WEATHER-RESISTANT SLEEVE AND MITT |
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申请号 | US13692872 | 申请日 | 2012-12-03 | 公开(公告)号 | US20140150321A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2014-06-05 |
申请人 | Timothy S. Fitzgerald; | 发明人 | Timothy S. Fitzgerald; | ||||
摘要 | A protective sleeve for use with a firearm which protects a user's hands from the elements, especially at very cold temperatures. The sleeve fits over a firearm or other operable object and provides access to the controls, such as a firearm trigger, through a branch sleeve or mitt protrusion. The primary portion of the sleeve which fits over a firearm or other operable object may be uninsulated to prevent loss of sight-lines. The mitt protrusion or branch portion is insulated to protect the operator's hands when operating the firearm or other object. The sleeve may be secured to the object using straps, elastic bands, hook-and-loop closures, or by other suitable means. | ||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | This application claims priority in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/566,466, filed Dec. 2, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference. 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a weather-resistant, insulated sleeve and glove apparatus for sporting equipment and firearms, such as shotguns, rifles, or remote control packs. 2. Description of the Related Art Firearms are used for a multitude of purposes, from hunting, to military purposes, to sport-shooting. Using firearms is a challenging skill that requires years of practice to perfect. Hunting seasons, sport shooting events, and military operations that occur during the winter or colder areas of the world present the additional challenge of cold temperatures. As a result, typically a person has a decision to make: whether to (1) use a bare hand, providing a safe and reliable operation of the firearm mechanism while sacrificing comfort and hand-functionality in cold weather; or (2) to wear thick gloves, or several gloves to try to arrive at a satisfactory balance of function and comfort. Most firearm users employ a variety of thin gloves, which provide just enough warmth to avoid great pain, but still hinder dexterity significantly when compared to the bare hand. This compromise is not ideal. Other entertainment and sporting related devices suffer similar problems in cold environments, such as remote control devices. Modern remotely controlled aircraft and other devices are capable of high degrees of mobility, but that mobility requires accurate and precise use of the remote control pack which controls the device. In colder weather, hands and fingers tend not to function as fluidly, and gloves can dull a user's reaction time and sensitivity. The present invention solves this problem by providing the warmth and insulating properties of a glove or mitten, and the dexterity and reliability of operating the weapon or device with bare hands. Additional benefits include but are certainly not limited to increased safety, improved concealment and comfort. Heretofore there has not been available a water-resistant sporting sleeve and mitt with the features and elements of the present invention. The present invention relates to a glove or mitten adapted to a firearm using a sleeve. An embodiment of the present invention may be used to insulate the hand of a hunter or shooter while using a firearm, and in position to operate the weapon. A preferred embodiment includes a reusable insular sleeve included within a mitten or glove-like device. The device may be temporarily affixed to a firearm by sliding the sleeve over the firearm stock and action (which contains the mechanical and moving parts of the firearm), and fastening the sleeve to both the action and the stock. A mitten-like protrusion from the sleeve allows a user to insert their hand into the sleeve for access to the trigger and safety mechanisms, while the mitten protects the hand from cold temperatures and weather. The present invention is adapted to fit most, if not all, long firearms, such as shotguns and rifles. The sleeve may be adjustable in certain ways to accommodate different firearm mechanisms and components. Hook-and-fastener connectors or pull-straps allow the device to securely be temporarily affixed to the firearm. The interior of the mitten portion may include a pocket for storing a chemical heat packet such as a Hot Hands® packet, manufactured by HeatMax® of Georgia, United States. An alternative embodiment of the present invention may be used to house a remote control pack for remotely controlling a device, such as a radio controlled airplane, car, or boat. The insulating and weather-resistant material prevents moisture or other elements from harming the sensitive electronics of the control pack, and also ensures that the user's hands are capable of maximum flexibility and precision during operation in cold weather. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to, such as the front or rear of a firearm. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. An embodiment of the present invention is generally designed to provide a sleeve 2, including a mitten or glove-like protrusion 3, for covering a long gun 4 such as a rifle or a shotgun, while allowing the user to have access to the firing mechanisms. Referring to the drawings in more detail, The sleeve 2, generally comprised of weather-resistant cloth or a similarly suitable material, includes a rear opening 6 for receiving the stock 14 of a firearm, and an adjustable strap 12 or other securing means for securing the stock within the sleeve. The sleeve further includes a front opening 10 for receiving the action 16 of the firearm 4 just above the trigger guard 26. An enclosure 22 comprised of elastic, an adjustable strap, a zipper, or other securing means secures the front opening 10 around the action 16 of the firearm. The sleeve 2 includes an upper, un-insulated portion 18 covering the top portion of the firearm 4 so as not to obstruct the line of sight 20 of the user. The lower insulated portion 30 of the sleeve includes a glove or mitt protrusion 3 which extends from the body of the sleeve 2, and includes a mitt opening 8 which receives the user's hand and forearm. As shown in more detail in As shown in The mitt protrusion 3 includes a concealed pocket 28 for receiving a heating source, such as a Hot Hands® packet, manufactured by HeatMax® of Georgia, United States. The pocket optimally would be placed such that it would press against the back of the user's hand, so as to provide heat without abstructing the user's access to the trigger guard 26, trigger, and safety mechanisms or, in the case of a rifle, the bolt. The sleeve 2 must fit suitably loose about the firearm 4, especially the trigger guard 26 and other operable mechanisms. This allows full range of use of the weapon, while protecting both the weapon components and the user's hand. As shown in Alternatively, the mitt protrusion 3 may initially be detached from the sleeve 2. The mitt may be affixed to a human hand and arm, and later attached to the remainder of the sleeve when use of the firearm is desired. Enthusiasts of remote control devices, such as remote-controlled cars, boats, and airplanes often must practice their hobbies outdoors because of indoor space constraints. In colder months or in inclement weather circumstances, the user may desire to both protect the sensitive remote control device from the elements, while also ensuring that the user's own hands remain warm and nimble during operation. A sleeve or mitt protrusion 106 extends out from the main body of the bag 104 and allows the user to insert a second hand through the protrusion opening 108. The protrusion 106 also includes an insulated layer 118 and an un-insulated, weather-resistant layer 116. The entire enclosure 202 includes an insulated layer 216 for keeping the user's hands warm during operation, and a weather-resistant layer 214 for protecting the insulating layer and the sensitive remote control pack. The embodiment shown in It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited. |