Batter's or Golfer's Glove with Auditory Indicator Producing Sound When User is in Correct Position for Maximum Power

Abstract

A baseball batter's glove or a golf glove (or a glove for any other swinging sport) that contains a audible indicator that produces a unique sound like a click when a bat, club or other sporting equipment is being held in the correct position for a power swing. In particular, a batter's glove for baseball that clicks when the batter holds the bat in the correct position for a power swing. A particular embodiment of the present invention is a glove with a small convex metal strip sewed onto the lower part of the thumb extending over the top of the thumb to the wrist. The strip can resemble a portion of a tape measure in some embodiments. This strip can be positioned so that it bends and clicks when the hands are in exactly the right position to indicate that the bat or club is correct for a maximum power swing. The strip can click a second time during the power stroke itself. The present invention is not limited to baseball and/or golf, but may be used with any sport that requires swinging such as tennis and other sports.

Description

This application is related to and claims priority from United States Provisional Patent Application number 61/422,974 filed Dec. 14, 2010. Application 61/422,974 is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related generally to sporting equipment and more particularly to a batter's glove, a golfer's glove, or other sports gloves which uses a wrist cock as a means of generating power, with an auditory indicator producing sound when the user is in correct position for maximum power.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous baseball batting gloves and golf gloves are known in the art. These gloves are designed to give protection to the hands and a good grip on the bat of club. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,218,719, D327,754 and D328,369 are examples of baseball batting gloves.

Beginning and even advanced batters (or golfers) many times assume the wrong hand positions when up to bat or swing. It is typical in baseball that the bat is held too far forward to obtain a powerful swing. This is particularly prevalent in little league baseball, pony baseball, high school baseball, college baseball and professional baseball where many of the players are not experts. A similar situation exists in golf where the club is not extended high enough before the swing, or the wrists are not put into the correct loaded position.

Since almost all batters today wear batting gloves, and most golfers wear golf gloves, it would be very advantageous to have a glove that makes an audible sound when the bat or club is in the correct power position obtaining biofeedback. The sound can be a click or any other auditory indicator. It would also be very advantageous if the device were mechanical requiring no batteries or the like, and was very rugged. It would also be advantageous if the glove were easy to manufacture and could be sold at a reasonable price.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a baseball batter's glove or a golf glove or a glove for any other swinging sport that contains a audible indicator that produces a unique sound like a click when the bat, club or other sporting equipment is being held in the correct position for a power swing. In particular, it relates to a batter's glove for baseball that clicks when the batter holds the bat back in the correct position.

A particular embodiment of the present invention is a glove with a small convex metal strip sewed onto the lower part of the thumb. The strip extends from the wrist up over the top of the lower part of the thumb. The metal strip can resemble (or be) a portion of a (metal tape measure) or potentially plastic, any material that is bendable with a noise that is emitted when bent. This strip can be positioned so that it bends and clicks when the hands are in exactly the right position to indicate that the bat or club is correct for a maximum power swing. It can also click as it bends back to normal during the power swing.

The present invention is not limited to baseball and/or golf, but may be used with any sport that requires swinging such as racquetball and other sports.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Drawings are now presented to illustrate features of the present invention:

FIG. 1 shows a baseball batter using an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a particular embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows where sections of the clicker are taken for FIGS. 4A and 4B

FIG. 4A shows a lateral section of the clicker of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B shows a longitudinal section of the clicker of FIG. 3

FIG. 4 shows a convex strip used as a clicker or audible indicator.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the glove from the rear.

Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures. In particular, the audible indicator is not limited to a metal clicker. While it is preferred to have a mechanical clicker, an electrical or electronic indicator is within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a sports glove that makes an audible sound when the user is holding a bat, club, lacrosse stick, racquet or other sports device in a position for a maximum power swing.

Turning to FIG. 1, a baseball player can be seen using the device of the present invention. The particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1 makes a click sound when the bat is being held correctly in the hands and is positioned for a maximum power swing. As the batter moves the bat backward in preparation for a pitch and swing, the glove clicks indicating the proper position. If there is no click, the batter immediately knows that the bat is being held in the wrong position.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment. A baseball or other sporting glove 1 has a plurality of fingers 2 (usually four) and typically a thumb 8. A small strip of metal or other audible indicator 3 is contained in a sewed-on patch 9. A strap 5 can be used to secure the glove 1 to the player's wrist using hook/loop material 4 or any other fastening means or method. This strap 5 acts to snug the strip member tightly against the wrist. When a metal strip is used, the preferred length is around 2 inches long with a width of around 1/2 to 3/4 inch. A soft padding may be optionally added inside the glove underneath the top portion of the strip or other indicator for the user's comfort. The strip 3 is preferably a curved, bendable metal that extends generally along the axis of the wrist over the wrist portion of the glove and over the top of the thumb as shown in FIG. 2. While metal is the preferred material, the strip can be made of any material that will produce an audible sound when bent. The strip 3 can be similar to a section of metal tape used in a tape measure.

The glove 1 holds the strip member (or other indicator) 3 which, as stated, may be a section of a metal extension tape about 2 inches long which makes a clicking sound when bent. By securing approximately the top inch of the metal tightly to the wrist, the obtaining of the correct position of the bat or club produces a familiar clicking sound alerting the batter or golfer that he is in the correct loaded position for a maximum power and speed swing.

The glove of the present invention can be made in both a right-hand and left-hand version and is designed to usually be placed on the lower hand.

The present invention is typically used by placing the glove on a hitter's or golfer's (or any other sportsman's) hand which is closest to the body when placed on the bat or golf club in an extended arm position. In baseball, in order to achieve the correct position of the hands and wrists before swinging the bat, the hands and wrists need to be in a cocked or loaded position. This achieves maximum quickness and bat speed while swinging and also achieves maximum power. The batter or golfer will receive an auditory signal such as a click as shown in FIG. 1 that indicates that he or she is in the correct position. In golf, the device indicates that the hands are correct and the club is in the correct power position in the backswing.

The present invention is also capable of alerting the batter or golfer that he or she is releasing and following through correctly because of a second auditory alert on the positioning of the hand at a particular time during the forward swing. This second click or indication is particularly useful in learning not only a correct power position, but also a correct power swing.

FIG. 3 shows the locations of sections that are shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. Section A-A is shown in FIG. 4A, while Section B-B is shown in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4A shows lateral section A-A from FIG. 3. The strip 6 is sewn into a pocket 9. A layer of cover material 10 in the pocket 9 may also be used. Optional padding 11 can also be used for comfort an protection inside the glove over underneath the top portion of the strip member 6. FIG. 4B shows a longitudinal section of the strip member 6. The curved end 7 can be clearly seen in the pocket 9.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the strip member 6 with the curved end 7 shown.

FIG. 6 shows a back view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The glove 1 with fingers 2 can be seen. The strap 5 has a hook element and the wrist 4 has a loop element (although this can be interchanged). Typical hook and loop material is sold under the name VELCRO™. While hook/loop material is preferred, any method for holding the glove securely to the wrist is within the scope of the present invention. The strap 5 can be around 1 1/2 inches wide.

The present invention provides a particularly useful tool in sports training in developing a correct position for a power swing and a correct follow-through during the actual power swing.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. One with skill in the art will realize that numerous changes and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sporting glove that indicates to a user a correct position for a power swing comprising:

a glove having fingers and a thumb, the thumb having a top surface;

an indicator attached to said glove that audibly indicates when a user's hands are in a correct starting position for a maximum power swing;

a wrist strap also attached to said glove securely holding the glove to the user's wrist.

2. The sporting glove of claim 1 wherein said indicator is a convex metal strip in a pocket sewed onto said glove.

3. The sporting glove of claim 2 wherein said metal strip is a piece of extension tape around 2 inches long.

4. The sporting glove of claim 2 wherein said metal strip extends generally along the axis of the user's wrist and over the top surface of the thumb.

5. The sporting glove of claim 1 wherein said wrist strap is held securely by a hook/loop fastener.

6. A baseball batting glove that indicates to a user a correct bat position for a maximum power swing comprising:

a glove portion having a wrist entrance, four fingers and a thumb, said thumb having a top surface;

a wrist strap attached to the wrist end of said glove adapted to wrap around the wrist entrance and the user's wrist;

a convex metal strip contained in a pocket on said glove and extending from the wrist end of the glove along the top surface of the thumb.

7. The baseball batting glove of claim 6 wherein the convex metal strip is a section of measuring tape.

8. The baseball batting glove of claim 6 wherein said wrist strap is approximately 1 1/2 inches long.

9. The baseball batting glove of claim 6 wherein said convex metal strip is sewed into said pocket.

10. The baseball batting glove of claim 9 further comprising a additional padding inside the glove underneath said metal strip.

11. The baseball batting glove of claim 6 wherein said wrist strap is secured with a hook/loop fastener.

12. A sports glove comprising:

a glove hand with a wrist region, finger region and a thumb;

a clicker attached to between the wrist region and the thumb adapted to click when said thumb and wrist region attain a proper relationship indicating a correct position for a maximum power swing.

13. The sports glove of claim 12 further comprising a wrist strap.

14. The sports glove of claim 13 wherein said wrist strap is secured with a hook/loop fastener.

15. The sports glove of claim 12 wherein said clicker is a convex metal strip.

16. The sports glove of claim 15 wherein said convex metal strip extends from said wrist region along said thumb.

17. The sports glove of claim 15 wherein said metal strip is a section of metal measuring tape.

18. The sports glove of claim 12 wherein said glove is a baseball batting glove.

19. The sports glove of claim 12 wherein said glove is a golf glove.