An athletic glove having an inner glove with one or more protective members is discussed. Protective members may include metacarpal support members attached to the dorsal side of the inner glove configured to protect at least a portion of a metacarpal bone of the human hand; volar and dorsal metacarpal support member attached to the volar and dorsal sides of the inner glove, respectively, and configured to protect at least a portion of a carpometacarpal joint, a metacarpal bone, a metacarpal joint, and a proximal phalanx of a thumb of the human hand; and volar and dorsal distal phalange support members attached to the volar and dorsal sides, respectively, of the inner glove and configured to protect at least a portion of a distal phalanx of the thumb of the human hand. Optionally, the inner glove may include a protective strap.

An article of protective apparel can include a first outer shell having a vacuum-formed first material. The first outer shell can include a first cavity, a second cavity, and a channel disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity. The protective apparel can include a first padding piece disposed in the first cavity, a second padding piece disposed in the second cavity, and a first inner layer attached to the first outer shell. the first padding piece and the second padding piece can be disposed between the first outer shell and the first inner layer.

Disclosed are body impact protection systems. The body impact protection system may comprise at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network. Another embodiment may be directed to a protection system comprising at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network overlapping and adjacent to at least one liner or gel. Further embodiments may comprise the combination of multiple body impact protection systems in a single protective garment or device. Impact protection systems may be designed to protect various body features, such as for example, the head, shoulders, elbows, arms, wrists, hands, chest, torso, thighs, knees, shins, ankles, feet, and the like. The inventive body impact protection system affords more protection from the force of an impact and comfort than conventional body impact protection systems.

A lightweight ball glove is disclosed. The lightweight ball glove includes a back portion having a plurality of lightweight layers and a shock cord tension system between the plurality of lightweight layers. The lightweight ball glove also includes a palm portion having a plurality of lightweight layers. The outer edge of the palm portion is fixedly coupled with the outer edge of the back portion to form a lightweight glove. A web portion having a monofilament mesh is fixedly coupled between a thumb and a pointer finger of the lightweight glove. A surrounding frame made of the plurality of lightweight layers is fixedly coupled with a side and bottom portion of the monofilament mesh and a bridge is fixedly coupled with the top. Cordage is used for lacing together a top portion of each finger with an adjacent finger and the bridge to form the lightweight ball glove.

A sports glove such as those for hockey, lacrosse, cricket, baseball and the like is formed as a palm and a separate back with a continuous peripheral closure for attachment of the two parts. The fingers inside the finger stalls are protected from contact with the closure material which is typically a metallic or plastic zipper, wherein carefully proportioned padding inside the finger stalls insulates each finger side and distal end from contact with the closure thus offering adequate protection. Furthermore, a pivotable inside wrist cuff flap is provided which creates a smooth transition of inside glove liner material protecting the palm and inside wrist from contact with hook and loop closure materials in the area as the hand is inserted into the glove.

The elasticized cushioned thermal glove provides heating, cooling, and compression modalities. The constant fluidity of the gel disposed in the gel bladders substantially throughout the glove palm side is in constant fluidity when heated and cooled. The gel is pre-heated via a power module, heatable when in use, and also pre-cooled prior to use. The glove is also provided as a compression glove to alleviate pain, swelling, and to provide for support for those in need. As the glove provides these heating and cooling advantages, fingers can be left in an open state to enhance dexterity as opposed to full-fingered gloves.

A glove has a top panel and a bottom panel that together form a main glove body. Fingers, including an index finger and other fingers, extend from the main glove body, each of the fingers having a top side and a bottom side corresponding with the top panel and bottom panels of the main glove body. A thumb extends from the main glove body. A region, at a juncture of the index finger and the main glove body on or adjacent the top panel and/or the thumb, has an insulating pad covering a portion of the region.

A pad device for protecting a hypothenar eminence region of a user's hand during a swing of a ball bat includes a digital portion having an opening configured to receive at least one of a user's fingers, and a hypothenar portion generally configured to coextend with the hypothenar eminence region of the user's hand. The pad device may include a viscoelastic material or a rate-dependent damping material. In other embodiments, a sports glove includes a glove base and a moldable hypothenar layer coupled to the glove base and positioned to generally coextend with a hypothenar eminence region of a user's hand. The moldable hypothenar layer may include an at least partially rigid moldable material configured to be molded into a form of at least one of the hypothenar eminence region of the user's hand or an end portion of a ball bat. The moldable material may include moldable thermoplastic.

A protective glove includes one or more fabrics coupled together into a form of a hand, with the form having a palm side and a dorsal side opposite the palm side, and protective structures disposed on the dorsal side. The protective structures include a first protective structure on the dorsal side arranged to protect at least a portion of an index finger metacarpal bone, a second protective structure on the dorsal side arranged to protect at least a portion of a thumb metacarpal bone, and a third protective structure arranged between the first protective structure and the second protective structure. The second protective structure is separate from the first protective structure, and the third protective structure is separate from the first and second protective structures. The third protective structure includes at least three protrusions spaced apart from each other.