Glove thumb guard

Abstract

This invention relates to protecting a thumb from sports related injury. The invention provides a rubber layer under a hard cap to provide for increased frontal and dorsal thumb protection without reducing hand flexibility. The invention is a glove comprising a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb, a protective pad proximate the outer distal end, a cap mounted on the protective pad, and an overmould mounted between the protective pad and the cap.

1 . A glove comprising:
 a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb, said thumb sheath having a dorsal side and an outer distal end;   a protective pad proximate the outer distal end and having a first and second side, and wherein the first side is mounted adjacent the dorsal side of the thumb sheath;   a cap mounted adjacent the second side of the protective pad; and   an overmould mounted between the protective pad and the cap.   
   
   
       2 . The glove defined in  claim 1 , wherein the cap has a top, side and front walls, and wherein the front wall extends downwardly from the top wall and is proximate to and spaced from the outer distal end of the thumb sheath. 
   
   
       3 . The glove defined in  claim 2 , wherein the cap is generally “U” shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The glove defined in  claim 3 , wherein the overmould includes spaced interior and exterior walls; wherein the interior wall is proximate to and spaced from the outer distal end of the thumb sheath; and wherein the exterior wall is adjacent the front wall of the cap. 
   
   
       5 . The glove defined in  claim 4 , wherein the overmould is generally “U” shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The glove defined in  claim 5 , including a lip formed on the exterior wall of the overmould; and wherein an outer edge of the front wall of the cap is seated in said lip. 
   
   
       7 . The glove defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad has an exterior casing defining an interior chamber, and wherein the interior chamber is filled with a shock absorbing material. 
   
   
       8 . The glove defined in  claim 7 , wherein the exterior casing is formed of a flexible material. 
   
   
       9 . The glove defined in  claim 7 , wherein a protective plate is mounted between a top wall of the casing and the protective pad. 
   
   
       10 . The glove defined in  claim 9 , further comprising one or more fasteners extending outwardly from the top wall of the cap and secure the cap to the protective pad. 
   
   
       11 . The glove defined in  claim 10 , wherein the fasteners are pressure snaps and extend through holes formed in the protective plate to secure the cap to the protective pad. 
   
   
       12 . The glove defined in  claim 9 , wherein the protective plate is formed of a rigid plastic material. 
   
   
       13 . The glove defined in  claim 1 , wherein the cap is formed of a rigid plastic material. 
   
   
       14 . The glove defined in  claim 1 , wherein the overmould is formed of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       15 . The glove defined in  claim 1 , wherein the overmould is secured to the cap by an adhesive. 
   
   
       16 . The glove defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad is sized to allow the thumb sheath to bend at a first knuckle of the thumb. 
   
   
       17 . A glove comprising:
 a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb, said thumb sheath having a dorsal side and an outer distal end;   a thumb guard mounted on the dorsal side of the thumb sheath adjacent the outer distal end, said thumb guard including:
 a protective pad formed of a shock absorbing material having first and second sides, said first side being located adjacent the dorsal side of the thumb sheath; 
 an outer cap mounted on the protective pad, said cap having a top wall and a front wall extending downwardly from the top wall and spaced from the protective pad and from the distal end of the thumb sheath; and 
 an overmould mounted between the protective pad and the outer cap. 
   
   
   
       18 . The glove defined in  claim 17  further comprising a first and second end on the protective pad, said first end adapted to extend past a thumb tip, and said second end adapted to extend to a first knuckle of the thumb to allow the thumb to bend at the first knuckle. 
   
   
       19 . A glove comprising:
 a thumb sheath adapted to receive a thumb, said thumb sheath having a dorsal side and an outer distal end;   a thumb guard mounted on the dorsal side of the thumb sheath adjacent the outer distal end, said thumb guard including:
 a protective pad mounted on the dorsal side of the thumb sheath; and 
 an outer cap mounted on the protective pad having a front wall outwardly from the protective pad providing a crush zone between front wall and protective pad. 
   
   
   
       20 . The glove defined in  claim 19 , wherein the cap is formed of a rigid plastic material.