Means for protecting batters from hand injuries

Claim 2

The combination comprising a pair of gloves for covering the right and left hands, in which each glove has a rear surface covering the back side of the hand and the rear surface has a lower portion covering the metacarpal area of the hand and an upper portion covering the lower portions of the fingers, first attachment means secured to the lower portion of one of said gloves for releasably attaching a first protective device to that portion of the glove; second attachment means secured to the upper portion of said one glove for releasably attaching a second protective device to that portion of the glove; third attachment means secured to the lower portion of the other of said gloves for releasably attaching a third protective device to that portion of the glove; and fourth attachment means secured to the upper portion of said other glove for releasably attaching a fourth protective device to that portion of the glove.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 in which the first and third attachment means comprise thistle-cloth material covering the width of the four metacarpal bones of the hand and extending from the vicinity of the wrist to immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 in which the second and fourth attachment means comprise thistle-cloth material covering the width of the four fingers of the hand and extending from immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints to immediately below the first interdigital joints of the fingers.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 in which the first and third protective devices comprise first and third rigid protective plates each having a width to cover the four metacarpal bones of the hand, and means secured to the first and third plates, respectively, for being releasably attached to the first and third attachment means, respectively.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4 in which the second and fourth protective devices comprise second and fourth rigid protec ive plates each having a width to cover the lower portions of the four fingers of the hand, and means secured to the second and fourth plates, respectively, to releasably attach the plates to the second and fourth attachment means, respectively, the first and second plates being attachable to their corresponding glove in a spaced apart relation and the third and fourth plates being attachable to their corresponding glove in a spaced apart relation to allow freedom of movement of the metacarpal phalangeal joints of each hand.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5 in which the plates for being attached to one glove are similar in configuration to the plates for being attached to the other glove to prevent interference between the two gloves when a batter wearing the gloves grips a bat.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5 in which each plate is curved across its width to conform to the curvature of the hand when gripping a bat.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 5 in which the first, second, third and fourth attachment means comprise respective thistle-cloth fastening means, and in which the means secured to the first, second, third and fourth plates for releasably attaching the respective plates to their respective gloves comprise cooperating thistle-cloth fastening means on each plate.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 5 including a first elongated flexible strip, means securing the first and second plates in a spaced apart relation to the first strip, the spacing between the first and second plates allowing said plates to be releasably attached to the first and second attachment means, respectively; and an elongated second flexible strip, and means securing the third and fourth plates in a spaced apart relation to the second strip, the spacing allowing said plates to be releasably fastened to the third and fourth attachment means, respectively.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 9 in which each strip is stretchable so the spacing between the two plates on said strip can be adjusted.

Claim 12

For use with a glove having a rear surface covering the back side of a hand in which the lower portion of the glove covers the metacarpal area of the hand and an upper portion of the glove covers the lower portions of the fingers above the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand, means for protecting the hand of a person wearing said glove comprising a rigid lower protective plate for covering said lower portion of the glove, a rigid upper protective plate for covering said upper portion of the glove, means on the lower plate for releasably fastening the lower plate to said lower portion of the glove, and means on the upper plate for releasably fastening the upper plate to said upper portion of the glove.

Claim 13

For use with a glove having a rear surface covering the back side of a hand in which the lower portion of the glove covers the metacarpal area of the hand and an upper portion of the glove covers the lower portions of the fingers above the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand, means for protecting the hand of a person wearing said glove comprising a rigid lower protective plate for covering said lower portion of the glove, a rigid upper protective plate for covering said upper portion of the glove, means on the lower plate for releasably fastening the lower plate to said lower portion of the glove, and means on the upper plate for releasably fastening the upper plate to said upper portion of the glove.

Claim 14

The protective means according to claim 11 in which the lower plate is configured so that in its attached position it extends from the vicinity of the wrist to immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand.

Claim 15

The protective means according to claim 12 in which the lower plate is configured so that in its attached position it substantially covers four metacarpal bones of the hand.

Claim 16

The protective means according to claim 13 in which the upper plate is configured so that in its attached position it extends from immediately above the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand to immediately below the first interdigital joints of the fingers, the upper and lower plates in their attached positions being spaced apart to allow freedom of movement of the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand.

Claim 17

The protective means according to claim 14 in which the upper plate is configured so that in its attached position it substantially covers the lower portions of the four fingers of the hand.

Claim 18

The protective means according to claim 15 in which each plate is curved across its width to conform to the corresponding shape of a hand gripping a bat.

Claim 19

The protective means according to claim 16 including an elongated flexible strip, and means attaching each plate in said spaced apart relation to the strip.

Claim 20

The protective means according to claim 16 in which each plate is made from hard plastic.

Claim 21

The protective means according to claim 15 in which the plates for the left hand of a right-handed batter are wider than the plates for the right hand of a right-handed batter, and vice versa for a left-handed batter.

Claim 22

Means for protecting the hand comprising: a glove having a rear surface covering the back side of the hand in the matacarpal area of the hand; first fastening means on said rear surface of the glove; a rigid protective plate having spaced apart top and bottom edges and spaced apart side edges; and second fastening means on the protective plate for cooperating with said first fastening means to releasably secure the protective plate in a fixed position covering said rear surface; the protective plate, in said fixed position, having said side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the four metacarpal bones of the hand extending from said bottom edge being in the vicinity of the wrist to said top edge being immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of said hand, with said first and second fastening means allowing freedom of movement of said metacarpal phalangeal joints and allowing freedom of movement of the thumb of said hand.

Claim 23

Means for protecting the hand comprising: a glove having a rear surface covering the back side of the hand in the matacarpal area of the hand; first fastening means on said rear surface of the glove; a rigid protective plate having spaced apart top and bottom edges and spaced apart side edges; and second fastening means on the protective plate for cooperating with said first fastening means to releasably secure the protective plate in a fixed position covering said rear surface; the protective plate, in said fixed position, having said side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the four metacarpal bones of the hand extending from said bottom edge being in the vicinity of the wrist to said top edge being immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of said hand, with said first and second fastening means allowing freedom of movement of said metacarpal phalangeal joints and allowing freedom of movement of the thumb of said hand.

Claim 24

Protective means according to claim 20 in which the rigid plate is curved across its width to conform to the curvature of the hand when gripping a bat.

Claim 25

Protective means according to claim 20 in which the plate is made from hard plastic.

Claim 26

Protective means according to claim 22 in which the first and second fastening means comprise cooperating sections of thistle-cloth material.

Claim 27

Means for protecting the hand comprising: a glove having a rear surface covering the back side of the hand, the glove rear surface having a lower portion covering the metacarpal area of the hand and an upper portion covering the lower portions of the fingers; first fastening means on said lower portion of the glove rear surface; second fastening means on said upper portion of the glove rear surface; a rigid lower protective plate having spaced apart top and bottom edges and spaced apart side edges; a rigid upper protective plate having spaced apart top and bottom edges and spaced apart side edges; third fastening means on the lower protective plate for cooperating with said first fastening means to releasably secure the lower plate in a fixed position covering said lower portion of the glove rear surface; and fourth fastening means on the upper protective plate for cooperating with said second fastening means to releasably secure the upper plate in a fixed position covering said upper portion of the glove rear surface; the lower protective plate, in its fixed position, having its side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the four metacarpal bones of the hand extending from its bottom edge being in the vicinity of the wrist to its top edge being immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of said hand; the upper protective plate, in its fixed position, having its side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the lower portions of the four fingers extending from its bottom edge being immediately above the metacarpal phalangeal joints to its top edge being immediately below the first interdigital joints of said four fingers; the lower and upper plates, in their fixed positions, being spaced apart to allow freedom of movement of the metacarpal joints of the hand and also allowing freedom of movement of the thumb of said hand.

Claim 28

Means for protecting the hand comprising: a glove having a rear surface covering the back side of the hand, the glove rear surface having a lower portion covering the metacarpal area of the hand and an upper portion covering the lower portions of the fingers; first fastening means on said lower portion of the glove rear surface; second fastening means on said upper portion of the glove rear surface; a rigid lower protective plate having spaced apart top and bottom edges and spaced apart side edges; a rigid upper protective plate having spaced apart top and bottom edges and spaced apart side edges; third fastening means on the lower protective plate for cooperating with said first fastening means to releasably secure the lower plate in a fixed position covering said lower portion of the glove rear surface; and fourth fastening means on the upper protective plate for cooperating with said second fastening means to releasably secure the upper plate in a fixed position covering said upper portion of the glove rear surface; the lower protective plate, in its fixed position, having its side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the four metacarpal bones of the hand extending from its bottom edge being in the vicinity of the wrist to its top edge being immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of said hand; the upper protective plate, in its fixed position, having its side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the lower portions of the four fingers extending from its bottom edge being immediately above the metacarpal phalangeal joints to its top edge being immediately below the first interdigital joints of said four fingers; the lower and upper plates, in their fixed positions, being spaced apart to allow freedom of movement of the metacarpal joints of the hand and also allowing freedom of movement of the thumb of said hand.

Claim 29

Protective means according to claim 24 in which the upper and lower protective plates are made from hard plastic.

Claim 30

Protective means according to claim 25 in which the first and third fastening means comprise cooperating sections of thistle-cloth material, and the second and fourth fastening means also comprise cooperating sections of thistle-cloth material.

Claim 31

Protective means according to claim 24 including an elongated flexible strip securing the upper and lower plates in said spaced apart relation.

Claim 32

A glove worn on the hand, the glove having a rear surface for covering the backside of the hand, the glove rear surface having a lower portion covering the metacarpal area of the hand, and an upper portion covering the lower portions of the fingers; lower securing means on the lower portion of the glove; upper securing means on the upper portion of the glove; a lower rigid protective plate for cooperating with the lower securing means to hold the lower protective plate on the lower portion of the glove, the lower protective plate extending over the four metacarpal bones of the hand when releasably secured to the lower securing means; an upper rigid protective plate for cooperating with the upper securing means to releasably secure the upper protective plate over the upper portion of the glove, the upper protective plate extending over the lower portions of the four fingers when releasably secured to the upper securing means; the upper and lower protective plates being separate from one another so as to allow freedom of movement of the glove portion covering the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand.

Claim 33

A glove worn on the hand, the glove having a rear surface for covering the backside of the hand, the glove rear surface having a lower portion covering the metacarpal area of the hand, and an upper portion covering the lower portions of the fingers; lower securing means on the lower portion of the glove; upper securing means on the upper portion of the glove; a lower rigid protective plate for cooperating with the lower securing means to hold the lower protective plate on the lower portion of the glove, the lower protective plate extending over the four metacarpal bones of the hand when releasably secured to the lower securing means; an upper rigid protective plate for cooperating with the upper securing means to releasably secure the upper protective plate over the upper portion of the glove, the upper protective plate extending over the lower portions of the four fingers when releasably secured to the upper securing means; the upper and lower protective plates being separate from one another so as to allow freedom of movement of the glove portion covering the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand.

Claim 34

The glove according to claim 28 including means on the lower protective plate for being releasably secured to the lower securing means, and means on the upper protective plate for being releasably secured to the upper securing means.

Claim 35

The glove according to claim 29 in which the lower securing means comprises thistle-cloth material secured to the area of the glove covering the four metacarpal bones of the hand, and the upper securing means comprises thistle-cloth material secured to the lower portions of the four fingers of the glove; in which the means for releasably securing the lower protective plate comprises thistle-cloth material extending over a sufficient width of the plate to releasably secure the lower plate to the thistle-cloth material covering the metacarpal bones of the hand; and in which the means for releasably securing the upper protective plate comprises thistle-cloth material extending over a sufficient width of the plate to releasably secure the upper protective plate to the thistle-cloth material covering the lower portions of the four fingers.

Claim 36

The glove according to claim 28 in which the upper and lower securing means comprise upper and lower enclosures, respectively, formed on the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the glove for releasably retaining the upper and lower protective plates, respectively.

Claim 37

The glove according to claim 29 in which the lower securing means comprise spaced apart first fasteners secured to the lower portion of the glove, and the lower securing means comprises spaced apart second fasteners secured to the lower protective plate; and the upper fastening means comprise spaced apart third fasteners secured to the upper portion of the glove, and the means releasably securing the upper plate to the upper glove portion comprises spaced apart fourth fasteners secured to the upper protective plate.

Claim 38

The glove according to claim 28 in which the upper protective plate, in said fixed position releasably secured to the upper portion of the glove, has side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the four metacarpal bones of the hand extending from a bottom edge of the plate being in the vicinity of the wrist to a top edge of the plate being immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand, with the lower fastening means allowing freedom of movement of the thumb of the hand.

Claim 39

The glove according to claim 33 in which the upper protective plate, in its fixed position releasably secured to the upper securing means, has opposite side edges sufficiently spaced apart to substantially cover the lower portions of the four fingers extending from a bottom edge being immediately above the metacarpal phalangeal joints to a top edge being immediately below the first interdigital joints of the four fingers, the upper protective plate, in its fixed position, allowing freedom of movement of the thumb of the hand.

Claim 40

The glove according to claim 34 in which the upper and lower protective plates are made from hard plastic.

Claim 41

The glove according to claim 28 in which the upper and lower protective plates are made from hard plastic.

Claim 42

The glove according to claim 28 in which the upper and lower protective plates are curved across their width to conform to the curvature of the hand when gripping a bat.

Claim 43

The glove according to claim 28 in which the glove lower portion has a width covering the four metacarpal bones of the hand, and the glove upper portion has a width covering the lower portions of the four fingers of the hand; and the lower protective plate extends the width of the glove lower portion; and the upper protective plate extends the width of the glove upper portion.

Claim 44

The glove according to claim 38 in which the glove lower portion has a longitudinal dimension extending from the vicinity of the wrist to a location immediately below the metacarpal phalangeal joints of the hand, and the glove upper portion has a longitudinal dimension extending from immediately above the metacarpal phalangeal joints to immediately below the first interdigital joints of the four fingers; and in which the lower protective plate extends the longitudinal dimension of the lower glove portion, and the upper protective plate extends the longitudinal dimension of the upper glove portion.

Claim 45

The glove according to claim 39 in which the upper and lower protective plates are made from hard plastic.

Claim 46

The glove according to claim 40 including means on the upper and lower protective plates for releasably securing the plates to the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the glove.