US20130036528A1

US20130036528A1 - Performace enhancing glove

Info

Publication number: US20130036528A1
Application number: US13/209,430
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-14
Filing date: 2011-08-14
Publication date: 2013-02-14

Abstract

A glove having a pinky sheath, a ring finger sheath, and a middle finger sheath. A strap is attached to at least one the pinky sheath, the ring finger sheath, and the middle finger sheath. There is also a releasable strap connection located on the glove. The at least one strap and the at least one strap connection are able to form a releasable connection.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Currently gloves are used in a variety of sports. In several sports, such as baseball, softball and golf, the glove(s) are used to provide a better grip with a instrument used in the sport (e.g. golf club and bat).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment where the strap extends across the sheaths;

FIGS. 2-4 shows an embodiment in use with an instrument;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment where the strap extends along the sheaths;

FIGS. 6-7 shows an embodiment in use with an instrument; and

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment where the strap extends from one sheath.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of glove 1 is shown. The glove 1 comprises a strap 2, one or more strap attachments 13, and one more strap connections 11.
The strap connections 11 can be located on one more of the sheaths 14 of the glove 1. The strap connections 11 can be permanent or temporary. Some embodiments, the strap 2 is stitched to one or more sheaths 14 at the one or more strap connections 11. In other embodiments, the strap connection 11 is not permanent (e.g. hook and loop and fasteners).
The strap 2 is of sufficient length such that it can make at least one full wrap around the handle of the instrument 5 and have the strap distal end 21 attach to one or more strap attachments 13. The connection between the strap distal end 21 and the strap attachments 13 is temporary. In some embodiments, there is a hoop and loop fastener attachment means between the strap distal end 21 and the strap attachments 13. In one embodiment, the loops are located on the strap attachments 13, and the hooks located on the strap distal end 21.
In some embodiments, the strap attachments 13 are located so that they would substantially correspond with the intermediate phalanges of the user's hand, and the strap attachments 13 are located so that they would substantially correspond with the proximal phalanges of the user's hand. The strap attachments 13 can be of any size or shape. In some embodiments at least one of the of the strap attachments 13 wraps around at least a quarter of the sheath. In one embodiment, the strap attachment 13 wraps around at least a quarter of the pinky sheath.
The element of the removable attachment means, if required, is located on the strap distal end 21 is located on the inner side of the strap 2; the outer side of the strap 2; extends along the length or just along a portion of the strap 2; or any combination thereof.
The strap 2 distal portion can be wider, narrower or have the same width as the rest of the strap 2.
The strap 2 can be made of one or more types of material. The elasticity of the material can be determined by need. In some embodiments, at least the part of the strap 2 between the strap connections 11 is elastic to allow relative movement between the sheaths 14. In other embodiments the material is not substantially elastic.
In one embodiment, there are strap attachments 13 and the strap connections 11 located on the middle, ring and pinky finger, and the strap distal end 21 is wider that the rest of the strap 2.
Referring to FIG. 2-4, the use of an embodiment of the glove 1 with a golf club. The user wraps the strap 2 around the club one full time and then more to align the strap distal end 21 with the strap attachments 13. The strap 2 can have a twist added to it when it is being wrapped around the instrument 5 as shown. However, it is also understood that a twist is not required. In other embodiments. It is also understood that the strap distal end 21 need not engage every strap attachment 13.
Referring to FIG. 5, one embodiment is shown having a strap 2 that extends along the sheaths 14 of the gloves and a strap attachment 13 located at the back of the hand. The strap connection 11 is located on three sheaths 14. The strap connection 11 is shown having a single strap connection 11 that extends over several sheaths. In some embodiments, the there are two or more strap connections that extend along the sheaths. In other embodiments, only the last two sheaths 14 have a strap connection(s) 11.
Refereeing to FIGS. 6 and 7, the strap 2 is used to secure the grip of the user to the instrument 5, while not actually touching the instrument 5. This may prevent the violation of certain athletic rules. The strap 2 is run in the direction of the fingers and wrapped around the thumb metacarpals and/or the thumb carpals so that the strap distal end 21 can reach be secured to the strap attachment 13 located on the back of the hand.
Referring to FIG. 8, an embodiment is shown having a strap that extends from the pinky sheath while there is a union 17 along substantially the entire length of the junction of the middle sheath and the ring finger sheath, and a union 17 along substantially the entire length of the junction of the ring finger sheath and the pinky sheath. These unions 17 serve to join the middle, ring and pinky fingers so that they act in concert with the strap, even though the strap is only attached to the pinky sheath. It is understood that the unions 17 can be permanent, e.g. stitching, or non-permanent, e.g. button snaps, loop and hook fasteners. The union 17 may also be in the form of one or more pieces of elastic and/or non-elastic webbing between the sheaths. The width and/or elasticity of the webbing can vary. It is also understood that the union 17 need not extend along the entire length of the junction. In some embodiments, there is only one union between the ring finger sheath and the pinky sheath.
In different embodiments the strap attachments 13, on the sheaths 14 on which located, extend approximately to where the intermediate phalanges ends. For different instruments 15, this will vary. The circumference of baseball bat is different than a golf club, so the designed location of the strap attachments 13 can vary. The strap attachments 13 can also vary given the size of the hand the glove 1 is designed to fit. A child's glove 1 may require that the strap attachments 13, on one or more sheaths 14, extend onto the distal phalanges.
Additionally, the length of the strap 2 of different embodiments, can vary to take in consideration the purpose of the glove 1 (e.g. golf or baseball) and/or the size of the hand (e.g. child or adult).
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. And while the invention has been described above with respect to several embodiments, any element described in reference to any particular embodiment is hereby disclosed to be associated with any other embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a glove comprising a pinky sheath, a ring finger sheath, and a middle finger sheath;

at least one strap;

at least two strap attachments, wherein the at least two strap attachments connects the at least one strap to the glove and each of the at least two strap attachments are located on the pinky sheath, the ring finger sheath, or the middle finger sheath;

at least one strap connection located on the glove, wherein the at least one strap and the at least one strap connection are adapted to form a releasable connection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the releasable connection is formed by a hook and loop fastener.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap connection is located on a back side of the glove.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one strap connection is separately located on the pinky sheath, the ring finger sheath, or the middle finger sheath.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap further comprises a strap distal end, and it is the strap distal end that is part of the releasable connection with the at least one strap connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two strap attachments are non-releasable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two strap attachments consist of three strap attachments, and one of each of the three strap attachments are located on the pinky sheath, the ring finger sheath, and the middle finger sheath.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap extends across the pinky sheath, and the ring finger sheath.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap extends along the pinky sheath and the ring finger sheath.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one strap connection extends along the pinky sheath or the ring finger sheath, so as to substantially correspond to intermediate phalanges of a user's pinky or ring finger.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least two strap attachments are permanent attachments.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a glove comprising a pinky sheath and a ring finger sheath;

at least one strap;

one or more unions, wherein the one or more unions connect the pinky sheath and the ring finger sheath;

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the releasable connection is formed by a hook and loop fastener.

14. The apparatus of clam 12, wherein the at least one strap connection is located on a back side of the glove.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a middle finger sheath, wherein the one or more unions connect the ring finger sheath and the middle finger sheath.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more unions comprise an element that is selected from the group consisting of elastic material, animal hide, hook and loop fasteners, elastic webbing, non-elastic webbing, stitching, snaps, and combinations thereof.