Partially removable glove

Abstract

A protective glove extends upward from the wrist at least partway toward the elbow but is partially removable from the thumb and four fingers by a seam extending across the back of the hand. The seam is preferably secured with a watertight closure such as a loop and hook fabric fastening strip, a zipper and the like. The glove preferably includes an insulating fabric liner, such as wool or polypropylene fabric, for use in skiing or snow sports. Alternatively, the entire glove may be formed of a non-porous foamed elastic fabric, such as neoprene, for water sports.

1 . A glove comprising, 
 a) a flexible tubular sleeve for covering from about between the wrist and the elbow at the proximal end, to about the middle of the hand at the distal end,    b) a flexible finger protective sleeve open at the first end and subdivided into a first tubular member for receiving the thumb and at least a second tubular member for receiving one or more finger, wherein the closed ends of each tubular member seal the second end of said finger protective sleeve,    c) wherein said finger protective portion is detachably connected to said tubular sleeve to form an overlapping seam at the portion of the tubular sleeve behind the thumb and fingers.    
   
   
       2 . The glove according to  claim 1  wherein the overlapping seam is disposed on the portion of said tubular sleeve and said finger protective sleeve behind the thumb and little finger on the back of the hand with said finger protective sleeve connected to said tubular sleeve at least within the palm of the hand.  
   
   
       3 . The glove according to  claim 1  wherein said first tubular sleeve has a first and second aperture at the distal end, wherein the first aperture is disposed to coincide with the first tubular member of said flexible finger protective sleeve for receiving the thumb and the second aperture is disposed with respect to the second tubular member of said finger protective sleeve for receiving one or more fingers.  
   
   
       4 . The glove according to  claim 1  further comprising a thermally insulating fabric liner having a first portion disposed within said tubular sleeve for covering at least the back of the hand and the wrist and a second portion extending to cover the thumb and the remaining four finger.  
   
   
       5 . The glove according to  claim 1  wherein the overlapping seam opening of said finger protective sleeve extends diagonally with respect to the principle axis of the tubular sleeve from about below the little finger to below about the thumb.  
   
   
       6 . The glove according to  claim 1  further comprising a handle attached to said finger protective sleeve for urging the uncovering of the finger and thumb from the overlapping seam.  
   
   
       7 . The glove according to  claim 1  further comprising a closure device for gathering the excess fabric surrounding the proximal end of said tubular sleeve to urge it to tightly fit around the corresponding portion of the wrist or forearm.  
   
   
       8 . The glove according to  claim 7  wherein the closure device is a cinching cord that extends around the corresponding portion of the wrist or forearm.  
   
   
       9 . The glove according to  claim 4  wherein the portion of the thermally insulating fabric liner that covers the thumb comprises a slot for exposing the thumb tip through the insulating liner.  
   
   
       10 . A glove according to  claim 4  wherein a portion of the thermally insulating fabric liner extends to overlaps the fabric adjacent to the slot defining two overlapping fabric portions have an inner slot and an outer slot.  
   
   
       11 . The glove according to  claim 1  wherein the second tubular member of said flexible finger protective sleeve extends to the end thereof for receiving the four fingers.  
   
   
       12 . The glove according to  claim 1  further comprising a third, fourth and fifth tubular member in said flexible finger protective sleeve wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth tubular members are disposed with respect to said tubular sleeve for separately receiving each of the four fingers of the hand.  
   
   
       13 . The glove according to  claim 1  wherein the overlapping seam is optionally opened or sealed by a closure.  
   
   
       14 . The glove according to  claim 13  where the closure provides a substantially watertight seal.  
   
   
       15 . The glove according to  claim 13  where substantially watertight seal is formed by a closure selected from the group consisting of a pair of hook and loop fabric fastening strips, a zipper, a latch, and one or more snaps.  
   
   
       16 . The glove according to  claim 14  wherein the seal is rendered substantially watertight by elastic foam fabric covering contacting overlapping surfaces at the seam on both the said tubular sleeve and said finger protective sleeve.  
   
   
       17 . The glove according to  claim 16  wherein the closure urges the elastic foam fabric that contacts overlapping portion of the seam towards each other to close the seam.  
   
   
       18 . The glove according to  claim 17  wherein the closure is a cinch cord.  
   
   
       19 . The glove according to  claim 1  further comprising a stretchable fabric liner comprising a first portion connected to the distal end of said tubular sleeve extending to cover at least one of the thumb and the four finger.  
   
   
       20 . The glove according to  claim 1  further comprising a fabric liner having a first portion connected to the distal end of said tubular sleeve extending to cover at least one of the thumb and the four finger wherein a portion of said fabric liner covering at least one digit is partially slit around the circumference so as to enable the partial removal and extension of the digit from underneath said fabric liner.  
   
   
       21 . A glove comprising, 
 a) a flexible tubular sleeve for covering from about between the wrist and the elbow at the proximal end to a point below about the first or lower finger joint on the hand at the distal end,    b) a flexible finger protective sleeve open at the first end and subdivided into a first tubular member for receiving the thumb and at least a second tubular member for receiving one or more fingers, wherein the closed ends of each tubular member seal the second end of said finger protective sleeve,    c) wherein said finger protective portion is contiguous with said tubular sleeve on the palm side of the hand and has a closable seam disposed on the backside of the hand running from about below the thumb diagonally, with respect to the principal axis of the forearm, to about below the little finger,    d) whereby upon removal of the thumb and all four fingers from the finger protective sleeve at the open seam results in the unconnected finger protective portion flapping downward from about the palm side of the hand.    
   
   
       22 . A glove according to  claim 21  wherein a portion of the fabric that forms said finger protective sleeve on the backside of the hand overlaps a portion of the fabric that forms the distal end of the said tubular sleeve on the backside of the hand.