SHELLS FOR GLOVES

TECHNICAL FIELD

BACKGROUND

People engaging in winter sports, or other activities that take place in harsh-climate conditions frequently use gloves. Gloves often provide warmth and protection to a user's hands. Adjusting the warmth provided by a glove, for high variation of ambient temperatures, can be challenging. Gloves can have additional features such as non-slip fabric to improve grip, soft fabric for wiping the nose, or a rubber or silicone blade that can be used to wipe away water or snow from goggles. These features can be located on the glove's thumb. A user can also desire to wear gloves for aesthetic or fashion purposes although the appearance of a pair of gloves is generally not changeable.

Over time or with more use, gloves can become damaged. This damage can manifest as a defect or hole, which can diminish the glove's ability to warm or protect a user's hands. Repairing such a defect or hole can be challenging and/or expensive. Also, such a defect or a hole in a glove can prompt a user to obtain a new pair of gloves, which can be expensive.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to interchangeable shells for gloves that can cover gloves. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to interchangeable shells for gloves that can provide added protection, decoration, warmth, waterproofing, or other features. In some implementations, an apparatus includes: a glove shell configured to fit over a glove; the glove shell including a covering portion that covers a non-thumb portion of the glove when the glove shell is fitted over the glove; and the glove shell including a closed rounded distal end, an opened proximal end, and a through hole opening formed on a side of the glove shell above a portion of the glove shell having a trapezoidal cross-section, wherein the opening is configured to receive a thumb portion of the glove and at least partially surround a corresponding base of the thumb portion of the glove, wherein the thumb portion of the glove is exposed in whole or in part when the glove shell is fitted over the glove.

The foregoing and other implementations can each optionally include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination. In particular, implementations can include all the following features:

In an aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the glove is a first glove and wherein the glove shell is configured to fit over a second glove different from the first glove. In another aspect, the apparatus further includes: a pull tab that is coupled to a cuff portion of the glove shell. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the pull tab is rectangularly shaped. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the pull tab is coupled to the glove shell in a folded configuration, wherein a first end of the pull tab is coupled to an outer portion of the glove shell and a second end of the pull tab is coupled to an inner portion of the glove shell. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the pull tab is coupled to a middle section of the opened proximal end. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the glove shell is made of a blended material. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the blended material includes a blend between a synthetic material and a stretchable material. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the synthetic material includes one of polyester, recycled polyester, nylon, or recycled nylon, microporous polymer, thermoplastic polymer; and the stretchable material includes elastane. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the synthetic material weighs 100 to 300 grams per square meter. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the glove shell is imprinted with a design.

Other implementations include a glove shell for a hand covering, including: a cover including a nonthumb covering portion including a closed rounded distal end and an opened proximal end, at least a portion of the nonthumb covering portion including a trapezoidal cross-section; and a through hole opening formed in a thumb portion of the cover, wherein the trapezoidal cross-section includes a tapering width increasing from the thumb portion of the cover to the opened proximal end. The glove shell can further include at least one pull tab that is coupled to a cuff portion of the cover. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the at least one pull tab includes a pair of pull tabs, each pull tab of the pair of pull tabs being coupled to a symmetrically opposite portion of the cover. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, cach pull tab of the pair of pull tabs includes a loop. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, each pull tab of the pair of pull tabs includes a coupling feature for detachably coupling the pull tabs to each other. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the cover is made of a blended material. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the blended material includes a blend between a synthetic material and a stretchable material. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the synthetic material includes one of polyester, recycled polyester, nylon, or recycled nylon, wherein the synthetic material weighs 100 to 300 grams per square meter; and the stretchable material includes elastane, wherein the stretchable material provides three-dimensional stretching to approximately 50% of an unstretched dimension. In another aspect, combinable with any of the previous aspects, the cover is imprinted with a design including an identifier of the glove shell.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show particular aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In the drawings,

FIG. 1A is a front view of an example glove shell.

FIG. 1B is a side view of an example glove shell.

FIG. 1C is a sectioned view of an example glove shell.

FIG. 2A is a view of an example pair of glove shells.

FIG. 2B is a view of an example pair of glove shells covering gloves.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of an example glove shell covering a glove of a first dimension.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the example glove shell covering a glove of a second dimension.

FIG. 3C is a schematic view of the example glove shell covering a glove and a portion of a sleeve.

FIG. 3D is an exploded view of the example glove shell covering the glove and the portion of the sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a view of examples of glove shells of different sizes and with different patterns.

When practical, like labels are used to refer to same or similar items in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to interchangeable shells, which can, e.g., add protection, decoration, warmth, waterproofing, wind resistance, breathability, and/or other features, when applied on top of gloves. “Glove(s),” as used herein, refers to gloves, mittens, or other hand coverings that cover in whole or in part at least the thumb and one or more fingers on the hand of the wearer.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate different schematic views of an example glove shell 100. The example glove shell 100 includes a body 102 forming a through hole opening 104. The example glove shell 100 further includes one or two pull tabs 106A, 106B that is/are coupled to a cuff portion 108 of the body 102. The body 102 defines a covering portion with a rounded apex 110 configured to match a curvature of figure tips of a human hand. The body 102 covers a non-thumb portion of the glove when the glove shell is fitted over a glove being inserted through the cuff portion 108 defining an opened end of the body 102. The body 102 includes a bottom section 112 that extends from the opening 104 to the cuff portion 108. The bottom section 112 can have a trapezoidal shape with a tapering width, such that the portion of the bottom section 112 proximal to the opening 104 has a narrow lateral width by the opening 104 and the potion of the bottom section proximal the cuff portion 108 has a wider lateral width. FIG. 1A illustrates a dotted line that is for illustration purposes only to demarcate an imaginary horizontal edge of the trapezoidal shape. This is further described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D.

The body 102 can feature reinforced stitching 114A, 114B, 114C crossing one or more folded portions of the material. The stitching along the cuff portion 108 includes double stitching that reinforces the edge of the cuff portion 108 and the pull tabs 106A, 106B. The stitching around the opening 104 includes double stitching that reinforces the edge of the opening 104. In some implementations, an elastic, tear resistant string 116 (shown in FIG. 1C) is inserted within the folded portion of the material forming the edge of the opening 104 to increase a durability of the glove shell 100 by preventing tearing from extended pressure applied by the glove thumb during usage. For example, the opening 104 can be finished by a hem line, and/or by surging, and/or by ribbon sewn over the unfinished edge, and/or by using bias tape to increase its durability.

The stitching along the body 114C is located on the interior or inside of glove shell 100. The interior stitching includes an inside seam situated on an interior of the glove shell 100 such that there is no exteriorly exposed seam between a palmar portion 118A of the glove shell 100 and a dorsal portion 118B of the glove shell 100. In some implementations, the edge of the opening 104 can be curved on the palmar portion 118A of the glove shell 100 and can be approximately linear on the dorsal portion 118B of the glove shell 100.

In some implementations, the glove shell 100 described herein can include any number of pull tabs 106A, 106B. For example, the glove shell 100 can include a single pull tab 106A, two pull tabs 106A, 106B, or more than two pull tabs. The pull tabs 106A, 106B can be located near the hem of the cuff 108. For example, one pull tab 106A can be attached near the hem of the cuff on the glove shell's dorsal side 118B and another pull tab 106B can be attached near the hem of the cuff on the glove shell's palmar side 118A. The pull tabs 106A, 106B can be attached to a central portion of the cuff portion 108, approximately in the middle between the side stitching of the body 114C of the glove shell 100. Because a user naturally loses some dexterity when wearing a glove, the pull tabs 106A, 106B facilitate control of the proximal end 108 of the glove shell 100. The location and the size of the pull tabs 106A, 106B also improve user's ability to pull the glove shell taut over the underlying glove.

In some implementations, the pull tab 106A, 106B can be formed as a continuous piece of fabric that wraps around the cuff of the glove shell. The pull tabs 106A, 106B can be rectangularly shaped. The pull tabs 106A, 106B form a loop having an outer section 120A and an inner section 120B. The outer section 120A of the pull tabs 106A, 106B is attached (through exterior stitching) to an outer portion 122A of the glove shell 100 and the inner surface 120B of the pull tabs 106A, 106B is attached (through inner stitching) to an inner surface 122B of the glove shell 100. Additionally, the pull tabs 106A, 106B can also include a detachably coupling (fastener) system, such as a snap button or hook-and-loop fasteners, that detachably connects shells to each other to form a detachable pair, when they are not worn by a user. Additionally, the pull tabs 106A, 106B can facilitate a user's ability to store the glove shells, c.g., by hanging them from a hook. In some implementations, the pull tabs 106A, 106B can be made of, e.g., woven label fabric, and can be sewn or fastened to the glove shells via another attachment mechanism (e.g., gluc).

In some implementations, the glove shells 100 described herein can be made with lightweight material, such as polyester or nylon, that typically ranges from 100-300 grams per square meter, such as approximately 200 grams per square meter. For example, the glove shells 100 described herein can include approximately 82% nylon and approximately 18% spandex. The lightweight nature of such shells preserves the dexterity, flexion, and tactile sensation of the underlying gloves. In some embodiments, the material of glove shell 100 can be selected to allow a user wearing glove shell 100 to operate the input mechanism of an electronic device. The input mechanism of the electronic device can take a variety of forms such as, for example, a button, keypad, dial, a click wheel, or a touch screen. In some embodiments, the input mechanism can include a multi-touch screen. In some embodiments, the input mechanism can emulate a rotary phone or a multi-button keypad, which can be implemented on a touch screen, or the combination of a click wheel or other user input device and a screen.

The material selected for glove shell 100 can include attributes effective to operate particular input mechanisms. In some embodiments, glove shell 100 can be manufactured from a material that provides high tactile feedback for the user when operating an electronic device. For example, glove shell 100 can be manufactured from a thin fabric material (e.g., cotton, wool, linen, silk or synthetic fabric). As another example, glove shell 100 can be manufactured from latex, vinyl, rubber, neoprene, or any other suitable flexible material. In some embodiments, glove shell 100 can include material providing high tactile feedback at portions of glove shell 100 that can come into contact with an input mechanism (e.g., only within a portion of the apex 110 of the glove shell 100). In some embodiments, the glove shell for a hand of a pair of gloves can include material that conserves the tactile feedback of the inserted glove (as shown in FIG. 2B and FIGS. 3A-3D).

In some embodiments, glove shell 100 can be constructed from a material having low thermal conductivity. For example, glove shell 100 can be constructed from a material that retains heat around the user's glove and does not allow heat generated to dissipate when the glove shell is exposed, even if the glove includes one or more holes. Suitable materials can include, for example, rubber, polystyrene, silica aerogel, plastic, polymers, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the material can be provided in the form of a fabric to provide high tactile feedback. For example, the material can include a polymer fabric with thin portions (e.g., at least around the tip of fingers). The thermal conductivity of glove shell 100 can provide a user with an anti-sticky feel when using the input mechanism (e.g., as compared to bare fingertips) because of the lack of sweat-induced moisture.

In some embodiments, glove shell 100 can be constructed from an electrically conductive material (e.g., conductive fibers made of stainless steel, silver, copper, nickel). For example, glove shell 100 can be constructed from a material with an electrical resistivity similar to that of a user's skin. Choosing an electrically conductive material can be necessary, for example, to interface with input mechanisms that use the electrical resistivity of a user's fingers to determine whether a user is providing an input (e.g., as opposed to an errant interaction with the input mechanism).

Instead of or in addition to having the various properties described above, the material selected for glove shell 100 can match the composition and properties of the glove material, such that using the glove shell 100 or using no glove shell 100 is indistinguishable to the user. One material that can include most or all of the properties described above can be a fabric material constructed from electrically conductive polymer. The polymer can be selected such that the thermal conductivity of the glove shell 100 is minimized while retaining a portion of electrical conductivity for the user's inputs to be recognized by the input mechanism (e.g., because thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity can be inversely related).

In some implementations, as described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D, the glove shells 100 can be adjusted (e.g., stretched) so that they are tightly applied on top of gloves of different configurations, including different shapes and dimensions (different diameters). In some implementations, the glove shells 100 described herein can be made with stretchable material such as elastane. By incorporating stretchable material, the glove shells 100 have a natural tendency to conform to the shape and contours of the underlying glove. This further helps to preserve the dexterity and flexion of the underlying glove. The stretchable nature of the material also enables a user to easily remove the glove shell 100 in one motion, e.g., by grasping the area of the glove shell 100 close to the user's fingers and pulling it away from the user's hand.

In some implementations, the glove shells 100 can be both lightweight and stretchable and this can be achieved by combining the above-recited materials, e.g., by blending a lightweight, synthetic base such as polyester or nylon, with a stretchable material such as elastane. Typically, these blends are comprised of 70-90% synthetic material (such as polyester, recycled polyester, nylon or recycled nylon) blended with 10-30% stretchable material (such as, e.g., elastane, lycra, spandex). The resulting material provides the glove shell's overall fabric with a texture that is smooth enough to enable a user to easily slide the glove shell on or off a glove (or even another shell 100) yet provides enough friction and/or compression between the glove shell and the glove so that the glove shell does not inadvertently slide off the glove during general use. The blended combination of fabrics also permits a sleek and low profile of the glove shell 100, which improves the ease of applying another glove shell 100 on top of an existing shell 100. For example, a user can desire to apply two shells 100 to an existing glove, in which one shell 100 primarily adds warmth and another shell 100 primarily adds decoration or the addition of multiple layered glove shells can increase the warmth level provided by the glove shell(s) 100.

A material used for stitching 114A, 114B, 114C can be compatible with the material used for the glove shell 100 to maintain the overall characteristics of the glove shell 100. For example, glove shells 100 designed to be both lightweight and stretchable can include stitching 114A, 114B, 114C with lightweight and stretchable materials, such as elastane. The stitching 114A, 114B, 114C can include natural materials, such as naturally derived fiber or synthetic materials (polymers), e.g., nylon or nylon-like polymers. In some implementations, synthetic materials for stitching 114A, 114B, 114C can include aromatic polyamide. Nonlimiting examples of aromatic polyamides suitable for stitching 114A, 114B, 114C can include aramid or para-aramid.

Unlike other glove covering, which are generally bulky and do not conform to the shape and contours of the underlying glove due to the weight, stiffness, and/or nonstretchable materials typically used in such coverings, the glove shells 100 described herein enable flexion and dexterity of the underlying glove without impairing or otherwise limiting the accessibility to features provided on the underlying thumb covering of the glove, such as non-slip fabric, soft fabric, or a silicone blade or other features.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an example pair 200A, 200B of glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. FIG. 2A illustrates an example glove shell pair 200A without gloves underneath. FIG. 2B illustrates an example glove shell pair 200B applied on top of gloves 202. The glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D include designs 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D printed on the outer portion 122A of the glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. The designs 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D include design patterns, images, and/or other information applied to each of the glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. For example, the designs 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D can include a base design pattern and a unique portion of the pattern that can be used as an identifier for the pair 200A, 200B of glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. The base pattern can be used to identify a group of users (c.g., a team, a family, or any group of people sharing a characteristic). The designs 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D can be selected to create a seamless print across the vertical stitching 114B generating an impression of a continuous (uninterrupted) design pattern across the entire surface on the outer portion 122A of the glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. The designs 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D can be selected to form a theme matched pattern between the pair 200A, 200B of glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the design 204A can include a map of a first portion of an area (e.g., a first ski resort trail map) printed on a first glove shell 100A of a pair 200A. The matched design 204B can include a second portion of the area (c.g., a continuation or extension of the first ski resort trail map or a second ski resort trail map within the resort of the first ski resort trail map) printed on a second glove shell 100B of the pair 200A. The designs 204A, 204B can include respective identifiers 206 of the portions of the map (e.g., a title or name of the first ski resort trail map). In some implementations, the identifiers 206 can include a machine-readable identifier, such as a bar code, a quick-response (QR) code, or any other type of code or identifier that can be processed by a computing device to identify (e.g., by processing images to select a region of interest including the identifier and processing the region of interest using a model configured to convert the code image to an alpha-numerical string) the respective glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. In some implementations, the identifier of each glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D of the pairs 200A, 200B includes a portion of an identifier and scanning of the identifiers 206 of both glove shells 100A, 100B are used to complete the identification of the respective pair 200A. As another example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the designs 204C, 204D can include a similar or symmetrical design pattern printed across the pair 200B of glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D.

In some implementations, designs, images, or other information can be printed on the glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D in a manner that ensures that the printed designs/images/information are long lasting, durable, and resistant to fading due to wear and use of the glove shell. For example, the textile of the glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D is printed using a direct to ground digital printing method, allowing the dye to fully saturate into the textile, achieving vibrant colors and full coverage while the textile is stretched. In implementations where glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D are made with polyester, printing can be done using sublimation dye, which efficiently and strongly bonds to polyester providing a colorfast print. Printing designs/images/information on removable glove shell 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D for gloves can be useful for people who typically wear gloves for work or activities as useful information such as maps, checklists, or technical specifications can be printed on covers for the gloves for convenient and quick reference.

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate example hand covering apparatuses 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D including a glove shell 100 covering a glove 202 and, optionally, a portion of a sleeve 302.

The glove shells 100 can be a part of the hand covering apparatuses 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D can attach to the underlying glove 202 using any fastener, including but not limited to zippers, hook and loop fasteners, buckles, or any combination of these and other fasteners. The features of the hand covering system 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D can be adjusted by applying the underlying hand covering onto the hand and then adding or removing layers of glove shells 100. For example, shells 100 can be made with hydrophobic materials such as polyurethane laminate, thermoplastic polyurethane, nylon taffeta, polytetrafluorethylene or similar materials or coated with a waterproofing substance such as poly-vinyl chloride, water-repellent elastomer, boiled linseed oil, or similar waterproofing substance that can provide a layer of waterproofing. Other shells 100 can be made with materials that provide warmth such as wool or fleece. For example, a user could adjust the features of their hand covering system by adding or removing layers of shells 100 for warmth and could also apply a shell as a waterproofing layer.

In some implementations, the glove shells 100 described herein can be shaped similar, at least in part, to a glove 202 (c.g., a mitten), such that the wearer's non-thumb fingers (i.c., the second, third, fourth, and fifth digits) typically slide into a single compartment (inner volume of the mitten where four of a user's fingers can direct touch each other without being separated by other materials). Unlike a mitten, the glove shells 100 described in the illustrated implementation are not covered by another compartment for the thumb and instead include an opening 104 or a hole where the thumb would typically be located. The hole/opening 104 for the thumb allows the glove shells 100 to provide a more universal fit onto existing gloves 202 due to the variation of the location, size, and shape of the thumb cover of existing gloves 202. The hole/opening 104 also maintains a sleek and low profile for the remainder of the glove shell 100 when the glove shell 100 is applied onto an existing glove as no appreciable crease or slack fabric is formed (relative to what can occur if a thumb covering were included on the glove shells 100). In addition, the hole/opening 104 preserves access to any features that can be present on the thumb cover of the underlying glove. For example, some gloves 202 have a thumb cover made with non-slip fabric to improve grip, soft fabric for wiping the nose, or an attached rubber or silicone blade that can be used to wipe away water or snow from goggles.

In some implementations, the glove shells 100 can be part of a hand covering system including a particular glove 202 and a shell 100 specifically designed to accommodate the particular glove 202 (compared to shells described that can be used with any pre-existing glove). The underlying glove 202 provides the basic functions of a glove 202, such as, c.g., warmth and protection. The particularly designed shell 100 for the glove is designed to conform to the size, shape, and contours of the underlying glove 202 or to adapt to a variable size within a particular range (c.g., different dimensions, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). Because the glove shells 100 conform to the characteristics of the underlying glove 202, the glove shells 100 can achieve many of the benefits of the glove shells 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, without needing to be made out of the lightweight and/or stretchable materials. In some implementations, the glove shells 100 can have an opening 104 that can be at least partially sealed close. In other implementations, the glove shells 100 can have a thumb covering 304 with a matching contour of the underlying glove thumb covering. The matching contour prevents an appreciable crease or slack to be formed when the glove shell 100 is applied over the glove 202.

In some implementations, the glove shells 100 present a tapered fit (trapezoidal shape) allows for conformance around the hand for better fit while ensure accommodation for sleeve. The tapered fit of the glove shells 100 accommodates insertion of an end portion of a sleeve 302 to provide improved (thermal, water, and/or wind) insulation. In some implementations of the glove shell 100 (in the case of the hand covering system or otherwise), the cuff of the glove shell 100 can extend farther up the user's forearm. In another implementation the cuff of the glove shell extends far enough to reach the user's elbow. Shells 100 that extend farther up the user's forearm further reduce, or completely eliminate, snow, water, dirt or other environmental elements from entering in the gap that often forms between the cuff of a glove and the cuff of a sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a view of examples of glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C of different sizes and with different patterns. In some implementations, a first glove shell 100A can have an unstretched height 402A in the range of 30 cm to 40 cm, such as approximately 33.5 cm. The first glove shell 100A can be stretched to a height 402A of 40 cm to 70 cm, such as approximately 55 cm. The first glove shell 100A can have an unstretched top width 404A of 10 cm to 20 cm, such as approximately 13 cm, such that the unstretched top circumference is 20 cm to 40 cm, such as approximately 26 cm. The first glove shell 100A can have an unstretched central width of 8 cm to 18 cm, such as approximately 12 cm. The first glove shell 100A can have an unstretched bottom (hem cuff) width of 12 cm to 24 cm, such as approximately 16 cm. The first glove shell 100A can be stretched to increase its width by approximately 60% to 80%, such that an unstretched top width of 10 cm can be stretched to approximately 16 cm to 18 cm. Each section (side) 120A, 120B of the pull tab 106A, 106B can have a width 410A of 2 cm to 3 cm, such as approximately 2.5 cm and a height 412A of 4 cm to 5 cm, such as approximately 4.5 cm.

In some implementations, a second glove shell 100B can have an unstretched height 402B in the range of 25 cm to 35 cm, such as approximately 31 cm. The second glove shell 100B can be stretched to B height 402B of 35 cm to 60 cm, such as approximately 50 cm. The second glove shell 100B can have an unstretched top width 404B of 10 cm to 20 cm, such as approximately 12 cm, such that the unstretched top circumference is 20 cm to 40 cm, such as approximately 24 cm. The second glove shell 100B can have an unstretched central width of 6 cm to 16 cm, such as approximately 11 cm. The second glove shell 100B can have an unstretched bottom (hem cuff) width of 10 cm to 20 cm, such as approximately 15 cm. The second glove shell 100B can be stretched to increase its width by approximately 60% to 80%, such that an unstretched top width of 10 cm can be stretched to approximately 16 cm to 18 cm. Each section 120A, 120B of the pull tab 106A, 106B can have a width 410B of 2 cm to 3 cm, such as approximately 2.5 cm and a height 412B of 4 cm to 5 cm, such as approximately 4.5 cm.

In some implementations, a third glove shell 100C can have an unstretched height 402C in the range of 25 cm to 35 cm, such as approximately 29.5 cm. The third glove shell 100C can be stretched to a height 402C of 40 cm to 50 cm, such as approximately 45 cm. The third glove shell 100C can have an unstretched top width 404C of 10 cm to 15 cm, such as approximately 11 cm, such that the unstretched top circumference is 20 cm to 30 cm, such as approximately 22 cm. The third glove shell 100C can have an unstretched central width of 6 cm to 14 cm, such as approximately 10 cm. The third glove shell 100C can have an unstretched bottom (hem cuff) width of 10 cm to 20 cm, such as approximately 14 cm. The third glove shell 100C can be stretched to increase its width by approximately 60% to 80%, such that an unstretched top width of 10 cm can be stretched to approximately 16 cm to 18 cm. Each section 120A, 120B of the pull tab 106A, 106B can have a width 410C of 2 cm to 3 cm, such as approximately 2.5 cm and a height 412C of 4 cm to 5 cm, such as approximately 4.5 cm.

As shown in FIG. 4, the glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C can include designs with different patterns, such as abstract, map, and nature. In some implementations, as discussed with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the design can include an obvious (human readable) identifier 206 that can be printed within a highlighted region (e.g., a rectangle or a square) that can have a different color than the background/base design. In some implementations, the design patterns can have repetitive elements distributed across the outer surface of the glove shells 100A, 100C that can encode an identifier through their arrangement and size. For example, a series of numbers derived from the sizes of the elements (e.g., flowers, waves, lines, etc.) printed along a particular direction (e.g., vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or a particular angular orientation) can be used as a numerical identifier of the respective glove shell 100A, 100C. The numerical identifier of the respective glove shell 100A, 100C can be determined in real time by a computing device that received an image of the glove shells 100A, 100B, 100C.

Particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. These implementations can be combined with each other to form other implementations. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results.

Example 1. An apparatus, comprising: a glove shell configured to fit over a glove; the glove shell comprising a covering portion that covers a non-thumb portion of the glove when the glove shell is fitted over the glove; and the glove shell comprising a closed rounded distal end, an opened proximal end, and a through hole opening formed on a side of the glove shell above a portion of the glove shell having a trapezoidal cross-section, wherein the opening is configured to receive a thumb portion of the glove and at least partially surround a corresponding base of the thumb portion of the glove, wherein the thumb portion of the glove is exposed in whole or in part when the glove shell is fitted over the glove.

Example 2. The apparatus of example 1, wherein the glove is a first glove and wherein the glove shell is configured to fit over a second glove different from the first glove.

Example 3. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, further comprising: a pull tab that is coupled to a cuff portion of the glove shell.

Example 4. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the pull tab is rectangularly shaped.

Example 5. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the pull tab is coupled to the glove shell in a folded configuration, wherein a first end of the pull tab is coupled to an outer portion of the glove shell and a second end of the pull tab is coupled to an inner portion of the glove shell.

Example 6. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the pull tab is coupled to a middle section of the opened proximal end.

Example 7. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the glove shell is made of a blended material.

Example 8. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the blended material comprises a blend between a synthetic material and a stretchable material.

Example 9. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein: the synthetic material comprises one of polyester, recycled polyester, nylon, or recycled nylon, microporous polymer, thermoplastic polymer; and the stretchable material comprises elastane.

Example 10. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the synthetic material weighs 100 to 300 grams per square meter.

Example 11. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the glove shell is imprinted with a design.

Example 12. A glove shell for a hand covering, comprising: a cover comprising a nonthumb covering portion comprising a closed rounded distal end and an opened proximal end, at least a portion of the nonthumb covering portion comprising a trapezoidal cross-section; and a through hole opening formed in a thumb portion of the cover, wherein the trapezoidal cross-section comprises a tapering width increasing from the thumb portion of the cover to the opened proximal end.

Example 13. The glove shell of example 12, further comprising at least one pull tab that is coupled to a cuff portion of the cover.

Example 14. The glove shell of any one of the previous examples, wherein the at least one pull tab comprises a pair of pull tabs, each pull tab of the pair of pull tabs being coupled to a symmetrically opposite portion of the cover.

Example 15. The glove shell of any one of the previous examples, wherein each pull tab of the pair of pull tabs comprises a loop.

Example 16. The glove shell of any one of the previous examples, wherein each pull tab of the pair of pull tabs comprises a coupling feature for detachably coupling the pull tabs to each other.

Example 17. The glove shell of any one of the previous examples, wherein the cover is made of a blended material.

Example 18. The glove shell of any one of the previous examples, wherein the blended material comprises a blend between a synthetic material and a stretchable material.

Example 19. The glove shell of any one of the previous examples, wherein: the synthetic material comprises one of polyester, recycled polyester, nylon, or recycled nylon, wherein the synthetic material weighs 100 to 300 grams per square meter; and the stretchable material comprises elastane, wherein the stretchable material provides three-dimensional stretching to approximately 50% of an unstretched dimension.

Example 20. The glove shell of any one of the previous examples, wherein the cover is imprinted with a design comprising an identifier of the glove shell.

Example 21. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of glove shells configured to fit over a glove; each glove shell of the plurality of glove shells comprising a covering portion that covers a non-thumb portion of the glove when the glove shell is fitted over the glove; and the glove shell comprising a closed rounded distal end, an opened proximal end, and a through hole opening formed on a side of the glove shell above a portion of the glove shell having a trapezoidal cross-section, wherein the opening is configured to receive a thumb portion of the glove and at least partially surround a corresponding base of the thumb portion of the glove, wherein the thumb portion of the glove is exposed in whole or in part when the glove shell is fitted over the glove.

Example 22. The apparatus of example 1, wherein a first glove shell of the plurality of glove shells is configured to increase a warmth factor.

Example 23. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the warmth factor is proportional to a number of the plurality of glove shells.

Example 24. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein a second glove shell of the plurality of glove shells comprises a waterproof material configured to form a fluid permeability barrier.

Example 25. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the pull tab is coupled to the glove shell in a folded configuration, wherein a first end of the pull tab is coupled to an outer portion of the glove shell and a second end of the pull tab is coupled to an inner portion of the glove shell.

Example 26. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the pull tab is coupled to a middle section of the opened proximal end.

Example 27. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein at least one glove shell of the plurality of glove shells is made of a blended material.

Example 28. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the blended material comprises a blend between a synthetic material and a stretchable material.

Example 29. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein: the synthetic material comprises one of polyester, recycled polyester, nylon, or recycled nylon, microporous polymer, thermoplastic polymer; and the stretchable material comprises elastane.

Example 30. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein the synthetic material weighs 100 to 300 grams per square meter.

Example 31. The apparatus of any one of the previous examples, wherein each glove shell of the plurality of glove shells is imprinted with a design associated to a protection type provided by a respective glove shell.

SHELLS FOR GLOVES

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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (1)