Custom-molded hand protector and method

A custom-fitted hand protector, comprising:

• (a) a protective pad for being worn on the hand to protect the back of the hand of the wearer between the wrist and the fingers, said protective pad comprising:
• (i) a flexible inner cushion layer for positioning on the back of the hand;
• (ii) a rigid structure for overlying the cushion layer and for providing impact dispersing protection to the back of the hand;
• and
• (b) releasable attachment means for cooperating with the hand for retaining the protective pad in an exposed, exterior position on the back of the hand the attachment means being a non-encircling tab.

A method of protecting the back of a hand between the fingers and wrist, and comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a protective pad for being positioned in an overlying position on the back of the hand;
• (b) providing a loop attached to the protective pad for being placed around a finger on the hand;
• (c) providing a non-circling retention strip attached to the protective pad on a side edge opposite the loop for securing the protective pad in position adjacent the wrist area of the hand;
• (d) placing the protective pad on the back of the hand;
• (e) extending a finger on the hand with the loop extended around a finger of the hand;
• and
• (f) securing the retention strip to the wrist area to secure the protective pad in position adjacent the wrist.