US2322710A - Hand protector - Google Patents

Description

June 1943- R. M. EISENDRATH 2,322,710

HAND PROTECTOR Filed D60. 21, 1939 ATTORNEYS Patented June 22 1943 OFFICE HAND PROTECTOR Robert .M. Eisendrath, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Eisen'drath Glove Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,267

2 Claims.

My invention relates to hand protectors for workmen and the like users.

The object of the invention is the production of a simple, inexpensive hand protector adapted to be worn on either hand and affording a high degree of protection to the wearer.

Another object is the provision of such a hand protector or hand guard, as it is sometimes called, which, while furnishing adequate protection, leaves the fingers and hand unusually free and capable of use substantially as if the protector were not being worn.

A further object is the provision of such a hand protector which is relatively free and loose on the hand, thereby affording utmost freedom of movement of the thumb and fingers, and at the same time is held i place with sufficient firmness that it will not slip around on the hand.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in the nature of a perspective showing the position of the protector when itis on the hand, the visible portions of the hand being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking at one side of the protector when it is lying in a flat position, the view being partially broken away to illustrate a structural feature.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking at that edge of the protector where the thumb projects, the parts being in substantially the positions which they occupy when the protector is on the hand; and

Fig. 4 is a view in the nature of a plan view showing the pattern used to form the palm and back portions of the protector.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, I provide a single fiat pattern having a cut-away portion to accommodate the thumb and so arranged that, when side edges are sewed together, the pattern forms the back and palm of the protector. At the cut-away thumb portion, a relatively narrow protecting Web is sewed in such a position as to protect only that portion of the hand between the thumb and palm which may be involved when an object is gripped while wearing the protector. The protector does not employ fingers, but, to position and support the protector on the hand, three webs are placed between the overlapping palm and back sections, preferably by means of a simple riveting operation. A tab projecting into the area cut away for the thumb cooperates to provide fastening means preferably of such a character as to be quickly tightened and as quickly loosened. The protector is designed so that thereis no requirement for shaping the back and palm portions which comprise the main body member or body portion of the protector to fit the hand. The utmost of freedom is allowed when working, and the protector will fit either the left or right hand. Because it may be put on and taken off so quickly and readily, it may be transferred from one hand to the other by the user, depending upon the job which he is doing. As an illustration, a workman on a bench may be carrying on several different types of operations, in only certain ones of which he may wish to employ the protector, and in a matter of seconds he may put the pro tector on to perform the operation on which he wishes to use it and in a fewseconds remove it, leavinghis hands entirely free. ,The, protector may also be worn during the entire working period, for example, by motormen, truck drivers, carpenters or others who may wish to protect the palm portion of the hand, leaving th fingers and thumb adequately free for performing operations which cannot be readily performed when wearing ordinary gloves.

Referring now to the drawing, I illustrate a blank II], which comprises the body portion, with a portion at the thumb area cut out as indicated by the reference character I l into which a tab l2 projects. The body-portion ha the portions I3 and I 4 at opposite sides of the cutaway portion ll, either of which members comprises the palm or back, depending upon the hand on which the protector is worn. Looking at Fig. l, the part I3 comprises the palm portion, and the part H the back portion of the protector. The body portion is doubled on itself, as shown, and contiguous side edges are stitched together, as shown at H5 in Fig. 1, thereby forming a closed member into which the hand may be inserted. A web I1 is sewed in the position shown along the lower edge of the cut-away portion ll, thereby acting as a guard to protect the portion of the hand between the palm and thumb.

Separating tabs 18, three in number, are pro-- vided between the portions l3 and M at the position where the fingers project, these tabs or webs, serving as separators for the fingers, being secured in position by suitable means such as rivets or staples l9.

In the form of fastening means shown, a button-like fastening member 2! is secured to the fastening tab l2, this fastening member having two slots through which a strap 22 extends, the

wardly through another, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

A small metal ball 24, shaped to be readily deformed to grasp the end of the strap 22, forms a simple means for gripping the strap for the purpose of closing the protector at the wrist. The protector is opened at the wrist by grasping the end of the tab 12 and merely pulling it open.

The entire protector is very simply and inexpensively produced. The pattern shown in Fig. 4 is stamped with a die and, without making any attempt to shape it to fit the hand, except insofar as the pattern accomplishes this object, it is folded over and stitched. at [6. Before or after this operation, the web H is sewed in position, this web being designed so that, when it is sewn in position, it takes a rounded or curved shape, as the drawing illustrates. This causes it to lie snugly against the thumb area. The tabs or webs 18 previously formed are simply inserted by a quick riveting operation. The strap is. readily secured by a rivetingoperation, and the fastening member 2| also placed in position by the equivalent of a riveting operation. After the strap has been inserted through the slots in the member 2 l the ball 24 is attached and the protector is completed. The order of operations need not be identically as described, but, whatever the order of operations, it is obvious that the production is extremely inexpensive.

Among the advantages of the protector to users, other than the fact that it can be purchased at a relatively low price, are its convenience, the ability to use it on either hand, the extreme freedom which it aifords the wearer, and the full protection which it gives to the wearer.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A hand guard for workmen and the like, comprising a body portion folded upon itself to cover only the palm and back of the hand and extending slightly over the knuckles where the fingers join the hand, stitching connecting contiguous side edges of the body portion so as to lie along one side of the hand, said body portion being of flat material and being cut away at the thumb area so as to be readily applicable to either hand, aweb stitched to the body portion at the cut-away thumb area in a position to lie fiat between that portion of the hand lying between the thumb and index finger, webs secured between the palm and back of the body portion to separate the fingers, and means for closingthe body portion around the Wrist at the region of said cut-away thumb area, said means operable whether the guard is on the right or left hand.

2. A hand guard of the character described, comprising a body portion folded upon itself and stitched along side edges, said body portion having a cut-away area at the thumb area, a web secured to the body portion at said area to lie fiat against that portion of the hand lying between the thumb and index finger, three tabs secured at their ends between folded-over portions of thebody portion lying against the pahn and back of the hand, said tabs lying between the fingers when the guard is on the hand, and means for tightening top edges of the body portion around the wrist, said body portion shaped to permit free use of the guard on either hand, and without binding the fingers or joints thereof.

ROBERT M. EISENDRATI L

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