Molded watersports and cold climate gloves

Abstract

Molded watersports and cold-climate gloves, where a substantial portion of the accessory is molded in a three-dimensional mold with a soft, pliable, and durable material such as EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) or PU (Polyurethane) or similar foam blends that aid in the flexibility, durability, and comfort of the accessory.

1 . A watersports garment for a user's hand, comprising a palm portion integrally attached to a wrist portion,
 wherein the palm portion comprises a single piece of seamless molded foam having inner and outer surfaces, the palm portion defining an opening for receiving the user's hand, wherein the inner surface is dimensioned and configured to receive the user's hand and to enclose the palm and sides of the user's hand, and wherein the molded foam has a durometer below 35 Asker C,   wherein the wrist portion comprises a high-stretch neoprene having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being bonded to a first fabric lining that receives the user's wrist,   wherein the wrist portion is bonded to the palm portion around the periphery of the opening, the bond formed by a layer of waterproof glue,   and wherein at a seam where the outer surface of the palm portion abuts the outer surface of the wrist portion, an external seam sealant is applied to provide additional waterproofing and strength to the seam, wherein the external seam sealant is a silicone- or polyurethane-based viscous, room-temperature-cured waterproof compound.   
     
     
         2 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the profile of the palm portion has a variable thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the palm portion has a high-friction texture. 
     
     
         4 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the palm portion has a high-friction texture. 
     
     
         5 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein a second fabric lining is bonded to at least a part of the inner surface of the palm portion. 
     
     
         6 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the palm portion is comprised of a plurality of colors. 
     
     
         7 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the palm portion is comprised of a plurality of densities. 
     
     
         8 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the palm portion is comprised of a plurality of colors and a plurality of densities. 
     
     
         9 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , comprising a glove wherein the palm portion has separate recesses for each of the five fingers of the user's hand. 
     
     
         10 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , comprising a mitten wherein the palm portion has one recess for the thumb of the user's hand, and a second recess for the other four fingers of the user's hand. 
     
     
         11 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein at the bonded overlap of the wrist portion over the palm portion, the overlapped palm portion includes a thin lip extending around the periphery of the opening, and the inner surface of the overlapping wrist portion includes a skived surface cut at an angle through the first fabric lining and at least part of the distance through the high-stretch neoprene of the wrist portion, such that one part of the outer surface of the thin lip is bonded by the waterproof glue to the first fabric lining of the inner surface of the wrist portion, and a second part of the outer surface of the thin lip is bonded by the waterproof glue to the neoprene of the inner surface of the wrist portion. 
     
     
         12 . The watersports garment of  claim 1 , wherein warm air is applied at a temperature of approximately 100° C. until the palm portion becomes thermo-formable, at which point the garment is placed on the hand of the user, allowing the garment to form to the user's hand as the palm portion cools. 
     
     
         13 . The watersports garment of claim  17 , wherein after the garment cools and forms to the user's hand, the garment is removed from the user's hand and heated a second time by the application of warm air at a temperature of approximately 100° C. until the palm portion becomes thermo-formable, at which point the garment is placed on the hand of the user, allowing the garment to be refitted to the user's hand as the palm portion cools.