EP2003998B1 - Protective glove made from chain mail provided with means for tensioning the chain mail - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gloves made of chain mail fabric. Gloves made of mesh fabric, that is to say consisting of a mesh of intertwined metal rings, are widely used in various industries, particularly in the meat industry, to protect the hand of leather. operator against the risk of cuts or perforations related to the use of sharp or sharp tools.

These gloves comprise a portion intended to cover the hand (formed of a hand-top, a hand-coat, and thimbles), extended by a wrist-covering part which is generally equipped with a body of closure can be a clamping strap or an elastic clamping element (for example a spiral type flat spring or a "helical" type annular spring). This lap portion of the wrist can itself be extended by a covering element of the forearm, the arm or even the shoulder.

Such gloves are for example described in the documents GB-2 275 174 , US-5,088,123 or DE-20 2005 011 181 . It is noted on some of the gloves presented in these prior documents, the presence of a protective sleeve of the forearm (or part of the forearm), equipped with flexible stiffening members, or practically not longitudinally elastic, adapted to ensure the maintenance of the mail coat fabric on the limb of the user.

In general, different sizes of gloves are provided and the user makes his choice within the range proposed so as to optimize the comfort, according to the size of his hand.
But, because of its structure, the coat of mail is a supple, non-elastic fabric, and it has the particularity of being deformable in the direction perpendicular to the stretched state in which it is located. Thus, it is necessary to oversize some of its areas (especially gloves fingers in length), to have enough material to accept the folding of the joints.
However, the oversizing in question generates a surplus of chain mail at the fingertips when they are in extended position. This surplus of material is often troublesome, harms the quality of grip of the products or objects, and can be a source of risks.

There are disposable accessories, called "glove-holders" or "glove-clamps" which consist of elastic structures reported able to grip the hand and to position themselves between some of the glove fingers.
But these accessories are long to put in place and need to be regularly changed. They often tend to shake hands too much. In addition, they generate annoying compression situations of the rings of the coat of mail fabric of the glove at some of the inter-finger areas.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by producing a chainmail glove which limits or even eliminates the presence of excess material at the end of the fingers, to better fit the user's hand, than his fingers. are in a situation of extension or flexion.
It leads to offer a glove whose comfort, grip quality and safety in use are improved.

For this purpose, the protective glove according to the present invention is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one elastic member integral with the chainmail fabric, on the part intended to cover the hand of the user, arranged to pull the chain mail fabric of at least one of the glove fingers in the direction or substantially in the direction of its longitudinal axis and towards the wrist portion.
The elastic member (s) in question, in the rest state or partially active state, generate a prestress on certain areas of the chain mail fabric (materializing by a tightening of the material).
After donning the glove, in extension state of the fingers of the hand, the elastic members are at rest, or active but at a stage that can be described as intermediate; they pull on the chainmail fabric to limit or eliminate the presence of excess material at the fingertips. During the bending movements of the fingers, the tension state of the elastic members increases allowing the mail coat fabric to expand. Then, when returning to a situation of extension of the fingers, said elastic members naturally return to the aforementioned rest or intermediate voltage stage.
This ensures a permanent optimal coating of the user's hand and in particular at least some of the glove fingers, and preferably all the glove fingers.
The number of elastic members, their position and their extension characteristics are adapted according to the end result sought and so as to minimize the discomfort of the wearer of the glove.

According to a first possible embodiment, at least one of the elastic members is in the form of a thrust spring placed on the covering portion of the top or the bottom of the hand, active perpendicularly or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of at least one of the glove fingers.

In another possible embodiment, at least one of the resilient members is in the form of a tension spring, active in the direction or substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of at least one of the thimbles, and placed on the lap portion of the top and / or bottom of the hand.

In the context of this second embodiment, the glove advantageously comprises at least two spring members organized in parallel or substantially parallel to each other, arranged to be active on the five fingers of glove. The corresponding glove may in particular comprise three spring members, one of which is located in the extension of the thimble corresponding to the thumb of the user.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic, at least one of the elastic members is in the form of a flat spring, of the pin type, consisting of a juxtaposition of arms which extend in the same plane or substantially in a same plane, connected in pairs by an elastic joint.

According to a first embodiment, at least one of the springs consists of a juxtaposition of two arms connected by an elastic hinge, together forming a U-shaped or V-shaped structure. According to a second embodiment, at least one of the springs consists of a juxtaposition of at least three arms connected in pairs by an elastic hinge, forming a juxtaposition of U-shaped structures or Vee arranged head to tail.

The articulation that connects two juxtaposed arms of the spring is advantageously constituted by a loop of material formed of one or more turns, the hinge axis of which extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the two juxtaposed arms that she connects. In case of several turns, these can be superimposed and / or juxtaposed.

According to another feature, the two free ends of the spring are provided with a loop.

According to another characteristic, the elastic member or members connect at least two metal rings at a distance from each other of the chain mail fabric. The connection between the elastic member (s) and the chain mail is then made by means of metal rings, in particular by means of the aforementioned loops formed on said elastic member (s).

In a particular embodiment, the elastic member or bodies are housed in a pocket or sleeve made in the fabric of chain mail.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique de la partie « main » d'un gant en cotte de mailles de l'état de la technique, dans lequel on remarque un surplus de matière à l'extrémité des doigts lorsque ceux-ci sont en position d'extension ;
• la figure 2 montre un gant en cotte de mailles conforme à l'invention, équipé d'une forme particulière d'organe élastique de type ressort plat, le gant étant ici représenté avec les doigts en position d'extension ;
• la figure 3 montre le gant de la figure 2 représenté avec les doigts en position de flexion ;
• la figure 4 montre l'organe ressort utilisé sur le gant des figures 2 et 3, illustré ici positionné sur un panneau de cotte de mailles et en état stable (repos) assurant un resserrage des mailles du matériau ;
• la figure 5 montre l'organe ressort de la figure 4 illustré ici à l'état bandé, suite à un étirement du panneau de cotte de mailles;
• la figure 6 illustre une première variante de réalisation possible de l'organe ressort, à l'état repos ;
• la figure 7 montre le ressort de la figure 6 à l'état bandé (après étirement du tissu de cotte de mailles support) ;
• la figure 8 illustre une seconde variante de réalisation de l'organe ressort constitué seulement de deux bras reliés par une articulation élastique ;
• la figure 9 montre l'organe ressort de la figure 8 à l'état bandé, après étirement du tissu de cotte de mailles support.

But the invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description associated with the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic view of the "hand" part of a chain mail glove of the state of the art, in which there is a surplus of material at the end of the fingers when they are in extended position ;
• the figure 2 shows a chainmail glove according to the invention, equipped with a particular form of resilient member of flat spring type, the glove being shown here with the fingers in the extended position;
• the figure 3 shows the glove of the figure 2 represented with the fingers in bending position;
• the figure 4 shows the spring member used on the glove of Figures 2 and 3 , shown here positioned on a chain mail panel and in a stable state (rest) ensuring a tightening of the mesh of the material;
• the figure 5 shows the body spring of the figure 4 shown here in the bandaged state, following a stretch of the chainmail panel;
• the figure 6 illustrates a first possible embodiment of the spring member, in the rest state;
• the figure 7 shows the spring of the figure 6 in the bandaged state (after stretching of the chainmail fabric support);
• the figure 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the spring member consisting only of two arms connected by an elastic hinge;
• the figure 9 shows the body spring of the figure 8 in the bandaged state, after stretching the chainmail fabric support.

• une partie 3 destinée à recouvrir le dessus de la main,
• une partie 4 destinée à recouvrir la paume de la main, et
• des doigts de gant 5.

The glove 1 shown on the figure 1 is a glove of the state of the art made of mail coat fabric. This figure shows the "hand" part 2 of this glove 1 comprising:

• a part 3 intended to cover the top of the hand,
• a part 4 intended to cover the palm of the hand, and
• glove fingers 5.

In a situation of extension of the fingers of the user, we note the surplus of material 6, present at the end of the last finger phalanges, related to the aforementioned supersize, to allow the flexion movements, in relation to the flexibility and the inelastic nature of the mail coat fabric.

The glove 10 according to the invention, illustrated on the Figures 2 and 3 , helps to remedy this problem.

The corresponding glove 10 comprises a part 11 intended to cover the hand, made of fabric chain mail, extended by a portion 12 of the wrist cover (also chain mail). This portion 12 of the wrist cover is provided with a closure system, here in the form of a strap 13. In embodiments, this wrist portion may itself be extended by a portion covering the front- arm and possibly the arm and shoulder. These extension parts will then be equipped with conventional stiffening members to ensure the correct maintenance of the chain mail on the user's member.

The "hand" portion 11 of the glove 10 comprises, in a conventional manner, a portion 14 intended to cover the top of the hand, a portion 15 intended to cover the underside of the hand (palm of the hand) and five fingers of glove 16 The different parts of the glove are dimensioned in a conventional or practically conventional manner, according to the standard sizes.

In accordance with the invention, the "hand" portion 11 of the glove 10 is equipped with elastic members 17, connecting at least two rings away from the chainmail fabric, adapted to permanently pull on the mesh fabric of the stitches. glove fingers 16, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fingers and in the direction of the wrist portion 12, as illustrated by the orientation arrows 18.

The elastic members 17 can take any shape possible and can be arranged on any area of the glove. Preferably, they are arranged to perform their function correctly, while limiting the discomfort of the wearer of the glove.

For this, in the embodiment illustrated on the Figures 2 and 3 , the resilient members 17 are in the form of flat springs which equip the portion 14 covering the top of the hand.

The flat springs 17 are here two in number, arranged parallel to each other; they are in the form of tensile springs each fixed to the fabric of chain mail so that their direction of work is oriented parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the thimbles 16. Preferably, the number and the position of the springs 17 are adapted to ensure an action on the five thermowells 16.
In addition to the two springs 17 which equip the glove Figures 2 and 3 , a complementary spring may be placed in the extension of the glove finger 16 corresponding to the thumb of the hand.
Also, in alternative embodiments, the overlapping portion 15 of the underside of the hand may be equipped with such springs 17, in addition to or in replacement of those fitted to the glove upper portion 14.

The Figures 4 and 5 detail the particular structure of the flat springs 17 and their action on the chain mail equipped.

These flat springs 17 each consist of a plurality of arms 19 connected in pairs by an elastic hinge 20, to form a juxtaposition of U or Vé arranged head to tail.
Given the function and arrangement of these springs 17, the arms 19 all extend in the same plane or substantially in the same plane. The corresponding plane is parallel or confused with that of the chainmail fabric that the springs 17 equip; and each resilient hinge 20 extends perpendicularly to this plane.

In the illustrated embodiment, the springs 17 are made of wire, for example from a stainless steel wire of diameter between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. In alternative embodiments, they may also be obtained from plastic, organic or textile material.

The arms 19 are rectilinear and here all have the same length (which may not always be the case). They are connected by an elastic hinge formed of a circular loop 20 which may be at one or more turns.

A generally accordion-like structure is obtained, with elastic hinges 20 located in the plane or substantially in the plane of the two juxtaposed arms 19 that they connect, and whose axis is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to said plane of the two arms. juxtaposed 19 that they connect.

In addition to their function "elastic articulation", the loops 20 allow the fastening of the springs on the chainmail fabric by means of metal rings 21.

On the Figures 2 to 4 , it is noted that the free ends 22 of the springs 17 are also provided with a complementary loop 23 for attachment to the chain mail fabric also by means of metal rings 21 reported.

The "spring" function of the elastic structures 17 is obtained by the elastic joints 20, and possibly also by a certain bending of the arms 19.

The spring 17 is in the form of a band which may be 1 to 3 cm wide, elastic in the direction of its longitudinal axis L. It is preferably fixed on the outer face of the chainmail fabric, but can quite consider it. position the inner side of the glove, or interlaced in the fabric of chain mail.

As indicated above, the spring 17 acts in tension. In the rest state, its various arms 19 are brought closer together as illustrated on the figure 4 ; in this case the different arms 19 then extend parallel to each other. On the other hand, pulling outwards on the two free ends 22 ensures that it is tensioned or bandaged, as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 .
In order to fulfill its function correctly, the spring 17 is fixed on the chainmail so that, at rest, the material is tightened, that is to say a substantial partial superposition of the rings of the chain mail fabric. ( figure 4 ). Thus, a traction on the fabric of chainmail will cause the extension of the material and at the same time the tensioning of the spring 17 ( figure 5 ), which will allow a return to the narrow position of the mesh when the aforementioned traction effect is removed.

It is therefore clear that a suitable arrangement of the spring or springs 17 on the glove 10 of the figures 1 and 2 allows, in the idle state, to achieve a tightening of the material on the portion 14 of the hand covering (that is to say on the spring placement area), thereby causing traction on the fabric of chain mail glove fingers. The corresponding traction takes place in the plane or substantially in the plane of the chain mail.

Thus, when the user puts on the glove 10, the glove fingers 16 in an extended position adequately cover the fingers of the hand ( figure 2 ). The surplus of material, related to the oversizing required, is accumulated at the springs 17 on the top part 14 of the hand. The corresponding surplus of material (or the corresponding stock of matter) is used when flexing the fingers ( figure 3 ).

A glove is thus obtained whose finger parts 16 are stretched continuously and which, in a general manner, best marries the hand of the user (without requiring the presence of fixed-glove or fixed-type attachments). glove the state of the art, acting by compression and causing the presence of extra thicknesses of material between the fingers).
In the situation of extension of the fingers, the spring members 17 may be arranged to be in the idle state, or in a state of slight tension.

This glove, very comfortable, improves the handling quality of the user and also optimizes security.

In addition, the particular spring used has a very small thickness (limited to the diameter of the wire and the thickness of the loop or loops), which allows to minimize the inconvenience caused by its presence.

The Figures 6 and 7 show a possible embodiment of the flat traction spring may be used to obtain a glove according to the invention.

This flat spring 17 ', shown in the rest state on the figure 6 and in the bandaged state on the figure 7 , consists of a juxtaposition of arms 19 'connected in pairs by an elastic hinge 20' formed here of a simple bend of material. The different arms 19 'and the hinge elbows 20' extend in the same plane; the thickness of this spring 17 'is therefore limited to the thickness of the wire (metal or other) used.

A second possible variant of embodiment is illustrated on the Figures 8 and 9 . Here, the spring member 17 "consists of a simple juxtaposition of two arms 19" connected by an elastic loop 20 "The free ends of the arms 19" comprise an additional loop 23 'for fixing the spring element 17 "on the chainmail fabric via attached rings (or the like); the elastic loops 20" also serve as fasteners on the chainmail through attached rings (or the like) .

As illustrated in dashed lines, a plurality of springs 17 "may be associated together to form the resilient member, in which case the springs are preferably arranged head to tail one after the other.

• le ou les organes ressorts mis en oeuvre peuvent être des ressorts de poussée, disposés alors pour agir transversalement à l'axe longitudinal des doigts de gant, la tension transversale obtenue sur le tissu de cotte de mailles assurant une traction de la matière des doigts de gant en direction de la partie de poignet 12.
• d'autres types d'organes élastiques peuvent être utilisés, par exemple des ressorts cylindriques hélicoïdaux de petit diamètre, placés sur la partie 14 de recouvrement de la main, ou directement sur les doigts de gant 16, par exemple au niveau de la dernière phalange des doigts. Le ou les organes élastiques correspondants pourront être fixés sur la cotte de mailles pour relier deux anneaux à distance, par l'intermédiaire de boucles d'extrémité, associées éventuellement à des anneaux de fixation complémentaires.

• le ou les organes élastiques peuvent être montés de manière amovible sur le gant, par tout moyen de fixation approprié.
• le ou les organes élastiques peuvent être logés dans une poche ou un manchon aménagé à l'emplacement souhaité du gant, en particulier une poche ou un manchon réalisé en tissu de cotte de mailles.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown above. For example:

• the springs or members implemented may be push springs, then arranged to act transversely to the longitudinal axis of the thimbles, the transverse tension obtained on the chain mail fabric ensuring a traction of the material of the fingers of glove towards the wrist portion 12.
• other types of resilient members may be used, for example cylindrical helical springs of small diameter, placed on the cover portion 14 of the hand, or directly on the glove fingers 16, for example at the level of the last phalanx of the fingers. The corresponding elastic member (s) may be attached to the chain mail to connect two rings at a distance, via end loops, possibly associated with complementary fixing rings.

• the elastic member or members may be removably mounted on the glove, by any suitable fastening means.
• the elastic member (s) can be housed in a pocket or sleeve arranged at the desired location of the glove, in particular a pocket or a sleeve made of mesh fabric.

Claims (13)

1. Protective glove comprising a portion (11) intended to cover the hand, called "hand portion", made of chain mail fabric, namely formed of an interweaving of metal rings, extended by a portion (12) intended to cover the wrist, called "wrist portion", said hand portion (11) comprising - a portion (15) covering the palm of the hand, - a portion (14) covering the back of the hand, and - glove fingers (16), which glove comprises at least one resilient member (17, 17', 17") integral with the chain mail fabric, characterized in that said resilient member(s) (17, 17', 17") are placed on the portion (11) intended to cover the hand, which resilient member(s) (17, 17', 17") are arranged to draw the chain mail fabric of at least one of said glove fingers (16) in the direction or substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof and toward said wrist portion (12).
2. Protective glove according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the resilient members is in the form of a compression spring disposed on the portion (14, 15) covering the back or the palm of the hand, active in a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of at least one of the glove fingers (16).
3. Protective glove according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said resilient members (17, 17', 17") is in the form of a tension spring, disposed on the part (14) covering the back of the hand, active in the direction or substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of at least one of the glove fingers (16).
4. Protective glove according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said resilient members (17, 17', 17") is in the form of a tension spring, disposed on the part (15) covering the palm of the hand, active in the direction or substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of at least one of the glove fingers (16).
5. Protective glove according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises at least two spring members (17) disposed parallel or substantially parallel to each other, arranged so as to be active on the five glove fingers (16).
6. Protective glove according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises three spring members (17) disposed parallel or substantially parallel to each other, one of which being located in the extension from the glove finger corresponding to the thumb of the user's hand.
7. Protective glove according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the resilient members (17, 17', 17") is in the form of a flat spring, of pin type, consisting of a juxtaposition of arms (19, 19', 19") running in the same plane or substantially in the same plane, connected by pairs by an elastic joint (20, 20', 20").
8. Protective glove according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the springs (17") consists of a juxtaposition of two arms (19") connected by an elastic joint (20"), forming together a U-shaped or V-shaped structure.
9. Protective glove according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the springs (17, 17') consists of a juxtaposition of at least three arms (19, 19') connected by pairs by an elastic joint (20, 20'), forming a juxtaposition of U-shaped or V-shaped structures disposed head to tail relative-to each other.
10. Protective glove according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the joint that connects two juxtaposed arms (19, 19") of the spring (17, 17") consists of a loop of material (20, 20") having one or more turns, the articulation axis of which runs perpendicular or substantially perpendicular relative to the plane of the two juxtaposed arms connected thereby.
11. Protective glove according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the two free ends of the spring (17, 17") are provided with a loop (23, 23').
12. Protective glove according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the resilient members (17, 17") connect at least two spaced-apart metal rings of the chain mail fabric, the connexion between said resilient member or members (17, 17") and said chain mail being made by means of metal rings (21), in particular through loops (20, 23, 20", 23') shaped on said resilient member or members (17, 17").
13. Protective glove according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the resilient member or members (17, 17', 17") are accommodated in a pocket or a sleeve provided in the chain mail fabric.

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