Segmented Finger Sleeves for Athletic Grip and Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-based control solutions for athletic and physical activities, such as gloves, often fail to provide a combination of improved grip, comfort, protection, and durability, leading to issues like tearing, reduced dexterity, and over-restrictiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of individual finger and thumb sleeves with multiple grip zones, a reinforcing spine, and a seamless textile base layer, which provides enhanced grip, flexibility, and protection by distributing stress points and allowing for natural finger movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional gloves are used to provide grip and protection, then grip enhancement and protection are improved, but durability deteriorates due to tearing and material failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the hand covering into separate finger sleeves rather than a single glove structure. Each finger sleeve is an independent tubular member that can be worn individually, allowing stress to be distributed across multiple independent units rather than concentrating failure points in a unified glove structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies grip-enhancing material coatings selectively to specific zones on the finger sleeves rather than coating the entire surface. This localized application provides grip enhancement where needed while reducing overall material usage and potential failure points.
2Reliability
If gloves are used to provide grip enhancement, then traction is improved, but dexterity deteriorates due to reduced finger mobility
Solution Approach 1:
By providing separate finger sleeves instead of a unified glove, each finger maintains independent mobility. The sleeves can move with individual finger articulation without constraining adjacent fingers, preserving natural hand dexterity while still providing grip enhancement on the finger surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Grip-enhancing materials are applied selectively to specific zones on the finger sleeves rather than covering the entire surface, maintaining dexterity in areas where grip is not required while providing enhanced traction where contact with objects occurs.
3Reliability
If traditional gloves are used for hand protection, then protection is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to over-restrictiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The separate finger sleeve design allows each finger to be protected independently without constraining the overall hand movement. Users can wear only the necessary number of sleeves rather than a full glove, reducing restriction while maintaining protection where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The finger sleeves are designed with elastic properties that allow them to dynamically adapt to finger movement and deformation. The elastic material stretches and contracts with natural finger motion, providing protection without creating rigid constraints that would reduce comfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sleeves offer improved grip, comfort, and durability by targeting specific hand areas with segmented grip zones and a flexible spine, reducing the likelihood of tearing and maintaining performance over traditional gloves.
Implementation Method 1
at least two grip zones, wherein a coefficient of friction of the at least two grip zones is greater than a coefficient of friction of the textile base layer
Data Source
AI summary
Sleeves for improving performance and control are disclosed. The sleeves are constructed for use on the fingers, wherein each sleeve is constructed in some embodiments with grip zones that match areas of the finger to ensure improved grip while maintaining flexibility, compression, protection, and material durability. Each grip zone is positioned to ensure that fingers are able to naturally bend without impeding grip performance. A spine on a rear of the sleeve ensures material durability, limits over extension, and provides padding and protection.