a free edge and a radial layer 38 extending from a radial edge of the glove to a free edge, the ulnar layer 36 and the radial layer 38 overlap at their free edges. The adjustable fastener 46 comprises a first lace retainer 50 attached to the ulnar layer 36 at a distance from the free edge, a second lace retainer 52 attached to the radial layer 38at a distance from the free edge, a lace 48 engaged with the first 50 and second 52 lace retainers, and an adjustment device (56, Fig. 2) engaged with the lace 48 and moveable between a released position and a locked position. The protective glove is preferably a boxing glove or inner glove for combat sport.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a protective glove. In particular, this invention relates to a protective glove or inner glove for use in boxing or other similar combat sports. The protective glove of the present invention may be used as an inner glove within a traditional boxing glove or similar. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Boxing gloves are cushioned gloves that are worn by boxers to protect both the wearer’s hands and their opponent’s body, in particular their opponent’s head. Boxing gloves are typically worn over hand wraps. The hand wraps offer additional protection for the wearer’s hands, in particular helping to stabilise the fist area against injuries. Hand wraps comprise an elongate band of fabric or textile which is wrapped over the knuckles, around the hand and around the wrist, to support the joints of the hand and wrist. For additional protection, foam padding may also be positioned over the back of the base knuckles before wrapping. There are, however, a number of disadvantages of traditional hand wraps. Firstly, they can be difficult to put on singlehandedly and often requires a second person to assist with wrapping them around a user’s hand and wrist. Secondly, the process of wrapping the band of fabric can be time consuming. Thirdly, if foam padding is used, this may slip up the hand as the hand is placed into the glove. The foam padding then fails to protect the knuckles and too much pressure is placed on the top of the hand which is uncomfortable and can lead to further damage to the hand. To overcome some of the disadvantages of traditional hand wraps, inner gloves or protective gloves are available which may be work in place of a traditional hand wrap. The inner glove may be made from a stretchable material and may include a padded knuckle area. The advantage of innergloves is that they are quick and easy to put on. However, they do not typically the same level of support to the hand and wrist as traditional hand wraps as they do not conform as closely to the hand and wrist. Some inner gloves include a wrist strap that allows the inner glove to be tightened in a limited way around the wrist of the wearer; however, the glove still does not offer the level of alignment and compression of the joints as provided by a hand wrap. Against this background it is desirable to provide a protective glove or inner glove that provides improved performance over existing inner gloves while being easy to put on and comfortable to wear. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aspect of the present invention provides a protective glove comprising: a hand portion for receiving the hand of a wearer, the hand portion including a palm region, a dorsal region and a knuckle region; a cuff portion for receiving the wrist of a wearer, the cuff portion including a volar region and a dorsal region, the dorsal region of the hand portion and the dorsal region of the cuff portion comprising an ulnar layer extending from an ulnar edge of the glove to a free edge and a radial layer extending from a radial edge of the glove to a free edge, the ulnar layer and the radial layer overlapping at their free edges; and an adjustable fastener comprising: a first lace retainer attached to the ulnar layer at a distance from the free edge of the ulnar layer; a second lace retainer attached to the radial layer at a distance from the free edge of the radial layer; a lace engaged with the first and second lace retainers; and an adjustment device engaged with the lace and moveable between a released position and a locked position, the adjustment device comprising a casing for retaining an end or a part of the lace, wherein, in the released position a part of the lace can be withdrawn from the adjustment device to loosen the lace engaged with the first and second lace retainers to allow a wearer to insert a hand into the glove or remove a hand from the glove, and in the locked position the adjustment device prevents a part of the lace being withdrawn from the adjustment device, and wherein the ulnar layer and the radial layer always overlap. The protective glove of the present invention therefore offers improved support for a wearer’s wrist compared to existing inner gloves, and does not require the use of a traditional hand wrap to provide the desired level of alignment and compression of the joints. The lace may be any flexible elongate member, and may be in the form of a cord, string, wire or cable for example. In preferred embodiments, when the adjustment device is in the locked position the lace remains moveable with respect to the adjustment device in a direction that tightens the lace engaged with the first and second lace retainers. The adjustment device may comprise a ratchet mechanism. In these embodiments the lace is preferably wound around a spool of the adjustment device. In the released position the spool is preferably able to rotate in both a first direction to wind the lace around the spool and a second direction to unwind the lace from the spool and, preferably, in the locked position the spool cannot rotate in the second direction. In some embodiments, in the locked position, the spool can rotate in the first direction. In some embodiments the adjustment device is attached to the cuff portion of the glove. The adjustment device may be attached to the volar region of the cuff portion. Each of the first and second lace retainers preferably includes a plurality of lace guides. Each of the lace guides includes an opening through which the lace passes, the lace guides are preferably arranged such that the lace crosses the free edge of at least one of the ulnar layer and the radial layer at least twice. In preferred embodiments the knuckle region comprises a rear part and a palm part. The rear part preferably comprises padding for protecting the base knuckles of a wearer’s hand. The rear part and palm part of the knuckle region preferably form a ring surrounding a finger opening of the glove through which a wearer’s fingers extend. The protective glove preferably further comprises a plurality of finger separators. The finger separators preferably comprise bands of material fixed to the palm part and the rear part of the knuckle region and extending across the finger opening. Ends of the bands of material are fixed to the palm part and the rear part of the knuckle region such that there is no adjustment of the finger separators relative to the knuckle region except for limited lateral movement of the portion of each of the finger separators extending across the finger opening. The dorsal region of the hand portion of the glove preferably extends between the rear part of the knuckle region and the dorsal region of the cuff portion. The hand portion of the glove preferably comprises a thumb region including a tube of material through which a wearer’s thumb extends. In other embodiments the thumb region may only comprise an aperture in the hand portion of the glove. Preferred and / or optional features of each aspect and embodiment described above may also be used, alone or in appropriate combination, in the other aspects and embodiments also. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs are used for like features, and in which: Figure 1 is a view from a rear or dorsal side of a protective glove according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view from a palm side of the protective glove of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view from a radial or thumb side of the protective glove of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 to 3 illustrate an inner glove or protective glove 2 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The protective glove 2 comprises a hand portion 4 and a cuff portion or wrist portion 6. In use, a boxer or wearer of the protective glove 2 will insert their hand into the hand portion 4 of the glove 2 and the cuff portion 6 will extend along and surround their wrist and, typically, a part of their forearm. The hand portion 4 comprises a knuckle region 8, a palm region 10, a dorsal region 12, and a thumb region 14. With a wearer’s hand correctly inserted in the hand portion 4 of the glove 2, a rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8 is configured to extend across the wearer’s base knuckles (metacarpo phalangeal joints) and a palm part 18 of the knuckle region 8 is configured to extend over the palmar digital crease of the wearer’s hand. The palm region 10 extends over the wearer’s palm, and extends between the palm part 18 of the knuckle region 8 and a volar region 20 of the cuff portion 6. The dorsal region 12 extends over the back of the wearer’s hand, and extends between the rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8 and a dorsal region 22 of the cuff portion 6. The thumb region 14 may, in some embodiments, simply comprise a thumb aperture in the hand portion 4 of the glove 2 through which the wearer’s thumb extends. When a wearer’s hand is correctly positioned in the glove 2, the thumb aperture is aligned with the thenar portion of the wearer’s palm. In the illustrated embodiment the thumb region 14 comprises a sleeve or tube of material 24 through which the wearer’s thumb extends. The sleeve of material 24 extends around the thumb aperture, and extends outwardly from the thumb aperture. In this way, the sleeve of material 24 is configured to extend along a length of the wearer’s thumb. The cuff portion 6 extends from the hand portion 4 to an insertion edge 15 of the glove 2. The insertion edge 15 surrounds an insertion opening of the glove 2. The volar region 20 of the cuff portion 6 extends from and is continuous with the palm region 10 of the hand portion 4. The dorsal region 22 of the cuff portion 6 extends from and is continuous with the dorsal region 12 of the hand portion 4. With the wearer’s hand correctly inserted in the glove 2, the volar region 20 of the cuff portion 6 extends over a volar area of the wearer’s wrist and forearm and the dorsal region 22 of the cuff portion 6 extends over a dorsal area of the wearer’s wrist and forearm. Referring again to the knuckle region 8, in this embodiment the rear part 16 and palm part 18 of the knuckle region 8 form a complete ring of material that surrounds a part of the wearer’s hand. The fingers of the wearer’s hand extend through an opening 26 of the knuckle region 8, hereinafter referred to as a finger opening 26. It will be appreciated that the finger opening 26 is at an opposite end of the glove 2 to the insertion edge 15 and insertion opening. The rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8 preferable comprises padding 28. The padding 28 comprises protective material that is designed to protect the base knuckle joints of the wearer. The padding 28 may comprise layers of suitable fabric or a gel-filled pouch, for example. The finger opening 26 is preferably sized and shaped to receive all four fingers of a wearer’s hand, with the wearer’s thumb extending through the thumb aperture. The glove 2 preferably comprises finger separators 30 that extend across the finger opening 26 to divide the finger opening into distinct finger apertures. In this embodiment the glove 2 includes three finger separators 30 dividing the finger opening 26 into four finger apertures. In use, a wearer will insert one finger through each of the four finger apertures so that the finger separators are disposed between the fingers, as shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment the finger separators 30 comprise bands 32 of material that extend from the palm part 18 of the knuckle region 8, across the finger opening 26, to the rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8. Each of the bands 32 is fixed at a first end to the palm part 18 of the knuckle region 8 and fixed at a second end to the rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8. By only fixing the bands 32 at their first and second ends, the bands 32 are able to move laterally to a limited extent to accommodate the sizes of the wearer’s fingers extending through the finger opening 26 between the finger separators 30. In the illustrated embodiment the bands 32 extend over the padding 28 in the rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8. Preferably there is no adjustment of the finger separators 30 relative to this rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8. This minimises the complexity of the protective glove 2 and minimises the amount of adjustment that a wearer is required to consider and undertake when putting on the glove 2. It will be understood, however, that insertion of the wearer’s fingers through the finger opening 26 may increase a distance between the palm part 18 of the knuckle region 8 and the rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8 such that any slack in the bands 32 of material is removed. Furthermore, as a wearer curls their fingers to place their hand, together with the protective glove 2, into a boxing glove, this may place additional tension on the bands 32 of material extending over the rear part 16 of the knuckle region 8. Preferably, however, there is no selective adjustment of this tension and the finger separators remain fixed to the glove 2 at all times. In particular, the first and second ends of the bands 32 of material remain in fixed positions relative to the knuckle region 8 of the glove 2. The palm region 10 of the hand portion 4 preferably includes a palm aperture 34. The palm aperture 34 is configured to accommodate movement of the wearer’s hand when wearing the protective glove 2, and in particular to accommodate the wearer curling or bending their hand to form a fist. Edges of the palm aperture 34 may approximately follow the lines of the distal palmer crease and the thenar crease or proximal palmer crease of the wearer’s hand. The dorsal region 12 of the hand portion 4 and the dorsal region 22 of the cuff portion 6 comprise two overlapping layers of fabric 36, 38. A first one of these layers 36 extends from an ulnar edge 40 of the glove 2 to a free edge (not shown). A second one of these layers 38 extends from a radial edge 42 of the glove to a free edge 44. In this embodiment, the second layer or radial layer 38 overlaps or extends over the first layer or ulnar layer 36. In other embodiments, the ulnar layer may overlap or extend over the radial layer. An adjustable fastener 46 is connected to each of the ulnar layer 36 and radial layer 38 such that the adjustable fastener 46 may be used to adjust the relative positions of the free edge of the ulnar layer 36 and the free edge 44 of the radial layer 38. The adjustable fastener 46 may be used to adjust the amount of overlap of the ulnar layer 36 and radial layer 38 to tighten the glove 2 around the wrist of a wearer or to loosen the glove to allow a wearer to insert their hand into the glove 2 or remove their hand from the glove 2. In this embodiment the adjustable fastener 46 comprises a lace 48 that is engaged with a first retainer 50 attached to the ulnar layer 36 and a second retainer 52 attached to the radial layer 38. It will be appreciated that, due to the adjustable overlap of the ulnar layer 36 and the radial layer 38, the first retainer 50 is attached to the ulnar layer 36 at a distance from the free edge of the ulnar layer 36 and the second retainer 52 is attached to the radial layer 38 at a distance from the free edge 44 of the radial layer 38. In the illustrated embodiment a distance between the first retainer 50 and the ulnar edge 40 of the glove 2 is less than the distance between the first retainer 50 and the free edge of the ulnar layer 36. Similarly, a distance between the second retainer 52 and the radial edge 42 of the glove 2 is preferably less than the distance between the second retainer 52 and the free edge 44 of the radial layer 38. The first retainer 50 extends, in a longitudinal direction, approximately parallel to the free edge of the ulnar layer 36, and extends through both the dorsal region 12 of the hand portion 4 and the dorsal region 22 of the cuff portion 6. The second retainer 52 extends, in a longitudinal direction, approximately parallel to the free edge 44 of the radial layer 38, and extends through both the dorsal region 12 of the hand portion 4 and the dorsal region 22 of the cuff portion 6. Each of the first retainer 50 and second retainer 52 comprise a plurality of lace guides 54. Each of the lace guides 54 includes an opening through which the lace 48 extends. In this embodiment each lace guide 54 comprises a tube or loop of material surrounding and defining the opening. In this embodiment the first retainer 50 comprises a first set of lace guides 54, with the lace guides 54 of the first set aligned with each other and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, in this embodiment the second retainer 52 comprises a second set of lace guides 54, with the lace guides 54 of the second set aligned with each other and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. An elongate lace 48 or cord is laced through the lace guides 54. The lace 48 preferably passes alternately through one of the lace guides 54 of the first set of lace guides 54 and one of the lace guides 54 of the second set of lace guides 54. In this way the lace 48 connects the first and second retainers 50, 52. Preferably the lace 48 crosses over the free edge 44 of the radial layer 38 at multiple points along the length of the free edge 44. A first end of the lace 48 preferably extends from a lace guide 54 of the first set of lace guides 54 closest to the insertion edge 15 of the cuff portion 6 of the glove 2. A second end of the lace 48 preferably extends from a lace guide 54 of the second set of lace guides 54 closest to the insertion edge 15 of the cuff portion 6 of the glove 2. It will be understood that lacing the glove 2 in this way allows a wearer to tighten or loosen the cuff portion 6 and a part of the hand portion 4. In particular, the lace 48 may be pulled to draw the first and second retainers 50, 52 closer together to tighten the glove 2, and the tension on the lace may be reduced to allow the first and second retainers 50, 52 to move further apart to loosen the glove 2. The adjustable fastener 46 preferably further comprises an adjustment device 56 that engages with the lace 48 to allow a wearer or user to quickly and easily adjust the position of the lace 48 relative to the lace guides 54, i.e. to tighten or loosen the lace 48. The adjustment device preferably also retains the ends of the lace 48 so that the ends do not hang freely. In this embodiment the adjustment device 56 comprises a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism includes a spool around which the first and second ends of the lace 48 are wound. The ratchet mechanism preferably has a released position and a locked position. In the locked position the spool is only able to rotate in a first direction in which the lace 48 is wound onto the spool. In the released position the spool is free to rotate in both the first direction and an opposite second direction to allow the lace 48 to be unwound from the spool to loosen the lace 48. In the locked position a device such as a tooth or projection on one part of the ratchet mechanism engages with a set of angled teeth on a second part of the ratchet mechanism to limit rotation of the spool in the first direction only. The ratchet mechanism is housed in a suitable casing 58 that is attached to the cuff portion 6 of the glove 2. In this embodiment the casing 58 is attached to the volar region 20 of the cuff portion 6 proximate the radial edge 42. Accordingly, in this embodiment the ends of the lace 48 extend around the side of the cuff portion 6, past the radial edge 42, from the dorsal region 22 to the volar region 20 of the cuff portion 6. The casing 58 of the adjustment device 56 in this example has a central part 60 and an outer part 62. The outer part 62 is moveable with respect to the central part 60 to move the ratchet mechanism between the released position and the locked position. For example, a wearer may pull the outer part 62 in a direction away from the surface of the cuff portion 6 of the glove 2 to release the ratchet mechanism and loosen the lace 48 to insert their hand in the glove 2. Once their hand is correctly positioned in the glove 2, the wearer may push the outer part 62 in a direction towards the surface of the cuff portion 6 of the glove 2 to lock the ratchet mechanism. The wearer can then rotate the spool in the first direction, for example by twisting or rotating the outer part 62 relative to the central part 60, to wind the lace 48 onto the spool and tighten the lace 48 of the glove 2. With the ratchet mechanism remaining in the locked position the lace 48 is held in the desired position and does not loosen during wearing of the glove 2. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments the configuration of the ratchet mechanism and the casing 58 of the adjustment device 56 may be different. For example the casing may include a button or slider which is moveable to move the ratchet mechanism between the released position and the locked position. The ratchet mechanism and the casing 58 may be configured so that a user must positively apply a force to a part of the casing 58 to retain the ratchet mechanism in the released position. When a user releases the force applied to the casing 58 the ratchet mechanism may automatically move into the locked position. The advantage of the lacing arrangement and the adjustment device 56 described above is that a user may easily tighten the protective glove 2 around their hand. Because the lacing extends through the cuff portion 6 and a part of the hand portion 4, the protective glove 2 may be adjusted to provide a good fit and thereby provide good support to a wearer’s hand and wrist. By providing an adjustment device 56 that retains the ends of the lace 48, the ends of the lace 48 are not free, which reduces the risk of the ends of the lace 48 being pulled or interfering with other pieces of equipment that a wearer might be using. Providing the lacing in a dorsal region of the protective glove 2 means that in situations in which the protective glove 2 is used inside a boxing glove, the lacing of the protective glove 2 does not interfere with the lacing of the boxing glove, which is typically disposed in a volar region of the boxing glove. The protective glove of the present invention therefore offers improved support for a wearer’s wrist compared to existing inner gloves. The wearer is able to easily put on and adjust the protective glove to obtain the required level of support. When used as an inner glove for boxing, a wearer may place their hand in a boxing glove immediately after tightening the protective glove. There is no need for an additional traditional hand wrap to obtain the desired level of support to the wearer’s wrist and other joints, such as their knuckles. or inner glove that provides improved support to the wearer’s wrist compared to existing inner gloves, while being easy to put on and comfortable to wear. While in the above embodiment the term lace was used, it will be understood that the lace may be any flexible elongate member, and may be in the form of a cord, string, wire or cable for example. A length of the lace is preferably such that even when the lace is pulled out of the adjustment device to its maximum extent, and the lacing across the dorsal region of the glove is loosened to its maximum extent, there remains some overlap of the ulnar layer 36 and radial layer 38. In some embodiments the adjustment device 56 may not include a ratchet mechanism. The adjustment device may include a spring-loaded toggle with a compartment or casing for retaining the ends of the lace. In some embodiments the lace may not include first and second ends. The lace may be in the form of a loop of cord or wire, for example. In these embodiments the end or ends of the lace may be understood to be a length or loop of lace that extends from the first and second retainers, and which increases in length when the lace is tightened and which decreases in length when the lace is loosened. Other modifications and variations not explicitly disclosed above may also be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A protective glove comprising:a hand portion for receiving the hand of a wearer, the hand portion including a palm region, a dorsal region and a knuckle region;a cuff portion for receiving the wrist of a wearer, the cuff portion including a volar region and a dorsal region, the dorsal region of the hand portion and the dorsal region of the cuff portion comprising an ulnar layer extending from an ulnar edge of the glove to a free edge and a radial layer extending from a radial edge of the glove to a free edge, the ulnar layer and the radial layer overlapping at their free edges; andan adjustable fastener comprising:a first lace retainer attached to the ulnar layer at a distance from the free edge of the ulnar layer;a second lace retainer attached to the radial layer at a distance from the free edge of the radial layer;a lace engaged with the first and second lace retainers; andan adjustment device engaged with the lace and moveable between a released position and a locked position, the adjustment device comprising a casing for retaining an end or a part of the lace,wherein, in the released position a part of the lace can be withdrawn from the adjustment device to loosen the lace engaged with the first and second lace retainers to allow a wearer to insert a hand into the glove or remove a hand from the glove, and in the locked position the adjustment device prevents a part of the lace being withdrawn from the adjustment device, andwherein the ulnar layer and the radial layer always overlap.

2. A protective glove according to Claim 1, wherein when the adjustment device is in the locked position the lace remains moveable with respect to the adjustment device in a direction that tightens the lace engaged with the first and second lace retainers.device comprises a ratchet mechanism and the lace is wound around a spool of the adjustment device, and wherein in the released position the spool is able to rotate in both a first direction to wind the lace around the spool and a second direction to unwind the lace from the spool, and in the locked position the spool cannot rotate in the second direction.

4. A protective glove according to Claim 3, wherein in the locked position the spool can rotate in the first direction.

5. A protective glove according to any preceding claim, in which the adjustment device is attached to the cuff portion of the glove.

6. A protective glove according to Claim 5, in which the adjustment device is attached to the volar region of the cuff portion.

7. A protective glove according to any preceding claim, in which each of the first and second lace retainers includes a plurality of lace guides, each of the lace guides including an opening through which the lace passes, the lace guides being arranged such that the lace crosses the free edge of at least one of the ulnar layer and the radial layer at least twice.

8. A protective glove according to any preceding claim, in which the knuckle region comprises a rear part and a palm part, the rear part comprises padding, and the rear part and palm part form a ring surrounding a finger opening of the glove through which a wearer’s fingers extend.

9. A protective glove according to Claim 8, further comprising a plurality of finger separators comprising bands of material fixed to the palm part and the rear part of the knuckle region and extending across the finger opening.

10. A protective glove according to any preceding claim, in which the hand portion comprises a thumb region including a tube of material through which a wearer’s thumb extends.

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