CA1277102C - Thumb movement restricting glove - Google Patents
Thumb movement restricting gloveInfo
- Publication number
- CA1277102C CA1277102C CA000507559A CA507559A CA1277102C CA 1277102 C CA1277102 C CA 1277102C CA 000507559 A CA000507559 A CA 000507559A CA 507559 A CA507559 A CA 507559A CA 1277102 C CA1277102 C CA 1277102C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- thumb
- glove
- finger portion
- drawstring
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D19/00—Gloves
- A41D19/015—Protective gloves
- A41D19/01582—Protective gloves with means to restrain or support the hand
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
- A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
- A63B71/14—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the hands, e.g. baseball, boxing or golfing gloves
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A glove adapted for preventing damage to certain ligaments of the user's thumb should the thumb be bent abnormally by restraining thumb movement.
Description
~2~2 FIELD OF TI~E INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of protec~ive hand-wear, particularly in regard to preventing damage to certain ligaments of the thumb.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In various sports and recreational activi-ties, as well as in industry, there are numerous occasions when, as a result of a ~all or other event, the thumb is momentaxily bent away from the other ~ingers of the hand. This bending results in a stretch-ing of the ulnar collateral ligament which is connected around the thu~'s lower joint, the metacarpal phalangeal joint. If this stretching is severe enough, the ligament will rupture, and as it will frequently not heal by itself, surgery is often required to repair the tear. Even if the li~ament is not torn, such a stretch-ing, particularly if repeated, will loosen the ligament giving rise to a chronic wobbling of the joint, which could cause arthritis.
Prior art gloves and handwear are, at best, only designed to protect the hand from cold or from abrasions and do not prevent such ligament damage at all. Furthermore, the common way to protect the thull~b area a~ter surgery is by using a cumbersome cast, which cannot, as ~ practical matter, be kept on the hand for longer than six to eight weeks, a time period ~ar short of that actually required ~or tha ligament to mature.
In my earlier glove inventions, covered by my United States Patent No. 4,445,507 issued May 1, 1984, and my United State.s Patent Application Serial No. 604,506, filed April 27, 1984 (now United States Patent No. 4,565,195 issued January 21, 1988) USSN 727,815 - 1 .
~7~ 2 a restraint on the outside ~radlal side) of the thumb was used to prevent such ligament damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have dlscovered that stress on the ulnar collateral ligament can be greatly reduced while allowing the thumb and hand generally normal freedom of movement by effectively connecting and malntaining the thumb against the se~ond metacarpal or index finger.
Accordingly the present invention provides a protective glove for preventing lnjury to the thumb's ulnar collateral ligament compri~ing: a hand covqring having a thumb pocket and a finger portion, drawstring means for selectively securing and unsecuring the ulnar side of said thumb pocket against the radial side of said finger portion said thumb pocket being secured against said finger portion when said drawstring means is tightened and unsecured and not di~posed against said finger portlon when said drawstring means is loosened, said drawstring means connected between said finger portlon and said thumb pocket through a series of at least three holes, two of sald holes being disposed on the ulnar side of sald thumb pocket at opposite end~
thereof while said third hole is dispoRed in the upper portion of the radlal ~ide of sald finyer portion, said drawstrlng means : being se~ured by pulling said drawstring means through said holes whereby said thumb pocket is secured ayainst said flnyer portion so as to prevent severe radlal movement of the thumb away from the other fingers when said glove is in use, which severe radial movement might iniure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb.
60~12-1532 The presen-t invention also provides a protective glove for preventing injury to the thumb's ulnar collateral ligament comprising: a hand covering having a first pocke-t and a second pocket, said first pocket adapted to receive the thumb and at least the forefinger of the hand and said second poc]cet adapted to receive the remaining fingers, whereby during use, radial movement of the thurnb away from the remaining ingers, which movement might injure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb, is prevented.
In a preEerred embodiment, the thumb pocket and the finger portion each has at least one hole.
In a preferred embodiment, the thumb pocket for the glove is connected by a drawstring to the remainder of the glove.
In use, the drawstring is pulled tight so that the thumb pocket is adjacent to and held against the remaining portion of the glove so that a fall cannot bend the thumb pocket and thumb away from the other fingersO
In each case, the gloves of this invention prevent any severe radial movement of the thumb, which could rupture or damage the ulnar collateral ligament. At the same -time, the users hand can still grasp objects such as ski poles.
DESCRIPTION OE' THE PREFERRED EMBODIME~TS
Drawings I turn now to the description of the preferred embodi-men-t, after first brieEly describing the drawings.
Figure 1 is a view of the glove of a preferred embodi-ment of the invention with a drawstring still open, . . ~
~æ~7~0~
Figure 2 is a view of an alternate construction of the glove;
Figure 3 is a view of another alternate construction of a glove with a portion cut away;
Figure 4 is a view of another embodiment oE the inven-tion with a portion cut away; and Figure 5 is a perspective side of the glove of the pre-ferred embodiment showing the hand inside when in use.
- 3a -Structure Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of a glove accord-ing to the invention herein is shown at 10. The glove 10 has a finger portion 20 and a thumb pocket 22. (The glove shown is in the form of a mitten. ~lowever, it should be understood that the glove may also have separate pockets for each of the fingers.) The thumb pocket 22 has a first hole 24 and a second hole 26. Additional holes may also be used. Hole 24 is disposed in the lower portion of the thumb pocket 22 towards its ulnar side (towards the fingers). The second hole 26 is also on the ulnar side of the thumb pocket 22, but it is located near the top of the thumb pocket 22. A third hole 28 is disposed on the radial side (towards the thumb) of the finger portion 20.
A drawstring 30 has one end attached at or about the first hole 24 in the thumb pocket 22. The drawstring 30 is then fed first through the second hole 26 and then through the third hole 28. The drawstring is then threaded back through the first hole 24. In operation, the glove 10 is placed on the user's hand in the usual manner. The thumb (not shown) fits into the thumb pocket 22 and the other fingers fit into the finger portion 20.
Once on, the drawstring 30 is pulled downward in the direction in-dicated by the arrow~ This forces the ulnar side o:E the thumb pocket 22 and the thumb up against the radial side of the finger portion 20. The drawstring is then tied in place, thereby securing thumb pocket 22 to the Einyer portion 20. So secured, the thumb cannot be bent radially away from the fingers causing damage to the ulnar collateral ligament.
a~ _ ~o~
The glove 10 is shown in use in Figure 5. The thumb pocket 22 is a-ttached to the finger portion 20, but a ski pole 80 can ~e grasped by the user. In this case, the thumb curls around the pole 80 with the other fingers instead of grasping the pole 80 in the opposite direction as the fingers, as is usual.
Figure 2 shows a glove 40 which comprises a finger por-tion 42 and a thumb pocket 44. A series of holes 46 (only four shown) e~tend along the lower half of the radial side of the fin~
ger portion 42. A similar set of holes 48 (only four shown) ex-tend up the ulnar side of the thumb pocket 44. A cord 50 iseffectively stitched through the ,ets of holes 46, 48 to secure the thumb pocket 44 to the remainder of the glove.
Figure 3 shows a glove 60 which is comprised of a single pocket 62 into which the thumb and all the fingers fit. Insula-tion 64 surrounds the thumb and fingers. As with the gloves shown in the other Figures, the thumb cannot be bent radially away from the fingers so as to damage the ulnar collateral ligament.
Figure 4 shows a glove 70 comprised of a first pocket 72 and a second pocket 74, separated by an opening 78. When in use, the first pocket 72 contains three fingers while the second pocket 74 contains the thumb and Eorefinger. Insulation 76 is provided in the second pocket 74, as shown. In operation, strain on the ulnar collateral ligament Oe the thumb is avoided because the thumb cannot bend radially away from index finger.
Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art.
'~, ...
This invention relates to the field of protec~ive hand-wear, particularly in regard to preventing damage to certain ligaments of the thumb.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In various sports and recreational activi-ties, as well as in industry, there are numerous occasions when, as a result of a ~all or other event, the thumb is momentaxily bent away from the other ~ingers of the hand. This bending results in a stretch-ing of the ulnar collateral ligament which is connected around the thu~'s lower joint, the metacarpal phalangeal joint. If this stretching is severe enough, the ligament will rupture, and as it will frequently not heal by itself, surgery is often required to repair the tear. Even if the li~ament is not torn, such a stretch-ing, particularly if repeated, will loosen the ligament giving rise to a chronic wobbling of the joint, which could cause arthritis.
Prior art gloves and handwear are, at best, only designed to protect the hand from cold or from abrasions and do not prevent such ligament damage at all. Furthermore, the common way to protect the thull~b area a~ter surgery is by using a cumbersome cast, which cannot, as ~ practical matter, be kept on the hand for longer than six to eight weeks, a time period ~ar short of that actually required ~or tha ligament to mature.
In my earlier glove inventions, covered by my United States Patent No. 4,445,507 issued May 1, 1984, and my United State.s Patent Application Serial No. 604,506, filed April 27, 1984 (now United States Patent No. 4,565,195 issued January 21, 1988) USSN 727,815 - 1 .
~7~ 2 a restraint on the outside ~radlal side) of the thumb was used to prevent such ligament damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have dlscovered that stress on the ulnar collateral ligament can be greatly reduced while allowing the thumb and hand generally normal freedom of movement by effectively connecting and malntaining the thumb against the se~ond metacarpal or index finger.
Accordingly the present invention provides a protective glove for preventing lnjury to the thumb's ulnar collateral ligament compri~ing: a hand covqring having a thumb pocket and a finger portion, drawstring means for selectively securing and unsecuring the ulnar side of said thumb pocket against the radial side of said finger portion said thumb pocket being secured against said finger portion when said drawstring means is tightened and unsecured and not di~posed against said finger portlon when said drawstring means is loosened, said drawstring means connected between said finger portlon and said thumb pocket through a series of at least three holes, two of sald holes being disposed on the ulnar side of sald thumb pocket at opposite end~
thereof while said third hole is dispoRed in the upper portion of the radlal ~ide of sald finyer portion, said drawstrlng means : being se~ured by pulling said drawstring means through said holes whereby said thumb pocket is secured ayainst said flnyer portion so as to prevent severe radlal movement of the thumb away from the other fingers when said glove is in use, which severe radial movement might iniure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb.
60~12-1532 The presen-t invention also provides a protective glove for preventing injury to the thumb's ulnar collateral ligament comprising: a hand covering having a first pocke-t and a second pocket, said first pocket adapted to receive the thumb and at least the forefinger of the hand and said second poc]cet adapted to receive the remaining fingers, whereby during use, radial movement of the thurnb away from the remaining ingers, which movement might injure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb, is prevented.
In a preEerred embodiment, the thumb pocket and the finger portion each has at least one hole.
In a preferred embodiment, the thumb pocket for the glove is connected by a drawstring to the remainder of the glove.
In use, the drawstring is pulled tight so that the thumb pocket is adjacent to and held against the remaining portion of the glove so that a fall cannot bend the thumb pocket and thumb away from the other fingersO
In each case, the gloves of this invention prevent any severe radial movement of the thumb, which could rupture or damage the ulnar collateral ligament. At the same -time, the users hand can still grasp objects such as ski poles.
DESCRIPTION OE' THE PREFERRED EMBODIME~TS
Drawings I turn now to the description of the preferred embodi-men-t, after first brieEly describing the drawings.
Figure 1 is a view of the glove of a preferred embodi-ment of the invention with a drawstring still open, . . ~
~æ~7~0~
Figure 2 is a view of an alternate construction of the glove;
Figure 3 is a view of another alternate construction of a glove with a portion cut away;
Figure 4 is a view of another embodiment oE the inven-tion with a portion cut away; and Figure 5 is a perspective side of the glove of the pre-ferred embodiment showing the hand inside when in use.
- 3a -Structure Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of a glove accord-ing to the invention herein is shown at 10. The glove 10 has a finger portion 20 and a thumb pocket 22. (The glove shown is in the form of a mitten. ~lowever, it should be understood that the glove may also have separate pockets for each of the fingers.) The thumb pocket 22 has a first hole 24 and a second hole 26. Additional holes may also be used. Hole 24 is disposed in the lower portion of the thumb pocket 22 towards its ulnar side (towards the fingers). The second hole 26 is also on the ulnar side of the thumb pocket 22, but it is located near the top of the thumb pocket 22. A third hole 28 is disposed on the radial side (towards the thumb) of the finger portion 20.
A drawstring 30 has one end attached at or about the first hole 24 in the thumb pocket 22. The drawstring 30 is then fed first through the second hole 26 and then through the third hole 28. The drawstring is then threaded back through the first hole 24. In operation, the glove 10 is placed on the user's hand in the usual manner. The thumb (not shown) fits into the thumb pocket 22 and the other fingers fit into the finger portion 20.
Once on, the drawstring 30 is pulled downward in the direction in-dicated by the arrow~ This forces the ulnar side o:E the thumb pocket 22 and the thumb up against the radial side of the finger portion 20. The drawstring is then tied in place, thereby securing thumb pocket 22 to the Einyer portion 20. So secured, the thumb cannot be bent radially away from the fingers causing damage to the ulnar collateral ligament.
a~ _ ~o~
The glove 10 is shown in use in Figure 5. The thumb pocket 22 is a-ttached to the finger portion 20, but a ski pole 80 can ~e grasped by the user. In this case, the thumb curls around the pole 80 with the other fingers instead of grasping the pole 80 in the opposite direction as the fingers, as is usual.
Figure 2 shows a glove 40 which comprises a finger por-tion 42 and a thumb pocket 44. A series of holes 46 (only four shown) e~tend along the lower half of the radial side of the fin~
ger portion 42. A similar set of holes 48 (only four shown) ex-tend up the ulnar side of the thumb pocket 44. A cord 50 iseffectively stitched through the ,ets of holes 46, 48 to secure the thumb pocket 44 to the remainder of the glove.
Figure 3 shows a glove 60 which is comprised of a single pocket 62 into which the thumb and all the fingers fit. Insula-tion 64 surrounds the thumb and fingers. As with the gloves shown in the other Figures, the thumb cannot be bent radially away from the fingers so as to damage the ulnar collateral ligament.
Figure 4 shows a glove 70 comprised of a first pocket 72 and a second pocket 74, separated by an opening 78. When in use, the first pocket 72 contains three fingers while the second pocket 74 contains the thumb and Eorefinger. Insulation 76 is provided in the second pocket 74, as shown. In operation, strain on the ulnar collateral ligament Oe the thumb is avoided because the thumb cannot bend radially away from index finger.
Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art.
'~, ...
Claims (4)
1. A protective glove for preventing injury to the thumb's ulnar collateral ligament comprising:
a hand covering having a thumb pocket and a finger portion, drawstring means for selectively securing and unsecuring the ulnar side of said thumb pocket against the radial side of said finger portion said thumb pocket being secured against said finger portion when said drawstring means is tightened and unsecured and not disposed against said finger portion when said drawstring means is loosened, said drawstring means connected between said finger portion and said thumb pocket through a series of at least three holes, two of said holes being disposed on the ulnar side of said thumb pocket at opposite ends thereof while said third hole is disposed in the upper portion of the radial side of said finger portion, said drawstring means being secured by pulling said drawstring means through said holes whereby the tip of said thumb pocket is secured against said finger portion so as to prevent severe radial movement of the thumb away from the other fingers when said glove is in use, which severe radial movement might injure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb.
a hand covering having a thumb pocket and a finger portion, drawstring means for selectively securing and unsecuring the ulnar side of said thumb pocket against the radial side of said finger portion said thumb pocket being secured against said finger portion when said drawstring means is tightened and unsecured and not disposed against said finger portion when said drawstring means is loosened, said drawstring means connected between said finger portion and said thumb pocket through a series of at least three holes, two of said holes being disposed on the ulnar side of said thumb pocket at opposite ends thereof while said third hole is disposed in the upper portion of the radial side of said finger portion, said drawstring means being secured by pulling said drawstring means through said holes whereby the tip of said thumb pocket is secured against said finger portion so as to prevent severe radial movement of the thumb away from the other fingers when said glove is in use, which severe radial movement might injure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb.
2. A protective glove for preventing injury to the thumb's ulnar collateral ligament comprising:
a hand covering having a first pocket and a second pocket, said first pocket adapted to receive the thumb and at least the forefinger of the hand and said second pocket adapted to receive the remaining fingers, whereby during use, radial movement of the thumb away from the remaining fingers, which movement might injure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb, is prevented.
a hand covering having a first pocket and a second pocket, said first pocket adapted to receive the thumb and at least the forefinger of the hand and said second pocket adapted to receive the remaining fingers, whereby during use, radial movement of the thumb away from the remaining fingers, which movement might injure the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb, is prevented.
3. The glove of claim 1 wherein said thumb pocket and said finger portion each has at least one hole.
4. The glove of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises a drawstring fed through said holes in said finger portion and said thumb pocket.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US72781585A | 1985-04-26 | 1985-04-26 | |
| US727,815 | 1985-04-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1277102C true CA1277102C (en) | 1990-12-04 |
Family
ID=24924187
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000507559A Expired - Lifetime CA1277102C (en) | 1985-04-26 | 1986-04-25 | Thumb movement restricting glove |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS61252304A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1277102C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3600993A1 (en) |
| SE (1) | SE464385B (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5058209A (en) * | 1985-04-26 | 1991-10-22 | Eisenberg Joel Howard | Glove for protecting the ulnar collateral ligament |
| US4787376A (en) * | 1987-03-03 | 1988-11-29 | Joel H. Eisenberg | Retainer for glove |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4445507A (en) * | 1980-12-23 | 1984-05-01 | Eisenberg Joel Howard | Glove with thumb restraint element |
-
1985
- 1985-12-06 JP JP60274855A patent/JPS61252304A/en active Granted
-
1986
- 1986-01-15 DE DE19863600993 patent/DE3600993A1/en active Granted
- 1986-04-25 SE SE8601938A patent/SE464385B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1986-04-25 CA CA000507559A patent/CA1277102C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH039751B2 (en) | 1991-02-12 |
| SE8601938D0 (en) | 1986-04-25 |
| JPS61252304A (en) | 1986-11-10 |
| DE3600993C2 (en) | 1992-05-14 |
| SE464385B (en) | 1991-04-22 |
| DE3600993A1 (en) | 1986-10-30 |
| SE8601938L (en) | 1986-10-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |