Protective glove with angular articulated locking thumb

Abstract

A protective glove system is disclosed wherein each glove has an articulated thumb skeleton disposed in the thumb member. The thumb skeleton comprises a plurality of sections pivotably joined together to enable the thumb to articulate between open and closed positions. At least one pivot axis is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second section of the skeleton. A locking mechanism is provided for preventing the thumb skeleton sections from bending backwards, thereby preventing hyperextension of the wearer's thumb.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates generally to the field of protective outer gear, and more particularly to protective sports gloves.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Hockey is a fast-moving, competitive game involving extensive contact between players and implements. Thus, hockey players wear padding and protective gloves while playing. Because of the padding required to absorb repeated impact with sticks, players and walls, hockey gloves tend to be bulky and cumbersome and can restrict desired finger and hand movement.[0005]For example, a hockey player's thumb tends to receive physical contact from opposing players, sticks, boards, etc. Accordingly, the thumb of a hockey glove is heavily padded. Also, during play, impact may tend to hyperextend the player's thumb. Accordingly, hockey gloves usually have a stiffened member provided in the thumb padding in order to prevent such hyperextension. However, the stiffened mem...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Accordingly, there is a need in the art for protective sports gloves, such as hockey gloves, that facilitate articulated movement of the thumb. Therefore, some embodiments described herein provide a hockey glove having an articulated thumb which is less restrictive to natural movement of the wearer's thumb, but still protects the wearer's thumb from impact and hyperextension.

Problems solved by technology

Because of the padding required to absorb repeated impact with sticks, players and walls, hockey gloves tend to be bulky and cumbersome and can restrict desired finger and hand movement.

Also, during play, impact may tend to hyperextend the player's thumb.

However, the stiffened member usually substantially restricts normal articulated movement of the player's thumb.

Thus, the thumb tends to have awkward and uncomfortable movement during play because of the glove.

In particular, such gloves prevent the player from being able to tightly grasp objects in the player's hands, such as a hockey stick.

The inability to articulate the player's thumbs to tightly grasp the hockey stick may significantly affect a player's performance.

However, such an arrangement provides less complete padding protection and exposes the thumb to dangerous impact from sticks, etc.

Also, since the thumb pocket is still joined to the thumb padding, the stiffened member still restricts movement of the thumb even when the wearer's thumb is in the pocket.

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