U.S. patent application number 12/041377 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-03 for glove thumb guard.
Invention is credited to John W. Purnell.
Application Number | 20090217438 12/041377 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41012037 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090217438 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Purnell; John W. |
September 3, 2009 |
GLOVE THUMB GUARD
Abstract
This invention relates to protecting a thumb from sports related
injury. The invention provides a rubber layer under a hard cap to
provide for increased frontal and dorsal thumb protection without
reducing hand flexibility. The invention is a glove comprising a
thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb, a protective pad proximate
the outer distal end, a cap mounted on the protective pad, and an
overmould mounted between the protective pad and the cap.
Inventors: |
Purnell; John W.; (Sinking
Spring, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SAND & SEBOLT
AEGIS TOWER, SUITE 1100, 4940 MUNSON STREET, NW
CANTON
OH
44718-3615
US
|
Family ID: |
41012037 |
Appl. No.: |
12/041377 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/21 ; 2/161.1;
2/163 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2102/14 20151001;
A41D 19/01588 20130101; A63B 71/148 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/21 ; 2/161.1;
2/163 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/08 20060101
A41D013/08; A41D 19/015 20060101 A41D019/015; A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Claims
1. A glove comprising: a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb,
said thumb sheath having a dorsal side and an outer distal end; a
protective pad proximate the outer distal end and having a first
and second side, and wherein the first side is mounted adjacent the
dorsal side of the thumb sheath; a cap mounted adjacent the second
side of the protective pad; and an overmould mounted between the
protective pad and the cap.
2. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the cap has a top, side
and front walls, and wherein the front wall extends downwardly from
the top wall and is proximate to and spaced from the outer distal
end of the thumb sheath.
3. The glove defined in claim 2, wherein the cap is generally "U"
shaped.
4. The glove defined in claim 3, wherein the overmould includes
spaced interior and exterior walls; wherein the interior wall is
proximate to and spaced from the outer distal end of the thumb
sheath; and wherein the exterior wall is adjacent the front wall of
the cap.
5. The glove defined in claim 4, wherein the overmould is generally
"U" shaped.
6. The glove defined in claim 5, including a lip formed on the
exterior wall of the overmould; and wherein an outer edge of the
front wall of the cap is seated in said lip.
7. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the protective pad has an
exterior casing defining an interior chamber, and wherein the
interior chamber is filled with a shock absorbing material.
8. The glove defined in claim 7, wherein the exterior casing is
formed of a flexible material.
9. The glove defined in claim 7, wherein a protective plate is
mounted between a top wall of the casing and the protective
pad.
10. The glove defined in claim 9, further comprising one or more
fasteners extending outwardly from the top wall of the cap and
secure the cap to the protective pad.
11. The glove defined in claim 10, wherein the fasteners are
pressure snaps and extend through holes formed in the protective
plate to secure the cap to the protective pad.
12. The glove defined in claim 9, wherein the protective plate is
formed of a rigid plastic material.
13. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the cap is formed of a
rigid plastic material.
14. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the overmould is formed
of an elastomeric material.
15. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the overmould is secured
to the cap by an adhesive.
16. The glove defined in claim 1, wherein the protective pad is
sized to allow the thumb sheath to bend at a first knuckle of the
thumb.
17. A glove comprising: a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb,
said thumb sheath having a dorsal side and an outer distal end; a
thumb guard mounted on the dorsal side of the thumb sheath adjacent
the outer distal end, said thumb guard including: a protective pad
formed of a shock absorbing material having first and second sides,
said first side being located adjacent the dorsal side of the thumb
sheath; an outer cap mounted on the protective pad, said cap having
a top wall and a front wall extending downwardly from the top wall
and spaced from the protective pad and from the distal end of the
thumb sheath; and an overmould mounted between the protective pad
and the outer cap.
18. The glove defined in claim 17 further comprising a first and
second end on the protective pad, said first end adapted to extend
past a thumb tip, and said second end adapted to extend to a first
knuckle of the thumb to allow the thumb to bend at the first
knuckle.
19. A glove comprising: a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb,
said thumb sheath having a dorsal side and an outer distal end; a
thumb guard mounted on the dorsal side of the thumb sheath adjacent
the outer distal end, said thumb guard including: a protective pad
mounted on the dorsal side of the thumb sheath; and an outer cap
mounted on the protective pad having a front wall outwardly from
the protective pad providing a crush zone between front wall and
protective pad.
20. The glove defined in claim 19, wherein the cap is formed of a
rigid plastic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The invention relates generally to hand protection. More
particularly, the invention relates to protecting a thumb from
sports related injury. Specifically, the invention provides a
rubber layer under a hard cap to provide for increased frontal and
dorsal thumb protection without reducing hand flexibility in a
lacrosse glove.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] Many contact sports require players to wear gloves due to
the risk of injury to the player's hands. Sports such as lacrosse
naturally leave the thumb exposed to more severe injury due to its
position on a lacrosse stick. While a player's hand grasps a
lacrosse stick, the thumb rests on top of the lacrosse stick and
protrudes outwardly and along the lacrosse stick where it is
exposed to injury. This can lead to thumbs being "stoved" or pushed
violently back into the knuckle and palm from contact with another
player. Additionally, the dorsal side of the thumb is exposed when
a player is holding a lacrosse stick, which causes injuries from
the common "slashing" motion of an opponent's lacrosse stick.
Protecting the front of the thumb, as well as the dorsal side is
important to allow players to participate in the game with minimal
hand injuries.
[0005] Some prior art thumb protection devices have adequately
solved this problem of protecting the dorsal side and tip of the
thumb. These prior art thumb protection devices use rigid material
on either the entire thumb, or per thumb phalanx, or a rigid cap
structure around the thumb tip. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,543,057, 5,237,703, 5,996,117, and 6,813,781.
[0006] A rigid body with no joints for movement of the thumb locks
the thumb into one position, usually a gripping position. This
restricts the range of movement and puts the player at a
disadvantage because a relatively fixed gripping position is not
always desired in a dynamic sport. When hinges are added to a rigid
body corresponding with the thumb knuckles, the range of movement
is still less than a natural non-restricted thumb would enjoy.
[0007] Additionally, rigid bodies are not sufficient protection for
a thumb tip. With rigid material, a direct force to the thumb tip
will not receive any dampening, which a resilient material or
resilient tip protection system would provide. Inertial movement of
a thumb within the glove will result in stoving or damage to the
thumb tip because the rigid protection could impact the thumb.
[0008] Therefore the need exists for a gloved thumb protection
system that protects the dorsal side of the thumb as well as the
thumb tip, allows the thumb a full range of movement, and provides
a dampening and "shock absorbing" quality to the protective system
over the thumb tip.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The thumb protected glove of the present invention includes
a glove having a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb. The
dorsal side of the thumb sheath includes a protective pad that
securely holds a cap on the dorsal side of the distal end of the
thumb, as well as extending over the thumb tip. An overmould layer
of rubber or other elastomeric material is adhered to the underside
of the cap, and resides between the dorsal padding and the cap,
which provides a resilient material for absorbing the shock of an
impact. The overmould provides two spaced walls adjacent to the
thumb tip, which further dampens an impact by flexing and bending
inwardly, while still resisting the force.
[0010] The thumb is protected from a force directed at the top or
dorsal side of the thumb by the protective padding under the cap as
well as the cap itself. The thumb is protected from a force
directed at the thumb tip by the front side of the cap and the
overmould layer between thumb tip and the cap. The overmould
compresses and resists the pressure, resulting in the thumb tip
ultimately receiving a lesser force.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The preferred embodiment of the presented invention,
illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant has contemplated
applying the principals of the invention, is set forth in the
following description and is shown in the drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,
showing the palm side of the glove;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the thumb
guard;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded sectional view of the thumb
guard;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the assembled thumb
guard, with a finger shown in phantom; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the overmould.
[0017] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The lacrosse glove of the present invention, having an
improved thumb guard thereof, is indicated generally at 1 and is
shown in detail in FIGS. 1-5. Glove 1 has an exterior casing 4 and
includes a hand receiving portion 5 proximate a cuff portion 11.
Hand receiving portion 5 includes a plurality of finger sheaths 7
for receiving and enclosing each of the four fingers of a player's
hand. Each finger sheath 7 is proximate hand receiving portion 5,
and extends from an area proximate the base of the player's fingers
to the end of the fingers. Hand receiving portion 5 also includes a
thumb sheath 9 for receiving and enclosing a thumb 2 of a player's
hand. Thumb sheath 9 is proximate hand receiving portion 5, and
extends from an area proximate the base of thumb 2 to the end of a
thumb tip 10. Thumb sheath 9 includes an outer distal end 6 and a
dorsal side 8 facing outwardly from the palm area of hand receiving
portion 5. An improved thumb protective guard is indicated
generally at 3 and is mounted on the dorsal side of thumb sheath 9,
at outer distal end 6 thereof.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2-3, guard 3 is comprised of a cap 13, an
overmould 15, and a protective pad 17. Cap 13 is formed from a
rigid material, such as a hard plastic, and has a generally
U-shaped cross-section. Cap 13 includes a curved front wall 21, a
top wall 23, a back wall 25, and a pair of curved side walls 32
which merge into front wall 21 and provide a hollow interior 34.
Cap 13 also includes a pair of one-way pressure snaps 27 extending
downwardly from the inner surface of top wall 23. Each pressure
snap 27 has a shaft 28 and two flexible flanges 29 terminating in
heads 26.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, overmould 15 is generally
U-shaped and includes an exterior wall 37 and a spaced interior
wall 39 that merge together into side walls 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and
5. Overmould 15 is formed from rubber or other elastomeric material
and is used to absorb the shock of a force applied to the thumb
area, usually by a player's stick. The U-shape of overmould 15
conforms to the shape of the tip of thumb 2. Exterior wall 37 and
interior wall 39 define a crush zone 41 therebetween and deflects
and absorbs force impacted thereon from an object, such as an
opposing player's stick. Overmould 15 includes a lip 47 extending
from the distal end of exterior wall 37 that wraps around the
bottom of front wall 21 and side walls 40. Lip 47 creates a
U-shaped channel 45 for receiving the bottom peripheral edge 43 of
front wall 21 and side walls 32 of cap 13 to add stability and an
area to assist in securing cap 13 to overmould 15. Walls 37 and 39
and crush zone 41 keep the overall mass of guard 3 low, by
eliminating material that would be required in a solid block of
elastomeric material, thus reducing weight while still providing
protection for thumb 2.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, protective pad 17 includes a
somewhat triangular shaped casing 52 having a top wall 50, a pair
of side walls 53 which merge into a curved front wall 54, and a
back wall 58 which form an interior chamber 49. Casing 52
preferably is formed of a fabric and is sewn to dorsal side 8 of
thumb sheath 9. Top wall 50 includes two holes 57, each hole sized
to receive a pressure snap 27. Interior chamber 49 is filled with a
block of shock absorbing material 51, such as a foam or rubber, and
includes a pair of snap chambers 33. A rigid protective plate 55 is
mounted in chamber 49 between top wall 50 of casing 52 and material
51. Protective plate 55 is formed with two holes 56 each sized to
permit the passage of pressure snap 27 therethrough and aligned
with holes 57 formed in pad 51.
[0022] Cap 13 is attached to protective pad 17 by flanges 29 of
pressure snaps 27 passing through aligned holes 56 and 57 and into
snap chambers 33. Flanges 29 expand to hold pressure snap 27
securely in snap chamber 33 and resist compressing by protective
plate 55 when reverse pressure is applied to snaps 27, thereby
holding cap 13 securely to protective pad 17.
[0023] Guard 3 is formed by securing overmould 15 to cap 13 and
further securing cap 13 to protective pad 17. An adhesive 14 is
applied to exterior wall 37 of overmould 15, which is pressed
against interior side of front wall 21 of cap 13. As shown in FIG.
4, bottom peripheral edge 43 of front wall 21 is received by lip 47
and assists in holding cap 13 and overmould 15 together. The
sub-assembly of cap 13 and overmould 15 is positioned adjacent
protective pad 17 with pressure snaps 27 positioned to be inserted
through holes 56 and 57. As pressure is applied to top wall 23 of
cap 13, holes 56 and 57 and snap chamber 33 receive pressure snaps
27 and cap 13 is securely held to protective pad 17.
[0024] The present invention 1 protects thumb 2 from serious injury
by blunting external pressure. As shown in FIG. 4, when thumb 2 is
in thumb sheath 9, thumb tip 10 is proximate overmould 15. When an
external force as shown by arrow A in FIG. 4, is applied to rigid
front wall 21 of cap 13, the force is transmitted to exterior wall
37 of overmould 15 where it flexes and moves towards interior wall
39, dissipating the energy into crush zone 41. Pressure towards
thumb tip 10 from an opponent or ball results in crush zone 41
contracting to receive and blunt the pressure. The pressure is
dissipated sufficiently to minimize pressure to thumb tip 10. When
an exterior force is applied towards dorsal side 8 of thumb sheath
9, as shown by arrow B, FIG. 4, from an opponent's stick or ball,
it results in the force being transmitted into shock absorbing
material 51 by top wall 23 of cap 13 pushing into protective
material 51 and blunting the pressure.
[0025] The ventral side of thumb 2 is proximate exterior casing 4
with little or no intervening protective layers or padding except
glove casing 4. This allows a player's thumb to have flexibility of
movement and can exert a sufficient grip on the lacrosse stick. A
pivot space 59 is provided between protective pad 17 and a standard
padding 61 used on many types of lacrosse gloves, which provides a
break in the padding on the dorsal side 8 of thumb sheath 9 closely
adjacent a first knuckle 60 of thumb 2. Protective pad 17 extends
from approximately the thumb tip 10 to the first thumb knuckle 60.
Pivot space 59 allows a player to bend thumb 2 at knuckle 60 and
maintain the normal range of motion for thumb 2.
[0026] In a typical method of operation for the present invention
1, a lacrosse player puts on protective glove 3. The player's hand
slides into hand receiving portion 5, and cuff portion 11 is
secured at his wrist. Exterior casing 4 surrounds the player's
hand, fingers and thumb, and provides a base to which dorsal hand
and finger protection is adhered. The player's fingers slide into
finger sheath 7, and thumb 2 slides into thumb sheath 9.
[0027] As a player engages in lacrosse, various collisions occur
with the ball or opponent's lacrosse stick and body. The player's
thumb 2 is directly exposed above the fingers when gripping a
lacrosse stick, and many injuries occur to tip 10 of the thumb. As
shown by arrow B in FIG. 4, when a dorsal collision occurs, cap 13
pushes down into protective material 51. The energy of the applied
force travels through top wall 23 of cap 13 into protective plate
55, where it is dissipated by protective material 51. Pivot space
59 allows thumb 2 to bend at knuckle 60. As thumb 2 bends and
conforms to the pressure of the force, the force is deflected or
dampened and additional energy dissipation occurs.
[0028] As shown by arrow B in FIG. 4, when a frontal collision
occurs, cap 13 pushes into exterior wall 37 of overmould 15.
Overmould 15 is strong enough to resist a nominal force, but
flexible enough to allow compression from a significant, and
injury-threatening force. Exterior wall 37 compresses into crush
zone 41 and dissipates most of the pressure and force from the
collision. When the force reaches thumb tip 10, the force is
sufficiently blunted so as to not injure the player. Overmould 15
acts as a buffer against any applied force. Cap 13 without
non-rigid overmould 15 would transfer a significant force to thumb
2 through inertia and possibly result in an injury. By using
non-rigid overmould 15, the inertia is dampened before it reaches
thumb tip 10. When sufficient force exists for the impact inertia
to reach thumb tip 10, the impact is less damaging with rubber
material intermediate thumb tip 10 and the object. The rubber or
other elastomeric material used in overmould 15 compresses with
pressure and helps to dampen the shock of a collision.
[0029] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, cap
13 may be attached directly to protective pad 17 without overmould
15. Front wall 21 and top wall 23 provide protection to thumb tip
10 and thumb 2 from a front or dorsal impact. Overmould 15 may be
omitted if desired from the present invention to reduce overall
cost or weight, but the preferred embodiment described above
provides the best protection to a player.
[0030] The foregoing description of the present invention described
a lacrosse glove, but could easily be adapted to include a hockey
or cricket glove or other protected glove.
[0031] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed.
[0032] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention
is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details
shown or described.
* * * * *