Hand protection device

A glove for protecting at least a back portion of a hand of an individual, comprising:

• a back glove portion covering at least a metacarpal area on the back portion of the hand;
• a bendable metal plate conformable to cover at least fourth and fifth metacarpal bones of the hand, said plate having upper and lower surfaces extending between laterally displaced side edges and longitudinally displaced top and;
• and bottom edges, wherein said plate has a yield strength of less than about 60 ksi such that said plate is manually deformable to substantially conform to a contour of the metacarpal area of the hand of the individual;
• holding means, attachable to at least one of said back glove portion and said plate, for securing said plate on said back glove portion;
• a first cushioning substrate attachable to one of said upper and lower surfaces of said plate;
• and
• wrist protection means for protecting a wrist portion of the individual, said wrist protection means comprising a wrist plate having upper and lower surfaces, said wrist plate being engagable on said back glove portion to cover said wrist portion.

A glove for protecting at least a wrist of an individual, comprising:

• front and back glove portions covering at least a portion of the front and back sides of a hand, respectively;
• a deformable metal plate conformed to cover at least the metacarpal area of the hand;
• a bendable metal wrist plate conformable to cover at least a portion of the wrist, said plate having upper and lower surfaces, wherein said plate has a yield strength of less than about 60 ksi such that said plate is manually deformable to substantially conform to a contour of the wrist of the individual;
• a first cushioning wrist substrate attachable to one of said upper and lower surfaces of said plate;
• and
• holding means, attachable to at least one of said front and back glove portions and said plate, for securing said plate on said back glove portion proximate the wrist.

A method for protecting at least fourth and fifth metacarpal bones of a hand of an individual, comprising the steps of:

• providing a hand guard by providing:
• a deformable metal plate having upper and lower surfaces extending between laterally displaced side edges and longitudinally displaced top and bottom edges, wherein said side edges extend at least over fourth and fifth metacarpal bones of the hand;
• said plate having a yield strength of less than about 60 ksi such that said plate is manually deformable to substantially conform to a contour of the metacarpal area of the hand of the individual;
• a securing means, associated with said deformable metal plate, for holding said deformable metal plate over the metacarpal area of the hand;
• at least one cushionable substrate attachable to at least one of said upper and lower surfaces of said plate;
• and
• a wrist protection means for protecting a wrist portion of the individual, said wrist protection means comprising a wrist plate having upper and lower surfaces, said wrist plate being engagable on said securing means to cover said wrist portion;
• positioning the hand guard proximate the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones of the hand;
• and
• securing the hand guard about the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones of the hand using said securing means.