WO1996017531A1

WO1996017531A1 - Safety glove

Info

Publication number: WO1996017531A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/002822
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael John Plumtre
Original assignee: Michael John Plumtre
Priority date: 1994-12-03
Filing date: 1995-12-03
Publication date: 1996-06-13
Also published as: GB2301274A; GB9616350D0; AU3989395A; GB9424458D0

Abstract

A workman's glove provides protection to the user's hand against impact, in that at least the fingertip portions (13, 14) of the glove are reinforced with tubular elements (17) of a crush-resistant material.

Description

Safety Glove

The present invention relates to a safety glove. Safety gloves which comprise thick layers of rubber or inert polymer material are known for use in the handling of hazardous fluids. Safety gloves which have been treated with flame retardant substances for use in situations where fire or a risk of fire is present are also known. However, known gloves do not provide effective resistance to impact or to cutting by a blade.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide safety gloves which minimise or prevent crushing or other damage to the wearer's fingers, and to protect against cuts.

According to the invention, a workman's glove is provided in which at least the fingertip portions thereof are reinforced with a crush resistant material.

Preferably all of the fingertip portions of the glove are reinforced in this manner: preferably the thumb tip is similarly reinforced.

The crush resistant material is preferably a metal, for example steel or other alloy, or a plastics or fibre reinforced plastics material, preferably as an inner reinforcing element.

The reinforced portion may cover the whole or at least a major part of the user's digit provided that suitable articulation is included in the region of the joints, although for most purposes it will be sufficient for just the fingertips to be protected approximately as far as the first joint.

The crush resistant material may be provided as a strip which extends along each side of the user's digit and lies between adjacent digits, the strip sitting proud of both the dorsal and ventral surfaces of each digit. Preferably, however, the crush resistant material is in the form of a tubular element inserted into at least the fingertip portions of the glove. The tubular element may be open-ended to retain normal touch sensitivity, or blind-ended to afford greater protection to the wearer, the blind end is preferably hemi¬ spherical to follow the natural contours of the fingertip. Where the reinforced portion is arranged to extend over one or more joints of the user's digits it may comprise a series of rings.

The crush resistant material may simply be inserted into the fingertip stalls of a glove and held in place by friction, tension or glue. More preferably, the crush resistant material is held in its own casement in the finger stall, thereby preventing slippage of the material and affording a greater degree of comfort to the wearer. In particular, the glove may comprise an inner lining dispose within an outer glove, with elements or pieces of crush- resistant or protective material disposed between the liner and the outer glove.

The material of the glove itself is preferably of conventional type and may be, for example, leather, fabric or rubber. Where the gloves are made of rubber or polymer material, the crush resistant material may be co-moulded therewith.

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

FIGURE 1 is a view of a glove in accordance with the invention as worn on the hand, the glove being shown partly cut-away to reveal details of construction; FIGURE 2 is a view of the glove of Figure 1 from the back of the hand, the glove again being shown cut away;

FIGURE : is a view, corresponding to Figure 1, of a second embodiment of glove in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 , of the glove shown in Figure 3 ;

FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, of a third embodiment of glove in accordance with the invention; and FIGURE 6 is a view, corresponding to Figure 2, of the glove of Figure 5. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a workman's glove having a hand portion 11, a resilient wrist band 12, finger portions 13 and a thumb portion 15. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 3, the glove comprises an inner glove or liner 15 received within an outer glove 16, the two being joined together around the wrist band 12. A tubular element 17 of crush-resistant material, and having a blind end, is fitted over the end of each of the finger and thumb portions of the inner glove or liner 15, and is positioned within the respective finger or thumb portion of the outer glove 16.

The glove shown in Figures 3 and 4 is generally similar to the glove shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that a protective element 18 is positioned over the back of the hand of the glove between the liner 15 and the outer glove 16. The protective element comprises a piece of sheet material, cut to shape.

The glove shown in Figures 5 and 6 is generally similar to the glove shown in Figures 3 and 4, except that protective elements 20 are positioned on each of the finger and thumb portions of the glove between the liner 15 and the outer glove 16. The protective elements 20 are cut to shape from sheet material and then bent to appropriate profile, to extend across the top or dorsal surface of each finger and the thumb and to extend around the opposite sides of the respective finger or thumb. The protective elements are positioned to lie between adjacent joints of the user's fingers and thumb.

It will be appreciated that in use of the above- described gloves, the protective elements 17 and 20 will protect the user's hand against impact, either resisting deformation altogether or deforming slightly, and so preventing the user's fingers being crushed. Likewise, the protective elements 17, 18 and 20 protect the user's hand from being cut by a blade.

Claims

1) A workman's glove, in which at least the fingertip portions thereof are reinforced with a crush-resistant material.

2) A glove as claimed in claim 1, in which a tubular element of said crush-resistant material is provided in each fingertip portion of the glove.

3) A glove as described in claim 2, in which each said tubular element is blind-ended.

4) A glove as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a protective element positioned over the back of the hand portion thereof.

5) A glove as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising protective elements positioned on each of the finger portions of the glove, to lie between adjacent joints of each finger of the user.

6) A glove as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a liner received within an outer glove, with said elements disposed between the liner and outer glove.