Fielding Glove and Liner

Abstract

A liner for attachment to an interior surface of a baseball or softball glove and gloves including such liners are described. The liner includes an internal palm element having a palm portion and a thumb portion, a pinky portion, and three finger portions. The liner also includes a false palm attached to the pinky portion of the internal palm element, a thumb strap attached to the thumb portion of the internal palm element, and a pinky strap attached to the pinky portion of the internal palm element. A first pinky sleeve padding element is attached to the pinky portion, and a second pinky sleeve padding element is attached to the pinky strap of the internal palm element. A first liner element is installed over the first and second pinky sleeve padding elements, and a second liner element is installed over and attached to the thumb strap and the thumb portion.

Claims

1. A liner for attachment to an interior surface of a glove for wear and use by a player of baseball or softball, the liner comprising: an internal palm element, which is attached inside the glove, comprising a thumb portion, a pinky portion, and three finger portions, all attached to a palm portion; wherein the internal palm element comprises: a front side that contacts a palm of a hand of the player when the glove is worn; a rear side that is attached to the interior surface of a palm of the glove; and lacing holes passing through the front side and rear side; a first finger padding attached to the front side of the internal palm element so that the first finger padding overlaps the thumb portion and an adjacent area of the palm portion; a second finger padding attached to the front side of the internal palm element so that the second finger padding overlaps at least the pinky portion and an adjacent area of the internal palm element; and a false heel attached to the rear side of the internal palm element, wherein the false heel prevents contact between the player's palm and the lacing holes of the internal palm element, through which a lace is inserted to connect the internal palm element to the interior surface of the glove, when the glove is worn.

2. A glove for wear and use by a player of baseball or softball, the glove comprising: an internal palm element, which is attached inside the glove, comprising a thumb portion, a pinky portion, and three finger portions, all attached to a palm portion; wherein the internal palm element comprises: a front side that contacts a palm of a hand of the player when the glove is worn; a rear side that is attached to an interior surface of a palm of the glove; and lacing holes passing through the front side and rear side; a first finger padding attached to the front side of the internal palm element so that the first finger padding overlaps the thumb portion and an adjacent area of the palm portion; a second finger padding attached to the front side of the internal palm element so that the second finger padding overlaps at least the pinky portion and an adjacent area of the internal palm element; and a false heel attached to the rear side of the internal palm element; an external shell inside which the internal palm element, first finger padding, second finger padding, and false heel are installed; a web; and a lace for insertion through the lacing holes of the internal palm element for attaching the internal palm element to the interior surface of the palm of the glove's external shell; wherein the false heel prevents contact between the player's palm and the lacing holes of the internal palm element.

3. A liner for installation inside a glove for wear and use by a player of baseball or softball, the liner comprising: an internal palm element comprising a palm portion and a thumb portion, a pinky portion, and three finger portions, all attached to the palm portion; a false palm attached to the pinky portion of the internal palm element; a thumb strap attached to the thumb portion of the internal palm element; a pinky strap attached to the pinky portion of the internal palm element; a first pinky sleeve padding element attached to the pinky portion of the internal palm element; a second pinky sleeve padding element attached to the pinky strap of the internal palm element; a first liner element installed over the first and second pinky sleeve padding elements; and a second liner element that is installed over and attached to the thumb strap and the thumb portion of the internal palm element.

4. The liner of claim 3, wherein the internal palm element comprises one or more anchor slots that pass through a top side and a bottom side of the pinky portion of the internal palm element.

5. The liner of claim 4, wherein the pinking strap comprises one or more anchor portions that are insertable into and through the one or more anchor slots of the pinky portion of the internal palm element.

6. The liner of claim 3, wherein the false palm is attached to the internal palm element using adhesive, sewing, stitching, stapling, rivets, or other connection means.

7. The liner of claim 3, wherein the thumb strap comprises a first long side comprising a generally flat edge and a second long side comprising a generally flat edge that is perpendicular to the generally flat edge of the first long side and adjoins a diagonal edge that is diagonal in relation to the generally flat edge of the second long side.

8. The liner of claim 3, wherein the pinky strap comprises a first long side comprising a generally flat edge and a second long side comprising a generally flat edge that is perpendicular to the generally flat edge of the first long side and adjoins a diagonal edge that is diagonal in relation to the generally flat edge of the second long side.

9. The liner of claim 3, wherein the thumb strap comprises a left side comprising a generally flat edge and a right side comprising a diagonal edge; and wherein the pinky strap comprises a left side comprising a generally flat edge and a right side comprising a diagonal edge.

10. The liner of claim 3, wherein the thumb strap and the pinky strap are constructed in sizes based on circumferences of a player's thumb and pinky finger.

11. The liner of claim 3, wherein the thumb strap comprises one or more anchor portions, wherein each anchor portion of the thumb strap comprises a piece of material that is attached to and suspends from one side or end of the thumb strap.

12. The liner of claim 3, wherein the pinky strap comprises one or more anchor portions, wherein each anchor portion of the pinky strap comprises a piece of material that is attached to and suspends from one side or end of the pinky strap.

13. The liner of claim 12, wherein each anchor portion of the one or more anchor portions of the pinky strap is inserted through a corresponding anchor slot of the one or more anchor slots so that each anchor portion extends through top and bottom surfaces of the internal palm element.

14. The liner of claim 13, wherein the one or more anchor portions extend through the anchor slots to the bottom side of the internal palm element so as to be extended at least partially over a bottom side of the pinky portion of the internal palm element when inserted through the one or more anchor slots.

15. The liner of claim 14, wherein the one or more anchor portions of the pinky strap are attached to the pinky portion of the internal palm element.

16. The liner of claim 3, wherein the first pinky sleeve padding element and the second pinky sleeve padding element comprise high-impact industrial foam padding.

17. The liner of claim 3, wherein the first liner element and the second liner element are each attached to the internal palm element.

18. The liner of claim 3, wherein the first liner element and the second liner element comprise leather, cabretta leather, or fabric.

19. The liner of claim 3, wherein the second liner element is attached to the internal palm element, the thumb strap, or both; and wherein the thumb strap is securely fixed between a top side of the internal palm element and a bottom side of the second liner element.

20. The liner of claim 3, wherein the second liner element is attached to a top side of the thumb strap with sewing or stitching that passes through both the thumb strap and the internal palm element beneath the thumb strap to secure the second liner element in a fixed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a liner that has been assembled for installation inside a baseball or softball glove.

[0035] FIG. 2A is a top plan view of an internal palm element of the liner of FIG. 1 before being cut from a piece of material.

[0036] FIG. 2B is a top plan view of the internal palm element of the liner of FIG. 2A cut from the piece of material and with anchor slots cut through a pinky portion of the internal palm element.

[0037] FIG. 3A is a top plan view of a false palm of the liner.

[0038] FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the false palm of FIG. 3A attached to the pinky portion on a bottom side of the internal palm element of FIG. 2A.

[0039] FIG. 4A is a top plan view of a thumb strap of the liner of FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 4B is a top plan view of a pinky strap of the liner of FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 5A is a top plan view of the pinky strap of FIG. 4B attached to the top side of the internal palm element of FIG. 2A.

[0042] FIG. 5B is a bottom plan view of the internal palm element of FIG. 2A with anchor portions of the pinky strap of FIG. 5A inserted into and through the anchor slots of the pinky portion of the internal palm element.

[0043] FIG. 6A is a top plan view of the internal palm element of FIG. 2A with a first pinky sleeve padding element attached over the pinky portion thereof and a second pinky sleeve padding element attached to a top side of the pinky strap of FIGS. 4B and 5B.

[0044] FIG. 6B is a top plan view of a first liner element installed over the first and second pinky sleeve padding elements of FIG. 6A by sewing or stitching on a top side of the pinky strap.

[0045] FIG. 6C is a top plan view of a first liner element installed over the first and second pinky sleeve padding elements of FIG. 6A by further sewing or stitching on a top side of the pinky portion of the internal palm element.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the thumb strap of FIG. 4A, which is attached to the internal palm element beneath a second liner element that is installed over and attached to the thumb strap and a thumb portion of the internal palm element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed drawings and description set forth herein. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the drawings; however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, in light of the teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, numerous modifications and variations of the invention may exist that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

[0048] The present invention should not be limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. The terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to an element is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to a step or a means may be a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means.

[0049] All conjunctions used herein are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, a group of items linked with the conjunction and should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as and/or unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction or should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as and/or unless expressly stated otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0050] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein.

[0051] Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term including should be read to mean including, without limitation, including but not limited to, or the like; the term having should be interpreted as having at least; the term includes should be interpreted as includes but is not limited to; the term example is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and use of terms like preferably, preferred, desired, desirable, or exemplary and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the invention, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0052] Those skilled in the art will also understand that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases at least one and one or more to introduce claim recitations; however, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles a or an limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases one or more or at least one and indefinite articles such as a or an (e.g., a and an should typically be interpreted to mean at least one or one or more); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of two recitations, without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to at least one of A, B, and C is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., a system having at least one of A, B, and C would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

[0053] All numbers expressing dimensions, quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about unless expressly stated otherwise. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained.

[0054] The invention relates to a liner for attachment to an interior surface of a glove for wear and use by a player of baseball or softball. In exemplary embodiments, the glove is a fielding glove. In exemplary embodiments, the liner includes an internal palm element, a false palm, a thumb strap, a pinky strap, a first pinky sleeve padding element, a second pinky sleeve padding element, a first liner element, and a second liner element. In other embodiments herein, the liner includes an internal palm element, a first finger padding, a second finger padding, and a false heel. The internal palm element, which is attached inside the glove, includes a thumb portion, a pinky portion, and three finger portions, all attached to a palm portion. The internal palm element also includes a front side that contacts a palm of a hand of the player when the glove is worn and a rear side that is attached to the interior surface of a palm of the glove (e.g., to an interior surface of a palm portion of the glove's external shell). The internal palm element also includes a plurality of lacing holes passing through the front side and rear side. The internal palm element is made from leather, a synthetic cloth fabric, a natural cloth fabric, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the internal palm element is made from cabretta leather. FIG. 3A shows the front side of one embodiment of the internal palm element. FIG. 3B shows the rear side of the embodiment of the internal palm element of FIG. 3A with a false heel attached thereto.

[0055] The first finger padding is attached to the front side of the internal palm element so that the first finger padding overlaps the thumb portion and an adjacent area of the palm portion. The first finger padding and the portion of the internal palm element to which it is attached are installed inside a thumb stall and adjacent interior surface of the glove. The first finger padding is made from leather, a synthetic cloth fabric, a natural cloth fabric, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the first finger padding is made from cabretta leather. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the first finger padding before it is attached to the internal palm element.

[0056] The second finger padding is attached to the front side of the internal palm element so that the second finger padding overlaps at least the pinky portion and an adjacent area of the internal palm element. The second finger padding and the portion of the internal palm element to which it is attached are installed inside a pinky stall and adjacent interior surface of the glove. The second finger padding is sized and shaped so that, when the liner is attached inside a glove, the second finger padding provides enhanced cushioning and a custom fit feel to the glove when the wearer inserts both the little finger and ring finger into a pinky stall of the glove or when only the little finger is inserted into the pinky stall. The second finger padding is made from leather, a synthetic cloth fabric, a natural cloth fabric, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the second finger padding is made from cabretta leather. FIGS. 2A and 2B show one embodiment of the second finger padding in two different sizes before it is attached to the internal palm element.

[0057] The false heel is attached to the internal palm element and prevents the lacing holes from contacting the player's palm when the glove is worn so that the lacing holes do not contact and pinch a wearer's skin and cling to or bind the wearer's little finger and ring finger. The false heel includes lacing holes for receiving the lace that connect the internal palm element to an external shell of the glove. By installing the lace in the lacing holes of the false heel on the rear side of the internal palm element, lacing holes become unnecessary on the front side of the internal palm element, thereby avoiding the pinching and binding problems described above. FIG. 5 shows a conventional internal palm of a baseball glove, which includes exposed lacing holes that cause pinching and binding when contacted by a player's palm, little finger, and ring finger. The false heel is made from leather, a synthetic cloth fabric, a natural cloth fabric, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the false heel is made from cabretta leather. FIG. 3B shows one embodiment of the false heel attached to the rear side of the internal palm element. FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the false heel attached to the rear side of the internal palm element.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4, and 7, the false heel includes lacing holes that are used for receiving a lace so that the front side of the internal palm element does not need lace holes in a heel area that would contact the wearer's palm, ringer finger, and little finger. By including the lacing holes on the false heel, which is attached to the rear side of the internal palm element, the lacing holes are concealed and removed from contact with the wearer's hand. When inserted to attach the liner to the interior surface of the glove, the lace also is located on the rear side of the internal palm element where it is inserted through the lacing holes of the false heel, thereby preventing contact between the player's hand and the lace.

[0059] The invention also relates to a glove or mitt for wearing by a baseball or softball player to provide more control and cushioning for a wearer. The glove can be manufactured in a number of embodiments including as a pitcher's glove, infielder's glove, outfielder's glove, first baseman's glove, and a catcher's mitt. The glove includes a liner as described herein.

[0060] The glove also includes an external shell inside which the liner is installed, a web, and a lace. The external shell is made from leather, a synthetic cloth fabric, a natural cloth fabric, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. The web also is made from leather, a synthetic cloth fabric, a natural cloth fabric, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing, and extends between a thumb stall and an index finger stall of the external shell. The lace is insertable into the lacing holes of the internal palm element and lacing holes of the external shell to attach the internal palm element to the interior surface of the palm of the glove's external shell.

[0061] The invention also features a method for manufacturing a fielding glove and for manufacturing and installing a liner (as shown in FIG. 1) for attachment to an interior surface of a glove for wear and use by a player of baseball or softball. Other embodiments of the liner and of gloves including such a liner are described below in relation to the method. As shown in FIG. 2A, in one step of the method, an internal palm element (i.e., a liner) is cut from a piece of material (e.g., leather or a fabric). The internal palm element may be cut by mechanical means, e.g., by a die cut machine, or manually. The size and shape of the internal palm element are determined by the size and shape of the glove in which it will be installed. As shown in FIG. 2B, the internal palm element includes one or more anchor slots passing through a pinky portion of the internal palm element.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in another step of the method, a false palm (also referred to as a false heel) is cut using means similar to those used in the previous step. The false palm is then attached to one side (e.g., a bottom side) of the internal palm element using adhesive or other connection means such as sewing, stitching, stapling, or rivets. The false palm is an important feature that prevents lace in the palm of the glove from touching the player's hand.

[0063] In another step of the method, a thumb strap and a pinky strap are cut using means similar to those used in the first step described above. The thumb strap is shown in FIG. 4A and the pinky strap is shown in FIG. 4B. The thumb strap and pinky strap are the same size as one another or different sizes, but their shapes are mirror images. For example, each has one straight long side and an opposing long side that includes a diagonally cut portion. Positions of the straight side and its opposing long side are reversed for the pinky strap versus the thumb strap. In exemplary embodiments, the sizes of the thumb strap and pinky strap are adjusted by cutting based on circumferences of the player's thumb and pinky finger. The thumb strap includes one or more (and in exemplary embodiments, three) anchor portions. The pinky strap also includes one or more (and in exemplary embodiments, three) anchor portions. Each anchor portion of the thumb and pinky straps is a piece of material that is attached to and suspends from one end of the strap.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 2B, in another step of the method, the one or more anchor slots are cut in a pinky portion of the internal palm element. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the internal palm element includes three anchor slots. To create a seamless feel, meaning that the player cannot feel seams of the glove touching the player's hand when wearing the glove, the pinky strap is anchored to the internal palm element by connection through the pinky strap anchor slots.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in another step of the method, the pinky strap anchor portions are pulled through the anchor slots so that each individual anchor portion is pulled through a corresponding anchor slot on the internal palm element. As shown in FIG. 5A, the anchor portions of the pinky strap are inserted through the corresponding anchor slots on a top side of the internal palm element. As shown in FIG. 5B, the anchor portions extend through the anchor slots to the bottom side of the internal palm element so as to be extended at least partially over a bottom side of the pinky portion of the internal palm element. The anchor portions of the pinky strap are attached to the pinky portion of the internal palm element, e.g., by a leather glue or contact cement, other adhesive, or other attachment means as described herein.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 6A, in another step of the method, a first pinky sleeve padding element is attached by adhesive to the top side of the pinky portion of the internal palm element. A second pinky sleeve padding element is attached by adhesive to one side (e.g., to a top side) of the pinky strap. The first and second pinky sleeve padding elements are made from high-impact industrial foam padding, which in exemplary embodiments can be about one-sixteenth inch in thickness. The first and second pinky sleeve padding elements are cut using means similar to those used in the first step described above.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 6B, in another step of the method, a first liner element is cut using means similar to those used in the first step described above and is installed on top of the pinky strap and pinky portion of the internal palm element using a leather glue or contact cement, other adhesive, or other attachment means as described herein. The first liner element is made from leather (e.g., cabretta leather in exemplary embodiments or other types of leather) or fabric.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 6C, in another step of the method, the first liner element is attached (e.g., by sewing, stitching, or other attachment means as described herein) to the internal palm element. The attachment of the first liner element to the internal palm element is important in that it also serves to hold in a fixed position the first and second pinky sleeve padding elements beneath the liner element.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 7, in other steps of the method, the thumb strap is attached to the internal palm element, e.g., by sewing, stitching, or other attachment means as described herein. The thumb strap is attached to a thumb portion of the internal palm element. A second liner element is attached (e.g., by sewing, stitching, or other attachment means as described herein) to the thumb strap. In some embodiments, the second liner element is attached directly to the internal palm element with the thumb strap being securely fixed between a top side of the internal palm element and a bottom side of the second liner element. In other embodiments, the second liner element is attached to a top side of the thumb strap with sewing or stitching passing through both the thumb strap and the internal palm element beneath it to secure the second liner element in fixed position. In still other embodiments, the second liner element is attached to both the thumb strap and to the internal palm element via sewing, stitching, or other attachment means as described herein. The second liner element is made from leather (e.g., cabretta leather in exemplary embodiments or other types of leather) or fabric.

[0070] After the foregoing steps are completed and the thumb and pinky of the liner are installed, the remainder of the liner is constructed using standard methods in the industry. After the palm liner is fully assembled, it is inserted inside a glove using standard methods in the industry for assembly.

[0071] Although the steps above have been explained in a particular order herein, the order of such presentation should not be construed as limiting since the order in which the steps are completed may vary from the order in which those steps of the method are described herein.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0072] It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.