Size-adaptable glove

Abstract

A size-adaptable golf glove comprises a palm side, having a first direction of stretch and a back side, having a second direction of stretch, wherein the first direction of stretch and the second direction of stretch are orthogonal to one another, one being directed to length and the other to width.

Claims

1. A size-adaptable golf glove, comprising: a palm side, the palm side having a single panel of leather that incorporates both a palm region and four fingers, wherein the single panel of leather comprises a physical adaptation that provides the palm side with significant stretch to length and minimal stretch to width; and a back side, the back side being physically adapted to provide significant stretch to width.

2. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 1 wherein the physical adaptation comprises processing the single panel of leather to provide unidirectional stretch, and orienting the single panel of leather so that the unidirectional stretch is oriented to length.

3. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 2 wherein the single panel of leather is textured.

4. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 2 further comprising a thumb attached to the single panel.

5. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 4 wherein the thumb comprises leather that provides unidirectional stretch, wherein the leather is oriented so that the unidirectional stretch is oriented to a length of the thumb.

6. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 5 wherein the thumb includes three portions, a first of which is the leather that provides unidirectional stretch, a second of which is a stretch fabric that stretches at least to width, and a third of which is leather than is not oriented to stretch to the length of the thumb.

7. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 2 wherein the back side of the glove further comprises a slit that is oriented in the direction of the long axis of the glove, and a flap by which the slit is closed.

8. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 2 wherein the back side of the Glove consists essentially of leather and stretch fabric, wherein the leather on the back of the glove provides unidirectional stretch and wherein the leather is oriented so that the unidirectional stretch is to width, and wherein the stretch fabric stretches to at least width.

9. A size-adaptable golf glove, comprising: a palm side, the palm side consisting of a palm panel that incorporates both a palm region and four fingers, wherein the palm panel consists of a single piece of leather having a unidirectional stretch, wherein the palm panel is oriented so that the unidirectional stretch is to length; and a back side, the back side comprising leather that provides stretch to width.

10. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 9, wherein the back side of the gloves consists of two panels of leather separated by stretch fabric that stretches at least to width.

11. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 9, wherein on the back side of the glove, for three of the fingers, leather is disposed at a tip thereof and a base thereof, wherein stretch fabric interposes the leather at the tip and base of each finger.

12. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 9 wherein the palm panel is textured.

13. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 9 further comprising a thumb attached to the palm panel.

14. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 13 wherein the thumb comprises leather that provides unidirectional stretch, wherein the leather is oriented so that the unidirectional stretch is oriented to a length of the thumb.

15. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 12 wherein the thumb includes three portions, a first of which is the leather that provides unidirectional stretch, a second of which is a stretch fabric that stretches at least to width, and a third of which is leather than is not oriented to stretch to the length of the thumb.

16. A size-adaptable golf glove, comprising: a palm side, the palm side consisting of a palm panel that incorporates both a palm region and four fingers, wherein the palm panel consists of a single piece of leather having a unidirectional stretch, wherein the palm panel is oriented so that the unidirectional stretch is to length; a thumb attached to the palm panel, the palm-facing side of the thumb consisting of leather essentially of leather; and a back side, the back side comprising leather that provides stretch to width.

17. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 16 wherein the back side of the thumb consists essentially of leather at the tip thereof, and stretch fabric below the tip.

18. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 17 wherein the leather at the tip of the thumb on the backside thereof does not stretch to length.

19. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 16 wherein the back side of the fingers comprise leather at the tips thereof, leather at the base thereof, and stretch fabric therebetween.

20. The size-adaptable golf glove of claim 16 wherein the back of the glove further comprises a slit that is oriented in the direction of the long axis of the glove, and a flap by which the slit is closed.

21. A size-adaptable golf glove, comprising a palm side, the palm side consisting of a palm panel that incorporates both a palm region and four fingers, wherein the palm panel consists of a single piece of leather having a unidirectional stretch, wherein the palm panel is oriented so that the unidirectional stretch is to length.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts a first embodiment of the palm side of a size-adaptable glove in accordance with the present teachings.

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a second embodiment of the palm side of a size-adaptable glove in accordance with the present teachings.

(3) FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the back (dorsal) side of a size-adaptable glove suitable for use in conjunction with the palm side depicted in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the back (dorsal) side of a size-adaptable glove suitable for use in conjunction with the palm side depicted in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The terms below are provided with the following explicit definitions for use in this disclosure and the appended claims: The term “leather” means both natural leather and synthetic leather, unless otherwise specifically indicated. The term “about” means+/−15% of a nominal value. The term “significant stretch” means stretch of at least about 20% relative to a quiescent, unstretched state. The phrase “minimal stretch” means an ability to stretch 2% or less relative to a quiescent, unstretched state. The term “longitudinal” or “length”, when referring to the direction or orientation of the stretch of a glove, means a direction coincident with an axis extending from the wrist to the fingers. The term “width” or “lateral”, when referring to the direction or orientation of the stretch of a glove, means a direction coincident with an axis extending from one edge of the hand to the other. The phrase “high on the palm” refers to a region above the uppermost point of attachment of the thumb panel to the palm, and below the bottom of the fingers. The phrase “to length”, when referenced in the context of the direction of stretch (i.e., “stretch to length”) means that the glove stretches along its length. The phrase “to width”, when referenced in the context of the direction of stretch (i.e., “stretch to width”) means that the glove stretches along its width.

(6) FIGS. 1 and 2 depict two specific embodiments of the palm side of a size-adaptable glove in accordance with the present teachings. These embodiments include features that are not necessarily required in all embodiments.

(7) FIG. 1 depicts palm side 100 of a size-adaptable glove in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. Palm side 100 includes palm panel 102, which includes fingers 104. The palm panel is formed from a single piece of leather. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, palm panel 102 is formed from leather that has significant stretch in one direction and minimal stretch in the orthogonal direction, and it is cut so that the significant stretch is oriented to length, as depicted by arrow DS.sup.P. In some embodiments, palm panel 102 is textured to improve grip for a wearer.

(8) Thumb 106 is attached (e.g., sewn) to palm panel 102. Thumb 106 comprises portions 108, 110, and 112. Portion 108 comprises the same leather as used for palm panel 102, having the same significant stretch in one direction. It is notable that although the stretch of the thumb, as provided by portion 108, is oriented to length, this direction is askew from the direction of the “length” of the palm panel.

(9) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, portion 110 comprises stretch fabric. The stretch fabric provides the stretch required to accommodate thumbs of different circumference (i.e., the fabric stretches to width, at least). The stretch fabric, can be, for example and without limitation, two-way stretch fabric (stretches in one direction) or four-way stretch fabric (stretches in two orthogonal directions). Examples of stretch fabric include Lycra® (a registered trademark of Invista Corp.) or any number of other brand names and formulations for spandex. Portion 112 is leather, although unlike portion 108, the leather of portion 112 is not oriented to stretch to length.

(10) Binding 114 secures the wrist-end of the glove. Elastic 116 is sewn to the inside of glove near the wrist end. The elastic provides an increased ability for the wrist portion to stretch or contract, thereby facilitating inserting the hand into the glove and also preventing the glove from “riding up” the hand. The elastic may be sewn to the glove via a zig-zag stitch, which can enhance the elasticity of elastic 116.

(11) FIG. 2 depicts palm side 200 of a size-adaptable glove in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Like palm side 100, palm side 200 includes palm panel 202, which is a single piece of leather that includes fingers 204. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the leather forming palm panel 102 has minimal stretch both in length and width. Rather, the stretch, which is intended to accommodate the differing lengths of fingers on different sized hands, is provided by partially overlapping, narrow, laterally oriented expansion slits 218A and 218B. As indicated by arrow DS.sup.P, the direction of stretch is to length. This arrangement provides stretch for the fingers, but not the palm.

(12) Expansion slits 218A and 218B are located high on the palm region of palm panel 202. This location places them above the point at which the thumb couples to the palm panel and below the base of the fingers (on the palm side and more less aligned with the lowest knuckle of the fingers). The glove experiences the greatest wear and friction in the region beginning just below the location of lower expansion slit 218B. This is the region in which a golf club rests against glove. If an expansion slit were situated in this high-wear region, it would be subject to forces that would quickly compromise it, causing damage to the glove.

(13) Expansion slits 218A and 218B are ⅛ inch to ⅜ inches in width (i.e., the separation in the vertical direction) and comprise a stretch fabric. Upper expansion slit 218A extends laterally from the outer edge of index finger 204-1 to, at a minimum, the edge of ring finger 204-3 closest to pinky finger 204-4. Lower expansion slit 218B extends laterally from the outer edge of pinky finger 204-4 to center finger 204-2. As is apparent from FIG. 2, this arrangement does not section palm panel 202 in to two pieces, which is to be avoided as this would deleteriously effect the integrity of the glove. Depending on actual glove construction, lower expansion slit 218B might not extend to the edge of center finger 204-2 nearest index finger 204-1. In particular, the location of stretch material 210 between thumb 206 and palm panel 202 may be such that if lower slit 218B were to run to the edge of center finger 204-2, the slit would fully section palm panel 202, resulting in two panels.

(14) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, expansion slits 218A and 218B overlap below center finger 204-2 and ring finger 204-3, but not under index finger 204-1 and pinky finger 204-4. This accommodates the relatively greater variation in length, from individual to individual, in the center and ring fingers, by providing for a greater amount of stretch to length for those fingers, relative to the index and pinky fingers. Depending the configuration of palm side 200, the two expansion slits could overlap beneath all fingers (although the slits could not extend from one edge of the palm to the other, since this would section the palm panel). However, since overlap of all four fingers is not necessary, it is preferable not to laterally extend the expansion slits to that degree, since that may affect the integrity of the glove.

(15) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, gussets 220 comprise stretch fabric. The gussets (not depicted) for fingers 104 of FIG. 1 can also comprise stretch fabric.

(16) In the illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, thumb 206 is separated from palm panel 202 via stretch fabric 210. Although not required, it improves the ability of this embodiment of a size-adaptable golf glove to stretch to width.

(17) Binding 214 secures the wrist-end of the glove. Stretch material, contiguous with that separating thumb 206 from palm panel 202, continues below the palm panel. Elastic 216 is sewn to the inside of glove near the wrist end. The elastic enhances the ability of the stretch material to stretch or contract, thereby facilitating inserting the hand into the glove and also preventing the glove from “riding up” the hand. The elastic may be sewn to the glove via a zig-zag stitch.

(18) FIGS. 3 and 4 depict embodiments of the back of glove, such as can be used with respective palm side 100 and palm side 200 of size-adaptable gloves in accordance with the present teachings. It is to understood that other configurations for the back of the glove may suitably be used with palm sides 100 and 200. What is important about pairing any palm side and with any back side is that the paired two sides must collectively provide the requisite stretch for the glove; that is, both stretch to length and stretch to width.

(19) Turning now to FIG. 3, this figure depicts back 100′ of size-adaptable glove for use with palm side 100. The back of the glove includes portions of stretch fabric 110 and panels of leather 112. Since in the embodiment of palm side 100 depicted in FIG. 1, palm panel 102 is oriented to stretch to length, leather 112 on back side 100′ is oriented to stretch to width, as depicted by arrow DS.sup.BG. Stretch fabric 110 must provide stretch to width. In some embodiments, stretch fabric 110 provides stretch to length, in addition to stretch to width.

(20) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, back 100′ includes slit 320, which facilitates inserting the hand and removing the hand from the glove. Slit 320 is closed via flap 322, which implements a hook-and-loop closure (e.g., Velcro®, etc.). For example, a swatch of loop material is attached to the glove-facing side of flap 322 and a swatch of hook material is attached to surface of the leather that opposes flap 322.

(21) FIG. 4 depicts back 200′ of size-adaptable glove for use with palm side 200. The back of the glove includes portions of stretch fabric 210 and panels of leather 212. Stretch fabric 210 provide stretch to width, as depicted by arrow DS.sup.BG and, in some embodiments, stretch to length. In some embodiments, leather 212 provides stretch to width; in some embodiments, leather 212 provides minimal stretch to length and width.

(22) Elastic 424, which may be sewn to the glove-facing surface of the leather 212, provides stretch or supplementary stretch to width.

(23) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, back 200′ includes slit 420, which facilitates inserting the hand and removing the hand from the glove. Slit 420 is closed via flap 422, which implements a hook-and-loop closure (e.g., Velcro®, etc.).

(24) It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just a few embodiments and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.