IES60957B2 - A hand protector - Google Patents

Description

A hand protector This invention relates to a hand protector, in particular, for protecting a player's hand when playing the game of hurling.

Many sports injuries arise in the game of hurling due to players' hands being hit with hurling sticks. The injuries can range from minor cuts and bruising to broken hands and wrists.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a hand protector comprising a protective cover of flexible material shaped to cover at least a portion of the back of a person's hand and means for releasable attachment of the cover to the back of a person's hand.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprises finger loops on the cover for reception of an engagement with a person's fingers and thumb and a wrist fastener for engagement around a person's wrist to secure the cover on the person's hand. Conveniently, the wrist fastener may comprise a Velcro fastener.

In a preferred embodiment the cover incorporates impact absorbing padding. Ideally the padding is arranged in a number of articulated panels to facilitate flexible movement of the cover.

Preferably articulated joints are provided between the panels by means of stitched seams extending between the panels.

S (50957 - 2 In a preferred embodiment the panels comprise longitudinal finger panels for extension along finger joints of a person's hand and transverse panels for extension across the back of a person's hand.

Preferably the of the longitudinal finger panels is such that the longitudinal finger panels only extend partially along a person's fingers.

In a further embodiment, the finger protection portion panels extend to a first knuckle joint on each finger when 10 worn on a person's hand.

Preferably, also, the cover has a wrist protection portion for extension over a person's wrist in use.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the hand protector comprises a protective cover having a central portion 15 shaped to cover the back of a person's hand, a finger protecting portion and a thumb protecting portion extending outwardly of the central portion for extension to a first knuckle joint on each finger and thumb of a person's hand and a wrist protecting portion extending 20 outwardly of the central portion for extension over a person's wrist, the cover incorporating impact absorbing padding arranged in a number of articulated panels with articulated joints formed between the panels by means of stitched seams extending between the panels, the panels 25 comprising longitudinal finger panels on the finger and thumb protecting portions and transverse panels on the central portion for extension across the back of a person's hand, elasticated finger loops mounted on the cover adjacent an outer end of each finger panel, and 30 complementary Velcro strips at opposite sides of the wrist protecting portion for releasably fastening the wrist protecting portion around a person's wrist.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a plan view of a hand protector according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hand protector shown in use worn on a person's hand; and Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the protector in use worn on a person's hand.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a hand protector according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The hand protector 1 has a protective cover 2 having a central portion 3 shaped to cover the back of a person's hand.

A forward portion of the cover 2 forms a finger protecting portion 4 which extends to a first knuckle joint on each finger when worn on a person's hand. Similarly, a thumb protection portion 5 extends to. a first knuckle joint on a thumb of the wearer. At a rear end of the cover 2, the cover 2 has a wrist protection portion 6 for extension over a person's wrist in use.

Complementary Velcro strips 8, 9 are provided on each side of the wrist portion 6 to secure the wrist portion 6 around a person's wrist in use.

On a front face of the cover 2 a number of finger loops 10 are provided for reception of an engagement with a person's fingers and thumb to hold the cover 2 on a person's hand. These finger loops 10 may conveniently be provided by an elastic tape material.

It will be noted that the cover 2 incorporates impact absorbing padding arranged in a number of panels 12 with stitched seams 13 therebetween which allows for hinging between the panels and easy movement of the hand and wrist in use. The panels 12 of the central portion 3 extend between the sides of the protector 1, and the panels 12 of the finger protecting portions 4, 5 are arranged to extend along the fingers and thumb of the wearer in use. Some or all of the panels 12 may incorporate neoprene pads 15 or the like for impact absorbtion. A binding tape 16 extends around an outer edge of the cover 2.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the hand protector 1 mounted on a person's hand 20. It will be noted that the protector 1 only covers a rear of the person's hand 20 and wrist leaving a palm 21 portion of the hand 20 free to allow for full touch sensation on a hurl and for catching a ball.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a hand protector which is simple and convenient to use giving good protection for a rear of a person's hand and wrist while at the same time leaving a palm portion of the hand free.

While the hand protector has been described for use in a game of hurling it may equally well be applied to other games where similar protection is required.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A hand protector comprising a protective cover of flexible material shaped to cover at least a portion of the back of a person's hand and means for releasable attachment of the cover to the back of a person's hand.

2. A hand protector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises finger loops on the cover for reception of and engagement with a person's fingers and thumb and a wrist fastener for engagement around a person's wrist to secure the cover on the person's hand.

3. A hand protector as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cover incorporates impact absorbing padding arranged in a number of articulated panels to facilitate flexible movement of the cover, and articulated joints are provided between the panels by means of stitched seams extending between the panels, and preferably the panels comprise longitudinal finger panels for extension along finger joints of a person's hand and transverse panels for extension across the back of a person's hand.

4. A hand protector comprising a protective cover having a central portion shaped to cover the back of a person's hand, a finger protecting portion and a thumb protecting portion extending outwardly of the central portion for extension to a first knuckle joint on each finger and thumb of a person's hand and a wrist protecting portion extending outwardly of the central portion for extension over a person's wrist, the cover incorporating impact absorbing padding arranged in a number of articulated panels with articulated joints formed between the panels by means of 5 stitched seams extending between the panels, the panels comprising longitudinal finger panels on the finger and thumb protecting portions and transverse panels on the central portion for extension across the back of a person's hand, 10 elasticated finger loops mounted on the cover adjacent an outer end of each finger panel, and complementary Velcro strips at opposite sides of the wrist protecting portion for releasably fastening the wrist protecting portion around a 15 person's wrist.

5. A hand protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .