Hand covering features for the manipulation of small devices

• US 20050231471A1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 4sight Inc.
• Original Assignee: 4sight Inc.
• Inventors: Mallard, David E., Leslie, Stuart M.
• Application Number:
  US11/110,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231471A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0024 with accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

A hand covering worn by a user has one or more input gesture features for enabling the user to effectively make input gestures for manipulating a small device without requiring removal of the hand covering. In a preferred embodiment, at least one instance of conductive material is provided for effectively transferring a required amount of charge between the user and a capacitive interface of the device.

Claims

1. A protective hand covering for providing a wearer of said hand covering with the ability to effectively make input gestures for manipulating a device, said hand covering comprising:

at least a first digit covering portion for surrounding a first digit of said wearer; and

a first pointer member extending from said first digit covering portion.

2. The hand covering of claim 1, wherein said first pointer member extends from a portion of said first digit covering portion adjacent a knuckle of said first digit.

3. The hand covering of claim 1, wherein said first pointer member extends from a portion of said first digit covering portion adjacent the top of said first digit.

4. The hand covering of claim 1, wherein said first pointer member extends from a portion of said first digit covering portion adjacent the front tip of said first digit.

5. The hand covering of claim 1, wherein said first pointer member extends from a portion of said first digit covering portion adjacent a side of said first digit.

6. The hand covering of claim 1, wherein said first pointer member comprises:

a base structure coupled to said first digit covering portion; and

a longitudinal body structure, wherein said body structure has a first end for contacting said device, and wherein said body structure has a second end opposite said first end for coupling said body structure to said base structure.

7. The hand covering of claim 6, wherein the construction of said first digit covering portion comprises:

an inner-lining for surrounding said first digit;

an outer-lining surrounding said inner lining; and

an insulating layer between said inner-lining and said outer-lining, wherein said base structure is coupled to said first digit covering portion at one location from the group consisting of the following;

(1) along said inner-lining internal to said hand covering, (2) within said insulating layer along said inner-lining, (3) within said insulating layer along said outer-lining, and (4) along said outer-lining external to said hand covering.

8. The hand covering of claim 1 further comprising a first instance of conductive material.

9. The hand covering of claim 8, wherein said first instance of conductive material is provided at a portion of said first digit covering portion adjacent the front tip of said first digit.

10. The hand covering of claim 8, wherein said first instance of conductive material is provided at a portion of said first digit covering portion adjacent the entire tip of said first digit.

11. The hand covering of claim 8, wherein said first instance of conductive material is provided throughout the entire first digit covering portion.

12. The hand covering of claim 8, wherein said first instance of conductive material is provided by said first pointer member.

13. The hand covering of claim 8 further comprising a second digit covering portion for surrounding a second digit of said wearer, wherein said first instance of conductive material is provided on said second digit covering portion.

14. The hand covering of claim 8, wherein, when said hand covering is in contact with a capacitive interface of said device, said first instance of conductive material effectively transfers a required amount of charge between said interface and said wearer.

15. The hand covering of claim 14, wherein at least a first portion of said hand covering comprises a single lining having at least one textile fiber, wherein said first instance of conductive material is bonded to the surface of said at least one textile fiber.

16. The hand covering of claim 14, wherein the construction of said first digit covering portion comprises:

an inner-lining for surrounding said first digit of said wearer;

an outer-lining surrounding said inner lining; and

an insulating layer between said inner-lining and said outer-lining, wherein said first instance of conductive material is provided on said first digit covering portion at one location from the group consisting of the following;

(1) along said inner-lining internal to said hand covering, (2) within said insulating layer along said inner-lining, (3) within said insulating layer along said outer-lining, and (4) along said outer-lining external to said hand covering.

17. The hand covering of claim 1 further comprising a digit cradle provided on said first digit covering portion.

18. A protective hand covering for providing a wearer of said hand covering with the ability to effectively make input gestures for manipulating a device, said hand covering comprising:

at least a first digit covering portion for surrounding a first digit of said wearer; and

at least one of the input gesture features from the group consisting of the following;

(1) a first pointer member extending from said first digit covering portion, and (2) a first instance of conductive material provided on said first digit covering portion.

19. The hand covering of claim 18, wherein said hand covering includes a plurality of digit covering portions, and wherein at least one of said input gesture features is provided on each of said digit covering portions.

20. An input gesture feature for providing to a wearer of a protective hand covering the ability to effectively make input gestures for manipulating a device, said hand covering having at least a first digit covering portion for surrounding a first digit of said wearer, said input gesture feature comprising:

a first pointer member, wherein said first pointer member comprises;

a longitudinal body structure, wherein said body structure has a first end for contacting said device and a second end opposite said first end; and

a base structure connectable to said second end of said body structure for attaching said body structure to said first digit covering portion.