protective device for use in welding

Abstract

A protective device for use in welding, optionally in combination with a welding glove in order to simplify welding through improved ergonomics and improved weather protection, having a first opening ( 6 ) at one end for introduction of part of an electrode holder ( 1 ) or a welding gun ( 3 ) and a second opening ( 10 ) at its opposite end for introduction of a hand holding the electrode holder/welding gun ( 1; 3 ) and accompanying cable. The protective device has a substantially cylindrical shape and is designed to surround the handle of the welding gun ( 3 ) or the handle of the electrode holder ( 1 ), part of a user's forearm and part of the cable ( 2; 4 ), whereby the weight of the cable ( 2; 4 ) thanks to the cylindrical form of the protective device will be taken up by the lower part of the protective device and transferred to the upper side of the hand, the wrist and the forearm, and in that the first opening ( 6 ) is designed to be adaptable to differently sized electrode holders and welding guns, respectively, to surround them in a sealing fashion.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A protective device for use in welding, optionally in combination with a welding glove, comprising:
 a first opening at a first end of said protective device to allow passage of a welding tool from inside said protective device to outside said protective device;   a second opening at a second end that is opposite to said first end for introduction of a hand holding the welding tool and accompanying cable of the welding tool;   said protective device having a substantially cylindrical shape with a cavity between said first opening and said second opening to surround the welding tool, a user's hand, wrist and forearm and part of the cable of the welding tool, whereby weight of the cable is supported by a lower part of said protective device so that the weight of the cable is transferred to an upper side of the hand, the wrist and forearm due said cylindrical form of said protective device; and
 said first opening being adjustable to seal around differently sized welding tools. 
   
     
     
         17 . The protective device of  claim 16 , wherein said protective device is manufactured of a material to protect the user from dangers of welding and weather conditions 
     
     
         18 . The protective device of  16 , wherein said protective device tapers at said first end into a conical shape towards said first opening to allow said first opening to be adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . The protective device of  18 , wherein said first end is sewn with interlocking seams running back-and-forth along said conical shape so that said taper at said first end near said first opening can be cut to a desired opening size to be adjusted to the welding tool and thereby form a closure around the welding tool without risk of remaining stitches unravelling. 
     
     
         20 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including a tightening device near said first opening such that said first opening is adjustable for welding tools of differing sizes by tightening said first opening. 
     
     
         21 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including a tightening device near said second opening such that said protective device is adjustable about the forearm of the user to fasten the protective device around the forearm of the user. 
     
     
         22 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including a cuff at said second end of said protective device, said cuff adapted to wrap about the forearm of the user to fasten the protective device to the forearm of the user. 
     
     
         23 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including a stiffener surrounding said second opening to maintain said second opening in an open configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including an insert of a supple material affixed in said second opening, said insert including a slit into which the cable of the welding tool can be wedged, so that the cable is prevented from slipping within said protective device. 
     
     
         25 . The protective device of  claim 21 , wherein said tightening device near said second opening is a drawstring and a band arranged in a channel surrounding said second opening. 
     
     
         26 . The protective device of  claim 21 , wherein said tightening device near said second opening is at least one set of snap fasteners in said protective device so that sides of said protective device can be held together below the forearm of the user. 
     
     
         27 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including an opening having overlapping frontal part to allow extension of one or more fingers of the hand of the user at the same time as the hand is holding the welding tool. 
     
     
         28 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including a slit with a closable flap along a lower side of said protective device. 
     
     
         29 . The protective device of  claim 22 , wherein said cuff is affixed to said protective device such that when said cuff is tightened around the forearm, and wherein size of said second opening is not affected. 
     
     
         30 . The protective device of  claim 22 , wherein said cuff is partitioned into two parts and said cuff includes a hook-and-loop fastener to affixed said cuff to the forearm. 
     
     
         31 . The protective device of  claim 22 , wherein said cuff is cylindrical and includes a hook-and-loop fastener to tension said cuff and affixed said cuff on the forearm by a folding action. 
     
     
         32 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including a strap positioned around said first opening to facilitate tightening of said first opening around the welding tool. 
     
     
         33 . The protective device of  claim 16 , further including a third opening on a lower side of said protective device between said first opening and said second opening to allow the cable pass through said the protective device and further including a sealable partition along said lower side from said second opening to said third opening. 
     
     
         34 . The protective device of  claim 16 , wherein said protective device is comprised of an upper part and a lower part connected together.