Glove with memory foam inserts

Abstract

A glove constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory that can be selectively inserted into strategically located, internal and external pockets or compartments interconnected with the hand covering portion of the glove. When the shaped inserts are in position within the internal pockets of the gloves they tend to substantially replicate the surface features exhibited by the device being gripped by the user. When the shaped inserts are in position within the external pockets of the glove, they provide substantial protection against external impact to the user's hands.

1 . A method of making a glove for covering a user's hand that comprises a hand covering having an inner surface and an outer surface and including a thumb portion and an index finger portion; a thumb-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the inner surface of the hand covering; an index finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the inner surface of the hand covering; said hand covering further including a palm portion and a back portion, a palm-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the inner surface of the palm portion of the hand covering; and a back-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the outer surface of the back portion of the hand covering said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting from a plurality of elongated, yieldably deformable thumb-protecting cushioning inserts, a thumb-protecting cushioning insert;   (b) inserting said selected thumb-protecting cushioning insert into said thumb-protecting insert-receiving pocket;   (c) selecting from a plurality of elongated, yieldably deformable index finger-protecting cushioning inserts, an index finger-protecting cushioning insert; and   (d) inserting said selected index finger-protecting cushioning insert into said index finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket.   (e) inserting a palm-protecting cushioning insert into said palm-protecting insert-receiving pocket; and   (f) inserting a back-protecting cushioning insert into said back-protecting insert-receiving pocket.   
     
     
         2 . A method of making a glove for covering a user's hand that comprises a hand covering having an inner surface and an outer surface and including a thumb portion and an index finger portion; a thumb-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the outer surface of the hand covering; an index finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the outer surface of the hand covering; said hand covering further including a palm portion and a back portion, a palm-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the inner surface of the palm portion of the hand covering; and a back-protecting insert-receiving pocket connected to the outer surface of the back portion of the hand covering, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting from a plurality of elongated, yieldably deformable thumb-protecting cushioning inserts, a thumb-protecting cushioning insert;   (b) inserting said selected thumb-protecting cushioning insert into said thumb-protecting insert-receiving pocket;   (c) selecting from a plurality of elongated, yieldably deformable index finger-protecting cushioning inserts, an index finger-protecting cushioning insert;   (d) inserting said selected index finger-protecting cushioning insert into a said index finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket;   (e) inserting a palm-protecting cushioning insert into said palm-protecting insert-receiving pocket; and   (f) inserting a back-protecting cushioning insert into said back-protecting insert-receiving pocket.   
     
     
         3 . A glove construction for covering a user's hand including the thumb and fingers comprising:
 (a) a hand covering having an inner surface and an outer surface and including a thumb-receiving portion, an index finger-receiving portion, a back portion and a palm portion for covering at least the thumb, the index finger, the back and palm portions of the user;   (b) a thumb-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said inner surface of said thumb-receiving portion of said hand covering for removably receiving an elongated, yieldably deformable thumb-protecting shaped insert constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory;   (c) an index finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said inner surface of said finger-receiving portion of said hand covering for removably receiving an index finger-protecting elongated, yieldably deformable, shaped insert constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory;   (d) a palm-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said inner surface of said palm portion of said hand covering for removably receiving a yieldably deformable palm-protecting shaped insert constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory; and   (e) a back-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said outer surface of said back portion of said hand covering for removably receiving a yieldably deformable back-protecting shaped insert constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory.   
     
     
         4 . The glove construction as defined in  claim 3  in which said yieldably deformable, foamed cushion material comprises resilient, foamed polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . The glove construction as defined in  claim 3  in which said insert-receiving pockets are constructed from a yieldably deformable material so as to be collapsible and expandable. 
     
     
         6 . The glove construction as defined in  claim 3  in which said article-gripping surface comprises a fabric material. 
     
     
         7 . A glove construction for covering a user's hand including the thumb and fingers, comprising:
 (a) a hand covering having an inner surface and an outer surface and including a thumb-receiving portion, an index finger-receiving portion, a back portion and a palm portion for covering at least the thumb, the index finger, the back and palm portions of the user;   (b) a thumb-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said outer surface of said thumb-receiving portion of said hand covering for removably receiving an elongated, yieldably deformable thumb-protecting shaped insert constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory;   (c) an index finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said outer surface of said finger-receiving portion of said hand covering for removably receiving an index finger-protecting elongated, yieldably deformable, shaped insert constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory;   (d) a palm-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said inner surface of said palm portion of said hand covering for removably receiving a yieldably deformable palm-protecting shaped insert constructed from foamed-cushion material having a memory; and   (e) a back-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said outer surface of said back portion of said hand covering for removably receiving a yieldably deformable back-protecting shaped insert constructed from foamed cushion material having a memory.   
     
     
         8 . The glove construction as defined in  claim 7  in which the hand covering further includes second, third and fourth finger-receiving portions and in which said glove construction includes a second finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said outer surface of said back portion of said hand covering. 
     
     
         9 . The glove construction as defined in  claim 8  further including a third finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said outer surface of said back portion of said hand covering. 
     
     
         10 . The glove construction as defined in  claim 9  further including a fourth finger-protecting insert-receiving pocket directly connected to said outer surface of said back portion of said hand covering.