Sport gloves
10967242 · 2021-04-06
Inventors
Cpc classification
A63B2209/10
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
A glove for enhancing a wearer's grip and control of a golf club or sports device. The glove may include a palmar portion and a dorsal portion having multiple digital segments that entirely enclose a wearer's thumb, ring finger and pinkie finger. The glove further includes a forefinger digital segment that exposes at least the middle and distal phalanges including the fingertips. The forefinger digital segment covers at least a portion of the wearer's proximal phalanx. The glove also has a strap means to secure the glove onto the wearer's hand.
Claims
1. A glove comprising: a glove body comprising a palmar portion material, a dorsal portion material and a distal lateral edge, wherein the palmar portion material and the dorsal portion material meet at the distal lateral edge; and a plurality of digital segments projecting from the distal lateral edge of the body, the plurality of digital segments including a first digital segment designed to cover a middle finger; and wherein said plurality of digital segments further comprises a second digital segment, a third digital segment, a fourth digital segment and a fifth digital segment; wherein said second digital segment is adapted to cover and enclose an entire ring finger, and wherein said third digital segment is adapted to cover and enclose an entire pinkie finger, and wherein said fourth digital segment is adapted to cover and enclose an entire thumb when the glove is worn; and wherein said fifth digital segment is adapted to cover up to but not more than a proximal phalanx of the forefinger of the user's finger when the glove is worn, and wherein said fifth digital segment has a distal terminal edge; wherein said fifth digital segment is adapted to expose an entire middle phalanx and an entire distal phalanx of the user's forefinger when the glove is worn; and, wherein said glove body dorsal portion further comprises a strap means that is adapted for fastening the glove body securely about a wrist of the user's hand when the glove is worn; the strap means comprises of two pads of cohesive-adhesive material along the glove body dorsal portion; and, wherein said glove body dorsal portion further comprises of a slit that is adapted to allow the user to engage and disengage the glove; wherein the strap means is positioned along the glove body dorsal portion such that the user can manually extend the strap means across the slit; and wherein said glove body further comprises an elastomeric band affixed around a wrist portion of said glove body; and, wherein said glove body palmar portion material adapted to cover a palm of the hand including all five metacarpophalangeal joints of the user's hand when the glove is worn.
2. The glove of 1, wherein said strap means further comprises of a flap and capture mechanism that is adapted for fastening the glove body securely about the wrist of the user's hand when the glove is worn.
3. The glove of 1, wherein said strap means along the glove body dorsal portion comprises a hook and loop fastening interface for releasably securing and releasing a strap by the user; wherein said strap is affixed on the glove body dorsal portion, the glove body palmar portion is thereby free of a strap and hook and loop fastening interface.
4. The glove of 1, wherein said strap means comprises of a strap and hook and loop fastening interface for releasably securing and releasing the strap by the user; and wherein said strap is affixed to the dorsal portion of the glove body.
5. The glove of claim 1, wherein said glove further comprises a grip enhancing means along the glove palmar portion; wherein said grip enhancing means is adapted to provide a higher coefficient of friction than a surrounding palmar portion, thereby increasing the user's grip capabilities when the glove is worn.
6. The glove of claim 1, wherein said forefinger segment distal terminal edge is stitched to reinforce said distal terminal edge.
7. The glove of claim 1, wherein said distal terminal edge is stitched to prevent said distal terminal edge from tearing; and wherein said glove body first digital segment is adapted to cover and enclose the entire middle finger of the user's hand when the glove is worn.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING
(1) It is expressly understood that the following descriptions and drawings are for illustration purposes only, and in no way are intended to limit the scope of the present invention and its various embodiments. For example, the drawings are of embodiments for the left hand but can easily be created for the right hand.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(12) It is expressly understood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
(13) Referring now to
(14) In the illustrated embodiment the glove is constructed such that the thumb 13 digital segment encloses said thumb, including enclosing the fingertips. The glove has a middle finger digital segment 14 that encloses the middle finger, including the fingertips, a ring finger digital segment 15 that encloses the ring finger, including the fingertips, and a pinkie finger digital segment 16 that covers the pinkie finger, including the fingertips of a user. In addition, the glove has a forefinger digital segment 17 with a distal terminal edge 37. Said forefinger digital segment is adapted to extend to cover up to but not more than the proximal phalanx 18 of the user's forefinger, therefore does not extend to cover the middle phalanx nor any portion the distal phalanx of the user's forefinger when the glove is worn, therefore defining the forefinger segment. The forefinger digital segment is thereby adapted to expose a significant portion of the user's forefinger when the glove is worn, thereby allowing heightened tactile sensitivities along the fingertip and simultaneously enhancing grip capabilities along the covered proximal phalanx of the user's forefinger. Covering the proximal phalanx allows the user to maintain grip along the area where the proximal phalanx grips the golf club, while exposing the middle and distal phalanges gives the user heightened tactile sensitivities along the area where the middle and distal phalanges interlock with the opposing hand's pinkie finger, for example.
(15) The palmar section also covers the palm segment overlaying the palm of the hand 12; the dorsal section also covers the back of the hand 11. The glove also has a wrist portion that surrounds the wrist of a user. The thumb stall 13 is defined by a dorsal portion 19 and a palmar portion 20. The forefinger stall 17 is defined by a dorsal portion 21 and a palmar portion 22. The middle finger stall 14 is defined by a dorsal portion 23 and a palmar portion 24. The ring finger stall 15 is defined by a dorsal portion 25 and a palmar portion 26. The pinkie finger stall 16 is defined by a dorsal portion 27 and a palmar portion 28.
(16) Furthermore, the forefinger segment distal terminal edge 37 is reinforced by stitching 38. Stitching the forefinger stall along or around the opening is very important because the opening would otherwise easily tear, destroying the finger segment and therefore the glove, making the glove inoperable. Therefore the stitching 38 is adapted to encircle the entire distal terminal edge 37 in order to be effective at preventing tearing along the forefinger terminal edge 37.
(17) The forefinger segment distal terminal edge 37 is further sealed 39. When cutting certain materials such as synthetic materials including synthetic leather 9 it is virtually impossible to keep the edges from fraying and splitting, or from allowing atmospheric moisture to enter into the material through the formed edges, thereby eroding and destroying the glove material. Therefore it is essential that the entire terminal edge 37 of the forefinger digital segment be permanently sealed 39, preferably by hot knife sealing 39. The industrial hot knife is preferably used to melt the fabric edges of the terminal edge such that the terminal edge is entirely sealed thereby preventing fraying, fabric splitting, and atmospheric moisture from entering into the glove body through the terminal edges. If any portion of the distal terminal edge is not sealed, in other words if there portions along the terminal edge which are not completely sealed, these portions along the terminal edge will fray or split eroding the integrity of the glove structure and its valuable and unique benefits to the user. Hot knife sealing will also create a smooth finish along the entire distal terminal edge allowing for easier glove application principally be allowing the user's forefinger to smoothly engaging and disengaging the partial forefinger digital segment. In other words, the glove provides a forefinger digital segment 17 that covers a portion of the proximal phalanx 18, but does not extend to cover the middle phalanx nor any portion the distal phalanx of the user's forefinger, therefore defining the forefinger segment's distal terminal edge 37. The forefinger digital segment is thereby adapted to expose a significant portion of the user's forefinger when the glove is worn. Additionally, the forefinger distal terminal edge is also sealed along the entire edge which among other critical reasons aforementioned, thereby also allowing the user's forefinger to easily slip into and out of the forefinger digital segment when engaging and disengaging the glove. Hot knife sealing can only be performed on certain materials such as synthetic leathers and plastics otherwise the material will burn and cause harm. Cotton material for example will burn and therefore hot knife sealing cannot be performed on that type of material.
(18) The wrist portion is preferably expansible so as to hold more securely to the user's wrist. Therefore the embodiment also has an expandable opening means 29 at a wrist end 30 adapted to receive the user's hand. The expandable opening means comprises an elastic material along the wrist portion, such as an elastomeric band 29 fixed around the wrist. The wrist end 30 further comprises a strap means 33 at the open end of the glove body dorsal portion for fastening the glove body secure about the wrist area, critical in sports activities where the user's hand moves very rapidly such as in golf or football. The strap means may have two pads of cohesive-adhesive material 34, 35 for releasably securing the strap. The strap means as well as this wrist portion may be sewn onto the glove, for example. The dorsal portion of the glove further comprises a slit 36. The slit 36 allows the user to quickly take off or put on the glove, and doing so very easily. These features of providing a combined slit and strap means are especially valuable to users who play a sport that requires the constant removal of the glove, such as in football—where players often take off their gloves during a change of possession, and in golf—where virtually all players take off their glove when preparing to putt a golf ball.
(19) This embodiment further shows how the present invention may comprise a grip enhancing means 31. Although the embodiment now provides a higher coefficient of friction on a golfer's weak hand, one may now further increase grip areas by adding a grip enhancing means on select areas or on the entire palmar surface of the glove.
(20) In the illustrated embodiment, the grip enhancing means comprises a high friction surface 31 formed on the entire palmar surface of the glove 12, including the palmar surfaces of the thumb segment 20 and any existing finger segments 22, 24, 26 and 28. Preferably, the high friction surface is formed from a PVC material, a nitrile material, a latex material, or a rubber material (as shown) 35. The surface may include a plurality of depression or a plurality of projection pattern formed from the high friction material. Formed on the illustrated material is a plurality of square-like depressions 32 that are applied to the entire palmar surface area by any standard means, as aforementioned. These square-like depressions preferably are spaced apart to allow for added grip and flexibility. The rubber palmar surface can then be conjoined to the dorsal surface, thus creating the glove. Preferably, the depths of the embodiment's depressions are such that the gap formed by the depressions allow for some movement of the palmar surfaces thereby increasing the grip capabilities of the user. The depth can generally begin at about one hundred micrometers to several millimeters or more. For example, these depressions are about two hundred micrometers in depth on average, about two millimeters in width and four millimeters in length.
(21) The dorsal surface may comprise of a different material than the palmar surface, such as a more durable fabric, but would preferably also be rather flexible. If the dorsal surface is comprised of more durable fabrics, such as synthetic leather, then some added elasticity capabilities may be also preferable on select areas of the dorsal surface, in particular around the metacarpophalangeal joints. For example, the dorsal surface may comprise of an aperture on the forefinger's metacarpophalangeal joint, the middle finger's metacarpophalangeal joint, the ring finger's metacarpophalangeal joint, and on the pinkie finger's metacarpophalangeal joint. Alternatively, embodiments may simply comprise of a more elastic material, such as any of those aforementioned such as spandex, on the dorsal surface overlaying said metacarpophalangeal joints, or seams or slits, while the rest of the dorsal surface is comprised of a more durable material. The elastic material could be stitched onto those areas, and therefore replacing the more durable materials along those select areas. As aforementioned however, the forefinger digital segment distal terminal edge is hot knife sealed. It is therefore important that at least the forefinger digital segment distal terminal edge and preferably a significant portion of the glove be formed of an appropriate material, such as a synthetic material. Natural materials such as cotton and genuine leather will not hot knife seal well, burning the material and often destroying the glove. It is therefore very important that at least the terminal edge be formed of a synthetic material.
(22) The palmar and dorsal surfaces, and any wrist portions, may then be conjoined on any finger and thumb portions, dorsal and palm portions and a wrist portion using any standard methods, such as by stitching, thus defining a pocket for receiving a user's hand.
(23) As aforementioned, this embodiment provides users with several benefits, in multiple sports. For example, those playing the sport of Golf may use this embodiment on their weak hand thereby allowing the golfer significantly more grip capabilities while simultaneously being able to have heightened tactile abilities at the same time on key areas of the interlocked—and partially uncovered—forefinger.
(24) By way of example, baseball pitchers may also find this embodiment beneficial over their strong (pitching) hand primarily because it offers grip enhancing capabilities on the fingertips on select digital segments while allowing the pitcher to maintain heightened feel by simultaneously providing the pitcher with the ability to touch the baseball with the skin of his or her forefinger.
(25) Referring now to
(26) In the illustrated embodiment, the glove is constructed such that the thumb 43 digital segment encloses said thumb, including enclosing the fingertips. The glove also has a middle finger digital segment 44 that covers the middle finger, including the fingertips, a ring finger digital segment 45 that covers the ring finger, including the fingertips, and a pinkie finger digital segment 46 that covers the pinkie finger, including the fingertips of a user. This embodiment does not have a forefinger digital segment 47 therefore a user's forefinger is completely uncovered when the glove is worn. In other words, the user's forefinger, defined by the proximal phalanx, the middle phalanx and the distal phalanx of the user's forefinger, is entirely exposed when the glove is worn.
(27) The palmar surface of this glove embodiment therefore essentially covers the rest of the front of the hand, including the entire palm of the hand 42; the dorsal section covers most of the rest of the back of the hand 41.
(28) The thumb stall 43 is defined by a dorsal portion 48 and palmar portion 49. The middle finger stall 44 is defined by a dorsal portion 50 and a palmar portion 51. The ring finger stall 45 is defined by a dorsal portion 52 and a palmar portion 53. The pinkie finger stall 46 is defined by a dorsal portion 54 and a palmar portion 55. There is no forefinger stall so there is no dorsal or palmar portion defining the forefinger stall.
(29) The glove also has an expandable opening means at a wrist end portion 56 adapted to receive the user's hand. The expandable opening means comprises an elastic material such as an elastomeric band 57 fixed around the wrist to expand and contract when the glove is worn.
(30) The glove dorsal portion further comprises a strap means 72 at the open end of the glove body dorsal portion for fastening the glove body secure about the wrist area, critical in sports activities where the user's hand moves very rapidly such as in golf or football. The strap means may have two pads of cohesive-adhesive material 73, 74 for releasably securing the strap. The strap as well as this wrist portion may be sewn onto the glove, for example.
(31) The dorsal portion of the glove further comprises a slit 77. The slit allows the user to quickly take off or put on the glove, and doing so very easily. These features of providing a slit with a strap means are especially valuable to users who play a sport that requires the constant removal of the glove, such as in football—where players generally take off their gloves during a change of possession, and in golf—where virtually all players take off their glove when preparing to putt a golf ball.
(32) This embodiment further provides unique and critical features on and around the terminal edge 71 at the distal lateral edge of the body designed to allow a forefinger to extend past the terminal edge to completely expose the forefinger when the glove is worn. Specifically, for example, the terminal edge is reinforced by stitching 75. Sewing along or around the opening 71 by stitching is very important because the opening would otherwise easily tear, destroying the distal edge making the glove inoperable. Therefore the stitching is adapted to encircle the entire terminal edge in order to be effective at preventing tearing.
(33) The terminal edge 71 is further sealed 76 along the entire terminal edge. When cutting certain materials such as synthetic materials including synthetic leather it is virtually impossible to keep the edges from fraying and splitting, or from allowing atmospheric moisture to enter into the material through the formed edges, thereby eroding and destroying the glove material. Therefore it is essential that the entire terminal edge 71 be permanently sealed 76, preferably by hot knife sealing 76. The industrial hot knife is preferably used to melt the fabric edges of the terminal edge such that the terminal edge is entirely sealed thereby preventing fraying, fabric splitting, and atmospheric moisture from entering into the glove body material through the terminal edges. If any portion of the terminal edge is not sealed, in other words if there are portions along the terminal edge which are not completely sealed, these portions along the terminal edge will fray or split eroding the integrity of the glove structure and its valuable and unique benefits to the user. Hot knife sealing will also create a smooth finish along the entire terminal edge. Hot knife sealing can only be performed on certain materials such as synthetic leathers and plastics otherwise the material will burn and cause harm to the glove structure. Cotton material for example will burn and therefore hot knife sealing cannot be performed on that type of material.
(34) This embodiment further shows how the present invention may also comprise a grip enhancing means 78. Although the embodiment now provides a higher coefficient of friction on a golfer's weak hand, one may now further increase grip areas by adding a grip enhancing means on select areas.
(35) The pinkie finger digital segment 46 of this embodiment has a grip enhancing means 78 consisting of a plurality of projections 59 in the form of PVC dots 59, on at least a portion of the palmar pinkie finger segment. The PVC dots preferably project out at least about seven hundred micrometers. The PVC dots located on the palmar section of the pinkie finger stall are throughout said stall. Similar embodiments may have a grip enhancing means also along the thumb segment, or combinations thereof, to maximize grip abilities on the fingertips of the thumb and pinkie finger. This will allow for greater golf club grip retention throughout the golf swing including during impact with the golf ball.
(36) The grip enhancing means of the present invention may be integral to the glove or may be affixed to the glove using any standard methods. For example, this embodiment comprises grip enhancing means that is integral to the glove pinkie finger stall, using any standard method known in the art. For example, the PVC dots can be imparted by any standard methods, such as, for example, by molding. The heights of the PVC dots in this embodiment are all about the same height, and are in rows. Other embodiments could of course offer different heights, non-uniform heights, and have a more random pattern on the top surface.
(37) The locations of the grip enhancing means may vary on several factors of course, such as personal preference and preferred degree of enhanced grip. This added grip configuration will be useful especially to golfers and baseball pitchers for reasons described herein.
(38) The embodiment's grip enhancing means 78 can also comprise of a high friction surface, such as creating crisscross depressions 60, to the glove area beginning at the digital creases and extending to overlay the forefinger metacarpophalangeal joint, the middle finger metacarpophalangeal joint, the ring finger metacarpophalangeal joint, and the pinkie finger metacarpophalangeal joint. The grip enhancing means portion overlaying the pinkie finger metacarpophalangeal joint may preferably not extend over the upper-palmar crease, however, to provide optimal flexibility, although some embodiments may extend to cover the entire pinkie joint.
(39) The grip enhancing means 78 can also comprise of a high friction surface by applying a non-slip coating, such as a latex, a nitrile or PVC coating, along described locations of this embodiment. The coating could of course also be applied to the entire palmar portion of the glove.
(40) This grip enhancing means may be affixed to the glove. In general, as aforementioned, a grip enhancing means may be either formed on or applied to any palmar portion, such as the palm or any thumb or any existing finger stalls, using any standard methods. The embodiment's grip enhancing means 78 can comprise of a high friction surface, such as creating crisscross grooves 60 that are depressions onto a rubber surface panel 61, for example, then attaching said panel onto a portion of the gloves palmar surface area. The panel is attached to the palmar surface of the glove by any standard methods of attachment, such as by adhesion or stitching.
(41) The panel may be is attached to the glove area, for example, beginning at the digital creases and extending to overlay the forefinger metacarpophalangeal joint, the middle finger metacarpophalangeal joint, the ring finger metacarpophalangeal joint, and the pinkie finger metacarpophalangeal joint, 62. The panel portion overlaying the pinkie finger metacarpophalangeal preferably does not extend over the upper-palmar crease, however, to provide optimal flexibility. This form of attachment may additionally be used to affix a grip-enhancing means over the thumb stall, any existing finger stalls and/or along the area between the forefinger and thumb stalls, in part or in their entirety.
(42) The panel may generally be comprised of any flexible material, for example, a plastic material having a top surface comprising the grip enhancing area formed by a plurality of depressions, such as, for example, ridges.
(43) A preferred depth of the crisscross depressions would be such that the gap formed by the depressions would allow for some movement of the newly formed top surface edges thereby increasing the grip capabilities of the user. This grip enhancing means could have a preferred depth beginning about six hundred micrometers, and can be imparted by, for example, embossing or standard mechanical treatments.
(44) Alternatively, this grip enhancing means 78 may be attached, affixed or otherwise placed to select areas 62 of the glove by standard methods and forms of attachment such as by creating a textured surface on a silicone-based layer and then hot melting said silicone surface onto the palmar portion of the glove, thus providing a high friction surface on the embodiment. The panel could also be bonded to, and become a part of the palmar portion of the glove, by any other standard method.
(45) It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many other implementations of creating and applying panels to sports gloves are possible.
(46) The locations of the grip enhancing means may vary on several factors of course, such as personal preference and preferred degree of enhanced grip. Additionally, the depressed designs may vary, such as being in the form of non-linear or crisscross lines, for example. Finally, the depths may vary as well.
(47) A plurality of micro recesses of about 0.120 millimeters in diameter may be randomly disposed about the front, back and finger and thumb stalls of the glove, thereby providing added comfort and more ventilation. The illustrated embodiment has micro recesses along and throughout the pinkie finger segment 63 and ring finger segment 64. Additionally, there are micro recesses along only the distal 65 and middle phalanges 66 of the middle finger segment. As important aspect of this embodiment is that there are no micro recesses along the proximal phalanx 67 of the middle finger. When a user of this embodiment grips a golf club using the interlocking grip, the strong hand's pinkie finger interlocks with the completely uncovered forefinger thereby providing heightened tactile sensitivities throughout the interlocked fingers. However, as can be seen in
(48) As aforementioned, the present invention, including this embodiment may be constructed using standard materials and methods of construction known in the art of making sports gloves. For example, construction of this embodiment may be accomplished by standard methods, such as, by designing the dorsal and palmar sections to meet along a conjoining lateral edge to define a pocket for receiving the eminence of a user's hand. Said dorsal and palmar sections could be conjoined by sewing, for example.
(49) This embodiment may comprise of essentially the same materials to construct both the palmar and dorsal surface. This particular glove 41, 42 can be made of a synthetic yarn and cotton blend for superior comfort, say about seventy percent synthetic. Examples of other synthetic yarns include polyester, nylon, spandex (polyurethane) yarns, LYCRA, and synthetic leather.
(50) Additionally, embodiments such as this one, may be completely coated with a with a water repellant substance 68, such as a synthetic resin 68 on the palmar surface or throughout the entire glove.
(51) The benefits of this configuration allows a user to have maximum retention of tactile sensation along the weak hand's forefinger, allowing the skin of said forefinger to touch not only the dominant hand's pinkie finger, but also the actual golf club, along the forefinger's uncovered proximal phalanx. The uncovered forefinger portion allows the user to maximize hand coordination, for example, crucial in completing a successful golf swing. This unique offering will significantly increase a user's ability to control a golf club and also therefore a golf swing and golf ball.
(52) Referring now specifically to
(53) In general, as aforementioned, a grip enhancing means may be either formed on or applied to any palmar portion, such as the palm or any thumb or any existing finger stalls, using any standard methods.
(54) This embodiment shows a grip enhancing means comprising of a high friction surface, such as creating crisscross grooves 60 that are depressed onto a rubber surface panel 61, for example, then attaching said panel onto a portion of the gloves palmar surface area. The bottom portion of the panel 69 is attached to the palmar surface of the glove by any standard methods of attachment, such as by an adhesive 70 or stitching.
(55) Referring now to
(56) The palmar (front) view of a glove embodiment is drawn in
(57) In the illustrated embodiment, the glove is constructed such that the thumb segment 83, middle finger segment 84, ring finger segment 85 and pinkie digital segment 86 enclose said thumb, middle finger, ring finger, and pinkie fingers including enclosing the fingertips, respectively. The glove also has a forefinger segment that covers the forefinger's proximal 87 and middle phalanges 88 but does not extend to cover the forefinger's distal phalanx; the fingertip of the user's forefinger are therefore exposed. The palmar section covers the entire palm of the hand 82 and the dorsal section covers the back of the hand 81. The glove also has a wrist portion that surrounds the wrist of a user.
(58) The thumb stall 83 is defined by a dorsal portion 89 and a palmar portion 90. The middle finger stall 84 is defined by a dorsal portion 91 and a palmar portion 92. The ring finger stall 85 is defined by a dorsal portion 93 and a palmar portion 94. The pinkie finger stall 86 is defined by a dorsal portion 95 and a palmar portion 96. The forefinger stall 97 is defined by a dorsal portion 99 and a palmar portion 100.
(59) The wrist portion is expansible so as to hold more securely to the user's wrist. Therefore the embodiment also has an expandable opening means at a wrist end comprises an elastic material along the wrist portion 102, such as an elastomeric band 103 fixed around throughout the wrist portion. In addition, the glove further comprises a strap means 104 at the open end of the glove body dorsal portion for fastening the glove body secure about the wrist area, critical in sports activities where the user's hand moves very rapidly such as in golf or football.
(60) The strap means may be unitary with the glove body and may include VELCRO fasteners 105, 106, buttons, and the like or other suitable closures thereon. The strap means allows the user to ensure a tight fit around the user's hand so that it will not disengage from the user's hand during high velocity sport movements such as swinging a driving wood golf club or throwing a Hail Mary football pass. The strap means also allows the user to quickly engage and disengage the glove, important aspects during active sports play such as in golf and in football. The wrist portion further comprises a slit 101. The slit allows the user to quickly take off or put on the glove, and doing so very easily.
(61) Providing a slit and strap means is especially valuable to users who play a sport that requires the constant removal of the glove, such as in football—where players generally take off their gloves during a change of possession, and golf—where virtually all players take off their glove when preparing to putt a golf ball. The strap means is adapted to allow the user to mechanically stretch the strap means across the slit and fasten the glove to the user's hand.
(62) This embodiment further provides unique and critical features on and around the distal terminal edge 118 of the partial forefinger digital segment that is adapted to expose the entire distal phalanx of the user's forefinger when the glove is worn. Specifically, for example, the distal terminal edge is reinforced by stitching 119. Stitching the forefinger stall along or around the opening is very important because the opening would otherwise easily tear, destroying the finger segment making the glove inoperable. Therefore the stitching is adapted to encircle the entire distal terminal edge of the forefinger digital segment in order to be effective at preventing tearing.
(63) The forefinger digital segment distal terminal edge 118 is further sealed 151. When cutting certain materials such as synthetic materials including synthetic leather it is virtually impossible to keep the edges from fraying and splitting, or from allowing atmospheric moisture to enter into the material through the formed edges, thereby eroding and destroying the glove material. Therefore it is essential that the entire distal terminal edge 118 of the forefinger digital segment be permanently sealed 151, preferably by hot knife sealing 151. The industrial hot knife is preferably used to melt the fabric edges of the terminal edge such that the terminal edge is entirely sealed thereby preventing fraying, fabric splitting, and atmospheric moisture from entering into the glove body through the distal terminal edge. If any portion of the distal terminal edge is not sealed, in other words if there are portions along the distal terminal edge which are not completely sealed, these portions along the distal terminal edge will fray or split eroding the integrity of the glove structure and its valuable and unique benefits to the user. Hot knife sealing also creates a smooth finish along the entire distal terminal edge allowing for easier glove application principally be allowing the user's forefinger to smoothly engaging and disengaging the partial forefinger digital segment. Hot knife sealing can only be performed on certain materials such as synthetic leathers and plastics otherwise the material will burn and cause harm. Cotton material for example will burn and therefore hot knife sealing cannot be performed on that type of material.
(64) This embodiment further shows how the present invention may comprise a grip enhancing means. Although the glove now provides a higher coefficient of friction on a golfer's weak hand, for example, one may now further increase grip capabilities by adding a grip enhancing means along select portions of the palmar surface of the glove.
(65) The grip enhancing means can comprise of a high friction surface by applying a non-slip coating, such as a latex 107, a nitrile or PVC coating, along described locations of this embodiment, such as on the forefinger's metacarpophalangeal joint segment. This grip enhancing means is discreet 107 and does not extend beyond the forefinger's metacarpophalangeal joint. Those using the interlocking grip would find this grip enhanced location especially useful when trying to maintain golf club control along the forefinger's metacarpophalangeal joint, the area just below where the weak hand's forefinger interlocks with the dominant hand's pinkie finger.
(66) The locations of the grip enhancing means may vary on several factors of course, such as personal preference and preferred degree of enhanced grip. This added grip configuration will be useful especially to those playing the sport of Golf for reasons described herein. Other grip enhancing configurations and locations may of course be preferred.
(67) Having a gripping enhancing means along these areas will significantly increase a user's ability to control an object such as a golf club by creating an even higher coefficient of friction along the palm of the user's hand when the glove is worn.
(68) The embodiment's grip enhancing means can also comprise of a high friction surface 220, such as creating crisscross depressions 220, to the glove area beginning at the digital creases and extending to overlay the forefinger metacarpophalangeal joint, the middle finger metacarpophalangeal joint, the ring finger metacarpophalangeal joint, and the pinkie finger metacarpophalangeal joint. The grip enhancing means portion overlaying the pinkie finger metacarpophalangeal joint preferably does not extend over the upper-palmar crease 221, however, to provide optimal flexibility. The depth of the depressions may vary, as aforementioned. These depressions are about ½ millimeter in depressions.
(69) The pinkie finger digital segment palmar portion 96 of this embodiment has a grip enhancing means 153 consisting of a plurality of projections 153 in the form of PVC dots 153, on the palmar pinkie finger segment. The PVC dots preferably project out at least about seven hundred micrometers. The PVC dots located on the palmar section of the pinkie finger stall are throughout said stall to maximize grip abilities particularly on the pinkie finger. This will allow for greater golf club grip retention throughout the golf swing including during impact with the golf ball.
(70) A plurality of micro recesses of about 0.120 millimeters in diameter may be randomly disposed about the front, back and finger and thumb stalls of the glove, thereby providing added comfort and more ventilation. The illustrated embodiment provides micro-recesses throughout the thumb 137 as well as the pinkie finger 108 and ring finger digital segments 109. Additionally, no micro-recesses are provided on the embodiment's middle finger segment but may be provided along said segment's middle or distal phalanx segment, if preferred. An aperture is provided along the middle finger metacarpophalangeal joint segment 110 to allow moisture to escape the middle finger segment without disturbing the interlocked finger area. Finally, no micro-recesses are provided along the forefinger digital segment or order to maintain a more moisture-free forefinger dorsal segment—where the dominant hand's pinkie finger interlocks with the weak hand's forefinger 111. Micro-recesses are provided, however, along the forefinger's metacarpophalangeal joint segment 112, which, along with the uncovered distal phalanx, will provide a more strategic moisture management system for golf glove embodiments.
(71) The embodiment is suitably a substantially conventionally constructed golf glove, modified as aforementioned. This particular glove can be made of a synthetic material 82, 81 such as synthetic leather latex coated glove palmar 82 and dorsal portion 81 for added durability, for example. As aforementioned however, at least the forefinger digital segment should be formed of a material capable of being hot knife sealed without being burned and therefore destroying the forefinger digital segment, such as synthetic leather. It is therefore preferable that a significant portion of the glove is formed of a synthetic material such as synthetic leather or a flexible plastic. Natural materials such as cotton and genuine leather will not hot knife seal well at all and can easily destroy the glove. Examples of other synthetic yarns include polyester, nylon, spandex (polyurethane) yarns, and LYCRA.
(72) Additionally, embodiments such as this one, may be coated with a with a water repellant substance 79, such as a synthetic resin 79 throughout the entire outer surface of the glove.
(73) As aforementioned, the present invention, including this embodiment may be constructed using standard materials and methods of construction known in the art of making sports gloves. For example, construction of this embodiment may be accomplished by standard methods, such as, by designing the dorsal and palmar sections to meet along a conjoining lateral edge to define a pocket for receiving the eminence of a user's hand. Said dorsal and palmar sections could be conjoined by sewing, for example. One could use any standard method of manufacture and assembly or construction.
(74) The rest of the palmar and dorsal segments could cover the rest of the hand, including the palm.
(75) This embodiment may also comprise a detachable ball marker 113. A ball marker is often used when playing golf. During certain times, such as when reaching the green or when obstructing another player's direct path to the golf hole, the golfer may pick his ball and place a ball marker directly behind the golf ball; the golfer can then pick up the golf ball. The embodiment provides a convenient, detachable ball marker on the glove. The detachable ball marker in this embodiment is a small circular object with a design that points to where the golf ball exactly is located.
(76) The detachable ball marker is secured by any standard fastening means, such as by a compartment, by magnetism or snap fastening, for example. The illustrated embodiment shows a compartment 114 within the strap on the dorsal segment of the glove. The compartment secures the ball marker by VELCRO fasteners 115, 116, but other commonly known fasteners will work just as well. The ball marker may be circular or non-circular in design.
(77) Additionally, embodiments may offer a liner is fixed to the interior of the glove using methods known in the art, such as stitching. The liner 117 may be integrally formed on the glove. For example, the liner (or sleeve) could be attached to the glove by standard methods, such as by conventional stitching about the perimeter of the dorsal segment, the palmar segment or both.
(78) The lining material (or sleeve) may be comprised of standard lining materials, such as a smooth, flexible knitted fabric. The liner may also comprise of flexible and elastomeric material such as spandex or LYCRA. Other possible materials include a knit of polyester or simply the same material forming the glove. A soft cellular plastic 117 could also be preferred. Additionally, the liner may provide added features to offer warmth and comfort such as by comprising of a fleece material, for example, especially useful when competing in harsher conditions or during extended practices on the golf range, for example.
(79) It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many other implementations of liners are possible.
(80)
(81) This partial-fingered embodiment provides a glove having a dorsal portion 135 and a palmar portion 42 for overlaying respective back and palm regions of a human hand, said dorsal and palmar portions having distal and proximal ends with a plurality of digital segments (or stalls) projecting from said distal ends. The glove includes a glove body having a back portion covering the dorsal surface of the hand 135, and a front portion covering essentially the entire palm surface of the hand 42. The glove body includes finger segments and a thumb segment each adapted to receive a finger or thumb, respectively, therein.
(82) In the illustrated embodiment, the glove is constructed such that the thumb 43 digital segment encloses said thumb, including enclosing the fingertips. The glove also has a middle finger digital segment 44 that covers the middle finger, including the fingertips, a ring finger digital segment 45 that covers the ring finger, including the fingertips, and a pinkie finger digital segment 46 that covers the pinkie finger, including the fingertips of a user. This embodiment does not have a forefinger digital segment 47 therefore a user's forefinger is completely uncovered when the glove is worn. In other words, the proximal phalanx, the middle phalanx and the distal phalanx of the user's forefinger are all entirely exposed when the glove is worn however the forefinger's palm portion, or the user's forefinger metacarpal 136, is entirely covered by the glove body when the glove is worn.
(83) The palmar surface of this glove embodiment therefore essentially covers the rest of the front of the hand, including the entire palm of the hand 42; the dorsal section covers most of the rest of the back of the hand 135, allowing for possible micro-recesses for ventilation and the slit along the glove dorsal portion.
(84) The thumb stall 43 is defined by a dorsal portion 171 and palmar portion 49. The middle finger stall 44 is defined by a dorsal portion 172 and a palmar portion 51. The ring finger stall 45 is defined by a dorsal portion 173 and a palmar portion 53. The pinkie finger stall 46 is defined by a dorsal portion 174 and a palmar portion 55. There is no forefinger stall so there is no dorsal or palmar portion defining the forefinger stall.
(85) The present invention may also preferably comprise an aperture 120 along the middle finger segment, such as on any or all of middle finger's proximal phalanx. For example, this embodiment shows an aperture that resides on the middle finger's proximal phalanx, large enough such that the skin of the middle finger can touch or be touched by the pinkie finger of the dominant hand, for example, while gripping a golf club. As shown, the aperture resides primarily on the dorsal portion extending to the side of said middle finger segment.
(86) In addition, the embodiment also has an expandable opening means 121 at a wrist end 122 adapted to receive the user's hand. The expandable opening means comprises an elastic material such as an elastomeric band 121 fixed around the wrist to expand and contract when the glove is worn. The glove dorsal portion further comprises a strap means 123 at the open end of the glove body for fastening the glove body secure about the wrist area, critical in sports activities where the user's hand moves very rapidly such as in golf or football. The strap means may be unitary with the glove body and may include VELCRO fasteners 124, 125, buttons, and the like. The strap means may have two pads of cohesive-adhesive material for releasably securing the strap, for example. The strap means as well as the wrist portion may be sewn onto the glove. The strap means allows the user to ensure a tight fit around the user's hand so that it will not disengage from the user's hand during high velocity sport movements such as swinging a driving wood golf club or throwing a Hail Mary football pass. The strap means also allows the user to quickly engage and disengage the glove, important aspects during active sports play such as in golf and in football.
(87) The wrist portion further comprises a slit 134. The slit allows the user to quickly take off or put on the glove, and doing so very easily. Providing a slit and a strap means is especially valuable to users who play a sport that requires the constant removal of the glove, such as in football—where players generally take off their gloves during a change of possession, and in golf—where virtually all players take off their glove when preparing to putt a golf ball.
(88) This embodiment further provides unique and critical features on and around the terminal edge 71 at the distal lateral edge of the body designed to allow a forefinger to extend past the terminal edge to completely expose the forefinger when the glove is worn. Specifically, for example, the terminal edge is reinforced by stitching 75. Stitching along or around the terminal edge opening is very important because the opening would otherwise easily tear, extending and destroying the terminal edge and therefore the glove making the glove inoperable. Therefore the stitching is adapted to encircle the entire terminal edge in order to be effective at preventing tearing.
(89) The terminal edge 71 is further sealed 76. When cutting certain materials such as synthetic materials including synthetic leather it is virtually impossible to keep the edges from fraying and splitting, or from allowing atmospheric moisture to enter into the material through the formed edges, thereby eroding and destroying the glove material. Therefore it is essential that the terminal edge 71 be permanently sealed 76 around the entire edge 151, preferably by hot knife sealing 76. The industrial hot knife is preferably used to melt the fabric edges of the terminal edge such that the terminal edge is entirely sealed thereby preventing fraying, fabric splitting, and atmospheric moisture from entering into the glove body material through the terminal edges. If any portion of the terminal edge is not sealed, in other words if there are portions along the terminal edge which are not completely sealed, these portions will fray or split eroding the integrity of the glove structure and its valuable and unique benefits to the user. Hot knife sealing will also create a smooth finish along the entire terminal edge allowing for easier glove application principally be allowing the user's forefinger to smoothly engaging and disengaging the partial forefinger digital segment. Hot knife sealing can only be performed on certain materials such as synthetic leathers and plastics otherwise the material will burn and cause harm. Cotton material or genuine leather for example will burn and therefore hot knife sealing cannot be performed on that type of material.
(90) This embodiment also comprises a detachable ball marker 126. A ball marker is often used when playing golf. During certain times, such as when reaching the green or when obstructing another player's direct path to the golf hole, the golfer may pick his ball and place a ball marker directly behind the golf ball; the golfer can then pick up the golf ball. The embodiment provides a convenient, detachable ball marker on the glove. The detachable ball marker in this embodiment is a small circular object 126. The detachable ball marker is secured by any standard fastening means, such as by snap fastening 127, by a VELCRO fastening compartment, or by magnetism.
(91) The embodiment also provides micro recesses along the portion of the thumb stall 128, the ring finger segment 130 and pinkie finger segment 129, for ventilation, as is standard. However, while offering micro-recesses along the middle and distal phalanges of the middle finger segment 131 there are no micro recesses along any remaining proximal phalanx segment of the middle finger 132.
(92) The materials forming the illustrated embodiment may comprise those discussed in reference to the present invention 135, 42. Likewise, any previously discussed methods of construction may be applied to this embodiment. This dorsal segment may be constructed as many standard golf gloves, made primarily of a durable but flexible material 135, 42, such as synthetic material 135 like synthetic leather 135, while providing a much more elastic fiber 133 such as spandex 133, along the metacarpophalangeal joints of the four fingers.
(93) As discussed, the partially uncovered fingers as well as the aperture along the middle finger segment offer maximum retention of tactile sensation. The uncovered finger portions allow the user to maximize hand coordination, for example, while the aperture allows the user to maintain maximum feel ability on the golf club—both crucial aspects in completing a successful golf swing. This unique offering will significantly increase the golfer's ability to control a golf club and also therefore a golf swing and golf ball.
(94)
(95) The glove also comprises a partial digital segment 97 with a distal digital edge 118 that is adapted to cover the entire proximal phalanx of the user's forefinger while exposing the entire middle and distal phalanges of the user's forefinger when the glove is worn, thereby allowing heightened tactile sensitivities along the fingertip and simultaneously enhancing grip capabilities along the covered proximal phalanx of the user's forefinger. The palmar (front) view of the glove is drawn in
(96) This partial-fingered embodiment provides a glove having a dorsal portion 141, a palmar portion 82 for overlaying respective back and palm regions of a human hand, said dorsal and palmar portions having distal and proximal ends with a plurality of digital segments (or stalls) projecting from said distal ends. The glove includes a glove body having a back portion covering the back of the hand 141, and a front portion covering the palm or front of the hand 82. The glove body includes finger stalls and a thumb stall each adapted to receive a finger or thumb, respectively, therein.
(97) In the illustrated embodiment, the glove is constructed such that the thumb segment 83, middle finger segment 84, ring finger segment 85 and pinkie digital segment 86 enclose said thumb, middle finger, ring finger, and pinkie fingers including enclosing the fingertips, respectively. The glove also has a forefinger segment that covers the forefinger's proximal 87 and middle phalanges 88 but does not extend to cover the forefinger's distal phalanx; a user's forefinger's fingertips are therefore exposed.
(98) The palmar section covers the entire palm of the hand 82 and the dorsal section covers the back of the hand 141. The glove also has a wrist portion that surrounds the wrist of a user.
(99) The thumb stall 83 is defined by a dorsal portion 142 and a palmar portion 90. The middle finger stall 84 is defined by a dorsal portion 143 and a palmar portion 92. The ring finger stall 85 is defined by a dorsal portion 144 and a palmar portion 94. The pinkie finger stall 86 is defined by a dorsal portion 145 and a palmar portion 96. The forefinger stall 97 is defined by a dorsal portion 146 and a palmar portion 100. The palmar portion of the glove body cover all five palm's five metacarpals of the user's palm 141, in their entirety, when the glove is worn.
(100) The wrist portion is expansible so as to hold more securely to the user's wrist. Therefore the embodiment also has an expandable opening means at a wrist end 102 adapted to receive the user's hand. The expandable opening means comprises an elastic material along the wrist portion, such as an elastomeric band 103 fixed around throughout the wrist. In addition, the glove further comprises a strap means 147 at the open end of the glove body dorsal portion for fastening the glove body secure about the wrist area, critical in sports activities where the user's hand moves very rapidly such as in golf or football. The strap means may be unitary with the glove body and may include VELCRO fasteners 148, 149, buttons, and the like or other suitable closures thereon. The strap means allows the user to ensure a tight fit around the user's hand so that it will not disengage from the user's hand during high velocity sport movements such as swinging a driving wood golf club or throwing a Hail Mary football pass. The strap means also allows the user to quickly engage and disengage the glove, important aspects during active sports play such as in golf and in football. The wrist portion further comprises a slit 160. The slit allows the user to quickly take off or put on the glove, and doing so very easily.
(101) Combining the slit and a strap means is especially valuable to users who play a sport that requires the constant removal of the glove, such as in football—where players generally take off their gloves during a change of possession, and in golf—where virtually all players take off their glove when preparing to putt a golf ball. The strap means is adapted to allow the user to mechanically stretch the strap means across the slit and fasten the glove to the user's hand.
(102) This embodiment further provides unique and critical features on and around the distal terminal edge 118 of the partial forefinger digital segment that is adapted to expose the distal phalanx of the user's forefinger when the glove is worn. Specifically, for example, the distal terminal edge is reinforced by stitching 119. Stitching the forefinger stall along or around the opening is very important because the opening would otherwise easily tear, destroying the finger segment and therefore the glove making the glove inoperable. Therefore the stitching is adapted to encircle the entire distal terminal edge in order to be most effective at preventing tearing.
(103) The forefinger segment distal terminal edge 118 is further sealed 152. When cutting certain materials such as synthetic materials including synthetic leather and flexible plastics it is virtually impossible to keep the edges from fraying and splitting, or from allowing atmospheric moisture to enter into the material through the formed edges, thereby eroding and destroying the glove material. Therefore it is essential that the entire distal terminal edge 118 of the forefinger digital segment be permanently sealed 152, preferably by hot knife sealing 152. The industrial hot knife is preferably used to melt the fabric edges of the terminal edge such that the terminal edge is entirely sealed thereby preventing fraying, fabric splitting, and atmospheric moisture from entering into the glove body through the terminal edges. If any portion of the terminal edge is not sealed, in other words if there are portions along the terminal edge which are not completely sealed, these portions along the distal terminal edge will fray or split eroding the integrity of the glove structure and its valuable and unique benefits to the user. Hot knife sealing also creates a smooth finish along the entire distal terminal edge allowing for easier glove application principally be allowing the user's forefinger to smoothly engaging and disengaging the partial forefinger digital segment. Hot knife sealing can only be performed on certain materials such as flexible plastics or synthetic materials such as synthetic leather and polyester otherwise the material will burn and cause harm. Cotton material and genuine leather for example will burn and therefore hot knife sealing cannot be performed on that type of material.
(104) Additionally, embodiments may offer a liner is fixed to the interior of the glove using methods known in the art, such as stitching. The liner 161 may be integrally formed on the glove. For example, the liner (or sleeve) could be attached to the glove by standard methods, such as by conventional stitching about the perimeter of the dorsal segment, the palmar segment or both.
(105) The lining material (or sleeve) may be comprised of standard lining materials, such as a smooth, flexible knitted fabric. The liner may also comprise of flexible and elastomeric material such as spandex or LYCRA. Other possible materials include a knit of polyester or simply the same material forming the glove. A soft cellular plastic could also be preferred. Additionally, the liner may provide added features to offer warmth and comfort such as by comprising of a fleece material, for example, especially useful when competing in harsher conditions or during extended practices on the golf range, for example. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many other implementations of liners are possible.
(106) Embodiments may also preferably comprise an aperture 140 along the middle finger digital segment such that it exposes at least a portion of the middle finger's proximal phalanx. This embodiment shows an aperture that resides along the middle finger digital segment such that it exposes the user's proximal phalanx, thereby defining its terminal edges. It is critical that the aperture is large enough such that the skin of the middle finger may touch or be touched by the pinkie finger of the dominant hand, for example, while gripping a golf club. As shown, the aperture resides on the dorsal portion of said middle finger proximal phalanx segment. The materials forming the illustrated embodiment may comprise those discussed in reference to the present invention. Likewise, any previously discussed methods of construction may be applied to this embodiment.
(107)