I've read a few posts in the last few days with questions about blade guards. About a year and a half ago, I had my first "run in" with a tablesaw blade. 4 stitches and about 2 hours later I was back home from the emergency room. EXACTLY 2 MONTHS to the day later, before my thumb was completely healed, I did the exact same thing to the same thumb. This time it was the same thumb and 5 stitches, the only problem was they couldn't stitch everything and I was left with about a dime size wound that looked like raw hamburger. My left thumb now has no feeling in the pad and some missing meat on the left side of the nail.
Am I grossing you out yet? I sure hope so. I found out later that a medication I am taking caused my hand to droop and fall onto the blade. After the second time, I ordered Penn State's overarm blade guard. When I got it and assembled it, I hated it! But I had made up my mind I was going to make it work. Within a few days, I had gotten used to it. Now, it scares me to death to start my TS with the guard up.
It was the best $200 I ever spent. I have since taken it off of the arm and hung it from the ceiling. I have also added a Biesemeyer splitter. It's one of those unexciting tools that you really don't want to spend your money on, but please take a look at it.
Greg, although not the perfect solution, I really like your version. Anything that makes you think of that spinning blade and might get in the way of your hand as it gets close to the blade is a great idea.