Linesman's glove

Abstract

A linesman's outer glove ( 14 ) includes a hand portion ( 30 ) configured to cover a hand portion of a linesman's inner glove ( 12 ). The outer glove ( 14 ) also includes a cut resistant layer ( 100 ) positioned inside the hand portion ( 30 ) and covering the palm portion ( 42 ), the back hand portion ( 40 ), and the finger portions ( 44 ). The outer glove ( 14 ) further includes at least one pad ( 50 ) secured to at least one of the palm portion ( 42 ) and finger portions ( 44 ). The at least one pad ( 50 ) includes a substrate ( 60 ) and at least one flame resistant polymer rib ( 62 ) disposed on the substrate. The at least one rib ( 62 ) is configured to improve the gripping performance of the outer glove ( 14 ).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A linesman's outer glove configured to be worn over an electrically insulating rubber linesman's inner glove, which is configured to provide electrical insulation in high voltage environments, the cuter glove comprising:
 a hand portion configured to cover a hand portion of the linesman's inner glove, the hand portion including a palm portion, a back hand portion, and finger portions, the hand portion being constructed of a natural leather material configured to protect the inner glove from damage and to provide thermal protection from electric arc flash exposure;   a cuff portion configured to cover a cuff portion of the linesman's inner glove, the cuff portion being connected to the hand portion;   a cut resistant layer positioned inside the hand portion and covering the palm portion, the back hand portion, and the finger portions; and   at least one pad secured to at least one of the palm portion and finger portions, the at least one pad comprising a substrate and at least one flame resistant polymer rib disposed on the substrate, the at least one rib configured to improve the gripping performance of the outer glove.   
     
     
         2 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 stitching that extends through the back hand portion and a portion of the cut resistant layer overlying the back hand portion to connect the cut resistant layer to the back hand portion; and   stitching that extends through the palm portion and a portion of the cut resistant layer overlying the palm portion to connect the cut resistant layer to the palm portion.   
     
     
         3 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 2 , wherein the stitching extends through a peripheral portion of the outer glove where the palm portion and back hand portion meet each other with their respective cut resistant layers sandwiched in between, the stitching extending through the palm portion, the back hand portion, and the overlying cut resistant layers. 
     
     
         4 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pad is secured to the at least one of the palm portion and finger portions by stitching that extends through the pad, wherein the flame resistant polymer material forming the ribs and the base layer forms a seal where the stitch threads puncture the pad and glove material. 
     
     
         5 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 4 , wherein the stitching extending through the at least one pad is the same stitching that extends through the peripheral portion of the outer glove. 
     
     
         6 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 4 , wherein the stitching comprises a para-aramid synthetic fiber thread. 
     
     
         7 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 5 , wherein the stitching comprises a para-aramid synthetic fiber thread. 
     
     
         8 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pad is configured to improve thermal protection from electrical arc exposure in the regions of the hand portions covered by the at least one pad, and wherein the at least one pad is also configured to leave free from coverage portions of the hand portion where the finger portions intersect the palm portion. 
     
     
         9 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 8 , wherein the linesman's outer glove is configured to provide thermal protection from electric arc flash exposure at a rating of 40 cal/cm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib comprises a flame resistant polymer base layer that covers the entire substrate, the at least one rib being disposed on the base layer. 
     
     
         11 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 10 , wherein the base layer is one of sprayed and extruded onto the substrate and the at least one rib is extruded onto the base layer. 
     
     
         12 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib is constructed of silicone. 
     
     
         13 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib is configured in at least one of a dot pattern, curved line pattern, a wavy line pattern, a straight line pattern, a cross-hatched line pattern, and a concentric circle pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hand portion glove is constructed of at least one of a tanned leather material, a grain cowhide material, a buffed grain cowhide material, a grain deerskin material, a grain pigskin material, a grain horsehide material, a grain goatskin material, a grain sheepskin material, or a capeskin material;   the cuff portion is constructed of a rawhide leather material; and   the pad substrate is constructed of one of a natural leather material and a microfiber material comprising at least one of a polyester material, a polyamide material, a polypropylene material, a nylon material, a para-aramid synthetic fiber material, an aramid fiber material, and a polyamides fiber material.   
     
     
         15 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 14 , wherein the outer glove is configured to provide thermal protection from electric arc flash exposure for inner gloves rated at least at 500 volts AC and up to 36,000 volts AC. 
     
     
         16 . The linesman's outer glove recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pad is configured to coincide with at least one location on at least one of the finger portions and palm portion where an arc flash is likely to occur.