U.S. patent application number 12/624212 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-24 for sports glove.
Invention is credited to Patrick J. Harris.
Application Number | 20110041235 12/624212 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43604077 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110041235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harris; Patrick J. |
February 24, 2011 |
Sports Glove
Abstract
The present disclosure generally provides an athletic or sports
glove. The sports glove includes a palm-receiving portion and a
thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion.
The thumb-receiving portion has a thumb-gripping projection
disposed on it. The sports glove also includes an index
finger-receiving portion that also extends from the palm-receiving
portion. There is an index finger-gripping projection on the index
finger-receiving portion. A little finger-receiving portion also
extends from the palm-receiving portion and has a little
finger-gripping projection on it. The sports glove also includes a
dual finger-receiving portion that also extends from the
palm-receiving portion, and it is configured to receive a middle
finger and a ring finger of a human hand. There is a dual
finger-gripping projection disposed on the dual finger-receiving
portion.
Inventors: |
Harris; Patrick J.; (Cedar
Hill, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Klemchuk Kubasta LLP
8150 N Central Expressway, SUITE 1150
DALLAS
TX
75206
US
|
Family ID: |
43604077 |
Appl. No.: |
12/624212 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61235744 |
Aug 21, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/161.1 ;
2/163 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/01582 20130101;
A41D 19/01564 20130101; A41D 19/01547 20130101; A63B 2243/007
20130101; A63B 2243/0025 20130101; A63B 71/148 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/161.1 ;
2/163 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Claims
1. A sports glove, comprising: a palm-receiving portion; a
thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion
and having a thumb-gripping projection disposed thereon; an index
finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion
and having an index finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; a
little finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving
portion and having a little finger-gripping projection disposed
thereon; and a dual finger-receiving portion extending from the
palm-receiving portion, the dual finger-receiving portion
configured to receive a middle finger and a ring finger of a human
hand and having a dual finger-gripping projection disposed
thereon.
2. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb-gripping
projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little
finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection
are each generally diamond-shaped.
3. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb-gripping
projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little
finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection
each comprise rubber.
4. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein a palmar side of the sports
glove comprises a tacky material.
5. The sports glove of claim 4, wherein the tacky material becomes
tackier when wet.
6. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb-gripping
projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little
finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection
are each located closer to a fingertip portion of the sports glove
than the palm-receiving portion.
7. The sports glove of claim 1, further comprising: a back
hand-receiving portion, the back hand-receiving portion comprising
a flexible material.
8. The sports glove of claim 7, wherein the flexible material is
selected from the group consisting of spandex, neoprene, leather,
cotton, and polyester.
9. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein: the thumb-gripping
projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little
finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection
are each generally diamond-shaped and each comprises rubber; and
each of the generally diamond-shaped projections defines a
frame-like feature having an exterior surface of the sports glove
disposed within.
10. The sports glove of claim 1, further comprising a palm-gripping
projection disposed on the palm-receiving portion.
11. An athletic glove, comprising: a palm-receiving portion; a
thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion
and having a thumb-gripping projection disposed thereon; an index
finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion
and having an index finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; a
little finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving
portion and having a little finger-gripping projection disposed
thereon; wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index
finger-gripping projection, and the little finger-gripping
projection each comprise a generally diamond-shape; a middle
finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion,
the middle finger-receiving portion having a middle finger-gripping
projection disposed thereon, the middle finger-gripping projection
being a half of the generally diamond-shape; and a ring
finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion,
the ring finger-receiving portion having a ring finger-gripping
projection disposed thereon, the ring finger-gripping projection
being an other half of the generally diamond-shape.
12. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein the thumb-gripping
projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little
finger-gripping projection, the middle finger-gripping projection,
and the ring finger-gripping projection each comprise rubber.
13. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein the thumb-gripping
projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little
finger-gripping projection, the middle finger-gripping projection;
and the ring finger-gripping projection are each located closer to
a fingertip portion of the athletic glove than the palm-receiving
portion.
14. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein the thumb-gripping
projection, the index finger-gripping projection, and the little
finger-gripping projection each defines a frame-like feature having
an exterior surface of the sports glove disposed within; and the
middle finger-gripping projection and the ring finger-gripping
projection each defines a half of the frame-like feature having the
exterior surface of the sports glove disposed within.
15. The athletic glove of claim 14, wherein the middle
finger-gripping projection together with the ring finger-gripping
projection form the generally diamond-shape.
16. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein a palmar side of the
athletic glove comprises a tacky material.
17. The athletic glove of claim 16, wherein the tacky material
becomes tackier when wet.
18. The athletic glove of claim 17, wherein the flexible material
is selected from the group consisting of spandex, neoprene,
leather, cotton, and polyester.
19. The athletic glove of claim 11, further comprising a
palm-gripping projection disposed on the palm-receiving
portion.
20. A method for applying a sports glove, comprising: taping
together a middle finger and a ring finger of a human hand; and
receiving the taped together middle finger and ring finger of the
human hand by a sports glove, the sports glove comprising: a
palm-receiving portion; a thumb-receiving portion extending from
the palm-receiving portion and having a thumb-gripping projection
disposed thereon; an index finger-receiving portion extending from
the palm-receiving portion and having an index finger-gripping
projection disposed thereon; a little finger-receiving portion
extending from the palm-receiving portion and having a little
finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; and a dual
finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion,
the dual finger-receiving portion configured to receive the taped
together middle finger and ring finger of the human hand and having
a dual finger-gripping projection disposed thereon.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e)
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/235,744 filed on
Aug. 21, 2009 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office
entitled "Football Glove." The entire disclosure of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/235,744 is incorporated
by reference as if fully disclosed herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to sports gloves,
and more particularly to gloves for catching and holding onto a
ball, such as a football or soccer ball.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Gloves used in sports and other athletic competitions are
well known in the art. In fact, form-fitting gloves that are
designed to enhance a football player's ability to receive a
football are available at a variety of sports and athletic
equipment retailers. For example, the NFL Equipment Fade WR/RB
Gloves are widely available. Although, these gloves may allow a
football player to secure and control a football, the football
player may be susceptible to jamming or otherwise injuring his
fingers when catching a thrown football using such conventional
sports gloves.
[0004] Thus, there is a need for a sports glove that reduces the
possibility that a player catching a football or soccer ball will
jam or otherwise injure his or her fingers. Moreover, there exists
a further need for a glove that accommodates a football player who
already has an injured finger and wishes to tape two fingers
together in an effort to avoid any further injury.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide an
athletic or sports glove. The sports glove includes a
palm-receiving portion and a thumb-receiving portion extending from
the palm-receiving portion. The thumb-receiving portion has a
thumb-gripping projection disposed on it. The sports glove also
includes an index finger-receiving portion that also extends from
the palm-receiving portion. There is an index finger-gripping
projection on the index finger-receiving portion. A little
finger-receiving portion also extends from the palm-receiving
portion and has a little finger-gripping projection on it. The
sports glove also includes a dual finger-receiving portion that
also extends from the palm-receiving portion and is configured to
receive a middle finger and a ring finger of a human hand. There is
a dual finger-gripping projection disposed on the dual
finger-receiving portion.
[0006] In one embodiment, the present disclosure could reduce the
possibility that a player's finger becomes jammed or otherwise
injured when catching a football or soccer ball.
[0007] In one embodiment, the present disclosure could increase the
ability of a football player to catch, grip, and secure a football
once it is thrown to him.
[0008] In one embodiment, the present disclosure could cushion the
impact of a football with certain portions of a receiver's hands.
For example, the teachings of the present disclosure may cushion
the impact of a football on a receiver's fingertips and palm when
catching a football.
[0009] Other technical features may be readily apparent to one
skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its
features, reference is now made to the following description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a palm-facing view of a right hand of a sports
glove comprising a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a palm-facing view of a right hand of a sports
glove comprising a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component which may be
used in conjunction with the sports gloves shown in FIGS. 1 and
2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a component which may be
used in conjunction with the sports gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a component which may be
used in conjunction with the sports gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a component which
may be used in conjunction with the sports gloves shown in FIGS. 1
and 2; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a rear view of a right hand similar to the sports
glove of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present disclosure generally provides a sports glove
including features that may be improvements over the prior art. In
particular, one embodiment may reduce incidents of jammed fingers
when catching and securing a football while still maintaining the
feel and gripping ability of conventional sports gloves. Particular
applications of a sports glove according to the teaching of the
present disclosure may cushion the impact and allow improved
catching and securing of a football, soccer ball, or other ball
used in a variety of different sports.
[0019] FIG. 1 is palm-facing view of a right hand of a sports glove
10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should
be understood that the sports gloves and other features shown in
FIGS. 1-7 are for illustrative purposes only and that any other
suitable gloves could be used in conjunction with or in lieu of the
illustrated sports gloves and features according to one embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0020] It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain
words and phrases used in this patent document. The term "couple"
and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication
between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in
physical contact with one another. The terms "include" and
"comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without
limitation. The term "or" is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases
"associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as
derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within,
interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or
with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with,
interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have,
have a property of, or the like.
[0021] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the
sports glove 10 comprising a first embodiment of the disclosure is
shown. The sports glove 10 includes a dual finger-receiving portion
12 that receives both the middle finger and the ring finger of the
wearer. The dual finger-receiving portion 12 may comprise a unitary
structure. The dual finger-receiving portion 12 may be particularly
useful in preventing jamming or other injury that might suffered by
the middle or ring finger of the wearer when catching, for example,
a football. In certain embodiments, a wearer may go further in
reducing the risk of injury to his middle or ring finger by taping
them together and then putting on the sports glove 10 according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] The sports glove 10 also includes gripping projections 24
located near a fingertip portion of the sports glove 10. Certain
embodiments may also include the gripping projections 24 coupled to
other portions of the sports glove 10. For example, a dual
finger-gripping projection 24a may be disposed on the dual
finger-receiving portion 12, an index finger-gripping projection
24b may be disposed on an index finger-receiving portion 14, a
little finger-gripping projection 24c may be disposed on a little
finger-receiving portion 16, and a thumb-gripping projection 24d
may be disposed on a thumb-receiving portion 18. In one embodiment,
a palm-gripping projection 24e may be disposed on a palm-receiving
portion 20. The gripping projections 24 may be any suitable variety
of shapes and sizes. For example, the gripping projections 24 may
generally be diamond-shaped. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the
generally diamond-shaped gripping projections 24 may define a
generally frame-like feature with the respective dual-finger,
finger, thumb, or palm surface of the sports glove 10 disposed
within.
[0023] It has been found that by receiving the middle and ring
fingers in a single enclosure and by providing gripping projections
24 at strategic locations on the sports glove 10, the handling of a
conventional football either during a game or during practice is
substantially facilitated.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a palm-facing view of a left hand of a sports
glove 30 according to a second embodiment of the present
disclosure. In accordance therewith, the sports glove 30 includes a
separate receptacle for each of the fingers of the human hand.
Similarly to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the sports glove 30
includes an index finger-gripping projection 24b that may be
disposed on an index finger-receiving portion 14, a little
finger-gripping projection 24c that may be disposed on a little
finger-receiving portion 16, and a thumb-gripping projection 24d
that may be disposed on a thumb-receiving portion 18. In addition,
the sports glove 30 includes a middle finger-receiving portion 32
and a ring finger-receiving portion 34, as opposed to the dual
finger-receiving portion 12 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
1. With respect to the middle finger-receiving portion 32 and the
ring finger-receiving portion 34 of the sports glove 30, the
gripping projection is split forming a generally half-frame-like
feature, as shown at 24'. Thus, the sports glove 30 of FIG. 2
functions substantially similar to that of the sports glove 10
shown in FIG. 1 when the sports glove 30 is in use. In one
application, the sports glove 30 may be slipped over the hand of
the wearer, and then the middle finger-receiving portion 32 and the
ring finger-receiving portion 34 may be taped together with
athletic tape. This may allow the sports glove 30 to function
similarly to the sports glove 10 in preventing jamming of the
fingers of the wearer while still providing improved gripping
ability.
[0025] The palmar side of the embodiment of the sports glove 10
shown in FIG. 1 may include the dual finger-receiving portion 12,
the index finger-receiving portion 14, the little finger-receiving
portion 16, the thumb-receiving portion 18, and the palm-receiving
portion 20. The palmar side of the embodiment of the sports glove
30 shown in FIG. 2 may include the index finger-receiving portion
14, the little finger-receiving portion 16, the thumb-receiving
portion 18, the middle finger-receiving portion 32, the ring
finger-receiving portion 34, and the palm-receiving portion 20. The
palmar side of embodiments of the sports gloves 10 and 30 of the
present disclosure may comprise a tacky material to aid gripping a
football. For example, the palmar side may be covered with a tacky
polymer that may be used in gloves sold under the trademark of
Reebok International Ltd., "Griptonite." "Griptonite" may have
unique properties in that it may get tackier and grip even better
in cold, snowy, or rainy weather. Embodiments of the invention are
not limited to "Griptonite," but may comprise any suitable tacky
material as a coating or covering for the palmar side of sports
gloves 10 and 30. For example, tacky materials such as rubber or
other suitable material or coating may be used consistent with the
teachings of this disclosure.
[0026] FIGS. 3 through 6, inclusive, illustrate variations of the
gripping projections 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described
hereinabove in conjunction therewith. FIG. 3 illustrates a
diamond-shaped gripping projection 50 having a pyramid-shaped upper
surface projecting therefrom. FIG. 4 illustrates a diamond-shaped
gripping projection 54 having a flat upper surface. FIG. 5
illustrates a diamond-shaped gripping projection 52 having a
generally frame-like shape, similar to gripping projection 24 shown
in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 illustrates a non-diamond-shaped gripping
projection 56, which is oval in shape and comprises a hollow
interior, similar to gripping projections 24 and 52. As will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, the projections shown in
FIGS. 3 through 6 can be used interchangeably or can be used in
combination depending upon the requirements of particular
applications of the sports gloves 10 and 30.
[0027] Gripping projections 24, 24', 50, 52, 54, and 56 each may
cushion an impact with the fingertips and the palm of the wearer
when the wearer catches a football. Gripping projections 24, 24',
50, 52, 54, and 56 may also aid in gripping the football through
their tackiness. In certain embodiments, gripping projections 24,
24', 50, 52, 54, and 56 may comprise any suitable material with
sufficient elasticity and tackiness. For example, gripping
projections 24, 24', 50, 52, 54, and 56 may be made of a polymer,
such as rubber.
[0028] FIG. 7 is an illustration of the reverse or dorsal side of a
right hand of the sports glove 10 similar to that shown in FIG. 1
and described hereinabove. The sports glove 10 may include a back
hand-receiving portion 58 that may be constructed at least
partially of a flexible material 60. For example, the flexible
material 60 may comprise spandex, neoprene, leather, cotton,
polyester, and the like. As illustrated, the back hand-receiving
portion 58 is shown on only a portion of certain of the finger
portions of the sports glove 10, but certain embodiments may
include the flexible material 60 on a substantial portion or all of
the back hand-receiving portion 58. The use of the flexible
material 60 on the reverse side on one or more of the finger
portions comprising the sports glove 10 is useful in allowing the
fingers of the football player to curl inwardly thereby
facilitating a secure reception of the football. As also shown in
FIG. 7, the various sports gloves 10 and 30 disclosed and described
herein may be provided with indicia 62, which may identify the
glove with a particular football team, a particular football
player, a supplier of football gloves, and the like. In certain
embodiments, the sports gloves 10 and 30 may also include a wrist
closure that comprises a hook and loop material that adhere when
pressed together, commonly sold under the trademark
"Velcro.RTM.."
[0029] While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and
generally associated methods, alterations, and permutations of
these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in
the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments
does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes,
substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing
from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the
following claims.
* * * * *