Basketball Practice Glove

Abstract

A glove, to be worn while practicing basketball, having palm, back, and wrist portions, and open thumb and finger portions. The palm portion includes a pad, which spaces the wearer's palm from the ball, and the back portion includes a longitudinally extending stay, which limits bending movement of the wearer's wrist. An adjustable strap extends between the thumb and index finger portions of the glove to limit the extent to which these members can be separated. The restraining action of the strap between the index finger and thumb portions and the pad in the palm portion of the glove form the wearer's hand into a cup-like shape so that a basketball held in the gloved hand is controlled by the tips of the thumb and fingers.

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 761,716 filed Sept. 23, 1968, now abandoned for a Basketball Practice Glove.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of basketball scoring, i.e., putting the ball through the basket, is one of the most important features of the game, and probably the most difficult to master. The ball, 9 inches in diameter, must be shot or thrown through a horizontal hoop, 18 inches in diameter, and positioned 10 feet above the playing floor. Other important features of the game include dribbling and passing and these features as well as the ability to shoot well are, to a great extent, governed by the way a player handles the ball. As with any sport, there are a few natural players who are "born" with the ability to handle the ball well or to shoot accurately, but most individuals must develop and perfect their ball handling and shooting ability by long periods of practice.

A basketball may be shot either with one or two hands, but to shoot accurately consistently the ball must be held correctly while being shot. The palm of the hand should be formed into a cup-like shape, and the wrist should be loose and flexible, quite similar to the position the hand assumes when shaking hands with another person. With the hand thus formed the palm is out of contact with the ball, and control of the ball is maintained solely with the tips of the thumb and fingers of the shooting hand. Finger-tip control of the ball is also recommended for dribbling and passing and a player's hand should assume the same cup-like shape when performing these acts.

The above described method of shooting is well known to those skilled in the art, and practically all players are instructed, many times during their careers, to shoot in this manner. However, it is a common fault of many players to forget the correct form of shooting, particularly during the excitement of a game. There is a natural tendency among players when shooting to spread the thumb of the hand controlling the ball to try to span it. Spreading the thumb in this manner applies additional pressure on the ball and tends to lock the wrist and limit its movement. When a basketball is spanned by a player's hand the ball is no longer controlled by the tips of the thumb and fingers. The palm of the hand as well as the full length of the thumb and fingers are in contact with the ball and the wrist is locked. Shooting with full hand contact and a locked wrist produces erratic results. The same tendency to span the ball and bring the palm into contact with the ball also occurs with many players when dribbling and passing and results in poor ball control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore one of the objects of my invention is to provide a glove which will form the wearer's hand into the correct shape for shooting, dribbling and passing a basketball.

A further object is to provide a glove which is comfortable, durable in use, and economical to manufacture.

The objects of my invention are achieved by constructing a glove of soft flexible material having palm, back, and wrist portions, and open thumb and finger portions. An adjustable strap extends between thumb and index finger portions of the glove to limit the distance its wearer can spread these members. A pad in the palm portion of the glove spaces the wearer's palm from the ball, and together with the restraining strap tends to form the wearer's hand into a cup-like shape so that a basketball held in the hand of a player wearing such a glove will be controlled by the tips of the thumb and fingers. A stay extending longitudinally of the back portion of the glove limits the bending movement of the wearer's wrist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a back view of the glove of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a palm view of the glove of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of my glove on the hand of a wearer and illustrates the position of his thumb, index finger, and wrist while in a shooting position.

FIG. 4 is a back view of a modified form of my basketball practice glove.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the thumb and strap portions of another form of basketball practice glove.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the thumb and strap portion of FIG. 5 or it may be covered by material, not shown, which is stitched to glove back portion 19.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the modified basketball practice glove of FIGS. 5 and 6 on a player's hand.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In its preferred embodiment my invention comprises a glove 10 having back portion 11, palm portion 12 and wrist portion 13. The glove has thumb portion 14, which extends outwardly from the sides of back and palm portions 11 and 12, respectively, and index, middle, ring and little finger portions 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively, which extend outwardly from the top of back and palm glove portions 11 and 12, respectively, in the usual glove construction. Thumb portion 14 and finger portions 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively, are less than full length and have their ends open so that the ends of the fingers of the glove wearer's hand will be exposed for reasons hereinafter explained. Thumb portion or sheath 14 covers the first phalanx with the second or outer phalanx uncovered. Finger portions or sheaths 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively, are shown with the first and second phalanxes covered and the third or outer phalanxes open, i.e., uncovered. Only the first phalanx of these finger portions need be covered. Index finger portion 15 has first phalanx portion designated 151, and extending over its back portion is strip 152 of pressure sensitive adhesive material, which may be secured to phalanx portion 151 by means of glue or by stitching. Preferably this pressure sensitive material is a strip of material sold under the trade name "Velcro" which consists of complementary or cooperating strips which adhere to one another. One of these strips is termed the "fleecy" strip while the other is termed the "burr" strip. Preferably strip 152 is "fleecy" material. Wrist portion 13, as well as a part of back portion 11, section 19, are made of resilient flexible material to insure that the glove fits the wearer's hand snugly so as not to interfere with the handling of a ball. However, wrist portion 13 of the glove may also be fitted with other suitable securing means, as for example a draw string or a snap button.

Extending between thumb portion 14 and index finger portion 15 is strap 20, which is secured to thumb portion 14, such as by stitching. Strap 20 has inside face 201 and outside face 202. Adjacent the outer end of strap 20, i.e. the end spaced from thumb portion 14, and on its inside face 201 is a strip 203 of pressure sensitive adhesive material which cooperates with or adheres to the strip 152 of pressure sensitive adhesive material of index finger first phalanx portion 151. Strip 203 may be secured to strap 20 by means of glue or by stitching. As strip 152 is "fleecy" Velcro, strip 203 is "burr" Velcro in order that the strips will adhere. The construction of strap 20 and its cooperation with pressure sensitive adhesive material strip 152 of index first phalanx portion 151 permit the strap to be easily adjusted to control the distance between the glove wearer's thumb and index finger. Palm portion 12 is provided with pad 22, generally triangular in shape, between 1/4 to 3/8 inches thick, and made from any suitable flexible material, such as foam or sponge rubber. Pad 22 may be secured to palm portion 12 by means of glue or by stitching or may be covered and held in position by a strip of material, not shown, which is stitched to palm portion 12. Triangular pad 22 has a short side 23 spaced from the outer end of palm portion 12, indicated on FIG. 2 by broken line A--A, a second short side 24 spaced from the edge of the glove covering the fleshy part of the hand, and a long side 25 extending diagonally partially across the palm portion of the glove. Extending longitudinally of the back of glove 10 is stay 26, which may be made of metal or a relatively rigid plastic. Stay 26 has outer end 27 and inner or wrist end 28. The outer end 27 of the stay is spaced from the outer end or knuckle area of glove back portion 19, indicated in FIG. 1 by enclosed broken line B--B. The stay extends longitudinally of back portion 11 beyond the wrist joint, indicated by broken line C--C, and partially across glove wrist portion 13 so that inner end 28 is over this portion. Stay 26 is maintained relatively immobile with respect to the glove back portion, and is secured to glove back portion 11 in any suitable manner, as by sewing it thereto along a portion of the stay intermediate its ends.

The utility of glove 10 is best understood by considering the manner in which it controls the shape of the wearer's hand when shooting a basketball, as shown in FIG. 3. The glove is placed on a player's shooting hand and the hand formed into a natural cup shape, which, in the average player, causes a gap of about 1-1/2 inches between the thumb and index finger. The outer end of strap 20 is then drawn across the top of index finger first phalanx portion 151, and strap pressure sensitive material strip 203 is pressed into contact with index finger first phalanx pressure sensitive material strip 152 causing the cooperating strips to adhere to one another. The correct distance between thumb and index finger depends upon the size of the wearer's hand, and some adjustment may be necessary before the best distance is determined. When the final adjustment of the strap is determined, the hand, when relaxed, assumes a cup-like shape, the correct shape for shooting a basketball. Any excess length of the strap can be easily removed. When ball 30 is placed in the gloved hand and moved into position for a one hand shot, pad 22 spaces the surface of the ball from the wearer's palm and further contributes to the formation of the gloved hand into a cup-like shape. With the hand thus formed, the thumb end which extends out of thumb portion 14, and the finger ends which extend out of finger portions 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively, are able to grip the ball which is thereby controlled by the tips of these members. Any tendency to span the ball is prevented by strap 20, and the palm of the wearer's gloved hand is kept out of contact with the surface of the ball by pad 22. Stay 26 limits the backward bending of the wrist thereby preventing it from moving back to a position which would cause the hand to stiffen or lock.

The strap 20 is designed to extend between the first phalanxes of the thumb and index finger portions of the glove of my invention because in this position it provides the desired control of these digits without interfering with their movement or with a ball.

In FIG. 4 there is shown another version of my glove. Extending outwardly from thumb portion 14 toward the index finger is strap 20A and extending outwardly from index finger first phalanx portion 151 is strap 20B. Strap 20A is secured to thumb portion 14 and strap 20B is secured to index finger first phalanx portion 151 by stitching. Strap 20A has a strip 204 of pressure sensitive adhesive material, and strap 20B has a strip 205, shown in dotted line, of cooperating pressure sensitive adhesive material. Strips 204 and 205 are secured to straps 20A and 20B, respectively, by means of glue or by stitching. Straps 20A and 20B overlap and their overlapping strips of adhesive material, 204 and 205 respectively adhere to one another when pressed together and thus control the distance between a player's thumb and index finger.

In FIGS. 5-7 there is shown a third version of my glove. Thumb portion 14 is shown with outwardly extending strap 301, which is secured to thumb portion 14 by stitching, having inside face 302 and outside face 303. Adjacent the end of strap 301 opposite thumb portion 14 on inside face 302 is strip 304 of pressure sensitive material. Intermediate the ends of strap 301 on outside face 303 is strip 305 of pressure sensitive material. Strips 304 and 305 are secured to faces 302 and 303, respectively, of strap 301 by means of glue or by stitching. In this version of my glove strap 301 extends at an angle from thumb portion 14. Specifically the longitudinal centerline X--X of strap 301 makes an acute angle with a line Y--Y extending transversely of the longitudinal centerline of thumb portion 14. Preferably this angle is approximately 15.degree.-25.degree.. In this version of my glove the player's thumb and index finger are spaced apart the desired distance and the outer end of strap 301 drawn over and around index finger first phalanx 151. Pressure sensitive material strip 304 adjacent the strap end is then passed firmly against pressure sensitive material strip 305 to lock them together and prevent the thumb and index finger from being separated more than the desired distance.

It is to be appreciated that the glove of this invention may be manufactured of various materials. During practice sessions a single glove may be worn on a player's normal shooting or dribbling hand, or two gloves may be worn, one on each hand. The purpose of the glove is to remind a player or condition him to form his hand or hands into a cup-like shape when shooting, dribbling or otherwise handling the ball. After use of the glove of this invention in practice sessions over an extended period a player will be conditioned to automatically form his hand into the desired cup-like shape for shooting when, during regulation games, no glove is worn.

Claims

I claim:

1. A basketball practice glove adapted to be worn on a wearer's hand to control the shape thereof comprising:

a. an index finger portion adapted to cover the first phalanx of the wearer's index finger and having the outer end open,

b. first pressure sensitive means secured to said index finger portion,

c. a thumb portion adapted to cover the first phalanx of the wearer's thumb and having the outer end open,

d. strap means secured to said thumb portion and extending therefrom, and

e. second pressure sensitive means secured to said strap means and adapted to cooperatively adhere to said first pressure sensitive means whereby the strap means can be adjusted and said first and second pressure sensitive means caused to cooperatively adhere to thereby control the distance between the wearer's thumb and index finger.

2. The basketball practice glove of claim 1 in which

a. the first pressure sensitive means is on the outside of the index finger portion, and

b. the second pressure sensitive means on said strap means is spaced from said thumb portion, adjacent the outer end of the strap means and on the inside surface thereof.

3. A basketball practice glove adapted to be worn on a wearer's hand to control the shape thereof comprising:

a. an index finger portion adapted to cover the first phalanx of the wearer's index finger and having the outer end open,

b. first strap means secured to the index finger portion and extending therefrom,

c. first pressure sensitive means secured to the first strap means,

d. a thumb portion adapted to cover the first phalanx of the wearer's thumb and having the outer end open,

e. second strap means secured to thumb portion and extending therefrom,

f. second pressure sensitive means secured to the second strap means and adapted to cooperatively adhere to the first pressure sensitive means whereby the first and second strap means can be adjusted and the first and second pressure sensitive means caused to cooperatively adhere to thereby control the distance between the wearer's thumb and index finger.

4. The basketball practice glove of claim 3 in which

a. the first pressure sensitive means is adjacent the outer end of the first strap means on one side thereof,

b. the second pressure sensitive means is adjacent the outer end of the second strap means and on a side thereof facing the first strap means first pressure sensitive means.

5. A basketball practice glove adapted to be worn on a wearer's hand to control the shape thereof comprising:

a. an index finger portion adapted to cover the first phalanx of the wearer's index finger and having the outer end open,

b. a thumb portion adapted to cover the first phalanx of the wearer's thumb and having the outer end open,

c. strap means secured to the thumb portion and extending therefrom,

d. first pressure sensitive means secured to said strap means and spaced from the thumb portion adjacent the outer end of the strap means,

e. second pressure sensitive means secured to the strap means intermediate the thumb portion and the first pressure sensitive means and adapted to cooperatively adhere to the first pressure sensitive means whereby the strap means can be encircled around the index finger portion and the first and second pressure sensitive means caused to cooperatively adhere to thereby control the distance between the wearer's thumb and index finger.

6. The basketball practice glove of claim 5 in which

a. the first pressure sensitive means is on a first face of the strap means, and

b. the second pressure sensitive means is on a second face of the strap means.