GB2377877A

GB2377877A - Finger ring guard

Info

Publication number: GB2377877A
Application number: GB0217043A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Freddie Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-25
Filing date: 2002-07-23
Publication date: 2003-01-29
Also published as: GB0118168D0; GB0217043D0

Abstract

A finger ring protector 4 comprises a tube (Fig 2) or band 2 of padding material, which covers the ring to prevent damage to it, or injury to the wearer or sports opponent. The protector may consist of three layers - surface layers 1, 3 of fabric eg cotton, leather, denim, nylon and a padding layer 2 of closed cell neoprene foam rubber. It may be reversible to display different colours or designs. The ends of the band are fastened by press stud, hook and eye, or hook and loop fasteners 6. The band may be of various shapes (Fig 4) and may be sized to fit round two fingers.

Description

FINGER RING PROTECTOR This invention relates to a finger ring protector. It relates particularly to a protector for a finger ring which can be worn during a physical activity in order to protect the wearer or another person from a possible risk of injury from the ring. The protector serves additionally to guard the ring itself against possible damage.

At the present time, many players of sports activities are likely also to be wearers of finger rings. These players do not always remove the rings before taking part in their sport and they may prefer to cover the ring with a strip of adhesive tape. The tape is intended either to protect the ring or to protect an opponent player from injury. The use of the tape on the finger may not be comfortable to the user and it may still leave exposed some sharp edges of the ring. In games where fast-moving balls are involved, the ring may be damaged by the ball or upon being struck by the ball an edge of the ring may be caused to cut the player's finger. In the case of the game of football, a professional footballer can sometimes be seen with a strip of tape on his finger and this will detract from the rather smart appearance that is expected from the professional sportsman.

Furthermore, since the professional football game is played at a fast pace, it is also important to ensure that injuries to the players are kept to a minimum.

There has already been an attempt to provide a protective cover for a ring, and patent specification No. GB2362310 discloses a simple cover of a tubular shape.

According to the invention, there is provided a finger ring protector comprising a cover capable of being fitted round a finger ring, the cover including a padding layer effective to extend up to the edges of the ring. The cover may be in the shape of a tube having an internal diameter close to that of the ring to be fitted.

Preferably, the cover is made in the form of a flexible band having ends which can be secured together after the band has been folded circumferentially round the periphery of the ring. The band may include a layer of padding which extends over the whole area of the band. Externally, the band may be provided with a surface layer of a suitable material such as a fabric or a skin such as leather.

The cover may be made of a suitable size as to be capable of being fitted over one

L t i-it o, eior two rings on one finger, in anothe ; embodilenl.. Lhe cover coufd be made to fit over two rings on adjacent fingers.

The padding taycr may be provided by a body of a soft resilient material such as a plastics material, or a synthetic rubber. A material having a foam structure is particullariv suitable.

Thesecuringtogetheroftheendsofthecovermaybeeffectedbymeanssuchasa hook and loop fastener, a press-stud fastener or a hook and eye fastener. The fastener may be capable of being secured in different alternative positions so that the tightness of the

cover may be adjusted as necessary.

I By way of example, some particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the material used for the cover construction,

Figure : 2 shows end and side views of a finger ring protector made in a tubutar I ~, cr- r z protector niade ill I tubular form, Figure 3 is a partial side view on an enlarged scale of a ring protector having a particular type of fastener, and, Figure 4 depicts the ring protector in flat form showing different external shapes which have been proposed.

As shown in Figure 1, the finger ring protector is made up of a material having a sandwich construction with an internal surface layer 1, a padding layer 2 which is of a synthetic plastics composition and an external surface layer 3. A preferred material for the padding layer 2 is a neoprene rubber compound. The padding layer 2 may have a cellular structure such as one provided by closed gas cells.

Figure 2 is an end and side view of a ring protector 4 made in the form of a tube.

The tube 4 includes the padding layer 2 arranged so that it may be fitted round the ring so that this will be covered over by a resilient body whilst it is located on the user's finger.

The tubular ring protector may be made of a suitable size so as to be capable of fitting over one or alternatively over two fingers of a user.

Figure 3 is a partial side view of a ring protector 4 which is intended to be folded circumferentially round a ring and the ends of the ring protector 4 may then be secured together. As shown in the Figure, the securing of the ends is effected by the two portions 6 of a hook and loop type of fastener which are joined by being pressed together. This type of fastener is able to be separated and rejoined very readily and the tightness of the fixing can be adjusted easily whenever this is necessary.

Figure 4 shows the ring protector 4 in a flat condition depicting a number of different practical shapes which have been devised. For the sake of clarity in the sketches, the fastening means at the opposite ends of the ring protector have been omitted. The relative dimensions of the ring protector may be adapted as necessary to make the device fit comfortably over one or two fingers of a user.

In use of the ring protector 4, this can be shaped so that it will give maximum stability and comfort when it is secured about a ring on the hand of a sports player. It then

provides protection for the player's finger and will also protect any other player with whom the wearer's hand may come into contact. The ring protector furthermore will guard the ring itself from accidental damage. The dimensions of the ring protector will of course be chosen so that this extends at least up to the edges of the ring. For preference, the ring protector will be dimensioned so that it will extend slightly beyond the edges of the ring so

that this will be prevented from being pushed accidentally into the wearer's skin. the ring protector can be worn by both ma ! c and feroait ; sports competitors and it wit ! be found to provide a much ncater safety precaution on the hand than if the already mentioned alternative method of adhesive tape strips was used. Since many sports competitors are photographed frequcntiy and they have to be concerned about their appearance in front of the public. it is inappropriate if they arc seen to have a finger

carrying an adhesive tape strip, the ring protector may be provided with an attractive outer layer such as one that matches whatever team colours or sports outfit the player might wem. Since the padding : layer 2 is provided with the surface layers 1. 3 on both of its sides, a single ring protector may he worn with a first side materia] showing at one time and the protector may then be reversed so that it can he worn on another occasion with the second side showing.

In some examples or the ring protector 4 intended for single ring cover sizes, the . protector 4 1 1 width of the ring protector was made to lie within the range of 20rnm to 40mm whilst the length was within the range of 60mm to 100mm. The thickness of the sandwich construction including the padding layer 2 was in a range between 2mm and 6mm. The surface layers chosen for the padding layer 2 were selected from a group of materials including nylon, cotton, leather. denim and gortex. The fastening means used was a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) fastener.

In some ring protectors intended for the double ring cover sizes, the width of the ring protector lay within the range of 25mm to 45mm whilst the length lay between 80mm and 140mm. The thickness of the sandwich construction used was then between 3mm and 6mm.

The ring protector has been found to be inexpensive to manufacture and it can provide a protection for the wearer's hand which will enhance rather than detract from the wearer's appearance. In the case of football players, these are highly paid individuals for whom it is important to provide an attractive image to the public. In the past, these players have been seen wearing adhesive tape round the finger so that the professional appearance of the player will thereby be damaged. The use of this adhesive tape is non-professional and it is not always a safe solution to the problem. The ring protector of the invention can provide a practical alternative which is likely to be of benefit in reducing the number of minor sports injuries which can occur. In addition to its use by sports players, it is clear that the ring protector will also benefit workers in some other occupations where manual handling is involved.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, instead of the fastening of the ring protector cover ends being effected by a hook and loop fastener, this could be done by suitable alternative means such as a press-stud or a hook and eye fastener.

Claims

CLAIMS I A finger ring protector comprising a cover capable of being fitted round a finger ring, the cover including a padding layer effective to extend up to the edges of the ring.
2 A finger ring protector as claimed in Claim l, in which the padding layer is provided with a surface layer of a suitable material such as a fabric or leather.
3 A finger ring protector as claimed in Claim ! or 2. in which the cover is in the shape of a tube.
4 A finger ring protector as claimed in Claim 1 or 2. in which the cover is in the form of a flexible band having fastening means at its ends.
5 A linger nng protector as claimed in any one of Claims) to 4. in which the dimensions of the protector are such that in use it ma\ be fastened round two adjacent fingers of a wearer.
6 A finger ring protector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5. in which the fastening means is a hook and loop fastener, a press-stud or a hook and eye fastener.
7 A finger ring protector as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 6. in which the padding layer is of a neoprcne rubber compound.
8 A finger ring protector, substantially as hereinbefore described with refetence i. o any Figure of the accompanying drawing.