A hand shield is provided comprising a body dimensioned to cover the first web space of a human hand, a proximal end extending from the body in the direction of the thumb, and a distal end extending from the body in the direction of the index finger. The body may have a variety of shapes and profiles, and comprises a base resting over the first web side of the hand, an anterior wall covering at least a portion of the anterior side of the hand, and a posterior wall covering at least a portion of the posterior side of the hand.
1. A hand shield adapted to protect the hand when carrying standard sized clothing hangers and the like comprising:
a body dimensioned to cover the first web space of a hand, the body having a U-shaped cross-section and a substantially uniform wall-thickness, the body comprising:
a base having an arched contour connecting a proximal end to a distal end, such that the arched contour has an outer radius of curvature substantially equal to an inner radius of curvature of a hook portion of standard sized clothing hangers, such that the arched contour outer radius of curvature arranges the proximal end, arched contour, and distal end to fit matingly with the hook portion,
an anterior wall covering at least a portion of the anterior side of the hand, and
a posterior wall covering at least a portion of the posterior side of the hand, wherein:
the base has a rounded profile connecting the anterior and posterior walls, the rounded profile having an outer radius of curvature substantially equal to an inner radius of curvature of a hook portion of standard sized clothing hangers, such that the rounded profile outer radius of curvature arranges the anterior wall, rounded profile, and posterior wall to fit matingly with the hook portion;
the proximal end extends from the body in the direction of the thumb;
the distal end extends from the body in the direction of the index finger;
the anterior wall and the posterior wall each also extend to connect the proximal end to the distal end; and
the hand shield has a convergent shape defined by a wider cross-section at the proximal end and a narrower cross-section at the distal end.
2. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the outer edges of the anterior wall and of the posterior wall have curved shapes.
3. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end extends to approximately the inter-phalangeal joint of the thumb.
4. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end extends to approximately the tip of the thumb.
5. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end extends to a point between the metacarpo-phalangeal joint and the inter-phalangeal joint of the thumb, and wherein the proximal end as a truncated shape.
6. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the distal end extends to approximately the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the index finger.
7. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the distal end extends to a point between the metacarpo-phalangeal joint and the tip of the index finger.
8. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the distal end extends to cover the tip of the index finger.
9. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the anterior wall and the posterior wall extend to partially wrap around the fist metacarpal bone of the thumb.
10. The hand shield of claim 1 , wherein the anterior and posterior walls extend to join and wrap around the first metacarpal bone of the thumb.