Thumb protection device

• US 6,951,032 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Rifkin
• Original Assignee: Mark Rifkin
• Inventors: Rifkin, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Welch, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US10/741,552
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 2 1/6, 2 1/9, 2 2/0, 2 2/1, 215/9, 216/11, 216/12, 216/3, 128/880, 602/22
• US Class Current: 2/21
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/087 especially for fingers

Abstract

A thumb protection device for preventing injury to a person'"'"'s thumb while playing a sport such as baseball includes a tubular main member of a padding material. The tubular main member fits snugly over the thumb of a user and includes a slit to facilitate wearing of the device by persons having widely varied thumb sizes.

Claims

1. A thumb protection device comprising:

a tubular main member having a pair of open ends whereby said tubular main member is adapted for sliding over a thumb of a user to cover a medial portion of the thumb;

wherein said tubular main member is constructed of a padding material for cushioning impact forces applied to the medial portion of the thumb while playing a sport; and

said tubular main member includes a slit extending from a proximal end of said tubular main member such that said proximal end is expandable in diameter for accommodating thickening of the thumb approaching a root of the thumb, said slit being alignable with a top side of a hand of the user for facilitating free flexing of a middle joint of the thumb.

2. The thumb protection device of claim 1, further comprising reinforced edging coupled to said tubular main member.

3. The thumb protection device of claim 1 wherein said tubular main member has a length of between 2 and 4 inches.

4. The thumb protection device of claim 1 wherein said tubular main member has a length sufficient for covering a distal joint of the thumb.

5. The thumb protection device of claim 1 wherein said tubular main member is constructed of a resilient material selected from a group of resilient materials consisting of rubber and plastic.

6. A thumb protection system for protecting a thumb of a user from impact forces during playing of a sport, the system comprising:

a sport glove having a thumb portion adapted for fitting over a user'"'"'s thumb;

a tubular main member having a pair of open ends whereby said tubular main member is adapted for sliding over the thumb of the user to cover a medial portion of the thumb;

wherein said tubular main member is constructed of a padding material for cushioning impact forces applied to the medial portion of the thumb while playing a sport;

said tubular main member having an outer diameter cross-sectional area less than an interior cross-sectional area of said thumb portion whereby said tubular main member is insertable into said thumb portion for providing padding to the thumb while the thumb is inserted into said sport glove; and

said tubular main member having a slit extending from a proximal end of said tubular main member such that said proximal end is expandable in diameter for accommodating thickening of the thumb approaching a root of the thumb, said slit being alignable with a top side of a hand of the user for facilitating free flexing of a middle joint of the thumb.

7. A method of protecting a thumb of a user from impact while playing a sport, the steps of the method comprising:

providing a sport glove having a thumb portion adapted for receiving the thumb of the user;

providing a tubular main member for covering a medial portion of the thumb, said tubular main member being constructed of a padding material;

providing said tubular main member with a slit extending from a proximal end of said tubular main member such that said proximal end is expandable in diameter for accommodating thickening of the thumb approaching a root of the thumb, the steps of the method further comprising;

inserting the thumb through the tubular main member such that said tubular main member covers a medial portion of the thumb;

aligning said slit with a top side of a hand of the user for facilitating free flexing of a middle joint of the thumb; and

inserting the thumb and tubular main member into the thumb portion of the sport glove when the user inserts a hand into the sport glove.