Patent Application
20140208477
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to protective clothing and methods of manufacturing the same. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a protective clohting providing maximum protection with minimal restriction on range of movement, and method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sports such as skateboarding, rollerblading, snowboarding, are both extremely exciting and quite dangerous. Propelling oneself quickly across a concrete pathway or down the side of a snow/ice-covered mountain can provide an intense adrenaline rush. However, if one should fall on the concrete or in the snow/ice, the enjoyable sensation may quickly depart and be replaced by excruciating pain in the event of an injury.
One of the most common locations for injuries to a skateboarder, rollerblader, or snowboarder, is in the wrist.
The wrist 120 is composed of a junction between finger bones and arm bones, with a fragile core of Carpus bones. Protecting these bones is the key to preventing bruising, spraining and long term wrist injury, as well as immediate fractures. When no protection is utilized, common injuries include sprained ligaments 122 in the wrist or hand, median nerve damage 124, a scaphoidic fracture 126, among several others.
Most protective gloves in the market today suffer from the same problems. On one side of the spectrum, many of the gloves that utilize wrist protection (or separable wrist guards) do so by providing a very rigid polymer board against the wrist, such that the user may not suffer hyperextension or flexor extension in the event of a fall. However, with rigidity comes lack of movement, and thus, the user may be limited in his or her wrist mobility and ability to perform stunts wearing such protection.
On the other end of the spectrum, gloves that allow for wrist mobility generally have either unrestrictive cloth or nothing as a form of wrist protection. In view of the forces experienced when a user falls and puts his or her hand down, as shown in
As such, there is a need for protective clothing and methods of manufacturing the same.
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a protective clothing and methods of manufacturing the same. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to protective clothing providing maximum protection with minimal restriction on range of movement, and method of manufacturing the same.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a wrist protecting glove comprises a pad formed to fit over a user's palm, a holding material integrally formed within the pad, and a palm strap for affixing the wrist protecting glove on a user's hand, the palm strap affixed to the holding material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a wrist protecting glove comprises a polyurethane pad, formed to fit over a user's palm, a holding material integrally formed within the pad, a set of snap fasteners for closing the holding material around a user's thumb, a palm strap for affixing the wrist protecting glove on a user's hand, the palm strap affixed to the holding material, and a D-ring assembly for receiving the palm strap, wherein the palm strap comprises a hook and loop fastener strap for looping through the D-ring assembly and fastening onto itself to affix the wrist protecting glove on the user's hand.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a wrist protecting glove comprises: cutting a holding material from a blank of material using a template; forming pad molds by creating an impression in the form of a user's palms; creating pads from a viscous material poured into the molds and allowing the material to harden; affixing the holding material integrally into the pads utilizing a pattern mold; providing a stack of materials underneath the holding material and securing the materials together around a common edge; and affixing a restraining mechanism on the stack of materials, the restraining mechanism for allowing a user to keep the wrist protecting glove on the user's hand during use.
So the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of the present invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, one of which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of embodiments encompassed within the scope of the present invention, and, therefore, is not to be considered limiting, for the present invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word may is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to protective clothing and methods of manufacturing the same. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to protective clothing providing maximum protection with minimal restriction on range of movement, and method of manufacturing the same.
Generally, a wrist protecting glove 300 comprises a pad 310, a holding material 320 integrally formed with the pad 310, a palm strap 330 and associated connector means 332, and optionally, a thumb closure means 340a and 340b. The palm strap 330 may comprise any type of strap or enclosure device suitable for embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the palm strap 330 comprises a hook and loop fastener strap and the connector means 332 comprises a ring through which the palm strap 330 may loop therethrough and fasten onto itself. In another embodiment, the palm strap 330 may comprise a swatch of material having eye holes aligned down its length, and the connector means 332 comprises a buckle. In yet another embodiment, the palm strap 330 may comprise a snap-type assembly and the connector means 332 comprises an opposing snap.
The thumb closure means 340a and 340b comprises any fastener assembly suitable for embodiments of the present invention. Generally, the thumb closure means 340a and 340b comprises any fastener that enables the two sections of the wrist protecting glove 300 identified by 340a and 340b to substantially come together and close around a user's thumb when worn. In one embodiment, the thumb closure means 340a and 340b comprises a pair of snaps. In another embodiment, the thumb closure means comprises a hook and loop fastener, optionally comprising a similar strap and ring assembly as described above with the palm strap 330.
As shown in the Figure, the wrist protecting glove 300 may be positioned with the palm strap closed and the thumb closure means open 305, the thumb closure means closed and the palm strap open 309, or with both the thumb closure means and the palm strap closed 307. In addition, as evidenced by the top view 302 and bottom view 304, the wrist protecting glove 300 may be left completely open as well.
In some embodiments, it may be desirable to create an aesthetically pleasing pattern in the mold, such that the pad has a design thereon. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention may comprise any of a typical hand design, an animal hand/paw design, a logo/trademark design, a character image, or the like. In one specific embodiment, the pad comprises the palm print of a gorilla, such that the distinctive lines of a gorilla's palms are exhibited on the surface of the pad. Such designs may be attained by having a user's hand decorated in such a fashion, or may be done subsequent to the general formation of the mold.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the pad may be manufactured from a natural or synthetic rubber, for example, vulcanized rubber. In yet another embodiment, the pad may comprise an air or liquid pocket, encased within a pocket of supportive material, such material comprising any of the materials described herein or the like.
In one embodiment, the materials 1100 comprise the palm having the pad 1110 and holding material 1120 assembly, a layer of padding 1130 (e.g., ¼″ Styrofoam—although any padding may be suitable), and a double cloth 1140, optionally having soft padding therein. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the materials 1100 may comprise various forms of other materials as applications may require. For example, in one embodiment, for use in colder environments, additional layers may be provided for warmth. In another example, the materials 1100 may be based upon a user's skill level and/or likelihood of injury (i.e., a novice may have an additional layer of thick padding to protect against likely falls, and an expert may have only a ⅛″ layer of padding material instead of the layer of padding 1130 described above).
Once the edges of the materials are connected together, the restraining mechanisms (i.e., the components for allowing a user to keep the wrist protecting glove on the hand during use—the palm strap and the thumb closure means) may be attached to the materials. In one embodiment, two thumb closure means (e.g., snaps) on the flaps of the materials around a thumb portion, as well as a palm strap (e.g., strap and D-ring), may be attached. Although snaps and D-rings with straps are described herein, embodiments of the present invention contemplate the use of any means for connecting the relevant portions of the wrist protecting glove, including hook and look fasteners (e.g., Velcro), a tying mechanism, a zipper, or the like, optionally in conjunction with either the snaps and/or the D-rings with straps. In one embodiment, the two flaps around the thumb portion may be manufactured as a single cloth piece, thus eliminating the need to provide a connecting means between them.
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizing “snaps” to connect the flaps of the wrist protecting glove, the snaps may serve three purposes. A first purpose is look of the apparatus, allowing the wrist protecting glove to fold open for display, and add some weight to the wrist protecting glove, for example, when hanging on a rack in a store. A second purpose for the snaps is ventilation and comfort, providing as little contact with the body as possible, thereby reducing the heat factor and making them comfortable to wear. In addition, since the snaps are behind the thumb, they receive almost no direct stress, there is no chance of the snaps popping open on impact and when doing certain normal things (like riding straight), or resting, the skateboarder may leave the flaps opened for ventilation, and close them easily when they are performing harder and more dangerous maneuvers. A third purpose is size because a user can adjust slightly by using only one snap, either forward or backward according to hand size.
It should be appreciated from embodiments of the present invention, the pad of the glove as described herein, could be similarly bonded to any manner of glove pattern and/or design, for example, a snowboarding glove or the like. Accordingly, although shown as covering only a portion of the hand in the embodiments above, alternative embodiments support the novel features of the invention described herein, embodied in any form of hand/wrist covering.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. It is also understood that various embodiments described herein may be utilized in combination with any other embodiment described, without departing from the scope contained herein. In addition, embodiments of the present invention may be further scalable, as particular applications may require.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/154,474 entitled “Wrist Protecting Glove and Methods Thereof”, filed Jun. 7, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/351,950, entitled “Wrist Protecting Glove and Methods Thereof,” and filed Jun. 7, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13154474 | Jun 2011 | US |
| Child | 14254879 | US |
