Hand Garments Facilitating Mobile Device Operation

Abstract

A hand facilitates interaction with a mobile touchscreen device. The hand garment has a base portion that covers the palm and fingers, and a thumb portion that covers a thumb of the wearer's hand. The thumb portion has a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb. In some examples, the touch area has an aperture that allows the tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion, and a sealing mechanism that seals the aperture. In some examples, the hand garment also has a support mechanism, such as a pocket, a band, or a strap that holds, supports, and/or secures the mobile touchscreen device while a wearer operates the device.

1 . A hand garment facilitating interaction with a mobile touchscreen device, the hand garment comprising:
 a base portion shaped to cover fingers and a palm of a hand; and   a thumb portion shaped to cover a thumb of the hand, the thumb portion comprising a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb, the touch area comprising an aperture of a size sufficient for a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion,   wherein the aperture comprises a sealing mechanism that seals the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The hand garment of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is at least one of a horizontal or vertical slot. 
     
     
         3 . The hand garment of  claim 2 , wherein the aperture is a vertical slot that spreads open and facilitates the thumb emerging from the thumb portion, wherein the vertical slot spreads open in response to at least one of internal pressure being applied to the slot from inside the thumb portion, and a rearward force applied on an upper area of the thumb portion. 
     
     
         4 . The hand garment of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises two strips that press together to form a seal, wherein the seal establishes a hand garment with improved insulating properties over a hand garment without a formed seal. 
     
     
         5 . The hand garment of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a slide fastening device operable by a thumb from inside the thumb portion of the hand garment. 
     
     
         6 . The hand garment of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a self-closing flexible seal that provides an opening when compressed in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The hand garment of  claim 1 , wherein the hand garment further comprises an attachment mechanism on a back side of the thumb portion, the attachment mechanism configured to hold the thumb portion in a reclined position. 
     
     
         8 . The hand garment of  claim 7 , wherein the thumb portion further comprises a spring-like mechanism that facilitates returning a reclined thumb portion to an un-reclined position. 
     
     
         9 . The hand garment of  claim 7 , wherein the spring-like mechanism is the sealing mechanism or a component of the sealing mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The hand garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a support mechanism extending along the base portion of the hand garment, the support mechanism configured to support the mobile touchscreen device. 
     
     
         11 . The hand garment of  claim 10 , wherein the support mechanism comprises a stretchable material. 
     
     
         12 . The hand garment of  claim 10 , wherein the support mechanism is removably attachable from the hand garment so that the support mechanism can be positioned at one or more different desired positions along the base portion of the hand garment. 
     
     
         13 . A hand garment facilitating interaction with a mobile touchscreen device, the hand garment comprising:
 a base portion shaped to cover fingers and a palm of a hand; and   a thumb portion shaped to cover a thumb of the hand, the thumb portion comprising a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb; and   a support mechanism positioned along the base portion, the support mechanism configured to provide support for a mobile touchscreen device.   
     
     
         14 . The hand garment of  claim 13 , wherein the touch area comprises an aperture of a size sufficient for a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion and a sealing mechanism that seals the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The hand garment of  claim 13 , wherein the touch area comprises a conductive material configured to enable the thumb to operate a touchscreen device through the touch area. 
     
     
         16 . The hand garment of  claim 13 , wherein the support mechanism is removably attachable from the hand garment so that a wearer can position the pocket at a desired location along the base portion. 
     
     
         17 . The hand garment of  claim 13 , wherein the support mechanism comprises at least one of a pocket and a pocket corner. 
     
     
         18 . The hand garment of  claim 13 , wherein the support mechanism comprises a strap or band formed from a stretchable material. 
     
     
         19 . The hand garment of  claim 13 , wherein the hand garment is a glove, wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of finger covers, each finger cover shaped to cover at least a portion of one finger of the hand, wherein at least one finger cover comprises a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with a finger of the hand. 
     
     
         20 . A glove thermally that insulates a hand and facilitates interaction of a mobile touchscreen device, the glove comprising:
 a base portion shaped to cover and insulate fingers and a palm of the hand;   a thumb portion extending from the base portion, the thumb portion shaped to cover and insulate a thumb of the hand, the thumb portion comprising a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb, the touch area comprising an aperture of a size sufficient for a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion, the aperture having a sealing mechanism comprising two strips that press together to seal the aperture; and   a support mechanism extending along the base portion, the support mechanism positioned to support a mobile touchscreen device as a wearer operates the mobile touchscreen device with the thumb;   wherein the seal formed by the sealing mechanism improves the insulating properties of the glove.