Ball glove

Abstract

A ball glove has a hollow zone at a ball impact zone. The hollow zone accommodates a drop-in assembly to provide adequate protection to the wearer of the ball glove without imparting stiffness to the crotch area or the ball impact zone of the ball glove. The ball glove opens/closes easily so as to provide control which players are seeking and creates a game-day-ready pocket based on the individual player's ball catching habits in a short period of time.

Claims

1. A ball glove comprising: a shell palm comprising a palm side skin having a crotch flap at a crotch area thereof, the crotch area defined by the separation of an index finger section and a thumb section of the ball glove, a shell back comprising a back side skin coupled to the palm side skin at a periphery, except at the crotch area and at a hand insertion opening, such that a drop-in cavity and a hand cavity are defined and a finger region comprising a plurality of finger sections including the index finger section and the thumb section configured to align with an index finger and a thumb, respectively, of wearer of the glove, is formed, a webbing coupled to the index finger section, the thumb section and the crotch flap, and a drop-in assembly, wherein the drop-in assembly is disposed in the drop-in cavity defined between the shell palm and the shell back and is coupled to the crotch flap such that a first hollow zone is formed between the shell back and the drop-in assembly and a second hollow zone is formed between the shell palm and the drop-in assembly, and the drop-in crotch assembly is suspended between the shell palm and the shell back and is not coupled to the shell back.

2. The ball glove according to claim 1, wherein the drop-in assembly comprises: a pad cover layer comprising: a shock absorb pad area, a pocket stabilizer area surrounding the shock absorb pad area, and a drop-in crotch area to which the crotch flap is coupled, and at least one shock absorb layer in the shock absorb pad area.

3. The ball glove according to claim 2, wherein the pad cover layer further comprises a slit aperture in the pocket stabilizer area along a contour of the shock absorb pad area.

4. The ball glove according to claim 3, wherein the pocket stabilizer area of the drop-in assembly is attached to the shell palm.

5. The ball glove according to claim 2, wherein the shock absorb pad area comprises a plurality of slits.

6. The ball glove according to claim 1, wherein a part of the drop-in crotch is exposed from the shell back at an area of the shell back corresponding to the crotch area of the palm side.

7. The ball glove according to claim 1, wherein the crotch flap is formed into a tubular member.

8. The ball glove according to claim 1, further comprising: a palm lining and a back lining secured to the shell back wherein: the palm lining is coupled to the back lining at the periphery, except at the hand insertion opening, such that the hand cavity is defined and the finger region is formed, the shell back is coupled to the shell palm at the periphery, except at the crotch area, such that the drop-in cavity is defined, the drop-in assembly is disposed in the drop-in cavity defined between the shell palm and the palm lining such that the first hollow zone is formed between the drop-in assembly and the palm lining and the second hollow zone is formed between the drop-in assembly and the shell palm.

9. The ball glove according to claim 8, wherein the drop-in assembly comprises: a pad cover layer comprising: a shock absorb pad area, a pocket stabilizer area surrounding the shock absorb pad area, and a drop-in crotch area to which the crotch flap is coupled, and at least one shock absorb layer in the shock absorb pad area.

10. The ball glove according to claim 9, wherein the pad cover layer further comprises a slit aperture in the pocket stabilizer area along a contour of the shock absorb pad area.

11. The ball glove according to claim 10, wherein the pocket stabilizer area of the drop-in assembly is attached to the shell palm.

12. The ball glove according to claim 9, wherein the shock absorb pad area comprises a plurality of slits.

13. The ball glove according to claim 8, wherein a part of the drop-in crotch is exposed from the shell back at an area of the shell back corresponding to the crotch area of the palm side.

14. The ball glove according to claim 8, wherein the crotch flap is formed into a tubular member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, showing by way of illustration a particular embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment is merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1a is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 1b is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 1c is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 2a is a front perspective view of the ball glove in an open position indicating a ball impact zone X in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 2b is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 3 illustrates a palm pad attached to a palm lining of the conventional ball glove.

(8) FIG. 4 illustrates a specific position of the palm pad of the conventional ball glove.

(9) FIG. 5 is an explosion view of a drop-in assembly in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the shell palm coupled to the shell back to define the drop-in cavity.

(11) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the shell palm coupled to the shell back having the drop-in assembly there between in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 8 illustrates a position of the drop-in assembly in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the drop-in assembly attached to the shell palm in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the crotch flap formed into a tubular member.

(15) FIG. 11 is a schematic view of one of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(16) Hereafter, the ball glove of the present invention will be described in detail by way of preferable embodiment shown in the attached drawings. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one skill in the art. In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a through understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and mechanism have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 1a, FIG. 1b, and FIG. 1c illustrate a ball glove 1 in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1a illustrates a mitt style, FIG. 1b illustrates regular style, and FIG. 1c illustrates a fast back style. The figures are shown in a left-handed glove. However, the present invention is not limited to the left-handed glove. A right-handed glove would be substantially identical to the left-handed glove. The ball glove 1 has distal and proximal ends. The hand cavity define by the shell back 4 and the shell palm 2 has an opening for a hand cavity 31 to insert wearer's hand in the proximal end of the ball glove and the finger region 18 is located on the distal end of the ball glove.

(18) As illustrated in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, the ball glove 1 comprises a shell palm 2 comprising a palm side skin 6 having a crotch flap 10 at a crotch area 12, which is located between the index finger section 20 and a thumb section 28, and a shell back 4 comprising a back side skin 8. The shell palm 2 and the shell back 4 are coupled at the periphery, except at the crotch area 12 and at a hand insertion opening 31, to define a drop-in cavity 33 and a hand cavity (not shown in the drawings), respectively and to form a finger region 18. The shell palm 2 and the shell back 4 may be coupled by any suitable method such as stitching, gluing, lacing or welting.

(19) The finger region 18 comprising a plurality of finger sections 20, 22, 24, 26, including an index finger section 20 and a thumb section 28 configured to align with an index finger and a thumb, respectively, of wearer of the glove. The palm side skin 6 forms a front wall 3 of the glove and the back side skin 8 forms a back wall 5 of the glove. The ball glove 1 further comprises a drop-in assembly 32 and a webbing 30 which is coupled to the index finger section 20, the thumb section 28, and the crotch flap 10. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the crotch flap 10 is a part the palm side skin 6, extending from the crotch area 12, toward the distal end of the ball glove 1, and may be formed into a tubular member.

(20) As illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the drop-in cavity 33 is a space between the shell palm 2 and the shell back 4, to accommodate the drop-in assembly 32 extending from the crotch area 12 toward the proximal end of the ball glove 1 and has an opening at the crotch area 12. Thus, the shell palm 2 and the shell back 4 are not joined at the crotch area 12, while, in a conventional glove, the shell palm and the shell back are joined at the crotch area either by lacing, sewing or welting. Accordingly, stiffness at the crotch area 12 is significantly reduced compared with the conventional glove.

(21) FIG. 5 illustrates the drop-in assembly 32. The drop-in assembly 32 comprises a pad cover layer 38 having a shock absorb pad area 40 surrounded by a pocket stabilizer area 46 and a drop-in crotch 48 to which the crotch flap 10 is coupled. The drop-in assembly may further comprise a first shock absorb layer 42 and a second shock absorb layer 44 in the shock absorb pad area 40 to provide extra protection to the wearer. The palm side skin 6, the back side skin 8, the webbing 30, and the drop-in assembly 32 can be made of any suitable material or materials known in the art, whether natural or synthetic, which include but are not limited to rubber, leather or synthetic leather, preferably cowhide leather. The first shock absorb layer 42 is preferably made of a dense material to lessen a hand impact and the second shock absorb layer 44 is a shock absorb foam that is soft and flexible, but tough on impact.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 7, the drop-in assembly 32 is disposed in the drop-in cavity 33 defined between the shell palm 2 and the shell back 4 and the drop-in crotch 48 is coupled to the crotch flap 10 such that a first hollow zone 34 is formed between the shell back 4 and the drop-in assembly 32 and a second hollow zone 36 is formed between the shell palm 2 and the drop-in assembly 32. Thus, the drop-in assembly 32 is suspended between the shell palm 2 and the shell back 4 and is not coupled to either the shell back 4 or the shell palm 2. Further as illustrated in FIG. 8, the drop-in cavity 33 is substantially overlapping with the impact zone X. Accordingly, the first hollow zone 34 and the second hollow zone 36 allow the drop-in assembly 32 to move freely in the impact zone X, where it can expand creating the pocket, so that the pocket based on the individual player's ball catching habits can be created. Moreover, the drop-in assembly 32 provides a protection to the wearer without imparting stiffness to the crotch are 12 or the impact zone X in the shell palm 2.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 9, the pad cover layer 38 may further comprises a slit aperture 50 in the pocket stabilizer area 46 along a contour of the shock absorb pad area 40 and the pocket stabilizer area 46 of the drop-in assembly 32 may be attached to the shell palm 2 so as to serve as pocket shape enhancer and help the shock absorb pad area 40 to stay in the impact zone X. The shock absorb pad area 40 may comprise a plurality of slits 52 to impart flexibility and air permeability to the shock absorb pad area 40, to further enhance the break-in process. An area of the shell back corresponding to the crotch area 13 may be shifted toward a proximal side of the grove 1 so that the stiffness at the crotch area 12 is further reduced so that the maneuverability of the ball glove is improved.

(24) FIG. 11 illustrates one of the embodiments of the present invention. The ball glove 1 may further comprise a palm lining 7 and a back lining 9 which is secured to the shell back 4 on a side opposite to the back wall 5 of the glove 1. The palm lining 7 is coupled to the back lining 9 to define the hand cavity at the periphery, except at the hand insertion opening 31, such that the hand cavity is defined and the finger region 18 is formed, and the shell back 4 is coupled to the shell palm 2, except at the crotch area, such that the drop-in cavity 33 to accommodate the drop-in assembly 32 is defined.

(25) In this embodiment, the drop-in assembly 32 is disposed in the drop-in cavity 33 defined between the shell palm 2 and the palm lining 7 such that the first hollow zone 34 is formed between the drop-in assembly 32 and the palm lining 7 and the second hollow zone 36 is formed between the drop-in assembly 32 and the shell palm 2. Accordingly, addition of the palm lining 7 and the back lining 9 does not impart stiffness to the crotch are 12 or the impact zone X in the shell palm 2, as the palm lining 7 and the back lining 9 are not coupled to either the crotch area 12 or an area corresponding to the impact zone X of the shell palm 2.

(26) The back lining 9 and the palm lining 7 can be made of any suitable material or materials known in the art, whether natural or synthetic, which include but not limited to rubber, leather or synthetic leather, preferably cowhide or pigskin. More preferably, tacky or non-slip material is used for the palm lining 7 to provide traction or grip to the wearer's index finger.

(27) Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific examples of the embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.