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KONG GLOVE
Impact Protection Study Summary
Performed by the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee — Ergonomics Department
Summary of Results
▄ The KONG glove successfully reduced the force of impacts to the
fingers, knuckles and back of the hand, providing protection to all of
the bones and joints of the hand.
▄ During simulated crushing accidents, the KONG glove reduced the
pressure on the hand by 34 to 54%.
▄ During simulated impact accidents, the KONG glove reduced the
impact force on the hand by 76 to 91%.
▄ While wearing KONG gloves, hands and fingers are protected from
impact forces that are up to 4 times higher than what would normally
cause a bone fracture.
Background
Many working environments involve a great deal of impact
hazards – oil and gas drilling, railways, mining, manufacturing and
industrial maintenance are a few examples. The KONG line of gloves
was specifically designed to provide enhanced impact protection for
every bone and joint in the hand. This includes the following structures:
▄ Metacarpals (bones on the back of the hand).
▄ Medial, intermediate and distal phalanges (bones of the fingers and thumb).
▄ Metacarpo-phalangeal joints (commonly referred to as the knuckles).
▄ Inter-phalangeal joints (joints of the fingers and thumb).
Results:
The greater the force applied by the press, the greater the percent
reduction in pressure that was transmitted to the hand, when wearing
the KONG glove.
ie, hand protection got better as the force of the press increased.
Test:
An impact blow was delivered to the ballistic hand manikin in three
zones: fingers, knuckles, and back of the hand.
The force of the impact was within the range known to cause bone
fractures in human hands. This range, as found in previous medical
studies, is 450 to 900 lbs (2000 to 4000 N) of Impact Force. Note that
Impact Force is a function of weight, drop height and amount of contact
time on the glove.
Results:
The peak force transmitted to the hand was reduced by the following
amounts, when wearing the KONG glove:
▄ 76% reduction in peak force to the Fingers
▄ 91% reduction in peak force to the Knuckles
▄ 80% reduction in peak force to the Back of the Hand