Pouch for retaining sport-related messages and athletic glove incorporating the same

Abstract

A pouch for application to an outer surface of an athletic glove and an athletic glove incorporating the same, said pouch being useful to carry at least one sport-related reminder message for the athlete. The pouch includes a back wall and a transparent front wall defining between them an interior cavity which is accessible through one side and into which the reminder message is inserted.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a standard utility application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/699,255, filed Jul. 14, 2005, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention generally relates to athletic gear. More particularly, the invention relates to athletic gear which assists the athlete in improving their performance. Specifically, the invention relates to a pouch and to an athletic glove incorporating the same, that is useful for holding sport-related messages which serve as personal performance reminders for the athlete.

2. Background Information

Athletes, such as golfers, tennis players and baseball batters, are always striving to improve their game. Consequently, they spend a lot of time attempting to perfect their technique and to correct any bad habits they may have developed. This self-improvement may require them to follow a series of steps or movements in order to achieve the results they desire. Frequently, the athlete will remember most of these steps or movements, but may need a reminder for a step they cannot seem to recall or for a step that they consider crucial. An example of such a crucial-type step is for a golfer to keep their head down as they follow through after striking the golf ball. The natural tendency is for the golfer to look up and follow the flight of the ball to see how successfully the ball was struck. The movement of jerking the head up to follow the flight of the ball can cause the golfer to hook or slice the shot. The golfer may therefore wish to remind himself to keep his head down.

There is therefore a need in the art for a device which is useful to aid an athlete in their quest for bettering their game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention comprises a pouch which is applied to an outer surface of an athletic glove. The pouch retains one or more sport-related reminders therein and preferably is positioned in an area of the athletic glove which is frequently seen by the athlete. A suitable placement area for the pouch would be on the strap for securing the glove on the athlete's hand. Golfers and batters tend to adjust their gloves prior to assuming their hitting pose. The act of releasing and reattaching the securing strap would bring the pouch and its enclosed message to their attention.

The pouch of the present invention includes a transparent front wall through which the sport-related message may be viewed. The pouch further includes a rear wall which may be formed from an area of the outer surface of the glove. More specifically, the rear wall may be formed from part of the outer surface of the strap of the glove. The front and rear wall are joined along most of the peripheral edge with the exception of a portion of the edge that is left unattached and forms an entryway for access into the pouch. The front and rear walls define an interior cavity therebetween and the entryway in the peripheral edge allows for reminder messages to be inserted into the interior cavity or withdrawn therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a golfer shown initially addressing the golf ball and wearing an athletic glove with a pouch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the athletic glove of the present invention showing the pouch and the insertion of a reminder message into the pouch;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the athletic glove with the reminder message inserted into the pouch;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view through line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a baseball batter in their initial hitting pose and wearing an athletic glove with a pouch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of an athletic glove in accordance with the present invention and showing the application of a second embodiment of the pouch to the glove; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional end view through line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and showing a second embodiment of the pouch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 there is shown a golfer 10 standing addressing the golf ball and preparing to hit the same. Golfer 10 is wearing an athletic glove 12 in accordance with the present invention. Glove 12 includes a front 14 and a back (not shown) and separate protuberances 16 to cover the athlete's fingers and thumb. Glove 12 further includes a strap 18 which may be opened to allow the athlete to insert their hand into the interior cavity of glove 12. Strap 18 is tightened once the golfer has inserted their hand therein so as to firmly hold the glove 12 in place on the athlete's hand. Strap 18 may be closed by way of hook and pile fasteners 20, 22 (FIG. 4) applied to the front 14 of glove 12 and to the underside 18a of strap 18.

In accordance with one of the specific features of the present invention, a pouch 24 is formed on glove 12 to hold reminder messages 26 therein. Reminder messages 26 comprise sheets of paper that preferably are complementary sized and shaped to be received within pouch 24. Pouch 24 preferably is formed in any area of the glove which would be easily visible to golfer 10, especially a location that would be visible to golfer 10 immediately prior to them striking the golf ball. Pouch 24 preferably is formed on strap 18 as golfers frequently release and adjust the strap before they assume their hitting stance. As shown in FIG. 2, pouch 24 preferably has a length X-X′ of between 1½ inches and 1¾ inches; and a width Y-Y′ of between 1½ inches and 1¾ inches. Pouch 24 therefore substantially covers the entire outer part of strap 18. This size of pouch 24 allows for a decently sized reminder message 26 to be inserted into pouch 24 and therefore enables the message to be written in fairly large text that is more easily read by golfer 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, pouch 24 includes a front wall 28 which is joined to an outer surface 30 of strap 18. Outer surface 30 of strap 18 thereby becomes the rear wall of pouch 24. Front wall 24 is manufactured from a material that is transparent and therefore allows golfer 10 to see and read a reminder message 26 held within pouch 24. Front wall 24 preferably is also waterproof to prevent damage to message 26 if glove 12 is exposed to rain or water from a hazard. Front and rear walls 28, 30 are joined together along most of their perimeter 28a, 30a by sewing (not shown) or by an adhesive 32. However, front and rear walls 28, 30 are not joined together along one side 34 (FIG. 3) so as to provide a region of access or an entryway into an interior cavity 42 (FIG. 4) of pouch 24. The entryway allows messages 26 to be inserted into interior cavity 42 or removed therefrom. A sealing strip (not shown) may be provided along side 34 to lock message 26 within interior cavity 42.

Strap 18 is adjustably secured to front 14 of glove 12 by way of cooperating hook and pile fastener layers 20, 22. One of the hook and pile layers 20, 22 is secured by an adhesive layer 36 to the inner surface of rear wall 30 of strap 18. The other of the hook and pile layers 20, 22 is secured to an exterior surface 14a of front 14 of glove 12 by an adhesive layer 38.

Reminder messages 26 may be produced by golfer 10 writing on small pieces of paper or may alternatively be professionally prepared and printed tips, advice or reminders that may be purchased separately or with glove 12.

FIG. 5 illustrates an athletic glove 112 in accordance with the present invention being used by a baseball batter 150. The reminder message 126 placed within pouch 124 will, of course, relate to steps or procedures specifically for striking baseballs. These can be professionally prepared and printed or can be reminders that the batter has prepared himself to help him ensure that he is hitting in accordance with the strategies he wishes to follow.

Referring to FIGS. 6&7, there is shown a second embodiment of an athletic glove 212 in accordance with the present invention and having a pouch 224 for retaining a reminder message 226 therein. In this instance, the rear wall 250 of pouch 224 is not formed by the outer surface 230 of strap 218 but is, instead, a separate piece of fabric. Pouch 224 therefore has a front wall 228 and a rear wall 250 joined together along most of the perimeters 228a, 250a, by a suitable means such as heat sealing, sewing, hook and pile fasteners, or an adhesive layer. Front and rear walls 228, 250 are, however, free from each other along one side 234 so as to provide a region of access or entryway into the interior cavity 242 of pouch 224. Entryway 234 allows messages 226 to be inserted into cavity 242 or removed therefrom. A layer 252 of adhesive is applied to an exterior surface of rear wall 250 and a removable paper cover 254 is initially applied thereover to prevent the adhesive of layer 252 from sticking pouch 224 to an unintended surface. Pouch 224 may be sold as part of a kit which the athlete can apply to any athletic glove of their choice. The kit would include the pouch 224 having the adhesive layer 252 on the rear wall 250 and a plurality of reminder messages 226 complementary sized and shaped to be received within the interior cavity 242. Reminder messages 226 preferably will be sized to fit tightly within cavity 242 so that the sheets 226 do not drop out of pouch 224 during play. Alternatively, some sort of sealing mechanism (not shown) may be provided to seal pouch 224 shut so that messages 226 cannot drop out of cavity 242. The reminder messages 226 could be blank so that the athlete may inscribe their own reminders thereon, or the reminder messages 226 could be preprinted with appropriate sport-specific messages which the athlete could select from and then insert into pouch 224. The kit could, alternatively, include a combination of blank and preprinted sheets. Cavity 242 of pouch 224 preferably is of a sufficient depth to allow for the insertion of a plurality of messages 226 stacked one upon the other. Then as the athlete progresses in their sport, they can change the message 226 that is visible through the transparent material of front wall 228. The athlete can apply the pouch 224 to a strap 218 of an athletic glove, or may apply the pouch 224 in any other highly visible location on glove 212.

In order to apply pouch 224 to glove 212, cover 254 is pulled out of contact with adhesive layer 252 (FIG. 7), pouch 224 is positioned on the outer surface of strap 218, for example, with open side 234 preferably oriented in the manner shown in FIG. 6. Pressure is then applied to front wall 228 to cause adhesive layer 252 to bond to the outer surface of glove 218. An appropriate reminder message 226 can then be selected by the athlete and the same is inserted through open side 234 and into cavity 242.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while pouch 224 is shown as having an adhesive layer 252 applied to the rear wall 250 thereof, a separate adhesive, such as a tube of adhesive (not shown) could be provided as part of a kit for the athlete to apply the pouch 224 to an athletic glove 212. Alternatively, pouch 224 may be applied to glove 212 by another means such as sewing or hook and pile fasteners, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A pouch for use in association with an athletic glove to aid the athlete in improving their playing performance; wherein said athletic glove has an outer surface and a strap secured by hook and pile fasteners to an area of the outer surface; said pouch comprising:

a front wall; and

a rear wall; said rear wall being adapted to be secured to one of the outer surface and strap of the glove; and wherein the front and rear walls are secured to each other along a first region; and are free of each other along a second region; whereby the front and rear walls define an interior cavity formed between them and said interior cavity is accessible through the second region of the front and rear walls and is adapted to retain a performance-related message therein.

2. The pouch as defined in claim 1, wherein the front wall is manufactured from a transparent material.

3. The pouch as defined in claim 1, wherein the front wall has a peripheral outer edge and the rear wall has a peripheral outer edge, and the first region of the front and rear walls extends for a distance along the peripheral outer edges of the front and rear walls.

4. The pouch as defined in claim 3, wherein the first portion of the peripheral outer edges of the front and rear walls are secured together by one of sewing and an adhesive layer.

5. The pouch as defined in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer of material applied to an exterior surface of the rear wall of the pouch; whereby the adhesive layer is adapted to secure the rear wall of the pouch to one of the outer surface and the strap of the athletic glove.

6. The pouch as defined in claim 5, further comprising a selectively removable non-adhesive cover layer applied to an exterior surface of the adhesive layer.

7. The pouch as defined in claim 1, wherein the pouch is complementary sized and shaped to be received on an exterior wall of the strap of the athletic glove.

8. In combination,

an athletic glove having a front, a back, a plurality of finger members and a thumb member; and including a strap for adjusting the snugness of the fit of the glove, said strap having a fixed end and a free end and being securable to the front of the glove by way of hook and pile fasteners;

a pouch securable to the athletic glove; wherein the pouch comprises: a front wall; and a rear wall; and wherein the front wall is secured to the rear wall along at least a first region and is free from the rear wall along a second region thereof; whereby the front and rear walls define an interior cavity formed therebetween; said interior cavity being accessible through the second portion of the front and rear walls.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the front wall of the pouch is manufactured from a transparent material.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the pouch is secured to the athletic glove by way of one of sewing, an adhesive and cooperating hook and pile fasteners.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the pouch is secured to the athletic glove by way of an adhesive layer; and wherein said adhesive layer is applied over an outer surface of the rear wall of the pouch and is covered by a non-adhesive, releasable covering prior to use.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein the strap of the glove has an outer surface and wherein a portion of the outer surface forms the rear wall of the pouch.

13. The combination of claim 8, wherein the second portion of the pouch is positioned proximate the fixed end of the strap.

14. The combination of claim 8, wherein the front wall and the rear wall of the pouch each have a peripheral outer edge; and the first region runs along a portion of the peripheral outer edges thereof.

15. The combination of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one sport-related reminder message insertable into and removable from interior cavity of the pouch.

16. The combination of claim 15, in which the reminder message is a planar member that is complementary sized and shaped to be tightly received within the interior cavity of the pouch.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the reminder message is one of a professionally printed message and an athlete-produced message.

18. A kit for athletes to aid in their training, the kit comprising:

a pouch having a front wall and a rear wall which are secured together along a first region and are free of each other along a second region thereby forming an entryway, said front and rear walls defining an interior cavity between them which is accessed through the entryway;

an adhesive applied to the rear wall of the pouch; wherein said pouch is securable by said adhesive to an outer surface of an athletic glove;

a plurality of sheets of paper complementary shaped and sized to be received within the interior cavity of the pouch; and wherein the sheets of paper are selected from the group consisting of preprinted reminder messages; blank sheets of paper; and a combination of preprinted reminder messages and blank sheets of paper.

19. The kit as defined in claim 18, wherein the pouch has a length of between 1½ inches and 1¾ inches; and a width of between 1½ inches and 1¾ inches.

20. The kit as defined in claim 18, wherein the front wall of the pouch is manufactured from a transparent material.