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  Workout gloveUSPTO Application #: 20070192928Title: Workout glove Abstract: A glove that provides improved comfort, flexibility, and safety while a wearer participates in workout activities, such as weight training, indoor/outdoor cycling, Pilates, racquetball, as well as others. Particularly, the glove provides for improved wicking of perspiration, improved range of mobility of the hand, and a more comfortable fit. While donned, the glove does not interfere with jewelry, such as rings worn by the wearer, and the glove's construction reduces pinching the wearer on the palmar surface at the knuckle joints. The glove of the present invention also provides for a securing mechanism with less bulk, reduced latching effort, reduced noise associated with unlatching the closure mechanism, and a resistance against damaging other articles of clothing. (end of abstract) Agent: Arent Fox PLLC - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Cherith Hanna USPTO Applicaton #: 20070192928 - Class: 002159000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments, Gloves The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070192928. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/758,224 entitled "Workout Glove", filed Jan. 12, 2006. This application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a glove for use during various workout activities, such as weight training, indoor/outdoor cycling, Pilates, racquetball, as well as others, and particularly, to a workout glove designed for an improved fit of a woman's hand. [0004] 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0005] Workout gloves used for exercise activities, particularly weightlifting, are known in the art. However, previous workout gloves posed significant problems to a wearer, such as excessive bulk, low breathability, and reduced comfort, flexibility, and fit. These drawbacks have decreased the wearer's overall workout experience, as well as posed safety risks and durability issues. [0006] For example, workout gloves presently available in the art have a low wicking ability (i.e., the ability to convey perspiration from a skin's surface) causing perspiration to accumulate within the glove and at the skin's surface. This accumulation of perspiration not only causes discomfort to the glove wearer, but also leads to the degradation of the glove material, shortening the glove's useful life. [0007] Additionally, gloves presently available are bulky, causing a reduced range of motion of the hand. For example, current workout gloves typically include a thick padding, which covers the palm and typically a portion of the fingers of wearer's hand. The thick padding often unintentionally reduces a wearer's ability to grip objects, such as a barbell, especially for those wearers having small hands. Because workout gloves currently available are primarily tailored to a man's hand, and because women generally have hands that are smaller than men, this problem disproportionately affects women. The reduced gripping ability also poses a safety risk when the wearer is attempting to lift large amounts of weight. [0008] Further, workout gloves presently available often include bulky closure mechanisms, such as hook and loop fasteners, to secure the workout glove to the wearer's hand. The bulky closure mechanisms also cause discomfort and restrict movement of the wearer's hand. Additionally, hook and loop closure mechanisms can create undesirable noise when unfastening the closure mechanism. [0009] Moreover, hook and loop fasteners used on present closure mechanisms have a tendency to damage other articles of clothing, such as nylon stockings or silk garments, after coming into contact therewith. For example, many persons who exercise do so at a gym and use a bag or other similar container to store their clothing items while working out. If a workout glove having a hook and loop closure mechanism contacts other types of clothing, the closure mechanism can snag the other garments and cause significant damage thereto, including complete ruination. [0010] Further, workout gloves presently available often include finger covering portions that encircle a lower portion of the four principle digits of the hand, for example. In some variations, the finger covering portions terminate proximate to a first finger joint between the knuckle and the first finger joint. As a result, the workout gloves preclude or impair wearing of any form of jewelry, e.g., rings, over the fingers while the workout gloves are being worn. Additionally, there is a tendency for the finger covering portions of gloves presently available to pinch the fingers while grasping an object, such as a barbell. The pinching occurs on the palm surface at the knuckle joints where the fingers attach to the hand. Pinching occurs when the finger covering portions slide or move toward the knuckle joint, such as by rolling over itself, and being pressed into the knuckle joint. Pinching occurs particularly when the wearer is weightlifting, for example, and is especially noticeable where a portion of the finger covering is manufactured from a stiff material, such as leather. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention solves these problems, as well as others, by providing a workout glove manufactured from a more flexible and more breathable material, while decreasing the overall bulk of the glove. [0012] In light of the above described problems and shortcomings, various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention provide hand glove that includes a palmar portion, an upper portion that comprises a plurality of flaps, wherein a first flap comprises a loop and a second flap comprises a button, and a plurality of finger openings, wherein at least one of the palmar portion and the upper portion comprises neoprene, and the upper portion closes over a wearer's hand when the loop of the first flap is engaged with the button of the second flap. [0013] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the workout glove is manufactured, at least in part, from a perforated neoprene, also known as airprene. In one embodiment, the airprene forms a lower portion, i.e., palmar portion, of the workout glove. In another embodiment, the airprene forms both an upper portion and the lower portion of the glove. The airprene provides for a more flexible glove and provides the wearer with a wider range of motion. Additionally, in some embodiments, the airprene forming at least a portion of the glove is manufactured in thin sections, which also permits improved flexibility. Additionally, the perforations formed in the airprene provide for better ventilation, which, along with the improved wicking properties of airprene, provide the wearer with a more comfortable workout experience. [0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the glove includes a thin padding on the palmar portion for improved flexibility of the glove and improved range of motion of the wearer's hand. In one embodiment, the padding on the palmar portion is in the form of a plurality of padding strips distributed over the palmar portion of the glove. [0015] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the glove includes a wrist portion that extends along a lower portion of the hand towards the wrist and terminates at a position immediately above the wrist joint. As a result, the wrist remains entirely or substantially uncovered. Thus, the glove provides for improved comfort and range of motion of the hand. [0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the glove includes finger covering portions, which extend only partially along a length of the finger. As a result, the finger covering portions allow the wearer to don jewelry, such as rings, on the fingers. Also, the length of the finger covering portions, along with use of the airprene, reduces pinching of the fingers at the knuckle joints. [0017] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the glove includes a button and loop closure, wherein the loop closure comprises a stretchable material, such as elastic or rubber. Therefore, the loop and button fastener can accommodate hands of varying sizes. Additionally, the glove of the present invention may be produced in varying sizes, such as large, medium, and small, to conform to hands of different sizes. Alternately, a loop portion of the loop and button fastener forms a ladder structure providing the glove with adjustability to fit hands of varying size. Moreover, the loop and button fastener require less effort to both fasten and unfasten compared to other fasteners presently used. [0018] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a grosgrain material forms a portion of the glove of the present invention. Particularly, grosgrain is used in along one or more seams of the glove and provides improved aesthetic appeal and style. Further, it is within the scope of the present invention that grosgrain of any color and size be used for forming a portion of the glove of the present invention. [0019] Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be partially set forth in the description that follows, and will also become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or upon learning by practice of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0020] Other aspects of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, along with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Continue reading... Full patent description for Workout glove Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Workout glove patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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