Protective hand guard

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a protective hand guard. The protective hand guard essentially comprises an elongate, tubular sleeve or sheath of a pliable fabric material which is elasticized in a manner allowing the sleeve to be resiliently stretched both radially and axially relative to an axis defined thereby. Disposed in a prescribed position within the sleeve is an aperture or opening which is sized and configured to accommodate the thumb on one hand of a wearer/user.

1 . A hand guard wearable on an arm and hand of a wearer, the hand guard comprising:
 a tubular sleeve defining a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the tubular sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a tubular opening extending from the first end portion to the second end portion;   the tubular sleeve having a thumb opening formed therein, the thumb opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface;   the tubular sleeve being configured to be selectively transitional between a deployed state, wherein the thumb of the wearer is advanced through the thumb opening and the tubular sleeve covers the palm of the wearer, and a collapsed state wherein the thumb of the wearer is removed from the thumb opening and the tubular sleeve is removed from the palm of the wearer to expose the palm of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The hand guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve is additionally configured to cover a portion of the fingers of the wearer when the tubular sleeve is in the deployed state. 
     
     
         3 . The hand guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve is formed from a pliable fabric material. 
     
     
         4 . The hand guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the tubular sleeve being stretchable radially relative to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
         5 . The hand guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the tubular sleeve being stretchable axially relative to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
         6 . The hand guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve further includes a plurality of gripper pads disposed on the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The hand guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve is foldable from the deployed state to the collapsed state. 
     
     
         8 . A hand guard wearable on an arm and hand of a wearer, the hand guard comprising:
 a tubular sleeve defining a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the tubular sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a tubular opening extending from the first end portion to the second end portion;   the tubular sleeve being configured to be transitional between a deployed state, wherein the tubular sleeve covers the palm of the wearer, and a collapsed state wherein the tubular sleeve is removed from the palm of the wearer to expose the palm of the wearer.   
     
     
         9 . The hand guard recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tubular sleeve is additionally configured to cover a portion of the fingers of the wearer when the tubular sleeve is in the deployed state. 
     
     
         10 . The hand guard recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tubular sleeve is formed from a pliable fabric material. 
     
     
         11 . The hand guard recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tubular sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the tubular sleeve being stretchable radially relative to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
         12 . The hand guard recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tubular sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the tubular sleeve being stretchable axially relative to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
         13 . The hand guard recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tubular sleeve further includes a plurality of gripper pads disposed on the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The hand guard recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tubular sleeve is foldable from the deployed state to the collapsed state. 
     
     
         15 . A hand guard wearable on an arm and hand of a wearer, the hand guard comprising:
 a tubular sleeve defining a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the tubular sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a tubular opening extending from the first end portion to the second end portion;   the tubular sleeve being configured to be selectively transitional between a deployed state, wherein the tubular sleeve covers at least a portion of the fingers of the wearer, and a collapsed state wherein the tubular sleeve is removed from the fingers of the wearer to expose the fingers of the wearer.   
     
     
         16 . The hand guard recited in  claim 15 , wherein the tubular sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the tubular sleeve being stretchable radially relative to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
         17 . The hand guard recited in  claim 15 , wherein the tubular sleeve defines a sleeve axis, the tubular sleeve being stretchable axially relative to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
         18 . The hand guard recited in  claim 15 , wherein the tubular sleeve includes a thumb opening formed therein, the thumb opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, the thumb of the wearer being advanceable through the thumb opening and when the tubular sleeve is in the deployed state, the thumb of the wearer being removed from the thumb opening when the tubular sleeve is in the collapsed state. 
     
     
         19 . The hand guard recited in  claim 15 , wherein the tubular sleeve is formed from a pliable fabric material. 
     
     
         20 . The hand guard recited in  claim 15 , wherein the tubular sleeve further includes a plurality of gripper pads disposed on the outer surface thereof.