GLOVE WITH TEXTURED HEMISPHERICAL TIPS ON DIGIT REGIONS

Abstract

A glove and method of forming the same is disclosed. The glove includes a wrist region, a palm region, and a plurality of digit regions each having a tip provided at one end of a fingertip region thereof. The tip is remote from the palm region. A texture is provided on at least one tip of the plurality of digit regions. The texture is provided on an exterior of an arcuate surface of the at least one tip, where the arcuate surface is generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the digit region having the textured tip. In other embodiments, a texture is also provided on a circumferential surface of the fingertip region of another of the plurality of digit regions. The texture forms a pattern on the tip or the fingertip region. In one instance, the pattern is a sand pattern produced by micro-etching the glove material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is directed to gloves. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to a nitrile or latex glove. Specifically, the disclosed glove has texture provided only on the generally hemispherical tips of each digit region of the glove or on the tips of some digit regions and on the circumferential surface of the fingertip region of other digit regions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nitrile or nitrile rubber gloves are well known for use in the medical field. One of the most important features for gloves used in the medical field and in other fields is that tactile sensitivity and dexterity needs to be maintained at a highest possible level. If the person wearing the glove has good tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity they may more readily be able to detects a patient's pulse and perform delicate tasks such as manipulating fine tubes, adjusting roller clamps on infusion systems and other similar tasks. It will be understood that gloves in other fields of endeavor may similarly require tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity.

Typically, the thinner the glove material, the better the chance that the person's tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity is maintained even though they are wearing a glove. If the glove is too loose fitting, particularly on the fingers and thumb, the looseness tends to negate some of the advantages of using a thinner glove. A person may therefore tend to select a tighter glove for use so that their tactile sensitivity is less affected. Gloves which are too tight on the fingers can cause other issues for the person wearing them. For example, if the glove material is too taut over the fingertips, it may be difficult for the person wearing the glove to easily grip small objects or manipulate threads and thin tubes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The glove disclosed herein addresses some of the issues with prior art gloves which ideally enable the person wearing the glove to retain tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity but still be able to readily and easily grip and manipulate objects which require fine motor skills.

A glove and method of forming the same is disclosed herein. The glove includes a wrist region, a palm region, and a plurality of digit regions each having a tip provided at one end of a fingertip region thereof. The tip is remote from the palm region. A texture is provided on at least one tip of the plurality of digit regions. The texture is provided on an exterior of an arcuate surface of the at least one tip, where the arcuate surface is generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the digit region having the textured tip. In other embodiments, a texture is also provided on a circumferential surface of the fingertip region of another of the plurality of digit regions. The texture forms a pattern on the tip or the fingertip region. In one instance, the pattern is a sand pattern produced by micro-etching the glove material.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a glove comprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a plurality of digit regions extending outwardly from the palm region; a tip provided at one end of a fingertip region of each digit region of the plurality of digit regions, wherein the tip is remote from the palm region and the fingertip region extends downwardly from the tip to an area which will be located proximate a first knuckle of a person's finger or thumb received in the digit region; and a texture provided on at least one tip of the plurality of digit regions.

In one embodiment, the texture may be provided on an exterior of an arcuate surface of the at least one tip. In one embodiment, the arcuate surface may be oriented generally orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the associated digit region. In one embodiment, the texture provided on the at least one tip forms a pattern. In one embodiment, the pattern may be a sand pattern. In one embodiment, the texture may be provided on the at least one tip through a micro-etching process.

In one embodiment, wherein the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is only provided on the tip of one of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region. In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of a combination of two of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region. In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of a combination of three of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region. In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of a combination of four of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region. In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of all of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region. In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions is aligned along a common plane and the glove is an ambidextrous glove. In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the index finger region, middle finger region, ring finger region, and little finger region are aligned along a common plane, and wherein the thumb region is in a different plane, and the glove is a hand-specific glove.

In one embodiment, the fingertip region of one or more of the plurality of digit regions may be of a reduced circumference, flares into a transition portion, and then into a remaining portion which terminates in the palm region. In one embodiment, the at least one tip provided with the texture is generally hemispherical in configuration. In one embodiment, a texture is provided on a circumferential surface of the fingertip region of at least one other of the plurality of digit regions. In one embodiment, the texture on the circumferential surface of the fingertip region of at least one other of the plurality of digit regions may be the same as the texture on the at least one tip of the plurality of digit regions. In one embodiment, the fingertip region of the at least one other of the plurality of digit regions may be of a reduced circumference, flares into a transition portion and then into a remaining portion which terminates in the palm region, and the texture on the fingertip region does not extend into the transition portion.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a method comprising forming a glove having a wrist region, a palm region, and a plurality of digit regions, each digit region of the plurality of digit regions having a fingertip region with a tip located remote from the palm region, wherein the fingertip region is adapted to terminate proximate where a first knuckle of a person's finger or thumb will be located when the glove is worn; and providing a texture on the tip of at least one digit region of the plurality of digit regions.

In one embodiment, providing the texture on the tip comprises micro-etching an exterior surface of the tip. In one embodiment, the method may further comprise providing a texture on an exterior circumferential surface of the fingertip region of another of the plurality of digit regions. In one embodiment, providing the texture on the fingertip region may comprise micro-etching the exterior circumferential surface of the fingertip region. In one embodiment, the method may further comprise forming a rest of the glove free of texture. In other words, the wrist region, palm region, and remaining portions of the plurality of digit regions are free of texture or are smooth.

In one embodiment, providing the texture on the tip comprises texturing an exterior of an arcuate surface of the at least one digit region, wherein the arcuate surface is arranged generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the at least one digit region; and the longitudinal axis extends along a length of the at least one digit region from the palm region to the tip. In one embodiment, providing the texture on the tip comprises forming a pattern on an exterior surface of the tip. In one embodiment, forming the pattern comprises forming a sand pattern on the exterior surface of the tip. In one embodiment, forming the pattern may comprise micro-etching the exterior surface of the tip. In one embodiment, the method may further comprise reducing a circumference of the at least one digit region of the plurality of digit regions; and providing the texture on the tip of the at least one digit region of reduced circumference and/or on a fingertip region of another digit region of reduced circumference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Sample embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in the following description, are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a first example of a first embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the glove is an ambidextrous glove which has fingertip regions of reduced circumference on each digit region, and showing a tip of each fingertip region which is generally hemispherical in shape and is textured;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a first side elevation view of the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a second side elevation view of the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a front elevation view of a second example of the first embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a front elevation view of a third example of the first embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the first embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the first embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a first example of a second embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove which has fingertip regions of reduced circumference on each digit region, and showing each fingertip region having a tip which is generally hemispherical in shape and is textured;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a front elevation view of a second example of the second embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a front elevation view of a third example of the second embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 8C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the second embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 8D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the second embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a first example of a third embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove which has fingertip regions on each digit region which gently taper in circumference, and showing each fingertip region having a tip which is generally hemispherical in shape and is textured;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11A is a front elevation view of a second example of the third embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 11B is a front elevation view of a third example of the third embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 11C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the third embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 11D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the third embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of a first example of a fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove which has fingertip regions on each digit region which gently taper in circumference, and showing each fingertip region having a tip which is generally hemispherical in shape and is textured;

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14A is a front elevation view of a second example of the fourth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 14B is a front elevation view of a third example of the fourth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 14C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the fourth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 14D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the fourth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of a first example of a fifth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the glove is an ambidextrous glove which has fingertip regions of reduced circumference on each digit region, showing each fingertip region having a tip which is generally hemispherical in shape, wherein the tip of at least one digit region is textured, and wherein an entire fingertip region of at least one other digit region is textured;

FIG. 16 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17A is a front elevation view of a second example of the fifth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 17B is a front elevation view of a third example of the fifth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 17C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the fifth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 17D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the fifth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of a first example of a sixth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove which has fingertip regions of reduced circumference on each digit region, and showing each fingertip region having a tip which is generally hemispherical in shape, wherein the tip of at least one digit region is textured, and wherein an entire fingertip region of at least one other digit region is textured;

FIG. 19 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20A is a front elevation view of a second example of the sixth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 20B is a front elevation view of a third example of the sixth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 20C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the sixth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 20D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the sixth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of a first example of a seventh embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove which has fingertip regions on each digit region which gently taper in circumference, and showing each fingertip region having a tip which is generally hemispherical in shape, wherein the tip of at least one digit region is textured, and wherein an entire fingertip region of at least one other digit region is textured;

FIG. 22 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23A is a front elevation view of a second example of the seventh embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 23B is a front elevation view of a third example of the seventh embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 23C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the seventh embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 23D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the seventh embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a front elevation view of a first example of an eighth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove which has fingertip regions on each digit region which gently taper in circumference, and showing each fingertip region having a tip which is generally hemispherical in shape, wherein the tip of at least one digit region is textured, and wherein an entire fingertip region of at least one other digit region is textured;

FIG. 25 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26A is a front elevation view of a second example of the eighth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 26B is a front elevation view of a third example of the eighth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 26C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the eighth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 26D is a front elevation view of a fifth example of the eighth embodiment glove in accordance with the present disclosure.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4 there is shown a first example of a first embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 10. Glove 10 comprises a wrist region 12, a palm region 14, a thumb region 16, an index finger region 18, a middle finger region 20, a ring finger region 22, and a little finger region 24. Glove 10 defines an interior cavity 10a which is configured to receive a hand of a person therein. Thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, ring finger region 22, and little finger region 24 comprise digit regions which are configured to receive an associated one of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the person's hand, respectively.

Glove 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is an ambidextrous glove which is capable of being worn on either of a left hand or a right hand of the person. In the ambidextrous glove 10, each of the thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, ring finger region 22, and little finger region 24 are aligned along a common plane “P” as illustrated in FIG. 3A.

Glove 10 may be fabricated from any suitable material such as nitrile, nitrile rubber, or natural rubber. The glove material is preferably free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or fluoride, and/or cross-links, and/or accelerators and/or accelerants. Some accelerators/accelerants that the glove's material may be free of or essentially free of include carbonates or thiurams. The glove material which is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or fluoride, and/or cross-links, and/or accelerators and/or accelerants will at least comprise a portion of the glove that will contact the user's skin when the glove is worn.

The glove material preferably is also formulated to be resistant to a variety of toxic or corrosive compounds or chemicals including but not limited to opioids, particularly fentanyl and carfentanil. The composition of the material of the disclosed glove may tend to reduce hypersensitivity or allergic reactions in populations which may be required to frequently wear protective gloves, such as medical practitioners.

Glove 10 may be fabricated in a material having an exterior surface of one color and an interior surface of another color, particularly a strongly-contrasting color. This difference in color between the interior and exterior surfaces of glove 10 may act as a tear or cut indicator since, if the interior color is visible on the exterior of glove 10, the person wearing the glove will realize that the exterior surface has been compromised in some way.

As illustrated in each of FIGS. 1 to 4, each digit region of glove 10 includes sections which are referred to herein as a “fingertip region”, a “remaining portion”, and a “transition portion”. The fingertip region originates in a tip of the respective digit region and extends downwardly for a distance towards palm region 14. The distance is of a length such that a lower region of the fingertip region will generally be located adjacent to or near where a first knuckle of the person's associated thumb or finger will be positioned when glove 10 is worn. The remaining portion extends between the fingertip region and the palm region 14. This arrangement can be seen in middle finger region 20, for example, where a fingertip region 20a originates at a tip of the middle finger region 20 and extends for a distance downwardly from the tip, terminating at a location which will be adjacent to or near where a first knuckle of the person's middle finger will be located when the glove is worn. A remaining portion 20b of middle finger region 20 extends between fingertip region 20a and palm region 14. The remaining portion 20b is longer than the fingertip region 20a. As will be described later herein, in accordance with aspect of the present disclosure, fingertip region 20a of glove 10 is of a reduced circumference relative to remaining portion 20b thereof. In particular, the majority of the length of the fingertip region 20a is of a substantially constant circumference which is less than the circumference of the remaining portion 20b. The tip of the fingertip region 20a is generally hemispherical in shape and gradually tapers in circumference. The remaining portion 20b includes a transition portion 20c which tapers in circumference moving in a direction from the remaining portion 20b towards the fingertip region 20a.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, thumb region 16 includes a fingertip region 16a, a remaining portion 16b, and a transition portion 16c. Index finger region 18 includes a fingertip region 18a, a remaining portion 18b, and a transition portion 18c. As discussed above, middle finger region 20 includes fingertip region 20a, remaining portion 20b, and transition portion 20c. Ring finger region 22 includes a fingertip region 22a, a remaining portion 22b, and a transition portion 22c. Little finger region 24 includes a fingertip region 24a, a remaining portion 24b, and a transition portion 24c.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show that each of the fingertip regions 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a, and 24a is of a reduced circumference relative to the associated remaining portions 16b, 18b, 20b, 22b, and 24b. Most particularly, the fingertip regions 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a, and 24a are each illustrated to be of a “bullet-tip” shape but it will be understood that other reduced-circumference configurations may be provided on the digit regions of glove 10 instead. The bullet-tip shaped fingertip regions provided on a glove is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 10,602,788 (Hull), which patent is incorporated herein by reference.

When glove 10 is worn on the left hand as illustrated in FIG. 1, the surface of the glove facing the viewer may be considered to be the “front” of the glove 10. The front of glove 10 is that part of the glove which will contact an object held in the left hand of the person wearing glove 10. Because FIG. 1 shows a “front” view of glove 10, the surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions facing the viewer of FIG. 1 are considered to be the “front” surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24, respectively. In view of this, FIG. 2 then illustrates a “back” of glove 10 and therefore the surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions facing the viewer of FIG. 2 are considered to be the “back” surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24.

Each of the digit regions 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 has a front surface, a back surface, and first and second side surfaces. It should be noted that the terms “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right” are used for ease of description and particularly describe the specific orientation of the glove 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The terms “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right” should therefore not be narrowly construed to necessarily describe the orientation of the glove 10 during use, particularly since glove 10 is an ambidextrous glove and can be worn on either of the left hand or right hand of a user.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, each fingertip region of glove 10 terminates in a tip. The tip of each digit region comprises the arcuate surface of the respective digit region which is located most remote from palm region 14. The tip is generally hemispherical in shape meaning that the tip is of a dome shape that is continuous with the front, back and side surfaces of the digit regions which form the fingertip region. The tip is “generally” hemispherical because the tip is more elliptical in configuration when viewed from above rather than being more circular from this viewpoint. The elliptical shape can be seen in FIG. 4. Using thumb region 20 as an example, the full height of the fingertip region 20a of thumb region 20 is indicated in FIG. 1 to be of a dimension “D”. The part of the fingertip region 20a which forms the generally hemispherical tip is indicated in FIG. 1 to be of a dimension “D1”. In some embodiments, the dimension “D1” is about 5 mm long. A rest of the fingertip region 20a from the generally hemispherical tip to the transition portion 20c is of a dimension “D2”. The other digit regions are similarly configured although the actual measurements of “D”, “D1”, and “D2” will be different, depending on the particular digit region.

As is evident from FIGS. 1 to 4, the generally hemispherical tip forms the outermost end of the fingertip region and includes an arcuate outermost surface. If a person wearing the glove placed their fingertips onto a tabletop, for example, with their fingers basically oriented at ninety degrees to the tabletop, the arcuate surface of the generally hemispherical tip would be the part of the glove surface that is in contact with the tabletop. The tip can be considered to extend radially outwardly from a center point of the digit region, where the center point is the location where a longitudinal axis of the digit region intersects the arcuate surface of the tip. (The longitudinal axis runs the length of the digit region from the palm region to the tip of the respective digit region.) The tip therefore includes, circumferentially, part of the front surface, part of the first and second side surfaces, and part of the back surface of the associated digit region.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, each of the tips of the digit regions of glove 10 are textured and this texturing is shown in FIGS. 1-4. Thumb region 16 has a fingertip region 16a with a generally hemispherical tip at one end which is textured and is indicated by reference number 76. Index finger region 18 has a fingertip region 18a with a generally hemispherical tip at one end which is textured and is indicated by reference number 78. Middle finger region 20 has a fingertip region 20a with a generally hemispherical tip at one end which is textured and is indicated by reference number 80. Ring finger region 22 has a fingertip region 22a with a generally hemispherical tip at one end which is textured and is indicated by reference number 82. Little finger region 24 has a fingertip region 24a with a generally hemispherical tip at one end which is textured and is indicated by reference number 84. As can be seen by reviewing FIGS. 1-4, the texturing on the tips 76, 78, 80, 82, and 84 extends around substantially the entire circumference of the tip. Furthermore, he texturing on the tips 76, 78, 80, 82, and 84 extends over substantially the entire arcuate surface which forms the generally hemispherical tip of the associated digit region.

The texturing of tips 76-84 may be accomplished in any number of ways. One particularly suitable way of texturing tips 76-84 is through micro-etching an exterior surface of the tip. The micro-etching may be accomplished by any process known in the art. The micro-etching produces a sand pattern on the exterior surface of the tip of each digit region. It will be understood that in other embodiments the tip may not be textured in such a way as to produce a sand pattern thereon but other patterns which include but are not limited to herringbone, diamond, raised diamond, swirls, and circles may be provided on the tips 76-84 as texture. Furthermore, it should be understood that the sand pattern illustrated on tips 76-84 may be produced by a process other than micro-etching. Still further, some of the tips 76-84 may be textured in a first way and with a first pattern and others of the tips 76-84 may be textured in a different way and with other patterns than a sand pattern.

It will be understood that the rest of the fingertip region of the associated digit region (such as the rest of fingertip region 18a of index finger region 18 which extends downwardly from the textured tip 78) is smooth and free of texture. In other words, a gripping surface of the rest of the fingertip region 18a will not be micro-etched or textured in some other manner. The gripping surface of the rest of the fingertip region will be at least that surface which would contact an object gripped in the hand of the person wearing the glove.

The texturing on the tips of the various digit regions 16-24 serves a number of purposes. Firstly, the texturing helps to strengthen the tip 76-84, thereby making the tip 76-84 more robust and less prone to damage. Secondly, the texturing helps the glove to better frictionally engage surfaces that are contacted for some reason. For example, if a touch screen on an electronic device needs to be activated while glove 10 is being worn, the texturing helps the person activate the touchscreen on the electronic device without removing their gloves. The texturing also helps the person to better perform a number of fine motor skill type tasks which are difficult to perform when the reduced circumference fingertip regions 16a through 24a of the digit regions are pulled taut across the user's fingertips.

FIG. 5A shows a second example of the first embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 10A. Glove 10A is identical to glove 10 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 18 includes a textured tip 78. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 5B shows a third example of the first embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 10B. Glove 10B is identical to glove 10 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 18 and thumb region 16 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region 16 includes a textured tip 76 and index finger region 18 includes a textured tip 78. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 5C shows a fourth example of the first embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 10C. Glove 10C is identical to glove 10 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 16, index finger region 18 and middle finger region 20 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region 16 includes a textured tip 76, index finger region 18 includes a textured tip 78, and middle finger region 20 includes a textured tip 80. The tips of the other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 5D shows a fifth example of the first embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 10D. Glove 10D is identical to glove 10 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, and ring finger region 22 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region 16 includes a textured tip 76, index finger region 18 includes a textured tip 78, middle finger region 20 includes a textured tip 80, and ring finger region 22 includes a textured tip 82. The tip of little finger region 24 is smooth and free of texture.

It should be understood that while FIG. 5A shows that index finger region 18 is the only digit region with a textured tip 78, in other embodiments any other single digit region's tip may be textured instead of index finger region 18. For example, only little finger region 24 may have a textured tip 84. Furthermore, while FIG. 5B shows thumb region 16 and index finger region 18 are the two digit regions with textured tips 76, 78, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of two digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 16 and index finger region 18. For example, thumb region 16 and ring finger region 20 may have textured tips 76 and 80. Still further, while FIG. 5C shows thumb region 16, index finger region 18, and middle finger region 20 as the three digit regions with textured tips 76, 78, and 80 respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of three digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 16, index finger region 18, and middle finger region 20. Finally, while FIG. 5D shows thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, and ring finger region 22 as the four digit regions with textured tips 76, 78, 80, 82, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of four digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, and ring finger region 22. It will be understood that the decision as to which tips of which digit regions will be textured may be based on the end use of the particular example of the first embodiment of the glove.

The gloves 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D in accordance with the present disclosure may be formed to include a wrist region 12, a palm region 14, and a plurality of digit regions 16-24, wherein at least one digit region has a tip remote from the palm region; and when the glove is formed, the tip on at least one digit region of the glove is textured such as at 76, 78, 80, 82, and 84. The method of forming the gloves 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D includes texturing an exterior of an arcuate surface of the at least one digit region 16-24, wherein the arcuate surface is arranged generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the associated digit region. The longitudinal axis of the respective digit region extends along a length of that digit region from the palm region 14 to the tip of the digit region. Providing the texture on the tip of any of the digit regions comprises forming a pattern on an exterior surface of the tip. The pattern which is formed may be sand pattern or any other suitable and desired pattern produced by any method suitable for the particular glove material such to fabricate gloves 10 through 10D. One suitable method is micro-etching the exterior surface of the tip. The method may further comprise reducing a circumference of the at least one digit region of the plurality of digit regions (by forming a bullet-shaped fingertip region, for example); and then providing the texture on the tip of the at least one digit region of reduced circumference.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 8D there is shown a second embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure. The second embodiment of the glove is identical to the first embodiment of the glove illustrated in FIGS. 1-5D in every respect other than the second embodiment glove is a hand-specific glove while the first embodiment glove is an ambidextrous glove.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a first example of the second embodiment glove, generally indicated at 110. Glove 110 includes a wrist region 112, a palm region 114, a thumb region 116, an index finger region 118, a middle finger region 120, a ring finger region 122, and a little finger region 124. The difference between glove 110 and glove 10 is that the thumb region 116 of glove 110 does not lie along the same plane “P” (FIG. 3) as index finger region 118, middle finger region 120, ring finger region 122, and little finger region 124. Glove 110 is a hand-specific glove that is to be worn on a left hand of a person. It will be understood that a glove for the right hand of the person will be a mirror image of glove 110.

Glove 110, like glove 10, has digit regions which each comprise a fingertip region, a transition portion, and a remaining portion. Like glove 10, glove 110 has bullet- tip shaped fingertip regions and transition portions. It will be understood that in other embodiments differently configured reduced-circumference fingertip regions may be provided on glove 110. The various fingertip regions, transition portions, and remaining portions of the digit regions 16-24 of glove 110 are identical to those same component parts of glove 10 and will therefore not be described further herein, nor are they numbered in FIGS. 6-8D.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, thumb region 116 includes a textured tip 176 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 76 of thumb region 16. Index finger region 118 includes a textured tip 178 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 78 of index finger region 18. Middle finger region 120 includes a textured tip 180 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 80 of middle finger region 20. Ring finger region 122 includes a textured tip 182 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 82 of ring finger region 22. Little finger region 124 includes a textured tip 184 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 84 of little finger region 24. Tips 176, 178, 180, 182, and 184, like their counterparts in glove 10, comprise the arcuate surface of the respective digit region which is located most remote from palm region 114. Tips 176, 178, 180, 182, and 184 will not be discussed in any further detail herein.

FIG. 8A shows a second example of the second embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 110A. Glove 110A is identical to glove 110 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 118 includes a textured tip 178. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 8B shows a third example of the second embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 110B. Glove 110B is identical to glove 110 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 118 and thumb region 116 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region 116 includes a textured tip 176 and index finger region 118 includes a textured tip 178. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 8C shows a fourth example of the second embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 110C. Glove 110C is identical to glove 110 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 116, index finger region 118 and middle finger region 120 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region includes 116 a textured tip 176, index finger region 118 includes a textured tip 178, and middle finger region 120 includes a textured tip 180. The tips of the other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 8D shows a fifth example of the second embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 110D. Glove 110D is identical to glove 110 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 116, index finger region 118, middle finger region 120, and ring finger region 122 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region includes a textured tip 176, index finger region 118 includes a textured tip 178, middle finger region 120 includes a textured tip 180, and ring finger region 122 includes a textured tip 182. The tip of little finger region 124 is smooth and free of texture.

It should be understood that while FIG. 8A shows that index finger region 118 is the only digit region with a textured tip 178, in other embodiments any other single digit region's tip may be textured instead of index finger region 118. For example, only little finger region 124 may have a textured tip 184. Furthermore, while FIG. 8B shows thumb region 116 and index finger region 118 are the two digit regions with textured tips 176, 178, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of two digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 116 and index finger region 118. For example, thumb region 116 and ring finger region 122 may have textured tips 176 and 180. Still further, while FIG. 8C shows thumb region 116, index finger region 118, and middle finger region 120 as the three digit regions with textured tips 176, 178, and 180 respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of three digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 116, index finger region 118, and middle finger region 120. Finally, while FIG. 8D shows thumb region 116, index finger region 118, middle finger region 120, and ring finger region 122 as the four digit regions with textured tips 176, 178, 180, 182, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of four digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 116, index finger region 118, middle finger region 120, and ring finger region 122. It will be understood that the decision as to which tips of which digit regions will be textured may be based on the end use of the particular example of the second embodiment of the glove.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 11D there is shown a third embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure. The third embodiment of the glove is identical to the first embodiment of the glove illustrated in FIGS. 1-5D in every respect other than that the digit regions do not have reduced circumference fingertip regions, nor transition portions. Instead, the various digit regions of the third embodiment glove are of a generally constant circumference along the length of the digit region from palm region to the tip.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a first example of the third embodiment glove, generally indicated at 210. Glove 210 includes a wrist region 212, a palm region 214, a thumb region 216, an index finger region 218, a middle finger region 220, a ring finger region 222, and a little finger region 224. The difference between glove 210 and glove 10, as indicated above, is that digit regions 216 through 224 do not include fingertip regions and transition portions. The tip of each digit region which is textured comprises the arcuate surface of that digit region which is located most remote from palm region 214.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, thumb region 216 includes a textured tip 276 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 76 of thumb region 16. Because the digit regions of glove 210 have a different configuration relative to the digit regions of glove 10 because they lack the fingertip regions and transition portions, the size, and shape of the textured tip 276 may be slightly different relative to textured tip 76 of glove 10. Similarly, index finger region 218 includes a textured tip 278 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 78 of index finger region 18. Middle finger region 220 includes a textured tip 280 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 80 of middle finger region 20. Ring finger region 222 includes a textured tip 282 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 82 of ring finger region 22. Little finger region 224 includes a textured tip 284 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 84 of little finger region 24. Tips 276, 278, 280, 282, and 284 will therefore not be discussed in any further detail herein.

FIG. 11A shows a second example of the third embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 210A. Glove 210A is identical to glove 210 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 218 includes a textured tip 278. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 11B shows a third example of the third embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 210B. Glove 210B is identical to glove 210 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 218 and thumb region 216 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region 216 includes a textured tip 276 and index finger region 218 includes a textured tip 278. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 11C shows a fourth example of the third embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 210C. Glove 210C is identical to glove 210 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 216, index finger region 218 and middle finger region 220 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region includes 216 a textured tip 276, index finger region 218 includes a textured tip 278, and middle finger region 220 includes a textured tip 280. The tips of the other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 11D shows a fifth example of the third embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 210D. Glove 210D is identical to glove 210 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 216, index finger region 218, middle finger region 220, and ring finger region 222 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region includes a textured tip 276, index finger region 218 includes a textured tip 278, middle finger region 220 includes a textured tip 280, and ring finger region 222 includes a textured tip 282. The tip of little finger region 224 is smooth and free of texture.

It should be understood that while FIG. 11A shows that index finger region 218 is the only digit region with a textured tip 278, in other embodiments any other single digit region's tip may be textured instead of index finger region 218. For example, only little finger region 224 may have a textured tip 284. Furthermore, while FIG. 11B shows thumb region 216 and index finger region 218 are the two digit regions with textured tips 276, 278, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of two digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 216 and index finger region 218. For example, thumb region 216 and ring finger region 222 may have textured tips 276 and 280. Still further, while FIG. 11C shows thumb region 216, index finger region 218, and middle finger region 220 as the three digit regions with textured tips 276, 278, and 280 respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of three digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 216, index finger region 218, and middle finger region 220. Finally, while FIG. 11D shows thumb region 216, index finger region 218, middle finger region 220, and ring finger region 222 as the four digit regions with textured tips 276, 278, 280, 282, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of four digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 216, index finger region 218, middle finger region 220, and ring finger region 222. It will be understood that the decision as to which tips of which digit regions will be textured may be based on the end use of the particular example of the third embodiment of the glove.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 through 14D there is shown a fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure. The fourth embodiment of the glove is identical to the first embodiment of the glove 210 illustrated in FIGS. 9-11D in every respect other than that the glove shown in FIGS. 12 through 14D is a hand-specific glove instead of being an ambidextrous glove. In particular, the glove of FIGS. 12 through 14D is configured to be worn on a person's left hand. It will be understood that a hand-specific glove for the person's right hand will be a mirror image of the glove illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 14D.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a first example of the fourth embodiment glove, generally indicated at 310. Glove 310 includes a wrist region 312, a palm region 314, a thumb region 316, an index finger region 318, a middle finger region 320, a ring finger region 322, and a little finger region 324. The difference between glove 310 and glove 10, as indicated above, is that digit regions 316 through 324 of glove 310 do not include fingertip regions and transition portions. The tip of each digit region which is textured comprises the arcuate surface of that digit region which is located most remote from palm region 314.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, thumb region 316 includes a textured tip 376 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 276 of thumb region 216 on glove 210. Similarly, index finger region 318 includes a textured tip 378 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 278 of index finger region 218 of glove 210. Middle finger region 320 includes a textured tip 380 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 280 of middle finger region 220 of glove 210. Ring finger region 322 includes a textured tip 382 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 282 of ring finger region 222 of glove 210. Little finger region 324 includes a textured tip 384 which is generally hemispherical and is substantially identical in structure and function to tip 284 of little finger region 224 of glove 210. Tips 376, 378, 380, 382, and 384 will therefore not be discussed in any further detail herein.

FIG. 11A shows a second example of the fourth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 310A. Glove 310A is identical to glove 310 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 318 includes a textured tip 378. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 11B shows a third example of the fourth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 310B. Glove 310B is identical to glove 310 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only index finger region 318 and thumb region 316 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region 316 includes a textured tip 376 and index finger region 318 includes a textured tip 378. The tips of all other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 11C shows a fourth example of the fourth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 310C. Glove 310C is identical to glove 310 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 316, index finger region 318 and middle finger region 320 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region includes 316 a textured tip 376, index finger region 318 includes a textured tip 378, and middle finger region 320 includes a textured tip 380. The tips of the other digit regions are smooth and free of texture.

FIG. 11D shows a fifth example of the fourth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 310D. Glove 310D is identical to glove 310 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of all tips of all digit regions being textured, only thumb region 316, index finger region 318, middle finger region 320, and ring finger region 322 have textured tips. In particular, thumb region includes a textured tip 376, index finger region 318 includes a textured tip 378, middle finger region 320 includes a textured tip 380, and ring finger region 322 includes a textured tip 382. The tip of little finger region 324 is smooth and free of texture.

It should be understood that while FIG. 11A shows that index finger region 318 is the only digit region with a textured tip 378, in other embodiments any other single digit region's tip may be textured instead of index finger region 318. For example, only little finger region 324 may have a textured tip 384. Furthermore, while FIG. 11B shows thumb region 316 and index finger region 318 are the two digit regions with textured tips 376, 378, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of two digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 316 and index finger region 318. For example, thumb region 316 and ring finger region 322 may have textured tips 376 and 380. Still further, while FIG. 11C shows thumb region 316, index finger region 318, and middle finger region 320 as the three digit regions with textured tips 376, 378, and 380 respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of three digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 316, index finger region 318, and middle finger region 320. Finally, while FIG. 11D shows thumb region 316, index finger region 318, middle finger region 320, and ring finger region 322 as the four digit regions with textured tips 376, 378, 380, 382, respectively, in other embodiments any other combination of four digit region's tips may be textured instead of thumb region 316, index finger region 318, middle finger region 320, and ring finger region 322. It will be understood that the decision as to which tips of which digit regions will be textured may be based on the end use of the particular example of the fourth embodiment of the glove.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 through 17D there is shown a fifth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure. The fifth embodiment of the glove is identical to the first embodiment of the glove illustrated in FIGS. 1-5D in every respect other than for the features which will be pointed out hereafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is shown a first example of the fifth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 410. Glove 410 comprises a wrist region 412, a palm region 414, a thumb region 416, an index finger region 418, a middle finger region 420, a ring finger region 422, and a little finger region 424. Glove 410 defines an interior cavity 410a which is configured to receive a hand of a person therein. Thumb region 416, index finger region 418, middle finger region 420, ring finger region 422, and little finger region 424 comprise digit regions which are configured to receive an associated one of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the person's hand, respectively.

Glove 410 as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 is an ambidextrous glove which is capable of being worn on either of a left hand or a right hand of the person. In the ambidextrous glove 410, each of the thumb region 416, index finger region 418, middle finger region 420, ring finger region 422, and little finger region 424 are aligned along a common plane similar to glove 10 illustrated in FIG. 3A. Each digit region of glove 410 includes a “fingertip region”, a “remaining portion”, and a “transition portion” in the same manner as glove 10 and this will therefore not be further described herein. Most particularly, the fingertip regions of the various digit regions are each illustrated to be of a “bullet-tip” shape but it will be understood that other reduced-circumference configurations may be provided on the digit regions of glove 410 instead.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, each fingertip region of glove 410 terminates in a tip in an identical manner to the digit regions of glove 10. The tip of each fingertip region comprises the arcuate surface of the respective digit region which is located most remote from palm region 414. The tip is generally hemispherical in shape meaning that the tip is of a dome shape that is continuous with the front, back and side surfaces of glove 410 which form the particular fingertip region. The tip is “generally” hemispherical because the tip is more elliptical in configuration when viewed from above rather than being more circular from this viewpoint.

At least one of the tips of the digit regions 416-424 of glove 410 is textured in an identical manner to the tips of the digit regions 16-24 of glove 10. In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, glove 410 differs from glove 10 in that at least an entire fingertip region of at least one other digit region is textured. In other words, in the at least one other digit region the entire circumferential surface of the fingertip region is textured. The entire circumferential surface includes the tip of that particular digit region but the texturing continues downwardly beyond the tip and terminates in a location where the transition portion of that particular digit region originates. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the first example of the fifth embodiment glove 410 where the tip of the thumb region 416 is textured as at 476; the tip of the index finger region 418 is textured as at 478, and the tip of the middle finger region 420 is textured as at 480. This configuration of the thumb region 416, index finger region 418, and middle finger region 420 is identical to the configuration of the thumb region 16, index finger region 18, and middle finger region 20 of glove 10. It will be understood that the rest of the fingertip region of the associated digit region 416, 418, 420 which extends downwardly from the textured tip 476, 478, 486 is smooth and free of texture. In other words, a gripping surface of the rest of the fingertip region will not be micro-etched or textured in some other manner. The gripping surface of the rest of the fingertip region will be at least that surface which would contact an object gripped in the hand of the person wearing the glove.

Unlike glove 10, ring finger region 422 of glove 410 has a fingertip region which has its entire circumferential surface textured as at 492. Furthermore, unlike glove 10, little finger region 424 of glove 410 has a fingertip region which has its entire circumferential surface textured as at 494. The texturing 492 and 494 is of a substantially identical type to the texturing of the tips at 476, 478, and 480. The texturing of tips 476, 478, and 480 may be accomplished in any number of ways. One particularly suitable way of texturing tips 476-480 is through micro-etching an exterior surface of the tip. In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the entire fingertip regions of the ring and little finger regions 422, 424 are textured as at 492 and 494 through micro-etching the entire circumferential surface thereof instead of just the tips thereof. The micro-etching may be accomplished by any process known in the art. The micro-etching produces a sand pattern on the tips of thumb region 416, index finger region 418, and middle finger region 420 and on the exterior circumferential surface of the fingertip regions of the ring finger region 422 and little finger region 424.

It will be understood that in other embodiments the tips and fingertip regions may not be textured in such a way as to produce a sand pattern thereon but the texturing may produce other patterns which include but are not limited to herringbone, diamond, raised diamond, swirls, and circles.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the sand pattern illustrated on tips 476-480 and on fingertip regions 492 and 494 may be produced by a process other than micro-etching. Still further, some of the tips and fingertip regions 476-484 may be textured in a first way and with a first pattern and others of the tips and fingertip regions 476-484 may be textured in a different way and with other patterns than a sand pattern.

The texturing on the tips of the digit regions 416, 418, 420 and the fingertip regions of the digit regions 422, 424 serves a number of purposes. Firstly, the texturing helps to strengthen the respective tip and fingertip region, thereby making the tip or fingertip region more robust and less prone to damage. Secondly, the texturing helps the glove to better frictionally engage surfaces that are contacted for some purpose during the performance of a task while wearing glove 410. Apart from the advantages provided by texturing tips of some of the digit regions, which has been discussed earlier herein, the texturing 492, 494 of the fingertip regions of the index and little finger regions 422, 424 may also help a person wearing the glove 410 to better grip and hold on to objects held in their gloved hand.

The texturing 492, 494 on ring finger region 422 and little finger region 424 is illustrated as terminating at the lowermost end of the fingertip regions on the ring and little finger regions 422, 424, respectively, and before the respective transition portion thereon. It will be understood that in other embodiments, texturing may extend into the transition portion of the ring and little finger regions 422, 424 and, in yet other embodiments, texturing may even extend into a part of the remaining portion of the associated digit region.

While FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate that the ring finger region 422 and little finger region 424 include texturing 492 and 494, respectively on the fingertip region thereof, in other embodiments any two of the digit regions of glove 410 may include fingertip region texturing and the remaining three digit regions will only include texturing on the tip thereof. So, for example, the thumb region 416 and ring finger region 422 may have texturing on the entire circumferential surface of the associated fingertip region while the index finger region 418, middle finger region 420, and little finger region 424 may have texture only on the tips of the fingertip regions thereof.

FIG. 17A shows a second example of the fifth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 410A. Glove 410A is identical to glove 410 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of the entire circumferential surface of two fingertip regions being textured and three tips of other fingertip regions being textured, only one of the digit regions includes texturing on the entire fingertip region and the remaining four digit regions have only the tips thereof textured. Specifically, FIG. 17A shows little finger region 424 having texturing 494 on the entire fingertip region thereof and the tip of thumb region 416 is textured as at 476, the tip of index finger region 418 is textured as at 478, the tip of middle finger region 420 is textured as at 480, and the tip of ring finger region 422 is textured as at 482. It will be understood that any one of the digit regions other than little finger region 424 may have its entire fingertip region textured through micro-etching a sand pattern thereon, and the other four digit regions may have their tips micro-etched with the sand pattern. For example, thumb region 416 may have a textured fingertip region and the remaining digit regions may have textured tips. The specific digit regions selected to have their entire circumferential surface of the fingertip region textured and other digit regions having only textured tips will be based on the intended end use of glove 410A.

FIG. 17B shows a third example of the fifth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 410B. Glove 410B is identical to glove 410 in every aspect relating to structure and function except three of the digit regions have the entire fingertip regions thereof textured and the other two digit regions only have textured tips. By way of example only, thumb region 416 and index finger region have textured tips as at 476 and 478, middle finger region 420 has a textured fingertip region as at 490, ring finger region 422 has a textured fingertip region as at 492, and little finger region 424 has a textured fingertip region as at 494. It will be understood that any three digit regions on glove 410B may have entirely textured fingertip regions and the remaining two digit regions will only have textured tips. For example, thumb region 416, index finger region 418, and middle finger region 420 may have textured fingertip regions and ring finger region 422 and little finger region 424 may have textured tips. The specific combination of digit regions having textured fingertip regions and textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 410B.

FIG. 17C shows a fourth example of the fifth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 410C. Glove 410C is identical to glove 410 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that four of the digit regions have entirely textured fingertip regions and the remaining digit region only has a textured tip. Specifically, glove 410C has a textured tip 476 on thumb region 416, and textured fingertip regions 488, 490, 492, 494 on the remaining digit regions. It will be understood that any four of the digit regions on glove 410C will have textured fingertip regions while only one digit region on glove 410C will have a textured tip. The specific digit regions having entirely textured fingertip regions and only textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 410C.

FIG. 17D shows a fifth example of the fifth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 410D. Glove 410D is identical to glove 410 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that all of the digit regions have entirely textured fingertip regions instead of at least one of the digit regions having a textured tip thereon. Glove 410D shows a textured fingertip region 486 of thumb region 416, textured fingertip region 488 of index finger region 418, textured fingertip region 490 of middle finger region 420, textured fingertip region 492 of ring finger region 422, and textured fingertip region 494 of little finger region 424.

The gloves 410, 410A, 410B, 410C, and 410D in accordance with the present disclosure are formed to include a wrist region 412, a palm region 414, and a plurality of digit regions 416-424, wherein at least one digit region has a tip remote from the palm region; and when the glove is formed, the tip on at least one digit region of the glove is textured such as at 476, 478, 480, 482, and 484. Additionally, when the glove is formed, the fingertip region of at least one digit region is textured as at 486, 488, 490, 492, and 494. The method of forming the gloves 410, 410A, 410B, 410C, and 410D may include texturing an exterior arcuate surface at the tip of the at least one digit region 416-424. The arcuate surface is arranged generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the associated digit region. The method of forming the gloves 410, 410A, 410B, 410C, and 410D further includes texturing an entire circumferential surface of a fingertip region of the at least one other digit region. The entire circumferential surface includes the tip and portions of the front, back, and sides of the digit region, extending downwardly towards the palm region of the glove, and terminating generally where a first knuckle of a person's finger or thumb will be located when the glove is worn.

Providing the texture on the tip or fingertip region of any of the digit regions comprises forming a pattern on an exterior surface of the tip or fingertip region, respectively. The pattern which is formed may be sand pattern or any other suitable and desired pattern produced by any method suitable for the particular glove material such to fabricate gloves 410 through 410D. One suitable method is micro-etching the exterior surface of the tip of at least one digit region and the fingertip region of at least one other digit region. The method may further comprise reducing a circumference of the at least one digit region of the plurality of digit regions (by forming a bullet-shaped fingertip region, for example); and then providing the texture on the tip or the fingertip region of the at least one digit region of reduced circumference.

Referring now to FIGS. 21 and 22, there is shown a first example of the seventh embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 610. Glove 610 comprises a wrist region 612, a palm region 614, a thumb region 616, an index finger region 618, a middle finger region 620, a ring finger region 622, and a little finger region 624. Glove 610 defines an interior cavity 610a which is configured to receive a hand of a person therein. Thumb region 616, index finger region 618, middle finger region 620, ring finger region 622, and little finger region 624 comprise digit regions which are configured to receive an associated one of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the person's hand, respectively. Glove 610 is identical in every aspect to glove 410 except that glove 610 includes a plurality of digit regions which taper in circumference from a tip of the associated digit region to palm region 614 of glove 610. In other words, none of the digit regions has a fingertip region which is of a reduced circumference, a transition portion, and a remaining portion. In particular, none of the digit regions has a “bullet-tip” type of fingertip region with a transition portion flaring outwardly from the fingertip region to the remaining portion. The configuration of the digit regions of glove 610 is furthermore substantially identical to the overall configuration of the digit regions 216, 218, 220, 222, and 224 of glove 210 except as it relates to the texturing of the various tips and fingertip regions. With respect to texturing of tips and fingertip regions of the digit regions, glove 610 is substantially identical to glove 410.

While the digit regions of glove 610 do not include fingertip regions which are of a reduced circumference or a bullet-tip configuration, each digit region of glove 10 includes a fingertip region which originates in the tip of the digit region and extends downwardly along the front, back and sides of the digit region to a location which will generally be aligned with a first knuckle of a person's finger or thumb received in that digit region. The fingertip regions of the digit regions of glove 610 gently taper in circumference. Furthermore, the digit regions do not include a flared tapering portion or remaining portion.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the tips of the digit regions 616-624 of glove 610 is textured in an identical manner to the tips of the digit regions 416-424 of glove 410. Additionally, at least one of the fingertip regions of another of the digit regions of glove 610 is textured in an identical manner to the fingertip regions of glove 410, i.e., preferably through micro-etching to create a sand pattern on the exterior circumferential surface of the digit region. The entire circumferential surface of the fingertip region is textured. The description of glove 410 and the texturing of the various tips and fingertip regions applies equally to glove 610 except as it relates to glove 610 being an ambidextrous glove with gradually tapering digit regions.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show the first example of the seventh embodiment glove 610 where the tip of the thumb region 616 is textured as at 676; the tip of the index finger region 618 is textured as at 678, and the tip of the middle finger region 620 is textured as at 680. It will be understood that the rest of the fingertip region of the associated digit region 616, 618, 620 which extends downwardly from the textured tip 676, 678, 686 is smooth and free of texture. In other words, a gripping surface of the rest of the fingertip region on the index finger region 518, for example, will not be micro-etched or textured in some other manner. The gripping surface of the rest of the fingertip region will be at least that surface which would contact an object gripped in the hand of the person wearing the glove.

Like glove 410, ring finger region 622 of glove 610 has a fingertip region which has its entire circumferential surface textured as at 692. Furthermore, like glove 410, little finger region 624 of glove 610 has a fingertip region which has its entire circumferential surface textured as at 694. The texturing 692 and 694 is of a substantially identical type to the texturing of the fingertip regions of glove 410 as at 492 and 494 and is accomplished in the same manner. Similarly, the texturing of tips 676, 678, 680 is substantially identical to the texturing of tips 476, 478480 and is accomplished in the same manner. One particularly suitable way of texturing tips 676-680 is through micro-etching an exterior surface of the tip. In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, fingertip regions of the ring and little finger regions 622, 624 are textured as at 692 and 694 through micro-etching the entire circumferential surface thereof instead of just the tips thereof. The micro-etching may be accomplished by any process known in the art. The micro-etching produces a sand pattern on the tips of thumb region 616, index finger region 618, and middle finger region 620 and on the exterior circumferential surface of the fingertip region of the ring finger region 622 and little finger region 624.

It will be understood that in other embodiments the tips and fingertip region may not be textured in such a way as to produce a sand pattern thereon but the texturing may produce other patterns which include but are not limited to herringbone, diamond, raised diamond, swirls, and circles. Furthermore, it should be understood that the sand pattern illustrated on tips 676-680 and on fingertip regions 692 and 694 may be produced by a process other than micro-etching. Still further, some of the tips and fingertip regions 676-684 may be textured in a first way and with a first pattern and others of the tips and fingertip regions 676-684 may be textured in a different way and with other patterns than a sand pattern.

While FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate that the ring finger region 622 and little finger region 624 include texturing 692 and 694, respectively on the fingertip region thereof, in other embodiments any two of the digit regions of glove 610 may include entire fingertip region texturing and the remaining three digit regions may only include texturing on the tip thereof. So, for example, the thumb region 616 and ring finger region 622 may have texturing on the associated fingertip region thereof and the index finger region 618, middle finger region 620, and little finger region 624 may have texture only on the tips thereof.

FIG. 23A shows a second example of the seventh embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 610A. Glove 610A is identical to glove 610 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of two fingertip regions being textured and three tips being textured, only one of the digit regions includes texturing on the entire circumferential surface of the fingertip region thereof and the remaining four digit regions have only the tips thereof textured. Specifically, FIG. 23A shows little finger region 624 having texturing 694 on the fingertip region thereof and the tip of thumb region 616 is textured as at 676, the tip of index finger region 618 is textured as at 678, the tip of middle finger region 620 is textured as at 680, and the tip of ring finger region 622 is textured as at 682. It will be understood that any one of the digit regions other than little finger region 624 may have its entire fingertip region textured through micro-etching a sand pattern thereon, and the other four digit regions may have their tips micro-etched with the sand pattern. For example, thumb region 616 may have a textured fingertip region and the remaining digit regions may have textured tips. The specific digit regions having textured fingertip regions and textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 610A.

FIG. 23B shows a third example of the seventh embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 610B. Glove 610B is identical to glove 610 in every aspect relating to structure and function except three of the digit regions have textured fingertip regions and the other two digit regions have textured tips. By way of example only, thumb region 616 and index finger region have textured tips as at 676 and 678, middle finger region 620 has a textured fingertip region as at 690, ring finger region 622 has a textured fingertip region as at 692, and little finger region 624 has a textured fingertip region as at 694. It will be understood that any three digit regions on glove 610B may have textured fingertip regions and the remaining two digit regions will have textured tips. For example, thumb region 616, index finger region 618, and middle finger region 620 may have textured fingertip regions and ring finger region 622 and little finger region 624 may have textured tips. The specific digit regions having textured fingertip regions and textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 610B.

FIG. 23C shows a fourth example of the seventh embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 610C. Glove 610C is identical to glove 610 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that four of the digit regions have textured fingertip regions and the remaining digit region only has a textured tip. Specifically, glove 610C has a textured tip 676 on thumb region 616, and textured fingertip regions 688, 690, 692, 694 on the remaining digit regions. It will be understood that any four of the digit regions on glove 610C may have textured fingertip regions while only one digit region on glove 610C may have a textured tip. The specific digit regions having textured fingertip regions and textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 610C.

FIG. 23D shows a fifth example of the seventh embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 610D. Glove 610D is identical to glove 610 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that all of the digit regions have textured fingertip regions instead of at least one of the digit regions having a textured tip thereon. Glove 610D shows a textured fingertip region 686 of thumb region 616, textured fingertip region 688 of index finger region 618, textured fingertip region 690 of middle finger region 620, textured fingertip region 692 of ring finger region 622, and textured fingertip region 694 of little finger region 624.

Referring now to FIGS. 24 and 25, there is shown a first example of the eighth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 710. Glove 710 comprises a wrist region 712, a palm region 714, a thumb region 716, an index finger region 718, a middle finger region 720, a ring finger region 722, and a little finger region 724. Glove 710 defines an interior cavity 710a which is configured to receive a hand of a person therein. Thumb region 716, index finger region 718, middle finger region 720, ring finger region 722, and little finger region 724 comprise digit regions which are configured to receive an associated one of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the person's hand, respectively. Glove 710 is identical in every aspect to glove 610 except that glove 710 is a hand-specific glove instead of an ambidextrous glove. The description of the features of glove 610 therefore applies equally to the features of glove 710 except as relates to whether the glove is able to only be worn on one hand or on either hand.

Glove 710 includes a plurality of digit regions which taper in circumference from palm region 714 to a tip of the associated digit region. In other words, like glove 610, none of the digit regions has a fingertip region of reduced circumference, a flaring transition portion, and a remaining portion. In particular, none of the digit regions has a “bullet-tip” type of fingertip region with a transition portion flaring outwardly from the fingertip region to the remaining portion. The digit regions and texturing of glove 710 is substantially identical to that of glove 610 and therefore will not be described in much detail hereafter.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the tips of the digit regions 716-724 of glove 710 is textured in an identical manner to the textured tips of the digit regions 616-624 of glove 610. Additionally, at least one of the fingertip regions of another of the digit regions is textured in an identical manner to at least one of the fingertip regions of glove 610, i.e., preferably through micro-etching to create a sand pattern on the circumferential exterior surface of the fingertip region.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show the first example of the eighth embodiment glove 710 where the tip of the thumb region 716 is textured as at 776; the tip of the index finger region 718 is textured as at 778, and the tip of the middle finger region 720 is textured as at 780. Like glove 610, ring finger region 722 of glove 710 has a fingertip region which has its entire circumferential surface textured as at 792. Furthermore, like glove 610, little finger region 724 of glove 710 has a fingertip region which has its entire circumferential surface textured as at 794. The texturing 792 and 794 is of a substantially identical type to the texturing of the fingertip regions of glove 610 as at 692 and 694 and is accomplished in the same manner. Similarly, the texturing of tips 776, 778, 780 is substantially identical to the texturing of tips 676, 678680 and is accomplished in the same manner.

While FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate that the ring finger region 722 and little finger region 724 include texturing 792 and 794, respectively on the fingertip region thereof, in other embodiments any two of the digit regions of glove 710 may include fingertip region texturing and the remaining three digit regions will only include texturing on the tip thereof. So, for example, the thumb region 716 and ring finger region 722 may have texturing on the associated fingertip region thereof and the index finger region 718, middle finger region 720, and little finger region 724 may have texturing only on the tips thereof.

FIG. 26A shows a second example of the eighth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 710A. Glove 710A is identical to glove 710 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that instead of two fingertip regions being textured and three tips being textured, only one of the digit regions includes texturing on the fingertip region thereof and the remaining four digit regions have only the tips thereof textured. Specifically, FIG. 26A shows little finger region 724 having texturing 794 on the fingertip region thereof and the tip of thumb region 716 is textured as at 776, the tip of index finger region 718 is textured as at 778, the tip of middle finger region 720 is textured as at 780, and the tip of ring finger region 722 is textured as at 782. It will be understood that any one of the digit regions other than little finger region 724 may have its fingertip region textured through micro-etching a sand pattern thereon, and the other four digit regions may have their tips micro-etched with the sand pattern. For example, thumb region 716 may have a textured fingertip region and the remaining digit regions may have textured tips. The specific digit regions having textured fingertip regions and textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 710A.

FIG. 26B shows a third example of the eighth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 710B. Glove 710B is identical to glove 710 in every aspect relating to structure and function except three of the digit regions have textured fingertip regions and the other two digit regions have textured tips. By way of example only, thumb region 716 and index finger region have textured tips as at 776 and 778, middle finger region 720 has a textured fingertip region as at 790, ring finger region 722 has a textured fingertip region as at 792, and little finger region 724 has a textured fingertip region as at 794. It will be understood that any three digit regions on glove 710B may have textured fingertip regions and the remaining two digit regions will have textured tips. For example, thumb region 716, index finger region 718, and middle finger region 720 may have textured fingertip regions and ring finger region 722 and little finger region 724 may have textured tips. The specific digit regions having textured fingertip regions and textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 710B.

FIG. 26C shows a fourth example of the eighth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 710C. Glove 710C is identical to glove 710 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that four of the digit regions have textured fingertip regions and the remaining digit region only has a textured tip. Specifically, glove 710C has a textured tip 776 on thumb region 716, and textured fingertip regions 788, 790, 792, 794 on the remaining digit regions. It will be understood that any four of the digit regions on glove 710C may have textured fingertip regions while only one digit region on glove 710C may have a textured tip. The specific digit regions having textured fingertip regions and textured tips will be selected based on the intended end use of glove 710C.

FIG. 26D shows a fifth example of the eighth embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated as glove 710D. Glove 710D is identical to glove 710 in every aspect relating to structure and function except that all of the digit regions have textured fingertip regions instead of at least one of the digit regions having a textured tip thereon. Glove 710D shows a textured fingertip region 786 of thumb region 716, textured fingertip region 788 of index finger region 718, textured fingertip region 790 of middle finger region 720, textured fingertip region 792 of ring finger region 722, and textured fingertip region 794 of little finger region 724.

The attached figures show a sample of different configurations of the embodiments of the glove having textured hemispherical tips on the digit regions. Other figures show a sample of different configurations of the embodiments of the glove having some textured hemispherical tips on some digit regions and entirely textured fingertip regions on other digit regions.

It will be understood that in any embodiment disclosed herein one or more digit regions may have a reduced circumference fingertip region, for example, while all other digit regions on that same glove may be of substantially of a gradually reducing circumference moving outwardly from the palm region towards the tip of those particular digit regions.

It will be understood that all embodiments of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure are formed in a substantially identical manner to how gloves 10 through 10D are formed and textured. For example, forming an ambidextrous glove instead of a hand-specific glove will require a slightly-differently configured former for dipping in liquid nitrile but the rest of the method of forming the glove and texturing one or more tips thereon and/or one or more fingertip regions thereon will be substantially identical for ambidextrous and hand-specific gloves.

It should further be understood that while the embodiments which include texturing on the circumferential surface of the fingertip regions have been described herein as having the entire circumferential surface textured, the texturing may be spread around the entire circumferential surface such that a majority of the circumferential surface is textured. There may be areas of the circumferential surface of the fingertip region which are free of texturing, i.e., are smooth. For example, parts of the sides of the fingertip regions may be free of texture while the front and back of the fingertip region may be textured.

Unless explicitly stated that a particular shape or configuration of a component is mandatory, any of the elements, components, or structures discussed herein may take the form of any shape. Thus, although the figures depict the various elements, components, or structures of the present disclosure according to one or more exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that any other geometric configuration of that element, component, or structure is entirely possible.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

While components of the present disclosure are described herein in relation to each other, it is possible for one of the components disclosed herein to include inventive subject matter, if claimed alone or used alone. In keeping with the above example, if the disclosed embodiments teach the features of A and B, then there may be inventive subject matter in the combination of A and B, A alone, or B alone, unless otherwise stated herein.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed herein could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.

If this specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

To the extent that the present disclosure has utilized the term “invention” in various titles or sections of this specification, this term was included as required by the formatting requirements of word document submissions pursuant the guidelines/requirements of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and shall not, in any manner, be considered a disavowal of any subject matter.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A glove comprising: a wrist region;a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region;a plurality of digit regions extending outwardly from the palm region;a tip provided at one end of a fingertip region of each digit region of the plurality of digit regions, wherein the tip is remote from the palm region and the fingertip region extends downwardly from the tip to an area which will be located proximate a first knuckle of a person's finger or thumb received in the digit region; anda texture provided on at least one tip of the plurality of digit regions.

2. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the texture is provided on an exterior of an arcuate surface of the at least one tip.

3. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the texture is provided on the at least one tip forms a pattern.

4. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the texture is provided on the at least one tip through a micro-etching process.

5. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is only provided on the tip of one of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region.

6. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of a combination of two of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region.

7. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of a combination of three of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region.

8. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of a combination of four of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region.

9. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the texture provided on the at least one tip is provided on the tips of all of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring finger region, and the little finger region.

10. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the fingertip region of one or more of the plurality of digit regions is of a reduced circumference, and flares into a transition portion and then into a remaining portion which terminates in the palm region.

11. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tip provided with the texture is generally hemispherical in configuration.

12. The glove according to claim 1, further comprising a texture provided on a circumferential surface of the fingertip region of at least one other of the plurality of digit regions.

13. The glove according to claim 12, wherein the texture on the circumferential surface of the fingertip region of at least one other of the plurality of digit regions is the same as the texture on the at least one tip of the plurality of digit regions.

14. The glove according to claim 13, wherein the fingertip region of the at least one other of the plurality of digit regions is of a reduced circumference, and flares into a transition portion and then into a remaining portion which terminates in the palm region.

15. The glove according to claim 14, wherein the texture on the fingertip region does not extend into the transition portion.

16. A method comprising: forming a glove having a wrist region, a palm region, and a plurality of digit regions, each digit region of the plurality of digit regions having a fingertip region with a tip located remote from the palm region, wherein the fingertip region is adapted to terminate proximate where a first knuckle of a person's finger or thumb will be located when the glove is worn; andproviding a texture on the tip of at least one digit region of the plurality of digit regions.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein providing the texture on the tip comprises micro-etching an exterior surface of the tip.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising providing a texture on an exterior circumferential surface of the fingertip region of another of the plurality of digit regions.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein providing the texture on the fingertip region comprises micro-etching the exterior circumferential surface of the fingertip region.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising forming a rest of the glove free of texture.