Method of producing a sports glove

Abstract

A method of producing a sports glove includes the steps of: (A) heating a covering sheet made of a rubbery material; (B) pressing the heated covering sheet and simultaneously cooling the same so as to reduce the thickness of the covering sheet and so as to form an embossed surface on the covering sheet; (C) bonding a fabric layer to the covering sheet to form a laminate; and (D) cutting and sewing the laminate to form the sports glove. The embossed surface of the covering sheet is exposed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a method of producing a sports glove, more particularly to a method of producing a sports glove having a soft covering sheet.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional sports glove, such as a baseball glove, is made from pigskin or cowhide, and has the following drawbacks:

[0005] 1. Because the shape and the thickness of leather made from the hide or skin of an animal are not uniform, different portions of leather from a single animal are suitable only for use in different portions of a sports glove, and many processing steps are required. This results in complicated production of the conventional sports glove.

[0006] 2. Since pigskin and cowhide are hard, the conventional sports glove lacks softness so that it has a low degree of flexibility and is uncomfortable to use.

[0007] Another conventional sports glove is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and similarly lacks softness.

[0008] Still another conventional sports glove is made from polyurethane (PU). This kind of sports glove is too soft, has no embossed surface, and easily wrinkles and cracks. Hence, this kind of sports glove wears easily and is not durable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a sports glove that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0010] According to this invention, a method of producing a sports glove comprises the steps of: (A) heating a covering sheet made of a rubbery material; (B) pressing the heated covering sheet and simultaneously cooling the same so as to reduce the thickness of the covering sheet and so as to form an embossed surface on the covering sheet; (C) bonding a fabric layer to the covering sheet to form a laminate; and (D) cutting and sewing the laminate to form the sports glove. The embossed surface of the covering sheet is exposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating the steps involved in a method of producing a sports glove according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the steps involved in the method of producing the sports glove according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sports glove of the present invention taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps involved in a method of producing a sports glove according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the steps involved in the method of producing the sports glove according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0017] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sports glove of the present invention taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the steps involved in a method of producing a sports glove according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention These steps will be described in greater detail below, in combination with FIG. 3.

[0020] In step (A), a covering sheet 2 having a thickness (d) of about 4 mm is heated to a temperature of about 130.degree. C. The covering sheet 2 is made of a rubbery material. The rubbery material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), styrene chloroprene rubber (SCR), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Preferably, the covering sheet 2 is made of EVA or TPE. In step (B), the covering sheet 2 is pressed by a pressing machine 9 which has a temperature lower than that of the covering sheet 2. The pressing machine 9 has upper and lower mold parts 91, 92. The lower mold part 92 has an embossing surface. The pressing machine 9 operates at a pressure of about 150 kg/cm.sup.2to press the covering sheet 2 to about 1 mm in thickness, and cold water is provided in the mold parts 91, 92 to cool the covering sheet 2 to room temperature. The covering sheet 2 is pressed for about 3 minutes and 50 seconds, and is then released. After the release of the pressure, the thickness (d) of the covering sheet 2 is naturally restored to about 1.5 mm, and the covering sheet 2 is formed with an embossed surface 21.

[0021] In step (C), a fabric layer 3 is bonded to the covering sheet 2 to form a laminate. This is accomplished in the following two sub-steps of:

[0022] (i) applying an adhesive to a surface 23 of the covering sheet 2 which is opposite to the embossed surface 21; and

[0023] (ii) adhering the fabric layer 3 to the surface 23.

[0024] In step (D), the laminate is cut and is sewn to form the sports glove of the present invention, a cross section of which is shown in FIG. 3. The embossed surface 21 of the covering sheet 2 is exposed. From the aforementioned description, the advantages of the sports glove produced from the method according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention can be summarized as follows:

[0025] 1. The covering sheet 2 and the fabric layer 3 have a uniform thickness, so that cutting of the produced laminate is easy.

[0026] 2. The covering sheet 2 is softer as compared to PVC and leather, so that the sports glove of the present invention has a high degree of flexibility and is comfortable to use.

[0027] 3. The covering sheet 2 does not easily wrinkle and crack. Further, wear-resistance of the sports glove of the present invention is enhanced through the embossed surface 21 of the covering sheet 2.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the steps involved in a method of producing a sports glove according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, in step (A), the covering sheet 2 and the fabric layer 3 are heated together, so that the covering sheet 2 is softened, and in step (B), the covering sheet 2 and the fabric layer 3 are pressed so that the covering sheet 2 is forced to penetrate the fabric layer 3, thereby forming a laminate without using an adhesive. Thus, bonding of the covering sheet 2 is carried out simultaneously with the pressing of the covering sheet 2 and the fabric layer 3. The laminate is cooled while being pressed.

[0029] It should be noted that in step (B), by controlling the pressure used in pressing the covering sheet 2 and by controlling the pressing time (about 3.5.about.4 minutes), restoration of the thickness (d) of the covering sheet 2 to about 1.5.about.2 mm is possible. The aforementioned advantages can be similarly achieved.

[0030] While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A method of producing a sports glove, comprising: (A) heating a covering sheet made of a rubbery material; (B) pressing the heated covering sheet and simultaneously cooling the same so as to reduce the thickness of the covering sheet and so as to form an embossed surface on the covering sheet; (C) bonding a fabric layer to the covering sheet to form a laminate; and (D) cutting and sewing the laminate to form the sports glove, the embossed surface of the covering sheet being exposed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rubbery material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), styrene chloroprene rubber (SCR), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the covering sheet is made of EVA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, instep (A), the covering sheet is heated to a temperature of about 130.degree. C., and in step (B), the covering sheet is cooled to room temperature.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method is carried out in an order of step (A), step (B), step (C), step (D).

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the bonding of the covering sheet and the fabric layer is achieved during the heating and pressing of the covering sheet and the fabric layer.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the covering sheet has a thickness of about 1.5.about.2 mm after being pressed.