Protective device for use with a glove

Abstract

A protective device for use in a high temperature and liquid environment provides a glove integrally formed with a protective member in the thumb webbing region. The protective member is not readily detectable when viewing the outside of the glove. The protective member is cut resistant and constructed to protect a workman's hand as a sharp and hot object passes over the protective member contacting the outer surface of the glove.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Prior to installing on a glove, a protective member for a thumb-crotch region of the glove is laid flat and when the protective member is laid flat the protective member comprises:
 a first surface adapted to face an inner liner of the glove;   a second surface adapted to face an outer layer of the glove;   a trapezoidal-shaped edge bounding the first surface and the second surface;   a major axis associated with the trapezoidal-shaped edge;   a minor axis associated with the trapezoidal-shaped edge;   wherein the protective member is formed from a material that is more cut-resistant than that of the outer layer of the glove to which the protective member will be installed.   
     
     
         2 . The protective member of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two opposing slits interrupting the trapezoidal-shaped edge.   
     
     
         3 . The protective member of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two slits extend parallel to the minor axis. 
     
     
         4 . The protective member of  claim 3 , wherein each slit terminates prior to the major axis, and wherein the at least two slits enable the protective member to bend around a thumb sleeve of the glove and around a forefinger sleeve of the glove such that the major axis of the protective member extends over a thumb-crotch region defined between the thumb sleeve and the forefinger sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The protective member of  claim 2 , wherein when laid flat further comprises at least one triangular member, 
     
     
         6 . The protective member of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one triangular member comprises at least one arcuate edge. 
     
     
         7 . The protective member of  claim 6 , wherein the triangular member is disposed within one of the at least two opposing slits. 
     
     
         8 . The protective member of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first portion of the trapezoidal-shaped edge offset to a first side of the minor axis;   a second portion of the trapezoidal-shaped edge offset to a second side of the minor axis opposite the first side;   wherein when the protective member is connected to the glove, the first portion is fixedly attached to a dorsal side of the glove and extends to at least a middle metacarpal region of the glove, and wherein when the protective member is connected to the glove, the second portion is fixedly attached to a planar side of the glove and extends to at least the middle metacarpal region of the glove.   
     
     
         9 . The protective member of  claim 1 , wherein the trapezoidal-shaped edge is an outermost edge of the protective member. 
     
     
         10 . The protective member of  claim 1 , wherein the major axis is longer than the minor axis. 
     
     
         11 . The protective member of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first quarter-round shaped member having an arcuate edge, and two perpendicular edges meeting at a point.   
     
     
         12 . The protective member of  claim 11 , wherein the first quarter-round shaped member is disposed within a first slit interrupting the trapezoidal-shaped edge such that the point is closely adjacent an inner terminal end of the first slit. 
     
     
         13 . The protective member of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a union between one of the two perpendicular edges of the quarter-round shaped member and a portion of a first slit edge defining the first slit.   
     
     
         14 . The protective member of  claim 13 , wherein the union is created by stitched thread. 
     
     
         15 . The protective member of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first quarter-round shaped member having an arcuate edge, and two linear edges meeting at a point, wherein the first quarter-round shaped member is disposed within a first slit that interrupts the trapezoidal-shaped edge; and   a second quarter-round shaped member having an arcuate edge, and two linear edges meeting at a point, wherein the second quarter-round shaped member is disposed within a second slit that interrupts the trapezoidal-shaped edge at a different location than the first slit.