Handwear incorporating low-friction thenar segment

Abstract

Handwear articles, such as gloves, mittens and other multi-digit embodiments of handwear, are provided. Articles of the invention are especially suited for such tasks as window cleaning, and comprise one or more low-friction areas suitable for slidably using a shafted tool therewith. High-friction areas are also provided to assist in controlling tools. Handwear of the invention are thus especially useful with respect to handling tools, tool shafts, and any implement where control of the tool shaft and the tool are desirable. Articles of the inventions may also comprise one or more attachment surfaces or fastener pads adapted and arranged such that pairs of the handwear can be utilized or connected together, and such that articles of the invention can be easily attached to many objects having complementary attachment elements to allow the handwear, and the wearer, to operate efficiently in conjunction with many tools, articles, devices and surfaces, and in many environments.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of using a pair of handwear articles, which allows a user to remove one handwear article of the pair of handwear articles from one hand of a user, while another hand of a user is simultaneously full or in use, said method comprising:
 providing a pair of first and second handwear articles, each said first and second handwear article comprising:   at least one layer of flexible material shaped for at least partially receiving a hand of a user, said at least one layer having an inner handwear surface and an outer handwear surface;   at least one digit pocket defined within said at least one layer of flexible material by an inner digit surface included in the inner handwear surface and at least one outer digit surface;   the outer handwear surface comprising a palm surface, a back surface, and said at least one outer digit surface;   said at least one digit pocket being adapted to receive a wearer's fingers via a hand access aperture at one end of said at least one digit pocket; and   the outer handwear surface comprising at least one inner wrist hook and loop fastener pad disposed on an inner wrist portion of the palm surface and at least one back hook and loop fastener pad disposed on the back surface;   a user wearing said pair of first and second handwear articles, by inserting a first hand through said hand access aperture of said first handwear article such that at least one finger of the first hand is received by said at least one digit pocket of said first handwear article, and by inserting a second hand through said hand access aperture of said second handwear article such that at least one finger of the second hand is received by said at least one digit pocket of said second handwear article;   a user removing said first handwear article from the first hand while the second hand is wearing said second handwear article and the second hand is simultaneously full or in use, by:   attaching said inner wrist hook and loop fastener pad of said first handwear article to said back hook and loop fastener pad of said second handwear article, such that said palm surface of said first handwear article is connected to said back surface of said second handwear article; and   withdrawing the first hand from said hand access aperture of said first handwear article while said first and second handwear articles are connected to each other.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein at least one low-friction pad is disposed on said at least one outer digit surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein one or more high-friction elements are positioned on said palm surface of each said handwear article. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 23  in which each of said first and second handwear articles provided additionally comprises:
 at least one thenar surface located contiguous between the palm surface and the back surface; 
 said at least one thenar surface comprising at least one low-friction pad for sliding engagement with at least one tool. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein said at least one low-friction pad comprises one or more tetrafluoroethylene compounds, one or more silicone-based compounds, one or more self-lubricating compounds, and one or more combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein said at least one low-friction pad is disposed at least partially upon one or more of said at least one thenar surface, the back surface and the palm surface. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein said at least one low-friction pad is disposed upon at least one of the palm surface and the back surface. 
     
     
         30 . A method of using a pair of handwear articles, which allows a user to remove one handwear article of the pair of handwear articles from one hand of a user, while another hand of a user is simultaneously full or in use, said method comprising:
 providing a pair of first and second handwear articles, in which:   the first handwear article comprises:   at least one first layer of flexible material shaped for receiving at least part of a first hand of a user, said at least one first layer comprising a first outer handwear surface;   at least one first digit pocket defined within said at least one first layer of flexible material;   the first outer handwear surface comprising a first palm surface, a first back surface, and a first hand access aperture to permit at least part of the first hand to be positioned in said at least one first digit pocket and subsequently removed therefrom;   the first outer handwear surface comprising at least one first back hook and loop fastener pad disposed on the first back surface; and   the second handwear article comprises:   at least one second layer of flexible material shaped for receiving at least part of a second hand of the user, said at least one second layer comprising a second outer handwear surface;   at least one second digit pocket defined within said at least one second layer of flexible material;   the second outer handwear surface comprising a second palm surface, a second back surface, and a second hand access aperture to permit at least part of the second hand to be positioned in said at least one second digit pocket and subsequently removed therefrom;   the second outer handwear surface comprising at least one second inner wrist hook and loop fastener pad disposed on an inner wrist portion of the second palm surface; and   a user wearing said pair of first and second handwear articles, by inserting a first hand through said first hand access aperture of said first handwear article such that at least one finger of the first hand is received by said at least one first digit pocket of said first handwear article, and by inserting a second hand through said second hand access aperture of said second handwear article such that at least one finger of the second hand is received by said at least one second digit pocket of said second handwear article;   a user removing said second handwear article from the second hand while the first hand is wearing said first handwear article and the first hand is simultaneously full or in use, by:   attaching said at least one inner wrist hook and loop fastener pad to said at least one back hook and loop fastener pad, to attach the inner wrist portion of the second palm surface of said second handwear article to the first back surface of said second handwear article such that said first and second handwear articles are connected to one another; and   withdrawing the second hand from said second hand access aperture of said second handwear article while said first and second handwear articles are connected to each other.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30  in which:
 the first handwear article additionally comprises at least one first inner wrist hook and loop fastener pad disposed on an inner wrist portion of the first palm surface of the first handwear article; and
 the second handwear article additionally comprises at least one second back hook and loop fastener pad positioned on the second back surface.