Finger guard

Abstract

 A finger guard is formed in one-piece and comprises two pre-formed tubular portions (10,12) generally parallel to each other, to be worn on the user's index and middle fingers, and a web portion (14) interconnecting adjacent end of the tubular portions. The web portion (14) is flexible to allow pivoting movement of the tubular portions and thereby relative flexing of the user's index and middle fingers.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a finger guard, particularly but not solely for use by hairdressers to protect their index and middle fingers.

[0002] It is common for hairdressers to hold a strand of hair between the index and middle fingers, whilst these fingers are held out straight together, then to use scissors to cut the end of the strand of hair. Often the hairdresser will accidentally nick the fingers with the pointed ends of the scissors.

[0003] I have now devised a guard which may be worn by a hairdresser, to alleviate the above-described problem.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a finger guard which is formed in one-piece and comprises two pre-formed tubular portions disposed generally parallel to each other, to be worn on the user's index and middle fingers, and a web portion which interconnects the two tubular portions at adjacent ends thereof, the web portion being flexible to allow pivoting movement of the two tubular portions relative to each other.

[0005] Preferably the two tubular portions are longitudinally split so that they can deform to different diameters and so accommodate fingers of different sizes. Accordingly, one size of guard will fit different users.

[0006] Preferably the two tubular portions are joined together on one side only of the guard, namely by the above-mentioned web portion. Preferably the web portion extends beyond the interconnected ends of the pair of tubular portions, to lie either against the back of the hand or against the palm of the hand, just adjacent to the joints between the hand and the fingers. Preferably the web extends only a small distance, compared with the length of the guard, beyond the interconnected ends of the tubular portions.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the back of a user's hand, wearing a guard in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the palm of the hand wearing the guard;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the guard from one side; and

FIGURE 4 is a view of the guard from the opposite side.

[0008] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a guard which comprises two pre-formed tubular portions 10,12 positioned generally parallel to each other and spaced apart by a short distance. To one side only of the guard, as best seen from Figure 3, the two tubular portions 10,12 are joined by a generally flat web 14: the web 14 lies in a plane parallel to a plane in which the longitudinal axes of the two tubular portions 10,12 lie; the web 14 is generally U-shaped in plan view and interconnects adjacent ends of the two tubular portions and extends outwardly from those ends of the tubular portions. To the other side of the guard, as best seen from Figure 4, the two tubular portions 10,12 are formed with longitudinal splits 11,13.

[0009] The guard is formed in one-piece from a resiliently flexible material, preferably a thermoplastic material. Preferably the guard is formed by injection moulding. The material of the guard is such that the pre-formed tubular portions 10,12 are self-supporting and therefore retain their shape, the longitudinal splits enabling them to be expanded in cross-sectional size to suit fingers of different sizes.

[0010] In use of the guard, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the guard is fitted to the user's hand H by inserting the index and middle fingers through the respective tubular portions 10,12: this forces the tubular portions to expand slightly, so gripping the fingers. Figures 1 and 2 show the guard fitted so that the web portion 14 lies against the back of the hand, but the guard may instead be worn so that the web portion lies on the palm side of the hand.

[0011] It will be noted that the tubular portions 10,12 cover the index and middle fingers between their respective first knuckle joints and their respective joints to the hand: accordingly, the guard does not interfere with normal flexing of the fingers. Also, because the guard is flexible, the user is able to move the index and middle fingers apart, the web portion 14 of the guard permitting the required pivoting movement between the two tubular portions 10,12.

[0012] It will be appreciated that the longitudinal splits 11,13 in the tubular portions 10,12 allow the pre-formed tubular portions to deform to different diameters required to accommodate fingers of different sizes. The tubular portions are not formed with any apertures or openings, apart from their longitudinal splits, and so provide cover and protection for the index and middle fingers, along the full length of the tubular portions, against accidental damage from the pointed ends of the scissors.

Claims

1. A finger guard which is formed in one-piece and comprises two pre-formed tubular portions disposed generally parallel to each other, to be worn on the user's index and middle fingers, and a web portion which interconnects the two tubular portions at adjacent ends thereof, the web portion being flexible to allow pivoting movement of the two tubular portions relative to each other.

2. A finger guard as claimed in claim 1, in which the two tubular portions are longitudinally split so that they can deform to different diameters.

3. A finger guard as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the web portion is positioned to one side of the two tubular portions.

4. A finger guard as claimed in claim 3, in which the two tubular portions are connected together on one side only of the guard, namely by said web portion.

5. A finger guard as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the web portion extends beyond the interconnected ends of the two tubular portions, for lying against the back of or palm of the user's hand.

6. A finger guard as claimed in any preceding claim, which extends no more than a short distance, compared with the length of said tubular portions, beyond the interconnected ends of said tubular portions.

7. A finger guard as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tubular portions are not formed with any apertures or openings.

Drawing