Protective athletic glove

Abstract

A protective glove and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The glove includes a hand receiving portion that includes a metacarpal portion and a wrist portion. The hand receiving portion includes a dorsal side and a palm side. The glove further includes a plurality of protective elements attached to the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion. The plurality of protective elements including a first protective element that overlaps a second protective element. The first protective element includes a distal end that is attached to the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion and a proximal end that extends freely over the second protective element.

1 . A protective glove comprising:
 a hand receiving portion including a metacarpal portion and a wrist portion, the hand receiving portion including a dorsal side and a palm side; and   a plurality of protective elements attached to the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion, the plurality of protective elements including a first protective element that overlaps a second protective element, the first protective element including a distal end that is attached to the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion and a proximal end that extends freely over the second protective element.   
     
     
         2 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the second protective element includes a distal end that is secured to the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion at a position distal of the proximal end of the first protective element, and a proximal end that extends free from attachment to the hand receiving portion. 
     
     
         3 . The protective glove of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first protective element and the second protective element includes at least one cut portion that extends from the proximal end thereof along a proximo-distal axis of the protective glove. 
     
     
         4 . The protective glove of  claim 2 , further comprising a lower forearm portion attached to the hand receiving portion,
 wherein the second protective element and the lower forearm portion are positioned such that the free end of the second protective element is proximal of a distal end of the lower forearm portion and the second protective element extends over a portion of the lower forearm portion.   
     
     
         5 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protective elements includes a third protective element that is positioned distally with respect to the first protective element and that is secured to the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion around an entire periphery of the third protective element. 
     
     
         6 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first protective element is positioned on the metacarpal portion of the hand receiving portion, and the second protective element is positioned on the wrist portion of the hand receiving portion. 
     
     
         7 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the first protective element forms an arc with respect to a proximo-distal axis of the protective glove. 
     
     
         8 . The protective glove of  claim 1 , wherein the hand receiving portion includes a plurality of finger portions and a thumb portion. 
     
     
         9 . A protective glove comprising:
 a hand receiving portion including a plurality of finger portions, a thumb portion, a metacarpal portion and a wrist portion, the hand receiving portion including a dorsal side and a palm side, the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion including an inner liner that partially defines an interior space of the hand receiving portion;   a plurality of protective elements attached to an exterior surface of the inner liner, the plurality of protective elements including a first protective element that is positioned distally with respect to a second protective element of the plurality of protective elements, the first protective element extending from a distal end on a distal side of the first protective element to a free end on a proximal side of the first protective element, wherein the distal end is secured to the inner liner, the free end is not secured to the inner liner and the first and second protective elements are positioned such that the free end of the first protective element is proximal of a distal end of the second protective element and the first protective element extends over a portion of the second protective element; and   a lower forearm portion attached to the hand receiving portion.   
     
     
         10 . The protective glove of  claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the second protective element is secured to the inner liner, and the second protective element extends from the distal end of the second protective element to a free end on a proximal side of the second protective element that is not secured to the inner liner. 
     
     
         11 . The protective glove of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first protective element and the second protective element includes at least one cut portion that extends from the free end thereof along a proximo-distal axis of the protective glove. 
     
     
         12 . The protective glove of  claim 10 , wherein the second protective element and the lower forearm portion are positioned such that the free end of the second protective element is proximal of a distal end of the lower forearm portion and the second protective element extends over a portion of the lower forearm portion. 
     
     
         13 . The protective glove of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protective elements includes a third protective element that is positioned distally with respect to the first protective element and that is secured to the inner liner around an entire periphery of the third protective element. 
     
     
         14 . The protective glove of  claim 9 , wherein the first protective element is positioned on the metacarpal portion of the hand receiving portion, and the second protective element is positioned on the wrist portion of the hand receiving portion. 
     
     
         15 . The protective glove of  claim 9 , wherein a proximal end of the first protective element forms an arc with respect to a proximo-distal axis of the protective glove. 
     
     
         16 . The protective glove of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protective elements includes at least one gel impact piece. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a protective glove, comprising:
 providing a hand receiving portion including a plurality of finger portions, a thumb portion, a metacarpal portion and a wrist portion, the hand receiving portion including a dorsal side and a palm side, the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion including a liner;   attaching a lower forearm portion to a proximal end of the wrist portion of the hand receiving portion;   attaching a plurality of protective elements to an exterior surface of the liner after attaching the lower forearm portion to the proximal end of the wrist portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method for manufacturing the protective glove of  claim 17 , wherein the attaching the plurality of protective elements includes attaching a first protective element and a second protective element to the liner such that the first protective element overlaps the second protective element. 
     
     
         19 . The method for manufacturing the protective glove of  claim 18 , wherein attaching the plurality of protective elements includes attaching a distal end of the second protective element to the liner such that a proximal end of the second protective element extends freely over the lower forearm portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method for manufacturing the protective glove of  claim 19 , wherein attaching the plurality of protective elements includes attaching a distal end of the first protective element to the liner after attaching the second protective element to the liner such that a proximal end of the first protective element extends freely over the second protective element.