Extremity Protection and Performance Overview

Purpose:

This sector provides context around the concept of devices used to protect the extremities, namely the fingers and feet, as well as improve performance in athletic ventures. 

Scope of Analysis:

This sector limits its analysis to just beyond the provisional applications previously drafted for the client. As such, two main categories are investigated: finger sleeves and socks. In both cases, the primary interests are protection and grip enhancement, and electronics/sensor integration is a secondary interest. Broader technologies such as whole hand gloves or shoes themselves will not be tagged.

Tags and Their Meaning:

This sector is divided into four main categories, three for fingers and one for feet. The three finger categories are compression based devices, electronic devices, and friction based devices.

• Finger – Compression: provide support to the fingers via compression. In some cases the compression is intended to aid in grip strength. These are generally aimed at providing some sort of protection and preventing the finger from bending as much as normal.
  • Single Finger: devices that provide a compressive force on just one finger.
  • Multiple finger: devices that provide a compressive force on multiple fingers at a time. Generally this means connecting two fingers that are next to each other.
  • Partial Palm:  devices that provide a compressive force on at least one finger but also cover a portion of the palm.
• Finger – Electronic: combine some sort of finger sleeve with an electronic component. Generally involves some sort of sensor and a means to relay data from the sensor to an external device.
• Finger – Friction: enhance grip strength through the use of friction, either in the form of a topography or a tacky material.
  • Single Finger:  devices which aid in grip force via a single finger.
  • Multiple finger: devices that provide a compressive force on multiple fingers at a time. Generally this means connecting two fingers that are next to each other, and often are the pointer finger and thumb.
  • Partial Palm: devices that provide a compressive force on at least one finger but also cover a portion of the palm.
  • Finger Tape: Documents identified as being similar to athletic tape but with some sort of friction enhancing component. This would be a single use device as well, separating these documents from the others tagged.
• Foot: structures that are placed on the feet. Often this includes sock-like structures, but is not limited to these.
  • Protection: devices which provide some sort of compression to the foot. If compression is included, there is some other sort of protection as well. Specific search took place for patents referencing means to mitigate risk of turf toe.
  • Electronic: devices with electronics embedded within the structure. For example, pressure sensors or accelerometers. Also important is the means of communicating the data from the sensors to an external device, such as implanted RFID technology.