Impact Protective Glove Assembly

Abstract

A glove and digit protective system has a glove with pockets at the distal ends of one or more of the glove digits into which a magnet may be positioned and yet relatively easily extracted. The glove with the magnets retained within the pockets interfaces with and retains a protective cover which incorporates a magnet to attach the protective cover to one of the magnets held in the pockets of the glove digits. The cover may have an extension including a pivotal extension which incorporates a magnet for positioning small objects. A plate which is wider than the digit to be protected may form part of the cover. The cover may have an articulating extension with a magnet or an extension with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. The protective cover may incorporate a ratchet mechanism and a handle to prevent rotation of the cover.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An article for protecting one or more digits of a human hand, the digits having a nail, a distal phalanx, and a distal phalanx pad opposite the nail, the article comprising:
 a glove having portions arranged to overlie at least one digit of a hand, said portions forming a pocket or receptacle having a first magnet therein, wherein the pocket positions the magnet over a digit such that the magnet is spaced from a nail and adjacent to a distal phalanx pad;   at least one digit protective cover covering a substantial portion of a distal phalanx when the glove is worn on a hand; and   wherein the digit protective cover incorporates a second magnet so as to hold the digit protective cover magnet in juxtaposition to the first magnet held in said portions forming the pocket or receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the digit protective cover has an outer surface and a portion of the outer surface overlying a distal phalanx pad when the glove in worn on a hand forms a planer surface. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the digit protective cover is formed of a rigid or semirigid plastic into which the second magnet is incorporated. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the digit protective cover is formed of ABS plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the digit protective cover has a rigid plate incorporated therein which extends over and is wider than a distal phalanx of a digit when the glove overlies said least one digit of a hand such that a hammer blow to the digit protective cover in a plane parallel to a distal phalanx pad of the digit supports the hammer blow so as to prevent injury to the digit. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the digit protective cover has portions forming an articulated extension which extends outwardly of the digit, the articulated extension having an articulated member which is mounted to pivot with respect to the digit protective cover, and wherein said articulated member incorporates a third magnet. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are of the rare earth type. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 5  wherein the first magnet, the second magnet and the third magnet are of the rare earth type. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the digit protective cover has portions forming an extension which extends outwardly of the digit, the extension having a surface on which is a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive of the type which allows attachment and subsequent removal of an object. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the digit protective cover has an opening for a digit, defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
 a ratchet for driving rotatably driven fasteners mounted to said second end; and 
 an anti-rotation handle extending from the first end away from the second end. 
 
     
     
         11 . A protective digit cover comprising:
 a glove having portions arranged to overlie at least one digit of a hand, said portions having a first magnet attached thereto;   at least one digit protective cover covering a substantial portion of a distal phalanx when the glove is worn on a hand;   wherein the first magnet is beneath the digit protective cover; and   wherein the digit protective cover incorporates a second magnet so as to hold the digit protective cover second magnet to the first magnet held to the glove.   
     
     
         12 . The protective digit cover of  claim 11  wherein the digit protective cover has an outer surface and a portion of the outer surface which defines a planar surface which overlies a distal phalanx pad when the glove is worn on a hand. 
     
     
         13 . The protective digit cover of  claim 11  wherein the digit protective cover is formed of a rigid or semirigid plastic into which the second magnet is incorporated. 
     
     
         14 . The protective digit cover of  claim 11  wherein the digit protective cover has a rigid plate incorporated therein which extends over and which is wider than the distal phalanx of a digit when the glove overlies said at least one digit of a hand such that a hammer blow to the digit protective cover in a plane parallel to a distal phalanx pad of the digit supports the hammer blow so as to prevent injury to the digit. 
     
     
         15 . The protective digit cover of  claim 11  wherein the digit protective cover has portions forming an articulated extension which extends outwardly of the glove and the digit, the articulated extension having an articulated member which is mounted to pivot with respect to the digit protective cover, and wherein said articulated member incorporates a third magnet. 
     
     
         16 . The protective digit cover of  claim 11  wherein the digit protective cover has portions forming an articulated extension which extends outwardly of the glove and the digit, the articulated extension having an articulated member which is mounted to pivot with respect to the digit protective cover in two nonparallel axises, and wherein said articulated member incorporates a third magnet. 
     
     
         17 . The protective digit cover of  claim 11  wherein the digit protective cover has portions forming an extension which extends outwardly of the glove and the digit, the extension having a surface on which is a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive of the type which allows attachment and subsequent removal of an object. 
     
     
         18 . The protective digit cover of  claim 11  wherein the digit protective cover has an opening for a digit, defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and further comprising:
 a ratchet for driving rotatably driven fasteners mounted to said second end; and 
 an anti-rotation handle extending from the first end away from the second end. 
 
     
     
         19 . A protective digit cover assembly comprising:
 at least one digit protective cover covering a substantial portion of a distal phalanx;   wherein the digit protective cover has an opening for a digit, defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and further comprising:   a ratchet for driving rotatably driven fasteners mounted to said second end; and   an anti-rotation handle extending from the first end away from the second end.   
     
     
         20 . The protective digit cover assembly of  claim 19  wherein the anti-rotation handle is connected by a hinge to the digit protective cover to fold over the digit protective cover.