Sports Glove With A Segmented Joint Protector

Abstract

A sports glove comprising a dorsal side and at least one joint protector. The dorsal side provides a plurality of protection sections and the joint protectors positioned between the plurality of protection sections. The joint protector includes a base operatively attached to the dorsal side and a plurality of extended members attached to the base and projecting from the base. The joint protector substantially fills any apertures created in the sports glove by a user of the glove during participation in sports. The extended members of the joint protector deflect independently of the protection sections and can be biased toward the protection sections to substantially fill any apertures between the protection sections.

1 . A sports glove comprising:
 a dorsal side including a plurality of protection sections;   a joint protector positioned between the plurality of protection sections and including a base operatively attached to the dorsal side and at least one extended member attached to the base and projecting from the base, the at least one extended member spaced from the protection sections and attached to the base independent of the protection sections.   
   
   
       2 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the extended member is hinged to the base. 
   
   
       3 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extended member includes a first extended member, a second extended member, and a middle extended member. 
   
   
       4 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extended member is space from the adjacent protection sections. 
   
   
       5 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the base is partially positioned under one of the protection sections. 
   
   
       6 . The sports glove of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment between the at least one extended member and the base is flexible independent from the engagement of the base and the protection section. 
   
   
       7 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein use of the sports glove by a user creates an aperture between the plurality of protection sections and the joint protector substantially fills the aperture during use of the sports glove. 
   
   
       8 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the joint protector flexes independent of the plurality of protection sections. 
   
   
       9 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the joint protector is comprised of hard material. 
   
   
       10 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the joint protector is comprised of semi-flexible material. 
   
   
       11 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the joint protector is molded. 
   
   
       12 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the joint protector is plastic. 
   
   
       13 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extended member can deflect independent of the protection section. 
   
   
       14 . The sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extended member is independent distal from the attachment to the base. 
   
   
       15 . A sports glove comprising:
 a plurality of finger cases, each finger case including:
 a back side having a plurality of padding sections with adjacent padding sections defining an aperture; 
 a knuckle guard positioned in the aperture and separating adjacent padding sections, the knuckle guard attached to the back side independent of the adjacent padding sections and including a base attached to the back side and at least one flange member operatively attached to and projecting from the base. 
   
   
   
       16 . The sports glove of  claim 15  wherein each finger case includes at least three padding sections and at least two knuckle protectors. 
   
   
       17 . The sports glove of  claim 15 , wherein the flange member is independent distal from the attachment to the base. 
   
   
       18 . The sports glove of  claim 15 , wherein deflection of the plurality of finger cases exposes the aperture between the plurality of padding sections and the knuckle guard substantially fills the aperture during use of the sports glove. 
   
   
       19 . The sports glove of  claim 15  further including a neck attachment between the at least one flange member and the base, the neck attachment flexibly attaching the at least one flange member and the base. 
   
   
       20 . The sports glove of  claim 15 , wherein a portion of the base is positioned between a portion of the adjacent padding sections and the back side.