GB2590074A

GB2590074A - Glove

Info

Publication number: GB2590074A
Application number: GB1917054.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Barras Thomas
Original assignee: Spatzwear Ltd
Current assignee: Spatzwear Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-22
Filing date: 2019-11-22
Publication date: 2021-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-22
Also published as: GB201917054D0; GB2590074B

Abstract

A cycling glove comprises a hand portion 14, a tubular insulating cuff 12 and a cover 40. The cap can removably cover at least part of the hand. The sheath comprises a first section 46 for covering at least one finger portion, and a second section 48 for covering at least one other finger, wherein the first section may cover the index and middle finger and the second section may cover the third and little finger. The cover could be windproof and waterproof. The glove may comprise a pocket, which could have a closable opening, on the back of the glove for stowing the cover. A band of elastic 58 around the cover opening may retain it on the hand when is deployed from the pocket. The hand section and cover may include grip potions 60. The cuff could be elasticated and longer than 10 centimetres.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a glove, and particularly a cycling glove for use in changeable weather conditions.

[0002] In cold, wet and/or windy weather conditions, a cyclist can experience particular discomfort in their hands. According to the design of most conventional bicycles, a cyclist keeps their hands placed on the handlebars of the bicycle for the majority of the time whilst the cyclist is cycling. A cyclist's hands may thereby be exposed to the weather conditions. A cyclist's hands may also be relatively inactive during a cycle ride, which may cause the hands to be particularly susceptible to the cold.

[0003] During a cycle ride, a cyclist may experience a plurality of different weather conditions. For example, a cyclist may be in a climate in which weather is particularly changeable, or a cyclist may be at a variety of altitudes during a cycle ride. It may be disadvantageous to a cyclist if they are required to stop cycling to change their clothing during a cycle ride, due to these changes in weather conditions.

[0004] Cyclists require the ability to use their hands to operate brakes, gears etc of a bicycle, so there is a need for a glove that protects a cyclist's hands from cold weather conditions, that does not hinder a cyclist's ability to operate a bicycle.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cycling glove comprising a hand portion, an insulating cuff extending from an end of the hand portion, and a cover, wherein the insulating cuff is tubular and wherein the cover is configured to removably cover at least part of the hand portion, wherein the cover comprises a first section for covering at least one finger portion of the hand portion, and the cover comprises a second section for covering at least one other finger portion of the hand portion.

[0007] The insulating cuff may be formed of a heat-insulating material. For example, the insulating cuff may be formed of a fleeced or fibrous material, and/or may have a fleece inner surface or lining. The insulating cuff may extend from the end of the hand portion by a length that is comparable to a length of a palm region of the hand portion. The length of the insulating cuff may be greater than 8 cm. The length of the cuff may be greater than 10cm, preferably approximately 12 cm [0008] When the glove is worn, the insulating cuff may extend over a wearer's wrist and down the wearer's forearm to a length considerably longer than a cuff portion of a conventional glove. The insulating cuff may provide insulation to a user's blood supply to the user's hands, by insulating the user's blood vessels at the wrist and forearm.

[0009] The insulating cuff may be elasticated. Preferably, the insulating cuff may be elasticated around its circumference. The tubular cuff may thereby be stretched when the glove is being put on or removed by a wearer and may provide a close fit around the wearer's wrist and forearm in use. This may improve the wearer's comfort and may help to prevent cold air from flowing into the glove from the end of the cuff.

[0010] The cover may be substantially wind-proof. The cover may be substantially waterproof The cover may comprise a light-weight material. The cover may thereby improve a user's comfort by protecting at least part of the user's hand from wind and/or rain when a user is cycling.

[0011] The hand portion may provide insulation to the user's palm and/or fingers. The hand portion may comprise a front, palm side and a rear side. The hand portion may comprise a plurality of finger portions, preferably four finger portions. The hand portion may comprise a thumb portion. The hand portion may comprise an insulating material.

[0012] The first section of the cover may be configured to cover two of the finger portions, preferably an index finger portion and a middle finger portion. The second section of the cover may be configured to cover two of the finger portions, preferably a third finger portion and a little finger portion. Providing the cover with two sections may allow a wearer to use their index finger and middle finger independently of their third finger and little finger. This may allow the wearer to simultaneously operate brakes and gears of a bicycle, thereby improving user convenience.

[0013] The cover may be attached to the hand portion, preferably the rear side of the hand portion. This may allow the user to easily deploy the cover portion when necessary when the wearer is wearing the glove while cycling.

[0014] The cover may comprise a retaining portion. The retaining portion may be configured to retain the cover portion in a deployed configuration. The retaining portion may be an elasticated region, which may be provided as a band along a lower end of a front surface of the cover portion. In use, when the cover is deployed, the elasticated band may extend across the front side of the hand portion, across the wearer's palm proximate the joint of a wearer's fingers to their palm. The elasticated band may enable the user to easily deploy the cover by pulling the cover over the finger portions and retain the cover in position when it is deployed.

[0015] The hand portion may comprise a pocket for stowing the cover. The pocket may be provided on a rear side of the hand portion. The pocket may comprise an opening, through which the cover may be stowed and/or deployed. The opening may be closable, for stowing and retaining the cover within the pocket. Preferably, the opening of the pocket is elasticated. The cover may thereby be easily deployed from and stowed in the pocket. Stowing the cover within the pocket when it is not required may allow the rear side of the hand to be more streamlined when worn while cycling.

[0016] The hand portion may comprise an anti-slip material provided on a surface on the palm side of the glove. The anti-slip material may be arranged in a regular or irregular pattern on the palm-side surface of the glove. The anti-slip material may be silica gel. The anti-slip material may be abrasion-resistant. The non-slip material may enhance a wearer's ability to grip apparatus in the user's hands, for example to grip the handlebars of a bicycle.

[0017] The hand portion may comprise a grip area provided on at least one of the finger portions, preferably an index finger portion of the finger portions. The hand portion may comprise a grip area provided on the thumb portion. The one or more grip areas may be provided towards the distal end of the respective at least one finger portion and/or thumb portion. The grip areas may be provided on the palm side of the at least one finger portion and thumb portion. The grip areas may comprise a non-slip material provided on a surface of the palm side of the hand portion.

[0018] Providing a grip area on each of the index finger portion and the thumb portion, towards the distal end of the palm side of the index finger portion and thumb portion may be improve the grip of the user on the bicycle, for example in operating the gears of the bicycle with the index finger and thumb.

[0019] At least one finger portion may comprise an aperture. Preferably the index finger portion comprises an aperture. The aperture may be provided towards the distal end of the finger portion. The aperture may be sized to allow a user to move their finger tip through the aperture when wearing the glove. This may allow the user to operate an apparatus, for example a touch-screen device, with the finger that is extending through the aperture.

[0020] The cover may comprise a grip region. The grip region may be provided on a front side of the cover. The grip region may be provided on the first section and/or the second section of the cover. The grip region may improve a user's grip on the bicycle, for example the brakes and/or gears of the bicycle, when the cover is deployed. The user may thereby be able to more easily operate the bicycle, particularly in wet conditions.

[0021] The hand portion may comprise a light-reflective material. The light reflective material may be provided on the rear side of the glove. The light-reflective material may thereby be visible when a user wearing the gloves grips the handlebars while cycling.

[0022] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

[0023] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: [0024] Figure 1 shows a rear view of an example glove with a cover stowed; [0025] Figure 2 shows a front view of the example glove with the cover stowed; [0026] Figure 3 shows a rear view of the example glove with the cover deployed; [0027] Figure 4 shows a front view of the example glove with the cover deployed.

[0028] An example cycling glove 10, shown in figures 1-4, comprises an insulating cuff 12 and a hand portion 14.

[0029] The insulating cuff 12 is substantially tubular and extends from a lower end 16 of the hand portion 14. The insulating cuff 12 comprises a material having a fleeced inner surface. The length of the insulating cuff 12 is such that it covers a wearer's wrist and extends up a wearer's forearm in use. The length of the insulating cuff is approximately 12 cm.

[0030] The insulating cuff is elasticated, so that the circumference of the cuff 12 can be extended, to provide a close fit on wrists and arms of a variety sizes, and to ease the putting on and removal of the glove 10.

[0031] The hand portion 14 comprises a palm region 18, finger portions 20a-20d and a thumb portion 22. The palm region 18 comprises an anti-slip surface 24 formed of a silica gel applied to the palm region in a pattern. The anti-slip surface may improve a wearer's grip on handlebars when cycling.

[0032] The index finger portion 20a and the thumb portion 22 each include a grip area 26, 28. The grip areas 26, 28 are areas in which an anti-slip material, such as silica gel, is applied to the surface of the finger portion 20 or thumb portion 22. Figure 2 shows that the grip areas 26, 28 are a solid area of the anti-slip material. In other examples, the grip areas 26, 28 may comprise the anti-slip material in a regular or irregular pattern. The grip areas 26, 28 are provided towards the distal ends 30, 32 of the index finger portion and thumb portion respectively, in positions corresponding to the tips of the user's index finger and thumb.

[0033] The index finger portion 20a comprises an aperture 34, provided below the grip area 26, in a direction away from a distal end 30 of the index finger portion 20a. In use, the position of the aperture 34 is proximate a wearer's finger joint, so that a user may easily insert the tip of their index finger through the aperture 34. This may allow a user to easily implement a touch-screen device.

[0034] As shown in figures 1 and 3, the hand portion 14 comprises a pocket 36 provided on a rear surface 38 of the hand portion. The pocket 36 is configured to retain a cover 40. The pocket 36 extends across the width of the hand portion 14 and extends down towards the cuff 12. The pocket 36 comprises an opening 42 that extends across the upper edge 44 of the pocket. In the configuration shown in figure 1, the cover 40 is stowed in the pocket 36. The upper edge 44 of the pocket 36, around the opening 42, is elasticated to retain the cover 40 within the pocket 36.

[0035] In the configuration shown in figures 3 and 4, the cover 40 is deployed from the pocket and has been drawn over the finger portions 20a-d.

[0036] To deploy the cover 40, the cover 40 is pulled out of the pocket 36 and over the finger portions 20a-d, so that the index finger portion 20a and middle finger portion 20b are provided in a first section 46 of the cover 40 and the third finger portion 20c and little finger portion 20d are provided in a second section 48 of the cover 40. The first section 46 and second section 48 are joined towards a lower end of the two sections, as shown in figures 3 and 4.

[0037] A lower end of the rear side 50 of the cover 40 is fixed to the rear surface 28 of the hand portion 14, preferably within the pocket 36. The length of the first section 46 and second section 48 of the cover 40 correspond to the length of the finger portions 20 provided within the respective section 46, 48. The width of the first section 46 and the second section 48 correspond substantially to the combined width of the two finger portions 20 provided within the respective section of the cover, so that a user's fingers may fit comfortably in the cover sections 46, 48, within the corresponding finger portion 20. In figure 4, which shows the cover 40 in a deployed configuration, a lower end 52 of the front side 54 of the cover is positioned approximately adjacent the proximal ends 56 of the finger portions 20. The lower end 52 of the front side 54 of the cover 40 comprises a retaining portion 58 for retaining the cover 40 in the deployed configuration, around the finger portions 20. The retaining portion 58 is an elasticated band provided across the lower end 52 of the front side 54 of the cover 40, which may be stretched to pull the cover 54 over the finger portions when stowing or deploying.

[0038] As shown in figure 4, the front side of the cover portion comprises a grip region 60. The grip region 60 is provided on a front surface of the first section 46. The grip region 60 comprises a plurality of portions of anti-slip material provided on the front surface of the cover 40. In other examples, a grip region may additionally or alternatively provided on a front surface of the second section 48.

[0039] The rear surface of the cover comprises a light-reflective material provided on the pocket 36, at the upper edge 44 of the pocket.

[0040] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0041] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0042] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0043] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cycling glove comprising a hand portion, an insulating cuff extending from an end of the hand portion, and a cover, wherein the insulating cuff is tubular, and wherein the cover is configured to removably cover at least part of the hand portion, wherein the cover comprises a first section for covering at least one finger portion of the hand section, and the cover comprises a second section for covering at least one other finger portion of the hand portion.
2. The cycling glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cuff is formed of a heat-insulating material.
3. The cycling glove according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a length of the cuff is greater than 10cm.
4. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the insulating cuff is elasticated around its circumference
5. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is substantially wind-proof.
6. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is substantially water-proof.
7. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the first section of the cover is configured to cover an index finger portion and a middle finger portion of the hand portion, and the second section of the cover is configured to cover a third finger portion and a little finger portion of the hand portion.
8. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is attached to a rear side of the hand portion.
9. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion is configured to retain the cover portion in a deployed configuration.
10. The cycling glove according to claim 9, wherein the retaining portion is an elasticated region, which is provided as a band along a lower end of a front surface of the cover portion.
11. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the hand portion comprises a pocket for stowing the cover, wherein the pocket is provided on a rear side of the hand portion and comprises an opening, through which the cover may be stowed and/or deployed.
12. The cycling glove according to claim 11, wherein the opening is closable, for retaining the stowed cover within the pocket.
13. The cycling glove according to claim 12, wherein the pocket comprises an elasticated region, at least partially around the opening, for retaining the stowed cover within the pocket.
14. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises a grip region provided on a front side of the first section and/or the second section of the cover.
15. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the hand portion comprises a grip area provided on at least one of the finger portions and/or a thumb portion.
16. The cycling glove according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one finger portion of the hand portion comprises an aperture through which a user may extend a tip of their finger in use.