GB2403888A

GB2403888A - A protective glove

Info

Publication number: GB2403888A
Application number: GB0316488A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Colin Wood; Simon James Wood; Neil Stringer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-14
Filing date: 2003-07-14
Publication date: 2005-01-19
Also published as: GB0316488D0

Abstract

A protective glove comprising three finger sheaths, a palm section and back section that protects the wearer when using a hand held controller for a computer or games console. The three finger sheaths receive the middle 1 and index 2 fingers and thumb 3 of the user and each sheath has a front and back portion, with the front portion of each finger sheath coupled to the palm section 4 and the back section (5, Fig 1) coupled to the back portion of each finger sheath. The font and back sections are coupled together along a single edge adjacent to the sheath containing the wearer's thumb. A protective covering extends over the front portion of the finger sheath containing the thumb. The glove may fit a wide number of hand sizes. Preferably the glove is made from soft leather, rubber, cotton, polyester or nylon. Ventilation holes 7 may be provided along the finger sheaths.

Description

PROTECTIVE GAME GLOVE

This invention relates to protective gloves and in particular but not exclusively pertains to a new glove for protecting the hands of those playing computer or console games by operation of a hand-held controller.

An effect of prolonged or vigorous use of a computer or console hand-held controller is damage to the skin on the hands of the user. Injuries are caused by the continuous rotation of a joystick and the repeated depression of buttons on the controller. These injuries can manifest themselves as blistering, burns, lacerations, punctures, cuts, repetitive strain injury, and/or a hardening of the skin.

The use of protective gloves and devices is known in the prior art. Known prior art includes UK Pat. No. 2,370,215; US Pat. No. 6,209,137; US Pat. No. 4,894,866; US Pat. No. 4,519,097; US Pat. No. 4,103,362.

These devices all meet their respective objectives but do not disclose a new game glove to protect the areas of the hand at most risk from prolonged and vigorous use of a hand-held controller, namely the thumb, index and middle fingers, and palm of the hand, whilst offering comfort and flexibility of movement.

It is an objective of this invention to provide a method of protection which has many ofthe advantages ofthe protection methods suggested in the prior art, but incorporates substantial improvements through the inclusion of novel features that result in a new method of protection which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, or suggested hitherto.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a protective game glove that provides adequate protection without compromising the sensitivity to touch for the wearer.

It is another objective ofthis invention to provide protection to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and palm, ofthe wearer without restricting the free movement of the fingers and thumb.

Still another objective ofthis invention is to provide a protective game glove that permits substantial air flow around the hand ofthe wearer to reduce sweating ofthe hand.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a protective game glove that can be easily and cost effectively manufactured.

It is another objective ofthis invention to provide a protective game glove that can fit a wide number of hand sizes.

It is still another objective ofthis invention to provide a new protective game glove comprising three finger sheaths receiving the middle finger, index finger and thumb, each sheath having a front and back portion. A palm section is coupled to the front portion of each finger sheath and a back section is coupled to the back portion of each finger sheath. The front and back sections are coupled together along a single edge adjacent to the thumb sheath. A protective covering extends over the front portion of the finger sheath receiving the thumb.

Preferably but not exclusively, the protective game glove is made from soft leather, rubber, cotton, polyester or rayon, and the protective coverings from son leather, rubber or other similar material.

A detailed description ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a back view ofthe protective game glove; FIGURE 2 shows a front view ofthe protective game glove.

The invention comprises a single glove or two opposite gloves to provide a pair, of the construction shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

The invention comprises three finger sheaths receiving the middle finger 1, index finger 2 and thumb 3, each sheath having a front and back portion. A palm section 4 is coupled to the front portion of each finger sheath and a back section 5 is coupled to the back portion of each finger sheath. The front and back sections are coupled together along a single edge adjacent to the thumb sheath 9, leaving an open edge closest to the little finger and along the wrist ofthe wearer 10.

The finger sheath, back section and palm section can be constructed from a soft stretchable material to accommodate close fitting of the finger sheaths to the fingers of the wearer and accommodate a range of hand and finger sizes. Such material can be leather, rubber, cotton, polyester, rayon or similar.

A protective covering 6 extends ova the tip, middle and lower part ofthe front portion of the finger sheath receiving the thumb.

The protective covering can be constructed either of an additional thickness ofthe same construction material as used in the finger sheaths, palm section and back section, or an appropriate alternative flexible material, and is secured by means of stitching on top ofthe finger sheath material or used in replacement ofthe finger sheath material The thickness ofthe protective covering and selection ofthe material should be such that the wearer can easily bend the thumb.

To use the glove, the wearer inserts their thumb, index and middle fingers into the finger sheaths, pulling the palm section to cover the palm of the hand and the back section to cover the back ofthe hand. This provides the 'fit' ofthe protective glove about the hand ofthe wearer. Either a single glove or opposite pair of gloves can be used to grip the hand-held console. The protective covering protects the tip, middle and base of the thumb ofthe wearer.

Additionally a number of ventilation holes 7 are located along the back and front of the finger sheaths receiving the middle and index fingers. Further ventilation holes 8 are located on the back ofthe finger sheath receiving the thumb.

Whilst a preferred embodiment of this invention is described above it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For this reason the preferred embodiment described above is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit ofthe invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A glove for protecting the thumb, palm, index finger and middle finga of those playing computa or console games by operation of a hand-held controller, said glove comprising three finga sheaths, a palm section, a back section and a protective covaing.

2. A glove as claimed in Claim 1 what three finga sheaths receive the middle finga, index finga and thumb, each sheath having a front and back portion and ventilation holes.

3. A glove as claimed in Claim 1 whale a palm section is coupled to the front portion of each finger sheath and a back section coupled to the back portion of each finga sheath.

4. A glove as claimed in Claim 1 where the front and back sections are coupled together along a single edge adjacent to the thumb sheath, leaving an open edge closest to the little finga and along the wrist ofthe weara.

5. A glove as claimed in Claim 1 whale the protective covaing extends across the tip, middle and lowa part of the thumb.

6. A glove as claimed in any preceding claim which is made of leather, rubba, cotton, polyester, rayon or similar material

7. A glove as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said protective covaing is flexible and made of leather, rubber, cotton, polyester, rayon or similar material.

8. A protective glove substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.