DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

[001] The present invention relates to ergonomic gloves for computer gamers and especially to ergonomic gloves for supporting a hand, a wrist and a forearm.

Background of the invention

[002] The prior art discloses various ergonomic gloves. US patent publication No. US10,l 11,476 (US patent application publication No. US2013/283497) discloses an ergonomic glove, fingered or fingerless, is provided for use with devices that require gripping such as ski poles, dumbbells, and bicycle handlebars. The glove shape is of a sports-fitted glove with built-up areas on the thumb, fingers, and palm, whereby when the wearer grips an item, the thumb is supported, and the hand and wrist are in a neutral position generally aligned with the forearm. A thumb retainer is provided to position and support the thumb while bent. The glove is also provided with a padded insert of two different constructions, both having three portions, which insert acts to restrict the contraction of the successive fingers at a gradual rate. The insert causes the knuckles to be in linear alignment.

[003] Another US patent publication No. US6,098,200 discloses a padded glove providing improved protection and positioning of the hand of a wearer by anatomically cushioning the pathways of the Ulnar and Median nerves, providing an increased thickness of padding in the cushion positioned over the Ulnar and Median nerves, changing the hand position while bicycle riding to decrease the stretch on the nerves, and cushioning the medial aspect on the hand for road-type handlebars is disclosed.

[004] International application publication No W02006/047642 discloses another glove comprising a relatively resilient body for snug fit reception of a user's hand. The body includes a first opening on a first side for receiving the user's hand, a second opening branching from a second side of the body for receiving the user's thumb, and a plurality of third openings oriented multidirectionally. Each of the third openings receives at least one finger of the user, and at least one of the third openings has a size and shape suitable for receiving and supporting at least two of the user's fingers generally simultaneously upon engagement of the glove with the user's hand. A contoured, resilient pad is mounted in a base portion of the body corresponding to and for engaging the palm of the user's hand. The pad has, along one face, at least one lobed portion and being molded so as to generally fit the contour of the palm, the opposite face being relatively flat for engaging an interior portion of the base portion.

[005] The aforementioned prior art samples are not specifically designed for use with a computer mouse, especially for use with a computer mouse when the user is engaged into computer games. The computer games may be played for many hours in a row or in a day. It puts a lot of stress on a gamer’s hand. Hence it is necessary to design a glove that is easy to wear, it is comfortable and it reduces the stress on the hands while playing computer games and using the computer mouse.

Summary of the invention

[006] The aim is reached by a design of an ergonomic glove comprising a palmar side part, a dorsal side part interconnected to each other, a palm support pad attached to the palmar side part, a grip pad attached to the palmar side part, a holding strip attached to the palmar side part, and a finger strap attached to the dorsal side part. The ergonomic glove is a fingerless glove so that no part of the ergonomic glove covers the fingers of the user. The ergonomic glove does not even cover proximal phalanges of the hand as some prior art ergonomic gloves does. This feature provide extended freedom of movement of the fingers, but in the same time provide stability and necessary ergonomic position of the hand on the computer mouse due to the twisted construction glove body, the palm support pad and the grip pad.

[007] The palmar side part and the dorsal side part are interconnected to each other so that a section of the palmar side part extends to the dorsal side part or to the dorsal side of the user’s hand and a section of the dorsal side part extends to the palmar side part or to the palmar side of the user’s hand forming twisted construction glove body. This twisted construction design allows adjustment to the form of the hand and positions additional glove elements, like the palm supports pad and the grip pad, correctly according to the surface it is put on, like a desk, mouse pad, and other surfaces. The palmar side part and the dorsal side part are interconnected by sewing making seams on each side of the glove body. As the glove body is the twisted construction design then one seam connecting the palmar side part and the dorsal side part is on a palmar side of the glove body, but another seam connecting the palmar side part and the dorsal side part is on a dorsal side of the glove body. The glove body has a first opening for receiving a user’s hand, a second opening for receiving a user’s thumb, and third openings for receiving four user’ s fingers, which are index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger. Moreover, the glove body extends over the wrist of the user’s hand.

[008] The palmar side part and the dorsal side part are made of fabric comprising nylon, polyamide, polyester, elastane and LYCRA®. This material is flexible material allowing it to adjust to the form of the user’s hand. This fabric is known to provide breathable, odour and sweat-free, moisture-resistant properties to provide comfort when worn for long hours. Also, the material is super soft for a peach-skin touch that provides additional comfort.

[009] The glove is a fingerless glove. The fabric of the palmar side part and the dorsal side part is cut off from all five fingers to provide extra freedom of movement for fingers and better grip with the computer mouse.

[010] The palm support pad is attached to the palmar side part so that the palm support pad is faced against palm bones and tissue/muscles located on both sides of tendons or carpal tunnel of the receivable user’s hand. The palm support pad, when in use, lifts up the arm and provide ergonomically correct position of the user’s wrist. The palm support pad comprises two cushions made of natural stitched batting. Each cushion is positioned within the support pad so that each cushion is located on each side of tendon or carpal tunnel of the receivable user’s hand. The palm support pad comprises a cover that covers both cushions so that only a cover of the palm support pad contacts a computer mouse when in use. The palm support pad generally consists of two cushions enclosed by the cover. The cover is polished so that the glove can slide well over a mouse pad when in use. For example, the cover may be made of polished leather or any other material know to the skilled person that is polishable or has a low coefficient of friction. Moreover, the palm support pad has a convex shape so that the palm support pad may extend around the body of the computer mouse when the ergonomic glove is in the use. This convex shape provide additional stability for the user’s hand when operating the computer mouse. [Oi l] The grip pad is attached to the palmar side part and located in an area where a palm of the user’s hand touches the computer mouse, when in use. The grip pad is made of breathable material such as textile fabric. The grip pad comprises printed silicone texture for better grip of the glove with a computer mouse, when in use.

[012] The holding strip is attached to the palmar side part and to the palm support pad for additional holding of the palm support pad when the glove is moved along the computer mouse. The holding strip is located on the palmar side part that faces the user’s hand, when the hand is inserted into the glove. This location of the holding strip provides firm hold of the palm support pad through the palmar side part.

[013] The finger strap is attached to the dorsal side part near the third opening of the glove body. Typically, the glove will comprise two finger straps located near the middle finger and the ring finger. The finger straps are for easy removal of the glove.

[014] In addition, the glove comprises textile straps that are sewn between the palmar side part and the dorsal side part in the area between the third openings. These textile straps distance the index finger from the middle finger, the middle finger from the ring finger, and the ring finger from the little finger. This helps the glove to keep its position and to provide freedom of movement for the fingers at the same time.

[015] The ergonomic glove further comprises a reinforcement belt attached to the dorsal side part and the finger strap so to reinforce the holding of the finger strap to the glove.

Brief description of the drawings

[016] The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments of the invention.

[017] Fig. 1 is a top view on a palmar side of a glove for a left hand.

[018] Fig. 2 is a top view of a dorsal side of the glove for the left hand.

[019] Fig. 3 is a side view of the glove as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. [020] Fig. 4 is a side view from another side of the glove as seen in Figs. 1 to 3.

[021] Fig. 5 is a top view on a palmar side of a glove with a computer mouse (50) to illustrate how a palm support pad (10) and a grip pad (20) are positioned on the computer mouse (50).

[022] Fig. 6 is a layout of a palmar side part (1) and a dorsal side part (2) before these parts (1; 2) are interconnected to each other to form a glove body (3) as it is seen in Figs. 1 to 5.

[023] Fig. 7 is a top view on a palmar side of a glove for a left hand as another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments

[024] Preferred embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the figures to illustrate objectives, advantages, and efficiency of the present invention.

[025] Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate an ergonomic glove for a left hand of a user. The same ergonomic glove with all its features can be made also for a right hand of a user. The ergonomic glove comprises a palmar side part (1) and a dorsal side part (2). The palmar side part (1) and the dorsal side part (2) are interconnected to each other so that a section of the palmar side part (1) extends to the dorsal side part (2) and a section of the dorsal side part (2) extends to the palmar side part (1) creating twisted construction glove body (3). The palmar side part (1) and the dorsal side part (2) are sewn together creating two seams - a palmar side seam (23) and a dorsal side seam (22). The twisted construction glove body (3) is such that the palmar side seam (23) connecting the palmar side part (1) and the dorsal side part (2) is positioned on the palmar side, and the dorsal side seam (22) connecting the dorsal side part (2) and the palmar side part (1) is positioned on the dorsal side. This connection of both parts (1; 2) forms said glove body (3). The glove body (3) has a first opening (4) for receiving a user’s hand (A), a second opening (5) for receiving a user’s thumb (T) and third openings (6) for receiving four user’s fingers (F). Moreover, the glove body (3) extended in the direction of the user’s hand so that it extends partly or fully over the wrist (W) of the user’s hand (A). The palmar side part (1) and the dorsal side part (2) are made of knitted and crocheted fabric so that both parts (1; 2) are breathable. One example of this fabric is a fabric comprising Polyamide and LYCRA®. [026] As seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 the ergonomic glove comprises a palm support pad (10) attached to the palmar side part (1) so that the palm support pad (10) is faced against palm bones and tissue/muscles located on both sides of tendons or carpal tunnel of the receivable user’s hand (A). The palm support pad (10) comprises two cushions (11; 12) made of natural stitched batting. Each cushion (11; 12) is positioned within the support pad (10) so that each cushion (11; 12) is located on each side of tendon or carpal tunnel of the receivable user’s hand (A). The palm support pad (10) comprises a cover (13) that covers both cushions (11; 12) so that only a cover (13) of the palm support pad (10) contacts a computer mouse (50) when in use. In this embodiment the cover (13) is made of leather and the leather is polished so that the cover (13) can slide well over a mouse pad when in use. The palm support pad (10) has a convex shape so that the palm support pad (10) extends around the body of the computer mouse (50) when the ergonomic glove is in the use. The position (10A) of the palm support pad (10) near and around the body of the computer mouse (50) is shown in Fig. 5.

[027] As seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 the ergonomic glove comprises a grip pad (20) attached to the palmar side part (1) and located in an area where a palm of the user’s hand (A) touches the computer mouse (50) when in use. The grip pad (20) comprises a printed silicone texture (21) to provide better grip of the glove with the computer mouse. In present example the grip pad (20) is made of textile fabric. The position (20A) of the grip pad (20) on the body of the computer mouse (50) is shown in Fig. 5. Partly the grip pad (20) also supports the user’s hand (A) on the surface of a table or a mouse pad near the computer mouse (50).

[028] As seen in Fig. 2 and 3 the ergonomic glove comprises two finger straps (7) attached to the dorsal side part (2) near the third openings (6) of the glove body (3).

[029] Fig. 6 illustrates a layout of a palmar side part (1) and a dorsal side part (2) before these parts (1; 2) are interconnected to each other to form a glove body (3) as it is seen in Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 6 also illustrates other members of the ergonomic glove before these members are sewn or put together. In contrast to previous figures, the Fig. 6 illustrates a layout for the ergonomic glove for the left hand of the user. The layout for the left hand will be almost the same and only differ in features that has to be adjusted for the left hand of the user. The ergonomic glove comprises a palmar side part (1) and a dorsal side part (2). The palm support pad (10) as seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 comprises two cushions (11; 12) and a cover (13) as seen in Fig. 6. For ease of understanding a placement position (HP) of one cushion (11), a placement position (12P) of another cushion (12), as well as a placement position (13P) of the cover (13) are indicated on the palmar side part (1). Fig. 6 also illustrates a grip pad (20) and a placement position (20P) of the grip pad (20) on the palmar side part (1). In the same manner, the holding strip (30) is shown with a placement position (30P) of the holding strip (30) on the palmar side part (1). The holding strip (30) is positioned on opposite side of the palmar side part (1) in relation to the palm support pad (10) so that the holding strip (30) holds the palm support pad (10) through the palmar side part (1). The glove also comprises a finger strap (7) as a separate member to be attached to the dorsal side part (2). The glove further comprises a reinforcement belt (27) that is attached to the dorsal side part (2) and the finger strap (7) so to reinforce the holding of the finger strap (7) to the glove. The finger strap (7) is used for pulling the glove off the user’s hand after the use and is subject to the pull force. The reinforcement belt (27) reinforces the connection between the dorsal side part (2) and the finger strap (7) so that the finger strap (7) is not teared off.

[030] Fig. 7 illustrates a glove for a left hand as another embodiment of the invention. It has all the technical features of the glove for the left hand as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, only the grip pad (20) comprises a printed silicon texture (21) with a slightly different design just to illustrate that various designs of the printed silicon texture (21) is possible within the scope of the invention.

[031] While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments of which have been shown by way of example in the figures and have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.