GB2504089A

GB2504089A - Hand covering attachable to handles and handlebars

Info

Publication number: GB2504089A
Application number: GB201212651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Remy Schneider
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-16
Filing date: 2012-07-16
Publication date: 2014-01-22
Also published as: GB201212651D0

Abstract

The invention relates to hand covering apparatus for forming either a pair of hand warmers each for the insertion of a single hand or a hand muff for the insertion of both hands. Both the hand warmers and hand muff are adapted to be removably attached to a handle or handlebar, such as the handlebar of a buggy, stroller or perambulator. The apparatus has the advantage of keeping the users hands warm while not having the inconvenience of removal of unattached gloves when tending to a child in the buggy. Each hand warmer includes a dorsal portion 5, a palm portion 6 and releasable fastenings 5.2 portioned along at least one side 2 of the hand warmer. The arrangement of the releasable fastenings 5.2 allows each hand warmer to be removably positioned surrounding a handle/handlebar 11. Two or more hand warmers can be reconfigured and joined together using the releasable fastenings positioned along at least one side 2 to form a hand muff (see drawing J). Open end 4 may be provided with releasable fastenings allowing the open end to be closed forming a storage container (see drawing U). Separators (15, drawing V) may be incorporated to divide or expand the usable space within the hand muff. Storage containers may be attached to the hand warmers (see drawing X).

Description

A MULTIFUNCTIONAL GLOVE FOR USE ON HANDLES AND HANDLEBARS

Background

When taking a buggy or stroller out in cold weather, it is often necessary to wear gloves to keep ones hands warm and dry. This presents an nconvenience in having to remove said gloves when tending to the child in the buggy, such as wiping their nose) returning dropped food or a toy or tending to other matters requiring delicate dexterity. Traditional gloves can also be lost or forgotten.

Description

This invention relates to a glove which may have various uses when attached to an open-ended handle[11], enclosed handlebar[11], pipe, bar or pole structure. Each glove has specifically configured fastening borders so that two gloves may be used individually as a pair of hand warmers, for each of a wearers hands, or may be connected together to form a hand muff) presenting a more spacious enclosure.

A variation of the glove may include fastenings along the glove opening which, when fastened shut, would to form a storage container. Larger storage volumes would be achievable by connecting together sealed storage containers.

Connected storage containers may be compartmentalised, by inserting separators along the fastening borders to form segregated storage containers. Multiple gloves may be connected together in combination of hand warmers and storage containers.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing and with exemplary usage scenarios: Each glove is comprised of an upper dorsal[5] face, a lower palm[6] face, and sides: front[1], rear[4], and at least two other lateral sides [2] and [3] adjoining the front[1], and rear[4].

A pair of gloves are made up of a Left and Right glove which would match each other so that sides[2] of each glove face each other internally, and sides[3] face externally.

The front[1] and lateral sides[2] and [3] comprise borders between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces, either as seamed joins, or detachable multifaceted fastenings, such as hook and loop, zippers, poppers, snaps, toggles, ties, buckles, silicon based fasteners or any other such conventional means.

A minimum of two sides borders must be made of detachable fastenings in order to attach the glove to a handlebar (see drawings V & 1). All side borders may be made of detachable fastenings with no joined sides, allowing the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces to be separable (see drawing AA).

The following describes the makeup of a Right glove (see drawings V: thick lines represent fastenable sides): The dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces, which make up the main body of the glove, have an internall7] surface with soft, padded, insulating properties and an external[8] surface with protective weather-proof or splash-proof properties.

Surfaces[7] and [8] may be made of one or more layered materials, of bonded fabrics, or of natural materials such as animal skins.

The external[8] surface may also be made of a rigid, impact resistant material such as wood, plastics or metals.

Where external[8] surface is made of a rigid material, alternative border fastenings may be used, such as clips, magnets, pins, locks, or any other such conventional means.

Side[2J, which in this instance is the Left side of the Right glove, is comprised of two sets of detachable multifaceted fastenings: one on the dorsalLs] face border and one on the Palm[6] face border.

This multifaceted border fastenings configuration enables both the single' hand warmer and double' hand muff functionality: For a hand warmer the dorsal[5] and palm[6] border fastenings of the same glove fasten together; For a hand muff the dorsal[5] border fastenings of a Left glove fasten to the dorsal[5] border fastenings of a Right glove, and the palm[6] border fastenings of the Left glove fasten to the palm[6] border fastenings of the Right glove.

A second sides borders need to be comprised of fastenings to enable the glove to be attached to an enclosed handlebar. This second side could either be the front[1] (see drawing Y) or it could also be the side[3] (see drawing Z).

When the side[3] border fastenings are configured as those described for side[2] this would enable multiple gloves to be connected along the handlebar. Any two gloves could then be connected together (Left to Left, or Right to Right).

The Left and right gloves would thus be identical.

A third side, in this instance side[3], is joined directly between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces. This join can be made up by seaming the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces together, or by making the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces from one continuous piece of material. Where external[8] surface is made of a rigid material, alternative joins can be used such as hinges, malleable folds, flexible seams, or any other such conventional means.

The rear[4] side is left open to allow a user to insert their hands. The rear[4] borders may also be comprised of fastenings along the full length of the side to allow the glove to form an enclosed storage container.

The rear[4] has a means of gathering[1O] at a small distance from, and running parallel to, the border edge. This gathering[1O] could be adjustable to make the opening of rear[4] wider or narrower, by means of a toggle.

Where overlapping fasteners are used) such as hook and loop or snaps, the fastenable borders may be configured so that the dorsal[5] face overlaps the palm[6] face, thus providing a natural run-off for rain water. This may be achieved through a multifaceted border fastenings (as in Drawing P) or may also be achieved by incorporating storm-flapsilS] to the fastening border (as in Drawings Q & R).

A portion of sides[2] and [3], adjacent to front[1], each have an elastic section[9]. These elastic sections[9] produce a sufficient tension so that when stretched around handlebars they retain the glove in place whilst allowing for movement both rotationally around the handlebar and laterally along the handlebar, thus allowing for preferred positioning. The elastic sections[9] could be adjustable to fit around handlebars of various circumferences, by means of a toggle.

These elastic sections[9] could include contiguous fastenings(12] along the elastic made of any detachable fastening described earlier. In a hand muff configuration these elastic section[9] contiguous fastenings12] would enable the gloves to be fully fastened along the connecting sides, so that an open ended handle would be enclosed within the hand muff, thus maintaining the splash-proof or weather-proof integrity of the hand muff. In a storage container configuration these would enable the glove to be fully sealed between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces, thus preventing anything contained within from escaping if the glove is removed from the handlebar(11) by unfastening frontLi] border fastenings.

USECASE 1: In use as a hand warmer on an open-ended handle: Side[2] and front[1] are comprised of fastening borders between dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces. These sides are both fastened to produce the single glove. The elastic section[9] of side[3] is sealed along contiguous fastenings[12]. The glove is oriented with side[2] facing down to the floor, so that the handle can be inserted through the elastic section[9] of side[2]. Rear[4] would remain open to allow ingress and egress of a wearer's hand.

For aesthetic reasons the left glove could be installed on the right open-ended handle, and the right glove on the left open-ended handle. This would maintain the palm and dorsal aspects of the gloves in use.

USECASE 2: In use as a hand warmer on an enclosed handlebar: Front[1] is unfastened and re-fastened around the handlebar[11] so that the elastic sections[9] of sides[2] and [3] are stretched around the handlebar[11].

Where Front[1] is joined, then sides [2] and [3] would be unfastened so that the glove could be pulled on around the handlebar, and re-fastened.

Rear[4] would remain open to allow ingress and egress of a wearer's hand.

Drawings A. and B: show vertical top down views of a left and right glove, in use on an enclosed handlebar[11].

Drawing C: shows an horizontal rear side view of a right glove, in use on an enclosed handlebar[11].

Drawing D: shows an horizontal profile view of a right glove, in use on an enclosed handlebar[11].

Drawing F: shows an horizontal profile view of a left glove, in use on an open ended handle[11].

Drawing F: shows a vertical top down view of a left glove, in use on an open ended handle[11].

Drawing 6: shows some possible arrangements for contiguous fastenings[12] along the elastic section[9].

Drawings H and I: show views from a wearers perspective of a pair of hand warmer gloves on an enclosed handlebar.

The gloves in Drawing H depict fastenings along front[1] and side[2] and continuous join on side[3]. The gloves in Drawing I depict fastenings along front[1] and sides[2] and [3]. These demonstrate how the dorsal[5] face fastening borders overlap the palm[6] face.

USECASE 3: In use as a hand muff on an enclosed handlebar: The hand muff configuration would allow two or more hands to be inserted) for example: an adult pushing a buggy could insert both hands, or both hands of an adult pushing a buggy and those of a child riding a buggy board whilst also holding onto the handlebar could be inserted.

A pair of Left and Right gloves would be connected together whilst attached to an enclosed handlebar by unfastening sidesL2] of both gloves and refastening the Left glove(L) dorsal[S] side[2] border fastening =(L.5.2) to the Right glove(R) dorsal[5] side[2J border fastening =(R5.2), and refastening the Left glove(L) palm[6] side[2] border fastening =(L62) to the Right glove(R) palm[5] side[2] border fastening =(R.6.2), A lateral side edge fastening[14] connects the frontLi] of the left glove at the lateral side[2] edge to the front[1] of the right glove at the lateral side[2J edge. This would close the gap otherwise left between the elastic sections of both gloves the and thus maintain the splash-proof or weather-proofing integrity of the hand muff. For multiple connectable gloves, lateral side edge fastenings[14] would be included both at the lateral side[2] edge of the front[1] and at the lateral side[3] edge of the front[1].

The elastic sections[9] of side[2] on the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces could be connected to the corresponding sections of the opposing glove by means of contiguous fastenings[12] along the elastic sections[9]. This would close the gap and thus maintain the splash-proof or weather-proof integrity of the enclosed hand muff.

A secondary fastenings[13] at the base of the elastic section[9], furthest from front[1] side, between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces would reinforce the side border fastenings to maintain the tension of the elastic sections[9] around the handlebar. When used as a hand muff, these secondary fastenings could replicate the hand warmer configuration by drawing the now central elastic sections[9] of side[2] around the handlebar and maintaining the tension.

Drawings J. K. Land M: show views from a wearers perspective of two connected gloves in use as a hand muff on an enclosed handlebar.

The gloves in Drawing J have overlapping fastenings on front[1] and side[2] and a join on side[3] between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces.

The gloves in Drawing K have flush fastenings on front[1] and side[2] and a join on side[3] between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces.

The gloves in Drawing L have overlapping fastenings on sides[2] and [3] and a join on front[1] between the dorsal[S] and palm[6] faces.

The gloves in Drawing M have flush fastenings on sides[2] and [3] and join on front[1] between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces.

Drawings N and 0: show the position of lateral side edge fastenings[14] on front[1] at the side edges.

Drawings G and N: show secondary fastenings[13] which could be included between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces at the points where the elastic sections[9] begins and ends.

Drawing P: shows a cross-section view through rear[4] of a single glove (where Left and Right are identical) and a combination of three connected gloves. This portrays a configuration for overlapping multifaceted fastenings between sides [2] and [3], such as Hook(17] and Loop[16]. In this instance the fastening configurations of the Left and Right gloves are identical. On the dorsal[5] face, the first side fastening border is comprised of a pair of strips of Loops[16] along both the internal [7] and external[8] surfaces (back-to-back), and the second side fastening border is comprised of a strip of Hooks[17] along the internal[7] surface, On the palm[6] face the arrangement of Hooks[17] and Loops[16] fastening borders is reversed, so that the Hooks[17] are on the external[7] surface of the first side fastening border and the pair of back-to-back Loops[16] on the second side. This Hook[17] and Loop[16] configuration would allow each glove to be used individually or in connected combination with multiple other gloves, ensuring the dorsal[5] face overlaps the palm[6] face, thus providing a run-off for rain water.

Drawings 0 and R: show a cross-section view through rear[4] of left and right gloves and both gloves connected as a hand muff. This portrays a configuration for overlapping multifaceted fastenings between sides [2] and [3], such as Rook[17] and Loop[16], whilst incorporating a storm-flapLiS] on the Right hand dorsal[S] face side[2] border.

Drawing R shows a cross-section view through rear[4] of a single glove (where Left and Right are identical) and a combination of three connected gloves, The gloves have fastening borders on sides [2] and [3], and the storm-flap[18] would be included on Side[2] of the dorsal[5] face of all gloves. This storm-flap[18] ensures the dorsal[5] face overlaps the palm[5] face thus providing a natural run-off for rain water, when gloves are used individually or in connected combination with other gloves.

Drawines S and 1: show a cross-section view through rear[4] of left and right gloves and both gloves connected as a hand muff. This portrays a configuration for multifaceted fastenings between sides [2] and [3], such as Hook[17] and Loop[16].

Drawing T shows a cross-section view through rear[4] of a single glove (where Left and Right are identical) and a combination of three connected gloves. The gloves have fastening borders on sides L2] and [3], therefore the fastening configurations of the Left and Right gloves are identical. In this instance the dorsal[5] face fastenings would not overlap the palm[6] face fastenings.

USECASE 4: In use as a single' storage container: A glove would be attached to a handlebar as per USECASE 2. Rear[4] would be fastened shut completing the container enclosure. The storage container could be removed from the handlebar by unfastening front[1]. Once detached from the handlebar) refastening front[1J and contiguous fastenings[12] along the elastic sections[9] would completely enclose the storage container, thus retaining the contents.

Drawing U: shows a perspective view of a single' storage container which includes fastenings on rearL4] which have been fastened together.

USECASE 5: A Separatorils] could be inserted in between border fastenings of the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces. When inserted along border fastenings of side[2] these would segregate connected gloves. When inserted along border fastenings of side[3] or rear[4] these would extend the height of the border.

The material for the separator[15] could be the same as that of the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces, or could be a netting, such as nylon mesh, or other such conventional flexible material. The dorsal[5] and palm[6] borders of the separator[15] would be comprised of the same type of fastening used in the glove side border fastenings. The lateral side borders of the separator[15] could have the same elastic configuration as elastic section[9] to follow the contours of the glove as attached to a handlebar and the size of the opening of rear[4]. The lateral side borders of the separator[15J could include contiguous fastenings[12], to maintain the enclosure as a storage container.

Three separators[15] could be inserted on a single' glove between fastening borders on sides[2] and[3] and rear[4], to extend the overall height and therefore volume of the glove when used as a storage container.

A wearer may connect one or more storage containers between two hand warmer gloves. The separator[15] inserts would prevent enclosed objects being displaced within the combined interconnected storage containers, and thus falling out of the rear[4] opening of the connected hand warmer gloves. Access to the storage containers could be achieved by unfastening either the front[1] or rear[4] separator [15] of the respective interconnected storage container.

Drawing V: shows four gloves connected together; as two storage containers between two hand warmers.

Separators[15] are used in two configurations: as glove separators[15] inserted internally between connected gloves along the side fastening borders between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces, thus creating segregated compartments, and as rear[4] extension separators(15.4) creating an extended rear fastened storage container.

Drawing W: shows a perspective view of a storage container with separators[15] inserted between the dorsal[5] and palm[6] face fastening borders on sides [2] and [3] and rear[4], where separators[15] are made from the same material as that of the dorsal[5] and palm[6J faces. This expands the internal storage volume of the storage container.

USECASE 6: The gloves thus far described have a rectangular outline from a top down plan view, with four perpendicular borders.

Additional side borders could be included giving the glove a hexagonal, octagonal or irregular plan outline. These would enable various other more complex configurations.

Drawing X: This drawing shows two octagonal storage containers attached to the corners of an enclosed handlebar[11]. The octagonal storage containers are each connected to a hand warmer, which are in-turn connected to a central hexagonal storage container. The elastic section[9] of each glove serves to keep the configuration in place along the handlebar. Secondary fastenings[13] and front[1] lateral side edge fastening[14] are employed to reinforce the connections, and maintain the combined gloves' weather-proof integrity.

Drawings V. Z. Ak and AB: the bold lines identify possible configurations for sides with detachable fastening borders.

Drawings V and 7 show the minimum required two fastenable sides. Drawing AA shows a glove where the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces are completely detachable. Drawing AB shows a glove where the dorsal[5] and palm[6] faces are completely detachable and where the rear side may be fastened to produce the storage container configuration.

Claims

A MULTIFUNCTIONAL GLOVE FOR USE ON HANDLES AND HANDLEBARSClaims 1. A glove which is removably attachable to a handle, handlebar, and which is configured to connect to another glove, comprising: a dorsal face, a palm face, a first lateral side with fastenable borders wherein the dorsal face border fastenings and palm face border fastenings of the same glove are configured to fasten together and wherein the dorsal face border fastenings of a first glove are configured to fasten to the dorsal face border fastenings of a second glove and the palm face border fastenings of the first glove are configured to fasten to the palm face border fastenings of the second glove, a second side with fastenable borders, a front side comprising a lateral side edge fastening configured to connect the edge of the front side of the first glove to the edge of the front side of the second glove, A rear side opening.
2. A glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rear side comprises border fastenings along the full length of the side between the dorsal face and palm face.
3. A glove as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a side border comprises an elasticated section.
4. A glove as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elasticated section comprises contiguous fastenings along its length.
5. A glove as claimed in claim 3 wherein the length of the elasticated section is adjustable.
6. A glove as caimed in claim 3 wherein secondary fastening points are located at the base of the elastic section between the dorsal face and palm face.
7. A glove as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a separator for insertion between the fastenable borders of a side between the dorsal face and palm face.
8. A glove as claimed in any preceding claim comprising an adjustable gathering along the edge of the rear side border.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows.A MULTIFUNCTIONAL APPARATUS FOR USE ON HANDLES AND HANDLEBARSClaims 1. A hand covering apparatus which is removably attachable to a handle, and which is configured so that in a first instance it functions as a single hand warmer for one hand, and in a second instance it connects to a second hand covering apparatus to function as a double hand muff for both hands, comprising: a dorsal face with a border along a lateral side, a palm face with a border along the same lateral side as the dorsal face, wherein the lateral side borders comprise fastenFngs which are configured so that in the first instance the dorsal face and palm face borders fasten together forming the single hand warmer, and in the second instance the dorsal face border of one hand covering apparatus fastens to the dorsal face border of a second hand covering apparatus, and the palm face border of the first hand covering apparatus fastens to the palm face border of the second hand covering apparatus forming the double hand muff, a rear side opening allowing ingress and egress of a wearer's hands in both single hand warmer and double 0 hand muff configuration.2. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising an additional side with borders between the dorsal face and palm face wherein the borders comprise fastenings which enable the hand covering apparatus to envelope a segment of the handle. r3. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a side border comprises an elasticated section.4. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a front side with a fastening at the lateral side edge configured to connect the lateral side edge of the front side of the first glove to the lateral side edge of the front side of the second glove.S. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rear side comprises border fastenings along the full length of the side between the dorsal face and palm face.6. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elasticated section comprises contiguous fastenings along its length.7. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the length of the elasticated section is adjustable.8. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein secondary fastening points are located at the base of the elastic section between the dorsal face and palm face.
9. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a separator for insertion between the fastenable borders of a side between the dorsal face and palm face.
10. A hand covering apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising an adjustable gathering across the width of the hand covering apparatus parallel to the rear side border.