Ambidextrous, anti-vibration glove with impact and pinch point protection

Abstract

A glove for protecting a hand is provided including a flat, first side having a hand-shaped outer perimeter having a palm portion and finger portions, and a flat second side having the hand shaped outer perimeter having a palm portion and finger portions. The second side is a mirror image of the first side. Protuberances are disposed in a pattern on each of the first side and the second side of the glove where the patterns are mirror images of one another. The glove may be used on either a left hand or a right hand of a user. When in use, the protuberances on the one side provide impact protection to the back of the user's hand, and the protuberances on the other side provide vibration damping.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glove for protecting a hand of user, the hand having a palm, fingers, each of the palm and fingers having plural crease lines, the glove comprising:
 (a) a flat, first side having a hand-shaped outer perimeter having a palm portion and finger portions;   (b) a flat second side having the hand shaped outer perimeter having a palm portion and finger portions, the second side being a mirror image of the first side; and   (c) a plurality of protuberances disposed in a pattern on each of the first side and the second side of the glove, the pattern of protuberances on the first side of the glove being a mirror image of the pattern of protuberances on the second side of the glove;   whereby the glove may be used on either a left hand or a right hand of a user and whereby, when in use, the protuberances on one of said first side and said second side provide impact protection to the back of the user's hand, and the protuberances on the other of said first side and said second side provide vibration damping.   
     
     
         2 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , wherein the glove is knitted and seamless. 
     
     
         3 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , the wherein the finger portions of each of the first side and the second side terminate at tips, wherein at least some of the plurality of protuberances on each of the first side and the second side are located adjacent to the tips to provide fingertip vibration reduction and impact protection. 
     
     
         4 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , wherein the finger portions of each of the first side and the second side have knuckle portions, wherein at least some of the plurality of protuberances on each of the first side and the second side are located adjacent to the knuckle to provide knuckle vibration reduction and impact protection. 
     
     
         5 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , wherein the finger portions of each of the first and second side terminate at tips wherein at least some of the protuberances on each of the first and second side are located adjacent to the tips to provide fingertip pinch protection. 
     
     
         6 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , wherein the glove is manufactured with a cut resistant yarn. 
     
     
         7 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , wherein the glove is manufactured with a flame resistant yarn. 
     
     
         8 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , wherein the protuberances are a foamed synthetic material. 
     
     
         9 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 8 , wherein the foamed synthetic material is foamed silicon. 
     
     
         10 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 9 , wherein the foamed silicon is flame and heat resistant. 
     
     
         11 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 8 , wherein the foamed synthetic material is applied to the glove in a flowable state, whereupon some of the foamed synthetic material engages the yarn and is bonded to the yarn. 
     
     
         12 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 1 , wherein the protuberances on each of the first side and the second side are arranged in a pattern defining flexure lines between immediately adjacent protuberances, said flexure lines positioned on each of the first and second sides at approximately where the palm and finger crease lines of the user are located. 
     
     
         13 . A glove for protecting a hand of user, the hand having a palm, fingers, each of the palm and fingers having plural crease lines, the glove comprising:
 (a) a flat, first side having a hand-shaped outer perimeter, and having a palm portion and finger portions;   (b) a flat second side having the hand shaped outer perimeter, and having a palm portion and finger portions, the second side being a mirror image of the first side;   (c) a plurality of protuberances disposed in a pattern on each of the first side and the second side of the glove, the pattern of protuberances on the first side of the glove being a mirror image of the pattern of protuberances on the second side of the glove;   (d) wherein the finger portions of each of the first side and the second side terminate at tips, wherein at least some of the plurality of protuberances on each of the first side and the second side are located adjacent to the tips to provide fingertip vibration reduction, impact protection, and pinch point protection;   (e) wherein the glove is knitted from cut resistant yarn; and   (f) wherein the protuberances are a foamed synthetic material;   whereby the glove may be used on either a left hand or a right hand of a user and whereby, when in use, the protuberances on one of said first side and said second provide impact protection to the back of the user's hand, and the protuberances on the other of said first side and said second side provide vibration damping.   
     
     
         14 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 13 , wherein the finger portions of each of the first side and the second side have knuckle portions, wherein at least some of the plurality of protuberances on each of the first side and the second side are located adjacent to the knuckle portions to provide knuckle vibration reduction and impact protection and pinch point protection. 
     
     
         15 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 13 , wherein the foamed synthetic material is foamed silicon. 
     
     
         16 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 15 , wherein the foamed silicon is flame and heat resistant. 
     
     
         17 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 13 , wherein the foamed synthetic material is applied to the glove in a flowable state, whereupon some of the foamed synthetic material engages the yarn and is bonded to the yarn. 
     
     
         18 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 13 , wherein the protuberances on each of the first side and the second side are arranged in a pattern defining flexure lines between immediately adjacent protuberances, said flexure lines positioned on each of the first and second sides at approximately where the palm and finger crease lines of the user are located. 
     
     
         19 . The glove for protecting a hand of  claim 13 , wherein the glove is knitted from flame resistant yarn.