High-friction glove/wrist guards for ice skating

Abstract

A protective glove/wrist guard device is provided that prevents hands from slipping out from under a falling ice skater when the ice skater extends his or her hands to break a fall. The protective glove/wrist guard device may include a palm surface portion having a high-friction surface portion, to provide both high-friction when contacting ice, and wrist support to help prevent wrist and hand injuries. Alternatively, the protective device may be in the form of a glove with a high friction material disposed on a palm surface portion of the glove.

1 . A protective device for placement on the hand of an ice skater during ice skating, the protective device comprising: 
 an upper portion covering at least a portion of a back of the hand of the ice skater; and    a lower portion covering at least a portion of a palm of the hand of the ice skater;    wherein at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion includes an ice engaging surface that is covered with a high-friction material.    
   
   
       2 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the high-friction material is sponge rubber.  
   
   
       3 . The protective device of  claim 1 , further including at least one stiffener for supporting the wrist of the ice skater.  
   
   
       4 . The protective device of  claim 3 , including a flexible glove portion removably attached to the at least one stiffener.  
   
   
       5 . The protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the ice engaging surface covers at least a portion of the palm of the hand of the ice skater.  
   
   
       6 . A protective glove for ice skating, comprising: 
 an upper portion covering at least a portion of a back of the hand of the ice skater; and    a lower portion covering at least a portion of a palm of the hand of the ice skater;    wherein the lower portion includes a palm surface portion that is covered with a high-friction material.    
   
   
       7 . The protective glove of  claim 6 , wherein the high-friction material is a sponge rubber material.  
   
   
       8 . A method of ice skating while reducing the risk of injury suffered by an ice skater from a fall that may occur during ice skating, the method comprising: 
 wearing a protective device on each hand during ice skating, each protective device including an ice engaging surface that is covered with a high-friction material; and    in the event of a fall, extending one or both hands toward the ice such that the high-friction material contacts the ice.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the high-friction material is sponge rubber.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ice engaging surface covers at least a portion of the palm of the hand of the ice skater.