Hand protector

Abstract

A hand protector for protecting at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the hand. In one embodiment, the hand protector includes a protective surface capable of arching over the edge of a human hand and the adjacent areas, and one or more straps for maintaining the protective surface in place. In a second embodiment, the hand protector includes a tubular protective surface capable of wrapping around the portion of the human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas. Variants of the first and second embodiments include raised lips situated along one or more edges of the protective surface to meet functional and/or aesthetic requirements, and one or more pouches to store one or more objects.

1 . A hand protector comprising: 
 a protective surface capable of arching over at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the human hand; and    one or more straps for maintaining the protective surface in place over the at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger.    
   
   
       2 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , wherein the protective surface has a perimeter selected from the group consisting of a square shape, an oblong shape, an oblong shape with rounded corners, a circular shape, an oval shape, a C-shape, and a filled numeral eight shape.  
   
   
       3 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , wherein the protective surface comprises a pliable material.  
   
   
       4 . The hand protector of  claim 3 , wherein the pliable material is selected from the group consisting of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a padded fabric, leather, suede, and pliable foam.  
   
   
       5 . The hand protector of  claim 4 , wherein the fabric is ballistic fabric.  
   
   
       6 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , wherein the contoured surface is made of a rigid material.  
   
   
       7 . The hand protector of  claim 6 , wherein the rigid material is a plastic material.  
   
   
       8 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , wherein the contoured surface is made of a combination of a pliable and a rigid material.  
   
   
       9 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , wherein the protective surface is made of a multi-layered combination of a plurality of materials.  
   
   
       10 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more straps surround the hand in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm.  
   
   
       11 . The hand protector of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more straps are made of an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       12 . The hand protector of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more straps are made of coiled cable.  
   
   
       13 . The hand protector of  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more straps comprises a plurality of interconnected segments.  
   
   
       14 . The hand protector of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of segments are interconnected with a system selected from the group consisting of a hook and look fabric, a buckle and tongue combination, and a pin and hole combination.  
   
   
       15 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , wherein the protective surface comprises one or more raised lips on at least one edge of the protective surface.  
   
   
       16 . The hand protector of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more raised lips have a shape selected form the group consisting of a rounded shape, a square shape, and a hook shape, and wherein the hook shape has a free end extending towards the inner portion of the protective surface.  
   
   
       17 . The hand protector of  claim 16 , wherein the protective surface is made of a fabric material, wherein the hook shape is maintained in position by a stitching running in a direction substantially parallel to the wrist of a user, and wherein the stitching connects the free end of the hook shape with the protective surface.  
   
   
       18 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pouches for storing one or more objects.  
   
   
       19 . The hand protector of  claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more pouches comprises a first wall that is integral with the hand protector, and a second wall comprising a flap that extends from the hand protector and that covers at least a portion of the first wall.  
   
   
       20 . The hand protector of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the first and second walls are joined by hook and look fabric.  
   
   
       21 . The hand protector of  claim 19 , further comprising means for retaining the one or more objects anchored to the first wall.  
   
   
       22 . The hand protector of  claim 18 , wherein the pouch is at least partially padded.  
   
   
       23 . A hand protector comprising a tubular protective surface capable of arching over at least a portion of the edge of a human hand comprised between the thumb and the tip of the index finger and the adjacent areas of the human hand, wherein the tubular protective surface is suitable for wrapping around the fingers of the human hand except the thumb, and wherein the tubular protective surface is further suitable for wrapping around the portion of the human hand comprised between the thumb and the other fingers.  
   
   
       24 . The hand protector of  claim 23 , wherein the tubular protective surface comprises one or more raised lips on at least one edge of the tubular protective surface.  
   
   
       25 . The hand protector of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more raised lips have a shape selected form the group consisting of a rounded shape, a square shape, and a hook shape, and wherein the hook shape has a free end extending towards the inner portion of the protective surface.  
   
   
       26 . The hand protector of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pouches for storing one or more objects.