U.S. patent application number 10/015132 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-10 for baseball glove.
Invention is credited to Dogan, Junichi, Kume, Kazuhiro, Nishimura, Toshiaki, Terashita, Masaki.
Application Number | 20020144332 10/015132 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18960199 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020144332 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishimura, Toshiaki ; et
al. |
October 10, 2002 |
BASEBALL GLOVE
Abstract
A baseball glove including a ball receiving member, a back
member and a back covering member is provided, in which the back
covering member is extended from right and left side portions of a
hand receiving portion to an outer side portion of a thumb base and
an outer side portion of a little finger base of the back member,
and extended in at least one of the directions toward a central
line of each finger portion and toward the intervening space
between finger portions of the back member from the hand receiving
portion.
Inventors: |
Nishimura, Toshiaki; (Osaka,
JP) ; Dogan, Junichi; (Osaka, JP) ; Kume,
Kazuhiro; (Osaka, JP) ; Terashita, Masaki;
(Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA, SUITE 5200
600 PEACHTREE STREET , NE
ATLANTA
GA
30308-2216
US
|
Family ID: |
18960199 |
Appl. No.: |
10/015132 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/143
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/19 |
International
Class: |
A41D 013/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 6, 2001 |
JP |
2001-107973(P) |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A baseball glove, comprising a ball receiving member, a back
member and a back covering member, wherein said back covering
member is extended from right and left side portions of a hand
receiving portion to an outer side portion of a thumb base and an
outer side portion of a little finger base of said back member, and
extended in at least one of directions toward a central line of
each finger portion and toward an intervening space between finger
portions of said back member from said hand receiving portion.
2. The baseball glove according to claim 1, wherein said back
covering member is extended from the right and left side portions
of said hand receiving portion to the outer side portion of the
thumb base and the outer side portion of the little finger base of
said back member, and extended from said hand receiving portion in
a direction toward a central line of an index finger portion of
said back member.
3. The baseball glove according to claim 1, wherein said back
covering portion is extended from the right and left side portions
of said hand receiving portion to the outer side portion of the
thumb base and the outer side portion of the little finger base of
said back member, and extended from said hand receiving portion in
directions toward a central line of a little finger portion and
toward an intervening space between an index finger portion and a
thumb portion of said back member.
4. The baseball glove according to claim 1, wherein said back
covering member is formed of synthetic resin.
5. A baseball glove, comprising: a main body portion formed
integrally with a ball receiving member and a back member and
having a finger inserting hole for inserting a finger thereto; and
a back covering member attached to said back member placed on the
side of said finger inserting hole to form a hand receiving portion
for receiving a user's hand, wherein said back covering member has
a first protruding portion extending on a little finger portion of
said main body portion, a second protruding portion extending on a
thumb portion of said main body portion and a third protruding
portion on said back member placed between the little finger
portion and the thumb portion of said main body portion.
6. The baseball glove according to claim 5, wherein a first opening
portion is provided between said back member and said back covering
member placed between said first protruding portion and said third
protruding portion, and a second opening portion is provided
between said back member and said back covering member placed
between said second protruding portion and said third protruding
portion.
Description
[0001] This invention claims priority to Japanese Application No.
2001-107973(P) filed Apr. 6, 2001 entitled "Baseball Glove."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to improvements in a hand
receiving belt for a baseball glove.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] A hand receiving belt 11 of a conventional baseball glove 1
is generally formed by extending a back member 10 from a region
below a thumb base 10b to a region below a little finger base 10a
and engaging the ends thereof as shown in FIG. 5, or by producing a
separate piece which extends from the region below the thumb base
10b to the region below the little finger base 10a of back member
10 and engaging this piece at both ends.
[0006] A comfortable fit of a hand into a glove is effectuated by
inserting fingers into the respective finger portions and securing
a back portion of the hand with a hand receiving belt. Therefore,
various methods of securing fingers in the finger portions and of
securing with the hand receiving belt are devised as disclosed.
[0007] Among improvements of the hand receiving belt, Japanese
Utility Model Laying-Open No. 6-57378 discloses a baseball catching
gear in which a belt body is attached for sandwiching both sides of
the hand being inserted in a hand receiving belt portion. Further,
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-28855 discloses a glove in which
a tightening member is inserted between an outer leather and an
inner leather of a hand receiving belt portion and the opposite
ends thereof is drawn to the outside by an amount arbitrarily set
and held.
[0008] A devise of securing the back portion is also disclosed for
a glove in which an opening portion is not provided between the
upper end of hand receiving belt 11 and each finger base as shown
in the above noted FIG. 5, and the entire back surface is covered
up. For example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No.
56-46780, a hand receiving portion of the back member covering the
entire back surface is divided into three pieces, which are tied
with a strip-like piece. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-213675
shows that an entire region from lower ends of finger stalls of the
back member to a part corresponding to a wrist is formed of a
stretch fabric, and a fastening belt is formed between a lower end
of a little finger portion and a lower end of a thumb portion of
the finger stalls.
[0009] A required property for a baseball glove desirably includes
a good feeling of inserting a hand, a good flexibility at the time
of catching a ball, lightness in weight, high durability, and good
shape retention.
[0010] As in Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 6-57378 and
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-28855 mentioned above, however,
although tightening of the hand receiving belt portion can adjust
the fit of the wrist portion, strong tightening impairs an
operation of catching a ball and also a feeling of inserting a
hand.
[0011] Furthermore, as in Japanese Utility Model Publication No.
56-46780, although the back member covering the entire back surface
eliminates injury of the back of the hand in tagging play, it
deteriorates the flexibility of the glove at the time of catching a
ball and also increases the weight. In addition, it may deteriorate
air permeability inside the glove, so that the user feels hot and
stuffy. An improvement in this point is made in Japanese Patent
Laying-Open No. 7-213675, in which a hand receiving portion is
firmly fastened by a fastening belt, resulting in a poor feeling of
inserting a hand, similar to the above mentioned Japanese Utility
Model Laying-Open No. 6-57378 and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No.
9-28855.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present
invention provides a baseball glove configured with a ball
receiving member, a back member and a back covering member, wherein
the back covering member is extended from right and left side
portions of a hand receiving portion to an outer side portion of a
thumb base and an outer side portion of a little finger base of the
back member, and extended in at least one of the directions toward
a central line of each finger portion and toward the intervening
space between finger portions of the back member, from the hand
receiving portion.
[0013] When the number of the directions toward the central line of
each finger portion and/or toward the intervening space between
finger portions of the back member from the hand receiving portion
of the back covering member is one, the glove has a good
flexibility at the time of catching a ball and is light in weight.
As the number increases to two, three or more, the glove has a less
flexibility and becomes heavy, but it becomes highly durable and
less likely to deform.
[0014] Furthermore, when the back covering member is formed of a
flexible synthetic resin to which a raised fabric having a good
feel is affixed at a part to be in contact with the hand, or is
formed using a synthetic resin sponge, the glove comes to have a
good feeling in inserting a hand, exhibits better resistance to
backward bending at the time of catching a ball, and also is light
in weight, highly durable and less likely to deform.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention
provides a baseball glove, including: a main body portion formed
integrally with a ball receiving member and a back member and
having a finger inserting hole for inserting a finger thereto; and
a back covering member attached to the back member placed on the
side of the finger inserting hole to form a hand receiving portion
for receiving a user's hand. The back covering member includes a
first protruding portion extending on a little finger portion of
the main body portion, a second protruding portion extending on a
thumb portion of the main body portion, and a third protruding
portion extending on the back member placed between the little
finger portion and the thumb portion of the main body portion.
[0016] Preferably, a first opening portion is provided between the
back member and the back covering portion placed between the first
protruding portion and the third protruding portion, and a second
opening portion is provided between the back member and the back
covering portion placed between the second protruding portion and
the third protruding portion.
[0017] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view seen from the thumb side of FIG.
1.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view seen form the little finger side of
FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a rear view of another embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a conventional baseball glove.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] A baseball glove in accordance with the present invention is
configured with a ball receiving member, a back member and a back
covering member. Each member can be formed using natural leather,
synthetic leather or artificial leather, which is a material for a
conventional baseball glove. The back covering member can be formed
of a flexible synthetic resin sheet by die-cutting, of a flexible
synthetic resin by injection molding, or of synthetic resin sponge
by thermoforming.
[0024] The ball receiving member and the back member are formed in
a manner similar to a conventional baseball glove, except that the
back member does not have a hand receiving belt but has an opening
portion which is formed from a hand receiving portion to a finger
base and integrated with the ball receiving member.
[0025] The back covering member covers up the hand receiving
portion where the back member has an opening, extends from the
right and left side portions of the hand receiving portion to an
outer side portion of a thumb base and an outer side portion of a
little finger base of the back member, and additionally extends in
at least one of the directions toward a central line of each finger
portion and toward the intervening space between finger portions of
the back member from the hand receiving portion, and is adhered or
stitched to the back member. It is noted that the hand receiving
portion of the back covering member can be extended below the wrist
to cover a large part of a wrist portion.
[0026] When the back covering member is formed of a flexible
synthetic resin sheet, it is formed by die-cutting a sheet of nylon
resin, urethane resin, polyether block amide resin or the like, in
view of flexibility and durability. It is noted that a raised
fabric, a sponge sheet or the like giving a good feel for the hand
is adhered or stitched to a part in contact with the hand.
[0027] When the back covering member is formed of flexible
synthetic resin by injection molding, nylon, polyurethane
elastomer, plolyamide elastomer or the like is used, and a raised
fabric, a sponge sheet or the like having a good feel is adhered or
stitched to the part in contact with the hand.
[0028] When the back covering member is formed of synthetic resin
sponge, sponge of EVA or polyurethane is used for thermoforming
(hot press). It is noted that when the part in contact with the
hand is formed into a thickness of 5-10 mm and the side portion is
into a thickness of 2-5 mm, the part in contact with the hand is
made soft, and therefore a separate member having a good feeling
needs not be attached.
[0029] It is preferable that the number of the directions toward
the central line of each finger portion and/or toward the
intervening space between finger portions of the back member from
the hand receiving portion of the back covering member is
determined dependent on the characteristics of a position for
baseball. Specifically, in case of a glove for an outfielder who
has a fewer opportunity of catching a strong hit ball, the back
covering member is extended in only one direction, while in case of
a glove for an infielder, it is extended in one or two directions.
It is noted that when the back covering member is extended into the
middle of the finger portion, the glove increases in weight, but it
is less likely to bend backward and deform.
[0030] Although the back covering member for a catcher mitt can be
formed in a similar manner, it is preferably extended in three
directions in order to catch a strong thrown ball repeatedly.
Specifically, the back covering member is extended in five
directions including those extending from the right and left side
portions of the hand receiving portion of the back covering member
to the outer side portion of the thumb base and the outer side
portion of the little finger base of the back member.
[0031] In the following, an embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to the figures. FIG. 1 is a rear
view of an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view seen from the thumb
side, and FIG. 3 is a side view seen from the little finger side. A
baseball glove 1 of the present invention is formed with a ball
receiving member 2 and a back member 3 using natural leather in a
manner similar to a conventional glove, except that back member 3
does not have a hand receiving belt 11 but has an opening portion 5
formed from a hand receiving portion 2a of ball receiving member 2
to each finger base.
[0032] Back covering member 4 is formed by die-cutting a nylon
resin sheet having a thickness of 2 mm, and is extended from the
right and left side portions of hand receiving portion 4a to an
outer side portion of a thumb base 3b and an outer side portion of
a little finger base 3a of back member 3 as well as from hand
receiving portion 4a along a central line of an index finger of
back member 3 to half of the index finger lengthwise. The
overlapping parts of the extended part and back member 3 are
stitched together.
[0033] It is noted that hand receiving portion 4a of back covering
member 4 is extended toward a wrist portion about 5 cm lower than
hand receiving portion 2a of ball receiving member 2 to cover up
the wrist portion. Furthermore, a raised fabric or teaseled part 6
is adhered to a part in contact with the hand.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a rear view of another embodiment. In baseball
glove 1 of the present embodiment, again, ball receiving member 2
and back member 3 are formed with natural leather, and back
covering member 4 is formed of a nylon resin sheet. Back covering
member 4 extends to the outer side portion of little finger base 3a
and the outer side portion of thumb base 3b of back member 3, and
extends in the directions toward the central line of the little
finger and toward the intervening space between the index finger
and the thumb finger of back member 3 from hand receiving portion
4a. Raised fabric part 6 is adhered to back covering member 4 at
the part in contact with the hand.
[0035] Since a hand receiving belt of a baseball glove is made as a
back covering member in accordance with the present invention, it
is possible to provide a glove which has a good feeling in
inserting the hand, has a good flexibility at the time of catching
a ball, and is light in weight and less likely to deform.
[0036] When the hand receiving portion of the back covering member
is extended below the wrist to cover a large part of a wrist
portion, a good feeling in inserting the hand into the baseball
glove is improved, and the hand can be protected, for example, in
tagging play.
[0037] Furthermore, an optimum design for each position can be
realized by determining the length and the number of the directions
toward a central line of each finger portion and/or toward the
intervening space between finger portions of the back member from
the hand receiving portion of the back covering member, dependent
on the characteristics of each position.
[0038] Since the back covering member is formed of synthetic resin,
it can be easily processed into a solid shape, and it is possible
to provide a baseball glove which has a good feeling in inserting a
hand, is light in weight, has high durability, and is less likely
to deform.
[0039] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by
way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way
of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *