UNIVERSAL DRAFTING GLOVE

Abstract

A drafting glove designed to offer a smoothly gliding interface between the draftsperson's hand and the glass face of an electronic tablet. It is made of a microfiber as well as a 3D mesh to allow for a thin form fitting design that is cushioned, breathable and non marring. It has but two partial finger pockets for the pinky and ring fingers, and two orifices to accommodate the thumb, index and middle fingers. It is stretchable and washable.

Description

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates, in general, to computer aided design (CAD) drafting accessories, and more particularly to a hand glove worn by a CAD and freehand electronic draftsperson.

BACKGROUND

[0003] With the advent of tablets, CAD and computerized freehand drafting has taken on an entirely different format. No longer is the draftsperson constrained to the movement of a mouse to put strokes, lines and fill on the electronic medium. Rather, now with the advent of touch screens, electronic pencils, fingers and the like are used to created the work. While this has expanded the intricacy of the works that can be created, especially in freehand drafting, it is not without its own problems.

[0004] Since the tablets are planar glass surfaces, any contact with the human hand deposits oils and debris which, with repeated contact, turns into smudges, streaks and generally unsightly marks. Since most draftspersons rest their hand on the glass surface of the tablet, these marks can interrupt the smooth flow of the motion of their hand while drafting.

[0005] Because the tablets are electronically powered, they generate heat, which is dissipated at their planar glass face. This can be uncomfortably warm to the hand and can cause the area of the hand in contact with the tablet to perspire. This again, marks the tablet face and affects the freehand movement of the draftsperson.

[0006] Lastly, if the human hand is too dry or has a film of cream on it, it may drag inside of sliding across the tablet, again affecting the draftsperson's work.

[0007] While the simple solution would appear to be to wear a glove on the draftsperson's hand, the reality is that a conventional glove is too restrictive of the delicate and intricate finger movements that the draftsperson executes in creating their work.

[0008] Henceforth, an aid for freehand drafting on a computer tablet that does not hamper the draftsperson's hand movement and eliminates screen marks would fulfill a long felt need in the computerized tablet drafting industry. This new invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0009] In accordance with various embodiments, a glove for electronic draftspersons is provided.

[0010] In one aspect, a universal (ambidextrous fitting) glove with a non marking exterior finish, configured to allow maximum finger dexterity in a physical format that wicks away and dissipates hand moisture, glides smoothly across glass surfaces, breaths so as to prevent heat buildup, is hypoallergenic and washable, is provided. It is stretchable to ensure a tightly contoured fitting to the hand with a minimal amount of material and stitching about the finger regions that contact each other.

[0011] Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combination of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar components.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of the electronic drafting glove;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the electronic drafting glove;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the electronic drafting glove;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the electronic drafting glove;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of the electronic drafting glove;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the electronic drafting glove; and

[0019] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken through Section AA of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0020] While various aspects and features of certain embodiments have been summarized above, the following detailed description illustrates at least on exemplary embodiment in further detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice such an embodiment. The described example is provided for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0021] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiment/s. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that other embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Certain structures and devices may be shown in block diagram form. While various features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should be appreciated that the features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token, however, no single feature or features of any described embodiment should be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, as other embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

[0022] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0023] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers herein used to express quantities, dimensions, and so forth, should be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about." In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise, and use of the terms "and" and "or" means "and/or" unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term "including," as well as other forms, such as "includes" and "included," should be considered non-exclusive. Also, terms such as "element" or "component" encompass both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0024] The term "universal" as used herein with reference to the drafting glove, means that the same glove is able to be worn on either the right or left hand equally as well. The lay of the material and the design of the stitching are mirror images when taken across a plane that resides parallel to and midway between the front and rear planar faces of the glove.

[0025] The term "tablet" as used herein refers to an electronic drafting device having a planar glass surface on which the draftsperson rests their drafting hand when drawing. The tablet is sensitive to the strokes the draftsperson makes on its glass surface with a drafting tool (electronic or touch sensitive pencil) so as to translate the stoke patterns onto a visually displayed and electronic media.

[0026] The term "3D mesh" as used herein, refers to a breathable compressible elastically deformable three dimensional polyester sandwich clothing fabric having a high air permeability and a thickness in the range of 3-20 mm. It is generally waterproof, anti-bacterial and is also commercially referred to as 3D knitted spacer fabric. 3D spacer fabrics replace layers of foam or neoprene that degrade, yellow and are not environmentally friendly. It is often made of both a polyester and a nylon woven together.

[0027] The term "microfiber` as used herein, refers to a synthetic fiber finer than one denier or decitex/thread. It is smaller than the diameter of a strand of silk (approximately one denier.) The microfiber fabric may be made from polyesters, polyamides (e.g., nylon, Kevlar, Nomex, trogamide), or a conjugation of polyester, polyamide, and polypropylene (Prolen).

[0028] The term "LYCRA.RTM." as used herein refers to a synthetic elastane fiber that can repeatedly, elastically stretch up to six times its length and return to its original state. The fabric bearing the trade name SPANDEX.RTM. is an equivalent type of synthetic elastane fiber.

[0029] The present invention relates to a novel design for a universal fit drafting glove intended for use by draftspersons working on a tablet or glass faced electronic drawing apparatus. The design is intended to alleviate marking on the glass surface, prevent heat buildup between the hand and the device, to breath so as to eliminate moisture developed on the hand, provide a consistent coefficient of friction between the drafting hand and the glass surface, and most importantly, allow maximum of freedom of movement of the thumb, index and middle fingers, which are the digits used to hold the drafting tool (electronic or touch pencil).

[0030] When drafting on a tablet, the draftsperson holds the proximal end of the drafting tool in a triangulated configuration between the tip of the thumb, the tip of the index finger and the joint between the distal and middle phalanx of the middle finger. The distal end of the drafting tool rests on the joint between the proximal phalanx and the metacarpal of the index finger. The middle and proximal phalanx of the middle finger rests on the middle and proximal phalanx of the ring finger with the distal phalanx of the middle finger suspended off of the middle phalanx of the ring finger. The distal, middle and proximal phalanx of the ring finger in turn rests and is supported by the distal, middle and proximal phalanx of the pinky finger. The entire drafting hand contacts the glass face of the table on the side of the fleshy abductor digiti muscle about the pinky metacarpal. It is to be noted that the pinky finger curls upward into the palm when drafting so that the flesh along the distal and middle phalanx does not contact the glass face of the tablet.

[0031] For descriptive purposes and to understand the design of this glove it is important to note that this fleshy abductor digiti muscle is the surface that must glide consistently with the same amount of friction across the glass face of the tablet. It is equally important to note that since the drafting tool contacts the the tip of the thumb, the tip of the index finger, the joint between the distal and middle phalanx of the middle finger and the joint between the proximal phalanx and the metacarpal of the index finger, these areas must have maximum freedom of movement and be as sensitive to touch as possible. It is these two features that allow the artist/draftsperson to retain their precision and accuracy in drafting while wearing a glove. The glove was designed to maintain the critical "glide" and "freedom of movement."

[0032] Looking at FIGS. 1 and 6, all elements of the drafting glove 2 can be seen. The glove 2 is made from but four different materials. A 3D mesh fabric (partial pinky finger and abductor digiti region of the palm), a microfiber fabric (remainder of the body of the glove), a polymer thread (all glove zig-zag and in-line surge stitching) and a synthetic elastane fiber binding edge fabric, preferably a Lycra.RTM. or Spandex.RTM. material, (around the wrist, thumb and index/middle finger openings as well as the finger insert panel 12). The 3D mesh fabric does not have the stretch capability of the microfiber so lycra (which is thinner that the microfiber is used between the pinky and ring finger to minimize the thickness of the pinky finger (which is mostly clothed in 3D mesh fabric, to allow expansion/stretch of the pinky finger pocket to accommodate different diameter pinky fingers.

[0033] Looking at FIGS. 1 and 6 with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5 it can be seen that if the the drafting glove 2 were cut about its axial midpoint on a plane parallel to the front and rear faces of the glove, the two portions would be mirror images. However, the glove is not made by joining two mirror image halves. As such, the glove fits either the right hand or the left hand equally as well. It is not symmetrical because the two faces of the 3D fabric have different opening sizes. The outside has a 2.times.2.5 mm approximate opening size and the inside has a much smaller opening by at least a factor of five.

[0034] The drafting glove 2 is made from 8 components. Two mirror image palm body panels 4 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6), the palm side panel (the gliding surface) 6, the three banding strips 8, the finger insert panel 12 and the stitching thread 10. In the preferred embodiment the palm side panel 6 is a 3D mesh fabric, the palm body panels 4 are made of a microfiber cloth, the and the finger insert panel 12 is made of a synthetic elastane fiber, the banding strips 8 are a synthetic elastane fiber and the stitching thread 10 is a polyester thread. The palm body 4 and the palm side 6 each form approximately half of the assembled glove.

[0035] The two palm body panels 4 are identical sections of microfiber fabric that house the thumb orifice 14, index finger and middle finger orifice 16 and ring finger pocket 18 (FIGS. 5 and 6). They have a thumb side edge 20 and a palm side edge 22. The thumb side side edges 20 are mated together, folded inwardly back onto themselves and stitched together adjacent their folded edges 20 in three separate regions along the thumb side edge. These three separate joined regions defines the thumb orifice 14 and the index and middle finger orifice 16 between the three stitch joined regions. About the thumb orifice 14 and the index and middle finger orifice 16 are linear sections of banding strips 8 that are folded approximately equidistant on either side (inside and outside) of the edge of the orifices and sewn about the edge with the stitching thread 10, preferably with a zig-zag stitch so as to allow the stretching of the orifices sizes upon insertion of the thumb and index and middle fingers. (FIG. 7). The palm side edges 22 are each folded back onto themselves then laid atop of the longitudinal side edges of the the palm side panel 6, which are also folded back onto themselves, and the palm side edges 22 of each of the two palm body panels 4 and the palm side panel 6 are joined by an overlying zig-zag stitch of stitching fabric 10 up to the finger insert panel 12. The remainder of the palm body panels 4 and the palm side panel 6 are stitched to the two linear edges of the interposed finger insert panel 4.

[0036] The finger insert panel 14 is a rectangular, linear strip of synthetic elastane fiber that has two, generally parallel, linear edges about its longitudinal axis. Each of these linear, longitudinal edges are stitched to both the palm side panel 6 and the ring finger pocket 18. In this way they hold the palm body panels 4 in a spaced configuration so as to form a microfiber pocket for the insertion of the ring finger and a 3D mesh pocket for the insertion of the pinky finger.

[0037] When stitched together into a glove assembly, the ring finger pocket terminates in an open end that resides approximate midway along the middle phalange of the ring finger. It has no banding or stitching about its opening. The pinky finger pocket terminates in an open end that resides approximately at the joint between the distal and middle phalanges of the pinky finger. About the perimeter of the opening of this pocket is a ring of thread formed in a surge stich to keep the 3D mesh fabric from fraying. By having these finger pockets terminating at different lengths, and by not incorporating banding strips about their openings, there is minimal friction and thickness between these fingers. This helps maintain the minimalistic feel of the glove, allowing the dexterity freedom the artist needs.

[0038] It is to be noted that while the entire side of the palm needs to be clothed in the 3D mesh fabric with its low coefficient of friction with glass, the pinky finger needs 3D mesh fabric only partially up the pinky finger because in the drafting position, resting on the tablet, the pinky finger curls inward and upward toward the palm such that that it rises off the glass face of tablet and breaks contact with the tablet in the region of the joint between its proximal and middle phlanges. As discussed earlier the pinky finger pocket is made of both 3D mesh fabric as well as synthetic elastane fiber to allow for stretch of the finger pocket diameter, and minimize the thickness of fabric between the ring and pinky finger.

[0039] Because of the varying sizes of different artist's hands the glove is made in different sizes, however because of the elastic nature of both the microfiber and the 3D mesh and the zig-zag stitch used to combine the components, the glove is sized small such that when it is worn it hugs the hand tightly without wrinkles or puckers in the fabric. There is a banding strip 8 attached the wrist opening 30 (FIG. 4) in the identical fashion as the banding strips 8 about the thumb orifice 14 and the index and middle finger orifice 16. (FIG. 7) This helps eliminate glove creep or movement of the glove up the hand.

[0040] To use, the hand is inserted through the writ opening 30 with the thumb inserted through the thumb orifice 14 and the index and middle fingers inserted through the index and middle finger orifice 16. The ring finger and pinky finger are inserted into their respective finger pockets so as to extend beyond the open ends. The drafting glove 2 is then pulled tightly toward the upper arm to snug the glove onto the hand and eliminate any space between the drafting glove 2 and the crotch between the pinky and ring fingers and the crotch between the middle and ring fingers.

[0041] In use, the side of the palm may now glide smoothly on the tablet's glass face while eliminating marks on the glass, dissipating the heat buildup off the tablet face and allowing the hand to breath. The fingers and thumb used to triangulate the drafting tool are unclothed so as to allow a natural feel responsive to the artist's movements.

[0042] While certain features and aspects have been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications are possible. For example, the methods and processes described herein may be implemented using hardware components, software components, and/or any combination thereof. Further, while various methods and processes described herein may be described with respect to particular structural and/or functional components for ease of description, methods provided by various embodiments are not limited to any particular structural and/or functional architecture, but instead can be implemented on any suitable hardware, firmware, and/or software conuration. Similarly, while certain functionality is ascribed to certain system components, unless the context dictates otherwise, this functionality can be distributed among various other system components in accordance with the several embodiments.

[0043] Moreover, system components described according to a particular structural architecture and/or with respect to one system may be organized in alternative structural architectures and/or incorporated within other described systems. Hence, while various embodiments are described with--or without--certain features for ease of description and to illustrate exemplary aspects of those embodiments, the various components and/or features described herein with respect to a particular embodiment can be substituted, added, and/or subtracted from among other described embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise. Consequently, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A universal drafting glove comprising: a first and second mirror image palm body panels each having a thumb side edge and a palm side edge; a palm side panel having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge; a finger insert panel having a first and second generally parallel, linear edges; and stitching thread; wherein said first and second palm body panels are joined by stitching thread along three sections of said thumb side edge so as to form a thumb orifice and an index and middle finger orifice; and wherein said first longitudinal side edge of said palm side panel is joined for a first length to said palm side edge of said first palm body panel by stitching thread, and said second longitudinal side edge of said palm side panel is joined for a second length to said palm side edge of said second palm body panel by stitching thread; and wherein said said first longitudinal side edge of said palm side panel is joined for a third length to said first linear edge of said finger insert panel by stitching thread, and said second longitudinal side edge of said palm side panel is joined for a fourth length to said second linear edge of said finger insert panel by stitching thread; and wherein said first and second palm body panels are joined to said first and second linear edges of said finger insert panel by stitching thread so as to form an open pinkey finger pocket and an open ring finger pocket; and wherein said connected palm body panels, said palm side panel and said finger insert panel form a glove with a wrist opening, said thumb orifice, said index and middle finger orifice, said pinkey finger pocket and said ring finger pocket.

2. The universal drafting glove of claim 1 further comprising: a first banding strip affixed about said thumb orifice, and a second banding strip affixed about said index and middle finger orifice.

3. The universal drafting glove of claim 2 further comprising a third banding strip affixed about said wrist opening.

4. The universal drafting glove of claim 3 wherein said palm side panel is made of a 3D mesh fabric.

5. The universal drafting glove of said claim 4 wherein said palm body panels are made of a microfiber.

6. The universal drafting glove of said claim 4 wherein said finger insert is rectangular in shape and made of a synthetic elastane fiber.

7. The universal drafting glove of claim 1 wherein said pinkey finger pocket terminates in said open end that resides approximately at the joint between the distal and middle phalanges of a pinky finger.

8. The universal drafting glove of claim 1 wherein said ring finger pocket terminates in said open end that resides approximate midway along the middle phalange of a ring finger.

9. The universal drafting glove of claim 3 wherein said banding strips are made of a synthetic elastane fiber.