Hand Covering With Tactility Features

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a hand covering. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hand covering with tactility features. The tactility features of the hand covering enable the wearer of the hand covering to have improved dexterity and tactility while wearing the hand covering and performing various tasks.

1 . A hand covering comprising:
 a shell assembly including a palm region, a cuff region, and a finger region, the finger region including a first finger receptacle and a second finger receptacle, each of the first and second finger receptacles including a palm side and a back side, the shell assembly also including a first shell portion and a second shell portion, the first shell portion including a material having a thickness, the second shell portion including its own material having thickness, the material thickness of the second shell portion being less than the material thickness of the first shell portion, the first shell portion including the palm region, and the second shell portion including the first finger receptacle; and   a tactility component, the tactility component being coupled to the first finger receptacle, the tactility component being coupled to the palm side of the first finger receptacle in the area of the second shell portion, the tactility component being configured to facilitate the application of a concentrated force from a finger contained in the first finger receptacle to an object.   
     
     
         2 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein the second finger receptacle forms a part of the first shell portion. 
     
     
         3 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein the tactility component has one of a hemispherical, diamond, triangular, and arcuate shape. 
     
     
         4 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thumb receptacle, the thumb receptacle forming a third shell portion, the third shell portion including a material having a thickness, the material thickness of the third shell portion being different than the material thickness of the first shell portion.   
     
     
         5 . The hand covering of  claim 4 , wherein the tactility component is a first tactility component, the hand covering further comprising:
 a second tactility component, the second tactility component being coupled to the thumb receptacle.   
     
     
         6 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein the shell assembly includes an outer shell, the outer shell including a plurality of finger receptacles, and an inner shell, the inner shell including a plurality of finger receptacles, the inner shell being configured to be inserted into the outer shell, each of the finger receptacles of the inner shell being inserted into a corresponding one of the finger receptacles of the outer shell. 
     
     
         7 . The hand covering of  claim 6 , wherein one of the finger receptacles of the inner shell is terminated proximate to its base and defines an opening through which a wearer's finger can be inserted. 
     
     
         8 . The hand covering of  claim 7 , wherein an end of the terminated finger receptacle of the inner shell is coupled to an inner surface of a corresponding finger receptacle of the outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . The hand covering of  claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the first shell portion is defined by a thickness of the outer shell and a thickness of the inner shell, and a second shell portion is defined by a thickness of the outer shell. 
     
     
         10 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein a transition area is formed between the first shell portion and the second shell portion, and the transition area is in a stepped configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein the first shell portion and the second shell portion are integrally formed from a single layer of material, the layer of material having different thicknesses in the first shell portion and the second shell portion. 
     
     
         12 . The hand covering of  claim 11 , wherein a transition area is formed between the first shell portion and the second shell portion, the transition area being gradually sloped between the first shell portion and the second shell portion, the transition area being formed by the inner surface of the first shell portion and the inner surface of the second shell portion. 
     
     
         13 . The hand covering of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thumb receptacle, the thumb receptacle forming a third shell portion, the first shell portion, the second shell portion, and the third shell portion being integrally formed from a single layer of material, the layer of material having different thickness in the first shell portion as compared to the thickness in the second shell portion and as compared to the thickness in the third shell portion.   
     
     
         14 . A hand covering comprising:
 a shell including a body portion having a plurality of finger receptacles and a thumb receptacle extending therefrom, the body portion including a first portion having a thickness and a second portion having its own thickness, the thickness of the first portion being less than the thickness of the second portion, the first portion including one of the plurality of finger receptacles; and   a projection, the projection being coupled to the finger receptacle of the first portion of the shell proximate to the first portion, the projection being configured to be used by the wearer to engage an object.   
     
     
         15 . The hand covering of  claim 14 , wherein the shell includes a first shell portion and a second shell portion being configured to be inserted into the first shell portion, the first shell portion includes a plurality of finger receptacles and a thumb receptacle, the second shell portion includes its own plurality of finger receptacles and its own thumb receptacle, each of the finger receptacles and the thumb receptacle of the second shell portion being configured to be inserted into a corresponding one of the finger receptacles and the thumb receptacle of the first shell portion. 
     
     
         16 . The hand covering of  claim 15 , wherein one of the finger receptacles of the second shell portion is truncated and forms an end that defines an opening through which a finger can extend, the end forming a transition area between the first portion and the second portion of the shell. 
     
     
         17 . The hand covering of  claim 14 , wherein the body portion includes a third portion having a thickness, the thickness of the third portion being less than the thickness of the second portion, the third portion being formed by the thumb receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The hand covering of  claim 17 , wherein the projection is a first projection, the hand covering further comprising:
 a second projection, the second projection being coupled to the thumb receptacle proximate to the third portion, the second projection being configured to be used by the wearer to engage an object.   
     
     
         19 . A hand covering comprising:
 a shell, the shell including a palm portion, a finger receptacle coupled to the palm portion, and a thumb receptacle coupled to the palm portion, the palm portion having a thickness, the finger receptacle having a thickness, and the thumb receptacle having a thickness, the thickness of the finger receptacle being less than the thickness of the palm portion, the thickness of the thumb receptacle being less than the thickness of the palm portion;   a first tactility component, the first tactility component being coupled to the finger receptacle; and   a second tactility component, the second tactility component being coupled to the thumb receptacle, the first and second tactility components being configured to facilitate the application of pressure from the corresponding finger receptacle or thumb receptacle to an object.   
     
     
         20 . The hand covering of  claim 19 , wherein the shell includes an inner shell portion and an outer shell portion being configured to receive the inner shell portion, the outer shell portion including a finger receptacle corresponding to the finger receptacle of the shell, the inner shell portion including a truncated finger receptacle defining an end and an opening through which a finger can extend, the thickness of the shell finger receptacle being defining by the portion of the outer shell portion finger receptacle beyond the end of the inner shell portion finger receptacle.