Energy diffusing glove insert

Abstract

An energy diffusing pad insertable within a glove. The pad includes a resilient material having a first and a second surface, and a front and rear portion. The first surface is positionable against a user's palm such that when the pad is aligned over the user's palm, the first surface of the cushion contacts at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm while not contacting the user's Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles. The glove may include a pouch to retain the pad while in use. When in use, the pad is positioned over the user's palm, where the pad forms a bridge over the raised, bony thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm. The pad diffuses the pressure of the grasped object away from the region between the thenar and hypothenar eminences, thus protecting the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles. A cushioned insert may be included within a portion of the pad to provide additional cushioning and protection of the Median and Ulnar nerves.

1 . An energy diffusing pad comprising: 
 a resilient material having a first and a second surface and a front and rear portion, wherein the first surface is positionable proximate a user's palm such that when the pad is aligned over the user's palm, the first surface of the material contacts at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of a user's palm in order to protect the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.    
   
   
       2 . The pad of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is insertable within a glove.  
   
   
       3 . The pad of  claim 1 , the resilient material comprised of polyurethane foam of a predetermined density.  
   
   
       4 . The pad of  claim 3 , the resilient material further including a resilient insert, the insert positionable over the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles, the insert having a different density than that of the resilient material.  
   
   
       5 . The pad of  claim 4 , the insert having a lower density than that of the resilient material.  
   
   
       6 . An energy diffusing glove insert comprising a resilient cushion positionable within a glove so as to be aligned with selected portions of a user's palm in order to diffuse pressure exerted by a graspable object away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.  
   
   
       7 . The glove insert of  claim 6 , wherein the selected portions of the user's palm are the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm.  
   
   
       8 . The insert of  claim 6 , the cushion comprised of polyurethane foam of a predetermined density.  
   
   
       9 . The insert of  claim 8 , the cushion further including an interior region, the interior region positionable over the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles, the interior region having a different density than that of the cushion.  
   
   
       10 . The insert of  claim 9 , the interior region having a lower density than that of the cushion.  
   
   
       11 . The insert of  claim 6 , wherein the cushion is removable from the glove and insertable within another glove.  
   
   
       12 . The insert of  claim 6 , wherein the insert is formed as an integral portion of the glove.  
   
   
       13 . The insert of  claim 12 , the insert removably retained in a pouch in the glove.  
   
   
       14 . A glove with energy diffusing capabilities for diverting pressure from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's hand, the glove covering at least a user's palm while allowing the user to grasp an object, the glove comprising: 
 a resilient cushion positionable within the glove so as to be aligned with at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm in order to diffuse pressure exerted by the graspable object away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles.    
   
   
       15 . The glove of  claim 14 , the glove further comprising a pouch for removably retaining the cushion.  
   
   
       16 . The glove of  claim 15 , the pouch situated within an inner surface of the glove.  
   
   
       17 . The glove of  claim 14 , the cushion comprised of polyurethane foam of a predetermined density.  
   
   
       18 . The glove of  claim 17 , the cushion further comprising a resilient insert, such that when the user's hand is within the glove, the insert is aligned over the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles, the insert having a different density than that of the cushion.  
   
   
       19 . The glove of  claim 18 , the insert having a lower density than that of the cushion.  
   
   
       20 . A method of diffusing pressure away from the Median and Ulnar neurovascular bundles of a user's hand during grasping activities, the method comprising: 
 providing a resilient cushion;    providing a glove adapted to receive the cushion therein;    positioning the cushion within the glove such that the cushion is aligned with at least the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the user's palm.