DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a glove 10 according to the present invention having integrated light. The glove 10 has a back portion 12 , a knuckle portion 14 , finger sections 15 , a palm portion 16 , a thumb portion 17 and a wrist portion 18 . The knuckle portion 12 is preferably made of a durable and flexible material that protects the user's knuckles and also allows mobility of the user's fingers, with a suitable material being a commercially available material known as Airprene®. The palm section 16 and the inside surfaces of the finger and thumb sections 15 , 17 should be made of a durable and breathable material such as synthetic leather. The back section 12 and the backs of the fingers and thumb sections 15 , 17 should be made of a breathable material, such as commercially available Spandex®.

[0020] Glove 10 is shown as a fingerless design with no covering over approximately the last half of the user's fingers and thumb. This allows the user to have maximum tactile feel during use. The fingers and thumb portions 15 , 17 can each include a pull-tab 19 that are used to pull the glove off of the user's hand. Alternative embodiments of the glove 10 can include full finger and thumb coverings, or be fingerless on some of the finger and thumb portions 15 , 17 . The glove 10 also includes a closure strap 19 on the wrist section 18 that closes the wrist section around the user's wrist. The strap is held in place against the surface of the glove by a hook and loop closure.

[0021] Glove 10 further includes a first housing 20 , which is typically adjacent to knuckle portion 14 of glove 10 , and a second housing 22 , which is typically adjacent to back portion 12 of glove 10 . The first and second housings 20 , 22 are typically made of molded plastic but may be made from another suitable material such as rubber.

[0022] Glove 10 also includes an electrical circuit 24 , which includes a power source (shown in FIG. 4 ), that powers circuit 24 and an illumination device 28 . Circuit 24 also includes an internal switch (shown in FIG. 4 ) which is activated by a switch push button 30 , with both the internal switch and switch push button 30 being on the second housing. When the internal switch is activated, the circuit 24 allows illumination device 28 to be connected to power source via cabling 32 , thus powering illumination device 28 . Illumination device 28 may be a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent bulb, fluorescent bulb or another type of illuminating device such as a laser. Illumination device 28 may also be the end of a fiber optic cable.

[0023] The glove 10 includes an inner lining (not shown) and the cabling 32 is typically integrated into glove 10 between the inner lining and the glove's back and knuckle portions 12 , 14 . With this arrangement the cabling does not contact the user's hand, and the back and knuckle portions 12 , 14 protect the cabling 32 from damage during use. Cabling 32 preferably comprises two electrical conductors that are each covered by an insulating material. In other embodiments the second housing 22 can house a light source and the cabling 32 can be optical fibers that transmit light from the second housing 22 to the first housing 20 .

[0024] First housing 20 is configured to hold illumination device 28 such that the device illuminates objects toward the user's extended fingers. First housing 20 can be located in many different locations on the glove 10 such as the back portion 12 and the palm portion 16 , with a preferred location being adjacent to the knuckle portion 14 , near the index finger section 15 a . First housing 20 extends very little above the surface of the glove 10 , with typical height of the housing being in the range of 3 to 20 millimeters and preferred height being approximately 12 millimeters. This arrangement reduces the chances that the first housing 20 will interfere with use in confined areas, or be damaged during use. Furthermore, first housing 20 does not appreciably extend laterally along the glove 10 , thus further reducing the likelihood that illumination device 28 will be damaged during use.

[0025] In its preferred location, the first housing 20 is not on the user's fingers or thumb and is located such that it moves very little when the user's fingers move. This allows the light from the device 28 to remain on the desired work area while the user is performing a task. For instance, the user can unscrew a bolt with the thumb and forefinger and light from the illumination device generally remains on the desired work area while the fingers move. In other embodiments, the first housing 20 may be configured to direct illumination device 22 in other directions or can be adjustable so that the user can alter the direction of the light emitted from device 28 .

[0026] Second housing 22 can be located in many different locations on the glove 10 , but is preferably located adjacent to back portion 12 . It is formed such that it is an integral part of glove 10 and does not appreciably extend above the surface of the glove 10 , thus reducing the chances that the user of the housing will interfere with use in a confined area, or will be damaged during use. The height of the second housing 22 is typically in the range of 3 to 20 millimeters, with a preferable height being approximately 13 millimeters.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a second housing 22 according to the present invention. As described above, the switch push button 30 is actuated by the user to turn the illumination device 28 on and off. Using a push button switch 30 arrangement keeps the height of the second housing 22 lower than if other switch arrangements were used, such as a toggle switch. Second housing 22 may also include signage 40 to direct the user to the area of second housing 22 to depress for turning the illumination device 28 on or off.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of second housing 22 as shown in FIG. 3 . Second housing 22 is configured to hold an internal switch 31 that is activated by depressing the switch push button 30 . A circuit board 42 is included that holds the switch 31 and can also hold other interconnected electrical components for operation of the circuit 24 . A power source 26 is included that powers the electrical circuit 24 formed by illumination device 28 , cabling 32 , switch 31 , and power source 26 . The power source 26 preferably comprises one or more standard batteries although other power sources can be used, such as rechargeable batteries.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a close up, side plan view of the first housing 20 and illumination device 28 . First housing 20 has a generally rounded surface so that it does not present vertical surfaces that would catch when using the glove 10 in a confined area. The first housing 20 also comprises a cutout 27 that is formed to house an illumination device 28 . When installed in cutout 27 , illumination device 28 is below the outside surface of the remainder of the first housing 20 , which helps protect the illumination device 28 from damage. The surface of the cutout 27 can be covered with a layer of reflective material such that the light emitted by illumination device 28 reflects outwardly, toward a desired work area, and the light appears brighter than if the reflected material were not included.

[0030] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.