Glove Finger Inserts for Flexibility and Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Leather gloves with inserts on the exterior sides of the pinky and index fingers tend to detach due to stitching failure, leading to reduced durability and flexibility, while additional inserts at distal interphalangeal joints enhance flexibility but can cause stretching and stress on the hand when closing.
Innovation Solution
Designing a glove with inserts on both sides of the middle fingers' proximal and distal interphalangeal joints, and only one insert on the interior side of the other fingers, replacing exterior inserts with solid leather on the pinky and index fingers to prevent detachment, and using extra material to maintain symmetry and prevent stretching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If exterior inserts are added to the pinky and index fingers, then flexibility is improved, but durability deteriorates due to stitching failure and insert detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the exterior inserts from the pinky and index fingers, extracting the problematic component that causes stitching failure. This eliminates the durability issue while the interior inserts on middle and ring fingers maintain the flexibility benefit. The solution selectively applies inserts only where they provide net benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different insert configurations to different fingers based on local requirements. Middle and ring fingers receive interior inserts for flexibility, while pinky and index fingers use solid leather without exterior inserts to prevent detachment. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each finger's construction for its specific functional needs.
2Ease of operation
If inserts are added to enhance flexibility, then ease of bending is improved, but stress on hand muscles increases during closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places inserts specifically at the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of middle and ring fingers where flexibility is most needed, rather than uniformly across all fingers. This localized insertion provides targeted flexibility enhancement while minimizing overall stress on hand muscles during closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a partial insert configuration - interior inserts on two fingers (middle and ring) with solid leather on the other two fingers (pinky and index). This partial application provides sufficient flexibility improvement without the excessive stress that would result from inserts on all fingers, achieving an optimal balance.
3Reliability
If exterior inserts are removed and replaced with solid leather, then durability is improved, but flexibility may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies solid leather construction specifically to the exterior of pinky and index fingers where durability is critical and flexibility demands are lower. Meanwhile, interior inserts are maintained on middle and ring fingers where flexibility is prioritized. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by matching material properties to functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the glove construction into different zones: exterior solid leather zones (pinky and index fingers) for durability, and interior insert zones (middle and ring fingers) for flexibility. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its properties independently, resolving the durability-flexibility trade-off.
Data Source
AI summary
A glove having a pinky finger, ring finger, middle finger, index finger and thumb receiving portion in communication with a hand receiving portion is provided. The pinky finger, ring finger, middle finger, and index finger receiving portions of the glove each have a top panel and a bottom panel which are connected to form each of the finger receiving portions. An intermediate region and a distal region of the ring finger and middle finger receiving portions of the glove includes a first and second insert affixed to both the inner and outer sides of each. The intermediate region and a distal region of the pinky and index finger receiving portions of the glove include a first and second insert affixed to only the inner sides of each. The outer side of both the pinky and index finger receiving portions have no inserts provided. The thumb receiving portion have no inserts.