Glove with fingernail protectors

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a glove that provides protection for the fingernails of the wearer without reducing the flexibility in the remainder of the glove or reducing the wearer's manual dexterity or sense of touch. The glove comprises protector pads positioned in the fingernail regions on the inside of the glove to prevent the fingernails from contacting and rubbing or chafing against the inner surface of the glove. The protector pads can be made of a soft or smooth material so as not to scrape, abrade or otherwise damage the nails.

1 . A glove, comprising:
 a palm portion;   a back portion;   a plurality of flexible finger stalls extending outwardly from the palm and back portions, each finger stall having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a fingernail region; and   protector pads disposed in the fingernail region of the finger stalls, the protector pads having a contact portion that is exposed to a wearer's fingernail and is positioned and dimensioned to prevent a wearer's fingernail from contacting the inner surface of the glove.   
     
     
         2 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the protector pads are disposed within the finger stalls. 
     
     
         3 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the protector pads comprise a multi-layer construction, the multi-layer construction comprising at least a cushion layer and a contact layer, the cushion layer positioned between the contact layer and the inner surface of the glove, where at least part of the contact layer constitutes the contact portion of the protector pad. 
     
     
         4 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the protector pads comprise a multi-layer construction, the multi-layer construction comprising at least a cushion layer and a contact layer, the cushion layer disposed on the exterior of the finger stall and the contact layer disposed on the interior of the finger stall, where at least part of the contact layer constitutes the contact portion of the protector pad. 
     
     
         5 . The glove of  claim 4 , wherein the protector pads further comprise an outer layer, the outer layer disposed on the exterior of the finger stall, wherein the cushion layer is disposed between the outer layer and the outer surface of the finger stall. 
     
     
         6 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the contact portion of the protector pads is soft and non-abrasive. 
     
     
         7 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the contact portion comprises polyester. 
     
     
         8 . The glove of  claim 3 , wherein the cushion layer comprises a foam-like or sponge-like material. 
     
     
         9 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the palm portion comprises a plurality of friction-enhancing protuberances. 
     
     
         10 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove further comprises at least one strap for securing the glove to the hand or wrist of a wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the glove further comprises at least one strap for securing the glove to the hand or wrist of a wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The glove of  claim 3 , wherein the glove further comprises at least one strap for securing the glove to the hand or wrist of a wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The glove of  claim 4 , wherein the glove further comprises at least one strap for securing the glove to the hand or wrist of a wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The glove of  claim 5 , wherein the glove further comprises at least one strap for securing the glove to the hand or wrist of a wearer.