Convertible trigger mitten shell and method of making

Abstract

Handwear for the human hand is provided in which a convertible mitten has a shell with a palm section, an index finger enclosure, and a thumb enclosure adjacent the index finger enclosure that extend from the palm section, and a finger section extending from the palm section, the finger section sized and shaped to receive at least the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of the human hand, the finger section comprising a closable flap that is operable to open and expose an opening in the finger section.

1 . Handwear for use with the human hand, comprising:
 a shell having a palm section, an index finger enclosure and a thumb enclosure adjacent the index finger enclosure that extend from the palm section, and a finger section extending from the palm section, the finger section having an interior sized and shaped to receive at least the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of the human hand, the finger section comprising a closable flap that is operable to open and expose an opening in the finger section that communicates with an interior of the shell, the opening sized to receive up to four fingers and a thumb from the human hand when the human hand is inside the handwear.   
     
     
         2 . The handwear of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the finger section is formed with a circumscribing elastic band to gather the opening and reduce a diameter thereof while permitting expansion of the diameter to accommodate up to four fingers and a thumb of the human hand extending out through the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The handwear of  claim 1  further comprising a wrist section coupled to the palm section, and a cord extending around the wrist section to draw the wrist section together and reduce an internal diameter of the wrist section. 
     
     
         4 . The handwear of  claim 1  further comprising a wrist section coupled to the palm section, and a gathered portion of the wrist section having an elastic member that constricts a diameter of the wrist section. 
     
     
         5 . The handwear of  claim 4  further comprising a cuff extending from a free end of the wrist section. 
     
     
         6 . The handwear of  claim 1  wherein the flap is retained in an opened position with a fastener comprising one from among a snap, a button, hook-and-loop fastener, elastic band, and a pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The handwear of  claim 6 , wherein the flap is coupled to a dorsal section of the shell at a coupling point, the flap configured to bend at the coupling point to expose the opening in the finger section. 
     
     
         8 . The handwear of  claim 1  comprising a leash having one end attached to the mitten, the leash sized and shaped to be placed around the wrist of the hand that is using the mitten. 
     
     
         9 . A configurable mitten for use with the human hand, comprising:
 a shell that includes a palm section with an interior sized and shaped to receive the human hand, an index finger enclosure and a thumb enclosure that extend from the palm section and have corresponding interiors that communicate with the interior of the shell, and a finger section extending from the palm section, the finger section having an interior that communicates with the interior of the shell, the finger section having a closable flap that is operable to open and expose an opening in the finger section that communicates with the interiors of the finger section, the palm section, the index finger enclosure, and the thumb enclosure, the opening sized to allow up to four fingers and a thumb from the human hand to extend therethrough when the human hand is inside the handwear.   
     
     
         10 . The mitten of  claim 9 , wherein the opening of the finger section is structured to expand in circumference to accommodate up to four fingers and a thumb of the human hand extending out through the opening and to contract in circumference when one or more of the fingers and the thumb are removed from the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The mitten of  claim 9 , wherein the opening of the finger section is formed with a circumscribing elastic band to gather the opening and reduce a circumference thereof while permitting expansion of the circumference of the finger opening to accommodate the entire human hand extending out through the finger opening. 
     
     
         12 . The mitten of  claim 9  further comprising a wrist section coupled to the palm section, and a cord extending around the wrist section to draw the wrist section together and reduce an internal diameter of the wrist section. 
     
     
         13 . The mitten of  claim 9  further comprising a wrist section coupled to the palm section, and a gathered portion of the wrist section having an elastic member that constricts a diameter of the wrist section. 
     
     
         14 . The mitten of  claim 13  further comprising a cuff extending from a free end of the wrist section. 
     
     
         15 . The mitten of  claim 9  wherein the flap is retained in an opened position with a fastener comprising one from among a snap, a button, hook-and-loop fastener, elastic band, and a pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The mitten of  claim 15 , wherein the flap is coupled to a dorsal section of the shell at a coupling point, the flap configured to bend at the coupling point to expose the opening in the finger section. 
     
     
         17 . The mitten of  claim 9  comprising a leash having one end attached to the mitten, the leash sized and shaped to be placed around the wrist of the hand that is using the mitten.