RESEARCH

RESEARCH

Objective

  • Improve current goalie glove protection and mobility. Think about the future of the Maverik Goalie line.

Why Thumb Protection is so Important

“The ball caught the inside of my thumb essentially hitting the finger with no padding and bent it in the wrong direction.

As I removed my glove to inspect the damage I could tell right away that it was broken or at least dislocated. Normal thumbs don’t bend like that. Turned out to be both dislocated and slightly broken at the joint.

I had to have surgery to repair the thumb and was out a few months recuperating. Even after all the rehab the joint is very stiff and I still only have about 90% of the normal movement.”

- Damion Wilson, founder of Lax Goalie Rat and former DII Lacrosse Goalie

Competition

Analysis of Soccer Glove Hyper-Extention Prevention

First Model Reusch Ortho-Tec

low in price, high protection, zero bend backward, one molded part repeated on a strip of felt

Second Model Reusch Ortho-Tec

high protection, sturdy, two molded parts, prevents hyperextensions

Third Reusch Ortho-Tec

prevents hyperextension, easily removable from the glove, two molded parts, lightweight and flexible, patent, slim design

Research Hockey Gloves Protective Foam

  • padding split down the middle on the pointer finger could add more overall protection to the finger.

  • Fingers comprise poron, dense foam, followed by plastic on top.

Pain Points

  • When struck on the thumb impact is still felt strong and strongly

  • The thumb is stiff and could use added mobility

  • The thumb has too much room to move around

  • could use added protection along knuckles and fingers

Hand Position Analysis

  • Top of thumb has the highest impact

  • Top of hands exposed

  • A lot of breaks and fractures occur on the metacarpal, proximal phalanx, and distal phalanx

  • Some goalies tend to extend pointer finger

User Solutions

  • Players wear splints to eliminate hyperextension

  • Goalies use a product called InstaMorph, a heatable plastic that molds around the thumb for added protection

Take Aways

  • Poron-dense foam and plastic padding from Bauer hockey gloves were added to knuckles and areas of high impact.

  • Bauer pointer finger padding, adding protection to the side of the finger.

  • Elements from soccer gloves could be applied to slim down the thumb design. Can not lose any protection.

  • Protection is more important than anything else.

Introducing Thumb Fit Customization

This concept draws on hockey players baking their skates in order to mold them to the shape of their feet, creating a custom fit that is more comfortable and provides better performance on the ice. The baking process involves heating the skates in a specialized oven for a short period, then wearing them while they cool and mold to the shape of the wearer's feet. This process can help to alleviate pressure points and reduce the risk of blisters, while also improving overall power and control on the ice.

A similar effect can be achieved by baking the thumb guard. Doing so can improve dexterity as well as overall comfort and performance.