Hand covering with expanse of formed material having plural wipers

Abstract

A formed material includes plural ribs or ridges. The material may be formed as a section of clothing such as a section of a hand covering or a glove. The material is usable to perform various functions including cleaning, cushioning, and abrasion resistance. A hand covering for a wearer includes a body for covering the hand of the wearer. Also included is an expanse of formed material joined to the body and including plural wipers. The expanse may include a region that covers one or both the forefinger and thumb. The wipers are formed as plural, laterally-spaced ribs extending upwardly from the body, and the wipers may extend linearly or arcuately with respect to the long axis of the body. Each rib includes a base and a blade, and the blade is constructed to flex bi-directionally.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hand covering to cover the fingers and thumb of a wearer while engaging in an activity, comprising: 
 a body for covering the hand of the wearer;    an expanse of formed material having plural wipers, wherein the expanse is joined to the body.    
     
     
         2 . The hand covering of  claim 1  wherein the expanse is joined integrally to the body.  
     
     
         3 . The hand covering of  claim 2  wherein the expanse forms a region of the body that at least partially covers the forefinger.  
     
     
         4 . The hand covering of  claim 2  wherein the expanse forms a region of the body that at least partially covers the thumb.  
     
     
         5 . The hand covering of  claim 2  wherein the expanse forms a region of the body that covers both the forefinger and the thumb.  
     
     
         6 . The hand covering of  claim 1  wherein the wipers are formed as plural, laterally-spaced ribs extending upwardly from the body.  
     
     
         7 . The hand covering of  claim 6  wherein the body has a long axis and the ribs extend linearly along the long axis of the body.  
     
     
         8 . The hand covering of  claim 6  wherein the body has a long axis and the ribs extend arcuately.  
     
     
         9 . The hand covering of  claim 6  wherein each rib includes a base and a blade, and wherein the blade is constructed to flex bi-directionally.  
     
     
         10 . The hand covering of  claim 9  wherein the blade is constructed to flex in a first direction when the wearer moves the hand covering along a first path, and to flex in a second direction different from the first direction when the wearer moves the hand covering along a second path different from the first path.  
     
     
         11 . The hand covering of  claim 6  wherein the ribs are formable in a preselected design to provide a desired look.  
     
     
         12 . A glove to cover the fingers and thumb of a wearer while engaging in an activity, comprising: 
 a body for covering the hand of the wearer;    an expanse of formed material having plural wipers, wherein the expanse is joined to the body.    
     
     
         13 . The glove of  claim 12  wherein the expanse is joined integrally to the body.  
     
     
         14 . The glove of  claim 13  wherein the expanse forms a region of the body that covers the forefinger.  
     
     
         15 . The glove of  claim 13  wherein the expanse forms a region of the body that covers the thumb.  
     
     
         16 . The glove of  claim 13  wherein the expanse forms a region of the body that covers both the forefinger and the thumb.  
     
     
         17 . The glove of  claim 12  wherein the wipers are formed as plural, laterally-spaced ribs extending upwardly from the body.  
     
     
         18 . The glove of  claim 17  wherein the body has a long axis and the ribs extend linearly along the long axis of the body.  
     
     
         19 . The glove of  claim 17  wherein the body has a long axis and the ribs extend arcuately.  
     
     
         20 . The glove of  claim 17  wherein each rib includes a base and a blade, and wherein the blade is constructed to flex bi-directionally.  
     
     
         21 . The glove of  claim 20  wherein the blade is constructed to flex in a first direction when the wearer moves the hand covering along a first path, and to flex in a second direction different from the first direction when the wearer moves the hand covering along a second path different from the first path.  
     
     
         22 . The glove of  claim 17  wherein the ribs are formable in a preselected design to provide a desired look.