Impact attenuating glove construction

Abstract

Gloves having an impact attenuation region are provided. The impact attenuation region includes a soft or medium soft durometer knuckle guard that overlies a foam layer. Together, the foam layer and the knuckle guard attenuating an impact such that a layered glove construction is define that meets and/or exceeds standards employed in the field, e.g., EN 13594: 2015 and/or ANSI/ISEA 138-2019.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective glove configured to provide impact attenuation suitable for standard testing, the protective glove comprising:
 at least one finger guard, the at least one finger guard being connected to a knuckle guard, the at least one finger guard and the knuckle guard being surround by a flange, the at least one finger guard, knuckle guard and the flange being integrally formed of a thermoplastic rubber;   an outer layer of the glove underlying and secured to the at least one finger guard and the knuckle guard, the outer layer of the glove being formed of a knitted mesh fabric;   a sponge layer underlying and connected to the outer layer of the glove, the sponge layer being formed of an open cell foam and being coextensive with the outer layer of the glove;   a second layer underlying the sponge layer;   a foam layer abutting the second layer and being positioned between the second layer; and   an inner layer, the foam layer being encased by a combination of the second layer and the inner layer.   
     
     
         2 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the foam layer comprises four extensions and a main body, and the foam layer is at least coextensive with the knuckle guard. 
     
     
         3 . The protective glove of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one finger guard comprises a proximal flexure zone, and wherein the four extensions extend to a distal end of a proximal flexure zone that separates the at least one finger guard from the knuckle guard. 
     
     
         4 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the foam layer extends 1-5 mm beyond a periphery of the knuckle guard. 
     
     
         5 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the foam layer is between 2 mm and 4 mm thick. 
     
     
         6 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger guard comprises three finger guards that are integrally formed with the knuckle guard. 
     
     
         7 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein a thumb and forefinger are provided with another finger guard that is separate of and not directly connected to the at least one finger guard or the knuckle guard. 
     
     
         8 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the knuckle guard comprises an index finger portion and an extended portion that are separated from each other by a gap. 
     
     
         9 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic rubber comprises a soft or medium soft durometer. 
     
     
         10 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted mesh fabric comprises a combination of nylon and spandex. 
     
     
         11 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , at least one of the second layer or the inner layer comprises tricot. 
     
     
         12 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , the foam layer comprises an EVA foam 
     
     
         13 . A protective glove configured to provide impact attenuation suitable for standard testing, the protective glove comprising:
 a knuckle guard configured to overlie and correspond in position to a wearer's first knuckles in use, the knuckle guard overlying a foam layer that is positioned between the knuckle guard and the wearer's first knuckles, the foam layer and the knuckle guard not being directly connected and, when aligned to define an impact attenuation region, the foam layer and the knuckle guard transmitting an average force of less than, or equal to 7 kN when receiving an impact energy of 5 Joules.   
     
     
         14 . The protective glove of  claim 13 , wherein the foam layer comprises an EVA foam. 
     
     
         15 . The protective glove of  claim 13 , wherein fabric layers envelop the foam layer. 
     
     
         16 . The protective glove of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the fabric layers comprises tricot. 
     
     
         17 . The protective glove of  claim 13 , wherein the foam layer has a thickness of greater than 2 mm and less than 4 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The protective glove of  claim 13 , wherein no single result used in generating the average force exceeds 9 kN. 
     
     
         19 . The protective glove of  claim 13 , wherein the knuckle guard has a thickness of greater than 3 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The protective glove of  claim 13 , wherein the knuckle guard tapers toward a distal end of the glove.