Apparel – Guard or protector – Hand or arm
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-01-30
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Hand or arm
C002S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178554
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a device for protecting a user's hand, and in particular to a glove or mitt to prevent injury to a user's hand during the opening of shellfish, such as oysters.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Numerous devices are described in the prior art that purport to protect a user's hand from injury when the user is engaged in various activities. Generally, these devices include a pad or covering that is positioned over the user's palm, and often inner finger surfaces, and some means for securing the device to the user's hand during use.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,205,957 to Kinkis describes a hand shield comprised of a flexible, rectangular sheet-like material that includes a slot parallel to one end. When used, the user's hand is pushed or forced through the slot, and the sheet-like material is positioned over the user's palm. The Kinkis device is used primarily during handling of materials such as tin or steel sheets, plate glass, bricks, or the like.
The Kinkis device, as well as other prior art devices, are primarily adapted to be worn by the user during the entire time that the user is involved in the task involving the handling of sharp objects. These prior art devices are primarily designed to ensure that the device remains securely on the user's hand.
Some activities, however, involve manipulation activities of short duration during which it is necessary to cover the hand for a short periods of time, separated by periods when it is necessary to free the hand for other activities between these manipulation activities. In such instances, these prior art devices are inconvenient to use, due to the difficulty and time required to put the device onto the hand, and remove it during times when it is not needed. An inexpensive device that could provide protection for a user's hand, while being easy to don and remove would be of considerable value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a hand covering that will protect the user's palm and finger inner surfaces while the user is engaged in the manipulation of items that might injure, e.g., stick or abrade, the user's hand, but which is easily removed when not needed, so that the user can engage in other activities. When not is use, the device can be held in a convenient position for easy and quick placement on the user's hand, so that the user can engage in another manipulative activity.
The hand covering or device of the present invention is basically a pad or mitt that is of a size to fit over at least the palm of a user's hand, and preferably over the entire inside of the user's hand. The shape of the pad is preferably planar with an oval or circular periphery that generally approximates the dimensions of the user's hand or area to be covered. However, other shapes can be used for convenience of manufacture, for advertising purposes, etc.
The pad includes a hand receiving opening near one end or edge through which the user's hand is inserted, so that the user's wrist is within the are of the opening when the pad is over the user's hand. Importantly, this opening is large enough to fit loosely over the user's wrist without significant binding, while still being held by the size of the user's hand. That is, the diameter of the opening is greater than the diameter of the user's wrist, but less than the diameter of the user's hand. Preferably, the diameter of the opening is at least 10% greater than the diameter of the user's wrist, and preferable is at least 20% to 50% greater.
The opening may be of various configurations. For example, the opening may be of an oval shape, with the long dimension of the oval being greater than the width of user's wrist, and a short dimension of the oval being greater than the thickness of the user's wrist. The opening can also be circular, rectangular, etc.
Thus, the opening loosely encircles the user's wrist with the pad covering the palm of the hand when the mitt is being used in a manipulative activity, such as open oysters or other shellfish. When shucking oyster, the user can simply place the oyster on the pad over the palm of the hand and squeeze the pad or mitt to grip the oyster. The oyster is then easily opened in a conventional manner with an oyster knife or other tool, without the user being concerned that slippage of the tool may cause injury to the hand.
However, due to the looseness of the generally circular hand insertion opening, removal of the mitt after opening of the oyster is not required. The loose opening permits the mitt to be moved beneath the hand, where it can hang loosely from the wrist, thereby enabling the user to eat the shelled oyster, or engage in another activity, without the need to remove the mitt. After the oyster is eaten, the mitt can be easily replaced to shell or shuck another oyster.
Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention is to provide an easily removable mitt or pad of a flexible cut-resistant material to protect at least the user's palm area, while being easily separable when not used. Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment.
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patent: 456230 (1891-07-01), Wilson
patent: 1654161 (1927-12-01), Diaz et al.
patent: 2205957 (1940-06-01), Kinkis
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patent: 5345608 (1994-09-01), Mergens et al.
patent: 5377378 (1995-01-01), Cutler
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patent: 5482500 (1996-01-01), Boettner et al.
patent: 5509143 (1996-04-01), Yates et al.
patent: 5566390 (1996-10-01), Clancy
patent: 5592694 (1997-01-01), Yewer
patent: 5599228 (1997-02-01), Thibault
patent: 5603679 (1997-02-01), Reis
Causey Melton C.
Pake Charles W.
Calvert John J.
Moran Katherine
Rhodes & Mason PLLC
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