Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02527322 2005-11-18
HIGH BREATHABILITY CYCLING HAND GLOVE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an athletic hand glove and, more particularly, to a
cycling hand
glove having palm-located pads or cushions for use over a bicycle handlebar.
The
invention also relates to a method for manufacturing cycling hand gloves
including
cushioning pads in the palm area.
2) Description of the Prior Art
When riding a bicycle, a cyclist usually grasps the handlebar with his hands.
It is critical
that the cyclist's hands have a good command and control of the handlebars, as
they
provided inter alia for directional control of the bicycle, center of gravity
stability control
of the cyclist and bicycle assembly, proper positioning and access for
actuating the
wheel braking system if need arises.
Cyclists tend to use hand gloves for improved comfort. Some of these hand
gloves
include pads inside the palm of the glove for comfort cushioning between the
palm of
the hand and the handlebar. Moreover, they provide protection to the hands of
the
cyclist in the case of a fall, and they minimize abrasion to the hands of the
cyclist.
As the cyclist pedals to maintain the bicycle in motion in upright dynamic
stability
condition over ground, corresponding muscular exercise is generated, and thus
bodily
heat and perspiration levels increase. In particular, perspiration levels tend
to increase
substantially at the ends of the limbs, i.e. at the feet and hands.
Therefore, some cycling gloves include perforated mesh material allowing free
escape
and release of moisture from the hand palm perspiration. For example, US
patent
No. 6,845,519 describes a hand glove for use over a bicycle handlebar by a
cyclist. The
glove includes a perforated palm area and a few cushioning pads surrounding
the palm
area. The cushioning pads are closedly spaced from one another so as to define
at
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least a few air channels formed radially between the cushioning pads. The
bodily
moisture escaping from the perforated palm area escape through the air
channels, even
when a bicycle handlebar is grasped.
However, the cushioning pads are relative thick members and do not allow the
escape
of moisture located between the cyclist hand and the cushioning pads,
especially when
the gloves engage the handlebar. Therefore, moisture build-up between the
cyclist hand
and the cushioning pads tends to be most acute. There is thus a need for a
hand glove
combining both qualities, i.e. the comfort provided by the cushioning pads and
an
adequate ventilation between the cyclist's hand and the exterior of the hand
glove.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aspect of the invention to improve comfort of cyclists wearing hand
gloves with
cushioning pads by reducing moisture build-up between the cyclist hand and the
cushioning pads.
One aspect of the invention provides a cycling hand glove which comprises: a
main
glove element having a palm surface; and a palm pad provided on the palm
surface and
having at least one aeration aperture therein exposing at least one of the
main glove
element and the hand of the cyclist inserted into the hand glove.
Another aspect of the invention provides an athletic glove which comprises a
main
body; and a cushioning pad having an inner face mounted to the main body, an
exposed outer face opposed to the inner face, and an aeration aperture therein
with an
inner end opening on the inner face and an outer end opening on the outer
face.
A further aspect of the invention provides a method to manufacture an athletic
glove.
The method comprises: mounting a cushioning pad having a cushioning section
over a
main body of the athletic glove; and providing at least one perforation
through the
cushioning pad so as to expose the main body of the athletic glove when the
cushioning
pad is mounted thereto.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the
following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended
drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cycling hand glove including a cushioning pad
with aeration
apertures therein in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a cycling hand glove in accordance with another
embodiment
wherein a cushioning pad includes moisture escape channels for fluid
communication
between the aeration apertures in the cushioning pad and the exterior of the
cushioning
pad;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the
cushioning
pad, the aeration apertures, and the moisture escape channels;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cycling hand glove shown in Fig. 1 engaged
with a
portion of a bicycle handlebar;
Fig. 5 a top plan view of a cycling hand glove in accordance with another
embodiment
of the invention, the cycling hand glove including a central palm member with
cushioning pads having aeration apertures therein; and
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the cycling hand glove shown in Fig. 1, wherein
the mesh
material of the main element has been replaced by a conventional fabric which
is
perforation-free.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are
identified by
like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and, more particularly, referring to Fig. 1, there
is shown an
embodiment of an athletic glove 10 for both male and female uses, for example,
cycling
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gloves that improve the comfort and the protection of the hands of a
male/female riding
a bicycle.
The hand glove 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a right-hand cycling glove, adapted to
engage the
handlebar B (Fig. 4) of a bicycle. The palm surface 12 of the glove 10 is
formed of a
main element 14, preferably mesh material, i.e. a synthetic or fabric-like
perforate
flexible material whose perforation units are each of a size and shape
enabling free
bodily heat release and free humidity escape therethrough from the hand.
The five finger portions 16 of the hand glove 10 are cut at the second
phalanx, as is
known in the art, so that the finger tips (not shown) be free of the main
element 14 and
be able to freely engage the bicycle handlebar B. The finger portions 16 of
the hand
glove 10 can be lined with the synthetic material LYCRATM. A hook and loop
fastener
band assembly (VELCROTM) can releasably close in a loop the wrist end of the
hand
glove 10 around the wrist of the cyclist. Overlock stitches can form the
annular ends of
each open finger end portion mouth 16A.
The palm surface 12 of the hand glove 10 includes three individual cushioning
pads
22a, 22b, 22c, or palm pads, which are strategically-located. The cushioning
pads 22
are mounted to the main element 14 of glove 10, peripherally to a central
section 24 so
that an irregularly shaped star shaped section is formed in the palm portion
12 of the
hand glove 10. As a person skilled in the art will appreciate the pattern of
the cushioning
pads 22 in the palm 12 of the hand glove 10 can differ from the one shown in
Fig. 1.
Preferably, the cushioning pads 22 are strategically located on the palm
surface 12 of a
user's hand to facilitate the bending of the glove 10, as the user's hand
grasps an object
such as the handlebar B of a bicycle. Preferably, the two upper cushioning
pads 22b,
22c are smaller in size than the lower cushioning pad 22a for minimizing
flexing
discomfort when the glove 10 is inserted into a cyclist's hand.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the cushioning pads 22a, 22b, 22c are mounted to
the
main element 14 with stitching lines 26 provided at the perimeter 28 of the
pads 22a,
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22b, 22c. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the
cushioning pads
22 can be mounted to the main element 14 with any appropriate technique.
The cushioning pads 22 have a cushioning section 30, thicker than the main
element
14. The cushioning pad 22a includes a plurality of elliptical aeration
openings 32, or
aeration apertures, surrounded by the cushioning section 30. The aeration
apertures 32
extend entirely though the cushioning pad 22a and expose a section of the main
element 14. The aeration apertures 32 provide ventilation to the cyclist's
hand during
use of the hand glove 10. Such ventilation cools the cyclist's hand while
using the hand
glove 10 and enables moisture evacuation to keep the cyclist's hand dry.
Additionally,
the aeration apertures 32 provide increased flexibility of the hand glove 10,
thus
enhancing comfort to the cyclist.
Aperture border sections 34, or recesses, surround the aeration apertures 32.
The
aperture border sections 34 are contiguous to the cushioning section 30 and
are thinner
than the latter. The aeration apertures 32 are resultantly seated at a
substantially planar
base of the cushioning pad 22a, such that the aeration apertures 32 are
surrounded by
a portion of the reduced thickness part of the cushioning pad 22a which forms
the
aperture border sections 34. The aeration apertures 32 are inset into the
cushioning pad
22a. Each aeration opening 32 is defined by an inner edge 38 of the cushioning
pad
22a. The aeration openings 32 provide a ventilation channel between the palm
section
of a hand, covered by the cushioning pad 22a, and the exterior of the hand
glove 10.
According to one embodiment, the aeration apertures 32 are larger than the
unit
perforation in the mesh material of the main element 14 of the glove 10. The
aeration
apertures 32 could, for instance, be circular or ovoidal in shape as shown in
Fig. 1. The
aeration apertures 32 allow free heat release and moisture escape from the
palm area
12 of the glove 10, under the cushioning pad 22a. The warm air and the
moisture
generated by the user's hand under the cushioning pad 22a can escape freely
through
the perforations of the mesh material 14 and the aeration apertures 32
provided inside
the cushioning pad 22a. Moreover, fresh air intake can reach the user's hand
under the
cushioning pad 22a through the aeration apertures 32 and the perforations of
the mesh
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material 14. Therefore, the comfort of the user is improved without reducing
the
protection offered by the gloves 10.
The aeration apertures 32 can be disposed regularly across the surface of the
cushioning pad 22a. Alternatively, the aeration apertures 32 can be disposed
randomly
or in predetermined concentrated groupings across the cushioning pad 22a.
The perimeter 28 of the cushioning pad 22a is thinner than the cushioning
section 30
and blends smoothly into the fabric material that forms the palm 12 of the
athletic glove
10. Similarly, the aperture border sections 34 of the cushioning pad 22a are
thinner than
the cushioning section 30. In the embodiment shown, for the perimeter section
28 and
the aperture border sections 34, an outer layer 29 of the cushioning pad 22a
is
laminated directly over the main element 14. For the cushioning section 30, a
relatively
thick intermediate padding layer 50 (Fig. 4) is inserted between the outer
layer 29 and
the main element 14. The construction of the cushioning pad 22a will be
described in
more details below in reference to Fig. 4.
Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen another embodiment of the glove 10
wherein the
features are numbered with reference numerals in the 100 series which
correspond to
the reference numerals of the previous embodiment.
The glove 110 shown in Fig. 2 includes three spaced-apart cushioning pads
122a,
122b, 122c located on the palm side 112, each having a perimeter section 128
and a
cushioning section 130 thicker than the surrounding perimeter 128. As the
cushioning
pad 22a, the cushioning pad 122a includes border sections 134, or recesses,
thinner
than the cushioning section 130, and having inner edges 138 defining
individual and
spaced apart central aeration apertures 132 exposing the main element 114 of
the hand
glove 110. The aeration apertures 132 provide moisture escape outlets and/or
fresh air
intake ports for the cyclist's palm area located under the cushioning pad
122a.
The cushioning pad 122a is also provided with a plurality of moisture escape
channels
140, each moisture escape channel 140 opening on a first end 142 on the border
section 134 and on a second end 144 either on the perimeter section 128 or on
another
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border section 134. The moisture escape channels 140 provide a fluid
communication
between the central aeration apertures 132 and the exterior of the cushioning
pad 122a.
The moisture escape channels 140, or recessed inset, facilitate the fluid
exchanges
between the user's palm and the exterior of the hand glove 110.
The distance between the opposite facing edges 146a, 146b defining the
moisture
escape channels 140 should be wide enough to provide an adequate ventilation
between the aeration apertures 132 and the exterior of the glove 110, but
sufficiently
close so as to prevent the bicycle handlebar B to undesirably come into
sealing contact
with the aeration apertures 132.
Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2,
the
cushioning pads 122 include an intermediate padding layer 150 inserted between
two
polymer films 152 and an outer layer 129 covering the assembly of the padding
layer
150 and the polymer films 152.
For manufacturing the hand glove 110 including the aeration apertures 132
within the
cushioning pad 122a, the padding layer and polymer film assembly is first cut
into the
predetermined shape of the cushioning pad 122a. This can be carried out by die-
cutting
or any other appropriate technique known to those skilled in the art. The
outer layer 129
is cut into the predetermined shape of the cushioning pad 122a independently
of the
padding layer and polymer film assembly. However, a person skilled in the art
will
appreciate the outer layer 129 and the padding layer and polymer film assembly
can be
cut into the predetermined cushioning pad shape in a single step. As for the
padding
layer and polymer film assembly, the outer layer 129 can be cut by die-cutting
or any
other appropriate technique known to those skilled in the art.
Then, the outer layer 129 and padding layer and polymer film assembly are
juxtaposed
and the perimeter section 128, the border section 134, and the moisture escape
channel 140 are thermoformed. The perimeter section 128, the border section
134, and
the moisture escape channel 140 are formed by permanently compressing the
cushioning pad 122a to obtain the desired reduced thickness thereof. The
compression
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is achieved by heat treatment or, more preferably, by a high frequency fusion
treatment.
The aeration apertures 132 are then cut or, more preferably, die punched
through the
reduced thickness portion of the cushioning pad 22a, 122a at the aperture
border
sections 34, 134.
The aperture border sections 134 are preferably formed on an upper surface of
the
hand glove 10. The aeration apertures 132, as described, are inset into theses
aperture
border sections 134. The inset configuration of the aeration apertures 132 is
advantageous in several respects. Firstly, the permanently compressed nature
of the
aperture border sections 134 expedite formation of the aeration apertures 132
through
the cushioning pads 122a. That is, the aeration apertures 132 can be easily
and
consistently punched through the compressed aperture border sections 134
without
encountering difficulties inherent in punching or cutting the non-compressed,
fully
formed, thick padded material prevalent at the cushioning section 130.
Secondly, the
compressed aperture border sections 134 resists tearing proximate the aeration
apertures 132 during formation thereof and during subsequent use of the hand
glove 10
by the cyclist.
Additionally, the inset feature of the aeration apertures 132 serves to
prevent blockage
thereof during use of the hand glove 10. As noted above, a particular aperture
border
section 134 is larger in area than the corresponding aeration aperture 132.
Thus, due to
the larger size of the aperture border section 134, the cyclist's body may
contact a
portion of one of the aperture border section 134 while another portion of the
same
aperture border section 134 remains open, thus providing a direct pathway to
the
corresponding aeration aperture 132 for ventilation. Even if, during use of
the hand
glove 10, the handlebar B fully contacts and entirely covers an aeration
border section
134, the corresponding aeration aperture 132 can remain open and capable of
allowing
ventilation.
Therefore, the perimeter section 128, the border section 134, and the moisture
escape
channel 140 are continuous heat/pressure-formed depression lines and the
thickness of
the cushioning pad 122a is materially reduced along its edges. Thus, the edges
of each
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cushioning pad 122a blends smoothly into the fabric material that forms the
palm 112 of
the athletic glove 110. The thickness of the perimeter section 128, the border
section
134, and the moisture escape channel 140 is reduced relatively to the
cushioning
section 130 of the cushioning pad 122a, which is not thermoformed.
Then, the cushioning pad 122a is disposed over the palm section 112 of the
main
element 114 and stitching lines 126 are performed in the perimeter section 128
to attach
the cushioning pad 122a to the main element 114. A person skilled in the art
will
appreciate that these manufacturing steps can be carried out in a different
order or
differently. For example, the polymer films 152 can be cut independently of
the padding
layer 150. The cushioning pad 122a can be attached to the main element 114
before
thermoforming the border section 134, the perimeter section 128 and the
moisture
escape channel 140. Stitches lines can be performed in the border section 134
and the
moisture escape channel 140 for attaching these sections 134, 140 to the main
element
114.
In another embodiment, the outer layer 129, the padding layer 150 and the
polymer
films 152 can be juxtaposed, then the perimeter section 128, the border
section 134,
and the moisture escape channel 140, if any, can be formed by permanently
compressing the juxtaposed layers to obtain the desired reduced thickness.
Then, the
cushioning pad 122a and the aeration apertures 132 can be simultaneously
punched
through the compressed perimeter 128 and border sections 128, 134. Finally,
the
cushioning pad 122a can be mounted to the main element 114.
The cushioning pads 122b, 122c are manufactured by a similar technique than
the one
described above for the cushioning pad 122a, except that no border section 134
and/or
moisture escape channel 140 is thermo-formed in the cushioning pads 122b,
122c. The
cushioning pads 122b, 122c also include a relatively thick intermediate
padding layer 50
inserted between the main element 114 and the outer layer 129, or surface
layer. The
cushioning pads 122b, 122c are mounted to the main element 114 with stitching
lines
126 in the perimeter section 28, 128.
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The outer layer 29, 129 can be a leather lining, for example, Amara leather.
However, a
person skilled in the art will appreciate that it can be made of other
materials such as,
without being limitative, the same material than for the main element 14, 114.
The padding layer 50 (Fig. 4), 150 may include a partly compressible material
for added
comfort, for example, open cell and/or closed cell foams. A person skilled in
the art will
appreciate that the use of both existing equivalent foam members and after
developed
equivalent foam members. Examples of existing and equivalent foam members
include,
but are not limited to, gel-filled foam members, liquid-filled foam members,
air-filled
foam members, memory foam members, bio-gel members and combinations thereof.
While various individual layers of the hand glove 10 are herein specified,
this description
in only exemplary and is not intended to limit or otherwise narrow the
invention. The
hand glove 10 can include any number of layers in any potential combination
thereof as
desired for achieving the comfort properties and padding provided by the hand
glove.
Further, it shall be understood that the layers composing the hand glove may
individually be formed of a uniform, monolithic material construction or,
alternatively,
such layers can themselves be composed of a plurality of material layers. Thus
when
describing and reciting 'a layer' of the hand glove herein, any of these
constructions are
contemplated, as well as combinations and variations thereof.
According to an embodiment of the glove, the thickness of the cushioning pads
122 can
vary for example between 1 and 13 millimeters (mm), but preferably in the
range of
approximately 2 to 8 mm, and still more preferably between 3 to 6.5 mm.
Even if in the embodiments described above, the cushioning pads 22, 122
include a
relatively thick and intermediate padding layer 50 (Fig. 4), 150, a person
skilled in the
art will appreciate that the cushioning pads 22, 122 can or cannot include the
padding
layer 50, 150. For example, the cushioning pads 22, 122 can include only a
relatively
thick reinforced fabric (not shown) whose function it is to reinforce a
selected area of the
palm 12, 112 of the glove 10, 110 or a substantially incompressible soft
material, for
example, a bundle of fabric. Depending on the material used for the cushioning
pads
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22, 122, it is possible that they include solely one layer, for example, a
relatively thick
reinforced fabric.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the polymer films 152 used are
polyester
films. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that other
polymers can be
used. It is also possible to remove the polymer film 152 from the cushioning
pads 122.
In that embodiment, the padding layer 150 will be inserted directly between
the main
element 114 and the outer layer 129.
In accordance with an embodiment of the glove, there is a relatively important
difference
between the thickness of the hand glove 10, 110 in the aeration apertures 32,
132 and
in the cushioning section 30, 130 of the cushioning pads 22, 122, especially
when it
includes a padding layer 50, 150. In the embodiment shown, the main element
14, 114
is directly exposed in the aeration apertures 32, 132. No other material layer
is
laminated on the main element 14, 114 in the aeration apertures. However, a
person
skilled in the art will appreciate that another material than the material of
the main
element 14, 114 can be exposed or that the user's palm can be directly exposed
in the
aeration apertures 32, 132. Moreover, the main element 14, 114 can include
several
materials connected to one another. Therefore, the material of the main
element 14,
114 exposed in the aeration apertures 32, 132 can differ from the one exposed
in the
central palm area 24, 124.
The cushioning section 30, 130 of the cushioning pads 22a, 122a usually
includes the
relatively thick intermediate padding layer 50, 150 inserted between the main
element
14, 114 and the outer layer 29, 129, or surface layer, covering the padding
layer 50,
150. The air and moisture circulation is easier and faster through the
aeration apertures
32, 132 than through the cushioning section 30, 130. As shown in Fig. 4, the
combination of the cushioning section 30, 130 and the aeration apertures 32,
132 in the
cushioning pads 22a, 122a provides both comfort cushioning between the hand
palm
and the handlebar B and release of moisture from the hand palm perspiration,
even
under the cushioning pads 22a, 122a.
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Fig. 4 suggests that although the cushioning pad 22a can be partly compressed
against
the handlebar B by the cyclist's hand grasping the handlebar B with glove 10
(110, ...),
there remain the air apertures 32 that provide ventilation between the
exterior of the
glove 10 and the user's hand under the cushioning pad 22a. In Fig. 4, the
configuration
of the cushioning pad 22a differs from the one described above for the
cushioning pad
122a. In the perimeter section 28 and the border section 34, the outer layer
34 extends
directly over the main element 14. The padding layer 50 is disposed only in
the
cushioning section 30 of the cushioning pad 22a, between the main element 14
and the
outer layer 29. No polymer films 152 are inserted between the main element 14
and the
padding layer 50 and between the padding layer 50 and the outer layer 29.
Even if, in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the cushioning pads 22, 122
are
mounted to the main element 14, 114 using stitching lines, a person skilled in
the art will
appreciate that that the cushioning pads 22, 122 can be secured or welded to
the main
element 14, 114 of the glove 10, 110 by the operation of a heat-activated
adhesive, as
permanent depressed lines are formed around each of the cushioning pads 22,
122 by
the application of heat and line pressure. The selective application of heat
and line
pressure to the cushioning pads 22, 122 can operate to adhesively attach the
cushioning pads 22, 122 to the main element 14, 114 of an athletic glove 10,
110. The
border section 34, 134 and/or the moisture escape channels 140 can also be
attached
to the main element 14, 114 using a heat-activated adhesive.
For example, the cushioning pads 22, 122 can be formed from three flexible
layers,
sheets or pieces (not shown), i.e. a relatively thin and lower heat-sensitive
adhesive
layer, film or membrane that can be formed of a thermoplastic polymer such as
polyurethane (PU) or of a synthetic thermoplastic polymer such as polyvinyl
chloride
(PVC), a relatively thick and middle layer that can be formed of a heat-
meltable or heat-
deformable synthetic foam, and a relatively thin and upper layer that can be
formed of a
synthetic leather. The heat-sensitive adhesive layer is activated for securing
the
cushioning pads 22, 122 to the main element 14, 114.
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A person skilled in the art will appreciate that, for a reinforced attachment
between the
cushioning pads 22, 122 and the main element 14, 114, both techniques (heat
activated
adhesive and stitching lines) can be combined.
Instead of being continuous heat/pressure-formed depression lines, the
perimeter
section 28, 128 surrounding the cushioning pads 22, 122, the border section
34, 134
surrounding the aeration apertures 32, 132, and/or the moisture escape
channels 140
can be obtained with stitching lines inserted simultaneously in the cushioning
pads 22,
122 and the main element 14, 114. Therefore, the thickness of each cushioning
pad is
materially reduced in the perimeter section 28, 128, the border section 34,
134, and/or
the moisture escape channels 140. Thus, the edges of each cushioning pad 22,
122
blends smoothly into the fabric material that forms the palm 12, 112 of the
athletic glove
10,110.
Although the material of the main element 14, 114 of the hand glove 10, 110 is
shown
as being 100% mesh perforated flexible sheet material, the perforated mesh
sheet
material could alternately be limited to a central palm area 24, 124 or within
the
apertures 32, 132, while the remaining glove flexible sheet material
peripherally of the
cushioning pads 22, 122 could be made from non perforated sheet material.
Therefore,
the main element 14, 114 can be a combination of different materials.
Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen another embodiment of the glove 10, 110
wherein the
features are numbered with reference numerals in the 200 series which
correspond to
the reference numerals of the previous embodiments.
The glove 210 shown in Fig. 5 includes a central pad member 260 having an
outer layer
229 mounted to the palm section 212 with stitching lines 226. The central pad
member
260 includes four spaced-apart cushioning pads 222a, 222b, 222c, 222d located
proximate to the perimeter of the central pad member 260. Once again, the
cushioning
pads 222 are strategically-located in the palm section 212.
The cushioning pads 222a, 222d have a perimeter 228 defined by stitching lines
262, a
cushioning section 230 with inner edges 238 defining individual and spaced
apart
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central aeration apertures 232 exposing the main element 214 of the hand glove
210.
As for the aeration apertures 32, 132 of the above-described embodiments, the
aeration
apertures 232 provide a fluid communication between the user's palm under the
cushioning pads 222a, 222d and the exterior of the glove 210.
On the opposite of the glove 10, 110 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the edges 238 of
the upper
layer 229 are stitched to the main element 214 to create the aeration
apertures 232.
Therefore, no distinct border section is provided around the aeration
apertures 232 as
for the gloves 10, 110 described above.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the central pad member 260 has a central
section
270, thinner than the cushioning pads 222. The central section 270 also
includes
aeration apertures 272 therein exposing the main element 214, for an improved
ventilation. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the
central pad
member 260 can be provided without the aeration apertures 272 or that the
aeration
apertures 272 can be provided differently.
Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen another embodiment of the glove 10, 110,
210
wherein the features are numbered with reference numerals in the 300 series
which
correspond to the reference numerals of the previous embodiments.
The glove 310 has the same cushioning pad design than the gloves 10, 110
described
above. However, the main element 314 is made from a combination of different
material
wherein the central palm area 324 is made from a conventional fabric which is
perforation-free. The aeration apertures 332 provided in the cushioning pad
322a
expose a piece of mesh material 380 having perforations therein for an
increase air and
moisture exchange between the user's palm and the exterior of the glove 310
through
the cushioning pad 322a.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the aeration apertures 332
can also
expose the conventional fabric used as the main element 314 or any other
fabric.
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A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that the upper cushioning
pads 22b, 22c,
122b, 122c, 222b, 222c, 322b, 322c can also include aeration apertures for an
increased ventilation of the glove 10, 110, 210, 310.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the main element 14, 114,
214, 314 can
be formed from any relatively thin and flexible fabric or combination of
fabrics and can
include small diameter holes that provide ventilation to the hand of a
cyclist. For
example, synthetic leather that includes a pattern of small diameter through
holes that
provide ventilation to a user's hand can be used.
The surface represented by the aeration apertures 32, 132, 232, 332 can
represent up
to 60% of the surface of the cushioning pads 22a, 122a, 222a, 222d, 322a. More
preferably, the surface of the aeration apertures 32, 132, 232, 332 ranges
between 10
and 40% of the cushioning pads 22a, 122a, 222a, 222d, 322a and still more
preferably
between 20 and 35%.
The size, or diameter, of the aeration apertures 32, 132, 232, 332 of the
cushioning
pads 22a, 122a, 222a, 222d, 322a can vary between 1 and 20 mm, more preferably
their size can range between 2 and 15 mm, and still more preferably between 3
and 12
mm. For example, the size of ellipsoidal aeration apertures 32, 132, 232, 332
could be 3
mm x 12 mm, 5 mm x 10 mm, 3 mm x 12 mm, etc.
It will also be understood that the finger portions 16, 116, 216, 316 of the
hand glove 10,
110, 210, 310 can be cut anywhere along the length of cyclist's fingers. While
cycling
hand gloves 10, 110, 210, 310 are shown as having short fingers, a person
skilled in the
art will appreciate that the cycling hand glove can be long finger gloves,
including hand
gloves that are constructed and arranged for use in winter temperatures.
In other embodiments (not shown), the cushioning pads 22, 122, 222, 322 can
include
thin, heat/pressure formed, depression lines or fold creases that lie internal
of the
cushioning sections 30, 130, 230, 330, and that travel across the area of the
cushioning
sections 30, 130, 230, 330, so as to divide each cushioning section 30, 130,
230, 330
into a number of relatively thick areas that are joined or outlined by the
thin depression
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CA 02527322 2005-11-18
lines; i.e., each relatively thick cushioning pad 22, 122, 222, 322 is
embossed by
operation of the thin depression lines that traverse the cushioning section
30, 130, 230,
330 of the cushioning pad 22, 122, 222, 322. The term "diameter" is intended
to mean
the length of a straight line through the center of an object, which is not
necessarily a
circle.
While the embodiments described above making reference to the cyciing hand
glove
10, 110, 210, 310 wherein the cushioning pads 32, 132, 232, 332 are located on
the
palm side 12, 112, 212, 312 of the hand glove 10, 110, 210, 310, one skilled
in the art
will appreciate that for another athletic activity which requires hand gloves
with
cushioning pads 22, 122, 222, 322, the cushioning pads 22, 122, 222, 322 can
be
located on the back side of the athletic glove 10, 110, 210, 310, or on both
the back side
and the palm side 12, 112, 212, 312 of the athletic glove 10, 110, 210, 310.
Cycling gloves 10, 110, 210, 310 having cushioning pads 22, 122, 222, 322 in
accordance with the invention aid a cyclist in gripping the handlebar B of a
bicycle, as
the glove cushioning pads 22, 122, 222, 322 support, protect, dampen and
absorb
shock, and pad the cyclist's hands, and as the glove palm pads 22, 122, 222,
322
minimize the occurrence of numbness of the hands of a cyclist. Moreover, since
at least
one of the cushioning pads 22, 122, 222, 322 is provided with aeration
apertures 32,
132, 232, 332, the comfort of the cyclist is improved.
The hand glove 10, 110, 210, 310 including the aeration apertures 32, 132,
232, 332
within the cushioning pads 22a, 122a, 222a, 222d, 322a provides an improved
dynamic
palm hand cooling, in particular when the cyclist is in motion over his
bicycle; faster
drying of the hand glove 10, 110, 210, 310, if wet from perspiration borne
moisture;
constant escape of perspiration borne moisture from the hand palm area under
the
cushioning pad 22a, 122a, 222a, 222d, 322a; constant cooling fresh air intake
avaiiability; and improved overall breathability of the hand glove 10, 110,
210, 310.
The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary
only.
Obviously, the number, size and shape of the cushion pads and of the moisture
release
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CA 02527322 2005-11-18
apertures or air channels can vary in still other alternate cycling gloves,
without
restricting the scope of the present invention. Other gloves can be
envisioned, not
illustrated in the drawings. The scope of the invention is therefore intended
to be limited
solely by the scope of the appended claims.
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