US3822417A - Glove and method of making - Google Patents

Abstract

A glove constructed of tranks including a palm portion and a rear portion, and with the glove being closely adapted to the anatomy and natural motion of the hand. The palm portions of the finger compartments or stalls adapted to respectively receive the fore finger, middle finger, and little finger of the hand are obliquely inclined relative to an imaginary center line drawn through or along an edge of the trank for the glove portion encompassing the metacarpus of the hand, which edge of the trank which is coextensive with the outer edge of the trank portion for the little finger compartment being directed away from the thumbforming portion of the glove.

Description

Ilited States Patent 1191 Lars-Jos 4 July 9, 1974 GLOVE AND METHOD OF MAKING [76] Inventor: Pehr Lars-Jos, N. Moen, S-782 Prlma'y Examiner-Geo Larkm Malling, Sweden Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Er1c H. Waters [22] Filed:' Nov. 8, 1972 21 A LN 304826 l 1 pp 0 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A glove constructed of tranks including a palm por- NOV. 9, 1971 Sweden 14266/7] tion and a rear portion and with the glove being closely adapted to the anatomy and natural motion of [52] [1.8. CL; 2/169 th ha d, The palm portions of the finger compa [51] Int. Cl A4ld 19/02 ments o st lls adapted to respectively receive the fore Fleld of Search finger finger and little finger of the hand are obliquely inclined relative to an imaginary center line References Cited drawn through or along an edge of the trank for the 1 UNITED STATES'PATENTS glove portion encompassing the metacarpus of the l,26l,374 4/l9l8 Feldgusmhn 2/169 hand which edge of the hank which is coextensive 1,885,446 1'1/1932' .lohanson 2/l69 With the Outer g of the {rank P r for the little 2,299,118 10/1942 Wheeler 2/159 finger compartment being directed away from the 2,538,837 l/l95l Johnston 2/169 thumb-forming portion of the glove. 2,742,645 4/1956 Bleeth 2/169 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6/l937 France. 2/l69 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 9 m4 SHEU 2 [IF 4 GLOVE AND METHOD OF MAKING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a glove and to a method making the same.

The human hand generally functions in the following manner: The four three-knuckled fingers, in effect, the fore finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger are in a relaxed state, more or less bent into a claw-like appearance through formation of a projecting configuration extending from the metacarpus. In this relaxed or at-rest position, the fingers are contiguous to or proximate each other and, even though they are relaxed, they are prepared for effecting a grip. From this position the fingers are movable in two directions, either partly backwardly and outwardly so that they are spaced whereby each finger is extended in a substantially coplanar relationship with the metacarpus, or partly forwardly and inwardly bent when a grip is effected, or when the hand is clenched into a fist. When the fingers are spaced apart, not only are the finger knuckles deflected into the plane of the metacarpus, but the separate fingers, or more precisely the fingertips, tend to move away from each other so as to form wedge-shaped interspaces between the fingers. The situation, in principle, is reversed when the hand movement is in an opposite direction from the relaxed or at-rest position, in. effect, when the fist is clenched. The finger tips tend to approach each other until a maximum bent finger position has been reached, at which time they mutually form a substantially right angle. This hand movement from a relaxed position to maximum bending occurs for each'finger in a plane which is not parallel to an imaginary center line through the metacarpus, or a contour line defined by the edge of the metacarpus extending from the thumb, but rather in a plane which extends at a sharp angle with the center line. All of the four three-knuckled fingers tend to move slantingly toward one side in the di-. rection of thethumb, inferring that they are orientated towards the fleshy part of the palm interiorly of or around the thumb bone of the metacarpus. The thumb is movable towards and away from the middle finger in a plane extending at a sharp angle with-the plane of the metacarpus. The thumb thus functions in a plane which is not parallel to but rather somewhat inclined relative to the functioning plane of the three-knuckled fingers of the human hand.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore,'known gloves have not, or have only to a small extent been shaped so as to be fitted to the human hand as the hand moves, with the hand movements being determined by the anatomical construction of the hand.

As a starting point in the production of prior art gloves there has been considered a hand position in which the fingers of the hand are extended straight and orientated in the same plane'as the metacarpus, most frequently with the fingers in contact with each other. A glove palm section and a rear hand portion was cut from a trank with the profile of the hand in that physical position being the pattern, whereafter the cut-out sections, together with finger-fourchettes and thumb pieces, were joined and seamed to form the completed gloves.

Since the foregoing type of glove production considered a hand position in which the fingers extend coplanar with the metacarpus, drawbacks are encountered in using the gloves. Thus, the finger compartments or finger stalls of the glove will not follow the fingers of the hand in the movement trajectories of the latter, since the fingers of the glove tend to move parallel with re spect to the center line of the metacarpus of the hand in the glove, while the fingers of the hand due to their inherent anatomical structure tend to slantingly move towards the center line. The length of the rear portion of the finger compartments, as well as the palm portions thereof, detemtined by the length of the fingers of the hand in the starting manufacturing position, in practice results in that the glove finger lengths along the rear portions become too short, and the glove finger lengths along the palm portion become too long. When the fingers of the hand are bent, in particular, upon ranging from a relaxed or at rest position to a position of maximum finger bending, a pressure force will,

on the'one hand, be imparted to the back side of the fingers andparts of the metacarpus due to stretching of the sections of the glove fingers along the rear portion while, on the other hand, there is produced a crumpling, creasing or folding of the glove finger front and palm sections. Scientific investigation has shown that conventionally cut gloves are subject to significant disadvantages from an anatomical-biological point of view. The pressure imparted to the fingers and other portions of the hand by the gloves restricted free blood circulation which, in turn, lead. to reduced sensitivity and loss of strength in the hand; The formation of the creases and folds in the palm portion of the gloove also resulted in irritation to the wearer of the glove. The fact that the fingers of the hand are constrained by the glove to move in other trajectories than those which would be naturalfor the fingers of the hand, caused increased wearing on knuckles, ligaments and muscles. In short, prior art gloves, quite simply, were not fitted to the natural motions of the hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is predicated on a precise knowledge of the anatomy of the hand, and effectively eliminates the disadvantages encountered in the prior art by providing a glove constructed of tranks including a palm portion and a rear portion, and with the glove being closely adapted to the anatomy and natural motion of the hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further description of exemplary embodiments of the invention is provided herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand in a relaxed or at rest position, with the hand shown wearing a glove according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hand and glove of FIG. 1, shown with the hand in a clenched position;

FIG. 3 is a planar view of the tranks for forming the glove;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a piece of material showing an arrangement from which the glove tranks of FIG. 3 are adapted to be cut; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a trank for constructing a glove according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a glove-covered hand, in this case a left hand, in its natural relaxed or at rest position, or in an initial position prepared for effecting a grip. The four three-knuckled fingers of the hand (the fore finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger) are bent, so as to form a'gently claw-like configuration which extends from the metacarpus, and with the thumb being also somewhat bent. Commencing from the position shown in FIG. 1, the fingers are movable in the direction of the arrow A towards a mutually spaced position which is generally coplanar with the metacarpus, or in the direction of the arrow B into a clenched and maximum crooked or bent position. The same hand is shown in FIG. 2 with the fingers bent in the direction of the arrow B to a degree in which the hand is gently clenched, in effect, the fingers are in a position somewhere intermediate the initial position and the maximum clenched position. In FIG. 2 there is shown an imaginary center line C extending longitudinally through the metacarpus of the hand, and an imaginary line D in the plane of motion of the ring finger. It may be readily seen that the lines form an acute angle with each other.

The glove illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a rear portion 1, and a palm portion generally 2 which is joined with the rear portion to form the glove. The rear portion consists of two parts, namely a metacarpuscovering rear portion 3, and finger compartments or stalls 4. The glove simultaneously includes a thumb top portion 5. The joining of the parts or elements forming the glove is suitably effected by means of needle work such as for example, a straight seam, even though other joining methods are possible.

Before going into a more detailed description, it is noted that the term metacarpus-covering portion is in this context to be understood to define the part of the glove which extends substantially from the inner knuckles of the three-knuckled fingers to the wrist of the hand, even though this glove portion may upon occasion also extend more or less up along the fore-arm while, for specific purposes, holes or cutouts may be provided in the metacarpus-covering glove portion. Extension pieces may also be added to the metacarpuscovering glove portion. The palm portion of the glove adapted to cover the metacarpus may, in a similar way, also be extended.

Reference is now had to FIG. 3 from which it is seen that a trank forming the palm portion 2 includes six sections, namely, a metacarpus-covering section 6, a thumb section 7, a fore finger section 8, a middle finger section 9, a ring finger section 10, and a little finger section 11. The finger sections 8-11 collectively form a glove finger unit 12. A numeral 13 indicates an outer edge of section 6 which is directed at an angle away from the thumb section 7, the imaginary center line C extending along the palm portion 2 being substantially parallel to the edge 13.

According to a primary aspect of the invention, the finger sections 8-11 of the trank in the unfolded state, extend obliquely or at an angle relative to the center line C or the edge 13 of section 6, the edge 13 being coextensive with the outer edge of the little finger section 11. The fingers sections of the glove consequently are adapted to follow the same trajectories of motion or planes as the fingers of the hand.

It has been established that a suitable angle 7 between the center line C, or the edge 13, and the longitudinal direction of each of the finger sections should lie within the range l040 and preferentially 2030.

Slits 14 separating each separate finger section terminate at different distances from a theoretical straight line extending transversely across the section 6. More precisely, the slits l4 terminate in a manner in whichthe bottom ends thereof jointly form a curved line in conformance with the positioning of the innermost finger knuckles which are to be covered by the glove.

A theoretical center line through the thumb section 7 forms, according to a particular feature of the invention, an obtuse angle with imaginary center lines along the finger sections 8-11. The obtuse angle preferably lies in the range of l50-l70.

Bending or swinging of the thumb section 7 is effected along the dotted line E, which extends from the bottom of a wedge-shaped cutout 15 to the termination of the thumb section just above an edge 26 of section 6.

Even though it is possible to join the palm portion 2 shown in FIG. 3 of several pieces of material, it is, as illustrated in the drawing, convenient to cut the complete glove palm portion, i.e., the section 6, the thumb section 7 and the finger unit 12, out of a single piece. Seams or adjoints in the palm portion which are irritating and which reduce the sensitivity of the hand are avoided in this manner.

Reference is now had to the tranks defining the finger portion 4 of the glove rear portion 1. This finger portion 4 consists, in the illustrated embodiment, of four single, in the finished condition of the glove, mutually joined finger sections or pieces of material 17, 18, 19, and 20 which are intended for use in forming compartments for the fore finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger, respectively. The fore finger and the long finger sections 17 and 18 are shown sewn together in FIG. 3, as well as the ring finger and the little finger sections. Each finger section 17 to 20, as

clearly appears from the drawing, is wider than the complementary finger sections 8-11 of the palm portion 2. The widths of the fingers are indicated by lines 21 in each finger section. The areas of the finger sections lying outside the dot-and-dash lines 21 will, when the glove is sewn together form the side sections of the fingers and thus provide. that the fingers of the glove obtain sufiicient compartment space when the glove tranks portions are sewn together.

When the glove is shaped, the end edges 22 of the finger sections are sewn together with the curved joining edge 23 of the section 3 of the rear portion.

If the finger sections 17 to 20 are each made of a nominal length equivalent to or corresponding with the lengths of the finger sections 8 to 11 of the palm portion, then thefinger stalls of the completed glove will extend in the same plane as the metacarpus, provided that the portion 3 is fixedin a predetermined manner to the palm portion 2. The glove would then be flat .or planar. This, however, is not desirable in the invention, which pursuant to a particular feature assumes that the finger sections 17 to 20 are made longer than the nominal finger length. The glove hereby is provided with finger sections which, in an initial or unstrained state, are bent relative to the metacarpus-covering portion of the glove, and thus correlated with the shape of fingers of a hand. In this instance, this may be a question in making all the finger sections longer than the nominal finger length, whereby all of the fingers of the glove are bent. Gloves of this kind find a use when all of the fingers of the hand are to be bent, i.e., around elongated objects like icehockey sticks, handles of a different kind, rods or the like. It may, however, be a question in making only one or a small number of the finger pieces longer than the nominal length. Accordingly, not all of the fingers of the glove are hereby bent. Examples of gloves, in whichone or several fingers of the glove are bent in the beginning while one or more remain straight, are working gloves of different kinds where the fingers of the hand function in a different manner. In this instance the hand repeatedly grips a work piece which is shaped in away wherein the fore finger and the long finger lie straight against one side of the work piece, while the ringfinger and the little finger are bent around a detail of the work piece.

The degree of initial bending of the fingers of the glove may, according to the invention, be varied by increasing or decreasing the extension of the finger sections vl7 to 20 beyond their nominal length. If the gloves, for example, are intended to be used in connection with firm grips, e.g., when the hand is clenched to a maximum, the finger sections 17 to 20 are made to a maximum length, while the finger sections are made somewhat shorter if a lighter grip is to be made possible. The length of the finger sections should, with regard to normal gloves for every day use, be adapted in such a way that the fingers of the glove achieve the same degree of bending. as the fingers of the hand would assume in the relaxed orat rest position or the initial position shown in FIG. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment the finger sections 17 to 20 are cut separately and then joined together to a finger portion 4 by means of needle work. This is advantageous from a calculated technical point of view,

as will appear from the description in connection with- FIG. 4. Nevertheless, it is however possible per se to cut the finger pieces in a different way, e.g., by cutting the fingers pieces two by two. It is even possible, even thoughfrom the calculated technical point of view is impractical, to cut all the four finger sections 17 to 20 in one single piece.

section 7 of the palm portion 2. The characteristic of the thumb portion 5 is that the first and secondedges and 27, respectively, mutually form an acute angle, and preferably an angle of 2040.

The thumb portion 5 includes a shoulder-like, generally triangularly-shaped projection 28 having two edges 29 and 30 similar to the short legs of a triangle, of i i which the one edge 29 extends across or perpendicular towardsthe previously mentioned first edge 25. This edge 29 is adapted to be joined to an edge 31 of a wedge formed cutout 15 in the palm portion 2, the cutout 15 being proximate to the thumb section 7.

As clearly appears from FIG. 1, one end (the end ad- 20 jacent the edge 29) of the first edge 25 of the thumb As appears from FIG. 3, the finger-sections 17 to 20 include small notches or cutouts 24. These cutouts will, when the glove is sewn together, be present at points of intersection in which the mutual joints between the separate finger sections meet the joints between the rear finger sections and the finger sections 8 to 11 of the palm portion. The sewing is facilitated by means of the cutouts, and will prevent creases or wrinkles forming in the material at the bottoms of the slits between the separate finger sectionsof the glove.

top portion is arranged at a distance from the joint 32' between the finger portion 4 of the rear portion and the portion 3. This distance determines, in addition to the finger sections of the palm-portion 2, also the correct position for the thumb of the glove. Reference is now had to FIG. 4 which illustrates the calculation for locating the tranks on a piece of material for forming the previously described glove. The different glove blank portions, as appear from the figure and which form a part of the glove, are cut from an extremely small piece of material by suitable positioning of the different blank portions. The fact that this advantageous fitting can be carried out is, above all, a result of the advantage that the finger section 17 to-20 which form the finger portions 4, may beseparately cut.

The joining of the different components to form the glove illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is performed in the following manner: The separate finger sections 17 to 20 are, in a first step, sewed together through the seams 33, effecting the formation of the finger stalls 4. The finger stalls 4 are firmly sewed, in a second step, at the metacarpus-covering portion 3, with the edges 22 lying against the edge 23. Along the joining edge 23 of the portion 3, it must be observed that an incision 34 determines the position of the finger sections. The 'thumb' top portion 5 is firmly sewed to the palm portion 2, in a-third step. Finally, the palm portion2, which includes the thumb top portion 5, is sewn together with the rear portion 1, consisting of the finger stalls 4 and the portion 3.

An alternative embodiment of a glove, or more precisely a glove trank therefore, according to the invention, is shown in FIG. 5; In this embodiment the palm portion 2 and the rear portion 3 of the glove are-integrally cut.

The advantages of the inventive glove are manifold. The glove is adapted to the functional anatomy of the hand, thereby allowing the glove to offer the knuckles of the hand and the fingers freedom in effecting its natural anatomical trajectories of motion. and'load. Furthermore achieved by the structural and functional adaptation of the glove to the hand is a durable and crease-free palm surface, thereby eliminating that source of pressure on the hand tending to restrict the circulation of blood.

It may be ascertained that the invention is not restricted to only the embodiments described and shown in the drawings. Thus, for example, it is possible to make a glove which does not have one finger stall for each and every one of the fingers of the hand, but which includes finger stalls or compartments adapted to accommodate two or more fingers. Furthermore, the glove may, due to functional or esthetic reasons, be modified in various ways, such as by extending the glove upwardly along the fore arm in different lengths, or by forming holes or cut outs at various locations in the glove. The glove may also be provided with protectors or inserts of different kinds. It is thus possible to make several modifications of the glove within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

l. A glove structure comprising a palm portion including a thumb section and a plurality of front finger sections extending therefrom, said finger sections defining, respectively, fore finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger sections, an outer side edge on said little finger section, a side edge on said palm portion forming an extension of the outer side edge of said little finger section and being angled away from the thumb section of said glove structure, said finger sections each subtending a predetermined acute angle relative to the side edge of said palm portion; a rear portion adapted to cover the metacarpus of a hand, said rear portion having a side edge; finger rear sections for forming stalls with said finger sections; and a thumb top portion fastened to said thumb section for forming a thumb stall, said thumb top portion having a first edge joined to said side edge of said rear portion and a second longitudinally extending edge joined to said thumb section, said first and second edges extending at an acute angle to each other.

2. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said acute angle between said finger sections and the side edge of said palm portion being in the range of 10 to 40.

3. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said thumb section of said palm portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to said finger sections.

4. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said palm portion and said finger sections being of an integral single-piece structure.

5. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said finger rear sections being provided for, respectively, the fore finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of a hand; said rear portion and said finger rear sections being fastened together along a joining edge; at least some of said finger rear sections being extended relative to the respective finger sections associated therewith, said extended finger rear section upon being joined to a respective one of said finger sections forming a stall adapted to strainlessly bend relative to the palm portion in conformance with the motion of a finger in said stall.

6. A glove structure asv claimed in claim 1, each said finger rear section having a length greater than the front finger section associated therewith for forming a stall.

7. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising cutouts formed in said finger rear sections in at least the points of intersection between adjacent of said finger rear sections and said front finger sections upon joining thereof to form said glove.

8. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said acute angle between said first and second edges being in the range of 20 to 40.

9. A glove structure as claimed in claim I, said thumb top portion having a generally triangular shoulder portion projecting therefrom having two edges forming the short sides of a triangle, a cutout formed in said palm portion, one said edge extending across the first edge of said thumb portion and being joined with an edge of said cutout in said palm portion proximate said thumb section upon joining thereof to form said glove structure.

10. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said first edge of the thumb top portion being spaced from the juncture between the stalls and the glove rear portion.

Claims (10)

1. A glove structure comprising a palm portion including a thumb section and a plurality of front finger sections extending therefrom, said finger sections defining, respectively, fore finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger sections, an outer side edge on said little finger section, a side edge on said palm portion forming an extension of the outer side edge of said little finger section and being angled away from the thumb section of said glove structure, said finger sections each subtending a predetermined acute angle relative to the side edge of said palm portion; a rear portion adapted to cover the metacarpus of a hand, said rear portion having a side edge; finger rear sections for forming stalls with said finger sections; and a thumb top portion fastened to said thumb section for forming a thumb stall, said thumb top portion having a first edge joined to said side edge of said rear portion and a second longitudinally extending edge joined to said thumb section, said first and second edges extending at an acute angle to each other.

2. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said acute angle between said finger sections and the side edge of said palm portion being in the range of 10* to 40* .

3. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said thumb section of said palm portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to said finger sections.

4. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said palm portion and said finger sections being of an integral single-piece structure.

5. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said finger rear sections being provided for, respectively, the fore finger, middle finGer, ring finger and little finger of a hand; said rear portion and said finger rear sections being fastened together along a joining edge; at least some of said finger rear sections being extended relative to the respective finger sections associated therewith, said extended finger rear section upon being joined to a respective one of said finger sections forming a stall adapted to strainlessly bend relative to the palm portion in conformance with the motion of a finger in said stall.

6. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, each said finger rear section having a length greater than the front finger section associated therewith for forming a stall.

7. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising cutouts formed in said finger rear sections in at least the points of intersection between adjacent of said finger rear sections and said front finger sections upon joining thereof to form said glove.

8. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said acute angle between said first and second edges being in the range of 20* to 40* .

9. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said thumb top portion having a generally triangular shoulder portion projecting therefrom having two edges forming the short sides of a triangle, a cutout formed in said palm portion, one said edge extending across the first edge of said thumb portion and being joined with an edge of said cutout in said palm portion proximate said thumb section upon joining thereof to form said glove structure.

10. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said first edge of the thumb top portion being spaced from the juncture between the stalls and the glove rear portion.

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