Hand covering having a retainer element

A hand covering comprising:

• a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the hand covering extends generally in a longitudinal direction from the proximal end to the distal end;
• a dorsal portion;
• a palmar portion,
• wherein the dorsal portion and the palmar portion define a cavity configured to receive a central portion of a hand of a user,
• wherein the dorsal portion and/or the palmar portion define an opening at the proximal end, the opening configured to receive passage of the hand,
• wherein the dorsal portion and/or the palmar portion define a cuff panel at the proximal end,
• wherein the cuff panel forms an inside face facing the cavity;
• and
• a strap attached to the inside face of the cuff panel and extending generally lateral to the longitudinal direction from a first attachment point to a second attachment point,
• wherein the strap has a width at least one-quarter a width of the cuff panel,
• wherein the strap is separable from the inside face in between the first attachment point and the second attachment point, so as to define a passageway between the inside face and the strap, through which the hand may pass when exiting the cavity,
• wherein the strap is elastic,
• wherein the strap has a first end directly attached at the first attachment point and a second end directly attached at the second attachment point, and
• wherein, with the strap in a relaxed state absent application of a pulling force to the strap, an arc length of the strap from the first end to the second end is substantially equal to an arc length of the inside face from the first attachment point to the second attachment point, so that when the hand covering is fastened on the user, with the strap in the relaxed state, the strap remains substantially against the inside face, with the strap disposed between the user and the inside face.

A method for using a hand covering, comprising:

• receiving a hand of a user inside the hand covering,
• wherein the hand covering includes:
• a central hand portion;
• a finger receiving portion extending from the central hand portion;
• wherein the hand covering extends generally in a longitudinal direction from a proximal side at the central hand portion to a distal side at the finger receiving portion, and
• wherein the central hand portion defines at the proximal side a cavity configured to receive the hand;
• and
• a strap attached to an inside face of the central hand portion and extending generally lateral to the longitudinal direction,
• wherein a proximal edge of the strap is disposed adjacent to a proximal edge of the proximal side of the hand covering within a distance less than a width of the strap,
• wherein the strap has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end,
• wherein the first end is directly attached to a first attachment point on the inside face and the second end is directly attached to a second attachment point on the inside face, and
• wherein the strap is separable from the inside face in between the first end and the second end to define a passageway configured for passage of the hand when withdrawn from the central hand portion, and
• wherein the strap is disposed between the user and the inside face of the central hand portion;
• allowing the user to withdraw the hand from the cavity while passing the hand through the passageway between the strap and the inside face of the central hand portion;
• and
• allowing the user to pull the strap over a largest dimension of the hand to a position at approximately a wrist of the user, with the hand outside of the hand covering, and the remaining portions of the hand covering on a side of the wrist opposite to the strap.