SAFETY GLOVE HAVING RIGID FINGER GUARDS

Abstract

A cut resistant safety glove having rigid finger guards for protecting a wearer's hand that is holding an object being cut from being inadvertently cut. The cut resistant safety glove includes a glove base constructed of an elastic, breathable material that includes a retaining band that prevents the glove from sliding along a wearer's skin and a plurality finger portions that cover a wearer's fingers. Each of the finger portions include multiple finger guards which each define a rigid plate that is adhered to the exterior surface of the glove base. The finger guards are positioned to protect areas of the finger which may be at risk of being cut without obstructing the bending action of the wearer's finger joints.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates generally to protective gloves and, more particularly, to a safety glove having smooth, rigid guard members integral with each finger.

Description of the Prior Art

[0002] The use of various styles of protective gloves to protect ones hands from cuts while using a knife or other cutting object is well known. Such conventional cut resistant gloves come in many forms, including mesh gloves which are made of a cut resistant material formed into a mesh, cut and sewn gloves which have a material that is sewn in pieces into specific areas of the glove, and seamless knitted gloves which are formed from a high performance material that is knitted into a one piece hand cover. A problem which still exists, however, is that because of the material from which conventional cut resistant gloves are made, such gloves usually lack much elasticity and breathability and thus may be uncomfortable to wear. Thus, there remains a need for a cut resistant safety glove which employs a plurality of rigid finger guards in each finger so as to provide cut resistant material in a targeted location. It would be helpful if such a cut resistant safety glove was constructed out of an elastic and breathable material so as to be comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. It would be additionally desirable for the finger guards of such a cut resistant safety glove to be positioned in a manner that does not restrict a wearer's ability to bend their fingers.

[0003] The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a cut resistant safety glove adapted to protect a wearer's fingers from cuts while holding an object that is being cut. The primary components in Applicant's cut resistant safety glove are a glove base and a plurality of finger guards. When in operation, the cut resistant safety glove provides as effective protection for a wearer as conventional cut resistant gloves through a structure that is more comfortable to wear than such conventional cut resistant gloves. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A cut resistant safety glove having rigid finger guards for protecting a wearer's hand that is holding an object being cut from being inadvertently cut. The cut resistant safety glove comprises a glove base constructed of an elastic, breathable material that includes a retaining band that prevents the glove from sliding along a wearer's skin and a plurality finger portions that cover a wearer's fingers. Each of the finger portions include multiple finger guards which each define a rigid plate that is adhered to the exterior surface of the glove base. The finger guards are positioned to protect areas of the finger which may be at risk of being cut without obstructing the bending action of the wearer's finger joints.

[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide a cut resistant safety glove which employs a plurality of rigid finger guards in each finger so as to provide cut resistant material in a targeted location.

[0006] It is another object of this invention to provide a cut resistant safety glove constructed out of an elastic and breathable material so as to be comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

[0007] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a cut resistant safety glove with finger guards positioned in a manner that does not restrict a wearer's ability to bend their fingers.

[0008] These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cut resistant safety glove built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a cut resistant safety glove 10 is shown as a glove base 11 that includes a plurality of finger portions 12 that each include multiple finger guards 13 integrated therewith. The glove base 11 is sized to be placed over the hand of a wearer so as to cover the entire hand all the way to the wrist and is constructed of an elastic, breathable material. In one embodiment, the glove base 11 is constructed of Spandex, a cotton and Spandex blend or a polyester and Spandex blend. In some embodiments, the material is woven in such a way that the moisture is forced into and through the gaps in the weave and forced to the exterior of the glove base 11 so as to provide a moisture wicking property.

[0011] In one embodiment, the glove base 11 additionally includes a retaining band 14 to improve its ability to stay in place on a wearer's hand. In one embodiment, the retaining band 14 is constructed out of a natural or synthetic rubber. It is contemplated that by being constructed out of such a material, the retaining band 14 is better able to resist sliding along the skin of the wearer's wrist and arm while the glove base 11 is in place on a wearer's hand.

[0012] The finger guards 13 each define a rigid plate that is adhered to the exterior surface of the glove base 11. In the illustrated embodiment, two finger guards 13 are disposed on each finger portion 12 of the glove base 11, with one positioned above the metacarpophalangeal joint and the other above the proximal interphalangeal joint (but below the distal interphalangeal joint) of a hand inside the glove base 11 so as to not obstruct any bending action of these joints.

[0013] In one embodiment, the finger guards 13 have a smooth surface while in another, the finger guards have a textured surface. In one embodiment, the finger guards 13 are constructed of a metal such as stainless steel while in another, the finger guards 13 are constructed out of a hard plastic.

[0014] It is contemplated that the by being attached to the exterior of the glove base 11, the finger guards protect the surface of the glove base 11 from being cut in addition to a wearer's hand inside the glove base 11.

[0015] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A cut resistant safety glove for placement on a hand of a wearer, comprising: a glove base having an exterior surface, wherein said glove base includes a plurality of discrete finger portions that are each adapted to cover a single finger of the wearer, such that the glove base is constructed of an elastic material; and a plurality of rigid finger guards disposed on each of said fin er portions, wherein each of said finger guards are positioned on the exterior surface of the glove base in a location that is configured to not obstruct any bending action of the finger covered by the finger portion on which the finger guard is disposed, when the glove is worn, wherein an opening of the glove base expands to allow the hand to be inserted therewithin, and contracts around a wrist of the wearer to secure the cut resistant safety glove to the hand.

2. The cut resistant safety glove of claim 1, wherein the plurality of finger guards are dispose on each of said finger portions.

3. The cut resistant safety glove of claim 2, wherein two finger guards of the plurality of rigid finger guards are disposed on each of said finger portions, positioned on each of said finger portions to be located between the metacarpophalangeal joint and the proximal interphalangeal joint and between the proximal interphalangeal joint and the distal interphalangeal joint relative to the finger of the wearer, when the glove is worn.

4. The cut resistant safety glove of claim 1, wherein two finger guards are disposed on the at least one of said finger portions, positioned on each of said finger portions to be located between the metacarpophalangeal joint and the proximal interphalangeal joint and between the proximal interphalangeal joint and the interphalangeal joint relative to the finger of the wearer, when the glove is worn.

5. The cut resistant safety glove of claim 1, additionally comprising a retaining band integral with said glove base, wherein said retaining band adapts the glove base to resist sliding along the skin of at least one of wearer's wrist and arm.

6. A cut resistant safety glove for placement on a hand of a wearer, comprising: a glove base having an exterior surface, wherein said glove base includes a plurality of discrete finger portions that are each adapted to cover a single finger of the wearer, such that the glove base is constructed of an elastic material; a plurality of rigid finger guards disposed on each of said finger portions, wherein each of said finger guards are positioned on the exterior surface of the glove base in a location that is configured to not obstruct any bending action of the finger covered by the finger portion on which the finger guard is disposed, when the glove is worn; a retaining band integral with said glove base, wherein said retaining band adapts the glove base to resist sliding along the skin of at least one of wearer's wrist acrd arm, wherein the retaining band expands to allow the hand to be inserted therewithin, and contracts around a wrist of the wearer to secure the cut resistant safety glove to the hand.

7. The cut resistant safety glove of claim 6, wherein two finger guards are disposed on each of said finger portions positioned on each of said finger portions to be located between the metacarpophalangeal joint and the proximal interphalangeal joint and between the proximal interphalangeal joint and the distal interphalangeal joint relative to the finger of the wearer, when the glove is worn.