Finger tip protectors

Abstract

A fingertip protector comprises a sleeve adapted to fit over a finger of a wearer, and a flexible strip. The sleeve has an opening for the insertion of a finger, and a portion of strip is attached to the part of the circumference of the opening. An adhesive backing on the inner surface of the strip is present to secure the protector to the finger and the remainder of the circumference of the opening, and a release liner is releasably affixed to the adhesive backing, which is designed for removal before use. In an alternative embodiment, the fingertip protector is snugly secured to the finger by strips of hook and loop fastening material disposed about the circumference of the open end of the sleeve.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A fingertip protector comprising: 
 a) a sleeve having a predetermined length and adapted for fitting over a fingertip of a wearer, said sleeve having: 
 i) an open end;  
 ii) a closed end;  
 iii) an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a smooth, textured surface whereby a finger may slide easily into the sleeve; and  
   b) finger attachment means for attaching said sleeve to a finger of a wearer.    
     
     
         2 . The fingertip protector according to    claim 1   , wherein said finger attachment means comprises a flexible, rectangular, elongated strip having: 
 a) an adhesive backing;    b) a proximal end attached to said sleeve at the open end of the sleeve, about one-half the width of the proximal end of said strip being attached to said sleeve and the other half of the width of the proximal end of said strip extending above the open end of said sleeve; and    c) a distal end, the distal end being elongated and aligned for wrapping about the circumference of the open end of said sleeve.    
     
     
         3 . The fingertip protector according to    claim 2   , further comprising a release liner affixed to the adhesive backing of said strip.  
     
     
         4 . The fingertip protector according to    claim 1   , wherein said sleeve has a non-skid pattern embossed on the outer surface of said sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The fingertip protector according to    claim 1   , wherein said finger attachment means comprises: 
 a) a first strip of hook and loop fastening material fixedly attached to the outer surface of said sleeve, the first strip having a first end and a second end, the first strip extending about 270° about the circumference of the sleeve adjacent the open end of the sleeve, the first strip having an outer surface with hook and loop fastening material disposed thereon; and    b) a second strip of hook and loop fastening material, the second strip having a inner surface having hook and loop fastening material disposed thereon for releasably attaching said second strip to said first strip, the second strip having a third and a fourth end, the third end being fixedly attached to said sleeve between the first end and the second end of said first strip, the fourth end being elongated and aligned for wrapping about the circumference of the open end of said sleeve in order to fasten said second strip to said first strip and snugly secure the protector to a finger of a wearer.