Abstract: Glove structures may include front and back portions. A knuckle support assembly may be attached to the back portion. The knuckle support assembly may include a knuckle support member having at least one cutout coincident with at least one metacarpophalangeal joint and a flexible member extending across the at least one cutout. The knuckle support member may have a greater flexural stiffness than the back portion. The material of the knuckle support member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The material of the flexible member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The knuckle support member may be molded to the flexible member. Alternatively, the knuckle support member and the flexible member may be fuse bonded to one another. Methods for making such glove structures are also provided.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: Gloves, including athletic gloves, may include: (a) a front member, e.g., made from leather; (b) a rear member made from a mesh material (e.g., stretchable mesh) engaged with the front member for covering a back of a hand, wherein the rear member includes at least one support member fused to the mesh material of the rear member, wherein the support member is formed from a material (e.g., a TPU) that is less stretchable than the mesh material to which it is fused; (c) a thumb element engaged at least in part with the front member; (d) a closure system; and/or (e) one or more elastic components extending along a wrist area. The support member(s) may form at least one continuous, unbroken path across the rear member. When multiple support members are present, they may partially overlap. Also, methods for making such gloves are described.

Abstract: Cleat structures, e.g., for golf shoes, may include a flat and flexible interior surface and/or a generally disk-shaped perimeter area that includes features to promote in-molding of the cleat to a footwear sole component (e.g., to permanently engage the cleat with an outsole member). Such cleats may provide a flexible and comfortable base, including a low profile, e.g., to enable formation relatively thin and/or flexible footwear sole components. Footwear sole components and articles of footwear that include one or more in-molded cleat structures of this type also are described. Molds used for in-molding procedures and methods of using the molds to make articles with in-molded components (e.g., for making footwear sole structures including one or more in-molded cleats) also are described.

Abstract: Glove structures may include front and back portions. A knuckle support assembly may be attached to the back portion. The knuckle support assembly may include a knuckle support member having at least one cutout coincident with at least one metacarpophalangeal joint and a flexible member extending across the at least one cutout. The knuckle support member may have a greater flexural stiffness than the back portion. The material of the knuckle support member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The material of the flexible member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The knuckle support member may be molded to the flexible member. Alternatively, the knuckle support member and the flexible member may be fuse bonded to one another. Methods for making such glove structures are also provided.

Abstract: Glove structures may include front and back portions. A knuckle support assembly may be attached to the back portion. The knuckle support assembly may include a knuckle support member having at least one cutout coincident with at least one metacarpophalangeal joint and a flexible member extending across the at least one cutout. The knuckle support member may have a greater flexural stiffness than the back portion. The material of the knuckle support member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The material of the flexible member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The knuckle support member may be molded to the flexible member. Alternatively, the knuckle support member and the flexible member may be fuse bonded to one another. Methods for making such glove structures are also provided.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: Gloves, including athletic gloves, may include: (a) a front member, e.g., made from leather; (b) a rear member made from a mesh material (e.g., stretchable mesh) engaged with the front member for covering a back of a hand, wherein the rear member includes at least one support member fused to the mesh material of the rear member, wherein the support member is formed from a material (e.g., a TPU) that is less stretchable than the mesh material to which it is fused; (c) a thumb element engaged at least in part with the front member; (d) a closure system; and/or (e) one or more elastic components extending along a wrist area. The support member(s) may form at least one continuous, unbroken path across the rear member. When multiple support members are present, they may partially overlap. Also, methods for making such gloves are described.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: Gloves, including athletic gloves, may include: (a) a front member, e.g., made from leather; (b) a rear member made from a mesh material (e.g., stretchable mesh) engaged with the front member for covering a back of a hand, wherein the rear member includes at least one support member fused to the mesh material of the rear member, wherein the support member is formed from a material (e.g., a TPU) that is less stretchable than the mesh material to which it is fused; (c) a thumb element engaged at least in part with the front member; (d) a closure system; and/or (e) one or more elastic components extending along a wrist area. The support member(s) may form at least one continuous, unbroken path across the rear member. When multiple support members are present, they may partially overlap. Also, methods for making such gloves are described.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: Cleat structures, e.g., for golf shoes, may include a flat and flexible interior surface and/or a generally disk-shaped perimeter area that includes features to promote in-molding of the cleat to a footwear sole component (e.g., to permanently engage the cleat with an outsole member). Such cleats may provide a flexible and comfortable base, including a low profile, e.g., to enable formation relatively thin and/or flexible footwear sole components. Footwear sole components and articles of footwear that include one or more in-molded cleat structures of this type also are described. Molds used for in-molding procedures and methods of using the molds to make articles with in-molded components (e.g., for making footwear sole structures including one or more in-molded cleats) also are described.

Abstract: Cleat structures, e.g., for golf shoes, may include a flat and flexible interior surface and/or a generally disk-shaped perimeter area that includes features to promote in-molding of the cleat to a footwear sole component (e.g., to permanently engage the cleat with an outsole member). Such cleats may provide a flexible and comfortable base, including a low profile, e.g., to enable formation relatively thin and/or flexible footwear sole components. Footwear sole components and articles of footwear that include one or more in-molded cleat structures of this type also are described. Molds used for in-molding procedures and methods of using the molds to make articles with in-molded components (e.g., for making footwear sole structures including one or more in-molded cleats) also are described.

Abstract: Cleat structures, e.g., for golf shoes, may include a flat and flexible interior surface and/or a generally disk-shaped perimeter area that includes features to promote in-molding of the cleat to a footwear sole component (e.g., to permanently engage the cleat with an outsole member). Such cleats may provide a flexible and comfortable base, including a low profile, e.g., to enable formation relatively thin and/or flexible footwear sole components. Footwear sole components and articles of footwear that include one or more in-molded cleat structures of this type also are described. Molds used for in-molding procedures and methods of using the molds to make articles with in-molded components (e.g., for making footwear sole structures including one or more in-molded cleats) also are described.

Abstract: Cleat structures, e.g., for golf shoes, may include a flat and flexible interior surface and/or a generally disk-shaped perimeter area that includes features to promote in-molding of the cleat to a footwear sole component (e.g., to permanently engage the cleat with an outsole member). Such cleats may provide a flexible and comfortable base, including a low profile, e.g., to enable formation relatively thin and/or flexible footwear sole components. Footwear sole components and articles of footwear that include one or more in-molded cleat structures of this type also are described. Molds used for in-molding procedures and methods of using the molds to make articles with in-molded components (e.g., for making footwear sole structures including one or more in-molded cleats) also are described.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: Gloves, including athletic gloves, may include: (a) a front member, e.g., made from leather; (b) a rear member made from a mesh material (e.g., stretchable mesh) engaged with the front member for covering a back of a hand, wherein the rear member includes at least one support member fused to the mesh material of the rear member, wherein the support member is formed from a material (e.g., a TPU) that is less stretchable than the mesh material to which it is fused; (c) a thumb element engaged at least in part with the front member; (d) a closure system; and/or (e) one or more elastic components extending along a wrist area. The support member(s) may form at least one continuous, unbroken path across the rear member. When multiple support members are present, they may partially overlap. Also, methods for making such gloves are described.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: Glove structures may include front and back portions. A knuckle support assembly may be attached to the back portion. The knuckle support assembly may include a knuckle support member having at least one cutout coincident with at least one metacarpalphalangeal joint and a flexible member extending across the at least one cutout. The knuckle support member may have a greater flexural stiffness than the back portion. The material of the knuckle support member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The material of the flexible member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The knuckle support member may be molded to the flexible member. Alternatively, the knuckle support member and the flexible member may be fuse bonded to one another. Methods for making such glove structures are also provided.