Sports glove thumb protector

Abstract

A thumb protector for a sports glove, such as a lacrosse glove, is attached to the thumb region of the sports glove. The thumb protector optionally may be attached to the thumb region via an elastic strap that slips over the thumb region, or via rivets or other connectors that penetrate into or through the padding in the thumb region. A lower region of the thumb protector may be secured to a base of the thumb region via an elastic strap on the glove or a similar connector.

1 . A thumb protector for a sports glove, comprising:
 a shell including a top section, and two side sections and a front section depending from the top section;   a stretchable strap configured to slip tightly over a thumb region of a sports glove, the stretchable strap including a first end attached to the first side section and a second end attached to the second side section; and   a slot in the top section configured to receive a glove strap.   
     
     
         2 . The thumb protector of  claim 1  further comprising padding on an inner surface of each of the two side sections and the front section. 
     
     
         3 . The thumb protector of  claim 2  wherein the padding comprises an energy-absorbing padding. 
     
     
         4 . The thumb protector of  claim 3  wherein the energy-absorbing padding comprises vinyl nitrile foam. 
     
     
         5 . The thumb protector of  claim 2  wherein the padding on the inner surface of the front section is thicker than the padding on the inner surfaces of the first and second side sections. 
     
     
         6 . The thumb protector of  claim 1  wherein the stretchable strap is attached to the first and second side sections via rivets. 
     
     
         7 . A thumb protector for a sports glove, comprising:
 a shell including a top section, and a first side section and a second side section depending from the top section;   padding on an inner surface of each of the first and second side sections;   a strap configured to slip over a thumb region of a lacrosse glove, the strap including a first end and a second end;   a first fastening element securing the first end of the strap to the first side section; and   a second fastening element securing the second end of the strap to the second side section.   
     
     
         8 . The thumb protector of  claim 7  wherein the first fastening element passes through the first side section and the first end of the strap to secure the first end of the strap to the first side section, and the second fastening element passes through the second side section and the second end of the strap to secure the second end of the strap to the second side section. 
     
     
         9 . The thumb protector of  claim 8  wherein the first and second fastening elements comprise rivets. 
     
     
         10 . The thumb protector of  claim 7  further comprising a slot in the top section configured to receive a glove strap. 
     
     
         11 . The thumb protector of  claim 7  further comprising a front section depending from the top section and connecting the first and second side sections. 
     
     
         12 . The thumb protector of  claim 11  further comprising padding on an inner surface of the front section. 
     
     
         13 . The thumb protector of  claim 12  wherein the padding on the inner surface of the front section is thicker than the padding on the inner surfaces of the first and second side sections. 
     
     
         14 . A thumb protector for a sports glove, comprising:
 a shell including a top section, and a first side section and a second side section depending from the top section;   padding on an inner surface of each of the first and second side sections;   a slot in the top section configured to receive a glove strap; and   at least one fastening element passing through at least one of the side sections and the padding, with the fastening element configured to penetrate additional padding in a sports glove for attachment to the sports glove.   
     
     
         15 . The thumb protector of  claim 14  further comprising a front section depending from the top section and connecting the first and second side sections. 
     
     
         16 . The thumb protector of  claim 15  further comprising padding on an inner surface of the front section. 
     
     
         17 . The thumb protector of  claim 16  wherein the padding on the inner surfaces of the front section and of the first and second side sections comprises energy-absorbing, vinyl nitrile foam. 
     
     
         18 . The thumb protector of  claim 17  wherein the padding on the inner surface of the front section is thicker than the padding on the inner surfaces of the first and second side sections. 
     
     
         19 . The thumb protector of  claim 17  wherein the padding on the inner surface of the front section comprises a different vinyl nitrile foam than the padding on the inner surfaces of the first and second side sections. 
     
     
         20 . The thumb protector of  claim 14  wherein at least one fastening elements comprises at least one rivet.