Water sports hand cover

Abstract

The invention provides a hand cover ( 10 ) for use in water sporting activities wherein a sports person grips a piece of equipment ( 6 ), such as a boom of a said windsurf. The hand cover comprises a wrist enclosing section, two side sections ( 2 ) and a main section ( 3 ), the two side sections and/or main section being shaped such that the hand cover has a pre-curled shape having a finger enclosing region. The wrist enclosing section, side sections and main sections together define an open section ( 4 ) of the hand cover through which part of a user's palm and fingers are exposed for making a bare-skin grip on the boom to mitigate against forearm fatigue that can be caused by over-gripping. The hand cover additionally comprises a biasing means ( 1 ) for urging the finger enclosing region of the hand cover to contact and fit against the boom, when gripped by a wearer of the hand cover, for aiding the hand cover in sealing around the wearer's hand and the part of the equipment being gripped.

1 . A hand cover for use in water sporting activities wherein a sports person grips a piece of equipment, the hand cover comprising a wrist enclosing section, two side sections and a main section, at least one of the two side sections and the main section being shaped such that the hand cover has a pre-curled shape having a finger enclosing region, the wrist enclosing section, side sections and main sections together defining an open section of the hand cover through which part of a user's palm and fingers are exposed for making a bare-skin grip on a piece of equipment, the hand cover comprising a biasing means disposed in the finger enclosing region, the biasing means for urging the finger enclosing region of the hand cover to contact and fit against a piece of equipment when gripped by a wearer of the hand cover for aiding the hand cover in sealing around the wearer's hand and the part of the equipment being gripped and/or the biasing means for preventing the finger enclosing region from slipping off a wearer's hand when the hand is not in a gripping position. 
     
     
         2 . The hand cover of  claim 1  wherein the biasing means comprises a block of material. 
     
     
         3 . The hand cover of  claim 1  wherein the block has at least one curved side and is attached to the main section of the hand cover along that curved side. 
     
     
         4 . The hand cover of  claim 2  wherein the block of material is formed from a single piece of material or from two or more layers of material that are bonded together. 
     
     
         5 . The hand cover of  claim 4  wherein the block of material is formed from two or more layers each having at least one curved side edge and wherein the two or more layers are bonded together such that the curved side edges are stacked in flush alignment. 
     
     
         6 . The hand cover of  claim 5  wherein the other side edge of each layer also has a curved shape and wherein each layer has the same width such that the other curved side edges are also stacked in flush alignment. 
     
     
         7 . The hand cover of  claim 1  wherein the hand cover is formed from an elastomer foam with a waterproof lining and wherein the biasing means is formed from an elastomer foam with or without a waterproof lining that has a thickness that is equal to or greater than the thickness of the elastomer foam with a waterproof lining from which the hand cover is formed. 
     
     
         8 . The hand cover of  claim 7  wherein the hand cover and biasing means are formed from neoprene rubber. 
     
     
         9 . The hand cover of  claim 1  wherein the hand cover additionally comprises a thumb enclosing section. 
     
     
         10 . The hand cover of  claim 1  wherein the hand cover comprises two main parts: a first part and a second part, wherein the second part fits partially within the first part and wherein the relative position of the first and second parts is adjustable such that an overall length of the hand cover and/or the position of one or both side sections and/or the position of the biasing means can be adjusted. 
     
     
         11 . The hand cover of  claim 10  wherein the first part provides the wrist enclosing section and a thumb enclosing section and wherein the second part provides the side sections, main section and biasing means. 
     
     
         12 . The hand cover of  claim 10  wherein the hand cover further comprises an attachment means for attaching the first and second parts for mitigating against complete separation of the first and second parts without interfering with the adjustment of the relative positioning of the first and second parts. 
     
     
         13 . The hand cover of  claim 11  wherein the second part of the hand cover comprises an adjustment section for adjusting the position of the second part relative to the first part. 
     
     
         14 . The hand cover of  claim 12  wherein the adjustment section is tapered and wherein the first and second parts are held together by a friction fit. 
     
     
         15 . A pair of hand covers comprising two hand covers according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A hand cover for use in water sporting activities wherein a sports person grips a piece of equipment, the hand cover comprising a wrist enclosing section, two side sections and a main section, at least one of the two side sections and the main section being shaped such that the hand cover has a pre-curled shape having a finger enclosing region and the wrist enclosing section, side sections and main sections together defining an open section of the hand cover through which part of a user's palm and fingers are exposed for making a bare-skin grip on a piece of equipment, and the hand cover comprising a block in the finger enclosing region of the hand cover which aids sealing of the hand cover about a gripped piece of equipment and which mitigates against the finger enclosing region slipping off a wearer's hand. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled)