A batting pad comprising a body made from a cushioning material and having a ring portion adapted to fit over a batter's thumb and an appendage to cushion the palm area between a batter's thumb and index finger. The appendage has a thickness T at its thickest point located between the first end and the distant end, and the thickness T of the appendage is selected to optimize an angle of a bat in the batter's hand relative to a line parallel to the batter's forearm, the angle being determined by the thickness T of the appendage displacing the bat toward the tip of the batter's index finger and causing the bat to contact the palm of the batter's hand near the batter's little finger.

A glove has a protective member in the thumb-crotch region and includes a textured outer surface. The protective member is configured to protected against slicing done by sharp objects. The textured outer surface enables grip ability in greasy environments. The textured outer surface may be formed via a foaming process during manufacture of the glove. There may be a colored layer between an inner liner and the protective member that establishes a color splash effect in the event that a portion of the glove ruptures or fails.

A hygienic protective cover for public surfaces includes a thin flexible panel of spring metal, coated with a layer of silicone. The spring metal can be a bi-stable ribbon spring. The spring metal composition of the flexible panel is configured to transfer between a straight, semi-rigid form and a curved form adapted to wrap around an exterior surface of a public handle, when forcibly applied to the public handle. A silicone layer encapsulates the panel to minimize transfer of germs. A protruding grip on the outer side of the panel enables the user to grip and manipulate the panel when wrapped around the public handle. The device is sized and dimensioned to be easily carried on a public transportation vehicle, such that a user can wrap the device around a section of the public handle to help prevent direct contact with the exterior surface thereof.

A color splash effect is established by a darker backdrop color of an outer surface of a liquid proof and heat resistant glove in the event that a portion of the glove ruptures or fails. The color splash effect is accomplished by a lighter and brighter color being visible through the rupture in the glove. The lighter and brighter color may be formed on or as part of a protective member positioned beneath the outer layer. The protective member also protects the wearer against sharp objects contacting the outer layer of the glove and moving over the protective member. Some embodiments provide that the protective member is in a thumb crotch region of the glove.

Aspects herein are directed to a sock and methods for forming the sock on a circular knitting machine. The sock in accordance with aspects herein having a plurality of toe-anchor knit courses that form a toe anchor that divides a toe-end opening of the sock into a first toe-end opening and a second toe-end opening by extending across the toe-end opening from a dorsal portion of the toe-end opening to a plantar portion of the toe-end opening. The toe-anchor knit courses are integrally knit with the sock body.

Aspects herein are directed to a sock and methods for forming the sock. The sock in accordance with aspects herein having a plurality of toe-anchor knit courses that form a toe anchor that divides a toe-end opening of the sock into a first toe-end opening and a second toe-end opening by extending across the toe-end opening from a dorsal portion of the toe-end opening to a plantar portion of the toe-end opening. The toe-anchor knit courses are integrally knit with the sock body.

A gripping pad that serves as a gripping aid to be worn on one or both hands for gripping tools, such as a hammer, and athletic equipment, such as baseball bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, dumbbells, and barbells. The gripping pad has four finger holes, each finger hole accommodating one of the four fingers of a hand. The gripping pad can have a descending edge that wraps around the “knob” of a baseball bat when gripping the bat. This helps a batter to hold the bat lower along the handle, while also cushioning the knob, thereby preventing the knob from injuring the hamate bone of the batter’s hand. Hamate bone fractures are among the more common upper extremity injuries seen in baseball, as well as in golf and racquet sports. The gripping pad is made from compressible vibration-absorbing material, such as silicone rubber, which feels soft, but is also sturdy.

An antibacterial hand cover that is secured to the user via a retractable lanyard. The retractable lanyard is attached at its distal end to the hand cover and at its proximal end to a retractable lanyard device. The hand cover is fabricated from antibacterial material.

A grip assist apparatus for weightlifting that includes a gripping portion with spine insert that is sufficiently pliable to be bent to allow a user to reach the end with their fingers and wrap the gripping portion around an axle bar but sufficiently resilient to substantially return to its starting position after the gripping portion is released.

The present invention relates to a finger protection device comprised of a shield and a ring member. In the preferred embodiment, the shield is preferably rectangular and slightly convex in shape. The ring member is further fixedly or removably-attached to a rear surface of the shield, such that the ring member can be worn on the finger of a user. In differing embodiments, the ring member may be comprised of a first and second curved member or a continuous, circular body. The ring member may further be made from a flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid plastic or rubber. In this manner, the device can be worn on at least one finger of a user, such that the shield protects the user's finger/hand from being accidently cut by a knife while chopping, cutting or slicing food.