U.S. patent application number 12/783558 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-12 for finger protection structure for glove.
Invention is credited to Bruce Chang.
Application Number | 20110107498 12/783558 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42675479 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110107498 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Bruce |
May 12, 2011 |
FINGER PROTECTION STRUCTURE FOR GLOVE
Abstract
A finger protection structure adapted to be assembled in a glove
is provided. The finger protection structure includes a protection
strip unit, and an engagement unit. The protection strip unit is
configured with a plurality of fixing portions on an upper surface
of the protection strip unit. Each fixing portion is configured
with a top edge and a bottom edge. The bottom edges are adapted for
being engaged from two opposite directions. The engagement unit
includes a widened strip member, and a plurality of engagement
blocks configured on a surface of the widened strip member. The
engagement blocks are adapted for engaging with the bottom edges of
the fixing portions, such that the engagement blocks are tightly
arranged in close contact in a row side by side on the upper
surface of the protection strip unit for restricting a reverse
bending of the finger protection structure for protecting the
fingers.
Inventors: |
Chang; Bruce; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Family ID: |
42675479 |
Appl. No.: |
12/783558 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/163 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/01588 20130101;
A63B 2243/0025 20130101; A63B 71/148 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/163 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 9, 2009 |
TW |
098220754 |
Claims
1. A finger protection structure for a glove, comprising: a
protection strip unit, comprising a plurality of fixing portions
configured on an upper surface of the protection strip unit; and an
engagement unit, comprising a widened strip member, and a plurality
of engagement blocks configured on a surface of the widened strip
member, wherein the engagement blocks are engaged with the fixing
portions, wherein the engagement blocks are tightly arranged side
by side in a row against each other for restricting a reverse
bending of the protection strip unit.
2. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the protection strip unit is a strip-shaped member.
3. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
each fixing portion comprises a top edge and a bottom edge, and the
top edge has a width greater than a width of the bottom edge.
4. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the bottom edge of the fixing portion is engaged with a
corresponding one of the engagement blocks.
5. The finger protection structure according to claim 4, wherein
the bottom edge of the fixing portion is engaged with the
engagement blocks in a manner of male-female engagement.
6. The finger protection structure according to claim 4, wherein
the bottom edge is adapted for engaging with the engagement block
from a first direction, and a next bottom edge immediately adjacent
to the bottom edge is adapted for engaging another one of the
engagement blocks from a second direction, wherein the first
direction and the second direction are opposite each other, such
that the engagement blocks are alternatively engaged from opposite
directions.
7. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the finger protection structure is assembled inside the glove.
8. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the finger protection structure is assembled at an external
backside of the glove.
9. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the finger protection structure is assembled at an external front
side of the glove.
10. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the protection strip unit further comprises a coupling portion
configured at an end of the protection strip unit, wherein the
coupling portion is adapted to be assembled to a securing
member.
11. The finger protection structure according to claim 10, wherein
the assembly of finger protection structure and the securing member
is assembled inside the glove.
12. The finger protection structure according to claim 10, wherein
the assembly of finger protection structure and the securing member
is assembled at an external backside of the glove.
13. The finger protection structure according to claim 10, wherein
the assembly of finger protection structure and the securing member
is assembled at an external front side of the glove.
14. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the widened strip member can be cut for achieving a desired
width.
15. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
each engagement block comprises an engagement portion adapted for
engaging with a corresponding one of the bottom edges of the fixing
portions.
16. The finger protection structure according to claim 1, wherein
the engagement blocks and the fixing portions are tightly arranged
in close contact in a row for restricting the protection strip unit
from reverse bending.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a finger
protection structure adapted for a glove, and more particularly, to
a finger protection structure adapted to be assembled in a glove
for restricting undesired reverse bending of user's fingers.
[0003] 2. The Prior Arts
[0004] Gloves are often used in many fields for a variety of
purposes, and carry out different functions and are used in
different ways. For example, goalkeeper gloves are often designed
with a great thickness for providing a buffer for buffering the
impact applied by a soccer flying toward the user, thus providing a
protection against injuries to the user's hands.
[0005] Typically, flexible or soft materials such as cotton cloth
or cushions are often provided in conventional goalkeeper gloves.
However, although adapted for reducing injuries caused to palms and
front surfaces of the fingers, such structures almost provide no
protection to the fingers regarding injuries caused by undesired
reversing bending of the fingers relative to the palm. One finger
is constituted of several bones, and the bones are connected with
ligaments. When repetitively suffering such impact forces, the
bones or ligaments of the fingers are in danger of being
broken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
finger protection structure adapted for being assembled in a glove,
for restricting undesired reverse bending of user's fingers, so as
to reduce injures caused to the user's fingers.
[0007] For achieving the foregoing objective, the present invention
provides a finger protection structure, which includes a protection
strip unit, and an engagement unit. The protection strip unit is
configured with a plurality of fixing portions on an upper surface
of the protection strip unit. Each fixing portion is configured
with a top edge and a bottom edge. The top edge has a width greater
than a width of the bottom edge. The bottom edges are adapted for
being engaged from two opposite directions. The engagement unit
includes a widened strip member, and a plurality of engagement
blocks configured on a surface of the widened strip member. The
engagement blocks are adapted for engaging with the bottom edges of
the fixing portions, such that the engagement blocks can be tightly
arranged in close contact in a row side by side on the upper
surface of the protection strip unit. In such a way, the engagement
unit is secured to the protection strip unit as a whole.
[0008] The finger protection structure is adapted to be assembled
in a glove, such as a finger portion of the glove. When the finger
portion of the glove is reversely bent toward the back of the
user's hand, the finger protection structure is synchronously bent
together with the finger portion. The engagement blocks are secured
and expanded by the fixing portions, so that the engagement blocks
are tightly arranged in close contact side by side on the upper
surface of the protection strip unit. In this time, the engagement
blocks press against each other, and restrict the reverse bending
of the protection strip unit toward the back of the user's hand,
thus providing a protection to the user's fingers against injuries
caused by the reverse bending.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art by reading the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finger protection
structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the finger
protection structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the finger
protection structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the finger
protection structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the finger
structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finger protection
structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the finger protection structure 1 is adapted
to be assembled in a glove for providing a protection to the user's
fingers from injuries caused by undesired reverse bending. The
finger protection structure 1 includes a protection strip unit 11
and an engagement unit 12. The protection strip unit 11 is
configured with a plurality of fixing portions 111 on an upper
surface of the protection strip unit 11. Each fixing portion 111 is
configured with a top edge 1111 and a bottom edge 1112. The
engagement unit 12 includes a widened strip member 121, and a
plurality of engagement blocks 122 configured on a surface of the
widened strip member 121. Each of the engagement blocks 122
includes an engagement portion 1221. The engagement portions 1221
are adapted for engaging with the bottom edges 1112 of the fixing
portions 111, such that the engagement unit 12 and the protection
strip unit 11 can be secured to each other as a whole.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the finger
protection structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom edges 1112 of the fixing
portions 111 are configured in a shape adapted for correspondingly
engaging with the engagement portions 1221. For example, the bottom
edges 1112 can be triangle-shaped, and the engagement portions 1221
can be configured with a corresponding arrowhead-shaped void, as
shown in FIG. 2. In assembling the bottom edges 1112 of the fixing
portions 111 with the engagement portions 1221, the bottom edges
1112 are slid inside the engagement portions 1221, and are engaged
at corresponding head portions of the arrowhead-shaped void of the
engagement portions 1221. The bottom edges 1112 of the fixing
portions 111 are locked thereby, so as to restrict the engagement
blocks 122 from sliding toward an opposite direction. Further,
according to an aspect of the embodiment, if the bottom edge 1112
of a certain fixing portion 111 is configured for engaging with a
corresponding engagement portion 1221 from a first direction, the
bottom edge 1112 of a next fixing portion 111 immediately adjacent
to the certain fixing portion 111 is configured for engaging with
another engagement portion 1221 from a second direction. The first
direction is opposite to the second direction. In other words, the
triangle-shaped bottom edges 1112, as shown in FIG. 2, are arranged
toward opposite directions. In such a way, the engagement blocks
122 are provided with more spaces for assembling with the bottom
edges 1112 of the fixing portions 111, thus achieving an improved
assembly performance of the protection strip unit 11 and the
engagement unit 12.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the finger
protection structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of finger protection
structures 1 are assembled to a securing member 2. According to an
embodiment of the present invention, each protection strip unit 1
further includes a coupling portion 112 configured at one end of
the protection strip unit 1. The coupling portion 112 is
constituted of a rod member and a baffle member. The rod member is
configured protruding from an upper surface of the end of the
protection strip unit 1, and the baffle member is configured at an
end of the rod member. Correspondingly, the securing member 2 is
configured with a sliding channel 21 and an accommodation space 22
positioned at a periphery of the securing member 2. The sliding
channel 21 communicates the accommodation space 22 with outside,
and the accommodation space 22 has a diameter greater than a width
of the sliding channel 21. The rod member of the coupling portion
112 is allowed to slide along the sliding channel 21 into the
accommodation space 22. Then, the baffle member is buckled at an
edge of the accommodation space 22, so as to secure the finger
protection unit 1 to the securing member 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the finger
protection structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to FIG. 4 together, it illustrates a plurality
of (four as shown in FIG. 4) finger protection structures 1 secured
to the securing member 2. The assembly of the finger protection
structures 1 and the securing member 2 can be assembled inside a
glove 3, or assembled at an external backside or front side of the
glove 3, for achieving similar performance.
[0020] Further, it should be noted that the width of the widened
strip member 121 can be varied as desired. For example, if the user
of the glove 3 is an adult, the glove 3 usually has a large size,
and correspondingly widened strip members 121 having a relatively
greater width are often used. If the glove 3 is designed for
children, then it usually has a small size, and correspondingly
widened strip members 121 having a relatively smaller width are
often used, or alternatively the widened strip members 121 can be
cut after engaging the protection strip units 11 and the engagement
units 12 for reducing the width of the finger protection units 1.
Further, desired lengths of the finger protection units 1 can be
obtained by individually cutting the protection strip units 11 and
the engagement units 12 and assembling them subsequently.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the finger
structure. Referring to FIG. 5, the finger protection structure 1
can be assembled inside a goalkeeper glove. When the user tries to
catch a high-speed ball, the fingers of the goalkeeper suffer a
reverse impact applied by the ball. In this case, the engagement
blocks 122 are tightly arranged in close contact side by side on
the upper surface of the protection strip unit 11. Reverse bending
of the fingers and the finger protection structures 1 are
restricted at the same time. Accordingly, most of the impact
applied by the ball is shared by the finger protection structures
1, and reverse bending injuries to the fingers caused by the ball
can be thus prevented.
[0022] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *