Securing apparatus for a hand protective device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a securing apparatus and method for securing a hand protective device about the wrist of the wearer. The apparatus provides a mechanism that allows a wearer to single-handedly secure a glove or hand protective device on their other hand, even when the wearer has taped hands for contact sports. The invention allows for the glove or hand protective device to be secured in a manner that eliminates gaps or twisting about the wearer's wrist.

1 . An improved contact sports glove comprising:
 a palm-side panel and a back-side panel secured to each other at a thumb-edge and an outer-edge, thereby forming an opening to receive a hand at a wrist-edge;   a flap defined by said palm-side panel and said opening, said flap carrying a first portion of a two-part closure device that is positioned near said wrist-edge;   a strap secured to said glove at an edge opposite of said flap, said strap carrying a second portion of said two-part closure device, said strap removably attachable to said flap when said first portion of said two-part closure has been joined to said second portion of said two-part closure, the configuration of said flap and said strap requires movement of said flap under said strap to join said first and second portions of said two-part closure device; and   a restraining device secured to said glove, said restraining device having a length sufficient to wrap around said glove thereby covering said strap when said strap is attached to said flap.   
     
     
         2 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said strap has elasticity. 
     
     
         3 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said strap has elasticity and is capable of stretching between about 25% and about 50% of its un-stretched length. 
     
     
         4 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said strap has an un-stretched length between about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) and about 3 inches (8 centimeters). 
     
     
         5 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said strap is substantially inelastic and has a length between about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) and about 4 inches (10 centimeters). 
     
     
         6 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said two-part closure device is a hook and loop closure device. 
     
     
         7 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said restraining device is capable of being secured to itself. 
     
     
         8 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said restraining device is attached to said glove near said outer-edge. 
     
     
         9 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said restraining device is attached to said glove near said thumb-edge. 
     
     
         10 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said opening extends from said wrist-edge to a point along said outer-edge, said point positioned so that a portion of said palm-side panel remains secured to said outer edge. 
     
     
         11 . An improved contact sports glove comprising:
 a palm-side panel and a back-side panel secured to each other at a thumb-edge and an outer-edge, thereby forming an opening to receive a hand at a wrist-edge;   a finger restraint positioned on a front-side panel and opposite of said wrist-edge;   a thumb receiver positioned near said thumb-edge;   a flap defined by said palm-side panel and said opening, said flap carrying a first portion of a hook and loop closure device, wherein said first portion of said closure device is positioned near said wrist-edge;   a strap carrying a second portion of said closure device, said strap is elastic;   a first end and a second end of said strap, said first end is secured to said glove at an edge opposite of said flap, and said second end carrying said second portion of said closure device, said strap has sufficient elasticity to permit removable attachment of said strap to said flap when said first portion of said two-part closure has been joined to said second portion of said two-part closure, the configuration of said flap and said strap when attached to one another precludes movement of said flap; and   a restraining device secured to said glove, said restraining device having a length sufficient to wrap around said glove thereby tightly covering said strap when said restraining device is secured into a closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 11 , wherein said strap has elasticity and is capable of stretching between about 25% and about 50% of its un-stretched length. 
     
     
         13 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 11 , wherein said strap has an un-stretched length between about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) and about 3 inches (8 centimeters). 
     
     
         14 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 11 , wherein said restraining device is capable of being secured to itself. 
     
     
         15 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 11 , wherein said restraining device is secured to said glove near said outer-edge. 
     
     
         16 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 11 , wherein said restraining device is secured to said glove near said thumb-edge. 
     
     
         17 . An improved hand protective device for contact sports comprising:
 a front-side panel and a back-side panel secured to each other at a thumb-edge and an outer-edge, said front-side panel having a finger restraint positioned near a finger-edge and opposite of a wrist-edge;   a flap secured to said thumb-edge, said flap carrying a first portion of a two-part closure device, wherein said two-part closure device is positioned near said wrist-edge;   a strap having a first end secured to said hand protective device and a second end carrying a second portion of said two-part closure device, said first end of said strap is secured to said hand protective device at an edge opposite of said flap, said strap removably attachable to said flap when said first portion of said two-part closure has been joined to said second portion of said two-part closure, the configuration of said flap and said strap when attached to one another precludes movement of said flap; and   a restraining device secured to said hand protective device, said restraining device having a length sufficient to wrap around said glove thereby capable of contacting and covering said strap when said strap is attached to said flap.   
     
     
         18 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , further comprising a thumb protector secured to said thumb-edge. 
     
     
         19 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 18 , wherein said thumb protector is integrated with said flap. 
     
     
         20 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said strap has elasticity. 
     
     
         21 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said strap has elasticity and is capable of stretching between about 25% and about 50% of its un-stretched length. 
     
     
         22 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said strap has an un-stretched length between about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) and about 3 inches (8 centimeters). 
     
     
         23 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said strap is substantially inelastic and has a length between about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) and about 4 inches (10 centimeters). 
     
     
         24 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said closure device is a hook and loop closure device. 
     
     
         25 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said restraining device is capable of being secured to itself while covering said strap. 
     
     
         26 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said restraining device is secured to said hand protective device near said outer-edge. 
     
     
         27 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said restraining device is secured to said hand protective device near said thumb-edge. 
     
     
         28 . The improved hand protective device of  claim 17 , wherein said restraining device is sufficiently long-enough to wrap around said hand protective device at least once. 
     
     
         29 . A method of securing a contact sports glove to a hand comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first hand into said contact sports glove;   positioning a flap on a wrist of a first hand using a second hand, said flap being defined by a palm-side panel, wherein said palm-side panel is secured to an edge of said contact sports glove;   grasping a strap using said second hand, said strap having a first end and a free second end, said first end secured to an edge of said contact sports glove opposite of said flap wherein said flap carries a first portion of a two-part closure device and said strap carries a second portion of a two-part closure device;   attaching said second end of said strap to said flap by applying a force to said strap thereby moving said flap and said strap towards one another until said flap is under said strap;   joining said first portion of said two-part closure to said second portion of said two-part closure thereby precluding movement of said flap;   grasping a restraining device using said second hand, said restraining device secured to either of said edges;   wrapping said restraining device around said wrist, thereby contacting said strap with said restraining device; and   securing said restraining device on said contact sports glove along an edge near said wrist.   
     
     
         30 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of said flap and said strap requires movement of said strap and said flap towards one another to join said first and second portions of said two-part closure device. 
     
     
         31 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration of said flap and said strap requires movement of said strap and said flap towards one another to join said first and second portions of said two-part closure device. 
     
     
         32 . The improved contact sports glove of  claim 17 , wherein the configuration of said flap and said strap requires movement of said strap and said flap towards one another to join said first and second portions of said two-part closure device.