Fast Rope Glove

Abstract

The fast rope gloves incorporate a plurality of polymer friction pads bonded to the anterior surface of the gloves at select locations. The friction pads provide the wear surface and thermal barrier between the gloved hand and the fast rope. The friction pads include a number of differently sized pads bonded to the fingers and thumb sleeve and the palm sections of the anterior side of the gloves.

Description

This invention relates generally to gloves, in particular, gloves used for fast roping.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Fast-roping, also known as “fast rope insertion” is a descending technique using thick rope for deploying soldiers from helicopters in places where the helicopter itself cannot touch down. Fast roping is quicker than abseiling (rappelling), although more dangerous, particularly if the person is carrying a heavy load, because the rope is not attached to them with a descender. The person grasps the heavy rope with gloved hands and feet and slides down the rope without being attached to it.

Fast roping requires heat resistant gloves to protect the individual descending from friction-generated heat. Heat-resistant gloves are generally not dexterous enough to be useful after the descent has been completed, though specialized gloves have been developed for this purpose. More often, a glove-inside-glove technique is used, with tactical gloves worn inside heavy leather metalworking gloves. After descending the rope, the wearer removes the outer gloves to regain dexterity.

The fast rope gloves of this invention incorporate a plurality of polymer friction pads bonded to the anterior surface of the gloves at select locations. The friction pads provide the wear surface and thermal barrier between the gloved hand and the fast rope. The friction pads include a number of differently sized pads bonded to the fingers and thumb sleeve and the palm sections of the anterior side of the gloves.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the palm side of an exemplary glove of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of soldiers fast roping from a helicopter;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the palm side of the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a soldier hand using the glove of FIG. 1 gripping a fast rope;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a soldier hand using the glove of FIG. 1 gripping a fast rope;

FIG. 6 is a combined top, front and side view of a friction pad mounted to the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top, front and side view of a second friction pad mounted to the glove of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a top, front and side view of a third pad mounted to the glove of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the gloves of this invention, which are designated generally as reference numeral 100. Gloves 100 are designed and intended for use by soldiers to descend from helicopters on fast ropes 10 (FIG. 2). Fast ropes are thick woven ropes having a diameter approximately 40 millimeters (1.6 in). The soldiers descend down the fast ropes 10 gripping the rope with their hands and between their feet.

Gloves 100 are constructed from heavy fabrics and/or leather selected for durability and dexterity. The body of the gloves are fashioned from component parts sewn or joined together. Those component parts may include tranks, digit parts, fourchettes, gussets and vents as desired dependent on the desired style and size of the gloves. Typically, the component parts of the gloves are assembled and sewn together and/or otherwise fashioned using conventional methods and equipment. Gloves 100 of this invention are designed and intended to be used in pairs, that is both a glove fashioned for the wearer's right hand 100 and a glove fashioned for the wearer's left hand Not shown). It should be noted that both right hand and left hand gloves are symmetrical and identical in style, construction and function.

For the purpose of illustrating and explaining this invention, glove 100 can be considered as having an anterior (“palm”) side and posterior (“back”) side. The anterior or “palm” side of glove is of principal interest to this invention. In addition, the anterior side of gloves 100 can be considered as having five sections and/or parts: a distal palmar section 110: a proximal palmar section 120, a heel/wrist section 130; a thumb sleeve 140; and four finger sleeves 150, 160, 170 and 180.

The anterior side of glove 100 is covered with a plurality of friction pads 190. Friction pads 190 are formed from a semi-rigid thermal resistance polymer. Friction pads 190 provide the wear surface and thermal barrier between the gloved hand and the fast rope. Friction pads 190 are bonded to the anterior surface of gloves 100 in select locations. Friction pads 190 are positioned on the glove anterior to circumferentially envelop the fast rope in the wearer's gloved hand with only the friction pads contacting the rope (FIGS. 4 and 5). The friction pads allow the grip to grasp the rope and selectively allow the rope to slide through the wearer's gloved hands without burning or tearing the glove material. The friction pads provide better descent control, without wear or damage to the gloves.

Friction pads 190 generally have an oval peripheral shape. Friction pads 190 include a set of small pads 192, medium pads 194, and large pads 196. Large pads and medium pads 194 and 196 have a generally uniform convex cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal and lateral axis (FIGS. 7 and 8). Small pads 192 have a uniform convex cross-sectional shape along the lateral axis and a semi-tear drop cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal axis (FIG. 6). Friction pads 190 are affixed to anterior side of Glove 100 to generally underlie, i.e. cover, the fleshy pads of the fingers, thumb and palm of the wearer's hand, where the glove would contact a grasped rope.

As shown, two small pads 192 are mounted to the pinky finger sleeve 180. Two large friction pads 196 are bonded to index finger sleeve 150. Three medium friction pads 194 are bonded to each of the ring and middle finger sleeves 160 and 170. Another set of four medium friction pads 194 are bonded to thumb sleeve 140. Five medium friction pads 194 are bonded across the distal palmar section 110. It should be noted that a friction pad 190 is not affixed to the tip of index finger sleeve 150 so as to not hinder the wearer's manipulation of any weapon controls, such as a trigger (not shown). Similarly, in certain alternatively embodiments of Glove 100, no friction pad may be affixed to the tip of the thumb sleeve 140 to allow the thumb to manipulate other weapon controls, such as illumination/laser switches and the like (not shown).

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A glove comprising: a main glove body having an anterior side and a posterior side for receiving a hand there between; anda plurality of friction pads bonded at selected locations on the anterior side, each of the plurality of friction pads is composed of a semi-rigid thermal resistance polymer to provide the wear surface and thermal barrier for the glove.

2. The glove of claim 1 wherein the anterior side includes a distal palmar section, a proximal palmar section, a thumb sleeve, a plurality of finger sleeves, the plurality of friction pads includes a first set of pads bonded to the distal palmar section, a second set of pads bonded to the thumb sleeve and a third set of pads bonded to the plurality of finger sleeves.

3. The glove of claim 2 wherein the plurality of finger sleeves includes a first finger sleeve, second finger sleeve, and a third finger sleeve, the third set of pads includes a plurality of first pads bonded to the first finger sleeve, a plurality of second pads bonded to the second finger sleeve and a plurality of third pads bonded to the third finger sleeve.

4. The glove of claim 3 wherein the surface area of plurality of first pads are smaller than the surface area of the plurality of second pads and the plurality of third pads, the surface area of the plurality of second pads are smaller than the surface area of the plurality of third pads.