Hand covering with tactility features
View Patent ↗This invention relates generally to a hand covering. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hand covering with tactility features. The tactility features of the hand covering enable the wearer of the hand covering to have improved dexterity and tactility while wearing the hand covering and performing various tasks. In one embodiment, the hand covering includes a conductive member that can be used with an interface of an electronic device.
1. A hand covering comprising:
a shell including a palm region, a cuff region, and a finger region, the finger region including a finger receptacle, the shell including an outer layer, wherein the outer layer of the shell includes an opening formed in the finger receptacle;
a conductive member, the conductive member being coupled to the finger receptacle, the conductive member including a layer of flexible conductive fabric material, the conductive member being configured to transfer a charge from a user wearing the hand covering to a capacitive-type touch sensing interface on an electronic device, the conductive member being configured to extend through the opening in the finger receptacle of the shell; and
an insert, the insert being configured to extend through the opening in the finger receptacle of the shell, the insert engaging an inner surface of the layer of flexible conductive fabric material, and the layer of flexible conductive fabric material conforming to the configuration of an outer surface of the insert.
2. The hand covering of claim 1 , wherein the insert is substantially cylindrical with tapered sides.
3. The hand covering of claim 1 , wherein the shell includes an inner layer, and the layer of flexible conductive fabric material and the insert are disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer of the shell.
4. The hand covering of claim 1 , wherein the layer of flexible conductive fabric material includes conductive fibers therein.
5. A hand covering, comprising:
a shell, the shell including a finger receptacle, the finger receptacle having an opening formed therein;
a conductive member, the conductive member being a flexible layer of fabric material; and
an insert, the insert being disposed proximate to the conductive member, and the conductive member substantially conforming to the configuration of an outer surface of the insert, the insert and the conductive member extending through the opening in the finger receptacle, the conductive member being configured to transfer a charge from a user wearing the hand covering to a capacitive-type touch sensing interface on an electronic device.
6. The hand covering of claim 5 , wherein the finger receptacle includes an outer layer and an inner layer, the outer layer includes the opening formed therein, and the insert and the conductive member extend through the opening in the outer layer.
7. The hand covering of claim 6 , wherein the insert and the conductive member are disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer.
8. The hand covering of claim 6 , wherein the conductive member is coupled to the inner layer and to the outer layer.
9. The hand covering of claim 8 , wherein the conductive member, the inner layer and the outer layer are coupled together by stitching.
10. The hand covering of claim 5 , wherein the conductive member includes conductive fibers therein.
11. A hand covering, comprising:
a shell, the shell including a finger region and a palm region, the finger region including a finger receptacle having an outer surface; and
an actuator portion, the actuator portion being coupled to the shell, the actuator portion including a conductive material and a mounting structure, the conductive material including a flexible fabric material, the mounting structure being coupled to the outer surface of the finger receptacle and configured to couple the conductive material to the outer surface of the finger receptacle, the conductive material being configured to transfer a charge from a user wearing the hand covering to a capacitive-type touch sensing interface on an electronic device.
12. The hand covering of claim 11 , wherein the mounting structure is a molded object that has a substantially circular configuration.
13. The hand covering of claim 12 , wherein the mounting structure includes an inner edge that defines an opening.
14. The hand covering of claim 13 , wherein the conductive material is disposed between the mounting structure and the shell, the conductive material being accessible through the opening in the mounting structure.
15. The hand covering of claim 14 , wherein the mounting structure is bonded to the finger receptacle.
16. The hand covering of claim 11 , wherein the mounting structure is coupled to the finger receptacle via stitching.
17. The hand covering of claim 11 , wherein the conductive material includes conductive fibers therein.
18. The hand covering of claim 1 , wherein the shell has an outer surface, and at least a portion of the flexible conductive fabric material and at least a portion of the insert extend beyond the outer surface of the shell.
19. The hand covering of claim 5 , wherein the insert engages an inner surface of the flexible layer of fabric material.
20. The hand covering of claim 5 , wherein the shell has an outer surface, and at least a portion of the flexible layer of fabric material and at least a portion of the insert extend beyond the outer surface of the shell.