Therapeutic Massage and Utility Gloves for Handling Animals

Abstract

A pair of massaging gloves is provided for therapeutically massaging a horse. The gloves have a hand member, a plurality of finger members, a thumb member and a plurality of massaging projections. The finger members are secured to an upper portion of the hand member, and the thumb member is secured to a side portion thereof. Massaging projections protrude from the inner hand surface of the gloves along the end of the fingers and thumbs. Another grouping of projections is centrally secured along an area corresponding to a user's palm. The gloves may be used to provide a variety of massage therapies to a horse or similar animal, thereby building trust between the handler and the animal. The gloves are also adapted to permit a user to perform manual labor tasks such as shoveling hay, moving horse tack, and training the horse without removal of the gloves between activities.

1 ) A therapeutic massage and utility glove combination, comprising:
 a hand member having an upper surface corresponding to the back of a user's hand, and a palm region corresponding to a user's palm;   a plurality of finger members secured to an upper portion of said hand member;   a thumb member secured to a side portion of said hand member;   said hand member, finger members and thumb members adapted to conform to a human hand;   a plurality of massaging projections,   a first grouping of said massaging projections being disposed at a distal underside region said finger members and thumb member,   a second grouping of said massaging projections being disposed at a central portion of said hand member lower surface.   
     
     
         2 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said massaging projections are gel-filled. 
     
     
         3 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said massaging projections are smooth rubber nodules. 
     
     
         4 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein the massaging projections are hemispherical nodules. 
     
     
         5 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein the massaging nubs are circular and have a flat upper surface. 
     
     
         6 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said second grouping of massaging projections comprises textured patches.