Protective glove with angular articulated locking thumb

Abstract

A protective glove system is disclosed wherein each glove has an articulated thumb skeleton disposed in the thumb member. The thumb skeleton comprises a plurality of sections pivotably joined together to enable the thumb to articulate between open and closed positions. At least one pivot axis is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second section of the skeleton. A locking mechanism is provided for preventing the thumb skeleton sections from bending backwards, thereby preventing hyperextension of the wearer's thumb.

1 . A protective sports glove, comprising:
 a plurality of finger gussets adapted to accommodate a wearer's fingers;   a thumb member adapted to accommodate a wearer's thumb, the thumb member comprising an articulating skeleton having a first section and a second section that are pivotably connected about a pivot axis, the second section defining a longitudinal axis;   wherein the pivot axis is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       2 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections of the articulating skeleton are substantially rigid. 
   
   
       3 . The protective sports glove of  claim 2 , wherein an acute angle exists between the pivot axis and the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       4 . The protective sports glove of  claim 3 , wherein the acute angle is between about 70 degrees and about 80 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The protective sports glove of  claim 2 , wherein the first section and the second section are adapted to be rotatable relative to each other to allow the skeleton to rotate between a closed position and an open position. 
   
   
       6 . The protective sports glove of  claim 5 , wherein the skeleton further comprises a stopping mechanism to prevent rotation in an open direction beyond a predetermined position. 
   
   
       7 . The protective sports glove of  claim 6 , wherein the stopping mechanism comprises overlapping a distal portion of the first section with a proximal portion of the second section. 
   
   
       8 . The protective sports glove of  claim 2 , wherein the articulating skeleton further comprises:
 a third section pivotably connected to the second section about a second pivot axis, the second and third sections being adapted to be rotatable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position;   a stopping mechanism to prevent rotation in the open direction of the third section relative to the second section beyond a predetermined position.   
   
   
       9 . The protective sports glove of  claim 8 , wherein the second pivot axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the second section at a substantially perpendicular angle. 
   
   
       10 . A protective sports glove, comprising:
 a plurality of finger gussets adapted to accommodate a wearer's fingers;   a thumb member adapted to accommodate a wearer's thumb, the thumb member comprising an articulating skeleton having a first section pivotably connected to a second section along a pivot axis, the second section having a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and opposing first and second edges,   wherein a distance along the longitudinal axis between the distal end and a point at which the pivot axis cross the first side edge is greater than the distance along the longitudinal axis between the distal end and a point at which the pivot axis crosses the second edge.   
   
   
       11 . The protective sports glove of  claim 10  wherein the difference between (a) the distance along the longitudinal axis between the distal end and a point at which the pivot axis cross the first side edge, and (b) the distance along the longitudinal axis between the distal end and a point at which the pivot axis crosses the second edge, is between about 15 mm and about 20 mm. 
   
   
       12 . The protective sports glove of  claim 11  wherein the difference between (a) the distance along the longitudinal axis between the distal end and a point at which the pivot axis cross the first side edge, and (b) the distance along the longitudinal axis between the distal end and a point at which the pivot axis crosses the second edge, is between about 18 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The protective sports glove of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second sections are substantially rigid. 
   
   
       14 . The protective sports glove of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second sections of the articulating skeleton are adapted to pivot relative to each other to allow the skeleton to rotate between a closed position and an open position, the articulating skeleton further comprising a stopping mechanism to prevent rotation in an open direction beyond a predetermined position. 
   
   
       15 . The protective sports glove of  claim 14 , wherein the stopping mechanism comprises overlapping a distal portion of the first section with a proximal portion of the second section. 
   
   
       16 . The protective sports glove of  claim 13 , wherein the articulating skeleton further comprises a third section rotatably connected to the second section along a second pivot axis, the second pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second section, wherein the articulating skeleton is adapted to prevent the third section from rotating in an open direction relative to the second section beyond a predetermined position. 
   
   
       17 . The protective sports glove of  claim 16 , wherein a proximal portion of the third section overlaps a distal portion of the second section, thereby preventing the third section from rotating in an open direction relative to the second section beyond a predetermined position. 
   
   
       18 . The protective sports glove of  claim 17 , wherein the second section comprises a bend.