Hand protecting device

Abstract

A gripping glove for supporting and protecting the hand of a weightlifter or other user performing an activity that is strenuous to the hand. The gripping glove cushions the junction of the fingers and palm without constricting flexibility or airflow to the skin. Constructed of flexible resilient material, the glove has an insert made of a resilient compressible flexible elastic substance. The insert cushions the palm of the hand without affecting finger articulation. The gripping glove may be of varying sizes to best support both male and female hands as well as juvenile and adult hands.

1 . A hand protection device, comprising:
 a flexible resilient shell having a peripheral edge and a bottom surface, said bottom surface is sized and configured to cover at least an area of a palm of a human hand between a carpal bone zone and a metacarpal zone without extending over distal phalanges;   a flexible resilient compressible insert fitted into the shell between the peripheral edge and the bottom surface, said insert having an upper surface; and   a finger-engaging means secured to the upper surface of the insert for engaging fingers of a user.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral edge is defined by a first elongated side, a second elongated side, a first end and a second end unitary connected to form the peripheral edge. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said second side has longitudinal dimensions greater than the first elongated side. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated side and the first end and the second end are connected by curved corner edge. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated side and the first end and the second end are connected by a curved corner edge, and wherein the second elongated side, the first end and the second end are connected by a curved corner edge. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said finger engaging means comprises a flexible resilient stretchable band comprising a plurality of loops for engaging the user's fingers. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said first end has an arcuate configuration. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said first end extends at a substantially acute angle in relation to the second elongated side. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said insert is formed from a material selected from a group comprising an elastomer, polymer gel and dry polymer substance. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said insert is formed from a polymer gel substance. 
   
   
       11 . A hand protection device, comprising:
 a flexible resilient shell having a peripheral edge and a bottom surface, said bottom surface is sized and configured to cover at least an area of a palm of a human hand between a carpal bone zone and a metacarpal zone without extending over distal phalanges, said shell having a first elongated side and an opposed second elongated side, and wherein said second elongated side has longitudinal dimension at least slightly greater than the first elongated side;   a flexible resilient compressible elastic insert fitted into the shell between the peripheral edge and the bottom surface, said insert having an upper surface; and   a finger-engaging means secured to the upper surface of the insert for engaging fingers of a user.   
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said finger engaging means comprises a flexible resilient stretchable band formed into a plurality of loops for receiving fingers of the user therein. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said peripheral edge is defined by the first elongated side, the second elongated side, a first end and a second end unitary connected to form the peripheral edge. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said first end is defined by an arc. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13 , the first elongated side and the first end and the second end are connected by a curved corner edge, and wherein the second elongated side, the first end and the second end are connected by a curved corner edge. 
   
   
       16 . A method of protecting a human hand from abrasion by an item being lifted, the method comprising the steps:
 providing a flexible resilient hand-protecting pad sized and configured to cover at least an area of a human hand between a carpal bone zone and a metacarpal zone without extending over distal phalanges, said pad having a peripheral edge and a bottom surface;   providing a flexible compressible resilient elastic insert fitted between the peripheral edge and the bottom surface;   providing a plurality of finger engaging loops secured on a top surface of the insert;   engaging fingers in said loops such that user's thumb is not covered by the pad, while user's palm in the area between a carpal bone zone and a metacarpal zone contacts the insert and is covered by the pad without extending over distal phalanges.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said insert is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of elastomer, dry polymer and polymer gel substance. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said finger engaging loops are formed from a flexible resilient stretchable material. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said pad comprises a peripheral edge defined by a first elongated side, a second elongated side, a first end and a second end unitary connected to form the peripheral edge, and wherein said second elongated edge is at least slightly longer the first elongated edge, and wherein said first end has an arcuate configuration.