GB2277864A

GB2277864A - Handwear

Info

Publication number: GB2277864A
Application number: GB9309776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Ronald Sharpe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-12
Filing date: 1993-05-12
Publication date: 1994-11-16
Also published as: GB9309776D0

Abstract

An article of handwear 10, e.g. in the form of a glove or mitten, comprises a hand covering 12 and two apertures, 22, 24 preferably provided in tubular wristlets which in use receive the left hand and the right hand from two wearers respectively who can therefore hold hands within the article. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION HANDWARE The present invention relates to handware, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to a mitten or glove modified in such a way as to accommodate the left hand of one person and right hand of another person when the wearer's are positioned along side each other.

Articles of handware such as, for example, gloves and mittens are known. They function to protect hands from the elements, usually the cold, by enclosing the hand in an environment substantially closed from the outside. They are sold in pairs, one right handed and one left handed glove making up the pair.

For romantics and tactile people however the contact between glove and glove does not give the same feel, and pleasure as hand to hand contact.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of handware which enables two people to hold hands yet have their hands protected from the environment, for example, the cold.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of handware comprising a hand covering defining a substantially enclosed space adapted to encompass two hands, said hand covering having two apertures therein for the purpose of receiving a respective right and left hand from two people wishing to hold hands within the article.

Preferably the apertures are provided in a portion which extends in a bifurcating manner from the covering defining the substantially enclosed space.

Preferably the bifurcating portion giving rise to the two apertures is adapted to grip the wearer's wrists. These portions should thus have a certain degree of elasticity.

Preferably the substantially enclosed space defined by the hand covering is substantially the shape of two clasped hands.

The article of handware can be made from any natural or man made material the preferred material being a knitted fabric due to its inherent elasticity.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a set of handware articles comprising a right handed glove or mitten, a left handed glove or mitten and an article of handware adapted to accommodate the left hand of one person and the right hand of another person.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig.1 is a perspective view of an article of handware according to one embodiment of the invention; and Fig 2. is a perspective view, in part cutaway section, of the fig.1 embodiment in use.

Referring to Fig 1 and Fig 2 the article of handware 10 illustrated is made of a knitted fabric.

It comprises a covering 12 of a shape capable of encompassing clasped hands 14, 16. The outermost edge 18 of the covering 12 is sealed except at a neck portion 20 though which the hands enter the 'glove' or 'mitten'. Two tubular branches 22, 24 containing respective openings 26, 28 extend from an aperture (not shown) in the neck portion 20 in a bifurcating manner allowing for wearer hands 14 and 16 to pass through respective openings 26 and 28 of respective tubular branches 22, 24 into the inside 30 of the covering 12.

The tubular branches 22, 24 of the article are like wristlets in appearance and function, having a degree of elasticity sufficient to grip the wearer wrist.

In use the article is worn around the right hand of one wearer and the left hand of another wearer, the wearer being able to clasp hands in the inside 30 of covering 12.

Claims

1. An article of handwear comprising a hand covering which defines a substantially enclosed space adapted to encompass two hands, and two apertures for the purpose of receiving respective left and right hands of two wearers.

2. An article of handwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two apertures are provided in respective tubular wristlets adapted to grip the wearers' wrists.

3. An article of handwear as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apertures are provided in a bifurcating portion which extends from the portion of the hand covering which defines the substantially enclosed space.

4. An article of handwear as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said hand covering is substantially the shape of two clasped hands.

5. An article of handwear as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a knitted fabric

6. A set of handwear articles comprising a right handed glove or mitten, a left handed glove or mitten and an article of handwear adapted to accommodate the left hand of one person and the right hand of another person.

7. An article of handwear substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.