GLOVE NODE

GANT A NOEUD

Description

CA 02534160 2006-01-27
GLOVE NODE
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
node/point part
comprising a body having a protrusion and an opposing surface operable to be
attached to a
glove. The body may include a surface texture. The part may be a pad with a
protrusion or it
may include an open or close-ended sleeve with a protrusion which is operable
to be received
over the finger portion of a glove. The body may further include a base
flange.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method of
forming a glove having a node or point, the method comprising forming or
attaching the above-
described node/point part to a glove. The method may comprise forming the node
and the
glove as a unitary body or the node may be attached to a preformed glove. The
node may be
attached to the glove by a variety of known means including gluing, sewing,
welding and
combinations thereof. The node may be screen printed onto the glove.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a glove having a
node, the node comprising a body having a protrusion. The node may be attached
to a finger
portion of the glove. The node may be attached to the thumb portion of the
glove. The node
may be integrally formed with the glove. The node may be attached to the glove
after forming
the glove. The glove and the node may be formed as a unitary body.
Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments
A glove 10 as shown in Figure 1, such as for example an insulated winter sport
glove, a leather
reinforced safety glove, protective work wear glove, padded or protective
sport glove, has a
node or point part 20 integrated as part of a portion of the finger 12, for
example the exterior
finger 14 and/or thumb pad area 16. The node or point part may also be applied
to a mitten.
The node or point part may be applied to the glove, for example, by affixing
the node or point
to the glove during the construction process for making the glove. The node or
point part may
also be affixed to the glove after construction or applied to the glove as a
part (e.g., a closed- or
open-ended tube or sleeve) that is pulled over the finger or thumb pad area by
the wearer.
Other methods of affixing the node or point part to the glove may also be
used. The integrated
node or point part may be located on the anterior panel over the finger pad on
the left and/or

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right index fingers or thumbs. As shown in Figures 1 through 3 of the node or
point part may
be affixed to the left and/or right anterior exterior glove panels to allow
pressure to be applied
by the first and second anterior distal phalanx. It will be appreciated that
the node or point part
may also be applied to other locations on the glove.
The node or point part may be affixed in place by, but not limited to, sewing,
gluing, high or
radio frequency welding, thermo molding or screening onto the exterior finger
and/or thumb
area. The node or point part that is integral to the finger construction may
be pour molded or
injection molded part or a screen applied feature. The material for the
molded, injection
molded or screened part may include poly vinyl chloride, thermo plastic
rubber, polyurethane
and silicone but are not limited to common thermo plastic resin materials.
The shape of various embodiments of the node or point part will be better
understood when
read in conjunction with the appended drawings. Now referring to Figure 4,
there is shown the
shape of the node or point part according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. The
node or point part shown generally at 20 may include a base 22 and a raised
portion 24
containing a protrusion. The dimensions shown on Figure 4 are possible
dimensions and
should not be understood as being mandatory. Other dimensions of the node or
point part may
also be acceptable so as to enable the node or point part to perform the
intended function. The
base 22 of the node or point part may include a texture. As shown in Figure 4,
the texture may,
for example comprise a stipple texture. It will be appreciated, however, that
other textures may
be applied to the node or point and the texture is not limited to a stipple
texture as shown.
As shown in Figure 5, alternative shapes of the node or point part according
to alternative
embodiments of the present invention are shown. The alternative shapes as
shown in Figure 5
include but are not limited to (a) a four sided protrusion with a flat tip,
(b) a swirled volcano
shaped protrusion, (c) an ovalized or rounded protrusion, and (d) a square
four sided
protrusion. In addition, it will be appreciated that as shown in Figure 5, the
node or point part
may be constructed as including only a raised portion without an extended base
as shown in
Figure 5(a).
Now referring to Figure 6, the node or point part is shown according to
another embodiment of
the present invention including the shape and look of a fingerprint. According
to this

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3
embodiment of the present invention, the raised portion 24 of the node or
point may be
textured and/or constructed so as to resemble a fingerprint.
It should be understood, that the present invention is not limited to the
precise arrangements
and dimensions shown in the accompanying Figures. These drawings and
dimensions are
suggested shapes and dimensions but are not restricted by these dimensions or
shapes.
Operation
The node or point part 20 permits the person wearing the glove 10 to operate
instrument key
pads and buttons such as, for example, but not limited to operating cell phone
key pads as
shown in Figure 1 or digital instrument key pads or camera buttons as shown in
Figure 2. The
node or point permits the user to operate these key pads and buttons without
removing the
glove so as to permit the person to keep hands warm and minimize interruption
in removal of
gloves while working or recreating.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated, such
embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as
limiting the
invention.

Representative Drawing