Spectator Glove

Abstract

A spectator glove is provided to catch a baseball or other object while permitting use of the thumb and fingers for other activities when worn. The glove of the present invention is made of a comfortable, lightweight, flexible, and resilient material. It has a palmar member with a thumb portion, index finger portion, and palm area comprised of one or more layers of material to protect the wearer's hand during use. The present invention also discloses a web member made of one or more layers of material with a web-type panel area; holes for insertion of one or more fingers; one or more tabs for encircling and fastening the glove about the wearer's hand; reinforcing means; and gripping means.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a glove for a spectator for catching a baseball or other object at a sporting event, such as but not limited to a foul ball or homerun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The glove perhaps best known for use by a spectator at a sporting event for catching a foul ball or homerun is a baseball glove. Baseball gloves usually have a web-type panel area disposed between the index finger portion and the thumb portion, enclose the thumb and all fingers of the glove hand when worn, and are constructed of a durable material such as leather. An example of such a baseball glove is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,587 and similar baseball glove patents, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,326 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,046. While baseball gloves are designed to protect the wearer's hand and facilitate catching a baseball or other object when worn, they are not designed to allow use of the thumb and fingers of the glove hand for other activities. When a spectator wears a baseball glove at a sporting event to catch, for example, a foul ball or homerun, there are several disadvantages. Baseball gloves are bulky and uncomfortable and prevent the spectator from using the thumb and fingers of the glove hand for other activities, such as but not limited to holding a drink or item of food. Other gloves that a spectator might wear or use at a sporting event to catch a baseball or other object are accompanied by similar disadvantages. They cover the entire glove hand or a majority of the glove hand, thumb, and/or fingers; are bulky and uncomfortable and not designed for a spectator's use; and either offer only limited use of the thumb and fingers of the glove hand when worn or poorly facilitate the catching of a baseball or other object. What is needed is a glove for a spectator that enables the spectator to catch a baseball or other object while also allowing use of the thumb and fingers of the spectator's glove hand for other activities when worn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a glove for a spectator that facilitates the catching of a baseball or other object while also permitting use of the thumb and fingers of the spectator's glove hand for other activities when worn. The glove of the present invention is made of a comfortable, lightweight, flexible, and resilient material. It has a palmar member with a thumb portion, an index finger portion, and palm area comprised of one or more layers of material to protect the wearer's hand during use. The present invention also discloses a web member made of one or more layers of material with a web-type panel area; holes for insertion of one or more fingers; one or more tabs for encircling and fastening the glove about the wearer's hand; gripping means; and reinforcing means. Unlike other gloves a spectator might wear to catch a baseball or other object at a sporting event, the glove of the present invention is designed to enable use of the thumb and fingers of the spectator's glove hand for other activities when worn while also facilitating the catching of a baseball or other object. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a comfortable, lightweight, resilient, and flexible glove for use by a spectator at a sporting event. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a glove for a spectator that protects the spectator's hand during use. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a glove that facilitates the catching of a baseball or other object and thus helps to protect spectators from being hit by baseballs or other objects. Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a glove that facilitates the catching of a baseball or other object while also permitting use of the thumb and fingers for other activities when worn. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a glove for a spectator that does not suffer from any of the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions. The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary and the detailed description of any particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete, and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the palm side of a left-handed glove of the present invention as worn on a spectator's hand;

FIG. 2 is a view of the backside of a left-handed glove of the present invention as worn on a spectator's hand;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the palmar member blank material of the glove of the present invention cut into a predetermined shape, before mating, from the perspective of the backside of a left-handed glove of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the palmar member blank material of the glove of the present invention cut into a predetermined shape, before mating, from the perspective of the palm side of a left-handed glove of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of the palmar member blank material of the glove of the present invention cut into a predetermined shape, after mating, from the perspective of the palm side of a left-handed glove of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of the palmar member blank material of the glove of the present invention cut into a predetermined shape, after mating, from the perspective of the backside of a left-handed glove of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the web member blank material of the glove of the present invention cut into a predetermined shape, before mating, from the perspective of the palm side of a left-handed glove of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the web member blank material of the glove of the present invention cut into a predetermined shape, before mating, from the perspective of the backside of a left-handed glove of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the web member blank material of the glove of the present invention cut into a predetermined shape, after mating, from the perspective of the palm side of a left-handed glove of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is also a view of the palm side of a left-handed glove of the present invention as worn on a spectator's hand;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a left-handed glove of the present invention as worn on a spectator's hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments herein described are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use so that others skilled in the art may follow its teachings.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the glove 10 embodying the invention as viewed from the palm and backsides, respectively. The glove consists of a palm area 12; thumb portion 14; index finger portion 16; web-type panel area 18; finger holes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d; gripping means 21a and 21b, fastening tabs 22a and 22b; and reinforcing means 41. The palm area 12, thumb portion 14, and index finger portion 16 are made from one or more layers of blank material which has been cut substantially in a shape as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4 to form palmar member 24. The web-type panel area 18; finger holes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d; and fastening tabs 22a and 22b are made from one or more layers of blank material which has been cut substantially in a shape as shown best in FIGS. 7 and 8 to form web member 26. Although in one non-limiting embodiment, palmer member 24 and web member 26 are each, respectively, formed from a single piece of blank material, it is to be understood that palmer member 24 and web member 26 may be formed by any number of pieces of blank material operably attached together.

The material of palmar member 24 can be any of a variety of flexible and resilient materials or fabrics known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the material or fabric of palmar member 24 is NEOPRENE® and in another it is leather. However, it is to be understood that the material of palmar member 24 can be any material known in the art with suitable flexibility and resiliency. The thickness of the material or fabric of palmar member 24 is such that the wearer's palm, thumb, and index fingers are provided some protection when glove 10 is in use. Thus, for example, in one non-limiting embodiment, the material of palmar member 24 is NEOPRENE® approximately ¼ inches thick. However, other thicknesses are also suitable and within the scope of this invention. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, palmer member 24 has palm area 12 extending from just above the wrist to just below the metacarpo-phalangeal joint, a thumb flag area 28 for encircling the thumb to form thumb portion 14 and an index flag area 30 for encircling the index finger to form index finger portion 16 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thumb portion 14 is constructed by mating points 6a and 6b to points 7a and 7b, respectively, along the line of 32 as can be seen with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 to form a tubular structure suitable for insertion of the wearer's thumb. Similarly, index finger portion 16 is constructed by mating points 8a and 8b to points 9a and 9b, respectively, along the line 34 as can be seen also with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 to form a tubular structure suitable for insertion of the wearer's index finger. Mating may be by any means, such as by stitching or sewing, stapling, gluing, or even possibly heat sealing, depending on the material, etc., however stitching is used when the material is NEOPRENE®. After constructing thumb portion 14 and index finger portion 16, palmar member 24 has the shape substantially in the form of palmar member 24′ as shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6. Although thumb portion 14 and index finger portion 16 are constructed from a single piece of material, it is to be understood that any number of pieces of material may be used and that thumb portion 14 and index finger portion 16 may be separately constructed in a tubular shape, as known in the art, and then mated according to the means disclosed herein.

The material of web member 26 can be any of a variety of flexible and resilient materials or fabrics known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the material or fabric of web member 26 is NEOPRENE® and in another it is leather. However, it is to be understood that the material of web member 26 can be any material known in the art with suitable flexibility and resiliency. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in one embodiment, web member 26 has a web-type panel area 18, finger holes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d; fastening tabs 22a and 22b; and notches 36 and 38. In one embodiment of the invention, web-type panel area 18 can form an intersecting crisscrossed lattice-work like arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, web-type panel area 18 is solid. Other web or lattice configurations also are conceivable and are to be understood to be within the scope of this disclosure. Web-type panel area 18 is reinforced at its arcuate edge 40 extending down along thumb portion 14 and index finger portion 16 with a flexible reinforcing means 41, as shown with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The reinforcing means is mated to web-type panel area 18 along line 64. Reinforcing means 41 may be attached inside or outside of the material forming web-type panel area 18, for example, by rolling the edge of the material and mating along line 64, as will be known and understood in the art. The reinforcing means 41 of one embodiment is fiberglass. However, reinforcing means 41 can be any similar flexible material known in the art for reinforcing along an arcuate edge such as plastic, leather, metal, wood, or composite material. The four finger holes, 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, are cut into web member 26 in a shape suitable for insertion of the wearer's respective fingers. Finger hole 20a is adapted to allow mating with index finger portion 16 during assembly of glove 10. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 10, index finger portion 16 of palmar member 24′ and finger hole 20a of web member 26 are mated to one another in glove 10 along line 42. The remaining finger holes 20b, 20c, and 20d, are adapted for insertion of the wearer's other fingers and help to secure glove 10 to the wearer's hand, as shown with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A fastening means, such as VELCRO®, enables fastening tabs 22a and 22b to engage about the wearer's hand to secure glove 10 thereto when worn, as shown with reference to FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the VELCRO® hook material 44 and loop material 46 are positioned as shown with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Other fastening means are known in the art such as snaps or buttons and suitably adapted for use with the present invention. Notches 36 and 38 are cut substantially into a triangular or V-notch shape and spaced apart along the bottom edge of web member 26. Notches 36 and 38 are mated along lines 48 and 50, respectively, so that web member 26 takes the shape of web member 26′ as shown best in FIG. 9. Similarly, in one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, web-type panel area 18 is pinched together approximately along the lines of 60 and 62, respectively, to enhance the pocket formed after mating of palmar member 24′ and web member 26′. The mating means along lines 42, 48, 50, 60, 62, and 64 may be by any means, such as by stitching or sewing, stapling, gluing, or even possibly heat sealing, depending on the material, etc., however stitching is used when the material is NEOPRENE®. Operably attached to web member 26 or 26′ are gripping means 21a and 21b. Gripping means 21a and 21b are made of rubber in one embodiment. However, it is to be understood that gripping means 21a and 21b can be any similar or equivalent material known in the art for increasing the friction or grip between web member 26 or 26′ of glove 10 when used for catching a baseball or other object. The gripping means 21b takes the shape adhering substantially to the shape of web-type panel area 18. Thus, for example, when web-type panel area 18 has a lattice or crisscross shape, gripping means 21b forms a similar shape and is operably attached thereto. Gripping means 21a can have any shape and covers a portion of glove 10 approximately over the palm area of the wearer's hand.

Referring to FIG. 10, glove 10 is formed by mating palmar member 24′ with web member 26′ as provided herein in one non-limiting embodiment. As discussed above, index finger portion 16 of palmar member 24′ is mated with finger hole 20a of web member 26 or 26′ along line 42. Thumb portion 14 of palmar member 24′ is mated with web member 26′ along line 52. Web-type panel area 18 is mated to thumb portion 14 and index finger portion 16 along lines 54 and 56, respectively, to naturally form a curved pocket, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. Palm area 12 of palmar member 24′ is mated to web member 26′ along line 58. Mating may be by any means, such as by stitching or sewing, stapling, gluing, or even possibly heat sealing, depending on the material, etc., however stitching is used when the material is NEOPRENE®. Further, although lines 32, 34. 42, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62 are visible in some of the Figures herein, it is to be understood that this is only illustrative of mating along these lines and that the actual lines of mating might not be visible in glove 10. Similarly, although web-type panel area 18; finger holes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d; and fastening portion tables 22a and 22b are constructed from a single piece of material, it is to be understood that any number of pieces of material may be used to form these parts of glove 10 and that each may be separately constructed and then mated according to the means disclosed herein. Further, although glove 10 is constructed herein by mating palmar member 24′ and web member 26′, it is to be understood that glove 10 may be formed by a single piece of material, as known in the art, for example, by an injection molding process to form a unitary glove 10 having a thumb portion, an index finger portion, a palm area, a web-type panel area, holes for insertion of one or more fingers, one or tabs for encircling and fastening the glove about the wearer's hand, gripping means, and reinforcing means.

While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. It is also to be understood that the glove and disclosure of the present invention embodies both right and left handed gloves and that many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.

Claims

1. A spectator glove, comprising:

a. a thumb portion configured to receive the thumb of a wearer, the thumb portion including an open end,

b. an index finger portion configured to receive the index finger of a wearer, the index finger portion including an open end,

c. a palm area attached to the thumb and index finger portions,

d. a latticed, web-type panel area operably attached to the thumb portion and the index finger portion,

e. at least one finger hole formed in the palm area such that, when a wearer inserts the index finger into the index finger portion, at least one of the wearer's remaining three fingers extend through the at least one finger hole and is exposed, and

f. at least one fastening tab.

2. The spectator glove of claim 1, further comprising:

gripping means operably attached over the palm area and the web-type panel area.

3. The spectator glove of claim 1, further comprising:

reinforcing means operably attached to the web-type panel area.

4. The spectator glove of claim 1, further comprising:

fastening means operably attached to the one or more fastening tabs.

5. The spectator glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb portion, the index finger portion, and the palm area are fabricated from one piece of material.

6. The spectator glove of claim 1, wherein the web-type panel area and the at least one fastening tab are fabricated from one piece of material.

7. The spectator glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb portion, the index finger portion, the palm area, the web-type panel area, and the at least one fastening tab are fabricated from one piece of material.

8. The spectator glove of claim 1, wherein the material of the thumb portion, the index finger portion, the palm area, the web-type panel area, and the at least one fastening tab comprises neoprene.

9. The spectator glove of claim 1, wherein the gripping means comprises rubber, the reinforcing means comprises fiberglass, and the fastening means comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.

10.-19. (canceled)

20. A process of making a spectator glove, the process comprising:

a. providing a palmar member having a thumb portion configured to receive the thumb of a wearer, the thumb portion including an open end, an index finger portion configured to receive the index finger of a wearer, the index finger portion including an open end, a palm area, the palm area including at least one finger hole such that, when a wearer inserts the index finger into the index finger portion, at least one of the wearer's remaining three fingers extend through the at least one finger hole and is exposed, and at least one fastening tab, the fastening tab including a fastener;

b. providing a latticed, web member having a web-type panel area with a reinforcing member and gripping means; and

c. mating together said palmar member and said web member to form a two-fingered glove.