Web glove

Abstract

The Web Glove, provides a unique sports glove which increases a swimmer's speed, and provides an enhanced catching and gripping capacity for those who play sports like water polo or water basketball. Simply stated, the Web Glove is a half-fingered glove, sold in pairs, and used on both hands, constructed of lightweight neoprene material, nylon threading, and possesses two unique features which make it ideal for water sports. The Web Glove, as the name implies, features a strong, flexible, neoprene webbing between each of the five digits, for a “webbed hand” similar to a frog or duck's foot, which is a tremendous advantage in swimming and, the Web Glove features an enhanced, high-traction, rubber-ribbed gripping surface or pad on the palmar surface of the glove, a gripping pad to make catching a slippery ball much easier.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (e) (1) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/399,709 filed Jul. 16, 2010, of common inventorship herewith entitled, “Web Glove.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of aquatic exercise devices, and more specifically to the field of aquatic exercise glove devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art has put forth several designs for aquatic exercise glove devices. Among these are:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,835 to Kiel Perkins and Liza Mandala McCullough describes a hand and/or foot covering which enables the wearer to more easily and efficiently navigate in underwater conditions. The apparel includes a number of webbing sections as well as a dorsal chute.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,335 to Chao Shih-Li describes an improved webbed swimming glove in which the finger sheaths have cutting holes on sheath end. Webs are provided between adjacent finger sheaths for facilitating swimming or diving use. The sheath of index finger may be formed as a truncated sheath facilitating triggering a gun for military or a frogman's use.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,322 to Konstantine G. Bakalis describes a glove which includes webs connecting adjacent phalange-covering sections together. Each web includes an elongated flow hole, and a rib intersecting the flow hole. Fins on the glove are located on the back of the wearer's hand when the glove is in position on that hand. The fins guide movement of the hand through a fluid, such as water.

None of these prior art references describe the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an aquatic exercise glove device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational angled perspective view of the top-side of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational angled perspective view of the under-side of the device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Millions of consumers enjoy water sports, from swimming to scuba diving to water polo and volleyball. When it comes to water sports played with a ball, the athlete faces two challenges not encountered on land, he or she must swim, rather than run, to get about the “field” and because the game is played in water, the ball is always slippery and difficult to catch and grip.

The present invention, hereinafter referred as the Web Glove, is a unique sports glove which increases a swimmer's speed, and provides an enhanced catching and gripping capacity for those who play sports like water polo or water basketball. Simply stated, the Web Glove is a half-fingered glove, sold in pairs, and used on both hands, constructed of lightweight neoprene material, nylon threading, and possesses two unique features which make it ideal for water sports. The glove can also be produced in any suitable material including rubber, vinyl, and Kevlar, for example. The Web Glove, as the name implies, features a strong, flexible, neoprene webbing between each of the five digits, for a “webbed hand” similar to a frog or duck's foot, which is a tremendous advantage in swimming and, the Web Glove features an enhanced, high-traction, rubber-ribbed gripping surface or pad on the palmar surface of the glove, a gripping pad to make catching a slippery ball much easier.

Manufactured by the Sporting and Athletic Goods industry, Standard Industrial Code 3949, the Web Glove also features an elastic wristband with Velcro™ straps that draws tight across the back of the wrist for a comfortable, snug fit. The Web Glove is produced in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes for both men and women, and produced in children's sizes as well. Further, the Web Glove is produced in a wide variety of bright or subdued colors and with reflective or phosphorescent strips for night play.

The webbing material is solid and impermeable, stiff enough for good resistance during swimming propulsion, yet lightweight and flexible enough to allow the fingers free and unencumbered motion during, for example, a ball game. The palmar gripping pad is constructed of undulating rubber ridges, somewhat analogous to the tread of a boat shoe. This gripping surface or pad provides enhanced gripping and catching such as catching a ball, or for gripping a pool ladder or a boat's dive-ladder.

The Web Glove, a unique accessory glove for water sports, gives any aquatic athlete a competitive boost in two key areas, first, in swimming speed, and second, in catching and gripping capacity. With its inter-finger web, the Web Glove enables a human swimmer to appreciate the advantage that webbed feet give to amphibians and water birds. Like a pair of swim-fins for the hands, the Web Glove dramatically enhances a swimmer's speed, the efficiency of the glove allowing him or her to move faster through the water with the same amount of effort. But the Web Glove, for all its aid in speed, leaves the fingertips free, and also provides a high-traction, no-slip gripping pad on the palms of the glove. Since the fingertips are left exposed, the athlete playing water polo or water basketball, for example, loses nothing in the way of finger control and grip, in fact, with the Web Glove's palm grip pad, the athlete appreciates another dramatic advantage, being able to catch and hold a wet, slippery ball with less effort and greater ease. Produced for water athletes of both sexes and all ages, the Web Glove is lightweight and exceptionally durable, a terrific accessory, and an eminently affordable one. For all who enjoy water sports, the Web Glove is the “catch” of a lifetime.

The Web Glove not only benefits those who swim, snorkel and scuba-dive, but also those using physical rehabilitation with aquatic therapies.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Claims

1. An aquatic exercise glove device, comprising a half-fingered glove constructed of lightweight neoprene material, nylon threading, comprising strong, flexible, neoprene webbing between each of the five digits, for a “webbed hand” similar to a frog or duck's foot, further comprising an enhanced, high-traction, rubber-ribbed gripping surface or pad on the palmar surface of the glove.

2. The glove device of claim 1 further comprising an elastic wristband with Velcro straps that draws tight across the back of the wrist for a comfortable, snug fit.

3. The glove device of claim 1 produced in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes for both men and women, and produced in children's sizes as well.

4. The glove device of claim 1 produced in a wide variety of bright or subdued colors and with reflective or phosphorescent strips for night play.

5. The glove device of claim 1 wherein the webbing material is solid and impermeable, stiff enough for good resistance during swimming propulsion, yet lightweight and flexible enough to allow the fingers free and unencumbered motion during, for example, a ball game.

6. The glove device of claim 1 wherein the palmar gripping pad is constructed of undulating rubber ridges.

7. The glove device of claim 1, wherein the device is produced in pairs, and used on both hands.