Glove for Operating Computer Peripherals

Abstract

A glove for operating computer peripherals relieves stress and cramping and provides support for the wrist and hand. The glove includes an external non-slip surface located at the palm, an interior perspiration-absorbent area located at the palm, an open mesh area at the back of the hand, a substitutable supporting and cushioning wrist cuff that may be configured in height and viscosity by a user, and a tightening strap.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The gloves disclosed in the claimed invention are directed toward computer users who spend significant amounts of time using a keyboard, a mouse, a game controller, or other peripheral device which may necessitate repetitive movement or straining hand or arm gestures. As used herein, the term “peripheral device” generally refers to a computer input or output device such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, mouse, game controller, touchscreen, pen, tablet, joystick, MIDI keyboard, scanner, digital camera, video camera, microphone, printer, external drive, or monitor.

As is well known, the extensive use of one or a combination of such peripheral devices may cause physical discomfort or damage to a user's hand, fingers, or wrist, and could result in pain or physical disability if not treated or appropriately mitigated. Mitigation may involve the use of a glove that provides support, cushioning, wicking, cooling, and other forms of relief to the hand and wrist while a peripheral device is being used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computer use has become ubiquitous throughout the world. While many computer users work with computers having a keyboard, a mouse, a game controller, or other peripheral device without apparent difficulty, there are some tasks and professions for which nearly constant computer use involving repetitive keyboard input and mouse, game controller, or other peripheral device manipulation may cause significant physical discomfort by way of cramping of the hand or wrist, finger fatigue, excessive moisture (perspiration), joint pain, and nerve damage, including but not limited to carpal tunnel syndrome (compression of the median nerve). Any or all of these conditions may be found in people whose activities require them to use a computer keyboard or mouse or other peripheral device regularly, repetitively, or excessively, during the course of the activity. Such people may include music producers, graphic editors, secretarial and clerical office workers, and gainers, for example.

Some of these adverse conditions can be mitigated or eliminated by changing hand, wrist, or finger position while using the keyboard or peripheral; or by resting or repositioning the arm or wrist muscles supporting the hand. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, relief may come by reducing or eliminating the repetitive movement that causes pressure to be applied to the median nerve.

Heretofore, various devices such as a cushioned hand support that rests on the same surface as the keyboard and mouse or other peripheral, or a rigid brace that encases the hand and wrist, have been used in an attempt to alleviate the difficulties attendant to constant, repetitive, and excessive computer use. These devices, while marginally helpful, have generally restricted the user's ability to comfortably use the keyboard and mouse or other peripheral, and have been clumsy and only partially effective.

What is needed is a device that provides for stability where needed, primarily at the wrist, while simultaneously allowing for modifications in the position of the hand and fingers to alleviate cramping and fatigue. Such a device should also provide means for removing moisture that may form about the hand, and should provide for secure physical movement of a mouse or peripheral controller without slippage and without requiring the mouse or controller to be gripped firmly by the fingers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a glove having a non-slip palm area that permits movement of a peripheral device without requiring the device to be firmly gripped by the fingers. It is a further object of this invention to provide a glove that removes perspiration from a user's hand through wicking in the area of the palm and through evaporation at the back of the hand. It is another object of this invention to provide a glove having wrist support of variable volume and firmness that a user may predetermine. It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a glove having a plurality of removable wrist-support cuffs of varying firmness such that a user may select a cuff of desired thickness and firmness. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a flexible glove of thin, elastic fabric that permits easy movement of the hand and fingers. It is a further object of this invention to provide a fingerless glove that permits direct contact between a user's fingers and thumb and the controls of a peripheral device. These and other objects of the claimed invention will be further explained in the following descriptions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The glove of this invention is lightweight, flexible, and durable, being made of thin polyester, spandex (a polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric), or some similar expandable fabric. The palm may include an area of three layers of which the innermost layer will be a moisture-wicking layer, the adjacent, middle layer will be a moisture-absorbing layer of cotton, foam, or some similarly absorbent material, and the outermost layer will be a friction-providing, moisture-blocking material such as a rubbery coating of chitosan biopolymer that would provide sufficient adherence to move the mouse without requiring a full-fingered grip. The three-layered palm area of the glove is flexible to permit finger, wrist, and joint movement and position modification. The moisture-wicking layer adjacent the skin removes moisture from the skin and reduces slippage that might otherwise occur between the hand and the glove. The moisture-absorbent layer holds the moisture away from the skin until the hand is removed, at which point evaporation will remove the moisture from the glove.

A wrist cuff whose internal stiffness may be adjustable provides a cushioned support for the wrist. The wrist cuff may be annular or partially-circumferential, having a toroidal cross section and may be compartmented. The cushioning material may include poly pellets, gel, foam, air, or some other suitable cushioning substance, or a combination of such materials, and the wrist cuff may be configured to allow the introduction or removal of cushioning material, whereby the firmness and positioning of wrist support may be selectively determined. The wrist cuff may include discrete compartments or other measures to allow for adjusting a volume of the cushioning material, or the number and size of poly pellets or similar material, to prevent annular movement and repositioning of the cushioning material as the glove is used. The wrist cuff may include removable and substitutable pads of variable sizes, elasticity, and viscosity which may be positioned and secured to the cuff to achieve the optimum wrist support.

The glove surface may include areas of breathable, open mesh fabric to allow for the evaporation of perspiration and consequent cooling of the hand. Areas of such fabric may be situated at the back of the hand, and above selected finger and knuckle joints. The glove may be open-fingered such that it terminates at or just distal to the joint of the metacarpal and proximal phalanges. Additional cooling for the hand may be provided by pockets at the top of the proximal phalanges that may hold frozen pellets of silicon or a suitable similar material. Such frozen pellets may be inserted into openable pockets adjacent the fingers, or if the pockets are not openable, the entire glove may be frozen prior to use.

A strap or elastic band across the back of the glove may be used to secure the glove to the hand with any desired degree of tautness, and may be secured with a buckle, snaps, buttons, Velcro, or any other suitable method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a palm view of the glove of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a back-of-hand view of the glove of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the glove of this invention taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and detailed view of a demarked section of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of the hand of the glove of this invention separated from the cuff.

FIG. 6 is a view of a compartmented cuff.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the palm of the glove of the claimed invention. In the depicted embodiment, the glove 10 is configured to fit on the wearer's right hand. However, the glove can also be made in mirror-image to fit a wearer's left hand without changing any feature of the claimed invention. Typically, a computer user will operate a mouse configured for a right-handed or left-handed user with a single hand, either right or left. In such case, the user will normally use a single glove. However, if desired, a user can wear both a right-hand and a left-hand glove when using a computer.

The glove depicted in FIG. 1 is open-fingered and has an open thumb-hole 16. Although an open-fingered glove may provide greater sensitivity in manipulating a mouse or typing on a keyboard, a full-fingered glove may be used if desired and would fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

A full or partially annular cuff 12 is located at the wrist area of the glove. The cuff forms a toroidal pocket 12 which may hold a cushioning substance that may be poly pellets, foam, gel, air, or a combination of such substances. The cuff may be airtight, allowing air to be used as a cushion. In some embodiments, a portion of the cushioning substance's total volume or, where poly pellets are used as a cushioning material, exposed surface area may be either accessed or restricted by the user by means of separate pockets separated by a valve, switch, knob, or other interface which allows the user to change the amount of cushioning substance volume or surface area relative to the glove's total amount of cushioning substance. For example, a user may initially adjust the volume of poly pellets in the glove to be a certain value, and later adjust this volume in response to discomfort, allowing the user to work for longer periods of time. Alternatively, a user could make similar adjustments to the cushioning substance's surface area, such as to expose more or less of the cushioning substance's surface area to optimize user comfort. In an embodiment shown in detail in FIG. 6, the glove may be segmented into separate pockets 28 so that the cushioning substance will be retained within a specific pocket and will not migrate away from the area where it is desired. If separate pockets are used, each pocket may contain a different cushioning substance or combination of substances such that the cuff may exhibit a variable firmness. In FIGS. 1-3, poly pellets are shown within the cuff and may be of similar or of variable sizes. However, any suitable cushioning substance may be used, depending upon the desired degree of firmness and support to be provided by the cuff. In situations in which carpel tunnel syndrome is a consideration, the cuff can be stiffened sufficiently to prevent or retard movement of the wrist and alleviate pressure on the medial nerve. In other situations, the height of the wrist above the desk or table surface may be raised or lowered by increasing or decreasing the amount of cushioning substance in the cuff below the wrist. The cuff will support the weight of the hand and arm while allowing the user to raise or lower his or her hand and wrist position for grasping the peripheral device or typing on the keyboard.

In an embodiment, the cuff 12 may be removable from the glove body 10, being attached to the glove body by a hook and loop, snaps, or other conventional fastener. When removed, it may then be replaced by another cuff. In this way, a single glove may be modified to provide users with cuffs having different cushioning characteristics.

The glove body 10 may be a thin, breathable, and flexible elastic material such as spandex or a fabric having similar characteristics. At the central area of the palm is a peripheral device gripping multiple-ply section 14. The peripheral device gripping section may include a moisture-wicking layer 22, a moisture-absorbent layer 24, and a moisture-resistant layer whose outer surface is adhesive 26 such that it may contact and manipulate the peripheral device with little or no slippage. This slip-resistant, adherent surface promotes the easy movement of a peripheral device such as a mouse without requiring the device to be firmly gripped by the fingers.

FIG. 2 is a back-of-the-hand view of the glove of FIG. 1. A conventional tightening strap 18 is located at the back of the glove, and may be a hook-and-loop fastener, a buckle, an elastic strap, belt-buckle rings, or any other suitable tightening mechanism. When the strap is tightened, the glove is held securely against the hand and slippage between hand and glove is minimized. In FIGS. 1-3, the tightening strap is depicted as being attached to the cuff 12, but may by attached at the back-of-hand portion of the glove and will be equally effective.

Hand-cooling areas 20 are located at various locations on the back of the hand, and may be comprised of flexible, open-mesh or fish-net fabric. As shown, cooling areas are located at the back of the hand and at the back of the index and little fingers. Precise placement of the cooling areas is not critical, and may be determined with reference to the overall glove size and configuration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the glove taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 1. Large hand-cooling area 20 exposes a large portion of the back of the hand to the ambient atmosphere and allows direct evaporation of perspiration that may occur. The mouse-gripping area 14 is shown at the palm of the glove.

FIG. 4 is an expanded view of the detail of the mouse-gripping area. As depicted, a flexible three-ply section comprises a moisture-wicking layer 22 that is in direct contact with the palm of the user's hand, a moisture-absorbing layer 24, and a moisture-resistant layer having an outer adhesive surface 26. The moisture-wicking surface 22 removes perspiration from the skin, passing it through to the moisture-absorbing layer 24 where it is retained during use. By keeping the skin largely moisture-free, this layer promotes non-slippage of the hand within the glove and enhances precision movement of the mouse or other peripheral device and typing on the keyboard. A moisture-resistant layer 26 has an adhesive outer surface that may be a chitosan biopolymer adhesive or may be any surface that provides a similarly adhesive, slip-resistant manipulation of the peripheral device.

The moisture-absorbent layer 24 may be dried out through evaporation when the glove is not being used, either by turning the glove inside-out, or simply by allowing sufficient time to air dry. If desired, the glove can be dried in a hot-air dryer.

As depicted, the glove of the claimed invention provides comfort for the user by supporting the wrist at a desired height and by providing a cushioned surface for the wrist and hand; by removing perspiration from the palm of the hand with a wicking fabric; and by providing natural cooling for the back of the hand. The adhesive surface on the palm permits a user to manipulate the peripheral device without fully gripping it, thereby freeing the fingers and thumb to operate other buttons on the peripheral device. A variety of cushioning options in the cuff permit the resilience of the cushioning to be varied and can even hold the wrist immobile in the case of a user with carpel tunnel syndrome.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the glove may have a plurality of interchangeable cuffs 12 of varying firmness, volume, and extension below and about the wrist. The cuff may be attached to the glove by any conventional attachment method 30, including but not limited to hook and loop, snaps, buttons, or zipper. In this embodiment, a single glove may be modified to accommodate different users or a single user who may utilize different wrist and hand support or firmness characteristics at different times.

FIG. 6 is a view of an embodiment showing an embodiment of the internal construction of a removable cuff that extends partially below the wrist of a user and has separate compartments 28.

It will of course be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of the claimed invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the scope and ambit of the claimed invention as is herein described. The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A glove to be worn by a user while using a peripheral device that is resting on a generally horizontal surface, said glove comprising a palm, a back, a cuff, and an adjustment strap, said palm further comprising a gripping area having a plurality of layers comprising at least an outermost layer, an innermost layer, and a central layer situated between said outermost layer and said innermost layer,said outermost layer having an external surface comprising a non-slip interface whereby the application of moderate downward and horizontal pressure of said interfacing surface upon a peripheral device causes physical movement of the peripheral device along the generally horizontal surface,said innermost layer comprising a moisture passing layer whereby moisture is removed from the skin of a user's hand adjacent to such moisture passing layer and passed through said moisture passing layer,said central layer comprising a moisture absorbing layer whereby moisture passed to said moisture absorbing layer by said moisture passing layer is collected and retained within said moisture absorbing layer during use of said glove,said back further comprising an open area whereby the back of a user's hand is exposed to ambient air,said cuff extending at least partially along said palm of said glove and situated adjacent to the wrist of a user, said cuff comprising an enclosure, said enclosure enclosing a cushioning material whereby a user's wrist is supported and cushioned at a configurable height above the generally horizontal surface,said adjustment strap extending at least partially across said back and comprising adjustment means for tightening said glove on the hand by a user.

2. A glove as claimed in claim 1, said innermost layer comprising a wicking material.

3. A glove as claimed in claim 2, said gripping area being situated at the center of said palm.

4. A glove as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a thumb and fingers.

5. A glove as claimed in claim 4, said fingers and said thumb extending partway along the fingers and thumb of a user and being open ended.

6. A glove as claimed in claim 1, said open area on said back comprising an open mesh fabric.

7. A glove as claimed in claim 6 whereby said adjustment strap comprises an elastic strap situated internally within said back.

8. A glove as claimed in claim 1, said cuff comprising a plurality of chambers, each said chamber enclosing a portion of cushioning material.

9. A glove as claimed in claim 1, said non-slip interface comprising a chitosan biopolymer.

10. A glove as claimed in claim 8, said cushioning material comprising poly pellets.

11. A glove as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of chambers being openable such that a volume of cushioning material is increased or decreased.

12. A glove as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of chambers being openable such that a surface area of cushioning material is increased or decreased.

13. A glove comprising a palm, a back, a cuff, open-ended fingers, an open-ended thumb, and an adjustment strap, said glove comprising thin, expandable polyester spandex,said palm comprising a multiple-ply area in which the innermost ply adjacent a user's hand comprises a wicking layer for passing perspiration through to an adjacent, middle ply comprising an absorbent layer,said middle ply absorbent layer absorbing and retaining perspiration while a user's hand remains in contact with said innermost ply, and when a user's hand is no longer adjacent said innermost ply, allowing absorbed perspiration to evaporate through said wicking layer,said outermost ply comprising a slip-resistant outer surface,said back comprising an open mesh fabric that contacts the back of a user's hand,said cuff comprising a cushion adjacent a user's wrist, said cuff supporting and positioning the user's wrist and hand at a desired location,said adjustment strap comprising adjustment means for securing said glove to a user's hand.

14. A glove as claimed in claim 13, said slip-resistant outer surface comprising a chitosan biopolymer.

15. A glove as claimed in claim 14, said cuff comprising an openable enclosure, said enclosure receiving a greater or lesser volume of cushioning material as determined by a user.

16. A glove as claimed in claim 14, said cuff comprising an openable enclosure, said enclosure receiving a greater or lesser number of poly pellets as determined by a user.

17. A glove as claimed in claim 13, said cuff being one of a plurality of cuffs, each of said plurality of cuffs being attachable and removable whereby a desired cuff is affixed to said glove.