Finger shield and support for split-fingered glove

Abstract

The present invention provides a split-fingered glove comprising: a hand-receiving portion for receiving a hand; and, one or more padded finger-receiving portions extending from the hand-receiving portion, one or more of the finger-receiving portions having one or more flexible articulations at a back thereof and having a shield or shields over the one or more articulations to protect one or more finger joints, the shield or shields being engaged with and slidably constrained by the finger-receiving portion, the shield or shields sliding in response to curling and uncurling the hand. The glove provides better protection and support for fingers than prior art split-fingered gloves, and is particularly useful in sporting activities such as hockey and lacrosse.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A split-fingered glove comprising: a hand-receiving portion for receiving a hand; and, one or more padded finger-receiving portions extending from the hand-receiving portion, one or more of the finger-receiving portions having one or more flexible articulations at a back thereof and having a shield or shields over the one or more articulations to protect one or more finger joints, the shield or shields being engaged with and slidably constrained by the finger-receiving portion, the shield or shields sliding in response to curling and uncurling the hand.  
     
     
         2 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield slides between material that covers the glove and padding on the back of the finger-receiving portion.  
     
     
         3 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield slides within a sleeve of material formed into or onto material that covers the back of the finger-receiving portion.  
     
     
         4 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield is secured on one side of the one or more flexible articulations.  
     
     
         5 . The glove according to  claim 4 , wherein the shield is secured by hooking an end of the shield over padding in the glove.  
     
     
         6 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more padded finger-receiving portions is four padded finger-receiving portions.  
     
     
         7 . The glove according to  claim 6 , wherein there is one shield per articulation.  
     
     
         8 . The glove according to  claim 6 , wherein there are two overlapping shields per articulation.  
     
     
         9 . The glove according to  claim 6 , wherein there is one shield per finger-receiving portion.  
     
     
         10 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the glove is a hockey glove.  
     
     
         11 . A hockey glove comprising: a hand-receiving portion for receiving a hand; and, four padded finger-receiving portions extending from the hand-receiving portion, each finger-receiving portions having, at a back thereof, one flexible articulation having a shield or shields thereover to protect a finger joint, the shield or shields being engaged with and slidably constrained by the finger-receiving portion, the shield or shields sliding in response to curling and uncurling the hand.  
     
     
         12 . The hockey glove according to  claim 11 , wherein the shield slides between material that covers the glove and padding on the back of the finger-receiving portion.  
     
     
         13 . The hockey glove according to  claim 11 , wherein the shield slides within a sleeve of material formed into or onto material that covers the back of the finger-receiving portion.  
     
     
         14 . The hockey glove according to  claim 11 , wherein the shield is secured on one side of the flexible articulation.  
     
     
         15 . The hockey glove according to  claim 14 , wherein the shield is secured by hooking an end of the shield over padding in the glove.  
     
     
         16 . The hockey glove according to  claim 11 , wherein the shield is two overlapping shields.  
     
     
         17 . A hockey glove comprising: a hand-receiving portion for receiving a hand; and, four padded finger-receiving portions extending from the hand-receiving portion, each finger-receiving portions having, at a back thereof, two flexible articulations having a shield or shields thereover to protect a finger joint, the shield or shields being engaged with and slidably constrained by the finger-receiving portion, the shield or shields sliding in response to curling and uncurling the hand.  
     
     
         18 . The hockey glove according to  claim 17 , wherein the shield slides between material that covers the glove and padding on the back of the finger-receiving portion.  
     
     
         19 . The hockey glove according to  claim 17 , wherein the shield slides within a sleeve of material formed into or onto material that covers the back of the finger-receiving portion.  
     
     
         20 . The hockey glove according to  claim 17 , wherein the shield is secured on one side of flexible articulations.  
     
     
         21 . The hockey glove according to  claim 20 , wherein the shield is secured by hooking an end of the shield over padding in the glove.  
     
     
         22 . The hockey glove according to  claim 17 , wherein the shield is two overlapping shields.