Tig Welding Finger Shield

Abstract

Provided for herein is a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove, comprising (1) a sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material having a first end formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of a TIG welding glove, the sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a side of the TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to each edge of the second end; and (2) an elastic strap attached to and extending between the flame resistant tabs, the elastic strap and flame resistant tabs configured to wrap around the TIG welding glove to secure the TIG welding finger shield over the finger of the TIG welding glove.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This application is directed, in general, to a TIG welding finger shield and, more specifically, to a shield to cover and protect a welder's glove finger from heat while TIG welding.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The American Welding Society's term for arc welding wherein a non-consumable tungsten electrode is utilized to produce a weld in an area protected from atmospheric contamination by an inert shielding gas is gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). The process is more generally known in the trade as tungsten inert gas, or TIG, welding. Hereinafter, the term "TIG" shall be used.

[0003] TIG welding is primarily a manual, hand-held welding method that is comparatively more complex and difficult than competing processes. In most cases TIG welding requires two hands since the welder will be manipulating a filler metal rod with one hand while the other hand is manipulating a welding torch. Manual coordination is required to manually feed filler metal from the filler rod into the weld area with one hand while the other is manipulating the welding torch to maintain proper angle and arc length. For this reason, TIG welding is significantly slower than most other welding techniques. Properly done, TIG welding results in strong high quality welds, particularly when welding stainless steel and non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys.

[0004] Protective clothing is important to a TIG welder because, in addition to the heat generated, the TIG welding process subjects the welder to intense light and strong ultraviolet light. As with other welding techniques, the TIG welder wears heavy flame resistant gloves as protection against the heat and UV light. However, the manual dexterity required of a TIG welder calls for gloves that are more flexible than that required for other welding processes. This is because the welder must maintain a sense of touch or feel for his tools and his work piece. For this reason, TIG welding gloves are usually leather and are frequently made of the most flexible skin available, such as kidskin or deerskin, and are, as a rule, more expensive than welding gloves used in other processes.

[0005] In order to maintain the proper welding torch position, the TIG welder will generally support one or both hands by resting on or propping against some object while welding. Generally either the index or little finger is used as a prop against the object, which, in many cases, is the work piece itself. This, of course, increases the potential for heat transfer from the work piece to the welding glove. Because the TIG welding glove is generally thinner than welding gloves used in other welding processes, the heat generated will feel more intense, even if the process itself is conducted at a lower temperature than other processes.

[0006] Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a protective shield that can be placed over the index or little finger of the TIG welding glove in order to provide better heat protection and increase the useful life of the TIG welding gloves.

SUMMARY

[0007] One aspect provides a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove, comprising (1) a sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material having a first end formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of a TIG welding glove, the sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a side of the TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to each edge of the second end; and (2) an elastic strap attached to and extending between the flame resistant tabs, the elastic strap and flame resistant tabs configured to wrap around the TIG welding glove and secure the TIG welding finger shield over the finger of the TIG welding glove. Another aspect provides for a method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove. Still another aspect provides for a method of using a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0008] Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a planar view of a TIG welding finger shield for a welding glove constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a planar view of a welding glove with a TIG welding finger shield covering the welding glove index finger;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a planar view of a welding glove with a TIG welding finger shield covering the welding glove little finger;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a planar isometric view of a welder's gloved hand propped on a work piece while holding a filler metal rod; and

[0013] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Turning initially to FIG. 1, illustrated is a planar view of a TIG welding finger shield 100 that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. For purposes of clarity of description, FIG. 1 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 2, which illustrates a planar view of a welding glove 200 with a TIG welding finger shield 100 covering the welding glove 200 index finger 210.

[0015] Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a sheet 110 of flexible woven fiberglass material with a first end 120 formed into a pocket 125 to enclose a finger of a TIG welding glove 200, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. A second end 130 of the sheet 110 is constructed to extend along a side 220 of the TIG welding glove 200. Flame resistant tabs 140 are attached to each edge 135 of the second end 130. Attached to and extending between the flame resistant tabs 140 is an elastic strap 150. The elastic strap 150 is generally made from synthetic materials that melt from excessive heat. The flame resistant tabs 140 protect the elastic strap 150 from melting by reducing heat transfer. The elastic strap 150 and flame resistant tabs 140 are configured to wrap around the TIG welding glove 200 to secure the TIG welding finger shield 100 over a finger 210 of the TIG welding glove 200, in this case the index finger 210.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet 110 of flexible woven fiberglass material has an aluminized Mylar coating 160 bonded thereto. Generally, the aluminized Mylar coating 160 will have a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. In the illustrated embodiment the flame resistant tabs 140 are leather, although other materials may be used in other embodiments.

[0017] In the embodiment illustrated, the flame resistant tabs 140 are attached by sewing the tabs 140 to each edge 135 of the second end 130. This embodiment also shows the elastic strap 150 fastened to the flame resistant tabs 140 by rivets 170. Those skilled in the pertinent art will understand that other fastening means may be used and still be within the scope of the intended invention.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, a second layer 180 of flexible woven fiberglass material is fastened to the sheet 110 of flexible woven fiberglass material. This is designed to increase the protective features of the TIG welding finger shield 100 as well as extend its useful life.

[0019] Turning to FIG. 3, illustrated is a planar view of a welding glove 200 with a TIG welding finger shield 100 covering the little finger 310 of the welding glove 200. Turning now to FIG. 4, illustrated is planar isometric view of a welder's gloved hand 400 holding a filler metal rod 410 where the welder is using a work piece 420 to prop or support the hand 400 against while working on a weld 430. The other hand holding the welding torch is not shown but may also be propped against an object, which may also be the work piece 420. As illustrated, the TIG welding finger shield 100 is on the little finger 210 of the welding glove 200. This permits the welder to prop against the work piece 420 while sliding the gloved hand 400 along the weld 430 on the work piece 420, while feeding filler metal from the filler metal rod 410 into the weld 430.

[0020] Turning now to FIG. 5, illustrated is a flow chart showing one embodiment of a method of manufacturing 500 a TIG welding finger shield 100 for a TIG welding glove 200. The method 500 commences with a start step 510. In a form pocket step 520, a first end of a sheet of woven fiberglass material is formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of a TIG welding glove. In one embodiment the sheet of woven fiberglass material has a layer of aluminized Mylar coating bonded to it. The aluminized Mylar coating has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. In an attach tabs step 530, flame resistant tabs are attached to each edge of the sheet on the sheets second end that extends along a side of the TIG welding glove. In one embodiment the flame resistant tabs are leather. In another, the flame resistant tabs are sewn onto the edges of the sheet.

[0021] In an attach elastic strap step 540, each end of an elastic strap is attached to the flame resistant tab, so that the flame resistant tabs and elastic strap wrap around the TIG welding glove and secure the TIG finger heat shield into position over a finger of the TIG welding glove. In one embodiment, the elastic strap is riveted to the flame resistant tabs. The method concludes with an end step 550.

[0022] Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove, comprising: a sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material having a first end formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of said TIG welding glove, said sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a side of said TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to each edge of said second end; and an elastic strap attached to and extending between said flame resistant tabs, said elastic strap and flame resistant tabs configured to wrap around said TIG welding glove to secure said TIG welding finger shield over said finger of said TIG welding glove.

2. The TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 1 further including said woven fiberglass material having an aluminized Mylar coating bonded thereto.

3. The TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 2 wherein said aluminized Mylar coating has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch.

4. The TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 1 wherein said flame resistant tabs are leather.

5. The TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 1 wherein said elastic strap is riveted to said flame resistant tabs.

6. The TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 1 wherein said flame resistant tabs are sewed to each edge of said second end.

7. The TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 1 further including a second layer of flexible woven fiberglass material fastened to said sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material.

8. A method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove, comprising: forming a first end of a sheet of woven fiberglass material into a pocket to enclose a finger of said TIG welding glove, said sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a side of said TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to each edge of said second end; and attaching an elastic strap to and extending between said flame resistant tabs, said elastic strap and flame resistant tabs configured to wrap around said TIG welding glove to secure said TIG welding finger shield over said finger of said TIG welding glove.

9. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 8 further including bonding an aluminized Mylar coating to said woven fiberglass material.

10. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 9 wherein said aluminized Mylar coating has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch.

11. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 8 wherein said flame resistant tabs are leather.

12. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 8 further including riveting said elastic strap to said flame resistant tabs.

13. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 8 further including sewing said flame resistant tabs to each edge of said second end.

14. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 8 further including attaching a second layer of flexible woven fiberglass material to said sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material.

15. A method of using a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove, comprising: locating a TIG welding finger shield over a finger of said TIG welding glove, said TIG welding finger shield consisting of; a sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material having a first end formed into a pocket to enclose said finger of said TIG welding glove, said sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a side of said TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to each edge of said second end; and attaching an elastic strap to and extending between said flame resistant tabs, said elastic strap and flame resistant taps configured to wrap around said TIG welding glove to secure said TIG welding finger shield over said finger of said TIG welding glove.

16. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 15 further including said woven fiberglass material having an aluminized Mylar coating bonded thereto.

17. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 16 wherein said aluminized Mylar coating has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch.

18. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 15 wherein said flame resistant tabs are leather.

19. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 15 wherein said elastic strap is riveted to said flame resistant tabs.

20. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 15 wherein a second layer of flexible woven fiberglass material is attached to said sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material.