Protective sports glove

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a protective sports glove having a novel combination of liner sections, breathable mesh sections, stretch joints, and shock absorbing cushions to provide maximum protection to the user's fingers, hands, wrists, and lower forearms while maintaining as much flexibility within the glove and tactile feel on both palmar and dorsal sides of the glove as possible. The pattern and construction employs strategically-placed stretch zones, strategic padding placement, and a variety of improved padding constructions all for more flex without compromising protection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective sports glove, comprising;
 a hand portion for covering a user's hand inclusive of fingers, thumb and carpometacarpal joints and configured to extend down approximately to a wrist crease of said user's hand, said hand portion including a palmar side, a dorsal side, a little finger receiving portion, ring finger receiving portion, middle finger receiving portion, index finger receiving portion, and thumb receiving portion, said hand portion comprising a fabric liner;   a lower wrist portion configured to extend down from said user's wrist crease, said lower wrist portion comprising a protective pad attached to said hand portion;   a cuff portion below said protective pad and configured to partially encircle a lower wrist of said user's hand;   a pliable comfort pad occupying an interior of and extending below said hand portion, wherein said cuff portion is attached to said comfort pad;   a plurality of shock absorbing cushions attached to said hand portion, wherein at least one of said shock absorbing cushions is a single knuckle pad configured to cover all of the knuckles of said user's little, ring, middle and index fingers.   
     
     
         2 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said knuckle pad has a top edge adjacent to a base of each of said little finger receiving portion, ring finger receiving portion, middle finger receiving portion, and index finger receiving portion, and a bottom edge roughly parallel to said top edge, wherein said top and bottom edges are joined by inner and outer edges configured to be located at inner and outer edges, respectively, of said dorsal side of said hand portion, and wherein said top and bottom edges are farthest apart towards said inner edge. 
     
     
         3 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 2 , wherein said knuckle pad is attached to said hand portion only at said inner and outer edges. 
     
     
         4 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 2 , wherein said knuckle pad is attached to said hand portion only at said inner edge, said outer edge, and said top edge. 
     
     
         5 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 2 , wherein said knuckle pad is attached to said hand portion along said inner, outer, top and bottom edges. 
     
     
         6 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 3 , wherein the remainder of said knuckle pad other than said inner and outer edges is encapsulated in a fabric pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said knuckle pad is fully encapsulated in a fabric pocket, and wherein said fabric pocket is attached to said hand portion. 
     
     
         8 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 2 , wherein said top edge of said knuckle pad comprises one or more tabs corresponding in location to at least one of said little finger receiving portion, ring finger receiving portion, middle finger receiving portion, or index finger receiving portion, and wherein said one or more tabs is configured to be received underneath one or more shock absorbing cushions on at least one of said little finger receiving portion, ring finger receiving portion, middle finger receiving portion, or index finger receiving portion. 
     
     
         9 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 8 , wherein said knuckle pad is attached to said hand portion at said inner and outer edges. 
     
     
         10 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 8 , wherein said knuckle pad is additionally attached to said hand portion along all or part of said bottom edge. 
     
     
         11 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said knuckle pad comprises a dual-durometer molded foam block. 
     
     
         12 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said knuckle pad comprises a unitary molded concave shape surrounded by a peripheral flange that is sewn to said liner fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said fabric liner underlying said knuckle pad comprises an opening. 
     
     
         14 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of shock absorbing cushions includes:
 a first foam block covered by a first fabric section, said first fabric section being sewn along three contiguous margins to said liner to encapsulate said first foam block there between, and said first fabric section including a fourth unsewn marginal tab; and   a second foam block covered by a second fabric section, said second fabric section being sewn along three contiguous margins to said liner to encapsulate said second foam block there between, and said second, fabric section including a fourth unsewn marginal tab;   the marginal tab of said first fabric section being longer than the marginal tab of the second fabric section and tucked therebeneath.   
     
     
         15 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of shock absorbing cushions includes a wart pad on said index finger receiving portion configured to cover approximately a third phalange of said user's hand, sewn peripherally to one of said fabric liner, said palmar side or a gusset. 
     
     
         16 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said cuff portion comprises a wrist cushion partially surrounding the dorsal side of said hand portion and an adjustable collar extending below the hand receiving portion, said collar comprising mating hook-and-loop pads. 
     
     
         17 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said thumb receiving portion is attached to said hand receiving portion by a section of stretch material. 
     
     
         18 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of shock absorbing cushions includes:
 a first section of thin-gauge foam;   a second section of thin-gauge foam overlying said first section of thin-gauge foam;   a third second section of polymer sheet overlying said second section of thin-gauge foam: and   a fabric material at least partially encapsulating said first section, second section, and third section in a sandwich configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower wrist portion is attached to said hand portion on said dorsal side by stitching a first gusset comprising a strip of stretch material. 
     
     
         20 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower wrist portion is attached to said hand portion on said dorsal side by stitching. 
     
     
         21 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said cuff portion is attached to said comfort pad via a second gusset comprising a strip of stretch material. 
     
     
         22 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 16 , wherein said cuff portion is attached to said comfort pad by stitching said cuff portion directly into a distal end of said comfort pad. 
     
     
         23 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 16 , wherein said cuff portion further comprises a cuff storage slot, said cuff storage slot comprising a section of material affixed to an interior or exterior portion of said cuff portion along at least one side of said section of material. 
     
     
         24 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said comfort pad further comprises a heat or cool pack retention means. 
     
     
         25 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 24 , wherein said heat or cool pack retention means is selected from the group consisting of: fabric pocket, strap, clip, hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         26 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of shock absorbing cushions includes a foam pad sewn to said fabric liner and configured to extend along the outside of the metacarpal bone for the user's pinky finger. 
     
     
         27 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 26 , wherein said foam pad configured to extend along the outside of the metacarpal bone for the user's pinky finger further comprises one or more through holes therein capable of allowing air to pass into the interior of said sports glove. 
     
     
         28 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 1 , wherein said comfort pad is attached to an interior portion of said hand receiving portion. 
     
     
         29 . A protective sports glove, comprising:
 a hand portion for covering a user's hand inclusive of fingers, thumb and carpometacarpal joints and extending down approximately to a wrist crease of said user's hand, said hand portion including a palmar side, a dorsal side, a little finger receiving portion, ring finger receiving portion, middle finger receiving portion, index finger receiving portion, and thumb receiving portion, said hand portion also including a fabric liner;   a lower wrist portion attached to said hand portion and extending down from said wrist crease;   a cuff portion partially encircling the lower wrist portion; and   a plurality of shock absorbing cushions attached to said hand portion;   wherein said lower wrist portion comprises at least first and second distinct shock absorbing wrist cushions, and wherein at least said second wrist cushion is attached to said hand portion by one or more flexible legs.   
     
     
         30 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 29 , wherein said second wrist cushion is sized to fit into a concave recess at a distal edge of said first wrist cushion, wherein said distal edge of said first wrist cushion is the edge of said second wrist cushion farthest from said hand portion. 
     
     
         31 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 29 , wherein said legs are attached to an interior portion of said glove at a junction of said hand portion and said wrist portion. 
     
     
         32 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 29 , wherein said legs are attached to an exterior portion of said glove at a junction of said hand portion and said wrist portion. 
     
     
         33 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 29 , wherein said legs are attached to an interior portion of said cuff portion. 
     
     
         34 . The protective sports glove according to  claim 29 , wherein said legs are attached to an exterior portion of said cuff portion.