U.S. patent application number 12/322060 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-29 for multi-sport hand covers and uses of said covers.
Invention is credited to John Cuevas Ramirez.
Application Number | 20100186140 12/322060 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42352912 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100186140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ramirez; John Cuevas |
July 29, 2010 |
Multi-sport hand covers and uses of said covers
Abstract
According to the various features characteristics and
embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as
the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides
partial hand covers and the use of said covers, intended to
increase the overall performance in sports activities.
Inventors: |
Ramirez; John Cuevas;
(Redlands, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John C. Ramirez
220 11th St.
Redlands
CA
92374
US
|
Family ID: |
42352912 |
Appl. No.: |
12/322060 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/161.1 ;
2/161.8; 2/163; 2/167 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/0017 20130101;
A41D 2600/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/161.1 ;
2/161.8; 2/163; 2/167 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Claims
1. A multi-sport means comprising a partially open hand cover,
where said cover essentially covers all of the thumb finger and
forefinger, and leaving at least one of the remaining three fingers
at least partially uncovered.
2. A multi-sport means comprising a partially open hand cover,
wherein the forefinger is the only finger uncovered.
3. A multi-sport means comprising a partially open hand cover,
where said cover leaves the palm area (which includes the palm
edges including the heel) at least partially uncovered.
4. A means, as claimed in claim 1, where said cover essentially
covers all of the middle finger as well, leaving at least one of
the remaining two fingers at least partially uncovered.
5. A means, as claimed in claim 1, comprising various
grip-enhancing materials, forms, and designs including, but not
limited to, foams, fabrics, PVC dots, perimeter patching designs,
or combinations thereof.
6. A means, as claimed in claim 2, comprising various
grip-enhancing materials, forms, and designs including, but not
limited to, foams, fabrics, PVC dots, perimeter patching designs,
or combinations thereof.
7. A means, as claimed in claim 3, comprising various
grip-enhancing materials, forms and designs including, but not
limited to, foams, fabrics, PVC dots, perimeter patching designs,
or combinations thereof.
8. A means, as claimed in claim 1, comprising various
weather-resistant and perspirant-resistant materials, forms and
designs including, but not limited to, water-resistant materials or
hole designs for moisture management, or combinations thereof.
9. A means, as claimed in claim 2, comprising various
weather-resistant and perspirant-resistant materials, forms and
designs including, but not limited to, water-resistant materials or
hole designs for moisture management, or combinations thereof.
10. A means, as claimed in claim 3, comprising various
weather-resistant and perspirant-resistant materials, forms and
designs including, but not limited to, water-resistant materials or
hole designs for moisture management, or combinations thereof.
11. A means, as claimed in claim 1, comprising various types of
materials, forms, and designs including, but not limited to,
stretch materials and designs, mesh fabrics, recycled and flexible
materials, cottons, polyester, rayon, spandex, fleece, leathers and
synthetic leathers, rubbers, plastics, or combinations thereof.
12. A means, as claimed in claim 2, comprising various types of
materials, forms, and designs including but not limited to, stretch
materials and designs, mesh fabrics, recycled and flexible
materials, cottons, polyester, rayon, spandex, fleece, leathers and
synthetic leathers, rubbers, plastics, or combinations thereof.
13. A means, as claimed in claim 3, comprising various types of
materials, forms, and designs including but not limited to, stretch
materials and designs, mesh fabrics, recycled and flexible
materials, cottons, rayon, spandex, fleece, leathers and synthetic
leathers, rubbers, plastics, polyester, or combinations
thereof.
14. A means, as claimed in claim 1, comprising various colored and
multi-colored materials, forms and designs including, but not
limited to fluorescent coating.
15. A means, as claimed in claim 2, comprising various colored and
multi-colored materials, forms and designs including, but not
limited to, fluorescent coating.
16. A means, as claimed in claim 3, comprising various colored and
multi-colored materials, forms and designs including, but not
limited to, fluorescent coating.
17. Use of a means, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means is
used in a sport.
18. Use of a means, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means is
used in a sport.
19. Use of a means, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means is
used in a sport.
20. A means, as claimed in claim 1, where said cover leaves the
middle finger at least partially uncovered, at least enough so that
the skin of said middle finger can make contact with the skin of
another finger
21. A means, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the forefinger is
essentially completely uncovered
22. A means, as claimed in claim 1, wherein only part of the inside
portion of the middle and ring fingers are uncovered, at least
enough for the skin of said fingers to touch or be touched
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to sports apparatus and
equipment, and uses thereof, used in playing the game of various
sports. The present invention and its multi-sport embodiments
enhance the overall performance in athletic tasks and/or execution
during sports play, including practice.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An important goal in playing sports in to win. Often that
means proper play execution, good ball control, good grip and feel,
and proper form in the sports fundamentals. Gloves and other types
of hand covers are permitted in most sports. Many individuals use
gloves to enhance, in some way, their competitive edge. Indeed,
gloves have become so important that different types of gloves have
been created for different sports. Even within a sport, different
types of gloves have been invented to, among other things, maximize
performance in specific tasks.
[0003] In football, for example, there are gloves that offensive
and defensive Tackles can wear, that have thick padding around part
of the hand. Offensive Receivers can purchase more expensive, all
closed-finger, thin gloves to enhance their ability to catch and
grip a football.
[0004] The use of gloves in football is so widespread that nearly
every football player uses them, with the notable exception of
football quarterbacks. You rarely see a quarterback wear gloves,
even if just to keep warm. Most quarterbacks choose to play
football without gloves. This is largely because prior art consists
of generic full-fingered gloves which are uncomfortable and
burdensome on a quarterback's dominant (throwing) hand,
particularly on those fingers a quarterback places over the
football laces. In addition, the full-fingered gloves prevent a
quarterback to have any `feel` of the ball.
[0005] Playing the position of quarterback without the help of
gloves, however, can also be an inferior choice. The website
Wikihow.com, provides a good description of the conventional way to
hold and throw a football. "Throwing the football is simple. Put
your non-throwing side foot in front of you. Have your Pinkie, Ring
and Middle fingers around the laces with your Index [Forefinger]
finger on the strap. Put the other hand up on the ball. Put the
ball up by your ear. Twist your hips toward the front foot. Throw
the ball at the receiver." Whereas, the fingers over the laces have
a solid grip on the ball--primarily due to the football laces on
the ball--the two fingers off the laces (forefinger and thumb) are
virtually unsupported and therefore have a relatively weaker grip,
creating a weak overall grip on the football.
[0006] This weak overall grip becomes more pronounced when added
stress is placed on the Thumb or Forefinger. When a quarterback,
intending to pass the football, for example, suddenly has to
scramble, or if the quarterback `pumps` the ball (goes through all
the motions and speed of throwing the ball but doesn't actually
release the ball), the grip strength of the Thumb and Forefinger
can determine whether or not a quarterback fumbles the ball. Also,
if one performs a simple test and wets his/her dominant hand, and
then grabs and pumps a football, the forefinger and thumb will
often move or slip. On a wet football field, during extreme weather
conditions (hot or cold), that weaker or looser grip makes for a
much more difficult completed pass, less success at throwing a
spiral, and inconsistency and inaccuracy in passing.
[0007] Under the `tips` section of Wikihow.com, it further
describes proper football throwing form: "A proper throw will feel
like it's only utilizing the Thumb, Index [Forefinger], and Middle
finger. Good release will `roll` off of your Index and Middle
finger, to impart more spin; you may snap your wrist through as you
follow through to the hip. The other three fingers on your hand
stabilize the ball as its being flung. They should not be used to
impart spin on the ball. The most important finger to throwing a
spiral is the Index finger; it is the finger that holds the most
leverage in putting spin on the ball."
[0008] In the field of Golf, to be sure, there exists much prior
art in the form of hand covers for a golfer's weak (non-dominant)
hand. In fact most active golf players wear a glove on their weak
hand, and go without a glove for their strong hand (if one were to
go to any major store to buy golf gloves, they would be sold and
packaged in singles--one glove--not sold in pairs). Gloves are
prevalent in golf largely because of the role that hand grip and
control play in a golfer's overall performance.
[0009] Although there exist many types of full-fingered gloves for
a golfer's weak-hand, they all attempt to maximize a golfer's
weak-hand grip without regard to a golfer's weak-hand feel, and
hand coordination needs. It is no surprise, therefore, that prior
art consists of full-fingered (all fingers are covered), closed
palm (entire palm is essentially all covered) gloves. As a result,
a typical golfer must rely on his/her weak-hand to provide most of
the grip support, and on his strong-hand to provide all of the
`feel` in his golf swing. There is, therefore, an opportunity to
invent a device--and improve prior art--that could offer some
`feel` ability for the weak-hand, without significantly diminishing
that enhanced grip ability that hand covers offer. This would
increase overall hand control of a golfer's club swing, and
therefore greater success in competition.
[0010] Whereas weak-hand support products seem to be crowded in the
sport of Golf, there is a long existing need for a device that
could offer added support for a golfer's strong-hand without
significantly diminishing its ability to adequately feel the golf
club. Inventing a solution to this problem could, among other
things, allow for greater golf swing control and consistency, and
create an entirely new market because that would support a golfer's
strong-hand.
[0011] In Golf magazine's April 2005 article titled "Fix your grip.
The wrong grip can cripple your swing--Here's the cure", golf
instructor Charlie King provides an overview of how to grip a golf
club. "Good golf starts with your grip. The proper hold on the club
helps you do three crucial things: Hinge your wrists, control the
clubface at impact and support the club throughout the swing. Here
are three simple grip tips." As King continues, his third tip is
"both hands; solid at the top. An effective grip sets the face
square at the top, with the shaft parallel to the target line. You
should feel most of the club's weight in your left Thumb and right
Forefinger. Now you're ready to turn it loose." Although prior art
seems to be crowded in offering a hand cover for the weak-hand, to
support and better control the club weight placed on the Thumb of
the weak-hand, there remains an unmet need for added support on or
around the Forefinger of the strong-hand. Additionally, constant
swinging of a golf club at real swing speeds often results in
soreness on and between the Thumb and Forefinger of a golfer's
strong hand (wearing no glove). This soreness can often also come
from the rubbing or slipping, between the club handle and the
strong-hand, suggesting a need to find a way to increase the grip
of a golfer's strong hand. This is especially important in the
sport of golf because even the smallest of slipping--during the
golf swing or upon impact of the golf ball--can create enormous
inconsistencies and inaccuracies, critical issues in determining
overall performance.
[0012] Consequently, there are clear indications that an entirely
new market exists for a device that could support a golfer's strong
hand (not just a golfer's weak-hand). In particular there remains
an unrecognized problem and an unmet need that would provide
multiple benefits, such as better overall grip, more coordination
with both hands, as well as some protection from any constant grip
slipping, during the practice or play of golf, and in various other
sports activities.
[0013] In the sport of Basketball, there is not prior art when it
comes to hand covers to enhance performance, or even simply for
aesthetic purposes, and/or that may be used during actual game
play.
[0014] One clear hand task in basketball is in shooting the
basketball with the intention of making a score or basket.
Conventional jump-shot shooting form requires, among other things,
that the player hold the basketball largely with the fingertips of
both hands, and creating a small opening--or a shooter's
gap--between the ball and the palm area of the player's
strong-hand. No prior art exists that would assist an athlete in
maintaining or learning to maintain this shooter's gap.
[0015] No prior art exists that would provide an athlete with the
ability to have enhanced control when dribbling a basketball. A
typical game--even a professional game--often can have as many as
30 turnovers (combined), so offering art that could increase ball
control while dribbling, passing or even catching a basketball
could significantly enhance performance by, among other things,
minimizing turnovers. For example, minimizing turnovers by offering
better ball control while dribbling a basketball would dramatically
enhance player performance generally, including those players
playing the position of Guard.
[0016] Although athletes playing the position of Forward or Center
would also benefit by enhanced dribbling abilities, most of the
turnovers caused by Forwards and Centers are often the result of
dropping passes thrown to them, or from making a bad pass. Offering
art that would enhance the ability to better pass or catch a
basketball could therefore also enhance overall performance for
anyone playing the sport of basketball.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In general, the present invention can generally be used in
conjunction with any type of sports play or practice.
[0018] One sport where said present invention will clearly enhance
performance is in the sport of football. For example, one
particular unmet need that this present invention will satisfy will
be with football quarterbacks. In the book "Coaching Football
Successfully," by Allan Trinkle (2001), "Quarterback mechanics and
ball-handling skills are vital for offensive success and
consistency." One embodiment of the present invention, comprising a
glove that covers all of the Thumb and Forefinger, and none of the
remaining fingers, will allow a quarterback to increase his ball
grip and overall control of a football while allowing some finger
feel of the football as well (see drawing FIG. 1).
[0019] This glove will take into account the benefits of the laces
on a football and give a quarterback the unique ability to grasp a
football over the football laces with the comfort and feel of not
having a glove, while adding the support that a glove provides over
the Thumb and Forefinger. Improvement in throwing accuracy and
overall performance would result from this unique type of support
provided by the new art.
[0020] Another embodiment could support a less popular, but still
effective quarterback hand grip whereby only two fingers are over
and grip the football laces, leaving the Thumb, Forefinger and
Middle finger not touching the laces and therefore virtually
unsupported. Thus this embodiment could comprise a glove that
covers all of the Thumb, Forefinger and Middle finger, and leaving
the portion of the fingers which are generally placed over the
football laces, uncovered (See drawing FIG. 2).
[0021] In addition to offering greater throwing accuracy and
consistency, these (and other embodiments) should also help
minimize quarterback fumbles by adding support when `pumping` the
ball, scrambling from being tackled, and when catching and throwing
the football when in `shot gun` formation (when in shot gun
formation especially, a quarterback must quickly look down field at
his/her receivers and `feel` for the football laces. The present
invention would allow a quarterback to maintain a heightened sense
of feel in his Ring and Pinkie Finger while increasing the grip
support on his Thumb, Forefinger and Middle Finger). The features
will, among other things, enhance grip and control while
maintaining or even enhancing overall feel.
[0022] Another sport where the present invention will meet an unmet
need is in the sport of Golf. First, some embodiments would improve
prior art. Currently, only full-fingered gloves exist for golfers,
regardless of one's preferred golf grip. Prior art therefore does
not allow a golfer to take complete advantage of his/her preferred
grip.
[0023] One very popular grip, for example, is called the
interlocking grip. When you use this grip, the Forefinger of the
golfer's weak-hand is placed over his strong-hand. With this grip,
clearly the role of the weak-hand's Forefinger has less to do with
grip and more with coordination and feel on the strong-hand, to
more effectively control the golf swing and to provide greater golf
swing consistency. There is, therefore, no real need to cover the
weak-hand's Forefinger, and covering the Forefinger actually
diminishes said Forefinger's sensitivities. Embodiments of the
present invention would offer significant improvement to prior
art.
[0024] One embodiment that would, among other things, improve prior
art would comprise a glove that covers essentially of the
weak-hands Thumb, Middle, Ring and Pinkie Fingers, while leaving
the Forefinger completely uncovered. Although golfer's who use the
"overlapping" golf grip might also find the above mentioned very
useful, another embodiment might prove to enhance overall swing
performance even more. This embodiment would comprise a glove
covering essentially all of the weak-hand's Thumb, Forefinger, Ring
and Pinkie Finger, while leaving the weak-hand's middle finger at
least partly uncovered. This way, when the golfer, using the
overlapping grip, places the Pinkie finger of his/her strong hand
over and between the covered Forefinger and uncovered Middle finger
of his weak-hand, the coordination from the added feel between the
two hands will be enhanced (See Drawing FIG. 3, where the Middle
Finger is uncovered in a manner so that the hand hand's Pinkie
Finger could touch the skin of said Middle Finger, when said Pinkie
Finger is placed on top of said Middle Finger. The other portions
of FIG. 3 do not necessarily match the description mentioned above,
however). Among the benefits of the present invention would be to
offer greater golf consistency and accuracy by solving an
unrecognized problem in prior art.
[0025] In addition to offering improvements to prior art,
embodiments can also solve problems and offer new art, in the form
of devices which could be tailored for a golfer's strong hand.
Among the benefits of this new art would be better overall grip,
better control and enhanced performance. One embodiment, for
example, for a golfer's strong-hand comprises a glove that covers
essentially all of the strong-hand's Thumb, Forefinger and Middle
finger, leaving the Ring and Pinkie finger uncovered. The "feel"
and coordination tasks could therefore be maintained with the Ring
and Pinkie finger by leaving these fingers uncovered, while
enhancing the overall grip of the strong-hand by covering the
strong-hand's Thumb, Forefinger and middle finger.
[0026] By way of example, another sport where embodiments of the
present invention would fulfill unmet needs would be in the sport
of Basketball, and could be used during practice, warm-up and/or
actual game play activities.
[0027] One embodiment that would help a player shoot better
comprises a full-fingered glove--covering all five fingers of the
strong-hand--while the palm area of said hand is largely uncovered.
For all basketball players, but especially for those who cannot
generally shoot a basketball very well, the open palm glove over
the strong hand allows them to feel when they're shooting
incorrectly (if the basketball touches the palm area, then there is
no shooter's gap, and is therefore generally considered as using
bad shooting form). This would especially be true when shooting a
ball from the free-throw line or outside of the perimeter.
Eventually, these athletes may not need this embodiment for
shooting once they understand and learn to maintain their shooter's
gap throughout the basketball shot. The open palm could also allow
for some ventilation as well. The benefits of this glove include
the ability to enhance the senses around the uncovered palm
(relative to the other parts of the hand) so that the basketball
player could more easily know when the basketball is touching the
palm, generally indicating bad shooting form.
[0028] Embodiments could also satisfy a need a dribbling a
basketball as well as. According to the book "Basketball for High
School Players and Coaches," (1955) Carl Bachman describes proper
fundamentals of basketball dribbling: "Certain fundamentals apply
to all phases of ball handling: Looseness of finger and wrist
action is important, practice spinning the ball on fingertips; a
basketball should never touch the heel of the hand and seldom, if
ever, touch the palm." One embodiment of the present invention
could comprise a full-fingered, partially open palm (only the heel
area) glove for either the strong-hand or the weak-hand. The glove
might also extend through the wrist area, depending on how much of
the heel is uncovered. This embodiment could help a dribbler
develop and use proper dribbling form, especially on her weak-hand.
This embodiment would more generally help any player, and likely
could be used, for example, by those playing the position of Guard
while practicing proper dribbling on their strong-hand, as well as
Forwards and Centers during actual game play for added support on
their weak-hand.
[0029] Many embodiments will help players slamdunk a basketball,
often requiring the player to `palm` the ball as well as when
placing one's hands on the basketball rim. The present invention
will provide added grip support and greater performance in
slamdunking.
[0030] Another embodiment for basketball for basketball play is in
the form of an all partially-open glove. All five fingers are only
partially covered, perhaps up to about the first joint of each
finger. Additionally, the palm area would also be largely
uncovered. This embodiment would give a basketball player the
ability to better catch a ball, thus eliminating the consistent
problem often found in Forwards and Centers losing control of
passes. The embodiment would also provide a player with a stronger
grip on the ball when passing a ball as well as provide some
moisture management control, thus minimizing turnovers often caused
by passers, especially in Guards.
[0031] Although the description of the present invention only
discussed three sports, it is understood that other sports might
benefit as well (such as in baseball and volleyball). In addition,
only some embodiments have been discussed and in no way is intended
to limit all the various embodiments and other embodiments that the
present invention provides, such as but not limited to, different
designs. For example, embodiments can easily be developed for easy
opening, where a part of the back of the hand opens up, using
Velcro. Additionally, these embodiments can be used by men and
women, boys and girls, as well as those that whose dominant hand is
the right hand or the left.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING
[0032] It is expressly understood that the following descriptions
and drawing are for illustration purposes only, and in no way are
intended to limit the scope of the present invention and its
various embodiments. For example, the drawings are of drawings of
embodiments for the left hand but can easily be created for the
right hand, and can be used by men and women, boy and girls.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a drawing of an embodiment for the left hand, as
claimed in claim 1 as well as claim 4.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a drawing of an embodiment for the left hand, as
claimed in claim 1.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an embodiment for the left hand, as
claimed in claim 1 as well as claim 20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] It is expressly understood that the drawings are for the
purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention.
[0037] In FIG. 1, the present invention, under claim 1, is shown as
a partial-fingered glove. This particular glove could be made of
cabretta leather to offer moisture and perspiration resistance. The
Thumb and Forefingers 10 are entirely covered by the glove. The
Middle Finger 11 is also entirely covered. The Ring and Pinkie
Fingers 12 are both entirely uncovered. The rest of the hand,
including the Palm area 13, are covered by the glove.
[0038] In FIG. 2, the present invention, also under claim 1, is
shown as a partial-fingered glove. This particular glove can be
made of polyester and cotton for superior comfort. The Thumb and
Forefingers 20 are entirely covered, and can have PVC dots
throughout said fingers (not shown) to further enhance grip, if one
so desires. The Middle, Ring and Pinkie Fingers 21 are all
partially covered, about one-third the way up the fingers, to about
the first knuckle.
[0039] In FIG. 3, the present invention, under claim 1 or claim 20,
is shown as a partial-fingered glove. The Thumb and Forefingers are
entirely covered 30. The Middle Finger is partially uncovered.
Specifically, the top (outside) portion of most of the Middle
Finger's first joint and second joint, is uncovered 31. The Ring
Finger is largely covered, except for the third joint, which is
entirely uncovered 32. The Pinkie Finger is largely uncovered,
except for part of the first joint, which remains covered 33. The
small opening on the Middle Finger will allow the skin of said
finger to make contact with the skin of another finger. For
example, a golfer who grips a club using the overlapping grip could
wear this embodiment on his/her weak-hand. The golfer would then
place his dominant-hand's Pinkie Finger on top of and between
his/her weak-hand's covered Forefinger and Middle Fingers. However,
this embodiment would allow the skin of the weak-hand's Middle
Finger to touch the skin of the dominant-hand's Pinkie Finger, thus
increasing hand coordination.
* * * * *