Grip Enhancement and Protection for the Hands

Abstract

This document presents an apparel apparatus constructed in a plurality of contours, configurations, and cross-sectional portions to permit the apparel apparatus to be affixed to fingers, thumb, palm, back, or the sides of a user's hands. The apparel apparatus may also be composed of a plurality of performance layers that may be attached to or integrally constructed with a compression base layer. The performance layers may be constructed in a pre-determined configuration of layers, or they may be constructed in conformance to a user's specification for grip enhancement, shock absorption, impact resistance, microbial protection, moisture wicking, or additional functions. The apparel apparatus will be constructed so as to be worn by a user without impacting the user's ability to grip objects, catch objects, or otherwise interfere with the user's ability to use their hands in pursuit of sports, work, or other activities.

1 . An apparel apparatus, comprising:
 a compression base layer;   one or more performance layer portions in full contact with an exterior surface of the compression base layer;   the apparel apparatus adapted to be placed upon any portion of the hand of a user with no interference with a user's grip and the user's ability to use their hands in pursuit of sports, work, or other activities.   
     
     
         2 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a compression base layer consisting of a woven or unwoven fabric having compression characteristics and which is air permeable, where the compression base layer is adapted to permit perspiration to dissipate from the skin through the compression base layer to ambient air. 
     
     
         3 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a compression base layer having any of a cylindrical cross section, a contoured form, or a flattened form. 
     
     
         4 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 1 , where the performance layer portions comprise one or more layers. 
     
     
         5 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 4 , where the performance layer portions are composed of materials different than the compression base layer, said materials providing any of grip enhancement, shock absorption, impact resistance, microbial resistance, perspiration wicking and diffusion of moisture. 
     
     
         6 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 4 , where the performance layer portion consists of two or more layers combined into a single construction and attached to the exterior of the compression base layer portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 4 , where the performance layer portion consists of two of more layers woven into the compression base layer portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 3 , where the performance layer portions comprise portions that are physically smaller than the compression base layer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 8 , where multiple performance layer portions are permanently affixed to a compression base layer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 1 , where the compression base layer is adapted to be of sufficient size and physical configuration to be placed on an entire finger or thumb, any portion of a finger or thumb, have an open proximal end and a closed distal end, be sized to fit on the palm of the hand, the sides of the hand, or the back of the hand.