Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02616398 2007-12-24
HOCKEY GLOVE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hockey glove having an articulated rigid
thumb
skeleton.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Patent 6,813,781 entitled Protective Glove with Articulated Locking Thumb
issued on November 9, 2004. This patent discloses a hockey glove having a
thumb
member comprising a rigid articulating skeleton having at least two sections
pivotably
joined together at a pivot and a stop adapted to prevent hyperextension of the
thumb.
The pivot is disposed on the palm side of the thumb member and the stop is
disposed
on the back side of the thumb member.
U.S. Patent 6,543,057 entitled Protective Sporting Glove issued on April 8,
2003. This
patent discloses a hockey glove having a thumb-receiving portion comprising a
rigid
thumb skeleton having first and second shell portions that partially overlap
one
another, the first shell portion covering at least partially the middle
phalanx of the
thumb, the second shell portion covering at least partially the distal phalanx
of the
thumb, the first shell portion being hinged to the second shell portion.
There is a need in the industry to provide a hockey glove that increases
freedom of
movement of the thumb of the player while preventing overbending and
hyperextension
of the thumb.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a
hockey
glove for enclosing a human wrist and hand, the hand having a dorsal side, a
palm
side, fingers and a thumb having a dorsal side, an inner side, a proximal
phalanx, a
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middle phalanx, a distal phalanx and a middle articulation between the
proximal and
middle phalanxes and a distal articulation between the middle and distal
phalanxes,
the hockey glove comprising a hand-receiving portion comprising a palm side
for
facing the palm side of the hand; a dorsal side for facing the dorsal side of
the hand;
finger sheaths for receiving the fingers of the hand; and a thumb member
comprising
a top layer and a bottom layer affixed together at their respective
peripheries for
defining a cavity, a thumb pocket for receiving the thumb, and a rigid thumb
skeleton
enclosed in the cavity, the rigid thumb skeleton comprising a first section
for covering
at least partially the proximal phalanx of the thumb, a second section for
covering at
least partially the middle phalanx of the thumb and a third section for
covering at least
partially the distal phalanx of the thumb, wherein: (a) the first section
comprises a top
wall and left and right sides extending longitudinally from a first proximal
end to a
first distal end, the top wall comprising an underhanging portion at the first
distal end;
(b) the third section comprises a top wall and left and right sides extending
longitudinally from a third proximal end to a third distal end, the top wall
comprising
an underhanging portion at the third proximal end; (c) the second section
comprises a
top wall and left and right sides extending longitudinally from a second
proximal end
to a second distal end, the top wall comprising a proximal recess for
receiving the
underhanging portion of the first section and the underhanging portion of the
third
section, the second proximal end having a proximal slot extending between
first and
second ends, and the second distal end having a distal slot extending between
first and
second ends; and wherein the underhanging portion of the first section is
affixed
within the proximal recess of the second section for hinging together the
first and
second sections; wherein the underhanging portion of the third section is
affixed
within the distal recess of the second section for hinging together the second
and third
sections; wherein the first, second and third sections are rotatable relative
to each
other between a closed position and an open position; wherein the rigid thumb
skeleton further comprises a proximal pin passing through the proximal slot of
the
second section and a distal pin passing through the distal slot of the second
section,
the proximal pin being moveable within the proximal slot and the distal pin
being
moveable within the distal slot; and wherein, in use, when the second section
pivots
relative to the first section towards the closed position, the proximal pin
abuts the
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second end of the proximal slot to prevent overbending of the thumb, and when
the
third section pivots relative to the second section towards the closed
position, the
distal pin abuts the first end of the distal slot to prevent overbending of
the thumb; and
when the second section pivots relative to the first section towards the open
position,
the proximal pin abuts the first end of the proximal slot to prevent
hyperextension of
the thumb, and when the third section pivots relative to the second section
towards the
open position, the distal pin abuts the second end of the distal slot to
prevent
hyperextension of the thumb.
The invention also provides a hockey glove for enclosing a human wrist and
hand, the
hand having a dorsal side, a palm side, fingers and a thumb having a dorsal
side, an
inner side, a proximal phalanx, a middle phalanx, a distal phalanx and a
middle
articulation between the proximal and middle phalanxes and a distal
articulation
between the middle and distal phalanxes, the hockey glove comprising a hand-
receiving portion comprising a palm side for facing the palm side of the hand;
a dorsal
side for facing the dorsal side of the hand; finger sheaths for receiving the
fingers of
the hand; and a thumb member comprising a top layer and a bottom layer affixed
together at their respective peripheries for defining a cavity, a thumb pocket
for
receiving the thumb, and a rigid thumb skeleton enclosed in the cavity, the
rigid
thumb skeleton comprising a first section for covering at least partially the
middle
phalanx of the thumb and a second section for covering at least partially the
distal
phalanx of the thumb, wherein: (a) the first section comprises a top wall and
left and
right sides extending longitudinally from a first proximal end to a first
distal end, the
top wall comprising an underhanging portion at the first distal end; (b) the
second
section comprises a top wall and left and right sides extending longitudinally
from a
second proximal end to a second distal end, the top wall comprising a recess
for
receiving the underhanging portion of the first section, the second proximal
end
having a slot extending between first and second ends, and wherein the
underhanging
portion of the first section is affixed within the recess of the second
section for
hinging together the first and second sections; wherein the first and second
sections
are rotatable relative to each other between a closed position and an open
position;
wherein the rigid thumb skeleton further comprises a pin passing through the
slot of
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the second section, the pin being moveable within the slot; and wherein, in
use, when
the second section pivots relative to the first section towards the closed
position, the
pin abuts the first end of the slot to prevent overbending of the thumb; and
when the
second section pivots relative to the first section towards the open position,
the pin
abuts the second end of the slot to prevent hyperextension of the thumb.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
the
persons skilled in the art upon review of the following description of
embodiments of
the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided
herein
below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure IA is a top view of a human hand with the integument of the hand shown
in
broken lines and the bones shown in full lines;
Figure 1 B is a bottom perspective view of a human hand;
Figure 1 C is a top perspective view of the human hand of Figure 1 B;
Figure I D is a side perspective view of the human hand of Figure 1 B;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hockey glove constructed in accordance
with an
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the pads and thumb skeleton
of the
hockey glove of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the hockey glove of Figure 2;
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Figure 5 is a side view of the hockey glove of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a top view of the hockey glove of Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the thumb skeleton of the hockey glove of
Figure 2;
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the thumb skeleton of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a top view of the thumb skeleton of Figure 7;
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10;
Figure 11 is a side view of the thumb skeleton of Figure 7 shown in an open
position;
Figure 12 is a side view of the thumb skeleton of Figure 7 shown in a closed
position;
Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the thumb member of the hockey glove of
Figure 2.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a thumb skeleton according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the thumb skeleton of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a side view of the thumb skeleton of Figure 15 shown in an open
position; and
Figure 17 is a side view of the thumb skeleton of Figure 7 shown in a closed
position.
In the drawings, the embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
examples.
It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only
for the
purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not
intended to be a
definition of the limits of the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
It should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to
identify
the same structural elements, parts, portions or surfaces consistently
throughout the
several drawing figures, as such elements, parts, portions or surfaces may be
further
described or explained by the entire written specifications, of which this
detailed
description is an integral part. In describing the embodiments, specific
terminology is
resorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be
limited to the
specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term
comprises all
equivalents.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with
the
specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written
description of
this invention. As used in the following description, the terms "horizontal",
"vertical",
"left", "right", "up", "down" and the like, as well as adjectival and
adverbial
derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly",
"radially", etc.),
simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular
drawing
figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms "inwardly," "outwardly" and
"radially"
generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of
elongation, or axis
of rotation, as appropriate.
As shown in Figures l A, I B, I C, I D, a human hand comprises a palm P, a
dorsal side
DS, four fingers F (index finger, middle finger, third finger and little
finger), a thumb
T and a mediai side MS with a C-shaped edge CE extending between the thumb T
and
the index finger F. Each finger F has a palm surface PS, a dorsal surface DS,
a lateral
surface LS, a medial surface MS, a proximal articulation PA, a proximal
phalanx PP,
a middle articulation MA, a middle phalanx MP, a distal articulation DA and a
distal
phalanx DP. The thumb T has a palm surface PS, a dorsal surface DS, a proximal
phalanx PP, a middle articulation MA, a middle phalanx MP, a distal
articulation DA
and a distal phalanx DP.
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Figures 2 to 6 illustrate a hockey glove 10 for receiving the hand of the
player. The
hockey glove 10 has a hand receiving portion 12 for covering the palm P and
dorsal
side DS of the hand and extending generally to the end of the fingers F and a
thumb
member 14 for protecting the thumb T.
The hand receiving portion 12 comprises four finger sheaths 16, 18, 20, 22 for
enclosing the index finger, middle finger, third finger and little finger, a
palm sheet 24
for facing the palm P and the palm surfaces PS of the respective fingers F and
the
palm surface PS of the thumb T and a dorsal side 26 for covering the dorsal
surface
DS of the hand. The palm sheet 24 is made of soft flexible material such as
leather or
synthetic textile material.
Each of the finger sheaths 16, 18, 20, 22 extends from an area proximal the
proximal
articulation PA of the finger to the end of the finger. Each of the finger
sheaths 16, 18,
20, 22 comprises elongated protective finger pads 32 extending along the
dorsal side
of each finger sheath for protecting the dorsal surface DS of each finger F. A
spacer
(not illustrated) made of flexible material may fill the gap between the
finger pads 32
of the same finger sheath and protects the player's knuckles when the finger
sheath is
fully bent inwardly. The finger pads 32 are made of materials conventionally
found in
the prior art. Such materials include polyethylene inserts and may include
various
composite materials designed to absorb the energy of an impact.
The hand receiving portion also comprises a side finger web 28 for facing the
lateral
surface LS and medial surface MS of each finger F, this side finger web 28
being
connected to the palm sheet 24 and dorsal side 26 for defining finger gussets
30 for
enclosing the fingers F. The side finger web 28 is made of an elastic
synthetic
material for giving added flexibility to each finger sheath while
simultaneously
facilitating the reduction of the moisture levels within each finger sheath.
The hockey glove 10 further comprises dorsal pads 34 for protecting the dorsal
side
DS of the hand and side pads 36 for protecting the medial side MS of the hand.
The
dorsal and side pads 34, 36 may be formed of relatively thick foam
encapsulated in
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suitable material such as leather or NYLON. The dorsal pads 34 are formed and
grouped to substantially conform to the shape of the back of the hand and may
be
oriented in order to increase flexibility of the hand. The dorsal pads 34 are
generally
rectangular in cross-section.
The hockey glove 10 also comprises a braiding 38 surrounding the periphery of
the
thumb member 14, extending along a portion between the thumb member 14 and the
index finger sheath 16 and further along the side of the index finger sheath
16. The
braiding 38 is used to affix a portion of the periphery of the palm sheet 24
to the
thumb member 14, to the portion between the thumb member 14 and the index
finger
sheath 16 and to the side of the index finger sheath 16.
The palm sheet 24 may be made of a four way stretch NYLON fabric, leather or
another natural or synthetic material selected for softness and durability and
may also
include holes for ventilation. The palm sheet 24 may comprise further tabs
made of
leather provided over the tips of the finger for greater abrasion resistance,
improved
gripping ability, and extended wear of the hockey glove 10.
The palm sheet 24 may further comprise a reinforcing strip of material 40
extending
generally diagonally across the palm sheet 24 from about the index finger to
the heel
of the palm on the little finger side of the glove. The reinforcing strip of
material 40 is
preferably oriented to run generally parallel to the stick during the angular
grasping of
the stick by the player. This orientation aids grip and reduces fatigue by
reducing the
glove's resistance to grasping the stick at such an angle.
Moreover, the palm sheet 24 may comprise a pad 42 covering at least partially
the
region of the hand where the ulnar and mediale nerves are located, this pad 42
being
made of a suitable materiai for absorbing detrimental forces associated with
the
hockey stick-to-puck impact.
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The hockey glove 10 also comprises a flexible cuff 44 and a cuff roll 46 that
at least
partially covers the flexible cuff 44 for offering further protection to the
back and
sides of the wrist against hits from a hockey stick or the puck.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the flexible cuff 44 may comprise segmented
panels
affixed to the proximal end of the hand receiving portion 12 and the cuff roll
46
extends about two-thirds the distance around the flexible cuff 44. The panels
are
padded for protection about the wrist. The panels are preferably covered by
leather or
suitable synthetic materials such as NYLON. Optionally, a fairly rigid member
(not
shown) may be included in one or more panels for added protection of the
wrist. It is
preferred that the panels overlap slightly to further safeguard against
openings around
the wrist which could lead to injury. This flexible cuff 44 allows enhanced
flexibility
of the glove for the player's hand motions, such as when hitting the hockey
puck with
the stick. It is understood that the flexible cuff 44 may be affixed to the
hand
receiving portion 12 via a suitable flexible material (e.g. via an elastic
band). The cuff
roll 46 may be formed of a section of foam having a thickness of about 0.25
inch to
0.5 inch, which is covered by real or synthetic leather, or other suitable
material. The
cuff roll 46 is preferably attached only at its short ends.
As shown in Figure 13, to facilitate thumb movement, the thumb member 14 has a
layer 102 forming with the palm sheet 24 a thumb pocket 104 for receiving the
thumb
T of the player. The thumb pocket 104 allows the thumb T to move with more
freedom. The thumb member 14 also comprise one or more pads 106 and an
external
rigid sheet 108 for protecting the dorsal side of the thumb, top and bottom
layers 110,
112 made of polyurethane foam and a bottom liner 114 for facing the dorsal
side DS
of the thumb. The external rigid sheet 108, top and bottom layers 110, 112 and
bottom
liner 114 are affixed together at their periphery by the braiding 38. The
thumb
member 14 further comprises a rigid thumb skeleton 116 sandwiched between the
top
and bottom layers 110, 112.
Referring to Figures 7 to 12, the rigid thumb skeleton 116 comprises a first
section
118 for covering at least partially the proximal phalanx PP of the thumb T, a
second
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section 120 for covering at least partially the middle phalanx MP of the thumb
T and a
third section 122 for covering at least partially the distal phalanx DP of the
thumb T.
'The rigid thumb skeleton 116 may be made of plastic.
The first section 118 comprises a top wall 124 and left and right sides 126,
128
extending longitudinally from a first proximal end 130 to a first distal end
132, the left
and right sides 126, 128 comprising left and right portions 134, 136 extending
forwardly at the first distal end 132 and comprising respective left and right
apertures
138, 140. The top wall 124 comprises an underhanging portion 142 at the first
distal
end 132.
The third section 122 comprises a top wall 144 and left and right sides 146,
148
extending longitudinally from a third proximal end 150 to a third distal end
152, the
left and right sides 146, 148 comprising left and right portions 154, 156
extending
rearwardly at the third proximal end 150 and comprising respective left and
right
apertures 158, 160. The top wall 144 comprises an underhanging portion 162 at
the
third proximal end 150.
The second section 120 comprises a top wall 164 and left and right sides 166,
168
extending longitudinally from a second proximal end 170 to a second distal end
172,
the left and right sides 166, 168 comprising respective left proximal and
distal slots
174, 176 and right proximal and distal slots 178, 180. The top wall comprises
a
proximal recess 182 and a distal recess 184 for receiving the respective
underhanging
portion 142 of the first section 118 and the underhanging portion 162 of the
third
section 122.
The thumb skeleton 116 further comprises a first rod 186 for connecting the
underhanging portion 142 of the first section 118 within the proximal recess
182 of
the second section 120 such that the first and second sections 118, 120 are
hinged
together near the articulation between the proximal and middle phalanxes PP,
MP of
the thumb T. To this effect, the underhanging portion 142 has an aperture
extending
transversely for receiving the first rod 186.
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The thumb skeleton 116 also comprises a second rod 188 for connecting the
underhanging portion 162 of the third section 122 within the 184 distal recess
of the
second section 120 such that the second and third sections 120, 122 are hinged
together near the articulation between the middle and distal phalanxes MP, DP
of the
thumb T. As best seen in Figure 8, the underhanging portion 162 has an
aperture 163
extending transversely for receiving the first rod 186.
As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the first, second and third sections 118, 120,
122 are
rotatable relative to each other between a closed position (Figure 12) and an
open
position (Figure 11).
Reverting to Figures 7 to 10, each of the slots 174, 176, 178, 180 has a
length with a
first end FE and a second end SE. The thumb skeleton 116 further comprises a
left
proximal pin 190 passing through the left aperture 138 of the first section
118 and the
left proximal slot 174 of the second section 120, a left distal pin 192
passing through
the left aperture 158 of the third section 122 and the left distal slot 176 of
the second
section 120, a right proximal pin 194 passing through the right aperture 140
of the
first section 118 and the right proximal slot 178 of the second section 120,
and a right
distal pin 196 passing through the right aperture 160 of the third section 122
and the
right distal slot 180 of the second section 120. Locking rings 198 are
provided for
retaining the respective pins 190, 192, 194, 196. The pins 190, 192, 194, 196
are
moveable within the respective slots 174, 176, 178, 180.
In use, when the first and second sections 118, 120 pivot relative to each
other
towards the closed position, each of the pins 190, 194 abuts the second end SE
of each
of the respective slots 174, 178 to prevent overbending of the thumb, and when
the
second and third sections 120, 122 pivot relative to each other towards the
closed
position, each of the pins 192, 196 abuts the first end FE of each of the
respective
slots 176, 180 to prevent overbending of the thumb (see Figure 12).
Moreover, when the first and second sections 118, 120 pivot relative to each
other
towards the open position, each of the pins 190, 194 abuts the first end FE of
each of
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the respective slots 174, 178 to prevent hyperextension of the thumb, and when
the
second and third sections 120, 122 pivot relative to each other towards the
open
position, each of the pins 192, 196 abuts the second end SE of each of the
respective
slots 176, 180 to prevent overbending of the thumb (see Figure 11).
As shown in Figures 14 to 17, the invention further covers a rigid thumb
skeleton 200
comprising two sections instead of three, namely a first section 202 for
covering at
least partially the middle phalanx of the thumb and a second section 204 for
covering
at least partially the distal phalanx of the thumb.
In such an embodiment, the first section 202 comprises a top wall 206 and left
and
right sides 208, 210 extending longitudinally from a first proximal end 212 to
a first
distal end 214, the left and right sides 208, 210 comprising left and right
portions 216,
218 extending forwardly at the first distal end 214 and comprising respective
left and
right apertures 220, 222. The top wall 206 of the first section 202 comprises
an
underhanging portion 224 at the first distal end 212, the underhanging portion
224
having an aperture extending transversely for receiving a rod 228.
The second section 204 comprises a top wall 230 and left and right sides 232,
234
extending longitudinally from a second proximal end 236 to a second distal end
238,
the left and right sides 232, 234 comprising respective left and right slots
240, 242,
each of the slots 240, 242 extending from a first end FE to a second end SE.
The top
wall 230 of the second section 204 comprises a recess 244 for receiving the
underhanging portion 224 of the first section 202.
The thumb skeleton 200 further comprises the rod 228 for connecting the
underhanging portion 224 of the first section 202 within the recess 244 of the
second
section 204 such that the first and second sections 202, 204 are hinged
together near
the articulation between the proximal and middle phalanxes PP, MP of the thumb
T
and such that the first and second sections 202, 204 are rotatable relative to
each
other between a closed position (see Figure 17) and an open position (see
Figure 16).
The thumb skeleton 200 further comprises a left pin 246 passing through the
left
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aperture 220 of the first section 202 and the left slot 240 of the second
section 204 and
a right pin 248 passing through the right aperture 222 of the first section
202 and the
right slot 242 of the second section 204. Locking rings 250 are provided for
retaining
the respective pins 246, 248. The pins 246, 248 are moveable within the
respective
slots 240, 242. In use, when the first and second sections 202, 204 pivot
relative to
each other towards the closed position, each of the pins 246, 248 abuts the
first end
FE of each of the respective slots 240, 242 to prevent overbending of the
thumb, and
when the first and second sections 202, 204 pivot relative to each other
towards the
open position, each of the pins 246, 248 abuts the second end SE of each of
the
respective slots 240, 242 to prevent hyperextension of the thumb.
The above description of embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting
manner
since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the
spirit and
scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the
appended
claims and their equivalents.
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