Enhanced visibility glove

Abstract

An enhanced visibility glove to increase safety and allows a user to signal others in low light conditions.

Claims

1. An enhanced visibility glove including: a. a cuff portion, b. a metacarpal portion extending from the cuff portion, c. a thumb portion extending from the metacarpal portion and d. at least two finger portions extending from the metacarpal portion, each having an anterior surface and a posterior surface and e. an enhanced visibility strip on the thumb portion and the at least two finger portions extending over the length of the thumb portion and the at least two finger portions on the posterior surface but not the anterior surface.

2. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enhanced visibility strip provided is any one or more of reflective, luminous, phosphorescent, chemiluminescent, or photoluminescent.

3. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the glove includes four distinct finger portions and one thumb portion.

4. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair of finger portions is provided, one finger portion for a ring finger and little finger and one finger portion for an index finger and middle finger.

5. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enhanced visibility strip extends substantially over the length of the thumb and at least one finger portions on the posterior surface thereof but not the anterior surface.

6. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enhance visibility strip is provided as an adhesive strip applied to the glove, a material impregnated into material forming the glove or applied as a surface layer to the glove.

7. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enhanced visibility strip on the at least two finger portions is provided on adjacent finger portions.

8. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 7 wherein the enhanced visibility strip is provided on an index finger portion and a middle finger portion of the glove.

9. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enhanced visibility strip extends laterally over a portion of the posterior surface of each finger portion to which it is applied, but not over the sides of the finger portion.

10. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enhanced visibility strip extends from at or adjacent the tip of the finger portion to the metacarpal portion of the glove adjacent the finger portion to which the strip is applied.

11. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein each enhanced visibility strip is distinct and discrete over its length from other enhanced visibility strips applied to other finger portions and/or the thumb portion.

12. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one enhanced visibility strip is coloured to indicate different situations or to provide different signals.

13. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one enhanced visibility strip has a pattern applied to indicate different situations.

14. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein words, numbers or symbols are applied to at least one enhanced visibility strip.

15. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more chevrons are provided on at least one enhanced visibility strip.

16. An enhanced visibility glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enhanced visibility strips is provided with a gradient of increasing or decreasing colour, reflectivity and/or luminescence.

17. A pair of enhanced visibility gloves, each enhanced visibility glove including a cuff portion, a metacarpal portion extending from the cuff portion, a thumb portion extending from the metacarpal portion and at least two finger portions extending from the metacarpal portion, each having an anterior surface and a posterior surface and an enhanced visibility strip on the thumb portion and the at least two finger portions extending over the length of the thumb portion and the at least two finger portions on the posterior surface but not the anterior surface.

18. A pair of enhanced visibility gloves as claimed in claim 16 wherein appropriate identification means is provided to allow identification of each of the gloves in the pair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of an enhanced visibility glove according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view of an alternative enhanced visibility glove according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a plan view of an enhanced visibility glove according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view of an enhanced visibility glove according to still a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a plan view of a palm side of the enhanced visibility glove illustrated in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, an enhanced visibility glove 10 is provided.

(8) The enhanced visibility glove 10 of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the Figures includes a cuff portion 11, a metacarpal portion 12, a thumb portion 13 and four phalange portions 14. Each has an anterior surface (palm side) and a posterior surface (opisthenar side) and an enhanced visibility strip 15 on the thumb portion 13 and two of the phalange portions 14 extending over the length of the portions on the posterior surface but not the anterior surface.

(9) The glove of the illustrated embodiment is manufactured of a polymeric material. The cuff portion 11 is elasticised or resilient in order to hold the wrist of the wearer.

(10) The phalange portions 14 and thumb portion 13 of the illustrated embodiment are full-length portions with enclosed tips.

(11) The glove of the preferred embodiment includes an enhanced visibility strip 15 on the thumb portion 13 and two of the phalange portions 14. The enhanced visibility strip 15 extends over the length of the thumb portion 13 and the two phalange portions 14 on the posterior surface thereof but not the anterior surface. This will typically leave the palm and anterior surfaces of the phalange portions and thumb portions unobstructed by the enhanced visibility strips.

(12) The strips 15 of the illustrated embodiment are provided as an adhesive strip applied to the glove.

(13) Although the enhanced visibility strip can be any shape, a substantially rectangular shape is preferred. The enhanced visibility strip 15 on the two phalange portions is provided on adjacent phalange portions in the illustrated embodiment.

(14) According to the preferred embodiment, the enhanced visibility strip 15 extend laterally over a portion of the posterior surface of each phalange portion 14 to which it is applied but not over the sides of the phalange portion 14. The enhanced visibility snip extends from adjacent the tip of the phalange portion 14 to the metacarpal portion 12 of the glove 10 adjacent the phalange portion 14 to which the strip is applied and partially over the metacarpal portion 12 towards the cuff of the glove.

(15) The configuration and extent of the strip applied to the thumb portion is substantially the same as that applied to the two phalange portions.

(16) As illustrated, the strips 15 applied to the phalange portion 14 terminate at a transverse edge which is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the strip and the strip 15 applied to the thumb portion 13 terminates at an angle which is other than transverse or perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the strip.

(17) According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, chevrons 16 are provided on the strips on a glove. The chevrons are oriented from the base of the strip (at the cuff end) toward the tip of the phalange portion or thumb portion. Provision of chevrons in this way can be used to indicate direction. As illustrated, different numbers of chevrons may be provided on different strips in order to allow a viewer to distinguish between the different strips.

(18) According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, a unitary enhanced visibility portion is provided having a portion which extends onto the thumb and separate portions extending on to each of the two adjacent phalange portions. As illustrated, the enhanced visibility portion extends onto the metacarpal portion of the glove.

(19) The particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is the most likely commercial embodiment of the present invention. Again, a unitary enhanced visibility portion is provided having a portion which extends onto the thumb and separate portions extending on to each of the two adjacent phalange portions. As illustrated, the enhanced visibility portion extends onto the metacarpal portion of the glove.

(20) In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

(21) Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.