U.S. patent application number 14/035687 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-26 for molded rubberized toddler primer ball glove.
The applicant listed for this patent is John D. Neff. Invention is credited to John D. Neff.
Application Number | 20150082504 14/035687 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52689618 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150082504 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neff; John D. |
March 26, 2015 |
MOLDED RUBBERIZED TODDLER PRIMER BALL GLOVE
Abstract
An easy to use ball-catching glove is used by toddlers as their
first glove. It is padded by the thickness and characteristic
shock-absorbing quality of Plastisol, gum rubber, silicone rubber
material, soft plastic material, any of a variety of materials or
combinations of materials having a hardness value in a range of 10
to 90 on a Shore 00 hardness scale, or any rubber-like material or
other material from which it is molded as one piece. The glove is
highly malleable and resilient, with living hinges that assist in
the ease of opening and closing the glove. The exterior surface of
the glove is a high friction surface to assist the ball staying on
the glove until the fingers and thumb can be wrapped around it. The
glove is brightly colored and toy-like in shape.
Inventors: |
Neff; John D.; (Austin,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Neff; John D. |
Austin |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52689618 |
Appl. No.: |
14/035687 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2102/18 20151001;
A63B 2208/12 20130101; A63B 71/143 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/19 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/14 20060101
A63B071/14 |
Claims
1. A ball catching toddler primer glove for use as a toddler's
first ball glove, the primer glove comprising: a primer ball glove
for a toddler, the glove completely molded from a rubberized shock
absorbing material into a glove which is self-padded by the
thickness and characteristic soft shock absorbing quality of the
material for use as a primer glove for toddlers, the glove being
malleable so that it is easy to open and close in catching a ball
with recessed crevices of material between the fingers and thumbs
forming living hinges, the glove having a high friction exterior
surface for ease of catching and holding onto a ball, to enable a
toddler to have a first experience in catching a ball in the glove
easily without any harm to the hand of the toddler, the glove
having rounded puffy finger and thumb portions and an indented palm
portion with surrounding rounded puffy edges in a toy-like fun and
playful structure formed into thickly padded surfaces surrounding a
small interior opening for admitting and protecting a hand of the
toddler thereby providing a ball catching toddler primer glove for
use as a toddler's first ball glove.
2. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from a
Plastisol material.
3. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from a
gum rubber material.
4. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from a
silicone rubber material.
5. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from a
soft plastic material.
6. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from any
of a variety of materials having a hardness value in a range of 10
to 90 on a Shore 00 hardness scale.
7. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from any
of a variety of combinations of materials having a hardness value
in a range of 10 to 90 on a Shore 00 hardness scale.
8. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from a
rubber-like brightly colored material.
9. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from any
of a variety of brightly colored materials.
10. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded from
any of a variety of combinations of brightly colored materials.
11. The primer glove of claim 1 wherein the glove is molded into a
toy-like glove configuration.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to ball gloves and in
particular to a ball catching primer glove for use as a toddler's
first ball glove, the primer glove being completely molded from
Plastisol, gum rubber, silicone rubber material, soft plastic
material, any of a variety of materials or combinations of
materials having a hardness value in a range of 10 to 90 on a Shore
00 hardness scale, or any rubber-like material or other material
that is brightly colored and molded into a toy-like glove
configuration into a thick self-padded glove, body and fingers and
thumb and web having a thickness and characteristic soft shock
absorbing quality of the material so that it protects a hand of the
toddler in the glove, the glove being highly malleable and having
living hinges between the palm portion and the fingers and thumb
portions so that the glove is easy to open and close in catching a
ball, just for the toddler to get used to catching a ball in a
glove easily without any harm to the toddler, a glove which has a
toy-like fun and playful structure which could be made in bright
colors to provide a friendly, fun, safe introduction to catching a
ball in a glove for toddlers.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art including information
disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0007] While there are baseball gloves that are partially molded of
plastic and rubber, all of the prior art gloves involve extra
parts, such as fabric molded into the rubber molding or glove
inserts or webbing or stitching or gluing together front and back
portions or exterior hand retainers or interior padding. Most of
the prior art attempts to simulate the actual structure and
function of traditional leather baseball gloves and are intended
for use in the practice and play of baseball. Some of the learning
assists in the prior gloves are intended to be removed leaving a
regulation baseball glove for playing the game.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,681 issued Jul. 21, 1981 to Klimezky,
provides an integrally molded plastic baseball glove utilizable in
the game of baseball as a catching device for protecting the hand.
The final molded article has the aesthetic appearance of a leather
baseball glove. The method of making includes first molding a
hollow plastic shell which forms exterior convex front and back
surfaces of the baseball glove, the shell front and back surface
having exterior, shaped-segments including patterned depressions
and protuberances which form outlines delineating the fingers and
thumb areas of the glove, a pair of webs between the thumb and
index finger areas, an additional surface including cut out lines
and lacing to make it look like a leather glove. The shell may be
molded utilizing slush, rotation or blow-injection techniques. The
mold face itself that forms the front glove shell exterior surface
is not an exact replica of the final glove form but is distorted in
surface configuration such that the front exterior surface when
molded is convex overall. When the glove is finally constructed,
the front exterior surface is substantially concave, with convex
tubular finger and thumb areas. After removal of the shell from the
mold, the convex front glove surface is forced inwardly so that the
front and back shell areas delineating the fingers and thumb can be
joined together. A suitable padding may be inserted (or molded) in
the inside palm area of the glove. The webbing is trimmed and
perforated and cut outs made where required. A pocket for receiving
the ball when inverted from its convex molded shape will be formed
from cold setting of the plastic after removal from the mold.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,113, issued Jul. 2, 2002 to Guenther et
al, is for a ball glove including an outer shell which is formed
from textile or fabric reinforced compression molded rubber. The
rubber extends into mesh openings in the textile and is
mechanically integrated with the textile. The textile strengthens
the rubber and reduces the possibility that the rubber will tear at
holes for stitches or laces.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,519, issued Jan. 13, 1998 to Cooper,
claims a waterproof sports glove comprising a pair of superposed
flexible pieces of substantially water-impervious material
connected and sealed together along the marginal edge portions
thereof to define a glove body having an open lower section
configured to receive therethrough the hand of a user during use of
the glove. The glove body is provided with two finger sections
separated from one another by a cut-out portion, and each of the
finger sections comprises at least one finger compartment for
receiving therein at least one finger of the user's hand. A web of
a substantially water-impervious material is disposed within the
cut-out portion and interconnects the two finger sections.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,376, issued Jan. 30, 19990 to Miner,
describes a sport glove construction and a method of using it,
including fastening together sheets of plastic material by rigid
fastening device into a cup-shaped pocket configuration, forming a
front ball receiving side and a rear hand receiving side having a
cup-shaped pocket therein. A hand securing device is connected to
the outer surface of the back side of the glove construction for
proper ventilation purposes. A web device interconnects right and
left portions of the front and rear sheets, to help define the
pocket. Right and left elongated, resilient pads extend in a
generally U-shaped configuration at the rim of the pocket,
diverging away from one another at the lower portion of the sheets
toward the web device. A plurality of pocket rigid fastening
devices are arranged in a spaced apart manner within the pocket
adjacent to the pads and secure together the front and rear sheets
for helping rigidify flexibly the resulting glove construction.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,537, issued Apr. 4, 1995 to Kolada,
depicts a baseball or softball glove comprising a shell having a
concave, frontal, ball-receiving surface and a rear surface to
which a handpiece is attached. The handpiece may be removably or
permanently attached and may comprise finger receiving loops formed
on the rear surface of the shell. The handpiece is preferably a
tight fitting, leather or fabric glove. The preferred shell
comprises a sheet-like, flexible skin of a selected flexibility
attached to a structural skeleton having a lower flexibility than
the skin. A plurality of raised bumps are formed on the
ball-receiving surface of the shell near a palm region and around
the outer perimeter. Elongated slots are formed through the shell,
extending generally parallel to and between finger regions, and in
a web region. Preferred lines of flexure are formed at at least one
end of each slot, and are localized, thinned regions, along which
the shell preferably flexes.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,776, issued Sep. 12, 1995 to Caruso,
indicates a lightweight, tear resistant sporting mitt for use on or
adjacent to beaches and water. The mitt is water repellant and is
unaffected by sand, while having sufficient structural strength to
withstand heavy use with hard balls such as artificial baseballs.
The mitt is formed from substantially congruent alternating planar
layers of abuse resistant plastic coated canvas and resilient
compressible porous or foam material (two outer layers of canvas,
two layers of resilient compressible porous and a central canvas
layer. The layers are peripherally sewn to each other, with an
opening remaining, at the base of the mitt for hand insertion
between resilient compressible porous layers. A hinge line for a
ball catching pocket extends from the hand insertion opening to a
webbing enclosed cut out section. A canvas webbing segment having a
shape and size similar to the cut-out section is positioned in the
cut-out area and is peripherally sewn to the edges of the cut-out
section, while lateral segments of the mitt are hinged, towards
each other, whereby a ball catching pocket is formed.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,245, issued Oct. 21, 1997 to Rector et
al, specifies a baseball glove having a laminate foam rubber
padding with low rebound and energy damping properties, is
constructed and arranged to provide stiffness in the longitudinal
axial direction of the thumb and forefinger portion of the glove
and the little finger portion of the glove but a flexibility in a
transverse axial direction across the palm of the hand in a
direction toward the little finger portion of the glove, to thereby
preclude the "breaking-in" period customarily required for a new
glove. The glove laces are made of hollow plastic tubing having
elastic memory. The tubular end portions of the lacings are secured
to the leather covering by fasteners having planar surfaces
carrying advertising indicia.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,787, issued Jan. 31, 1967 to Benkert,
shows a baseball glove which affords increased protection to the
fingers and reduces the danger of injury by the impact of a
baseball that is being caught by providing substantial padding.
[0016] What is needed is a ball catching primer glove for toddlers
intended as a first ball glove, which is completely molded from a
rubber-like material which is self-padded by the thickness and
characteristic soft shock absorbing quality of the material for use
as a primer glove for toddlers just to get used to catching a ball
in a glove without any harm to the toddler, a glove which has a
toy-like fun and playful structure which could be made in bright
colors to provide a friendly, fun, safe introduction to catching a
ball in a glove for toddlers.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a ball
catching primer glove for toddlers intended as a first ball glove,
which is completely molded from Plastisol, gum rubber, silicone
rubber material, soft plastic material, any of a variety of
materials or combinations of materials having a hardness value in a
range of 10 to 90 on a Shore 00 hardness scale, or any rubber-like
material or other material that is brightly colored and molded into
a toy-like glove configuration so that the glove is self-padded by
the thickness and characteristic soft shock absorbing quality of
the material for use as a primer glove for toddlers, the glove
being highly malleable so that it is easy to open and close in
catching a ball, just for the toddler to get used to catching a
ball in a glove easily without any harm to the toddler, a glove
which has a toy-like fun and playful structure which could be made
in bright colors to provide a friendly, fun, safe introduction to
catching a ball in a glove for toddlers.
[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
living hinge (recessed easy to bend line of reduced material
forming a valley) between the palm portion and each of the fingers
and the thumb to make it easy for the toddler's fingers to bend the
fingers and thumb of the glove to catch the ball.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball
catching glove which is completely waterproof and sturdy yet soft
and protective of the toddler's hand in the glove.
[0020] In brief, the present invention provides a ball catching
primer glove for use as a toddler's first ball glove, the primer
glove being completely molded from Plastisol, gum rubber, silicone
rubber material, soft plastic material, any of a variety of
materials or combinations of materials having a hardness value in a
range of 10 to 90 on a Shore 00 hardness scale, or any rubber-like
material or other material that is brightly colored and molded into
a toy-like glove configuration into a thick self-padded glove body
and fingers and thumb and web having a thickness and characteristic
soft shock absorbing quality of the material so that it protects a
hand of the toddler in the glove. The glove is highly malleable and
resilient and has living hinges between the palm portion and the
fingers and thumb portions so that the glove is easy to open and
close in catching a ball. The primer glove is structured just for
the toddler to get used to catching a ball in a glove easily
without any harm to the toddler. The primer glove has a toy-like
fun and playful structure which could be made in bright colors to
provide a friendly, fun, safe introduction to catching a ball in a
glove for toddlers.
[0021] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
hand-protecting first primer ball catching glove for toddlers.
[0022] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a molded glove that is easy to fabricate.
[0023] An additional advantage of the present invention is that it
provides an easy to open and easy to close malleability by using
living hinges.
[0024] An added advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a soft rubberized glove which may be made in many
different colors like a toy.
[0025] One more advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a waterproof and weather-proof ball glove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] These and other details of the present invention will be
described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are
furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention, and in which drawings:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the primer ball glove of the
present invention showing the palm, finger, thumb, and web portions
of the glove;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken from a center of the
hand opening through a mid-portion of the palm and through a
finger, showing the greater thickness of the molded rubberized
material and smaller height of the interior space for the hand of a
toddler.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a ball catching toddler primer glove 10
for use as a toddler's first primer ball glove comprises palm 11,
finger 12, thumb 14, and web 13 portions all molded together.
[0030] The glove 10 is completely molded from a rubberized shock
absorbing material forming a glove 10 which is self-padded by the
thickness and characteristic soft shock absorbing quality of the
material used. The glove 10 is malleable so that it is easy to open
and close when catching a ball. Recessed crevices of material
between the fingers 12 and palm 11, as well as the thumb 14 and
palm 11, form living hinges 18 to further increase the ease of
opening and closing the glove 10. A web 13 between the thumb 14 and
fingers 12, also adds to the ease of closing the glove around the
ball. The glove 10 has a high-friction exterior surface for ease of
catching and holding onto a ball and rounded puffy finger 12 and
thumb 14 portions, enabling a toddler to have a first experience in
catching a ball in the glove 10 easily, without any harm to the
hand of the toddler. The palm portion 11 is indented and surrounded
with rounded puffy edges. The glove 10 has a toy-like, fun, and
playful structure formed into thickly padded surfaces surrounding a
small interior opening 15 for admitting and protecting a hand of
the toddler. The opening 15 extends into the interior of the glove
with an area for the hand 16, including openings for the fingers 17
of the toddler, as shown in FIG. 2. The ball catching primer glove
10 is intended for use as a toddler's first primer ball glove.
[0031] The primer glove 10 can be molded from, but is not limited
to, a Plastisol, a gum rubber material, a silicone rubber material,
a soft plastic material, any of a variety of materials or
combinations of materials having a hardness value in a range of 10
to 90 on a Shore 00 hardness scale, or any rubber-like material or
other material that is brightly colored and molded into a toy-like
glove configuration.
[0032] In use, the brightly colored, toy-like primer glove serves
as a toddler's first introduction to catching a ball with a glove.
The toddler places his/her hand into the opening of the molded
glove until his/her fingers and thumb are inserted into the finger
and thumb portion of the glove. He/she catches a tossed ball when
it is `grabbed` by the high-friction exterior surface of the glove
and then closes his/her fingers and thumb easily around the ball by
engaging the living hinges. The soft, shock-absorbing surface of
the glove provides protection from the sting a tossed ball could
potentially have.
[0033] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *