Sports glove with an elastically joined palm

Abstract

A sports glove having a hand portion including a dorsal region and a palmer region. A finger portion and thumb portion extend outwardly from the hand portion. The palmer region has a lower edge that extends between the thumb portion and dorsal region and has a length as measured there between. The length of the lower edge is adjustable. An intermediate area of the lower edge is made from an elastic material that is expandable and relaxable to change the length of the lower edge and allow the glove to be put on and taken off easily. The entire lower edge may be made from an elastic fabric. Additional elastic fabric may extend outwardly beyond the intermediate area and lower edge to form an elastic inner layer to the palmer region of the glove and thereby ensure a snug fit of the glove on the hand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]This invention relates generally to gloves. More particularly, the invention relates to protective sports gloves. Specifically, the invention relates to a sports glove that has an elastic area provided in the lower edge of the palmer region that expands to allow a player's hand to be inserted into or withdrawn from the glove and which aids in snugly maintaining the glove on the player's hand.[0003]2. Background Information[0004]There are a number of protective sports gloves currently used in high contact sports such as lacrosse and ice hockey. These gloves include a variety of features that aid in protecting the player's hands from impact during the game. Yet other features aid in making the gloves more comfortable for the player, such as through the provision of mechanisms for encouraging air circulation into the interior of the glove. Further features include specific solutions for strengthening the glove in certain areas to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The device of the present invention is a protective glove having a hand portion made up from a palmer region and a dorsal region which surround and define a cavity for receiving a player's hand. A finger portion and a thumb portion extend outwardly from the hand portion and a cuff portion is joined to the hand portion along a junction and extends outwardly from the hand portion in a direction opposite the finger portion. A wrist guard is disposed proximate the junction and is attached to the hand portion. The wrist guard is made up from a primary member and a secondary member. The primary member is attached to the hand portion and is disposed adjacent an area of the dorsal region proximate the junction. The type of attachment permits the primary member to pivot relative to the dorsal region. The secondary member is attached to the primary member and is free of attachments to both the hand portion and the cuff member. The secondary member is positioned so that it extends at least partially over the cuff portion. The attachment between the primary and secondary members is such that the secondary member is able to pivot relative to the primary member. Both of the primary and secondary members are also slidable along an exterior surface of the dorsal region and cuff portion of the glove. Thus, the wrist guard is an articulating protective member that is able to provide additional protection to the player's wrist and forearm as they flex and rotate their hand during play.

[0015]An object of the present invention is to provide a glove having a palm portion that is comprised of three different materials that impart different properties to the glove. The majority of the palm region is made from a first material with a high coefficient of friction that aids the player in gripping the handle of a sporting implement. The first material also aids in reducing the tendency of the handle to rotate within the grip of the player during play. The second material is one that is breathable and encourages circulation of air into the interior cavity of the glove. The third material is an elastic fabric that permits the palm region to expand in width when the glove is pulled on or taken off but reverts to its original width when the glove is seated around the hand, thus keeping the glove snug on the player's hand. The elastic fabric may comprise a cuff at the base of the palmer region and a relatively small insert that is continuous with the cuff. Alternatively the elastic fabric may constitute the previously identified areas and a further region that covers approximately half of the palmer region and under lays the first fabric in that addition region. In a third embodiment, the elastic fabric under lays substantially all of the second fabric in addition to being provided in the cuff and in the small insert.

[0016]A further object of the present invention is to provide a glove having a protective thumb crotch disposed on the dorsal region and intermediate the thumb portion and finger portion. The thumb crotch includes a side wall and a top wall and incorporates a pad made from a shock absorbent material. The side wall is disposed on the dorsal region and the top wall extends between the finger and thumb portions. Both the side wall and top wall of the thumb crotch are covered with the same first material used on the palmer region. The top wall is arcuate and cradles the handle of the sporting implement and the first fabric thereon reduces the tendency of the handle to rotate in the player's hand during play.

Problems solved by technology

The strip is substantially uniform in width and therefore likely provides little additional protection to the wrist bones during active play.

However, the size and shape of the wrist guard would substantially limit the range of motion a player's hand could go through and the glove would therefore be of little use to a player other than the goalie.

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