US1943567A - Hand protector - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1934. c. TWEEDIE 1,943,567

HAND PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZZ'J C. TWEEDIE HAND PROTECTOR Jan. 16,1934.

Filed 001;. 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

6- Claims.

My invention relates to means for preventing blistering and callousing of hands by the use of golf clubs and the like. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device of this kind which will afford ample protection to the hand without impairing its grip or affecting the delicacy of its touch and which will be quite simple, comfortable, easy to apply and inexpensive. The invention consists in the device here- .Lnafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 illustrates a blank suitable for the manufacture of my device,

Fig. 2 is a view of my device from the front,

Fig. 3 is a view of the device from the back,

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the device as applied to the hand,

20 Fig. 5 is a view of the front side of the device,

showing it applied to the hand,

Fig. 6 is a view of the back of the device, showing it applied to the hand,

Fig. '7 illustrates a blank suitable for the manufacture of a modified form of protector,

Fig. 8 is a view of the modified protector from the back,

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the modified device,

I Fig. 10 is a front view of the modified device showing it applied to the hand; and

Fig. 11 is a view of the back of the modified device showing it applied to the hand.

As shown in sheet 1 of the drawings, my device is made from a single piece A of relatively soft and moderately light leather with a suede or rough finish. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the longitudinal axis of the blank A is longer than is required to form a band enclosing the four fingers of the hand.

At its middle, or transverse axis 1, (being the line which registers with the space between the second and third fingers when applied to the hand), the width of the blank A is about one inch. From this transverse axis 1 the blank A widens gradually, as at 3, in both directions and on both sides of the longitudinal axis 2 for distances substantially equal to the widths of the second and third fingers respectively and thence decreases to a minimum width at points 4 about a finger width from the respective ends of the blank, from which points the blank again widens to its ends 5. The ends 5 of the blank above described are doubled back and secured to the mid portion thereof substantially at or adjacent to the transverse axis 1, by means of stitching 6 or by cement that is unaffected by water or perspiration, thus forming two loops 7 on the back side of the protector.

The device is applied to the hand by passing only the first and fourth fingers through the loops 7 formed by securing the respective ends 5 of the blank to the middle portion thereof. In use, the narrowest portions 4 of the device he respectively at the bottom of the fork between the first and second fingers and at the bottom of Y the fork between the third and four fingers respectively, the transverse axis 1 being opposite the space between the second and third fingers.

In this position, the longitudinal axis 2 of the device is so far back on the hand that the device covers the principal areas that are most likely to be blistered and aifords indirect but substantial protection for other areas, as will appear from Fig.

5. In this Fig. 5, the areas likely to be blistered are indicated by the dotted ovals marked B, the most important of which are substantially covered by theprotector which, as indicated, extends outwardly somewhat beyond the third phalanges of the second and third fingers. The marked areas that are not directly covered are indirectly so protected by reason of the adjacent material relieving such areas of a considerable portion of the pressure to which they would otherwise be exposed. Thus the forward parts of the fingers are free and uncovered and, therefore, maintain f their delicacy of touch and still are very well protected from the shifting and excessive pressures that cause blistering.

When the hand grips a handle 8, as shown in Fig. 5, there is a considerable depression where the middle fingers join the palm, and such depression contributes considerably to the movements that cause blistering. In my device, such depression is practically filled by the back portion thereof corresponding to the ends of the blank and thus the tendency to blister in this region is overcome. Likewise the notches or indentations at the middle of the device allow the hand to get a better grip without substantial interference by the protector.

The device hereinbefore described is designed for the protection of the hand in the use of golf clubs and the like. Sheet 2 of the drawings illustrates a modification designed for protection of the hand in the use of a bait casting rod or i the like. In such use, the index finger is liable to be blistered or skinned, and it is desirable to protect the knuckles and the side face of the index finger. In the design of sheet 2, the blank A of leather or other suitable material is W doubled back and stitched or otherwise fastened to form a loop 10 at each end, the length of the device being sufficient to permit the first and fourth fingers to be encircled by the respective loops. In this design, the device is relatively narrow throughout the greater portion thereof; but the portion corresponding to the inner side and top. of the index finger is widened, as at 11, in both directions from the longitudinal axis of the device. When this device is applied to the hand, with its inner edge resting against the bottom of the fork between the first and second fingers, the widened portion 11 will protect the side'and top of the index finger without impairing its grip or the freedom of movement of any portion of the hand.

While I have described particular examples of my device, I do not wish to be limited to the details set forth, as it is obvious that the device may be made of a plurality of pieces and that the specific design is susceptible of modification.

What I claim is:

1. A single ply leather hand protector comprising a free portion which widens for a distance from the mid portion thereof and thence narrows to the ends thereof and back portions continuous with said face portion and disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof and secured thereto at said narrow mid portion to form a finger loop at each end.

2. A one-piece hand protecting device whose ends are doubled back and secured to the body portion at the longitudinal axis thereof to constitute loops adapted to encircle the first and fourth fingers of the hand, the portion of said loops in position to lie between adjacent fingers being relatively narrow and the loop which encircles the first finger having a portion which is wide enough to cover the palm surfaces of the first and second joints of said finger.

3. A hand protector comprising a body portion with a protective portion wide enough to extend somewhat beyond the third phalange of a finger when applied to a hand and comprising lobes separated by a substantial cut away portion, and narrow end extensions disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof 5. A single-ply hand protector of leather or i the like comprising a face portion and back portions continuous with said face portion and disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof and secured thereto near the middle thereof, said back portions being narrower than the front portion and narrowest about midway between the middle and the ends of the protector, the edges of said front portion being deeply notched about midway of its length and converging from said notches towards its ends, said front portion being of such width near said notches that, when the protector is applied to an open hand with one edge of its back portions against the respective forks between the first and second and the third and fourth fingers, the parts of the outer edge of the front portion near the notch therein will extend somewhat beyond the outer ends of the third phalanges of the second and third fingers.

6. A hand protecting device whose ends extend along the longitudinal axis of said device and are doubled back to constitute loops adapted to encircle the first and fourth fingers of the hand, the loops being narrow and the protective portions of the device being in the form of lobes on opposite sides and said longitudinal axis, the lobes on the outer edge extending somewhat beyond the outer ends of the third phalanges of the second and third fingers, the narrow part of the face portion being of substantially the same width as the mid-back portion and secured thereto.

CHARLES TWEEDIE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

January 16, 1934.

Patent No. 1,943,567.

CHARLES TWEEDIE.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the abeve numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 2.4, claim 1, for "free" read face; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same'may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of February, A. D. 1934.

F. M. Hopkins Acting Commissioner of Patents,

(Seat)

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