Insulated handwear with increased flexion and method of making

Abstract

Handwear and a method of making are provided in which a glove system includes a glove and a liner, the liner including an insulated dorsal panel, an insulated palmar panel, and a seam coupling the dorsal panel to the palmar panel, the seam having an uninsulated seam segment that facilitates flexion while maintaining the insulative properties of the liner.

1 . A liner for a glove, the glove having at least one finger, the liner comprising:
 at least one finger, each at least one finger comprising:
 an insulated dorsal panel; 
 an insulated palmar panel; and 
 a seam panel comprising an uninsulated segment that attaches the insulated dorsal panel and the insulated palmar panel. 
   
   
   
       2 . The liner of  claim 1  wherein the seam panel includes an insulated segment, the insulated segment of the seam panel comprising a layer of insulating material attached to an inside surface of an outer layer of the seam panel. 
   
   
       3 . The liner of  claim 2  wherein the uninsulated segment of the seam panel is sized and shaped to bring the insulated segment into contact with an adjacent insulating material on the dorsal and palmar panels. 
   
   
       4 . The liner of  claim 3  wherein the uninsulated segment of the seam panel is sized and shaped to permit relative movement of the insulated segment with the adjacent other of the dorsal and palmar panels to provide enhanced flexure of the at least one finger of the liner. 
   
   
       5 . The liner of  claim 2  wherein the insulated segment of the seam panel attaches to a first edge of the uninsulated segment and to an intermediate location on the uninsulated segment that is spaced from a second edge of the uninsulated outer layer of the seam panel. 
   
   
       6 . The liner of  claim 5  wherein the first edge of the uninsulated segment is attached to the dorsal panel, and the second edge of the uninsulated outer layer is attached to the palmar panel. 
   
   
       7 . A glove liner with enhanced finger flexure, the liner comprising:
 at least one finger, the at least one finger comprising an outer layer and an insulating layer, the insulating layer having at least one gap that forms at least one uninsulated seam segment along a side of the at least one finger that is adjacent a top and bottom of the at least one finger.   
   
   
       8 . The glove liner of  claim 7  wherein the at least one uninsulated segment is sized and shaped to allow contact between the insulating layer on each side of the at least one uninsulated segment to maintain insulation in the glove liner while allowing relative movement between the insulating layers on each side of the at least one uninsulated segment to provide enhanced flexure of the glove liner. 
   
   
       9 . Handwear with enhanced flexibility, comprising:
 an insulated panel comprising an outer layer and an inner insulating layer, the handwear configured to include an uninsulated seam section of the outer layer between a top portion and a bottom portion to provide flexion for bending of the handwear.   
   
   
       10 . The handwear of  claim 9  wherein the uninsulated section is bounded by the inner insulated layer on a top boundary and the inner insulated layer on a bottom boundary, the uninsulated section sized to bring the inner insulated layers on the top and bottom boundaries into contact to maintain insulation in the handwear while facilitating relative movement between the inner insulated layers on the top and bottom boundaries. 
   
   
       11 . The handwear of  claim 10  wherein the handwear comprises one from among a mitten, a glove, and a gauntlet. 
   
   
       12 . A glove liner, comprising:
 at least one finger, each at least one finger comprising:
 a dorsal outer layer; 
 a dorsal inner layer; 
 a palmar outer layer; 
 a palmar inner layer; 
 an outer seam panel attaching the inner and outer dorsal layers to the inner and outer palmer layers; and 
 an inner seam panel attached to the outer seam panel, the outer seam panel having a larger size than the inner seam panel so that a portion of the outer seam panel is not covered by the inner seam panel. 
   
   
   
       13 . The liner of  claim 12  wherein the uncovered portion of the outer seam panel is attached to the palmar outer layer and the palmar inner layer so that the palmer outer layer is positioned between the outer seam panel and the palmar inner layer. 
   
   
       14 . The liner of  claim 12  wherein a portion of the outer seam panel covered by the inner seam panel is attached to the dorsal outer layer and the dorsal inner layer so that the dorsal outer layer and the outer seam panel are positioned between the dorsal inner layer and the inner seam panel. 
   
   
       15 . The liner of  claim 14  wherein the outer seam panel is sized and shaped to bring the dorsal inner layer and the planar inner layer into contact to maintain insulation in the liner while facilitating relative movement between the dorsal and palmar layers. 
   
   
       16 . A liner for a glove, comprising:
 at least one finger, the at least one finger comprising:
 a first panel having a first outer layer and a first inner layer of equal widths; 
 a second panel having a second outer layer and a second inner layer, the second outer layer having a size greater than the second inner layer to form at least one area of the second outer layer that is uncovered by the second inner layer, the first and second panels attached together to form a seam, with the at least one uncovered area of the second outer layer adjacent the seam. 
   
   
   
       17 . The liner of  claim 16  wherein the second panel is sized and shaped to bring the first inner layer and the second inner layer into contact to maintain insulation in the liner while facilitating relative movement between the first and second outer layers.