U.S. patent application number 11/806694 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-03 for bowling glove.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEVEL S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Valter Micheloni.
Application Number | 20080078010 11/806694 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39259717 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080078010 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Micheloni; Valter |
April 3, 2008 |
Bowling glove
Abstract
A bowling glove with which at least one supporting spacer for a
bowling ball is associated or associable at the region interposed
between the little finger, the index finger and the wrist.
Inventors: |
Micheloni; Valter;
(Albosaggia, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
MILAN
20123
omitted
|
Assignee: |
LEVEL S.P.A.
|
Family ID: |
39259717 |
Appl. No.: |
11/806694 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/160 ; 2/159;
2/161.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/148
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/160 ; 2/159;
2/161.1 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2006 |
IT |
TV2006A000170 |
Claims
1. A bowling glove, comprising: cover regions that at least
partially cover the little finger, the index finger and the wrist
of a user; and at least one supporting spacer for a bowling ball
that is associated or associable at a region of the glove
interposed between the little finger, the index finger and the
wrist cover regions.
2. The bowling glove of claim 1, comprising a palm covering region,
said at least one spacer being arranged at said palm covering
region.
3. The bowling glove of claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer
is made of elastically deformable material.
4. The bowling glove of claim 3, wherein said at least one spacer
is made of the material known as EVA.
5. The bowling glove of claim 2, wherein said at least one spacer
has, in plan view, a substantially crescent shape, in which a
convex lateral surface is directed toward the wrist cover
region.
6. The bowling glove of claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer
is provided with a shape that is selected to be the most pertinent
according to an anatomical configuration of the hand of the user
and/or a diameter or shape of a bowling ball.
7. The bowling glove of claim 6, wherein said at least one spacer
has a height that is selectable to be constant or variable with
respect to an underlying palm of the hand of the user.
8. The bowling glove of claim 5, wherein an upper surface of said
at least one spacer is shaped as an arch, that is substantially
complementary with respect to a bowling ball in order to better
adhere to a surface thereof.
9. The bowling glove of claim 8, wherein said upper surface of said
at least one spacer has high friction characteristics such as to
adhere in an optimum manner to the bowling ball.
10. The bowling glove of claim 2, comprising removable fixing means
for detachably fixing said at least one spacer with said glove.
11. The bowling glove of claim 10, wherein said removable fixing
means are constituted by a first band made of a material known by
the trademark Velcro, which is fixed to the lower surface of said
at least one spacer and can be associated detachably with an
appropriately provided second band of a hook and loop type fastener
material, which is fixed to said glove at said region which is
interposed between the little finger, the index finger and the
wrist cover regions.
12. The bowling glove of claim 11, wherein said second band has a
plan shape suitable to allow to modify selectively a position for
fixing said at least one spacer thereto.
13. The bowling glove of claim 12, wherein the plan shape of said
second band has a crescent configuration.
14. The bowling glove of claim 5, comprising said at least one
spacer that is associated therewith detachably.
15. The bowling glove of claim 12, comprising a pocket formed at
said region interposed between the little finger, the index finger
and the wrist cover regions, said at least one spacer being
constituted by an insert which has a crescent shape in plan view
and has an arc-shaped upper surface which is partially shaped
complementarily with respect to a bowling ball and is inserted in
said pocket.
16. The bowling glove of claim 15, wherein said insert and said
pocket, shaped complementarily thereto, have selected
dimensions.
17. The bowling glove of claim 15, wherein said pocket is formed
jointly with and upon production of the glove.
18. The bowling glove of claim 17, wherein said pocket is closed
permanently, once said insert has been inserted therein, by closing
means selected among sewing, heat-sealing and thermoforming.
19. The bowling glove of claim 17, wherein said pocket has an
opening which is closable temporarily.
20. The bowling glove of claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer
is arranged proximate to a lateral region of the palm of the hand
of a user which is directed opposite with respect to a thumb of the
user.
21. The bowling glove of claim 13, wherein said at least one spacer
has, in plan view, a crescent shape, with a first end thereof which
is adjacent to a base of the little finger of a user and tapers
more than a second end thereof, which is directed toward a root of
the thumb of the user, with a greater radius of curvature.
22. The bowling glove of claim 2, wherein said at least one spacer
is made at least partially of elastically deformable material, and
preferably of materials having a different elasticity located at
selected and distinct regions of said at least one spacer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Currently, in the game of bowling it is known to use
appropriately provided gloves adapted to improve user grip and
control of the ball.
[0002] These known types of glove generally cover part of the
wrist, the palm and back of the hand, the index and little finger,
and instead leave exposed the thumb, the middle finger and the ring
finger, in order to facilitate their insertion in three
appropriately provided holes formed in bowling balls.
[0003] Generally, these known types of glove have, at the fingers,
silicone protrusions which are adapted to improve grip on the
ball.
[0004] However, these known types of glove have a drawback: the
grip on the ball is not ideal, since it also rests on other regions
of the hand; moreover, said gloves do not protect the hand and the
wrist against the intense flexural and torsional stresses to which
they are subjected during ball throwing; these stresses can lead to
rapid fatigue of the hand, wrist and forearm, with the risk of
compromising the playing performance of the user and also of
causing traumas thereto.
[0005] As a partial solution to this drawback, bowling gloves are
known which have, at the wrist and at the back of the hand, a seat
which is formed longitudinally with respect to the glove for a
plate or lamina made of polycarbonate, which is adapted to protect
the wrist against the flexural stresses that occur during ball
throwing.
[0006] However, these known types of glove have the drawback that
they do not provide adequate protection against torsional stresses,
which, as mentioned earlier, can lead to rapid fatigue,
particularly of the wrist, hand and forearm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above
mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited
background art, by providing a bowling glove which allows optimum
ball control and allows to reduce fatigue in particular of the
hand, wrist and forearm of the user during the practice of
bowling.
[0008] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a
bowling glove which allows to support and stabilize in an optimum
manner a bowling ball during its support and throwing.
[0009] Another object is to provide a bowling glove which can be
used by people who have different hand shapes.
[0010] Another object is to provide a bowling glove which is
structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.
[0011] This aim and these and other objects, which will become
better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a bowling glove,
characterized in that at least one supporting spacer for a bowling
ball is associated or associable at the region interposed between
the little finger, the index finger and the wrist.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become better apparent from the following detailed description of a
particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way
of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glove according to the
invention, worn by a user;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the glove of FIG. 1 while
gripping a bowling ball;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the glove of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spacer according to the
preceding figures;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a plan view of some possible conditions in the
arrangement of the spacer;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the spacer
according to the preceding figures;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
glove according to the invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a cutout perspective view of a detail of a glove
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual
characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may
actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that
exist in other exemplary embodiments.
[0022] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already
known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed
and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
[0023] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1
generally designates a bowling glove.
[0024] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the glove 1 is shaped
so as to cover partially, during use, the wrist 2 of the user and
completely surround the palm 3 and the back 4 of the hand, the
index finger 5 and the little finger 6; the glove 1 instead leaves
exposed the thumb 7 and the two outermost phalanges of the middle
finger 8 and of the ring finger 9, in order to facilitate the
insertion of these last three fingers in appropriately provided
holes, not shown in the accompanying figures, formed in a bowling
ball 10.
[0025] As an alternative, the glove 1 can cover completely the
thumb 7, the middle finger 8 and the ring finger 9 as well.
[0026] A spacer 12 for supporting the bowling ball 10 is associated
or associable detachably with the glove 1 at a region, designated
by the reference numeral 11, which is interposed between the little
finger 6, the index finger 5 and the wrist 2.
[0027] Advantageously, the spacer 12 is made of an elastically
deformable material, such as for example the material known by the
trademark EVA.
[0028] The spacer can be made partially or entirely of elastically
deformable material or of materials having different elasticity
which affect chosen and distinct regions of said spacer, or of
another material which is compatible with specific
requirements.
[0029] Advantageously, the spacer 12 is preferably approximately
crescent-shaped in plan view, its convex lateral surface,
designated by the reference numeral 13, being directed toward the
wrist 2.
[0030] Its shape and the material used can in any case be the most
pertinent according to the hand of the user or the diameter of the
bowling ball.
[0031] The spacer, in plan view, in the particular embodiment
shown, is approximately crescent-shaped, with a first end which is
adjacent to the base of the little finger 6 which tapers more than
a second end which is directed toward the root of the thumb 7, with
a larger radius of curvature.
[0032] Advantageously, the spacer 12 can have a chosen height, in
order to adapt to the particular anatomical shape of the hand of
the user.
[0033] Advantageously, the upper surface, designated by the
reference numeral 14, of the spacer 12 is arc-shaped and shaped
approximately complementarily with respect to the bowling ball 10,
in order to better adhere to its surface.
[0034] Advantageously, the upper surface 14 of the spacer 12 has
high friction characteristics, so as to be able to adhere in an
optimum manner to the bowling ball 10.
[0035] Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the spacer 12 can
be associated with the glove 1 detachably, by way of appropriately
provided detachable fixing means, constituted for example by a
first band 15 of the material known by the trademark Velcro, which
is fixed to the lower surface 16 of the spacer 12 and can be
associated detachably with an appropriately provided second band 17
of the hook and loop type fastener material known by the trademark
Velcro, which is fixed for example by sewing to the glove 1 at the
region 11.
[0036] Advantageously, the plan shape of the second band 17 is such
as to allow to modify selectively the position for fixing the
spacer 12 thereto in order to adapt the glove 1 to the particular
anatomical shape of the hand of the user or to the shape of the
ball.
[0037] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the plan shape of the
second band 17 is approximately crescent-like.
[0038] Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to FIG. 1,
after putting on the glove 1, the user can choose a spacer 12 of
the intended height or shape and can thus fix the spacer 12 to the
second band 17 provided in the region 11 of the glove 1 in a chosen
position.
[0039] By inserting the thumb 7, the middle finger 9 and the ring
finger 8 in the three appropriately provided holes formed in a
bowling ball 10, said ball is arranged so as to rest on the upper
surface 14 of the spacer 12; the presence of such spacer avoids the
need for the wrist and hand of the user to rotate during the
throwing of the ball 10, thus avoiding the onset of torsional
stresses and reducing in this manner the fatigue of the hand, wrist
and forearm.
[0040] It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the
intended aim and objects, a bowling glove having been provided
which, by way of the presence of the spacer, allows to achieve
optimum ball control and at the same time allows the hand and the
wrist to not rotate during throwing, thus avoiding the onset of
torsional stresses and reducing the fatigue of the hand, wrist and
forearm.
[0041] Further, the glove according to the invention, by way of the
presence of the spacer, allows to support and stabilize in an
optimum manner the bowling ball while throwing it.
[0042] Moreover, thanks to the possibility to modify the position
of the spacer and choose a spacer of a chosen height, the glove
according to the invention can be used by users who have different
anatomical characteristics.
[0043] Further, the production costs of the glove according to the
invention remain low, since it is provided exclusively with
components which are easy to manufacture and/or assemble.
[0044] The invention is of course susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the appended claims.
[0045] Thus, for example, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, it is
possible to provide a glove 101 in which the spacer 112 is
associated permanently therewith.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 8, the spacer 112 can be constituted for
example by an insert 118 which is approximately crescent-shaped in
plan view and has an upper arc-like surface 119 which is partially
shaped complementarily to a bowling ball.
[0047] The insert 118 is inserted, for example during the
production of the glove 101, in an appropriately provided pocket
120 formed at the region 111, interposed between the little finger
106, the index finger 105 and the wrist 102; once the insert 118
has been inserted in the pocket 120, said pocket is closed
permanently, for example by sewing or heat-sealing or
thermoforming.
[0048] The insert 118 and therefore the pocket 120 which is shaped
complementarily thereto can have the chosen dimensions.
[0049] As an alternative, the pocket 120 can have an opening which
can be closed temporarily.
[0050] The materials used, as well as the dimensions that
constitute the individual components of the invention, may of
course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
[0051] The various means for performing certain different functions
need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but
can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are
not illustrated.
[0052] The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or
the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.
[0053] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
TV2006A000170 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
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