Branded Gloves and Method for Producing the Same
The disclosed embodiments provide a branded glove and a method for producing the same. In one embodiment, the branded glove includes an upper portion having a first circumferential edge, and a lower portion having a second circumferential edge, wherein the first circumferential edge of the upper portion joins the second circumferential edge of the lower portion to define an enclosure for placing a hand. The upper portion includes a securing mechanism, wherein the securing mechanism secures the hand within the enclosure. The securing mechanism provides a first brand placement area, and the upper portion provides a second brand placement area.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/230,456 filed Jul. 31, 2009, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to gloves and, more particularly, to a specially branded golf glove.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
The making and using of the presently preferred embodiments are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.
Referring to
In a preferred embodiment, the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 103 may comprise a high quality faux leather, a cabretta leather, or a combination of faux and cabretta leather. One skilled in the art will understand that the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 103 may comprise any number of shapes intended to provide an enclosure for a user's hand including shapes that do not allow for independent locomotion of a user's hand. Furthermore, the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 103 may comprise any suitable material for a particular glove use.
The interior space includes opening 107 through which a user places his/her hand into the interior space. In a preferred embodiment, a separation 108 extends into the upper portion 102 away from the opening 107 separating a portion of the upper portion 102 into two portions. The separation 108 allows the upper portion 102 to expand enabling a user to more easily place his/her hand through the opening 107 into the enclosure 105. One skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed embodiments contemplate and include placement of the separation 108 in the lower portion 103. Furthermore, disclosed embodiments contemplate and include any suitable alternative means of expansion for placement of the user's hand within the interior space of the glove 100. The glove 100 may also include a securing mechanism 106. In a preferred embodiment, the securing mechanism 106 comprises a Velcro latch extending across the separation 108 such that, when the securing mechanism 106 secures, it prevents expansion of the upper portion 102, thus securing the user's hand within the interior space. One skilled in the art will understand that the securing mechanism 106 may comprise any suitable securing mechanism including but not limited to mechanisms such as elastic bands, buttons, or snaps.
The glove 100 further comprises at least one of a first brand placement area 121, a second brand placement area 122, and a third brand placement area 123 on the upper portion 102, and a fourth brand placement area (not shown) on the lower portion 103. In a preferred embodiment, the glove 100 undergoes a design process utilizing a design template that is customized for each brand logo design. The design template allows the glove 100 to go through an embroidery and decoration process that is unique for each brand, involving sublimation and direct printing thus preferably enabling the glove 100 to include advertising or logo placement on the first brand placement area 121, the second brand placement area 122, the third brand placement area 123, and/or the fourth brand placement area 124. Traditionally, glove branding production techniques limited the brand placement area to the Velcro closure of prior art gloves. The addition of the second brand placement area 122, the third brand placement area 123, and the fourth brand placement area 124 greatly increases the branding area of the glove 100 over prior art gloves and the associated methods of production. In addition, the disclosed production method allows for production of gloves 100 with surface designs of greatly increased complexity.
Referring now to
Referring now to
It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the glove 100 may comprise a mitten, or a fingerless glove. In addition, the glove 100 may comprise many alternative materials, such as canvas, cotton, or other suitable leathers.
Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A glove comprising:
- an upper portion having a first circumferential edge;
- a lower portion having a second circumferential edge, wherein said first circumferential edge of said upper portion joins said second circumferential edge of said lower portion to define an enclosure for placing a hand;
- a securing mechanism, wherein said securing mechanism secures said hand within said enclosure;
- said securing mechanism comprising a first brand placement area; and
- said upper portion comprising a second brand placement area.
2. The glove of claim 1, further comprising said upper portion and said lower portion having segregated portions corresponding to fingers of said hand.
3. The glove of claim 2, wherein said segregated portions comprise a third brand placement area.
4. The glove of claim 1, wherein said lower portion comprises a fourth brand placement area.
5. A method for branding a glove comprising:
- designing said glove with a design template customized for brand logo design; and
- combining special design templates, sublimation, and direct printing in a unique decoration process.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said combining said special design templates, said sublimation, and said direct printing comprises:
- aligning a printing design layout over a material such that an index finger of said glove comprises a centerpoint reference;
- printing said material in response to said centerpoint reference and said printing design layout to produced a printed material;
- aligning a cutting die over said printed material;
- cutting said printed material with said cutting die;
- separating excess printed material to produce a top glove portion;
- repeating said aligning, printing, cutting and separating steps to produce a bottom glove portion;
- sewing said top glove portion to said bottom glove portion to produce said glove.
7. A glove for identifying a user's brand loyalty, the glove comprising:
- an upper portion having a first circumferential edge;
- a lower portion having a second circumferential edge, wherein said first circumferential edge of said upper portion joins said second circumferential edge of said lower portion to define an enclosure for placing a hand;
- a securing mechanism, wherein said securing mechanism secures said hand within said enclosure;
- said securing mechanism comprising a first brand placement area; and
- said upper portion comprising a second brand placement area;
- wherein said first and second brand placement are customized for a selected brand logo design.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 3, 2011
Inventor: Brad Blankenship (Flower Mound, TX)
Application Number: 12/848,757
International Classification: A41D 19/00 (20060101); A41D 19/02 (20060101); D05B 23/00 (20060101);