Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ATHLETIC HAND GLOVE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
paw The present application claims priority on United States Provisional
Application No.61/483,877, filed on May 9, 2011, and incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
[0ool] The invention relates to an athletic hand glove and, more particularly,
to a
hand glove having a palmar side and a dorsal side with cushioning pads. The
invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a palmar side and a
dorsal side
of hand gloves including cushioning pads.
2) Description of the Prior Art
[0002] When riding a bicycle, a cyclist usually grasps the handlebar with
his/her
hands. It is critical that the cyclist's hands have a good command and control
of the
handlebars, as they provide, inter alia, 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.
[0003] To improve comfort for the cyclists, different materials having
different
properties are sown together. Furthermore, cushioning pads are sewn to the
palmar
side of the glove for providing cushioning comfort between the palm of the
hand and
the handlebar.
[0004] However, due to the friction of the palmar side of the glove with the
handlebar,
the stitches often unsewn, thereby accelerating wearing of the glove.
[0005] Furthermore, in an unstressed, rest position, a human hand is
configured in a
curved configuration with a depression defined in a central palmar area and
there is
always a need to improve comfort for hand glove wearers.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an aspect of the hand gloves addressing issues associated with
the prior
art.
[0007] One aspect of the invention provides a hand glove comprising: a glove
body
adapted to receive the hand of a user, the glove body comprising: a single
palmar
laminate adapted to cover a palm of the hand from a thumb side to a little
finger side,
and from at least an intersection between the wrist and the palm to at least
an
intersection between the palm and the fingers, the single palmar laminate
being
peripherally connected to a remainder of the glove body, the palmar laminate
being
seamless in its main palmar surface extending from the thumb side to the
little finger
side, the palmar laminate formed with an outer glove layer; an inner glove
layer
superposed inwardly to the outer glove layer; at least one cushioning element
extending in between the outer glove layer and the inner glove layer and
creating at
least one protruding cushioning pad; and the outer and inner glove layers and
the at
least one cushioning element being secured together through seamless bonding
with
at least one seamless bonding line contouring the at least one cushioning pad.
[0008] In accordance with first aspect, the palmar laminate comprises at least
one
seamless flexibility line in its main palmar surface, the at least one
seamless
flexibility line having a thickness smaller than that of the adjacent surfaces
of the
palmar laminate.
[0009] Still in accordance with the first aspect, the at least one seamless
flexibility
line is adapted to be generally superposed with at least one of a life line, a
head line,
a fate line and a heart line of a palm of the hand of a wearer.
[0010] Still in accordance with the first aspect, an exterior of the main
palmar surface
of the palmar laminate is concave when not worn.
[0011] Still in accordance with the first aspect, a concavity is defined in
the main
palmar surface extends from the thumb side to the little finger side.
[0012] Still in accordance with the first aspect, the palmar laminate
comprises a
plurality of finger portions.
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[0013] Still in accordance with the first aspect, the at least one seamless
bonding line
contouring the at least one cushioning pad includes a periphery of the
cushioning
element laminated between the inner and outer glove layers.
[0014] Still in accordance with the first aspect, an aeration window is
defined in the
main palmar surface, the aeration consisting of superposed cutouts in the
outer
glove layer and the inner glove layer.
[0015] Still in accordance with the first aspect, a mesh layer spans the
aeration
window, a periphery of the mesh layer being seamlessly laminated between the
outer glove layer and the inner glove layer about the cutouts.
[0016] Still in accordance with the first aspect, a cushioning layer is
interposed
between the outer glove layer and the inner glove layer throughout the single
palmar
laminate, the cushioning layer having a greater thickness at the at least one
cushioning pad.
[0017] Still in accordance with the first aspect, at least two of the
cushioning pads are
provided, with at least a first of the cushioning pads being made of a single
cushioning element, and with at least a second of the cushioning pads being
made
of at least two superposed cushioning elements.
[0018] In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a hand
glove
comprises a glove body adapted to receive the hand of a user, the glove body
comprising: at least one palmar laminate adapted to cover a palm of the hand
from a
thumb side to a little finger side, and from at least an intersection between
the wrist
and the palm to at least an intersection between the palm and the fingers, the
at
least one palmar laminate being peripherally connected to a remainder of the
glove
body, the at least one palmar laminate, the palmar laminate formed with at
least an
outer glove layer, and an inner glove layer superposed inwardly to the outer
glove
layer, the at least one palmar laminate defining a pre-shaped concavity formed
in an
exterior of the main palmar surface when the glove is not worn, the pre-shaped
concavity generally extending from the thumb side to the little finger side.
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[0019] Still in accordance with the second aspect, at least one cushioning
element
extends in between the outer glove layer and the inner glove layer and creates
at
least one protruding cushioning pad within the concavity.
[0020] Still in accordance with the second aspect, the at least one palmar
laminate is
a single palmar laminate.
[0021] Still in accordance with the second aspect, the concavity generally
extends
from the intersection between the wrist and the palm to at least an
intersection
between the palm and the fingers.
[0022] Still in accordance with the second aspect, the palmar laminate
comprises a
plurality of finger portions.
[0023] Still in accordance with the second aspect, an aeration window is
defined in
concavity of the main palmar surface, the aeration consisting of superposed
cutouts
in the outer glove layer and the inner glove layer.
[0024] Still in accordance with the second aspect, a mesh layer spans the
aeration
window.
[0025] Still in accordance with the second aspect, a cushioning layer is
interposed
between the outer glove layer and the inner glove layer throughout the single
palmar
laminate, the cushioning layer having a greater thickness at the at least one
cushioning pad.
[0026] Still in accordance with the second aspect, there are at least two of
the
cushioning pads, with at least a first of the cushioning pads being made of a
single
cushioning element, and with at least a second of the cushioning pads being
made
of at least two superposed cushioning elements.
[0027] Another aspect of the invention provides a method for manufacturing a
hand
glove having a palmar side and an opposed dorsal side, the method comprising
the
steps of: hot molding at least one of a palmar laminate and a dorsal laminate
between complementary preshaped molding dies, the at least one of the palmar
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laminate and the dorsal laminate of the hand glove extending from a thumb side
to a
little finger side hand, the at least one of the palmar laminate and the
dorsal laminate
including an outer glove element, an inner glove element, and at least one
cushioning element extending in between the outer glove element and the inner
glove element, the outer glove element being adjacent to a convex one of the
complementary preshaped molding dies and the inner glove element being
adjacent
to a concave one of the complementary preshaped molding dies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] 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:
[0029] Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cycling hand glove showing a palmar side
in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0030] Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cycling hand glove shown in Fig. 1
wherein an
outer palmar glove element is removed in accordance with an embodiment;
[0031] Fig. 3 is a sectional view along section lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 of the
cycling hand
glove shown in Fig. 1;
[0032] Fig. 4 is a schematic view of various elements constituting the cycling
hand
glove shown in Fig. 1 in a cushioning pad section; and
[0033] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pre-shaped cycling hand glove shown
in
Fig. 1
[0034] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features
are
identified by like reference numerals.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] 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 gloves used to cover the palms of a male/female riding a
bicycle.
[0036] For conciseness, only a left-hand glove will be described in further
details
below. However, it is appreciated that all the below detailed features also
apply to
right-hand gloves.
[0037] The hand glove 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a left-hand cycling glove, adapted
to
engage the handlebar of a bicycle, with a palmar side 11 including a palmar
laminate
12 and a dorsal side (not shown). The glove 10 has a glove body receiving the
hand,
at least part of the fingers and possibly a part of the wrist to wearer. The
glove body
has a single palmar laminate 12 of the hand glove 10 that can be divided into
a
palmar area 14 and five finger portions 16. The palmar area or main palmar
surface
14 extends from a thumb side 18 to a little finger side 20 (i.e., the
intersection
between the palm side of the hand and the dorsal side of the hand) and from a
wrist
end 22 (intersection between the wrist and the palm) to a root 24 of finger
portions
16 (intersection between the palm and the fingers).
[0038] In the embodiment shown, the hand glove 10 is a half finger hand glove
wherein the five finger portions 16 of the hand glove 10 are cut either the
proximal
phalanges or the middle phalanges, as is known in the art, so that the finger
tips (not
shown) be free and be able to freely engage the bicycle handlebar. One skilled
in the
art will appreciate that the hand glove can be finger-long hand glove.
[0039] A hook and loop fastener band assembly (VELCROTM) can releasably close
the wrist end 22 of the hand glove 10 around the wrist of the wearer.
[0040] Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4, there is shown that the palmar laminate
12 of
the hand glove 10 is a multi-layer (i.e., multi-ply) construction including a
plurality of
material layers or elements superposed and laminated together without
utilizing
stitching lines. In other words, the palmar surface laminate 12 is seamless,
as its
main surface is without seams, in spite of the presence of components such as
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cushioning pads, aeration window, gripping coatings, etc, all formed or
provided
without stitching. Stitch seams may be present to sew the palmar surface
laminate
12 to other parts of the glove, but these seams are on the periphery of the
palmar
surface laminate 12 and thus not in contact or in minimal contact with the
handlebar
when the hand glove 10 is worn during cycling activity.
[0041] The palmar laminate 12 includes a plurality of strategically-located
cushioning
pads 30 of increased thickness in comparison with the surrounding sections of
the
palmar laminate 12. Cushioning pads 30 of varying thicknesses are provided in
the
palmar laminate 12.
[0042] The palmar surface laminate 12 is attached to the remaining portions of
the
glove body of the hand glove 10 including the back/dorsal element(s) (not
shown)
and lateral and dorsal finger portions 32, 34 by any suitable technique
including but
not limited to stitching.
[0043] The palmar surface laminate 12 includes an outer palmar glove layer
panel or
element 36 covering the palmar area 14 and the five finger portions 16 of the
palmar
laminate 12 as well as an inner palmar glove layer panel or element 38 (Fig.
3)
extending inwardly of the outer palmar glove element 36. The palmar surface
laminate 12 further includes one or more cushioning elements 40 extending in
between the outer palmar glove element 36 and the inner palmar glove element
38
creating at least one protruding cushioning pad 30. Thus, the cushioning
elements
40 defining the cushioning pads 30 are embedded between the outer and inner
palmar glove elements 36, 38. The cushioning elements 40 may create a
protrusion
on the outer surface of the glove palmar side 11, i.e. the one defined by the
outer
palmar glove element 36.
[0044] The outer and inner palmar glove elements 36, 38 may cover the entire
palmar laminate 12. In the embodiment shown, an aeration window 42 is provided
centrally of the palmar area 14, thereby disrupting the outer and inner palmar
glove
elements 36, 38, as it will be described in more details below. An at least
partially
compressed cushioning layer 44 is also provided between the outer and inner
palmar glove elements 36, 38 and also extends along the entire palmar laminate
12.
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To define the cushioning pads 30 of varying thicknesses, cushioning elements
40
are superposed over the at least partially compressed cushioning layer 44 and
are
covered by the outer palmar glove element 36. Two or more cushioning elements
40
can be superposed to define thicker cushioning pads 30. One skilled in the art
will
appreciate that the thickness of the cushioning elements 40 in the cushioning
pads
30 as well as their cushioning properties can vary.
[0045] Furthermore, to provide cushioning pads 30 with a smooth curvature, the
surface area of the superposed cushioning elements 40 can be different with
the
larger cushioning elements 40 underlying the smaller cushioning elements 40,
i.e.
closer to the inner palmar glove element 38 and the cushioning layer 44.
[0046] The palmar laminate 12 may further includes the centrally located
aeration
window 42. In the embodiment shown, the aeration window 42 is defined by an
aperture in the palmar surface laminate 12 with a mesh material layer 46
extending
therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the mesh material layer 46 does not
extend
along the entire palmar laminate 12. However, an edge band of the mesh
material 46
is interposed between two layers of the palmar surface laminate 12 and secured
thereto without stitching lines. In an embodiment, the mesh material 46 is
interposed
between the inner palmar glove element 38 and the at least partially
compressed
cushioning layer 44. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the aeration
window 42
can be located anywhere in the palm area and the palm area can include more
than
one aeration window or can be free of aeration window. The aeration window 42
is
provided in the palm laminate 12 without utilizing stitching lines.
[0047] If necessary, heat sealable adhesive layers (not shown) can be
interposed
between two adjacent elements/layers of the palmar surface laminate 12 to
provide
the bonding strength. Alternatively, adhesive sports may be locally applied.
It is also
considered to use materials that fuse to one another without the need for
additional
adhesives, as explained below.
[0048] To form the palmar surface laminate 12 and to secure all the elements
in their
predetermined configuration without utilizing stitching lines, the laminate 12
is heat-
formed by heating the superposed elements/layers to a temperature above their
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softening point but below their melting point sufficiently long to create
bonds between
the superposed elements. Then, the laminate 12 is held long enough to allow
the
elements to cool to a temperature below their softening point. Then, the
formed
palmar surface laminate 12 is cut, if necessary, and stitched along its edges
to the
remaining portions of the hand glove 10 including the back/dorsal element(s).
Alternatively, the laminate 12 may be heated sufficient to activate the
adhesive
therebetween. The adhesive may then be allowed to cool down to bond the layers
together, prior to any cutting.
[0049] Embossed break lines (or thermal fused lines) 50 may be created during
the
heat-forming process. Embossed break lines 50a are formed around the
cushioning
pads 30. Embossed break lines 50b may also be formed around each one of the
superposed cushioning elements 40 defining the cushioning pads 30. The
embossed
break lines 50b may be formed over the edges of the cushioning elements 40. In
other words, an edge band of a cushioning element 40 is compressed under the
embossed break line 50b surrounding the cushioning pad 30 defined by the
cushioning element 40.
[0050] Further embossed break lines 50 are disposed in specific positions to
represent pressure crease lines of the hand glove 10 when, for instance, the
user
grasps the handlebar in different positions. Accordingly, since the embossed
break
lines 50 are adaptable to different positions, they prevent the bunching of
excess
material, for instance, when a user grasps different types of handlebars or
grasps the
handlebar in different positions.
[0051] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a first embossed break line 50c
follows
substantially the hand life line, a second embossed break line 50d follows
substantially the head line, a third embossed break line 50e follows
substantially the
upper part of the fate line and the heart line, and other embossed break lines
50f are
provided at the limit of the thumb finger, the index finger, the middle
finger, the ring
finger and the little finger, and the palmar area 14.
[0052] These embossed break lines 50 are formed by heat molding hand glove 10
either in a flat position or a preshaped curved position, as it will be
described in
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further details below. The embossed break lines 50 are also formed without
utilizing
stitching or sewn seams which can cause abrasion to the cyclist.
[0053] In summary, the hand glove 10 has specifically positioned embossed
break
lines 50 in order to provide a comfortable, anatomically conforming fit. Thus,
the
embossed break lines 50 directly dictate the anatomical shape to which hand
glove
must conform when worn and the embossed break lines 50 therefore also
conform to the anatomical shape of the hand as it is configured in different
positions.
[0054] In the embodiment shown, all the elements constituting the palmar
surface
laminate 12 are bonded together along their entire surface. In other words,
the entire
surface of each element 36, 38, 40, 44, 46 is entirely bonded to the overlying
element, if any, and the underlying element, if any. For the mesh material
layer 46,
its edge band 48 is bonded to the overlying and the underlying elements.
[0055] Now referring to Fig. 5, there is shown that, in an embodiment, the
hand glove
10 is anatomically shaped. As mentioned above, in an unstressed, rest
condition, a
human hand is configured in a curved configuration. To conform to the normal
and
unstressed configuration of a human hand, the hand glove 10 is ergonomically
pre-
shaped in a curved configuration wherein the hand glove is depressed into a
concavity in the palmar area 14 in comparison with the finger portions 16 and
the
wrist portion 22. The palmar surface laminate 12' that is pre-shaped may be
with or
without seams in the palm area.
[0056] More particularly, the palmar surface laminate 12' is heat formed to a
body-
conforming shape. The palmar surface laminate 12' is heat formed between a
male
molding die and a female molding die (not shown) having shapes conforming to
the
desired final shape. The laminate 12' softened by heat is stretched and
deformed by
the dies and is held in the dies long enough to allow the fabric to cool to a
temperature below the softening point of the synthetic fibers. Thus, when the
palmar
surface laminate 12' is stitched to the remaining components of the hand glove
10,
the resulting hand glove 10 has a pre-curved shape which is conformed to the
hand
anatomy of the wearer in a rest position. The palmar surface laminate 12' of
the
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embodiment of Fig. 5 is permanently deformed to provide curved hand glove 10
for
conformity to the wearer's hand anatomy.
[0057] The palmar surface laminate 12' is manufactured by superposing its
elements
36, 38, 40, 44, 46 between two complementary molding dies. The elements 36,
38,
40, 44, 46 may have been previously stitched. One of the molding dies has a
substantially convex shape and the outer palmar glove element 36 is disposed
adjacent thereto for the molding process. The other one of the molding dies
has a
substantially concave shape and the inner palmar glove element 38 is disposed
adjacent thereto for the molding process. The cushioning elements 40, the mesh
material 46 for the aeration window 42, if any, and the heat sealable adhesive
layers,
if any, are interposed inbetween. One skilled in the art will appreciate that
all the
components 36, 38, 40, 44, 46 can be superposed to one of the convex and
concave
shaped molding dies and the other one of the molding dies is disposed over the
assembly for the heat molding process.
[0058] The convex shaped molding die has recesses defined therein which
correspond to the shape of the cushioning pads 30 of the hand glove 10. It
also has
protrusions which correspond to the embossed break lines 50 of the hand glove
10.
The concave shaped molding die has protrusions defined therein which are
complementary to the recesses defined in the convex shaped molding die. Thus,
the
complementary recesses and protrusions defined in the convex and concave
shaped
molding dies define the protruding cushioning pads 30 of the palmar laminate
12'.
The protrusions of the concave shaped molding die are insertable in the
recesses of
the convex shaped molding die with the cushioning elements 40 and the other
components of the laminate 12' inserted in between.
[0059] One skilled in the art will appreciate that the hand glove 10 can be
preshaped
into a concave shape along one axis only, either along a longitudinal axis
extending
from the finger portions 16 to the wrist end 22 or along the transversal axis
extending
from the thumb side 18 to the little finger side 20. One skilled in the art
will
appreciate that the degree of curvature of the hand glove is variable.
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[0060] By heat forming the hand glove 10 in a curved configuration in the
embodiment of Fig. 5, the shape of the hand glove 10 substantially corresponds
to
the shape of a human hand in a rest position and the wearer's comfort is thus
improved.
[0061] Furthermore, by providing a seamless palmar laminate 12 and possibly
12',
the hand glove's durability is improved since the palmar surface durability is
not
limited by the seams.
[0062] One skilled in the art will appreciate that at least one of the palmar
area 14
and the cushioning pads 30 can be provided with aeration apertures. The
aeration
apertures can be in shape of punctured apertures extending throughout the
laminate
38 including or not the cushioning pads 30. If the apertures are defined in
the
cushioning pads, they can be at least partially surrounded by a recessed band
or an
embossed band. The aeration apertures can expose the wearer's hand, a mesh
material layer 46, the inner palmar glove element 38, or any other material
layer.
[0063] In a non-limitative embodiment, the outer palmar glove element 36 can
be
formed of synthetic suede material such as AMARA , a synthetic leather such as
Clarino , or a sheep skin such as Fitter . Any other appropriate material may
be
used. In a non-limitative embodiment, the inner palmar glove element 38 can be
formed of polyester, lycra , or any other appropriate material.
[0064] The cushioning elements 40 can 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 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.
[0065] Even if in the embodiments described above, the cushioning pads 30
include
one or several relatively thick and intermediate cushioning elements 40 with
resilient
padding properties, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the
cushioning
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pads 30 can or cannot include the cushioning elements 40 with resilient
padding
properties. For example, the cushioning pads 30 can include only a relatively
thick
reinforced fabric (not shown) of which function is to reinforce a selected
area of the
palm of the glove or a substantially incompressible soft material, for
example, a
bundle of fabric. Depending on the material used for the cushioning pads 30,
it is
possible that they include solely one layer, for example, a relatively thick
reinforced
fabric.
[0066] The hand glove 10 can include any number of layers or elements 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 or
elements 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.
[0067] According to an embodiment of the glove, the thickness of the
cushioning
pads 30 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.
[0068] As mentioned above, the cushioning pads 30 of various thicknesses can
be
applied to the main element. In an alternative embodiment, the cushioning pad
30
has a variable thickness in its surface area. The variable internal thickness
of the
cushioning pad 30 can be created while cutting the pad 30, by superposing
cushioning elements of different surface areas or during a thermoforming
operation,
for instance.
[0069] It will also be understood that the finger portions 16 of the hand
glove 40 can
be cut anywhere along the length of cyclist's fingers. While cycling hand
gloves are
shown as having cut fingers, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that
the cycling
hand glove can be finger long gloves, including hand gloves that are
constructed and
arranged for use in colder temperatures.
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[0070] While the embodiments described above making reference to the hand
glove
wherein the cushioning pads 30 are located on the palmar side 11 of the hand
glove 10, one skilled in the art will appreciate that for another athletic
activity which
requires hand gloves with cushioning pads 30, the cushioning pads 30 can be
located on the dorsal side of the athletic glove, or on both the dorsal side
and the
palmar side 11 of the athletic glove 10. Therefore, one skilled in the art
will
appreciate that the above described technologies can be applied to the
back/dorsal
element(s) of a hand glove 10. Thus, the dorsal element(s) of the hand glove
can be
seamless and pre-shaped. In an embodiment, both the dorsal element(s) and the
palmar laminate 12 can be at least one of seamless and pre-shaped and can be
sewn together.
[0071] The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be
exemplary only. Obviously, the number, size and shape of the cushioning pads
30
can vary in still other alternative 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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