GB2461268A

GB2461268A - Easy access hand covering

Info

Publication number: GB2461268A
Application number: GB0811544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clarissa Foster; James Robert Foster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-24
Filing date: 2008-06-24
Publication date: 2009-12-30
Also published as: GB0811544D0

Abstract

A mitten is formed by folding material 12a, 12b on itself to form a pocket to receive a wearer's hand. The two halves of the material are secured together by touch-and-close fastener 18a, 18b and a press stud 20a, 20b. The mitten is more easily fitted to babies, children and the elderly or infirm than conventional gloves or mittens.

Description

HAND COVERING

The present invention relates to coverings for human hands. Coverings according to the invention can provide comfort and protection, for example against the cold.

Conventional gloves and mittens present a problem in that it is difficult to fit them to the hands of babies and children too small to fit them themselves. Babies and children also have a tendency to remove and discard the gloves and mittens once fitted. Similar problems of fitting can arise for elderly and disabled people.

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a covering for a human hand, comprising first and second portions of material which join over a first portion of their respective peripheries and are shaped so that, when they lie face-to-face with each other, they f on a pocket which is shaped to receive a human hand, the first and second portions having respective second portions of their peripheries which have fastening means which, in the face-to-face condition, can be fastened to secure the first and second portions to close the pocket whilst leaving a third portion of the periphery open for a wearer's wrist.

In use of such a hand covering, the hand is first placed on one of the two portions, prior to the other portion being folded over and the fastening means being fastened to form a pocket in which the hand is received.

These operations can be more readily carried out than the fitting of a conventional glove or mitten, particularly by someone fitting the hand covering to a baby, child or elderly or disabled person.

The hand covering can be made from any suitable textile S material, for example a woven, knitted, fleece or felted material, or from sheet materials such as leather or plastics.

The covering can be made in a single piece, or by securing two or more pieces together.

Preferably, the first and second portions are substantially mirror images of each other.

The first and second portions are preferably mitten-shaped, having thumb and palm/finger portions. Other shapes are however possible, for example shapes provided to fit to the wearer's fingers.

Advantageously the hand covering has means for constricting and securing the wrist opening in the folded condition.

The constricting and securing means comprise a strip secured at one end to one of the first and second portions and having a means for securement to the other portion. The securement means conveniently comprise touch-and-close fastener, for example of the hook-and-loop type sold under the registered trade mark VELCRO.

Conveniently, the fastening means include an additional localised fastener at the join of the second and third periphery portions. This allows an initial, localised fastening of the first and second portions to each other, to hold the article in place prior to fastening of the fastening means at the second periphery portions.

Advantageously, the covering includes a layer extending over the faces of the first and second portions to form a lining in the face-to-face condition.

The lining layer may conveniently overlap with the inner edge of the fastening means to prevent contact between the fastener means edge and the wearer's fingers.

The fastening means conveniently comprise touch-and-close fastener, for example of the hook-and-loop type sold under the registered trade mark VELCRO.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to drawings of this

specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hand covering according to the invention in an unfolded condition; and Figure 2 is a plan view of a hand covering of figure 1 in a folded condition.

The hand covering 10 shown in figure 1 has first and second portions 12a, l2b which are each shaped as for a mitten for a human hand. The first and second portions 12a, l2b are in this embodiment produced by respective pieces of a material which can be anything suitable, but is preferably woven or knitted from wool or other yarn. Other materials, for example, felt, leather, fleece materials etc. can be used instead. Alternatively, the two portions can be produced in a single piece, particularly when knitted.

Each of the first and second portions is shaped with a mitten shape having a thumb portion 14a, l4b and a portion 16a, 16b for the remaining, finger/palm part of the human hand. The portions l2a, 12b are sewn together along a line 18 which forrnsthe outer periphery of the two thumb portions 14a, 14b.

Each of the first and second portions 12a, 12b is provided around a portion of its periphery extending from the sewn portion 18 around the finger/palm portion lGa, 1Gb with a strip of touch-and-close fastener 18a, 18b. One of the fastener strips is a hook fastener and the other a loop fastener. Suitable touch-and-close fastening materials are sold under the registered trade mark VELCRO.

At the end of the respective fastener strips 18a, 18b distant from the fold line, each of the portions 12a, 12b is provided with a respective part of a press-stud ("popper") fastener 20a, 20b. The remaining periphery 22a, 22b of each of the first and second portions 12a, 12b forms an opening for receiving the wrist of a wearer. Although it is preferred that the line 18, the fastener 18a, 18b and the wrist openings 22a, 22b constitute the entire periphery of each portion 12a, l2b, this is not necessarily the case.

A wrist strap 24 is attached to the first portion i2a and has a strip of touch-and-close fastener 26a for attachment to a corresponding strip 2Gb on the second portion 12b. In a modification, the wrist strap is formed integrally with the portion 12a, possibly in the form of a tab.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows the two portions 12a, 12b folded on each other and secured together by the touch-and-close fasteners iSa, 18b and press stud 20a, 20b to form a closed pocket for receiving a human hand. The wrist strap 24 can then be further secured to constrict and close the wrist opening 22a, 22b.

In a further modification, the portions 12a, 12b are provided with a suitable layer which forms a lining in the closed condition. The lining may overlap with the edge of the fastener iSa, 18b to protect it from the wearer's fingers, and vice-versa.

In another modification, the fastening means iSa, lSb are positioned to allow for securement of the portions 12a, i2b to each other with one portion overlapping the other in the manner of a hem.

The hand covering is fitted to a wearer, by the wearer or a helper, by laying the wearer's hand on one of the portions 12a, l2b and then folding the covering on itself.

The press studs 20a, 20b are then secured together to provide an initial fastening of the portions i2a, l2b to each other, prior to the two portions being secured to each other by the touch-and-close fasteners iSa, lSb to form a mitten-shaped pocket in which the wearer's hand is received. The wrist opening also formed can be constricted and secured by the strap 24.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A covering for a human hand, comprising first and second portions of material which join over a first portion of their respective peripheries and are shaped so that, when they lie face-to-face with each other, they form a pocket which is shaped to receive a human hand, the first and second portions having respective second portions of their peripheries which have fastening means which, in the face-to-face condition, can be fastened to secure the first and second portions to close the pocket whilst leaving a third portion of the periphery open for a wearer's wrist.
2. A hand covering according to claim 1, in which the first and second portions are substantially mirror images of each other.
3. A hand covering according to claim 1 or 2, in which the first and second portions are mitten-shaped.
4. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, having means for constricting and securing the wrist opening in the folded condition.
5. A hand covering according to claim 4, in which the constricting and securing means comprise a strip secured at one end to one of the first and second portions and having means for securement to the other portion.
6. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, in which the fastening means include an additional localised fastener at the join of the second and third periphery portions.
7. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, including a layer extending over the faces of the first and second portions to form a lining in the face-to-face condition.
8. A hand covering according to any preceding claim1 in which the fastening means comprise touch-and-close fastener.
9. A hand covering according to claim 8, in which the touch-and-close fastener is of the hook-and-loop type.
10. A hand covering substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.Amendment to the cliams have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 8 1. A covering for a human hand, comprising first and second mitten-shaped portions of material which join permanently over a first portion of their respective mitten- shaped peripheries and are shaped so that, when they lie face-toface with each other, they form a pocket which is shaped to receive a human hand, the mitten-shaped portions having respective second portions of their peripheries which have fastening means which, in the face-to-face condition, can be fastened to secure the first and second portions to close the pocket whilst leaving a third portion of the periphery open for a wearer's wrist.2. A hand covering according to claim 1, in which the first and second portions are substantially mirror images of each other. Ct)3. A hand covering according to claim 1 or 2, having means for constricting and securing the wrist opening in the folded condition.4. A hand covering according to claim 3, in which the constricting and securing means comprise a strip secured at one end to one of the first and second portions and having means for securement to the other portion.5. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, in which the fastening means include an additional localised fastener at the join of the second and third periphery portions.6. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, including a layer extending over the faces of the first and second portions to form a lining in the face-to-face condition.7. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, in which the fastening means comprise touch-and-close fastener.8. A hand covering according to claim 7, in which the touch-and-close fastener is of the hook-and-loop type.9. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, in which the first and second portions are respective separate pieces of material, joined over their first periphery portions.10. A hand covering according to any preceding claim, 0) in which the first and second portions are formed in a single piece of material. Co11. A hand covering substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.