Molded finger covers

Abstract

A molded finger cover and method for fabricating a finger cover designed to improve user tactility and dexterity when worn on its own or included as part of a glove. The bottom portion of the finger cover can be molded using either a heated male and non-heated female mold or a heated male and heated female mold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A finger cover comprising:
 a top portion;   a bottom portion made of a moldable material; and   a seam joining the top and bottom portions; wherein
 the top portion is configured to cover the length of the dorsal surface of a finger; 
 the bottom portion is configured to cover the length of the volar surface of the finger, and 
 further wherein the bottom portion is configured to extend up the perimeter of the finger of to a point approximately perpendicular with the dorsal surface of the finger and the fingernail at the distal portion of the finger. 
   
     
     
         2 . The finger cover of  claim 1  wherein the bottom portion further comprises:
 an inner layer molded with an outer layer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The finger cover of  claim 2  wherein
 the inner layer comprises cut-resistant knit fabric; and 
 the outer layer comprises leather or synthetic leather. 
 
     
     
         4 . The finger cover of  claim 3  wherein
 the inner surface of the bottom portion is defined as the surface configured to face the volar surface of the finger; 
 the outer surface of the bottom portion is defined as the surface configured to face away from the volar surface of the finger; and 
 wherein the outer surface of the bottom portion has crease points located along the length of the bottom portion in locations corresponding to the joints of the finger. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method of fabricating a finger cover comprising the steps of:
 providing a top portion adapted to cover the length of the dorsal surface of a finger;   providing a bottom portion made of a moldable material configured to cover the length of the volar surface of the finger of a person wearing the glove, and   further wherein the bottom portion is configured to extend up the perimeter of the finger to a point approximately perpendicular with the dorsal surface of the finger and the fingernail at the distal portion of the finger,   joining the top portion and bottom portion at a seam such that the bottom portion extends up the perimeter of the finger to a point approximately perpendicular with the dorsal surface of the finger and the fingernail at the distal portion of the finger.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 forming the bottom portion by carrying out the following steps: 
 providing a piece of glove material; 
 providing a male mold shaped so that the glove material can be molded into the shape of a bottom portion of a finger cover; 
 providing a female mold shaped to surround the sides of the male mold with a first spacing between the male and female molds; 
 placing the piece of glove material over the male mold; 
 placing the female mold over the piece of glove material to create a piece of molded glove material, with a portion of the piece of glove material not in contact with the male mold extending from a periphery of the male mold comprising a piece of unmolded glove material; 
 removing the female mold after a predetermined amount of time; 
 removing the molded piece of glove material from the male mold; and 
 cutting off one end of the piece of molded glove material and trimming the piece of unmolded glove material in its entirety from the piece of glove material, with the remaining piece of molded glove material forming a bottom portion of glove material with an opening adapted for insertion by a finger. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the male mold is heated to a first temperature. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein
 the female mold is heated to a second temperature. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein
 the female mold further includes a cover surrounding the top of the male mold with a second spacing between the male and female molds. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein
 the first spacing equals the second spacing. 
 
     
     
         11 . A glove comprising:
 a glove palm;   a glove back;   said glove palm joined to the glove back to form the glove, said glove having fingers,   wherein at least one of the fingers comprises
 a top portion; 
 a bottom portion made of a moldable material; 
 a seam joining the top and bottom portions; wherein 
 the top portion is configured to cover the length of the dorsal surface of a finger; 
 the bottom portion is configured to cover the length of the volar surface of the finger, and 
 further wherein the bottom portion is configured to extend up the perimeter of the finger of to a point approximately perpendicular with the dorsal surface of the finger and the fingernail at the distal portion of the finger. 
   
     
     
         12 . A method of fabricating a glove comprising the steps of:
 providing a glove palm;   providing a glove back;   joining the glove palm to the glove back to form the glove, the glove having fingers, wherein at least one of the fingers is fabricated by the following steps:   providing a top portion adapted to cover the length of the dorsal surface of a finger;   providing a bottom portion made of a moldable material configured to cover the length of the volar surface of the finger of a person wearing the glove, and   further wherein the bottom portion is configured to extend up the perimeter of the finger to a point approximately perpendicular with the dorsal surface of the finger and the fingernail at the distal portion of the finger.