Golf Glove
Golf gloves having one or more raised element(s) on an interior surface thereof are disclosed. The raised element(s) are located such that they cause pressure to be applied to acupuncture points when the glove is in use.
The present invention relates generally to golf gloves which contain markings of meridian pathways and acupuncture points. The markings may be raised such that pressure is applied to acupuncture points when the glove is in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is known to imprint apparel with markings of meridian pathways and acupuncture points. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,236 to Ward (“Ward”) discloses apparel that has markings of at least portions of meridian pathways and acupuncture or acupressure regions that generally correspond to where they are on the human body when the apparel is worn. The apparel disclosed in Ward is said to facilitate instructing, practicing or performing a skill or exercise that relies upon knowing where the meridian pathways and acupuncture or acupressure regions are on the body without the need to refer to pictorial diagrams of the human body that have the pathways and/or points identified. The skills and exercises identified in Ward include acupressure massage, shiatsu massage, martial arts, dance, and acupuncture medicine. The apparel disclosed in Ward may be a body suit, head coverings, hand coverings and/or foot coverings, and hand coverings may be gloves or mittens, preferably fingerless or half-fingered or wrist warmers.
There remains a need for apparel having raised areas such that pressure is applied to acupuncture points when the apparel is in use. The present invention provides such apparel and the use thereof as a golf glove. Golf gloves of the present invention may provide one or more of the following benefits: stress relief, improved concentration, relaxation assistance, and increased endurance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, the palm side having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the interior surface of the palm side comprising a first raised element. The first raised element is preferably in approximate contact with a first acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, the back side having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the interior surface of the back side comprising a first raised element. The first raised element is preferably in approximate contact with a first acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a back side having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the palm side comprises a first raised element in approximate contact with a first acupuncture point when the glove is worn. The interior surface of the back side comprises a second raised element in approximate contact with a second acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
Meridians are the pathways of chi (i.e., “life energy”) and blood flow through the body. It is believed that massaging or applying pressure to particular points along the pathways (i.e., acupuncture points) stimulates the flow of energy, blood, nutrients, and nerve impulses to corresponding organs/body systems. This stimulation is believed to clear energy blockage and congestion along the nerve and meridian pathways, thereby reducing accumulated stress and encouraging pain release. Therapies in which acupuncture points are manipulated (e.g., acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, reflexology) are based on these concepts.
By the present invention, it has been found that curative properties can be engaged during golf play by utilizing gloves marked with meridian pathways and/or acupuncture points. In one embodiment, the glove contains raised elements such that pressure is applied to acupuncture points, thereby engaging curative properties, when the golfer grips a golf club. In another embodiment, the glove contains one or more markings of acupuncture points illustrating where the golfer is to apply pressure to engage the curative properties. Thus, the markings on the glove correspond to where they are on the human body when the glove is worn. The location of meridian pathways and acupuncture points on the human body are well known.
Using gloves of the present invention preferably reduces stress, improves concentration, promotes relaxation, and/or increases endurance.
Referring now to the figures,
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, wherein the palm side has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the palm side comprises a raised element. The raised element is located at a point such that it is in approximate contact with any one of the multiple acupuncture points on the palm side of the hand when the glove is worn. While the present invention is not limited by the raised element being in contact with a particular acupuncture point,
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, wherein the palm side has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the palm side comprises at least two raised elements. Each of the at least two raised elements is located at a point such that it is in approximate contact with any one of the multiple acupuncture points on the palm side of the hand when the glove is worn. While the present invention is not limited by a particular number of raised elements or by each raised element being in contact with a particular acupuncture point,
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, wherein the back side has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the back side comprises a raised element. The raised element is located at a point such that it is in approximate contact with any one of the multiple acupuncture points on the back side of the hand when the glove is worn. While the present invention is not limited by the raised element being in contact with a particular acupuncture point,
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, wherein the back side has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the back side comprises at least two raised elements. Each of the at least two raised elements is located at a point such that it is in approximate contact with any one of the multiple acupuncture points on the back side of the hand when the glove is worn. While the present invention is not limited by a particular number of raised elements or by each raised element being in contact with a particular acupuncture point,
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, wherein each of the palm side and back side has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the palm side comprises at least one palm side raised element, and wherein the interior surface of the back side comprises at least one back side raised element. Each of the one or more raised elements of the palm side is located at a point such that it is in approximate contact with any one of the multiple acupuncture points on the palm side of the hand when the glove is worn. Each of the one or more raised elements of the back side is located at a point such that it is in approximate contact with any one or the multiple acupuncture points on the back side of the hand when the glove is worn.
“Golf glove” is defined herein as a glove specifically marketed for use during golf play, and not to a glove marketed for non-golf purposes that may occasionally be worn while playing golf.
“Approximate contact” with an acupuncture point is defined herein as direct contact with an acupuncture point or within 0.250 inches thereof.
“Raised element” is defined herein as an area which extends outward from the interior surface of a glove. At the widest part of the raised element, the raised element is generally 0.30 inches or less, or 0.25 inches or less, or 0.19 inches or less, and generally extends 0.25 inches or less, or 0.19 inches or less, or 0.125 inches outward from the interior surface of the glove at the highest point of the raised element. The present invention is not limited by a particular material for forming the raised elements. Suitable compositions for forming the raised elements include those which are firm enough to apply pressure to acupuncture points when the glove is in use, and soft enough such that discomfort does not result. Examples of such compositions include, but are not limited to, felt, natural and synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, and cork. Also suitable for forming raised elements are crystals and stones, and especially crystals and stones that are known to have healing properties, such as abalone, agate, blue lace, botswana, fire, moss, albite, alexandrite, amazonite, amber, amethyst, ammonite, angelite, apache tears, apatite, apophyllite, aqua aura, aquamarine, aragonite, aventurine, azurite, barite/barium, beryl stone, bloodstone, boji stone, brass, calcite, lime green, calcite, carnelian, cat's eye, celestite, cerussite, chalcedony, charoite, chrysoberyl, chiastolite, chinese writing stone, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, citrine, cobalt, copper, coral, corundum, creedite, cuprite, danburite, desert rose, diamond, diopside/enstatite, dioptase, dolomite, eilat stone, elestial, emerald, epidote, fairies' cross, flint, fluorite, fuchsite, garnet, gem silica, geodes, gold, goldstone, granite, hawk's eye/falcon's eye, hematite, herkimer diamonds, hiddenite, howlite, iolite, ivory, jade, jasper, jet, kundalini quartz, kunzite, kyanite, labradorite, lapis lazuli, larimar, lepidolite, lodestone, malachite, marascite, marble, meteorite, microline, mochi balls, moldavite, moonstone, morganite/pink beryl, mother of pearl, muscovite, nephrite, obsidian, onyx, opal, pearl, pecos diamond, peridot, petalite, petrified wood, phenacite, platinum, prehnite, pyrite, quartz, rose quartz, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rhyolite, rubellite/red tourmaline, ruby, rutilated/rutile quartz, sapphire, star sapphire, sard, sardonyx, selenite, serpentine, shiva lingham, silica, silver, smithsonite, smoky quartz, sodalite, spectrolite, spinel, star ruby, staurolite, stichtite, stilbite, sugilite, sulphur, sunstone, tanzanite, tektite, tiger's eye, topaz, tourmaline, tourmalinated quartz, turquoise, ulexite, unakite, variscite, worry/stress stone, wulfenite, zebra stone, zircon, and zoisite. In embodiments of the present invention wherein the glove comprises more than one raised element, any one of the raised elements may be formed from the same composition as or a different composition than any other of the raised elements. Also, in embodiments of the present invention wherein the glove comprises more than one raised element, any one of the raised elements may be of a size that is the same as or different than the size of any other of the raised elements.
While the illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described with particularity, it will be understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the illustrations, descriptions, and examples set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all of the features of patentable novelty which reside in the present invention, including all features which would be treated as equivalents thereof by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.
Claims
1. A golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, wherein the palm side has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the palm side comprises a first raised element.
2. The golf glove of claim 1, wherein the first raised element is in approximate contact with a first acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
3. The golf glove of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the palm side further comprises a second raised element.
4. The golf glove of claim 2, wherein the interior surface of the palm side further comprises a second raised element.
5. The golf glove of claim 4, wherein the second raised element is in approximate contact with a second acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
6. The golf glove of claim 5, wherein the interior surface of the palm side further comprises a third raised element, and wherein the third raised element is in approximate contact with a third acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
7. A golf glove comprising a palm side and a back side, wherein the back side has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the back side comprises a first raised element.
8. The golf glove of claim 7, wherein the first raised element is in approximate contact with a first acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
9. The golf glove of claim 7, wherein the interior surface of the back side further comprises a second raised element.
10. The golf glove of claim 8, wherein the interior surface of the back side further comprises a second raised element.
11. The golf glove of claim 10, wherein the second raised element is in approximate contact with a second acupuncture point.
12. The golf glove of claim 11, wherein the interior surface of the back side further comprises a third raised element, and wherein the third raised element is in approximate contact with a third acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
13. A golf glove comprising:
- a palm side having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the palm side comprises a first raised element in approximate contact with a first acupuncture point when the glove is worn, and
- a back side having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the back side comprises a second raised element in approximate contact with a second acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
14. The golf glove of claim 13, wherein the interior surface of the palm side further comprises a third raised element in approximate contact with a third acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
15. The golf glove of claim 13, wherein the interior surface of the back side further comprises a third raised element in approximate contact with a third acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
16. The golf glove of claim 14, wherein the interior surface of the back side further comprises a fourth raised element in approximate contact with a fourth acupuncture point when the glove is worn.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 1, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2009
Inventor: Suzanne A. Rego (Fairhaven, MA)
Application Number: 12/060,457