COMBAT SPORT GLOVE

Abstract

A combat sport glove comprising; a knuckle area (1) extending to a dorsal area (2), the dorsal area extending from the knuckle area to a wrist region (3); a support including a dorsal central support part (17) forming a part of the wrist region, a first dorsal side support part (14) in the wrist region; a second dorsal side support part (16) in the wrist region, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part extending from opposed sides of the dorsal central support part to a ventral area for surrounding at least a part of a wrist of a user when disposed within the glove, and wherein a portion of the dorsal central support part, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part extending into the ventral area extend downwards from the wrist region to a cuff region, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part each having a ventral portion, each ventral portion exhibiting a cut away profile which enables the glove, when tightened about the wrist of a user, to define a substantially frustoconical volume having a larger cross-sectional area at the bottom most part of the cuff region than a cross-sectional area at a region where the wrist region adjoins the dorsal area.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a combat sports glove intended to provide improved fit and function. More specifically, the invention relates to a combat sports glove having a cuff splint system with or without a wrist strap system.

It is well known that in combat sports protective gloves are desirable and worn to protect combatants from the worst injuries that can result from participating in such sports. Most gloves have a protective area around the hand and finger areas.

It is also important to provide support for the wrist region, particularly in boxing. In the past known boxing gloves have had some support around the wrist, but mostly in the form of padding and some means to secure the glove the to the hand and wrist of a wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art and provide improved support for the wrist of a wearer.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a combat sport glove comprising a knuckle area extending to a dorsal area, the dorsal area extending from the knuckle area to a wrist region; a support including a dorsal central support part forming a part of the wrist region, a first dorsal side support part in the wrist region; a second dorsal side support part in the wrist region, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part extending from opposed sides of the dorsal central support part to a ventral area for surrounding at least a part of a wrist of a user when disposed within the glove, and wherein a portion of the dorsal central support part, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part extending into the ventral area extend downwards from the wrist region to a cuff region, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part each having a ventral portion, each ventral portion exhibiting a cut away profile which enables the glove, when tightened about the wrist of a user, to define a substantially frustoconical volume having a larger cross-sectional area at the bottom most part of the cuff region than a cross-sectional area at a region where the wrist region adjoins the dorsal area.

Advantageously, the glove provides improved wrist support for a wearer resulting from the side support parts extending around the wrist from a dorsal region to a ventral area.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a glove further comprising a tongue, located in the ventral area and extending from a palm area to the cuff region.

An advantage of the tongue is that it provides additional support for the ventral area of the wrist of a wearer.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a glove in which the tongue has a central support part located thereon.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a glove in which the tongue further comprises a left side support part and a right side support part on each side of the central support part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a central support part on the tongue engages in a slideable relationship with the side support parts in the ventral area to enable the glove to be tightened around the wrist of a user.

Advantageously, the sliding arrangement between the tongue and the side support parts enables the glove to be tightened on the wrist of a wearer and provides enhanced support for the wrist.

According to another aspect of the present invention the glove further comprises at least one mounting loop associated with the dorsal central support part for mounting a fastening strap.

According to another aspect of the present invention the mounting loop further comprises a fastening strap secured to at least one mounting loop.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the side support part comprises a side support part extending from the dorsal central support part over the dorsal region/area towards the ventral area and adjoining a cuff side support part extending further to the ventral area, the cuff side support parts having cut away shapes to enable them to engage the tongue central support part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a glove is provided in which the cuff side support parts slide over tongue side support parts and engage with the tongue central support part as the glove is tightened.

Advantageously, the sliding arrangement enables the glove to be tightened around the wrist of a user and provides enhanced support because of the overlapping movement of the parts as the glove is tightened.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a combat sports glove having improved fit and function comprising a body having a dorsal portion, having a cuff splint system, a palm portion, a finger portion, and a wrist portion having an adjustable strap closure.

The back side of the cuff portion comprises a splint system that includes at least three individual support elements. The palm side of the cuff portion may or may not comprise a splint system that includes at least three individual support elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation view of a combat sport glove constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the glove;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the glove with a portion of the outer wrist tightening structure cut away to show the cuff support system;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the glove with a portion of the outer wrist tightening structure cut away to show the cuff support system;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a tongue piece fitted into a glove in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the tongue through lines A-A of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the glove without the tongue in place; and

FIG. 8 shows an exploded palm view of the cuff design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the back, or dorsal, side of the glove 100 constructed in accordance with the invention. The glove 100 has a knuckle area 1 provided with protective and padded material which extends around to a finger area 7 on a ventral side of the glove 100 (FIG. 2).

The padding surrounds an internal volume of glove 100 which encloses the fingers of a wearer of the glove 100 when disposed in glove 100. This padding or protective material can be any of the known forms of protective material, such as Latex or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) or Neoprene or other foam. Generally, the padding or protective material is covered with a soft outer covering of fine leather although any suitable fabric or other material can be used.

A rear, or dorsal area, 2, shown here without the soft outer covering of glove 100, extends over the back of the hand of a wearer towards a wrist region 40. A wrist area 3 lies over the wrist of a wearer, when in use. At an end of the wrist area 3 furthest from the knuckle region 1 there is a cuff area 5 for surrounding the wrist of a user when in use, and forming part of a wrist support system. In order to tighten and secure the glove to the wearer a wrist strap 4 extends from one side of the dorsal area 2 around the wrist passing over a ventral area to be secured on the other side of the wrist. The strap 4 can be of a known hook and loop material, such as a Velcro™ type fastener or similar. Alternatively, known laces can be used.

FIG. 2 shows a front, or ventral, elevation view of the glove. The knuckle area 1 extends around to a finger area 7 on a front facing part of the glove 100. This area is normally internally padded with soft protective material, such as Latex or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) or Neoprene or other foam as described above and covered with a soft outer protective layer, frequently made from soft leather. Built into the glove behind the finger area 7 is a grip bar 8. The body of the glove 100 extends downwards from knuckle region 1 towards the wrist region 40, and includes a palm area 9, palm area cuff sides 11 and a tongue 12. For exemplary orientation purposes only, the hand entry portion of glove 100 is referenced as a bottom, or down relative to knuckle region 1, which is at a top of glove 100. The body of the glove is secured to the wrist of the wearer by a wrist strap 4. The glove also includes a thumb portion 13.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the glove partially cut away to show a cuff support system 102. In the wrist region 40, behind the knuckle area 1 there is a wrist support system, comprising a dorsal left side support part 14, a dorsal right side support part 16 and a dorsal central support part 17. A space 15 is provided between the dorsal left side support 14, dorsal right side support 16 and dorsal central support 17.

Dorsal central support part 17 is provided with loops 25a, 25b for mounting and retaining the wrist strap 4 (FIG. 1). Respective dorsal side support parts 14 and 16, extend from part way over the respective sides of the dorsal portion of the wrist area 3 to part of the ventral portion of the wrist area 3 and assist in providing support for the user's wrist. Respective dorsal side supports 14, 16 each have on the dorsal part a curved shape to allow some movement and flexibility on the wrist of the wearer.

FIG. 4 shows a front, palm or ventral view of the glove 100 partially cut away to show the cuff support system 102. A cuff left side support part 18 extends from where cuff left side support part 18 adjoins the dorsal right side support part 16 around the wrist to present a surface that engages with tongue 12. Similarly, a cuff right side support part 20 extends from where cuff right side support part 20 adjoins the dorsal right side support part 14 around to the ventral part of the glove 100 to provide wrist support to the user. As can be seen from the figure, the cuff support parts 18, 20 extend to the ventral part of the glove, covering at least a part of the ventral region 60. The tongue 12 extends from the palm area 9, to which it is secured by means not shown, to the end of a cuff region 50. The cuff support parts 18, 20 have a cut away profile, extending less far into the ventral portion of the glove at the bottom most part of the wrist region 40 than at the ends of the cuff side support parts 18, 20 located near the palm area 9. The tongue 12 extends from the palm area rearwards to the cuff region. It is has a left side support part 19 and a right side support part 21 and a tongue central support part 22.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the tongue 12 in greater detail. The tongue 12 can be fitted into the glove 100 and will normally be stitched or secured to an internal surface of glove 100 around the palm area 9. The tongue 12 extends downwards towards the wrist region 40 providing additional protection, comfort and support for the wrist of the user. Tongue 12 engages with the cuff side support parts 18, 20. The tongue has a central tongue support part 22 and on opposed sides of the central tongue support part 22 there is a left tongue side support part 19 and a right tongue side support part 21. Central portion 22 has a relatively bell shaped outline, while left side support part 19 and right side support part 21 have substantially curved, half circle, outlines. Central tongue support part 22 has a narrower part close to the wrist region 40, flaring to a wider part in the cuff region 50, in a relatively bell like shape, with the respective side support parts 19,21 having complimentary cooperating cut away profiles.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the tongue 12 taken through the lines A-A of FIG. 5. As can be seen, the tongue 12 comprises a base layer 23, upon which the central tongue support part 22 and tongue side support parts 19 and 21 are mounted. The central tongue support part 22 has a greater thickness than the respective tongue side support parts 19 and 21. As seen from FIG. 4 when the tongue 12 is in place in the glove 100, the left tongue side support part 19 rests under the cuff left side support 18 and the right tongue side support part 21 rests under the cuff right side support part 20. Cuff side support parts 18 and 20 slide relative to respective tongue side supports 19 and 21 when the glove 100 is tightened.

FIG. 7 shows a palm or front elevation view of the glove 100 without the tongue 12 in place. Cuff side support parts 18 and 20 can be seen extending over at least a part of the palm area 9 of the glove 100. The cut away shape of cuff side support parts 18, 20 can be clearly seen. The cutaway profile shown is a curved shape with the cuff side support parts 18, 20 extending less far across the ventral part of the glove in the cuff region 50 where a user would insert a hand than in the wrist region 40. The curved cutaway profile of the cuff side support parts 18, 20 facilitates engagement with the central tongue support part 22 of the tongue 12 as will be further described below. Although the curved cutaway shape, in which the cuff side support parts 18, 20 extend further round to the ventral region 60 to cover the wrist of a wearer they may also be of a straight-line configuration. This can be seen in FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 shows an exploded palm view of the cuff design and tongue showing how and where the tongue 12 is located and secured in the assembled glove 100.

When the glove 100 is being tightened, the cuff left side support part 18 slides over the tongue left side support part 19 and the cuff right side support part 20 slides over the tongue right side support part 21. Edges 34 and 35 of the cuff side support parts 18 and 20 respectively engage with respective edges of the tongue central support part 22 to urge the tongue 12 in a downward direction away from the palm area 9. The cuff side support edges 34, 35 are adapted to cooperatively engage with each side of the tongue central support part 22 because as can be seen in FIG. 6, the central support part 22 has a greater thickness than tongue side support parts 19 and 21. The edges 34 and 35 engage with the tongue central support part 22 in a cam like manner, to urge the tongue 12 downwards as the glove is tightened. Tongue side support parts 19 and 21 have edges 30 and 31 respectively and these rest and can slide under cuff side support parts 18, 20 respectively.

As the glove 100 is tightened and the tongue 12 is moved downwards and the lower part of the glove, extending from the wrist region 40 to the cuff region 50 of the glove, assumes a generally frustoconical shape. The relative positions of the tongue side support parts 19, 21 of the tongue 12 are maintained relative to the remaining structure of glove 100 by use of the wrist strap 4 which is secured when the desired amount of tightening has been completed. As will be appreciated, the shape of the tongue side support parts 19, 21 on the tongue 12 and the tongue central support part 22 are adapted to engage cooperatively with the cuff side support parts 18, 20 to form, when tightened, a wrist support system having a generally frustoconical shape with a smaller cross-sectional area in the wrist region 40 than at the bottommost end of the wrist or cuff region 50.

Advantageously, the tongue 12 may be provided with a loop 10, through which the wrist strap 4 may be passed in order to assist in retaining the wrist strap 4 and tongue 12 in position relative to each other.

Preferably, each of the left side support part 14 and right side support part 16 is provided with a loop 25a, 25b respectively for receiving the fastening wrist strap 4. In this manner, the strap 4 can be secured to a first loop 25a and pass round the ventral portion of the glove 100, passing through a loop 10 provided in the tongue 12 and then continuing round to a second loop 25b.

Although in this set of figures the dorsal left side support part 14 and complimentary right side cuff support part 20 are shown and described as separate pieces, there is no particular reason why they could not be formed as a single component or piece. The same is true for the left side cuff support part 18 and the dorsal right side support part 16. This would result in two generally “C” shaped pieces providing wrist splint support.

Although the invention is shown with a tongue having a curved cutaway shape, with cooperating cuff side support parts, the tongue and cuff side support parts could have a straight line configuration. This can be seen in FIG. 9.

Although only a right handed glove is shown, it will be apparent that a similar construction can be employed for the left hand glove and that the component parts can be adapted accordingly.

It should further be recognized that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above. Accordingly, numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A combat sport glove comprising; a knuckle area extending to a dorsal area, the dorsal area extending from the knuckle area to a wrist region;a support including a dorsal central support part forming a part of the wrist region, a first dorsal side support part in the wrist region; a second dorsal side support part in the wrist region, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part extending from opposed sides of the dorsal central support part to a ventral area for surrounding at least a part of a wrist of a user when disposed within the glove, and wherein a portion of the dorsal central support part, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part extending into the ventral area extend downwards from the wrist region to a cuff region, the first dorsal side support part and the second dorsal side support part each having a ventral portion, each ventral portion exhibiting a cut away profile which enables the glove, when tightened about the wrist of a user, to define a substantially frustoconical volume having a larger cross-sectional area at the bottom most part of the cuff region than a cross-sectional area at a region where the wrist region adjoins the dorsal area.

2. A glove according to claim 1, further comprising a tongue, disposed in the ventral area, the tongue extending from a palm area to the cuff region.

3. A glove according to claim 2, in which the tongue has a tongue central support part located thereon.

4. A glove according to claim 3, the tongue further comprising a tongue left side support part and a tongue right side support part, the tongue left side support part and the tongue right side support part being disposed on opposed sides of the tongue central support part.

5. A glove according to claim 4, in which the tongue central support part slidebly engages the first cuff side support part and the second cuff side support in the ventral area to enable the glove to be tightened around the wrist of a user.

6. A glove according to claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting loop disposed one of the first cuff side support part and the second cuff side support for mounting a fastening strap.

7. A glove according to claim 6, further comprising a fastening strap secured to the at least one mounting loop.

8. A glove according to claim 3, in which the first cuff side support part extends from the dorsal area towards the ventral area, the cuff side support parts having cut away shapes to enable engagement of the tongue central support part.

9. A glove according to claim 3, in which the cuff side support parts slide over tongue side support parts and engage with the tongue central support part as the glove is tightened.

10. A glove according to claim 1, in which the padding material is made from one or more of Latex or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE) or Neoprene.

11. A glove according to claim 4, in which the tongue central support part tongue has a thickness greater than either of the tongue right side support and tongue left side support, said central support part having a bell like shape with a narrower part close to the wrist region flaring to a wider part in the cuff region and in which the side support parts have complimentary cooperating cut away profiles to enable them to engage with the tongue.

12. A glove according to claim 11 in which the bell like shape of the central support part flares to form a wider part adjacent the cuff region than in the wrist region.