Sports glove

Abstract

A sports glove is provided having an elongated protective guard formed of elastomeric material projecting upwardly from an outer surface of the dorsal side over the metacarpal portion of the user's hand.

1 . A sports glove, comprising:
 a palmar side;   a dorsal side coupled to the palmar side forming a cavity for receiving a user's hand; and   an elongated protective guard formed of elastomeric material projecting upwardly from an outer surface of the dorsal side over the metacarpal portion of the user's hand, the elongated protective guard having a maximum height of at least 3 mm and a length of at least 30 mm.   
     
     
         2 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective guard is formed of TPR material. 
     
     
         3 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective guard defines a plurality of notched recesses oriented generally across the width thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective guard has a length greater than 50 mm. 
     
     
         5 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective guard is generally u-shaped having a mediate portion disposed proximate to the user's wrist, when worn. 
     
     
         6 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective guard is angled across the metacarpal portion from a radial side to an ulnar side. 
     
     
         7 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the protective guard has a maximum height proximate to the ulnar side of the glove. 
     
     
         8 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of finger guards formed of elastomeric material extending from an outer surface of the dorsal side of finger portions of the glove. 
     
     
         9 . A sports glove, comprising:
 a palmar side;   a dorsal side coupled to the palmar side forming a cavity for receiving a user's hand; and   a plurality of elongated protective guards formed of elastomeric material extending from an outer surface of the dorsal side over the metacarpal portion of the user's hand, the elongated protective guards having a maximum height of at least 3 mm and a length of at least 30 mm.   
     
     
         10 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protective guards are formed of TPR material. 
     
     
         11 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protective guards each defines a plurality of notched recesses oriented generally across the width thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protective guards are angled across the metacarpal portion from a radial side to an ulnar side. 
     
     
         13 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the protective guard has a maximum height proximate to the ulnar side of the glove. 
     
     
         14 . A sports glove as defines in  claim 9 , further comprising a knuckle guard formed of elastomeric material having a height of at least 3 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the palmar side includes an outer surface formed of a silicone material covering substantially the entirety thereof, the outer surface defining a raised pattern. 
     
     
         16 . A sports glove, comprising:
 a palmar side having an outer surface having a silicone material that defines a raised pattern disposed across substantially all the outer surface;   a dorsal side coupled to the palmar side forming a cavity for receiving a user's hand; and   a knuckle guard formed of thermoplastic material having a maximum height of at least 3 mm;   a plurality of finger guards formed of thermoplastic material having a maximum height of at least 3 mm;   a plurality of elongated protective guards formed of thermoplastic material extending from an outer surface of the dorsal side over the metacarpal portion of the user's hand, the elongated protective guards having a maximum height of at least 3 mm and a length of at least 30 mm.   
     
     
         17 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of protective guards are formed of TPR material. 
     
     
         18 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of protective guards each defines a plurality of notched recesses oriented generally across the width thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of protective guards are angled across the metacarpal portion from a radial side to an ulnar side. 
     
     
         20 . A sports glove as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the protective guards have a maximum height proximate to the ulnar side of the glove.