Apparel – Hand or arm coverings – Gloves
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-05-22
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Hand or arm coverings
Gloves
C002S016000, C002S020000, C002S163000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233744
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of protective equipment for use in sporting activities. More particularly, the invention relates to a pair of gloves with a first glove having a shape and profile adapted to the natural position taken by a hand holding the extremity of a stick, and a second glove having a different shape adapted to the natural position taken by the other hand holding the intermediate portion of a stick.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For the past few years, protective equipment manufacturers have attempted to design hockey gloves that offer a lower resistance to the natural movement to which the hand is subject when handling a hockey stick.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,147 discloses a hockey glove which has a hand portion and a cuff portion joined together by a stretchable connecting portion. A protective strap-pad overlies the connecting portion to protect the player's wrist.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,243 discloses a hockey glove which has a cuff portion having a waist portion, such waist portion connects the cuff portion to a grip portion. A floating padded band covers the waist portion to protect the player's wrist.
While the gloves described in these patents may provide a certain amount of flexibility in the wrist area, they require a floating protective band to protect the flexible portion. By doing so, there are some areas near the edge of the hand portion and the cuff portion which are exposed to impact while the hand is bent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,739 discloses a hockey glove which has a wrist protection section comprising an outer cuff portion structure and pads defining an inner band which is adjustable inside such outer cuff portion. Thus, the inner band may be adjustable in order that the glove is maintained around the wrist more or less firmly according to the player's wish.
While this glove may offer a certain amount of flexibility of the wrist when the player bends his hand downward, it still limits the freedom of movement of the hand when the player bends his hand back.
In prior art gloves, there is no distinction between a right hand and a left hand glove. The design of prior art gloves is thus not based on the differences that exist between the natural position taken by the hand holding the extremity of a hockey stick and the natural position of the other hand. However, these two positions are generally substantially different.
Therefore, there is a need in the industry to provide a pair of sporting gloves that is better adapted to the different positions of each hand holding a sport stick, for instance a hockey stick.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a pair of sporting gloves that is better adapted to the natural position of each hand when holding a stick in a standard playing condition.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pair of sporting gloves with protective elements provided only where necessary.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pair of sporting gloves particularly adapted to a right shooter or a left shooter.
The invention seeks to provide a protective sport glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the proximal end portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.
Such a glove provides enhanced comfort and ergonomics. These advantages bring some improvement in the player's performance. The glove also provides better control of the stick and so of the puck.
Preferably, the wrist receiving portion and the hand receiving portion are connected together, so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis (H—H), which projects from the metacarpus portion of the hand receiving portion and which is substantially parallel to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion, and a substantially central and longitudinal axis (A—A) of the wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle X, said angle being measured in a plane substantially corresponding to the plane defined by said wrist receiving portion. Advantageously, the angle is between 100 and 175 degrees and preferably between 120 and 160 degrees.
The glove is advantageously arranged so that the axis H—H substantially corresponds to the central and longitudinal axis H′—H′ of the metacarpus portion of a wearer's hand and said axis A—A substantially corresponds to central and longitudinal axis A′—A′ of said wearer's arm, said arm being adapted to wear said glove. The gloves are therefore designed accordingly and they correspond to the position adopted by the player during most of the playing time.
According to a variant of the protective glove, the wrist receiving portion and the hand receiving portion are connected together so that a substantially central and longitudinal axis H—H of the hand receiving portion and a substantially central and longitudinal axis A—A of the wrist receiving portion define at their intersection a given angle Y. Said angle is measured in a plane corresponding substantially to the plane defined by the pivoting movement of the hand on a wrist pivoting axis W—W of said glove.
The glove is also preferably provided with protective pad elements that protect the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion and/or that protect the dorsal portion of said wrist receiving portion. The protective elements are thus provided where protection is really needed, and are suppressed from the areas where protection is less important, when considering the hand position. This results in weight efficient gloves.
Advantageously, the glove also comprises at least one flexion zone. This further improves comfort and ergonomics.
In another aspect, the invention also provides a protective sport glove comprising a hand receiving portion connected to a wrist receiving portion, said hand receiving portion having a plurality of finger sheath portions for receiving the fingers of a hand, a thumb sheath portion for receiving the thumb of a hand, a metacarpus sheath portion for receiving the part of the hand that connects the wrist to the fingers, wherein said sheath portions are so arranged that they define a shape substantially corresponding to the natural position N taken by a player's hand and wrist when holding the intermediate portion of a sport stick in a generally standard playing position.
For a right shooter, as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the right hand corresponds to the distal hand, holding the intermediate portion of the stick, and the left hand corresponds to the proximal hand, holding the free end portion of the stick.
For a left shooter, the left hand corresponds to the distal hand, holding the intermediate portion of the stick, and the right hand corresponds to the proximal hand, holding the free end portion of the stick.
Preferably, the protective sport glove further comprises protective pad elements that protect the inner portion of said wrist receiving portion and/or a ventilation zone provided in the dorsal portion of said hand receiving portion. The protective elements are thus provided where protection is really needed, and can be suppressed from the areas where protection is less important when considering the hand position. This results in weight efficient gloves.
In a variant, the glove also comprises at least one flexion zone.
In another aspect, the invention also provides a pair of hockey gloves, for a hockey player, comprising a first glove for holding the extremity of a hockey stick, a second glove for holding the intermediate portion of said hockey stick, wherein said gloves are of different shape to better
Bauer Nike Hockey Inc.
Calvert John J.
Moran Katherine
Ratner & Prestia
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