GLOVE THAT CONFORMS TO DIFFERENT FINGER SIZES

Abstract

A glove is provided with stretchable zones or sections on the finger portions of the glove to allow adjustable form fitted receipt of a wearer's fingers, while conforming to varying finger lengths of different wearers so that the glove finger portions do not extend beyond the tips of the wearer's fingers.

Claims

1. A glove comprising: a hand portion; a plurality of finger portions integral with and extending from the hand portion and including a thumb portion, an index finger portion, a middle finger portion, a ring finger portion and a pinky finger portion, and each of the plurality of finger portions including a base and a distal tip; and at least one of the plurality of finger portions including a stretchable zone formed of an elastomeric material to allow the at least one finger portion to extend in length in response to a force exerted at the distal tip of the at least one finger portion and away from the hand portion.

2. The glove as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of finger portions includes at least one of the stretchable zones formed of an elastomeric material for allowing each of the plurality of finger portions to extend in length in response to a force exerted at the distal tip and away from the hand portion.

3. The glove as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one of the plurality of finger portions includes two or more stretchable zones formed of an elastomeric material.

4. The glove as recited in claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of finger portions includes two or more of the stretchable zones.

5. The glove as recited in claim 1 wherein the stretchable zone on the at least one of the plurality of finger portions is formed in a spiraling configuration extending between the base and the distal tip of the at least one of the plurality of finger portions.

6. The glove as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one of the stretchable zones is located adjacent to the base of each of the plurality of finger portions.

7. The glove as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one of the stretchable zones is located adjacent to the distal tip of each of the plurality of finger portions.

8. The glove as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one of the stretchable zones is located between the base and the distal tip of each of the plurality of finger portions.

9. The glove as recited in claim 1 wherein the glove is a golf glove.

10. The glove as recited in claim 1 wherein the glove is a batting glove for baseball.

11. The glove as recited in claim 1 wherein the glove is a work glove.

12. The glove as recited in claim 1 wherein the glove is a football glove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a palm side of the glove of the present invention, in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0009] FIG. 2 is plan view of a palm side of the glove of the present invention, in accordance with a second embodiment; and

[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a palm side of the glove depicting further embodiments of the invention.

[0011] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Referring to the drawings, and initially FIG. 1, the glove of the present invention is shown in accordance with a first embodiment and is generally indicated as 10A. The glove 10A includes a hand portion 12 with a back side (not shown) and a palm side 14 and five finger portions, including a thumb portion 20 and finger portions 21-24 which include an index finger portion 21, a middle finger portion 22, a ring finger portion 23 and a pinky finger portion 24. Each of the finger portions 20-24 is provided with a stretchable zone 30 which allows the tips of each of the finger portions 20-24 to extend outwardly away from the hand portion 12 in response to a force exerted by the wearer's finger tips against an inner distal end of each of the respective finger portions 20-24. In a preferred embodiment, the stretchable zones 30 are formed of an elastomeric material, such as a polyester-polyurethane copolymer commonly referred to as “spandex,” “lycra” or “elastane.” FIG. 1 also illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein two stretchable zones 30 are provided on a finger portion, as seen on the middle finger portion 22.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the glove of the present invention and is generally indicated as 10B. In this particular embodiment, each of the finger portions 20-24 is provided with a spiraling arrangement of stretchable zones 30 encircling the finger portions. Each of the spiraling stretchable sections are formed of an elastomeric material to allow the distal ends of the finger portions to extend outwardly and away from the hand portion 12 of the glove in response to a force exerted by the user's finger tips against an interior of the distal ends of the finger portions.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 3, further embodiments of the invention are shown, wherein the glove 10C may include two or more stretchable zones 30 on any of the finger portions 20-24. For instance, the finger portions 20-24 may include two separate stretchable zones 30 (see FIG. 1 for this example) or three stretchable zones 30, such as one near the base of the finger portion, one near the center of the finger portion and one near the distal tip of the finger portion. In a further embodiment, the stretchable zones may be at various locations on the finger portions. For instance, in one embodiment, the stretchable zones 30 may be located near the base (i.e., proximal end) of the finger portion, as seen on the ring finger portion 23 in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the stretchable zones 30 may be located near the center of each of the finger portions, as seen on the middle finger portion 22 in FIG. 3. In still a further embodiment, the stretchable zones 30 may be located near the distal tips of the finger portions, as seen on the index finger portion 21 in FIG. 3.

[0015] While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which is not to be limited except as defined in the following claims.