Hand shield glove

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new and improved glove for protecting the hand of an individual when using tools that might cause impact to the hand. The present invention incorporates a glove that shields the index finger and thumb areas of the hand from harm resulting from a blow from a hammer, mallet, maul or similar tool. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new and improved glove with a protective thumb shield and index finger shielding for working with a hammer or chisel wherein the shielding protect the hand from impact as a result of the hammer. The glove may be incorporated with permanent shields or with removable shields.

1 . A protective glove comprising: 
 a. a flexible, form fitting glove having an open end and closed end, said open end is form fitted for insertion of a hand having four fingers, a thumb, a palm side, and a non-palm side, said closed end is form fitted for accepting said four fingers and said thumb of said hand with an internal cavity for each of finger and said thumb;    b. an outer layer of material to make up said flexible form fitting glove;    c. at least one protective finger shield that covers some portion of a non-palm side of an index finger of said hand and an optional side or sides of said index finger of said hand at or about the second middle phalanx bone area and the second proximal phalanx bone area; and    d. at least one protective thumb shield that covers some portion of a non-palm side of said thumb of said hand and an optional side or sides of said thumb of said hand at or about a first proximal phalanx bone area, a first metacarpal bone area, and a joint in between said first proximal phalanx bone area and said first metacarpal bone area of said hand that is to be protected by said glove.    
   
   
       2 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein said protective index finger shield and said protective thumb shield are optionally made from one of a group of materials comprising: steel, aluminum, metal or metal alloy of similar character and strength to steel or aluminum, weave of metal wire, or hard plastic.  
   
   
       3 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of material of said flexible form fitting glove is optionally made from one of a group of materials comprising: leather, rubber, soft plastic, or cloth.  
   
   
       4 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner layer.  
   
   
       5 . The protective glove of  claim 4 , wherein said inner layer of material of said flexible form fitting glove is optionally made from one of a group of materials comprising: leather, rubber, soft plastic, or cloth.  
   
   
       6 . The protective glove of  claim 4 , wherein said protective index shield and said protective thumb shield are attached to said form fitting glove and said outer layer and said inner layer of said flexible form fitting glove encompasses said protective index shield and said protective thumb shield within said form fitting glove.  
   
   
       7 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein said finger shield is square, rectangular, round, or oval shaped.  
   
   
       8 . The protective glove of  claim 1  wherein said thumb shield is square, rectangular, round, or oval shaped.  
   
   
       9 . The protective glove of  claim 1  wherein the glove is made of leather.  
   
   
       10 . The protective glove of  claim 1  wherein the finger shield extends from a portion of the second metacarpal bone area, over the second proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the second middle phalanx bone area.  
   
   
       11 . The protective glove of  claim 1  wherein the thumb shield extends from a portion of the primary metacarpal bone area, over the first proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the first distal phalanx bone area.  
   
   
       12 . A method of using a protective glove, comprising: 
 providing a glove for a hand holding an implement;    securing at least a first protective shield along a forefinger portion of the glove between about a mid-knuckle finger region and about a base knuckle finger region;    securing at least a second protective shield along a thumb portion of the glove between about a mid-knuckle thumb region and about a base knuckle thumb region wherein the first and second protective shields provide impact prevention while the hand holds the implement in a longitudinal direction through the hand with fingers of the glove wrapped there around.    
   
   
       13 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein said mid-knuckle finger region comprises a joint between a second middle phalanx bone area and second proximal phalanx bone area, and said base knuckle finger region comprises a joint between said second middle phalanx bone area and a second metacarpal bone area.  
   
   
       14 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein said mid-knuckle thumb region comprises a joint in between a first proximal phalanx bone area and a first metacarpal bone area.  
   
   
       15 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein said first protective shield and second protective shield comprise steel, aluminum, metal, metal alloy, weave of metal wire, or hard plastic.  
   
   
       16 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein said protective glove comprises leather, rubber, soft plastic, or cloth.  
   
   
       17 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the first protective shield extends from a portion of the second metacarpal bone area, over the second proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the second middle phalanx bone area.  
   
   
       18 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the second protective shield extends from a portion of the primary metacarpal bone area, over the first proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the first distal phalanx bone area.  
   
   
       19 . A protective glove comprising: 
 a glove for covering a hand;    a first protective shield for protecting the index finger of the hand; and    a second protective shield for protecting the thumb of the hand.    
   
   
       20 . The protective glove of  claim 19  wherein, the first protective shield extends from a portion of the second metacarpal bone area, over the second proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the second middle phalanx bone area and the second protective shield extends from a portion of the primary metacarpal bone area, over the first proximal phalanx bone area and to a portion of the first distal phalanx bone area.