U.S. patent application number 11/489455 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for golf glove with grip positioning strap.
Invention is credited to Kenneth Godson.
Application Number | 20080034470 11/489455 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39049028 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080034470 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Godson; Kenneth |
February 14, 2008 |
GOLF GLOVE WITH GRIP POSITIONING STRAP
Abstract
According to the present invention there is provided a golf
glove for improving a golfer's grip on a golf club. The golf glove
includes a palm and a finger part extending from the palm. The
finger part has a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little
finger. The golf glove includes a golf gripping strap extending
from the finger part. The golf gripping strap has a finger-covering
portion. The finger-covering portion covers at least some of the
finger part. The golf gripping strap has an outer end. The outer
end extends from the finger-covering portion. The outer end has a
golf gripping strap connector portion. The golf glove includes a
thumb heel. The thumb heel has a heel connector portion which is
releasably connectable to the golf gripping strap connector. When
the golf glove is fitted over a glove hand and the golfer grips the
golf club with a normal grip position, the golf gripping strap is
connected by the golf gripping strap connector portion to the heel
connector portion of the thumb heel. The finger-covering portion
thereby extends over the golf club so that the finger part is
directed towards the thumb heel.
Inventors: |
Godson; Kenneth; (Mission,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORMAN M. CAMERON
SUITE 1401 - 1166 ALBERNI STREET
VANCOUVER
BC
V6E 3Z3
US
|
Family ID: |
39049028 |
Appl. No.: |
11/489455 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/161.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/10 20130101;
A63B 21/4017 20151001; A63B 71/146 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/161.2 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/14 20060101
A63B071/14 |
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. The golf glove as claimed in claim 21, wherein the index finger
raised-portion is positioned to allow a non-glove little finger of
the non-glove hand to rest on the index finger raised-portion when
the golfer grips the golf club with the normal grip position and
the golf gripping strap is connected by the golf gripping strap
connector portion to the heel connector portion of the thumb heel
and the finger-covering portion thereby extends over the golf club
so that the finger part is directed towards the thumb heel.
10. The golf glove as claimed in claim 9, wherein the index finger
raised-portion is located on a lower end of the index finger, the
lower end being located distal from the outer end of the golf
gripping strap.
11. The golf glove as claimed in claim 10, wherein the golf glove
further includes: a back portion, the back portion being on a side
opposite to the palm and the back portion having a back connector
portion; and a back strap extending from the back portion, the back
strap having a back strap connector portion which is releasably
connectable to the back connector portion; whereby, when the golf
glove is fitted over a glove hand the back strap is connected by
means of the back strap connector portion to the back connector
portion of the back portion.
12. The golf glove as claimed in claim 11, wherein the golf
gripping strap connector portion is a first hook portion of a first
hook and loop fastener, the heel connector portion is a first loop
portion of the first hook and loop fastener, the back connector
portion is a second loop portion of a second hook and loop
fastener, and the back strap connector portion is a second hook
portion of the second hook and loop fastener.
13. The golf glove as claimed in claim 12, wherein the golf
gripping strap connector portion is on a plane substantially
parallel to the palm when both the golf glove and the golf gripping
strap are laid substantially flat and straight, and the back strap
connector portion is faces the palm when both the golf glove and
the back strap are laid substantially flat and straight.
14. The golf glove as claimed in claim 13, wherein the golf glove
is made of leather.
15. The golf glove as claimed in claim 14, wherein the golf glove
is made of a porous material.
16. The golf glove as claimed in claim 15, wherein the golf glove
is a waterproof material.
17-20. (canceled)
21. A golf glove for improving a golfer's grip on a golf club shaft
of a golf club, the golf glove comprising: a palm; a finger part
extending from the palm, the finger part having a middle finger, a
ring finger, a little finger, and a back; a golf gripping strap
extending from the finger part, the golf gripping strap being
connected to the back of the finger part, the golf gripping strap
being fixedly connected to the finger part, the golf gripping strap
being elastic, the golf gripping strap having a finger-covering
portion, the finger-covering portion covering at least some of the
finger part, the golf gripping strap having an outer end, the outer
end extending from the finger-covering portion, the outer end
having a golf gripping strap connector portion; and a thumb heel,
the thumb heel having a heel connector portion which is releasably
connectable to the golf gripping strap connector portion; a palm
raised-portion on the palm adjacent to the thumb heel; a palm strip
on the palm adjacent to the palm raised-portion; and an index
finger, the index finger having a back and a raised-portion on the
back of the index finger, the index finger raised-portion being
positioned to allow a non-glove hand to rest on the index finger
raised-portion when the golfer grips the golf club with the normal
grip position, whereby, when the golf glove is fitted over a glove
hand and the golfer grips the golf club with a normal grip
position, the golf club shaft rests on the palm raised-portion and
the palm strip, the golf gripping strap is connected by the golf
gripping strap connector portion to the heel connector portion of
the thumb heel and the finger-covering portion thereby extends over
the golf club so that the finger part is directed towards the thumb
heel.
22. A method of improving a golfer's golf grip with a golf glove,
the golf glove having a golf gripping strap, a thumb heel with a
heel connector portion, a palm, a palm raised-portion on the palm
adjacent to the thumb heel, a palm strip adjacent to the palm
raised-portion, an index finger, and an index finger raised-portion
on the index finger, the index finger raised-portion being on a
side opposite to the palm, and the method comprising: placing a
glove hand within the golf glove; gripping on a golf club shaft of
a golf club with a normal grip position; resting the golf club
shaft on the palm raised-portion when the golfer grips the golf
club with the normal grip position; aligning the golf club shaft on
the palm strip when the golfer grips the golf club with the normal
grip position; stretching the golf gripping strap around the golf
club shaft with a non-glove hand, the golf gripping strap having a
golf gripping strap connector portion; connecting the golf gripping
strap by means of the golf gripping strap connector portion to the
heel connector portion; and resting a non-gloved little finger of a
non-glove hand on the index finger raised-portion when the golfer
grips the golf club with the normal grip position.
23. The method as claimed in claim 22, the golf glove further
including a back portion, the back portion being on a side opposite
to the palm and the back portion having a back connector portion,
the golf glove further including a back strap extending from the
back portion, the back strap having a back strap connector portion,
and the method further including the step of: connecting the back
strap by means of the back strap connector portion to the back
connector portion of the back portion, when the golf glove is
fitted over a glove hand.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a golf glove, and in
particular, to a golf glove with a grip positioning strap.
[0002] A golf glove may have a golf gripping strap that primarily
wraps around only the ring finger and the little finger when
gripping a golf club in the normal grip position, as disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,374 to Briggs and U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,120 to
Myers. Alternatively, a golf glove strap may wrap around the middle
finger, ring finger and little finger, but require these fingers to
be at all times perpendicular to the golf club shaft--in a
non-normal grip position, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,073
to Pellington. As a result, these prior art golf gloves with golf
gripping straps are only partially successful at both producing a
repeatable normal grip position alignment and securing a firm and
uniform force along the middle finger, ring finger and little
finger, for firmly gripping the golf club.
[0003] The ability of the prior art golf gloves with golf gripping
straps to produce a uniformly tight and firm grip is further
compromised by the fact that such golf gripping straps are separate
parts that must first be cumbersomely connected to the golf glove
through hook and loop fasteners, as disclosed in Briggs, Myers, and
Pellington. There is therefore a need for a more effective and
easier to use golf glove with a grip positioning strap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a golf
glove for improving a golfer's grip on a golf club. The golf glove
includes a palm and a finger part extending from the palm. The
finger part has a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little
finger. The golf glove includes a golf gripping strap extending
from the finger part. The golf gripping strap has a finger-covering
portion. The finger-covering portion covers at least some of the
finger part. The golf gripping strap has an outer end. The outer
end extends from the finger-covering portion. The outer end has a
golf gripping strap connector portion. The golf glove includes a
thumb heel. The thumb heel has a heel connector portion which is
releasably connectable to the golf gripping strap connector. When
the golf glove is fitted over a glove hand and the golfer grips the
golf club with a normal grip position, the golf gripping strap is
connected by the golf gripping strap connector portion to the heel
connector portion of the thumb heel. The finger-covering portion
thereby extends over the golf club so that the finger part is
directed towards the thumb heel.
[0005] According to yet a further aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of improving a golfer's golf grip with a golf
glove. The golf glove has a golf gripping strap and a thumb heel
with a heel connector portion. The method includes the step of
placing a glove hand within the golf glove. The method further
includes the step of gripping on a golf club shaft of a golf club
with a normal grip position. The method further includes the step
of stretching the golf gripping strap around the golf club shaft
with a non-glove hand. The golf gripping strap has a golf gripping
strap connector portion. The method further includes the step of
connecting the golf gripping strap by means of the golf gripping
strap connector portion to the heel connector portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In the drawings:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a golf glove according to an
embodiment of the invention showing the palm of the golf glove and
the golf gripping strap of the golf glove;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the golf glove gripping a
golf club with a normal grip position and the golf gripping strap
stretching around the golf club shaft.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the golf glove according to an
embodiment of the invention showing the back strap of the golf
glove and the index finger raised-portion of the golf glove.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a golf glove
according to an embodiment of the invention is shown indicated
generally by reference numeral 1. The golf glove 1 includes a palm
3 and a finger part 5 extending from the palm 3. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1-3, the finger part 5 has a middle finger 6, a ring
finger 8, and a little finger 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the finger
part 5 also has a back 15.
[0011] There is also a golf gripping strap 12 which extends from
the back 15 of the finger part 5. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.
1-3, the golf gripping strap 12 is fixedly connected to the finger
part 5. Put another way, the golf gripping strap 12 is fixedly
connected to the middle finger 6, ring finger 8 and little finger
10. This connection may be in the form of a sewed connection, an
integral extension of the back 15 of the finger part 5, or other
suitable means, as are known to those skilled in the art. The golf
gripping strap 12 may be of leather, elastic or have some elastic
properties. In this example, the golf gripping strap 12 includes a
finger-covering portion 14 which covers at least some of the finger
part 5. The golf gripping strap 12 also includes an outer end 17
which extends from the finger-covering portion 14. The outer end 17
has a golf gripping strap connector portion 16. The golf gripping
strap connector portion 16 is on a plane substantially parallel to
the palm 3 when both the golf glove 1 and the golf gripping strap
12 are laid substantially flat and straight.
[0012] The golf glove 1 further includes a thumb 2. Adjacent to the
thumb 2 is a thumb heel 19 which has a heel connector portion 18.
The heel connector portion 18 is releasably connectable to the golf
gripping strap connector portion 16. In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-3, the golf gripping strap connector portion 16 is a first
hook portion of a first hook and loop fastener, and the heel
connector portion 18 is a first loop portion of the first hook and
loop fastener. However, this connection may equally be in the form
of a sewed connection, a loop and tie connection, or other suitable
means, as are known to those skilled in the art.
[0013] Referring back to the palm 3 of the golf glove 1 and the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the palm 3 includes a palm
raised-portion 22 adjacent to the heel connector portion 18. In
this example, the palm raised-portion 22 is in the shape of a thin
wedge with inwardly directed elliptical top and end portions, but
could equally be in the shape of merely a wedge, a wedge with only
an inwardly directed elliptical top portion, a rectangle, or other
suitable shape, as are known to those skilled in the art. The palm
raised-portion 22 comprises a support material, which may include a
padded material, a glove material of extra thickness, laminated
layers of leather, a cushioning rubber, or other suitable means, as
are known to those skilled in the art.
[0014] In this embodiment, the palm 3 further includes a palm strip
24 which is adjacent to the palm raised-portion 22. The palm strip
24 comprises a slotted material, which may include a depression in
the glove material in the form of a channel, a section of reduced
glove material thickness in the form of a channel, a cut channel in
the glove material, one or more channeling rods within the golf
glove, or other suitable means, as are known to those skilled in
the art. The palm strip 24 is positioned in a direction that begins
below the little finger 10 at the base of the palm 3 and extends to
the base of the index finger 4 at the top of the palm 3.
[0015] In this embodiment and referring to FIG. 3, the golf glove 1
further includes an index finger 4 with lower end 27. The lower end
27 of the index finger 4 is located distal from the outer end 17 of
the golf gripping strap 12. The index finger 4 also has a back 25.
On the back 25 of the index finger 4 at the lower end 27 of the
index finger 4 is an index finger raised-portion 26. In this
example, the index finger raised-portion 26 is in the shape of an
inverted, rounded L-like shape, but could equally be in the shape
of a semi-circle, ellipse, or other suitable shape, as are known to
those skilled in the art. The index finger raised-portion 26
comprises a support material, which may include a padded material,
a glove material of extra thickness, laminated layers of leather, a
cushioning rubber, or other suitable means, as are known to those
skilled in the art.
[0016] In this embodiment and as shown in FIG. 3, the golf glove 1
further includes a back portion 33 which is on a side opposite to
the palm 3. The back portion 33 has a back connector portion 36. In
FIG. 3, the back connector portion 36 is hidden by a back strap 34
which extends from the back portion 33. The back strap 34 has a
back strap connector portion 38. In the embodiment shown, the back
strap connector portion 38 faces the palm 3 when both the golf
glove 1 and the back strap 34 are laid substantially flat and
straight. The back strap connector portion 38 is releasably
connectable to the back connector portion 36. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1-3, the back connector portion 36 is a second loop
portion of a second hook and loop fastener, and the back strap
connector portion 38 is a second hook portion of the second hook
and loop fastener. However, this connection may equally be in the
form of a sewed connection, a loop and tie connection, or other
suitable means, as are known to those skilled in the art.
[0017] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the golf glove 1 is
made of leather. The golf glove 1 may equally be made of a porous
material, waterproof material, or other suitable material, as are
known to those skilled in the art.
[0018] Referring now to the operation of the golf glove 1, the golf
glove 1 is fitted over a glove hand (not shown). Referring to FIG.
3, the back strap 34 is connected by means of the back strap
connector portion 38 to the back connector portion 36 of the back
portion 33. Referring to FIG. 2, a golfer (not shown) then grips a
golf club shaft 32 of a golf club 30 with a normal grip position
28. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this
grip position could be at a number of different points along the
golf club shaft 32, including, for example, at the golf club shaft
end.
[0019] In one embodiment, the golf gripping strap 12 is then
stretched around the golf club shaft 32 with a non-glove hand (not
shown). The golf gripping strap 12 is then connected by the golf
gripping strap connector portion 16 to the heel connector portion
18 of the thumb heel 19. The finger-covering portion 14 of the golf
gripping strap 12 thereby extends over the golf club shaft 32 so
that the finger part 5 is directed towards the thumb heel 19.
[0020] The invention thereby provides a both easy-to-connect and
efficient method for obtaining a repeatable normal grip position 28
golf grip. A further advantage of the invention arises from the
structure of the golf gripping strap 12, which exerts through the
golf hand an axial force around the golf club shaft 32 and a
longitudinal force in the direction of the shaft end of the golf
club 30, resulting in improved club grip, grip comfort, and club
control. Because the golf gripping strap 12 is integrally connected
to the golf glove 1, the golf glove 1 provides the advantage when
in use of a tighter, firmer, more uniform force along all the
finger-covering portion 14 fingers--the middle finger 6, the ring
finger 8 and the little finger 10, resulting in a superior golf
grip and hence club control. This is especially true at the top of
the back swing where the last three fingers 6, 8, 10, often slacken
and open with more amateur players of the game, thus lessening
complete club control. Put another way, the golf glove 1 keeps the
fingers 6, 8 and 10 tightly on the heel of the golf club 30 handle
or grip, especially at the top of the back swing.
[0021] The invention is further enhanced by the golf grip
positioning and support features. Elaborating more, after having
fitted the golf glove 1 over the golf glove hand and connected the
back strap 34, the golf club shaft 32 of the golf club 30 is
adjusted to rest on the palm raised-portion 22. This ensures that
the golf club shaft 32 runs substantially parallel to the palm
raised-portion 22. This further thereby ensures that the glove hand
will be at a proper angle with respect to the golf club shaft 32
for a normal grip position 28. Further advantages obtained by the
palm raised-portion 22 include: the resulting increased protection
that the palm raised-portion 22 provides against wear in this
associated high contact and high pressure region of the golf glove
1 when playing golf; and the further benefit of improved, tighter
grip on the golf club 30 by filling in the normally depressed area
of the palm 3 at its centre when playing golf.
[0022] Additionally, the golf club shaft 32 of the golf club 30 is
adjusted to also rest on the palm strip 24. This also ensures that
the golf club shaft 32 runs substantially parallel to the palm
strip 24. This further thereby ensures that the glove hand will be
at a proper angle with respect to the golf club shaft 32 for a
normal grip position 28.
[0023] The invention is additionally enhanced by the index finger
raised-portion 26. When in a normal grip position 28, the index
finger raised-portion 26 is naturally positioned to allow the
non-glove hand to rest on the index finger raised-portion 26. One
example of the non-glove hand resting on the index finger
raised-portion 26 is allowing a non-glove little finger to rest on
the index finger raised-portion 26 when the golfer grips the golf
club 30 with the normal grip position 28 and the golf gripping
strap 12 is connected by the golf gripping strap connector portion
16 to the heel connector portion 18 of the thumb heel 19. However,
it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the
non-glove hand could rest on the index finger raised-portion 26 in
other manners, according to varying grip styles.
[0024] Further advantages of the index finger raised-portion 26
include providing increased protection against the risk of wear of
this associated high contact and high pressure region of the golf
glove 1 when playing golf. Additionally, it provides the advantage
of serving as a reminder for the golfer that the non-glove hand
should over lap the index finger 4 of the golf glove 1. The index
finger raised-portion 26 provides the further benefit of improved,
tighter grip on the golf club 30 by filling in the lower end 27 of
the back 25 of the index finger 4 when playing golf. Similarly, the
index finger raised-portion 26 allows the little finger of the
non-glove hand to anchor more tightly over the index finger 4 of
the glove hand when in an overlapping grip.
[0025] It will be further understood by those skilled in the art
that many of the details provided above are by way of example only
and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is
to be determined with reference to the following claims.
* * * * *