Asymmetrical protective sporting gloves

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6233744
  • Patent Number
    6,233,744
  • Date Filed
    Monday, October 25, 1999
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 22, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Calvert; John J.
    • Moran; Katherine
    Agents
    • Ratner & Prestia
Abstract
A pair of protective sporting gloves which includes a first glove and a second glove. The first glove has a preformed structure. The second glove has a different structure formed and angulated to define a shape adapted to the natural position taken by a hand holding the intermediate portion of a sport stick.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to the field of protective equipment for use in sporting activities. More particularly, the invention relates to a pair of gloves with a first glove having a shape and profile adapted to the natural position taken by a hand holding the extremity of a stick, and a second glove having a different shape adapted to the natural position taken by the other hand holding the intermediate portion of a stick.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




For the past few years, protective equipment manufacturers have attempted to design hockey gloves that offer a lower resistance to the natural movement to which the hand is subject when handling a hockey stick.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,147 discloses a hockey glove which has a hand portion and a cuff portion joined together by a stretchable connecting portion. A protective strap-pad overlies the connecting portion to protect the player's wrist.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,243 discloses a hockey glove which has a cuff portion having a waist portion, such waist portion connects the cuff portion to a grip portion. A floating padded band covers the waist portion to protect the player's wrist.




While the gloves described in these patents may provide a certain amount of flexibility in the wrist area, they require a floating protective band to protect the flexible portion. By doing so, there are some areas near the edge of the hand portion and the cuff portion which are exposed to impact while the hand is bent.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,739 discloses a hockey glove which has a wrist protection section comprising an outer cuff portion structure and pads defining an inner band which is adjustable inside such outer cuff portion. Thus, the inner band may be adjustable in order that the glove is maintained around the wrist more or less firmly according to the player's wish.




While this glove may offer a certain amount of flexibility of the wrist when the player bends his hand downward, it still limits the freedom of movement of the hand when the player bends his hand back.




In prior art gloves, there is no distinction between a right hand and a left hand glove. The design of prior art gloves is thus not based on the differences that exist between the natural position taken by the hand holding the extremity of a hockey stick and the natural position of the other hand. However, these two positions are generally substantially different.




Therefore, there is a need in the industry to provide a pair of sporting gloves that is better adapted to the different positions of each hand holding a sport stick, for instance a hockey stick.




OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the invention to provide a pair of sporting gloves that is better adapted to the natural position of each hand when holding a stick in a standard playing condition.




It is another object of the invention to provide a pair of sporting gloves with protective elements provided only where necessary.




It is another object of the invention to provide a pair of sporting gloves particularly adapted to a right shooter or a left shooter.




The invention seeks to provide a protective sport glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the proximal end portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.




Such a glove provides enhanced comfort and ergonomics. These advantages bring some improvement in the player's performance. The glove also provides better control of the stick and so of the puck.




Preferably, the wrist receiving portion and the hand receiving portion are connected together, so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis (H—H), which projects from the metacarpus portion of the hand receiving portion and which is substantially parallel to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion, and a substantially central and longitudinal axis (A—A) of the wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle X, said angle being measured in a plane substantially corresponding to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion. Advantageously, the angle is between 100 and 175 degrees and preferably between 120 and 160 degrees.




The glove is advantageously arranged so that the axis H—H substantially corresponds to the central and longitudinal axis H′—H′ of the metacarpus portion of a wearer's hand and said axis A—A substantially corresponds to central and longitudinal axis A′—A′ of said wearer's arm, said arm being adapted to wear said glove. The gloves are therefore designed accordingly and they correspond to the position adopted by the player during most of the playing time.




According to a variant of the protective glove, the wrist receiving portion and the hand receiving portion are connected together so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis H—H of the hand receiving portion and a substantially central and longitudinal axis A—A of the wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle Y. Said angle is measured in a plane corresponding substantially to the plane defined by the pivoting movement of the hand on a wrist pivoting axis W—W of said glove.




The glove is also preferably provided with protective pad elements that protect the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion and/or that protect the dorsal portion of said wrist receiving portion. The protective elements are thus provided where protection is really needed, and are suppressed from the areas where protection is less important, when considering the hand position. This results in weight efficient gloves.




Advantageously, the glove also comprises at least one flexion zone. This further improves comfort and ergonomics.




In another aspect, the invention also provides a protective sport glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the intermediate portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.




For a right shooter, as illustrated in

FIG. 1

, the right hand corresponds to the distal hand, holding the intermediate portion of the stick, and the left hand corresponds to the proximal hand, holding the free end portion of the stick.




For a left shooter, the left hand corresponds to the distal hand, holding the intermediate portion of the stick, and the right hand corresponds to the proximal hand, holding the free end portion of the stick.




Preferably, the protective sport glove further comprises protective pad elements that protect the inner portion of said wrist receiving portion and/or a ventilation zone provided in the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion. The protective elements are thus provided where protection is really needed, and can be suppressed from the areas where protection is less important when considering the hand position. This results in weight efficient gloves.




In a variant, the glove also comprises at least one flexion zone.




In another aspect, the invention also provides a pair of hockey gloves, for a hockey player, comprising a first glove for holding the extremity of a hockey stick, a second glove for holding the intermediate portion of said hockey stick, wherein said gloves are of different shape to better adapt to the different holding position with respect to the hockey stick.




In a further aspect, the invention also provides a pair of protective sport gloves, said pair comprising a first glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the proximal end portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position and a second glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the intermediate portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.




The pair of gloves is thus customized so that a right shooter uses a specific pair of gloves and the left shooter wears a different pair of gloves, the proximal and distal hands being opposite.




The gloves according to the invention are advantageously suited for hockey, and in particular for forwards and defensemen.




According to the invention, the generally standard playing position corresponds to the position of a hockey player holding a hockey stick, with a first hand holding the free end portion of said stick and the second hand holding the intermediate portion of said stick. Such a position is illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

.




In a variant, the specific shape of the glove is provided, in particular, in using a set of sheaths-formed and angulated to define said shape.




In another variant, the specific shape is provided, in particular, with the protective pad elements which are formed and angulated to define said shape.




In a further variant, the specific shape is provided, in particular, with inserts which are formed and angulated to define said shape.




In a further variant, the specific shape is provided, in particular, with specific portions of the sheaths that are stiffened so that the glove is formed and angulated to define said shape.




Other features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specification and to the drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




A detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is provided herein with reference to the following drawings, wherein:





FIGS. 1

,


2




a,




2




b,




3




a,




3




b


and


3




c


are perspective views illustrating the natural position of the hands and forearms of a player holding a hockey stick;





FIGS. 4



a


and


4




b


are perspective views of a left hand prior art glove worn by a right shooter wherein the natural position of the hand is shown in dotted line;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a pair of gloves designed in accordance with the invention for a right shooter;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a right hand glove designed in accordance with the invention and for a right shooter;





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a left hand glove designed in accordance with a variant for a right shooter; and





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of a right hand glove designed in accordance with the invention for a right shooter.




In the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT





FIGS. 1

,


2




a,




2




b,




3




a,




3




b


and


3




c


illustrate the natural position of hands


10


R and


10


L and forearms


12


R and


12


L of a right shooter holding a sport stick


16


, wherein flexion of wrists


14


R and


14


L is required. The letters R and L designate the right and left hands respectively.




It is understood that the word “player” includes, but it is not confined to, ice hockey player, field hockey player, roller hockey player and lacrosse player, and the expression “sport stick” includes, but it is not confined to, ice hockey stick, field hockey stick, roller hockey stick and lacrosse stick. Such sport stick includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a blade or a crosse is provided. Such sport stick may be made of wood, aluminum, composite, graphite or the like.




While playing hockey (or lacrosse), as the right hand


10


R moves along the sport stick


16


, the forearm


12


R forms different angles with respect to the sport stick


16


. Such angles vary depending on the position of the hand


10


R on the stick


16


: the nearer the hand


10


R to the hand


10


L, the more important the angle α between the hand


10


R and the sport stick


16


. The position of the hand


10


R may thus vary between a first position, indicated with the letter F, and a second position, indicated with the letter S (see

FIGS. 1

,


2




a,




2




b,




3




a


and


3




b


).




At the same time, the left hand


10


L and the forearm


12


L generally remain in the same position, wherein axis A′—A′, defined by the longitudinal axis of the forehand, and axis H′—H′, defined by the longitudinal axis of the hand namely the metacarpus portion of the hand, form an angle indicated with the letter X (

FIG. 3



a


). Thus, the hand


10


L and the wrist


14


L define a natural position indicated with the letter N. Other angles may be formed between the hand and the arm or the fingers and the arm or hand, as described hereinafter. For example, the angle Y may be formed between the two planes adjacent to the wrist axis W′—W′ (

FIG. 3



c


).





FIGS. 4



a


and


4




b


illustrate a prior art glove


18


worn by a right hand hockey player. The prior art glove usually comprises a hand receiving portion


20


and a wrist receiving portion


22


. The wrist portion


22


comprises a protective pad


24


and a cuff portion


26


. The hand portion


20


comprises a plurality of protective paddings


28


that protect the dorsal area of the metacarpus.




Even if the prior art glove


18


sometimes includes a flexion zone


30


located between two protective paddings


28


and flexion zone


32


located between the protective pad


24


and the protective padding


28


(or between the hand portion


20


and the cuff portion


26


), the prior art glove


18


does not have a preformed shape adapted to the natural position taken by the wrist and the metacarpus of the hand holding the extremity of the sport stick


16


. Indeed, as shown in

FIGS. 4



a


and


4




b,


the prior art glove


18


forces the player's hand into the position indicated with the letter P, while the natural position of the player's hand is shown in a dotted line and indicated with the letter N. Therefore, the player who wears the prior art glove


18


has to provide a constant effort in order to maintain the prior art glove


18


in the natural position N, wherein the hand and the wrist define the angle X and/or Y.





FIG. 5

illustrates a pair of gloves constructed in accordance with the invention. The left hand glove that receives and encloses the hand holding the extremity of the sport stick


16


is designated by the reference number


40


and the right hand glove is designated by the reference number


42


.




The left hand glove


40


comprises a hand receiving portion


44


and a wrist receiving portion


46


. The hand receiving portion


44


comprises four finger sheaths


48


,


50


,


52


and


54


adapted to enclose the index finger, middle finger, third finger and little finger of the player, and a thumb sheath


58


adapted to enclose the thumb. The thumb sheath is preferably provided with protective pad elements


60


and


62


. Advantageously, an elongated lateral protective element


56


adjacent to the index finger extends generally from the base of the index finger to approximately the beginning of the distal phalanx of the index finger.




The hand receiving portion


44


advantageously comprises a dorsal-metacarpus protective structure


65


to protect the dorsal area of the metacarpus, i.e. that part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers.




The glove of the invention may be manufactured in a traditional or non-traditional way to provide a shape, when the glove is at rest, substantially corresponding to the natural position N of the proximal hand, i.e. the hand that holds the extremity of a sport stick in normal play conditions, as illustrated in

FIG. 1

, for a right shooter.




For instance, the material or liner used to cover the hand and fingers may be cut and assembled so that its general shape corresponds to the above mentioned N position when at rest. Of course, the material is preferably flexible so that the player can modify the shape by exerting a given force with his fingers and/or hand. Appropriate protective padding is then provided, preferably with flexion zones, to protect the hand and forearm, while simultaneously, providing some flexibility to enable the player to temporarily move his hand and/or hold his stick in a different position.




Alternatively, the material or liner may be cut and assembled to get a traditional shape. The natural N shape is obtained in providing the material or liner with preformed elements, such as protective padding elements, forming elements, inserts, stiffened portions, or the like.




Advantageously, these elements are either substantially flexible or provided with flexion zones, to enable the player to temporarily modify the shape of the glove by exerting a given force with his fingers and/or his hand. Without such a force, or when at rest, the glove tends to recover the natural N shape.




The wrist portion


46


preferably comprises a dorsal-wrist protective structure


67


, to protect the dorsal area of the wrist, and an inner wrist protective pad


66


.




The dorsal-metacarpus protective structure


65


and the dorsal-wrist protective structure


67


could be integrally formed and angulated to define a protective structure


64


having a shape adapted to the natural position N taken by a hand holding the proximal end of the sport stick


16


. Indeed, as indicated above and shown in

FIGS. 3



a,




3




b


and


3




c,


the hand holding the proximal end of the sport stick


16


adopts its natural position while the angle X and eventually Y are formed between the axis A—A and H—H. Preferably, when protective structure


64


is provided, its shape substantially corresponds to the natural position N.




Referring now to

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the right hand glove


42


comprises a hand receiving portion


68


and a wrist receiving portion


70


. The hand receiving portion


68


comprises four finger sheaths


72


,


74


,


76


and


78


adapted to enclose the index finger, middle finger, third finger and little finger of the player, and a thumb sheath


80


adapted to enclose the thumb and having protective pad segments


82


and


84


.




The hand receiving portion


68


may comprise a dorsal-metacarpus protective structure


86


. The dorsal-metacarpus protective structure


86


comprises a plurality of protecting pad elements


88


,


90


, and


92


separated by flexion zones


94


and


96


that facilitate the natural movements of the right hand as illustrated in FIG.


1


. Indeed, the flexion zones


94


and


96


allow flexion and lateral movements of the right hand. While the right hand glove


42


is described as having three protective pads


88


,


90


and


92


and two flexion zones


94


and


96


, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that a variety of other patterns of protective pads/flexion zones may be used.




The wrist portion


70


comprises a cuff protector


98


that surrounds the player's wrist. The cuff protector


98


may comprise an external protector


100


, made of plastic, for instance, and sewn to the cuff protector


98


. The external protector


100


offers an additional protection for the inner area of the wrist.




Thus, as described above and illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the left hand glove


40


and the right hand glove


42


have different protective structures, each protective structure being adapted to accommodate the natural position of each hand when the player is holding the sport stick


16


. For instance, the rear portion of the distal hand


42


, generally less subject to hits, may comprise portions without protective pads or with a ventilation zone, to provide enhanced comfort and to minimize weight.





FIG. 7

illustrates a left hand glove


40


designed in accordance with a variant, wherein the glove is worn by a right shooter having his left hand holding the proximal extremity of the sport stick


16


. Elements identical or similar to those previously described are presented with the same reference numbers.




The left hand glove


40


comprises a hand receiving portion


44


and a wrist receiving portion


46


. The hand receiving portion


40


comprises four finger sheaths


48


,


50


,


52


and


54


adapted to enclose the index finger, middle finger, third finger and little finger of the player and a thumb sheath


58


adapted to enclose the thumb and having protective pad elements


126


and


128


. The pad element


128


may comprise an external protector


130


made of plastic, for example, and sewn to the pad segment


128


. Said external protector


130


offers an additional protection for the upper part of the thumb.




The hand receiving portion


44


and the wrist receiving portion


46


advantageously comprise protective pad elements


132


and


134


separated by a flexion zone


136


. The protective pads


132


and


134


cover and protect the dorsal area of the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers and the dorsal area of the wrist. The wrist receiving portion


46


also comprises a dorsal protective pad element


67


, protecting the dorsal area of the wrist, and an inner wrist protective pad


66


. The dorsal protective pad


67


is separated from the protective pads


132


,


134


by a flexion zone


142


.




The protective pads


132


,


134


and


67


are formed and angulated to define a protective structure having a shape adapted to the natural position taken by a hand holding the proximal end of the sport stick


16


, while a certain amount of flexibility is allowed. As indicated above and shown in

FIG. 1

, the hand holding the proximal end of the sport stick


16


adopts its natural position, wherein the angle X (and eventually Y) is formed between the hand and the wrist. Thus, the protective pads


132


,


134


and


67


define a shape which substantially follows the angle X (and eventually Y), with the flexion zones


136


and


142


allowing some flexibility.




While the left hand glove


40


of

FIG. 7

is described as having three protective pads


132


,


134


and


67


and two flexion zones


136


and


142


, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that a variety of other patterns of protective pads/flexion zones may be used to define a preformed flexible shape adapted to the natural position taken by the hand holding the proximal end of the sport stick


16


.




The above description of the preferred embodiment should not be interpreted in any limiting manner since variations and refinements are possible which remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A protective sport glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers wherein said wrist receiving portion and said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape essentially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the proximal end portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.
  • 2. A protective sport glove according to claim 1, wherein said wrist receiving portion and said hand receiving portion are connected together so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis H—H, which projects from the metacarpus portion of said hand receiving portion and which is substantially parallel to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion, and a substantially central and longitudinal axis A—A of said wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle X, said angle being measured in a plane substantially corresponding to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion.
  • 3. A protective sport glove according to claim 2, further comprising a wrist portion having a pivoting axis W—W and wherein said wrist receiving portion and said hand receiving portion are connected together so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis H—H of said hand receiving portion and a substantially central and longitudinal axis A—A of said wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle Y, said angle being measured in a plane substantially corresponding to the plane defined by the pivoting movement of the hand on the pivoting axis W—W of the wrist portion of said glove.
  • 4. A protective sport glove according to claim 2, wherein said angle is between 100 and 175 degrees and preferably between 120 and 160 degrees.
  • 5. A protective sport glove according to claim 3, wherein said axis W—W substantially corresponds to a wrist pivoting axis W′—W′ of a wearer's hand.
  • 6. A protective sport glove according to claim 4, further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said hand receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said protective pad elements protecting the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion.
  • 7. A protective sport glove according to claim 4, further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said wrist receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said protective pad elements protecting the dorsal portion of said wrist receiving portion.
  • 8. A protective sport glove according to claim 4, further comprising at least one flexion zone.
  • 9. A protecting sport glove according to claim 2, wherein said axis H—H corresponds to substantially central and longitudinal axis H′—H′ of the metacarpus portion of a wearer's hand and said axis A—A corresponds to substantially central and longitudinal axis A′—A′ of the wearer's arm, the arm being adapted to wear said glove.
  • 10. A protective sport glove according to claim 9, further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said hand receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said protective pad elements protecting the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion.
  • 11. A protective sport glove according to claim 9, further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said wrist receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said protective pad elements protecting the dorsal portion of said wrist receiving portion.
  • 12. A protective sport glove according to claim 9, further comprising at least one flexion zone.
  • 13. A protective sport glove according to claim 3, further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said hand receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said protective pad elements protecting the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion.
  • 14. A protective sport glove according to claim 3, further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said wrist receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said protective pad elements protecting the dorsal portion of said wrist receiving portion.
  • 15. A protective sport glove according to claim 3, further comprising at least one flexion zone.
  • 16. A protective sport glove according to claim 1, wherein said protective sport glove is a hockey glove, said sport stick is a hockey stick, and said generally standard playing position corresponds to the position of a hockey player holding the hockey stick with a first hand holding the free end portion of the stick and the second hand holding the intermediate portion of the stick.
  • 17. A protective sport glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers wherein said wrist receiving portion and said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape essentially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the intermediate portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.
  • 18. A protective sport glove according to claim 17, further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said wrist receiving portion has an inner portion, said protective pad elements protecting the inner portion of said wrist receiving portion.
  • 19. A protective sport glove according to claim 18, further comprising at least one flexion zone.
  • 20. A protective sport glove according to claim 17, further comprising a ventilation zone and wherein said hand receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said ventilation zone provided in the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion.
  • 21. A pair of protective sport gloves, said pair including:(a) a first glove having a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the proximal end portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position; and (b) a second glove having a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the intermediate portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.
  • 22. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 21, wherein said sport is hockey and said generally standard playing position corresponds to the position of a hockey player holding a hockey stick with a first hand holding the free end portion of said stick and the second hand holding the intermediate portion of said stick.
  • 23. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 22, wherein said wrist receiving portion and said hand receiving portion of said first glove are connected together so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis H—H, which projects from the metacarpus portion of said hand receiving portion and which is substantially parallel to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion, and a substantially central and longitudinal axis A—A of said wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle X, said angle being measured in a plane substantially corresponding to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion.
  • 24. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 23, wherein said angle is between 100 and 175 degrees and preferably between 120 and 160 degrees.
  • 25. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 23, wherein said axis H—H corresponds to substantially central and longitudinal axis H′—H′ of the metacarpus portion of a wearer's hand and said axis A—A corresponds to substantially central and longitudinal axis A′—A′ of the wearer's arm, the arm being adapted to wear said glove.
  • 26. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 23, wherein said wrist receiving portion, having a pivoting axis W—W, and said hand receiving portion of said first glove are connected together so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis H—H of said hand receiving portion and a substantially central and longitudinal axis A—A of said wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle Y, said angle being measured in a plane substantially corresponding to the plane defined by the pivoting movement of the hand on the pivoting axis W—W of the wrist receiving portion of said glove.
  • 27. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 26, wherein said axis W—W substantially corresponds to a wrist pivoting axis W′—W′ of a wearer's hand.
  • 28. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 23, wherein said set of sheaths is formed and angulated to define said shape.
  • 29. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 23, wherein specific portions of the sheaths are stiffened so that the glove is formed and angulated to define said shape.
  • 30. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 23, further comprising inserts formed and angulated to define said shape.
  • 31. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 23, further comprising protective pad elements formed and angulated to define said shape.
  • 32. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 21, wherein said second glove further comprising protective pad elements and wherein said wrist receiving portion has an inner portion, said protective pad elements protecting the inner portion of said wrist receiving portion.
  • 33. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 21, wherein said second glove further comprising a ventilation zone and wherein said hand receiving portion has a dorsal portion, said ventilation zone provided in the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion.
  • 34. A pair of protective sport gloves according to claim 33, wherein said first and second gloves each comprise at least one flexion zone.
Parent Case Info

This application is a continuation of PCT/CA98/00158, filed Feb. 25, 1998.

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5983396 Morrow et al. Nov 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
26 12 307 Sep 1977 DE
2 148 0940 May 1985 GB
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent PCT/CA98/00158 Feb 1998 US
Child 09/426018 US