EP2131688B1

EP2131688B1 - Glove

Info

Publication number: EP2131688B1
Application number: EP08718006.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luc Bouckaert
Original assignee: Sparco SpA
Current assignee: Sparco SpA
Priority date: 2007-03-21
Filing date: 2008-03-19
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-19
Also published as: EP2131688A2; MX2009010065A; PE20081807A1; AU2008228229B2; UY30975A1; AU2008228229A1; AR067217A1; CL2008000807A1; US20100083420A1; BRPI0809025A2; BRPI0809025B1; WO2008113816A2; WO2008113816A3; ES2582658T3; ITMI20070557A1

Description

The present invention relates to a glove in accordance with the introduction to the main claim. It relates in particular to a glove to be used in automobile sporting competitions.
In automobile racing there is a known serious risk of fire; this is mainly because of the high level of car performance and the presence close to the driver's compartment of the fuel tank feeding the engine. Fire danger is also considerable in the case of collisions or accidents of any type.
The severe competition rules require that the drivers' clothes be made of flame retardant fabrics which protect the driver in all situations. A well known type of such frame retardants is marketed under the name of NOMEX. It provides considerable flame protection but has the great drawback of being very prone to slippage.
Examples of such gloves can be seen in documents US2003/037364 , GB 1 473 744 and DE 20 2006 012570 .
The problem does not arise when used to form frame retardant suits or other types of clothing. However when used to form gloves it creates considerable problems.
In fact drivers find it difficult to accept the considerable material slippage which makes the steering wheel grip very insecure.
Moreover on using frame retardant fabric, drivers complain of considerable problems deriving from the vibration which such material transmits to their hands.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a glove representing an improvement over the known art.
A further object of the invention is to provide a glove presenting a very reliable grip without slippage.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a glove which considerably dampens the vibrations transmitted to the driver's hands through the glove.
These and further objects are attained by a glove in accordance with the technical teachings of the accompanying claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the glove of the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the palm of a glove of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the palm of the glove of the present invention, showing the micro-craters of a glove cladding;
Figure 3 shows the operation of the micro-craters of Figure 2 when subjected to a pressure;
Figure 4 shows the operation of a single micro-crater when subjected to a considerable pressure;
Figure 5 shows the operation of a single micro-crater when subjected to a light pressure;
Figure 6 shows in plan a plurality of micro-craters and the lines along which air circulates between them; and
Figure 7 is a plan view of the rear of the glove of the present invention.

With reference to said figures, these show a glove indicated overall by 1.
The glove 1 comprises an element 2 shaped as a hand to form the base structure of the glove. To this base element, formed of a frame retardant fabric commercially known as NOMEX, a plurality of portions of cloth 3, 4, 5 or other material are sewn, in particular to obtain aesthetic effects, such as sponsors, trademarks 3 or decorations, and functional effects such as protections 4 and anti-abrasion material 5. In particular, a protection element 5 is applied across the knuckles. Another protection 4 is sewn onto the index finger and also at the joint between the wrist and hand on the rear 9.
A cladding is applied to the base element 2 on the palm 8 (see Figure 1) in a plurality of palm regions 7. These regions 7 are substantially the glove gripping/resting regions. This cladding is formed of a deformable spongy material of any type, but preferably of a flame retardant material known commercially as HOTTEX.
This cladding is given a configuration in the form of spaced-apart micro-craters 20, as shown in Figure 2. It should be noted that for simplicity of representation these micro-craters 20 are shown in Figure 1 only in the initial regions 7A present on the glove index and middle finger, however they are also present in all other regions 7 shown in Figure 1.
In particular the craters are present in initial gripping regions 7A on each of the fingertips/second phalanx of the glove fingers. These initial regions 7A present a first and second wider portion 11, 12 located at a first and second phalanx of each finger; between said wider regions 11 and 12 a narrower portion 13 is present.
The micro-crater cladding 20 is also applied to a second gripping region 7B at the connection portion between the body of the hand and some of the fingers. This portion presents a transverse band 14 from which four segments 15 extend towards the fingers to each involve a portion of each finger.
A third cladding region 7C is also present disposed in an intermediate position of the palm. This third region presents the shape of a band elongated in a direction transverse to the palm of the glove and comprises a segment 15 extending from it along the index finger.
The micro-craters 20 are also provided on a fourth gripping region 7D which extends from that portion 16 by which the palm of the hand is joined externally to the wrist, towards the centre of the palm.
The micro-craters are also provided on a fifth and sixth gripping region 7E of substantially trapezoidal shape positioned in a region below the wrist in the outer portion of the forearm and in the inner portion of the forearm straddling the wrist. Below each trapezoidal region 7E seventh regions are provided comprising micro-craters. These seventh regions each present two extended portions 110, 120 of a shape similar to those provided on the phalanxes, interconnected by a region 130 of lesser extension.
The micro-craters present in the listed regions are schematically represents in Figures from 3 to 6. Specifically, each of the micro-craters 20 presents a substantially frusto-conical shape, with the major base secured to said base structure 2. At their top. each of the micro-craters 20 presents a dead-ended concavity 21 of rounded profile able to deform elastically when subjected to even a minimum pressure, such as that arising by merely resting the hand on the steering wheel. The operation of the micro-craters is well evident in Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 4 shows a micro-crater 20 stressed by a considerable force, such as the gripping force exerted on the steering wheel by a tight fist during a sporting competition. Elastic deformation hence takes place both of the crater region comprising the cavity or hollow 21 and of the crater trunk. Hence the crater provides optimal damping and protection against vibrations and an optimal grip on the steering wheel. In particular, damping is provided by the elastic deformation of the crater trunk.
At points in which the pressure is less, where the hand only rests, the micro-crater is deformed as in Figure 5, i.e. is deformed only in its initial part comprising the cavity or hollow 21, the crater trunk 20A remaining undeformed. This results in an extension of the contact surface between the gripped object and the glove, to ensure an optimal grip, the contact surface between the glove and object being considerable.
In the present text the term "deformable" is widely used, referring to the constituent material of the micro-crater cladding. The deformability of this material is such as to obtain a deformation such as that described, and in particular of just the initial part when the crater is subjected to the force of the glove on the steering wheel, and also of the second part if vibrations or gripping forces are present on the steering wheel during a competition. When the stress on the craters ceases, their constituent deformable material returns elastically to its original position, to reconstitute the basic shape of the craters before being stressed.
Essentially, the micro-craters 21 conceived in this manner increase the gripping friction while simultaneously damping any impact or vibration by their deformation.
Advantageously, as each micro-crater is spaced from the others, considerable air circulation can take place between their bases, facilitating heat transfer and reducing perspiration precisely in those points where the pressure is a maximum (see Figure 6 which shows this air circulation by arrows F). Advantageously, as well visible in Figure 2, the micro-craters present in certain gripping regions, such as 7D and 7C, have a different radius and/or height and/or density in order to absorb different vibration types.
In Figure 1, in each of the described regions 7 differently coloured sub-regions are visible. In the dark black regions the craters are low, in the dark grey regions the craters are slightly higher, while in the white regions in the centre of the parts indicated by 7C and 7D they attain their maximum height. These are in fact the most stressed regions. Advantageously craters of different density materials can be provided, a different density possibly being provided for each crater region, based on the regions in which the craters are positioned.
In particular, in Figure 2 it can be seen that the micro-craters present a distribution such that the micro-craters of greatest diameter and height are positioned in the central portions (the most stressed, i.e. the white parts of Figure 1 within the regions 7D and 7C) of the gripping regions 7; the micro-craters also present a diameter and/or height which decreases in the direction away from the centre of each gripping region 7 (black regions in Figure 1). A preferred embodiment has been illustrated, however others can be conceived using the same inventive concept. For example, the micro-crater distribution can be of any type required to properly adapt to the different pressure profiles predictable within the grip for which the glove is intended (steering wheel, etc.). Moreover the micro-craters can have any shape. They are represented here as of frusto-conical shape, however they can also be cylindrical, of circular, square or any base.
The same micro-crater can also be made of different density materials. For example the initial part can be of low density Hottex to give it considerable deformation, while the second support part can be of greater density Hottex.

Claims

A glove comprising an element (2) shaped as a hand to form the base structure of the glove and a cladding applied to said base element (2) in at least one gripping region (7) on its palm (8), said cladding presenting a plurality of micro- craters (20) each formed of a material which enables it to at least partially deform when subjected to a force and to return to its original shape when said force ceases, said micro-craters (20) increasing the gripping surface of said glove to improve its friction and to at least partially dampen any impacts or vibrations by said deformation; characterised in that said micro-craters (20) present a substantially frustoconical shape, with the major base secured to said base structure; each of said micro-craters (20) presenting at least two parts of different deformation, a first part positioned in proximity to the top to deform when the micro-crater (20) is subjected to an initial stress and a second part positioned in proximity to the portion connecting to said base structure, in order to deform when the micro-crater (20) is subjected to a second stress greater than the initial; said first part presenting a dead-ended concavity (21) at its top.
A glove as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the micro-craters (20) present in said gripping region have a different radius and/or height and/or density in order to absorb different vibration types.
A glove as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that in said gripping region (7) said micro-craters (20) present a distribution such that the micro-craters (20) of greatest diameter and height are positioned in the most stressed portions of said region (7).
A glove as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said micro-craters (20) present a diameter and/or height which decreases in the direction away from the maximum stressed portion of said gripping region (7).
A glove as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of gripping regions (7) in which said cladding is applied are provided on said glove.
A glove as claimed in claim 5, characterised by presenting initial gripping regions (7A) positioned on the fingertips/second phalanx of the glove fingers.
A glove as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said initial regions (7A) present a first and second wider portion located at a first and second phalanx, between said wider regions a narrower portion being present.
A glove as claimed in claim 5, characterised by presenting a second gripping region (7B) positioned at the connection portion between the body of the hand and the fingers, said portion (7B) presenting a transverse band (14) from which three segments extend, each extending onto a portion of the fingers.
A glove as claimed in claim 5, characterised by presenting a third gripping region (7C) disposed in an intermediate position of the palm, said third gripping region (7C) presenting the shape of a band elongated in a transverse direction, from which a transverse segment extends towards the index finger.
A glove as claimed in claim 5, characterised by presenting a fourth gripping region (7D) which extends from that portion by which the palm of the hand is joined externally to the wrist, towards the centre of the palm.
A glove as claimed in claim 5, characterised by presenting a fifth gripping region (7E) of substantially trapezoidal shape positioned in an outer portion of the forearm, below the wrist.
A glove as claimed in claim 5, characterised by presenting a sixth gripping region (7E) of trapezoidal shape positioned on the inner forearm, straddling the wrist.
A glove as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said glove base structure (2) is made of a flame retardant fabric.
A glove as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said micro-craters (20) are made of a flame retardant fabric.