It is known to provide gloves having wrist portions that extend at least part of the way up the human forearm. Such gloves are sometimes known as gauntlets.

Such gloves provide enhanced protection to the forearm, and are especially advantageous in cold-weather conditions such as polar exploration and skiing, since they help to prevent cold air, snow and water from entering into the glove in the region of the wrist. However, such gloves can be heavy and irksome to remove and replace frequently, for example when skiing.

It is has now been found that novel glove assemblies can provide the advantages of a gauntlet, whilst substantially avoiding the above-enumerated disadvantages.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved glove assemblies, especially for skiing, that provide improved protection against leakage of snow or water into the glove, while the glove remains easy to remove and put on.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide glove components for construction of glove assemblies according to the invention.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide kits comprising glove components according to the invention for construction of the glove assemblies according to the invention.

The present invention provides a glove assembly comprising: an inner component adapted to fit over a hand or forearm of a user and comprising a rigid cuff; an outer glove comprising an outer hand portion and a wrist portion; and a fastening strap on the wrist portion of the outer glove, whereby the wrist portion of

the outer glove can be fastened tightly around the rigid cuff of the inner component by the fastening strap.

The outer glove comprises a hand portion formed preferably in one piece with the wrist portion. The wrist portion of the outer glove is operatively associated with a strap for releasably securing the glove onto the cuff. The strap may, for example, be a separate component fitted around the glove. Preferably, the strap is secured onto or into the wrist portion of the glove, for example by sewing one end of the strap onto the glove. The strap may be formed integrally with the fabric of the wrist portion, or it may be sewn in. The strap preferably comprises a fastening means for fastening it around the cuff. Preferably, the fastening means comprises thistle cloth or a buckle or a lever-arm snap fastener.

Preferably, the length of the strap is adjustable to enable it to be secured aroud cuffs of different sizes.

The cuff is rigid. That is to say, it is stiffer than the wrist portion of the outer glove, but it may still retain some resiliency or flexibility. Preferably, the rigid cuff comprises a solid, non-textile material such as a molded thermoplastic, a molded elastomer or a metal ring. Preferably, the cuff is formed in one piece from solid plastic or elastomeric material. Preferably, the cuff is resiliently deformable.

Preferably, the cuff is from 2 to 10 cm long and has an average diameter of from 5 to 10 cm. Preferably, the cuff has a substantially oval undeformed cross- section to fit around a wearer's wrist.

The cuff is adapted to provide secure, releasable fastening of a wrist portion of a glove around the cuff. Preferably, the cuff comprises a projecting circumferential rib or lip that retains the strap on the wrist portion of the outer glove for binding the glove onto the cuff. In other preferred embodiments, the cuff may be provided with a zip-fastener or thistle cloth for releasably securing the wrist portion of the glove onto the cuff.

In order to increase the comfort of the resilient cuff, it is preferably lined with a cushioning substance, such as a woven or nonwoven fabric, for example a layer of felt.

In certain preferred embodiments, the inner component is an inner glove for fitting over at least part of the hand of the user. The inner glove is preferably a tightly fitting glove, and may be a fingeriess glove to provide maximum digital mobility when the outer glove is removed. The cuff is located in the wrist region of the inner glove.

In these embodiments, the wearer of the glove assembly also wears a garment with sleeves, such as a jacket. An end of a sleeve is clamped between the rigid cuff of the inner glove and the wrist portion of the outer glove by the fastening strap, thereby forming a water-and snow-tight seal between the sleeve and the glove. The glove assembly remains very easy to remove simply by undoing the fastening strap.

It will be appreciated that an inner glove as hereinbefore defined could be used to convert a range of conventional gloves into glove assemblies according to the present invention by the addition of a fastening strap.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides an inner glove having a rigid cuff for use in an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

The present invention further provides a kit comprising an inner glove according to the present invention and a fastening strap securable around the rigid cuff of the glove. Such kits can be used to adapt conventional gloves into glove assemblies according to the present invention.

In other preferred embodiments, the inner component a detachable glove extension, wherein the detachable glove extension comprises a fabric sleeve for covering a human forearm, and the rigid cuff extends from the lower end of the fabric sleeve.

The fabric sleeve is preferably formed from a woven fabric, preferably a water-resistant or waterproof woven fabric, and more preferably from a water vapour-permeable, water-resistant fabric such as GORE-TEX (Registered Trade Mark). In other preferred embodiments the fabric sleeve is formed from a waterproof sheet material such as Neoprene. The fabric sleeve is preferably tubular, more preferably substantially cylindrical or frusto-conical for fitting over a lower part of the human forearm. Preferably, the fabric sleeve is from 5 to 25 cm long, more preferably from 10 to 15 cm long, with a diameter preferably of 5 to 15 cm.

Preferably, the fabric sleeve is provided with straps for fastening the sleeve around the forearm of the wearer. For example, the straps may be fabric straps having a proximal end sewn on to the fabric sleeve and a distal end provided with a fastener such as a buckle and/or thistle cloth for securing the strap after it has been wound around the forearm.

Preferably, the fabric sleeve is also provided on an inner surface with one or more pieces of non-slip material for preventing the fabric sleeve from sliding down the wearer's forearm. For example, the one or more pieces of non-slip material may comprise one or more bands of elastomeric material such as silicone rubber extending around an inner surface of the fabric sleeve. The pieces of non-slip material are preferably located in the vicinity of the upper end of the fabric sleeve.

The fabric sleeve is secured around a lower end to a rigid cuff as already described. In use, the cuff is located close to the wrist of the wearer and the wrist portion of the outer glove is secured around the cuff as hereinbefore described.

The resulting assembly is effective to keep snow and water out of the glove, but the glove remains easy to remove (while leaving the extension in situ) simply by undoing the fastener around the wrist portion of the outer glove.

It will be appreciated that a glove extension as hereinbefore defined could be used to convert a range of conventional gloves into glove assemblies according to the present invention by the addition of a fastening strap.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides a detachable glove extension comprising a fabric sleeve for covering a human forearm, and a rigid cuff extending from the lower end of the fabric sleeve.

The present invention further provides a kit for the construction of a glove assembly according to the present invention, wherein the kit comprises a detachable glove extension according to the present invention and a separate wrist strap with releasable fastening means for releasably securing the wrist portion of a glove around the cuff. Such kits may be used to convert existing gloves into glove assemblies according to the present invention. The releasable fastening means may preferably comprise thistle cloth or a lever-arm snap fastener.

The glove assemblies according to the present invention may for example comprise a diving glove, a riding glove, a gardening glove or a welding glove.

Preferably, the glove assemblies according to the present invention comprise a ski glove. The glove assemblies of the present invention exhibit both excellent water- and snow-tightness, and also provide easy removal and replacement of the gloves (while optionally leaving the detachable glove extension or the inner glove in situ on the wearer's arm) when the wearer needs to remove the glove for whatever reason.

Furthermore, the glove assemblies according to the present invention can be worn in conjunction with existing garments such as ski jackets without requiring any modification of the garments. Furthermore, the kits according to the present invention can be used to adapt existing gloves into glove assemblies according to the invention.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first outer glove for use in a first glove assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second outer glove for use in a second glove assembly according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view, partially cut away, of an inner glove for use in the first glove assembly according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section view of the first glove assembly according to the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view, partially cut away, of a detachable glove extension for use in the second glove assembly according to the present invention; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the second glove assembly according to the present invention; and Figure 7 shows a partial section through the cuff region of the glove assembly of Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1, the outer glove 1 comprises a hand portion and a wrist portion 2. The wrist portion 2 has attached thereto a circumferential plastic strap 3 that can be tightened and released by means of the lever-arm snap fastener 4.

The length of the strap 3 is adjustable in conventional fashion using ratchet 5 to ensure a tight fit of the strap 3 over an underlying cuff. The hand portion and wrist portion 2 are typically made from waterproof, breathable fabrics suitable for ski wear. For example a polyamide fabric such as ARMORTEX (Registered Trade Mark) and a breathable fabric such as YOUNG TEC (Registered Trade Mark). The outer glove further comprises a textile strap 6 that can be wrapped around the hand portion of the outer glove 1 and secured with thistle cloth 7 or the like fastening means to tighten the outer glove over the user's hand. The outer glove further comprises loops 8 for attachment of the glove to a jacket or the like when the outer glove is not being worn.

Referring to Figure 2, the second outer glove is similar to the outer glove of Figure 1, except that the fastening band 10 is stitched into the wrist portion of the

outer glove. The strap 10 is secured using a lever arm snap fastener 11 in similar fashion to the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 3, the inner glove 13 comprises a hand portion 14 that is fingerless to provide for maximum mobility of the wearer's fingers when the outer glove is removed. The inner glove 13 is made from close-fitting, soft textile fabric.

Received in a textile pocket that is sewn into the wrist 15 of the inner glove is a rigid elastomeric cuff 16 having circumferential lips 17 on either end thereof to retain a strap placed therearound. The cuff 16 is formed of solid polyurethane elastomer having an oval cross-section of dimensions approximately 8 cm x 10 cm, length approximately 5 cm and thickness approximately 0.5 cm. A binding strap 18 extends around the hand portion of the inner glove and is secured by thistle cloth 19 or other fastening means.

Referring to Figure 4, the assembly according to the first example of the invention is shown in use together with the lower arm and hand of the wearer. The assembly comprises the inner glove 13, with the wrist portion 2 of the outer glove 1 securely clamped over the rigid cuff 16 of the inner glove by the strap 3. The sleeve 20 of the wearer's jacket is clamped between the inner and outer gloves, over the cuff 16, thereby ensuring a water-and snow-tight covering over the whole arm and hand of the wearer. The outer glove 1 nevertheless remains easy to remove simply by releasing the snap fastener on the strap 3 and pulling off the outer glove 1.

It can be seen that the projecting circumferential lips 17 of the resilient cuff 16 prevents removal of the outer glove and retain the sleeve clamped between the inner and outer gloves without slippage until the strap 3 has been loosened by opening the lever-arm snap fastener 4.

Referring to Figure 5, the detachable glove extension 24 comprises a fabric sleeve 25 of GORE-TEX (Registered Trade Mark) fabric having a diameter of approximately 10 cm for forming a loose fit over a forearm. The fabric sleeve 25 is bonded around its lower end by melt-bonding or stitching to a solid cuff 26 of

polyurethane elastomer having an oval cross-section of dimensions approximately 8 cm x 10 cm, length approximately 5 cm and thickness approximately 0.5 cm. A projecting lip 27 extends around the lower end of the elastomeric cuff 26 for retaining a strap in use.

A layer of felt 28 is provided on the inside of the elastomeric cuff for cushioning the wrist of the wearer.

Straps 29,30 are provided on the fabric sleeve for binding the fabric sleeve around the wearer's forearm. The straps are sewn onto the fabric sleeve, and are secured by fastening with buckles and thistle cloth.

Circumferential strips of ribbed silicone rubber 31 are provided around the inside of the fabric sleeve adjacent to the top end of the fabric sleeve to reduce the tendency of the fabric sleeve to slide down the wearer's arm in use.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the glove assembly according to the second example of the present invention comprises an outer glove as shown in Figure 2 releasably secured to a detachable glove extension as shown in Figure 5.

The strap 10 and fastener 11 clamp the wrist portion of the outer glove around the resilient cuff 26 on the glove extension. The lever-arm snap fastener 11 provides for rapid detachment of the outer glove from the glove extension 24, whereby the outer glove can easily be removed without the wearer having to remove the glove extension 24.

The additional circumferential strap 12 is secured with thistle cloth for further releasable securement of the outer glove around the wearer's wrist.

Figure 7 shows the engagement of the strap 10 on the resilient cuff 26 of the glove extension 24 when the lever-arm snap fastener 11 is in the closed position.

It can be seen that the projecting lip 27 of the resilient cuff 24 prevents removal of

the outer glove until the strap 10 has been loosened by opening the lever-arm snap fastener 11.

The above embodiments have been described by way of example only.

Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the accompanying claims will be apparent to the skilled reader.