Patents Examined by Sally Haden
  • Patent number: 8474063
    Abstract: A glove includes two “H” shaped stiffening battens on a dorsal side. The battens terminate on a proximal side of the second through fifth fingers, and are formed from a non-rigid material. A one-piece protective panel is attached to the palmar side of the glove. The protective panel covers portions of the wearing hand palm corresponding to the distal ends of the second through fifth metacarpal bones, as well as palmar side portions of the second through fifth digits corresponding to the second through fifth proximal phalanx bones. Flex notch cut-outs in the protective panel correspond to portions of the palmar region which tend to bunch during gripping of a bar or other object and help prevent discomfort during such gripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Coulter, Michael C. Kemery, Cedar Miller
  • Patent number: 8458816
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a glove 10, including fingers 12, a thumb 14, and a back surface 24 having a lateral portion 28 and a medial portion 30, a tightening system 18, and a closure assembly 40. Closure assembly 40 opens to allow the wearer's hand ingress and egress. Glove 10 is tightened around the wearer's hand using tightening system 18, which includes a lace 32, a lace guide 34, and a tightening mechanism 36. Lace 32 is threaded through lace guide 34 positioned opposite tightening mechanism 36 on back surface 24 and attached at opposite ends to tightening mechanism 36. In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, lace 32 is tensioned to draw lace guide 34 toward tightening mechanism 36, which tightens glove 10 around the wearer's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Litke
  • Patent number: 8434166
    Abstract: An article of headwear is disclosed that includes a support and a material element secured to the support. The support extends around a periphery of the headwear and has an elongate structure that defines a first end portion and a second end portion. The support is flexed such that the first end portion overlaps the second end portion to define a loop with an interior area, and the end portions may have mating undulating configurations. The material element is secured to the support and extends around the interior area of the loop to define an aperture for receiving a head of an individual. The support may be flexed to form multiple loops and place the headwear in a collapsed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 8418271
    Abstract: Left and right ear shades that are connectable to the bottom of an ordinary baseball cap, etc. Each ear shade removably attaches to the side of the hat and can be moved forward or backward along the hat to accommodate the wearer. Each ear shade includes an attachment member for releasably connecting the ear shade to the hat. Connected to the attachment member is an arcuate cover, which is ideally shaped to fit around the at least part of the back, the top, and part of the front of the ear. The cover extends laterally from the wearer's head to shade the ear. The attachment member may include an integral clip, a serrated projection, a wedge, or a tab and removable clip, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Danny J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 8413265
    Abstract: A glove comprising integrated features specifically designed for use while ice fishing is herein disclosed. An outer covering comprises a durable material of construction, such as leather, that stands up to the rigors of ice fishing and is also coated with a flexible plastic coating to help keep a user's hands dry. The glove is lined for warmth. A finger tip region of the glove is left open to allow the passage of a user's digits, thereby allowing dexterity when tying lures or handling fishing line. A palm region comprises an integral and retractable ice pick, which extends outward from the side of the palm, opposite the thumb, and is automatically gripped when the user closes their hand and makes a fist. The pick is extended by a spring-loaded mechanism that the user locks in place for safety. As such, the ice pick can be used to safely pick through any ice at a fishing hole or be used for similar ice-related tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald L. Hoppes
  • Patent number: 8347414
    Abstract: A magnetic finger glove helps persons hold, install, and retrieve small metallic objects, such as nuts or screws, in hard-to-reach places. The finger glove is sized and shaped to sheathe and conform to an adult human index finger. A small round disc neodymium magnet is affixed to a fabric assembly in the region corresponding to the fingertip. The magnet weighs less than 0.002 pounds and is small enough to be confined within an area on the fabric assembly of less than 0.5 square inches. Yet, the magnet has a holding force of at least 1 pound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: TurnPro, LLC
    Inventor: Casper M. Terpinski
  • Patent number: 8341772
    Abstract: The invention provides a workout garment for protecting a wearer from injury while the wearer exercises. The garment includes a plurality of supporting straps for providing customziably adjustable support to the shoulders and arms of the wearer. The supporting straps may be wrapped around the wearer's arms at a tightness suitable to accommodate the wearer's desired amount of support and comfort. Wrapping the straps tighter will provide increased support. Wrapping the straps looser will provide less support but may be more comfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Alfred Flores
  • Patent number: 8341763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reinforcing element for an article of clothing, in particular for a goalkeeper glove, that allows a bending in a first direction, but resists bending in a second direction. The reinforcing element includes at least one bending area that has a curvature with a shape that allows bending of the reinforcing element in the first direction and blocks a bending of the reinforcing element in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventors: Harald Geyer, Volker Peter Steidle, Erwin Friedrich Saur, Detlef Mueller, Dirk Meythaler
  • Patent number: 8307464
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hand-retaining device (25), such as a hand strap that can be fastened to the hand or a glove, comprising a movable loop (33) between the thumb and the index which is used for fixing the hand-retaining device to a hook-type mechanism (14) of a pole grip. Such a hand-retaining device (25) is most preferably suitable for use with a pole grip (1), particularly for walking canes, trekking poles, downhill ski poles, cross-country ski poles, Nordic walking poles, which is equipped with a grip member (3) and a hook-type mechanism (14) for attaching a hand-retaining device especially in the form of a hand strap or a glove. Locking means (6, 11) are disposed in the area of the hook-type mechanism (14) such that a loop-shaped, annular, or eye-shaped device (33) that is provided on the hand-retaining device and is inserted into the hook-type mechanism (14) from above is fixed in a self-locking manner in the hook-type mechanism (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lekisport AG
    Inventor: Klaus Lenhart
  • Patent number: 8291517
    Abstract: A glove for sports and other uses is provided comprising a palm portion configured to substantially cover a user's palm and palm side surface of the user's fingers and thumb, and a back portion configured to substantially cover the back of a user's hand and back surface of the user's fingers and thumb. One or more inserts are provided between at least two of the fingers, with the inserts webbing the fingers together and spacing them apart. Alternatively, one or more inserts are provided between at least two of the fingers, with the inserts spacing the fingers apart without webbing them together. The inserts assist in improving the grip of the user. They are also beneficial for aiding in the absorption of shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Levitee LLC
    Inventors: Frank Taliento, Guy Levy
  • Patent number: 8266725
    Abstract: Swimming goggles include a left frame, a right frame, a connecting member connecting the left frame and the right frame, a strap mechanism assembled on outward sides of the left frame and the right frame, and control members. The strap mechanism includes a head strap defining a plurality of stop grooves therein. Each control member has an engaging portion for engaging with the left frame/the right frame, an operating portion formed opposite to the engaging portion, a pivot portion provided between the engaging portion and the operating portion, and a bias portion near a side of the operating portion for abutting against stop grooves of the head strap. The pivot portion abuts against the bases of the strap mechanism and drives the operating portion upward. When the operating portion is pushed inward, the bias portion displaces inward correspondingly and disengages from the stop grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Herman Chiang
  • Patent number: 8261372
    Abstract: A golf glove comprises a palm portion and a plurality of digits comprised of a first material. A plurality of grip pads of a second material such as silicone is provided on the digits and/or the palm portion. The grip pads comprise a plurality of bumps having geometric shapes. In at least one embodiment, the bumps are hexagonal in shape. The bumps may be provided directly on the first material of the glove or may be provided on a thin base layer. The bumps are arranged on the glove such that they contact the grip of a golf club when the golf club is gripped by a golfer. Accordingly, the bumps may be positioned on tip portions of the fingers and thumb and also along a line extending between a hypothenar region of the palm and a portion of the palm located between the finger and thumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: John Drab, Tim Dennis, Raphael Peck