GB2557888A

GB2557888A - Sports glove

Info

Publication number: GB2557888A
Application number: GB1612829.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sadiq Nauman
Original assignee: Rdx Inc Ltd
Current assignee: Rdx Inc Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-16
Filing date: 2016-07-25
Publication date: 2018-07-04
Also published as: GB201612829D0; GB201610505D0

Abstract

A washable sports glove 1 comprises a glove body 2 for receiving a hand of a person, and comprising a palm portion 3 and a dorsal portion (4, figure 2). There also comprises a glove body insert (5, figure 8) in at least the dorsal portion of the glove body 2, and which is suitable for protecting the hand when received in the glove body 2. The glove body insert also provides shape to at least the dorsal portion of the glove body 2. The glove body insert comprises a first material comprising a water resistant coating on an outer surface thereof. The application also describes a method of making the sports glove 1.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Sports glove Abstract Title: Washable sports glove (57) A washable sports glove 1 comprises a glove body 2 for receiving a hand of a person, and comprising a palm portion 3 and a dorsal portion (4, figure 2). There also comprises a glove body insert (5, figure 8) in at least the dorsal portion of the glove body 2, and which is suitable for protecting the hand when received in the glove body 2. The glove body insert also provides shape to at least the dorsal portion of the glove body 2. The glove body insert comprises a first material comprising a water resistant coating on an outer surface thereof. The application also describes a method of making the sports glove 1.

Fig. 1

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

1/8

1209 17

2/8

1209 17

Fig.2

1209 17

1209 17

⁶0ζι

'23

1209 17

7/8

1209 17

Sports glove

The present invention relates to a washable sports glove, and in particular to a washable boxing glove, and in particular to a washable boxing glove washable in a washing machine, and to a method of making the glove.

The use of a sports glove for training, boxing, and for other boxing related exercise is well known. The glove protects the user’s hand during training or a fight, allowing stronger punches to be thrown, and it can also reduce superficial facial injuries on impact of the glove to the face.

During the course of training or a fight, users may exude a great amount of energy, which may result in the user perspiring at a high level. Hands may also perspire even more due to the repetitive impacts and heat retained in the glove. Blood and other bodily fluids can also contribute to this moisture build up. The moisture may be absorbed by the glove, which may damage or ruin the glove. The moisture may cause the glove to become a breeding ground for germs. The glove may also therefore end up with unpleasant odours that are hard to eliminate.

Therefore, there is a need for a glove that overcomes the problems associated with moisture build up therein. One way of reducing the build up of moisture in a glove is by making the glove material breathable. However, given that some moisture is still absorbed by the glove, the glove still becomes moist and the associated problems still arise.

Completely eliminating the moisture build up in a sports glove may be one solution. Therefore, there is a need for a glove to be designed that reduces the build up of moisture in a glove in the first place. It may be more beneficial to provide a glove that can overcome these problems even when the glove does become moistened. One solution might be to provide a glove that is suitable for washing. However, current gloves that are marketed as ‘washable’ tend to take an undesirably long time to dry out, particularly due to the thickness of such sports gloves, and accumulating residual odours, and they often lose their shape and strength, eventually making the glove completely unusable. The outer materials used for the gloves also tend to degrade fairly quickly.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to address all or some of the above problems. In particular, it would be beneficial to provide a washable sports glove that can be washed, maintaining its shape and strength, and without taking an

-2 undesirably long time to dry out.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a washable sports glove, comprising: a glove body for receiving a hand of a person, the glove body comprising a palm portion and a dorsal portion; and a glove body insert in at least the dorsal portion of the glove body for protecting the hand when received in the glove body and for providing shape to at least the dorsal portion of the glove body; wherein the glove body insert comprises a first material comprising a water resistant coating on an outer surface thereof.

This provides for an improved, washable sports glove. This washable sports glove may be washed by hand or in a washing machine without negatively impacting the glove, and so without losing its shape, strength or structure, and may also dry out quickly. The glove body may absorb some moisture from the hand during the training, fighting, or otherwise, but this may be beneficial to prevent the hand from slipping about inside the glove. The water resistant coating may form a barrier to water and/or detergents, and/or other liquids or moisture, for the glove body insert, so that the glove body insert does not absorb any moisture and so is protected. Perspiration is therefore not absorbed by the glove body insert. This idea extends through to when the sports glove is washed, be it washed by hand or in a washing machine. The glove body may absorb the water during washing to be cleaned, but the glove body insert, due to the water resistant coating, does not absorb the water. Since the glove body insert is for providing shape to at least the dorsal portion of the glove body, but is not negatively affected, or damaged, by any water or detergents or otherwise during washing, the glove body insert remains intact during washing. Therefore, the sports glove can be cleaned after use, helping to prevent germ build up and unpleasant odours developing. The glove may dry out quickly since some of the thickness of the glove will be taken up by the glove body insert, which won’t absorb the water.

The first material may comprise latex. The first material may comprise a foam. This may be effective for providing padding and protection for the user’s hand. The first material may be resilient. This may provide resilience for maintaining shape during impact. The material of the foam may be water resistant. This may enhance the effects of the water resistant coating. This may help further ensure that the glove body insert does not absorb any moisture and/or water and so may help prevent the associated problems.

-3The coating may comprise one or more water resistant materials and/or one or more materials comprising water resistant properties. The coating may comprise polyurethane. The coating may be waterproof. This may enhance the effects of the water resistant coating. This may help further ensure that the glove body insert does not absorb any moisture and/or water and so may help prevent the associated problems. The coating may be particularly resistant to liquids and/or detergents. This may make it particularly suited for washing.

The glove body may comprise a second material. The second material may comprise polyester. The second material may comprise nylon, cotton, rayon, PLA (Polylactic Acid) and/or carbon. The second material may comprise an absorbent material to prevent slipping of a hand in the glove during use. The second material may comprise a water resistant material. This may beneficial for preventing moisture being absorbed and/or for washing the sports glove and so may help prevent the associated problems. The second material may comprise neoprene, or any other suitable material. Parts of the glove body may also comprise EVA foam and/or jumbolon (insulation sheet) piping and/or polyurethane rexene. For instance, foam used for cushioning around impact areas of the glove body may comprise EVA foam, gripping pipe under the portion of the glove body for receiving knuckles of a person’s hand may comprise jumbolon (insulation sheet) piping, and piping around a wrist, palm and strap may comprise polyurethane rexene.

The insert may be fully enclosed in the glove body. Not being removable from the glove body may make the sports glove more robust.

The palm portion may have a thickness of less than approximately 1cm. The dorsal portion, with the glove body insert received therein, may have a thickness of between approximately 1.5cm and 5cm.

The glove body may comprise: a first side; a second side; the palm portion extending between the first side and the second side; and the dorsal portion extending between the first side and the second side substantially opposite the palm portion; a finger portion for receiving fingers, comprising a finger first side, a finger second side, a finger palm portion and a finger dorsal portion; a thumb portion for receiving a thumb, located by the finger first side of the glove body, the thumb portion comprising a thumb palm portion and a thumb dorsal portion; wherein the combination of the first side, the second side, the dorsal portion, the finger dorsal portion and the thumb dorsal portion

-4provide a first shape;

wherein the glove body insert may comprise a second shape, the second shape complementing the first shape, the glove body insert comprising: an insert first side comprising a shape complementing a shape of the first side of the glove body; an insert second side comprising a shape complementing a shape of the second side of the glove body; an insert dorsal portion comprising a shape complementing a shape of the dorsal portion of the glove body; an insert finger portion for protecting fingers received in the finger portion of the glove body, comprising a shape complementing a shape of the finger dorsal portion of the glove body; and an insert thumb portion for protecting a thumb received in the thumb portion of the glove body, comprising a shape complementing a shape of the thumb dorsal portion of the glove body. Providing the glove body insert with a shape that complements, and/or corresponds to, part of the glove body may allow for a robust sports glove.

The insert finger portion may be pre-curved. This may prevent finger strain and/or muscle fatigue. This may be more comfortable for the user.

The glove body may comprise a wrist portion for receiving at least a part of a wrist, the wrist portion comprising a wrist palm portion and a wrist dorsal portion. The glove body insert may comprise an insert wrist portion for protecting the at least part of the wrist received in the wrist portion of the glove body. The insert wrist portion may comprise a shape complementing a shape of the wrist dorsal portion of the glove body. This may provide protection for the wrist.

The washable sports glove may be a boxing glove. Boxing may get particularly energetic, and so users may exude a higher level of perspiration.

The washable sports glove may be washable in a washing machine. This may be particularly convenient for a user, and may be able to provide a thorough clean for the sports glove.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a method of making a sports glove, comprising making a glove body for receiving a hand of a person, the glove body comprising a palm portion and a dorsal portion; making a glove body insert for being received by at least the dorsal portion of the glove body, comprising:

shaping a first material to provide the first material with a first shape; and dipping and/or spraying the shaped first material to provide an outer surface thereof with a water resistant coating; inserting the glove body insert into at least the dorsal portion of the

-5glove body, for protecting the hand when received in the glove body and for providing shape to at least the dorsal portion of the glove body; and closing at least the dorsal portion of the glove body around the glove body insert to enclose the glove body insert in at least the dorsal portion of the glove body. The first material may comprise latex. The shaping may comprise molding. The water resistant coating may comprise polyurethane. The glove body and glove body insert may comprise any one or more of the features mentioned herein in relation to any other aspect or embodiment ofthe present invention. Any one or more of the features of one aspect of the present invention may apply to another aspect of the invention as appropriate and applicable.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a palm side perspective view of a sports glove in an embodiment of the present invention, the sports glove being fastened;

Figure 2 shows a dorsal side perspective view of a sports glove in an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a first side view of a sports glove in an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a second side view of a sports glove in an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a palm side perspective view of a sports glove in an embodiment of the present invention, the sports glove being unfastened;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a glove body insert for the sports glove in an embodiment ofthe present invention;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a glove body insert for the sports glove in an embodiment ofthe present invention;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a glove body insert for the sports glove in an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to the figures, there is a sports glove 1 for protecting the hand of an athlete taking part in boxing, or another sport. The sports glove 1 material comprises neoprene. Other suitable materials may be used, particularly materials that dry quickly when they become moist or wet.

The sports glove 1 comprises a glove body 2 for receiving the hand of a person, the glove body 2 comprising a palm portion 3 and a dorsal portion 4. The dorsal portion 4

-6comprises a pocket for receiving a glove body insert 5 therein. The glove body insert 5 provides shape and padding to the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body, and so the dorsal portion 4 is much thicker than the palm portion 3. Typically the palm portion 3 may have a thickness of less than approximately 1cm. Typically, the dorsal portion 4, with the glove body insert 5 received therein, may have a thickness of between approximately 1.5cm and 5cm.

The glove body 2 comprises a first side 6 for directly covering the side ofthe hand near the thumb, and a second side 7 for directly covering the other side of the hand, the side of the hand near the little finger. The convention of a first side and a second side here could be applied the other way round. The palm portion 3 extends between the first side 6 and the second side 7 directly covering the palm of the hand, and the dorsal portion 4 extends between the first side 6 and the second side 7 substantially opposite the palm portion 3 directly covering the dorsal side, or back ofthe hand.

The glove body 2 comprises a finger portion 8 for receiving fingers of a hand of a person in a single pocket, like in a mitten. The finger portion 8 comprises a finger first side 9 towards the first side 6 of the glove body 2, a finger second side 10 towards the second side 7 of the glove body 2, a finger palm portion 11 for directly covering the palm side of the fingers, and a finger dorsal portion 12 for directly covering the dorsal side, or back of the fingers.

The glove body 2 comprises a thumb portion 13 for receiving a thumb of a hand, located on the first side 6 of the glove body 2, the thumb portion 13 being positioned adjacent the finger first side 9 of the finger portion 8. The thumb portion 13 comprises a thumb palm portion 14 for directly covering the palm side of the thumb and a thumb dorsal portion 15 for directly covering the dorsal side, or back of the thumb.

The glove body comprises a wrist portion 16 for receiving at least a part of a wrist, the wrist portion 16 comprising a wrist palm portion 17 for directly covering the same side of a wrist as the palm side of a hand, and a wrist dorsal portion 18 for directly covering the same side of a wrist as the dorsal side of a hand.

The wrist palm portion 17 comprises a separation 19 that extends at least part way into the palm portion 3, forming two flaps, a first side flap 20 towards the first side 6 and a second side flap 21 towards the second side 7, the separation 19 located approximately half way between the first side 6 and the second side 7. The separation allows for the widening of an opening 22 of the sports glove 1, the opening for

-7receiving a hand therein. There is a securing element, a strap 23, for securing the glove to a user’s hand. The strap 23 is for narrowing the separation 19 and for keeping the flaps 20 21 in place with this narrowed separation. On the edge 21a of the second side flap 21 the strap 23 extends therefrom towards the first side 6. The strap 23 has a length, long enough to pass over the first side flap 20 and around at least a part of the wrist dorsal portion 18 for attaching thereto. An inner surface of the strap 23 comprises a first hook and loop fastening portion 24 for cooperating with a second hook and loop fastening portion 25 on the wrist dorsal portion 18. Once a hand is received in the sports glove 1, the strap 23 can be pulled tightly across the wrist palm portion 17, around the first side 6 of the sports glove 1 and onto the wrist dorsal portion 18, to fasten the first hook and loop fastening portion 24 onto the second hook and loop fastening portion 25, the fastening portions 24 25 typical being cooperating pieces of Velcro®. Therefore the wrist portion 16 can be tightly secured to the wrist, which ensures a secure fit for the glove.

The sports glove 1 also comprises a glove body insert 5 for protecting the hand received in the glove body and for shaping at least the dorsal portion of the glove. The glove body insert 5 is received in at least the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2, in a pocket therein. The glove body insert 5 comprises a water resistant foam material. There is a water resistant coating on an outer surface thereof.

The glove body insert 5 has a shape that corresponds to, and/or complements, the shape of a pocket in the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2 that receives the glove body insert 5.

The glove body insert 5 comprises an insert first side 26 having a shape that complements a shape of the first side 6 of the glove body 2, and an insert second side 27 having a shape that complements a shape of the second side 7 of the glove body 2. The glove body insert 5 comprises an insert dorsal portion 28 having a shape that complements a shape of the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2. The glove body insert 5 comprises an insert finger portion 29 for protecting fingers received in the finger portion 8 of the glove body 2, having a shape that complements a shape of the finger dorsal portion 12 of the glove body 2, and an insert thumb portion 30 for protecting a thumb received in the thumb portion 13 of the glove body 2, having a shape that complements a shape of the thumb dorsal portion 15 of the glove body 2. The insert finger portion 29 is pre-curved to follow the shape of fingers when they are in a partial fist shape for throwing

-8a punch.

The glove body insert 5 comprises an insert wrist portion 31 for protecting the at least part of the wrist received in the wrist portion of the glove body 2. The insert wrist portion 31 has a shape that complements a shape of the wrist dorsal portion 18 of the glove body 2.

When the sports glove 1 is in use for boxing training or fighting, or otherwise, a hand and wrist are received in the glove body 2, the fingers being received by the finger portion 8, the thumb being received by the thumb portion 13, and the wrist being received by the wrist portion 16. The hand is held in a partial fist position by the glove. The glove body insert 5 rests on the dorsal side of the hand and corresponding side of the wrist to protect the fingers, thumb and wrist when the user throws a punch. The material of the glove body 2 may absorb some moisture from the hand during the training, fighting, or otherwise; having some moisture absorbed by the material of the glove body 2 may be beneficial to prevent the hand from slipping about inside the glove. However, the water resistant coating on an outer surface of the glove body insert 5 means that the glove body insert 5 does not absorb any moisture, this coating providing a barrier to any moisture that could potentially be absorbed by the glove body insert 5. This idea extends through to when the sports glove 1 is washed, be it washed by hand or in a washing machine, since the material of the glove body 2 can absorb the water during washing to be cleaned, and the water resistant coating on an outer surface of the glove body insert 5 can be cleaned in the process, but the material of the glove body insert 5, forming most of the thickness of the dorsal side of the sports glove 1, does not absorb the water. Since this is what provides most of the thickness of the dorsal side of the sports glove 1, but is not wetted during washing, the sports glove 1 dries very quickly. Furthermore, since the glove body insert 5 provides the sports glove 1 with its shape and strength needed for boxing or otherwise, but is not negatively affected or damaged, by any water or detergents or otherwise during washing, the glove body insert 5 remains intact during washing. The sports glove 1 can therefore be cleaned after use, helping to prevent the sports glove 1 becoming a breeding ground for germs, and helping to prevent unpleasant odours from developing, whilst not negatively affecting the shape, structure and/or strength of the sports glove 1.

In some embodiments, the glove body 2 comprises a water resistant material, preferably a closed cell neoprene material. This can prevent the glove body 2 and glove

-9body insert 5 from absorbing moisture during training or a fight, and/or during washing.

There is a method of making the sports glove 1. The method comprises making a glove body 2 for receiving a hand of a person, the glove body 2 comprising a palm portion and a dorsal portion. The method also comprises making a glove body insert 5 for being received by at least the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2, comprising: shaping a foam to provide the foam with a first shape; and dipping and/or spraying the shaped foam to provide an outer surface thereof with a water resistant coating. The method further comprises inserting the glove body insert 5 into at least the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2, for protecting the hand when received in the glove body 2 and for 10 providing shape to at least the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2. The method further comprises closing at least the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2 around the glove body insert 5 to enclose the glove body insert 5 in at least the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2. This may be done by stitching and/or gluing at least the dorsal portion 4 of the glove body 2 closed. The glove body 2 and glove body insert 5 may comprise any of the above mentioned features.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A washable sports glove, comprising:

a glove body for receiving a hand of a person, the glove body comprising a palm portion and a dorsal portion; and a glove body insert in at least the dorsal portion of the glove body for protecting the hand when received in the glove body and for providing shape to at least the dorsal portion of the glove body;

wherein the glove body insert comprises a first material comprising a water resistant coating on an outer surface thereof.

2. A washable sports glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first material comprises latex.

3. A washable sports glove as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the water resistant coating comprises polyurethane.

4. A washable sports glove as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the glove body comprises a second material, and the second material comprises a water resistant material.

5. A washable sports glove as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second material comprises polyester.

6. A washable sports glove as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the glove body insert is fully enclosed by the glove body.

7. A washable sports glove as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dorsal portion of the glove body has a first thickness, and the glove body insert has a second thickness that is greater than half of the first thickness.

8. A washable sports glove as claimed in claim 7, wherein the palm portion of the glove body has a third thickness, the third thickness being less than half of the

-11 first thickness.

9. A washable sports glove as claimed in any preceding claim, the glove body comprising:

a first side; a second side;

the palm portion extending between the first side and the second side; and the dorsal portion extending between the first side and the second side substantially opposite the palm portion;

a finger portion for receiving fingers, comprising a finger first side, a finger second side, a finger palm portion and a finger dorsal portion;

a thumb portion for receiving a thumb, located by the finger first side of the glove body, the thumb portion comprising a thumb palm portion and a thumb dorsal portion;

wherein the combination of the first side, the second side, the dorsal portion, the finger dorsal portion and the thumb dorsal portion provide a first shape;

wherein the glove body insert comprises a second shape, the second shape complementing the first shape of the glove body, the glove body insert comprising:

an insert first side comprising a shape complementing a shape of the first side of the glove body;

an insert second side comprising a shape complementing a shape of the second side of the glove body;

an insert dorsal portion comprising a shape complementing a shape of the dorsal portion of the glove body;

an insert finger portion for protecting fingers received in the finger portion of the glove body, comprising a shape complementing a shape of the finger dorsal portion of the glove body; and an insert thumb portion for protecting a thumb received in the thumb portion of the glove body, comprising a shape complementing a shape of the thumb dorsal portion of the glove body.

-12

10. A washable sports glove as claimed in claim 9, wherein the insert finger portion is pre-curved.

11. A washable sports glove as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the glove body comprises a wrist portion for receiving at least a part of a wrist, the wrist portion comprising a wrist palm portion and a wrist dorsal portion, and wherein the glove body insert comprises an insert wrist portion for protecting the at least part of the wrist received in the wrist portion of the glove body, the insert wrist portion comprising a shape complementing a shape of the wrist dorsal portion of the glove body.

12. A washable sports glove as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the washable sports glove is a boxing glove.

13. A washable sports glove as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the washable sports glove is washable in a washing machine.

14. A method of making a sports glove, comprising:

making a glove body for receiving a hand of a person, the glove body comprising a palm portion and a dorsal portion;

making a glove body insert for being received by at least the dorsal portion ofthe glove body, comprising:

shaping a first material to provide the first material with a first shape; and dipping and/or spraying the shaped first material to provide an outer surface thereof with a water resistant coating; inserting the glove body insert into at least the dorsal portion of the glove body, for protecting the hand when received in the glove body and for providing shape to at least the dorsal portion of the glove body; and closing at least the dorsal portion of the glove body around the glove body insert to enclose the glove body insert in at least the dorsal portion of the glove body.

- 1315. A washable sports glove substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of making a sports glove substantially as herein described with 5 reference to the accompanying drawings.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched: