Convertible hand covering system

Abstract

A hand covering configured to enclose a human hand, fingers and thumb, having a dorsal side and a palm side. The hand covering includes a wrist portion and a hand portion. The hand portion includes at least one digit receptacle and a thumb receptacle. An opening is formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering, and extends from a location rearward of the thumb receptacle, across the dorsal side, to a side of the hand covering opposite the thumb receptacle. The opening is configured to allow the digit receptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed from the digits and thumb of the wearer, while the wrist portion remains attached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of the wearer's hand.

1 . An openable hand covering configured to enclose a human hand, fingers and thumb, the hand covering having a dorsal side and a palm side and comprising:
 a wrist portion and a hand portion, the hand portion including at least one digit receptacle and a thumb receptacle; and   an opening, formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering, extending from a location rearward of the thumb receptacle, across the dorsal side, to a side of the hand covering opposite the thumb receptacle, the opening being configured to allow the digit receptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed from the digits and thumb of the wearer, respectively, while the wrist portion remains attached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of the wearer's hand.   
   
   
       2 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure device, operably attached to the opening to allow the opening to be selectively closed and opened by the wearer. 
   
   
       3 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein the palm side of the hand covering is substantially integral and wherein the hand covering is bendable across the palm side to allow the hand portion of the covering to be removed downwardly from the wearer's fingers and thumb. 
   
   
       4 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is arcuate and extends across the dorsal side of the covering and outward toward a fingertip end of the covering. 
   
   
       5 . The hand covering of  claim 4 , wherein the opening is shaped to correspond to a profile defined by a proximal knuckle of each finger and the thumb of the wearer's hand. 
   
   
       6 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a securing device, operatively coupled to the wrist portion, the securing device being operable to temporarily secure the hand portion beneath the wrist portion to limit interference with the wearer's bare fingers and thumb when the hand portion is removed from the wearer's fingers and thumbs.   
   
   
       7 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein the opening extends from one side of the covering, rearwardly through the wrist portion and terminates at a wrist opening of the covering to allow an inside of the covering to be exposed when the opening is in an opened configuration. 
   
   
       8 . An openable hand covering configured to enclose a human hand, fingers and thumb, the hand covering having a dorsal side and a palm side and comprising:
 a wrist portion and a hand portion, the hand portion including at least one digit receptacle and a thumb receptacle; and   an arcuate opening, formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering between the wrist portion and the hand portion, the opening being configured to allow the digit receptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed from the digits and thumb of the wearer, respectively, while the wrist portion remains attached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of the wearer's hand.   
   
   
       9 . The hand covering of  claim 8 , further comprising a closure device, operably attached to the arcuate opening to allow the opening to be selectively closed and opened by the wearer. 
   
   
       10 . The hand covering of  claim 8 , wherein the palm side of the hand covering is substantially integral and wherein the hand covering is bendable across the palm section to allow the hand portion of the covering to be removed downwardly from the wearer's fingers and thumb. 
   
   
       11 . The hand covering of  claim 8 , wherein the opening extends across the dorsal side of the covering and outwardly toward a fingertip end of the covering. 
   
   
       12 . The hand covering of  claim 11 , wherein the opening is shaped to correspond to a profile defined by a proximal knuckle of each finger and the thumb of the wearer's hand. 
   
   
       13 . The hand covering of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a securing strap, operatively coupled to the wrist portion, the securing strap being operable to temporarily secure the digit portion beneath the wrist portion to limit interference with the wearer's bare fingers and thumb when the hand portion is removed from the wearer's fingers and thumbs.   
   
   
       14 . The hand covering of  claim 11 , wherein the opening extends from one side of the covering, rearwardly through the wrist portion and terminates at a wrist opening of the covering to allow an inside of the covering to be exposed when the opening is in an opened configuration. 
   
   
       15 . A method for covering a hand while providing selective access to objects by bare fingers and a thumb of a wearer, comprising the steps of:
 enclosing the wearer's hand with a hand covering, the hand covering having a dorsal side and a palm side and including a wrist portion and a hand portion;   opening a closure device operably attached to an opening formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering between the hand portion and the wrist portion;   parting the hand covering at the opening to expose the fingers and thumb of the wearer while maintaining coverage of a dorsal portion of the wearer's hand; and   bending the hand covering about the palm side of the hand covering downward from the wearer's hand.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the opening extends across the dorsal side of the hand covering and outwardly toward a fingertip end of the hand covering. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the opening is shaped to correspond to a profile defined by a proximal knuckle of each finger and the thumb of the wearer's hand. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the closure device is selected from the group consisting of:
 a hook-and-loop fastener, a zipper, a clasp, and a button.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising the further step of:
 securing a strap operatively coupled to the wrist portion about the digit portion of the hand covering to limit interference with the wearer's bare fingers and thumb when the hand portion is removed from the wearer's fingers and thumbs.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the opening extends from one side of the covering, rearwardly through the wrist portion and terminates at a wrist opening of the covering to allow an inside of the covering to be exposed when the opening is in an opened configuration.