GB2237725A

GB2237725A - Finger joint guard

Info

Publication number: GB2237725A
Application number: GB9022595A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Kille
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-10-24
Filing date: 1990-10-17
Publication date: 1991-05-15
Also published as: NL9002079A; DE8912573U1; GB9022595D0

Abstract

A finger joint guard (1) comprises at least two tubes (2, 2', 2'', 2''') each being adapted to surround the joints (13 to 20) of a finger and being joined together by, for example webs (8). The tubes may be composite, being of foam material on the upper sides, non-slip leather on the gripping sides and elastic material in the lateral areas. <IMAGE>

Description

FINGER JOINT GUARD The invention relates to a finger joint guard.

In a wide variety of sports, for example hockey, in which the hand wields a racquet, stick, bat or club, injuries frequently occur in regions of the hand because it is not adequately protected against attacks by the opposing players.

The finger joints are particularly at risk in such cases.

Hand guards are known which are pulled on to the hand in a similar manner to a glove but which then impairs its freedom of movement and ability to grip.

Additionally, individual finger guards are known which merely protect the fingers against grazing but not against the effect of knocks and blows.

Moreover, the last-mentioned finger guards are only suitable for protecting the hand in the vicinity of the finger joints between the phalanges and the metacarpus. In these finger guards, the joint zones between the metacarpus and the unciform bone, the os capitatum and the major and minor polygonal bones remain unprotected.

The subject of the invention is a finger joint guard which ensures satisfactory and reliable protection of all finger joints, which can be put on like a glove and which does not impair freedom of movement and freedom of grip, while at the same time allowing reliable security of grip.

According to the invention, a finger joint guard comprises at least two tubes, each tube being adapted to surround the joints of a finger and being joined together.

An impact-absorbing material is preferably provided so as to protect the surface of the back of the hand or the back of the fingers from impacts.

The inner surface of the tube is preferably formed by a tubular segment of non-slip material.

The finger joint guard may comprise at least two tubes which are joined to one another, each tube being composed of at least two tubular segments of different material, so that in the zone in which a secure grip is required a different material is used to the zone in which the fingers are exposed to impacts.

Preferably, a foamed material may be used for the back of the guard and leather for the inside of the guard.

At least one tube may comprise three tubular segments, wherein the tubular segment disposed on the back again consists of foamed material, the grip zone consists of leather and a stretchable material, preferably elastic material, is disposed between both tubular segments so as to conform to an extremely wide variety of finger thicknesses.

Preferably, a finger tube is composed of four segments, an impact-absorbing foamed material in the back zone, a non-slip material, for example leather, in the grip zone and elastic material respectively disposed on both sides between the foamed and non-slip materials.

The tubular segments of at least two tubes may be formed in one piece, the metacarpal zones on the back and front being joined together by means of webs.

The tubular segments made of stretchable material are preferably formed in one piece so that a type of glove is formed.

The impact-absorbing tubular segments may be covered with a layer of material on at least one side, preferably on both sides.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows the palm side or front of a left hand with a finger joint guard; Figure 2 shows the back of the hand shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-section along the line A-A of the finger joint guard in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section along the line B-B in Figure 3.

The drawings show a finger joint guard 1 fitted to a human left hand 21 and which embraces four fingers.

Figure 1 shows the grip zone, namely the tubular segment with the non-slip protection. The finger joint guard 1 is formed by the individual tubes 2,2', 2" and 2"', the inner metacarpal front zones 9 of which are joined by a web 10, preferably of like material, and are thus formed in one piece. The tubes are open at the finger tips so that the phalanges 22 protrude from the ends thereof.

Figure 2 shows the back of the hand in which the individual tubes 2, 2', 2" and 2"' of the finger joint guard 1 are joined in their inner metacarpal back zones 7 by a web 8.

The finger joints 13 to 20 are thus protected, the bones of the fingers and hand being indicated in broken lines.

The tube 2 is used to protect the index finger, the tube 2' to protect the middle finger, the tube 2" to protect the ring finger and the tube 2"' to protect the little finger.

As shown in Figure 3, the tube 2 comprises a tubular segment 3, of foamed material which serves to afford protection against blows, a tubular segment 4 of leather for grip purposes and a tubular segment 5 of elastic material.

With reference to the tubes 2' and 2", elastic material 5', 6' and 5", 6" is arranged respectively between the tube segment 3', 3" and the tube segment 4', 4".

The provision of this elastic material 5, 5', 5" and 6', 6", 6''' ensures that the finger joint guard 1 conforms to different finger thicknesses.

The tubular segments 3 to 3"' are provided on both sides, inside and outside, with a layer of material 11 and 12.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the tubular segment 3", (as do the tubular segments 3, 3' and 3"') extends over and beyond the joints 14, 16, 18 and 20 (Figure 2), whereas the tubular segments 4t', 5" and 6" terminate in the bending zone at the beginning of the palm and therefore assure freedom of grip and movement.

A finger joint guard is illustrated which can be put on very simply in the manner of a glove and which, once fitted, satisfactorily protects the finger joints which are at risk during sporting activities.

A finger joint guard is described for four fingers. However this finger joint guard can be designed for two or three fingers only, for example with two tubes 2 and 2' joined together by webs 8 and 10. Also the thumb may be included in the finger guard.

Claims

1. A finger joint guard comprising at least two tubes, each tube being adapted to surround the joints of a finger and being joined together.

2. A finger joint guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least one tube for surrounding the joint of a finger is formed by at least two tubular segments.

3. A finger joint guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least one tube for surrounding the joints of a finger is formed by three tubular segments.

4. A finger joint guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least one tube for surrounding the joints of a finger is formed by four tubular segments.

5. A finger joint guard as claimed in Claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein at least one tubular segment is composed of an impact-absorbing material, preferably of foamed material.

6. A finger joint guard as claimed in Claims 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein at least one tubular segment is composed of a non-slip material, preferably leather.

7. A finger joint guard as claimed in Claim 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein at least one tubular segment is composed of a stretchable material, preferably elastic material.

8. A finger joint guard as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the tubular segments of at least two tubes are formed in one piece, the metacarpal back zones of the two tubes being joined together by means of a web.

9. A finger joint guard as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the tubular segments of at least two tubes are formed in one piece, the metacarpal front zones of two tubes being joined together by means of a web.

10. A finger joint guard as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the tubular segments of at least two tubes are formed in one piece.

11. A finger joint guard as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 10, wherein at least one tubular segment is covered on at least one side with a layer of material.

12. A finger joint guard as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 11, wherein at least one tubular segment is covered on both sides with a layer of material.

13. A finger joint guard substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.