Gloves for Handgun Shooters

Abstract

Grip enhancing materials/inserts consisting of elastomeric and frictional coatings are deposited on the surface of the palm side of the glove where they are adjacent to a firearm being held, and on the surface of the back side of each of the gloves where they assist in gripping the hand holding the firearm, thereby assisting in the maintenance and stability of the two-handed grip. An elastic hand composed of Spandex or Lycra or similar material spans the knuckles and some of the space between the index finger and thumb, and may generally encircle the thumb base and at least some of the base of the forefinger, providing freedom in articulations of the hand, particularly the index finger, which is free from below and adjacent the outer joint to the free end from any frictional structures; likewise the hand web area.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims an invention that was disclosed in part in U.S. Design Patent Application 29/441925, filed Jan. 10, 2013 entitled “Gloves for Handgun Shooter”.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gloves for shooters, and more particularly to gloves for handgun shooters. Specifically, the invention pertains to gloves for handgun shooters including grip enhancing materials/inserts structures not only on the inside palm surface of the shooting glove where they will be adjacent to a firearm being gripped, but on the outside surface of the shooting glove where they will assist in gripping the hand holding the firearm by the shooter's other hand, thereby assisting in the maintenance and stability of the two-handed grip being used in handgun shooting.

2. Relevant Prior Art

There have been a number of inventions relating to gloves for handgun shooters. Representative and/or exemplary patents in this field include:

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,093 for a “Shooting Glove” issued Sep. 28, 1971, to Edna M. Kirby.

(2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,667 for a “Grip Control Glove for a Handgun” issued Sep. 16, 1997, to Wilfred L. Hook, Jr.

(3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,884 for a “Handgun Support Glove” issued Feb. 2, 1999, to Michael Salvitti.

(4) U.S. Pat. No. 7,287,285 B2 for a “Glove Construction Wherein Palm Material Rolls Over the Fingertip” issued Oct. 30, 2007. to Eric M. Jaeger and Eduard A. Jaeger.

(5) U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,718 B2 for a “Firearm Safety Gloves and Wristbands” issued Dec. 11, 2007, to Ralph Avallone.

These prior inventions pertain to increasing grip through a variety of means, including removable sleeves for the trigger finger, grip enhancing materials on the palm side of the glove, a strap in the palm of the glove that extends over the handgun handle, and even a pocket in the glove to insert the handgun handle. However, all of these inventions apply to a single-handed grip. None of these inventions are directed to the two-handed grip now being used in handgun shooting. In contrast, the instant invention applies specifically to maintaining and stabilizing a two-handed grip. It achieves this end by providing for grip enhancing material on each glove, not only on the inside palm surface of the glove but also on the outside back surface of the glove, thereby enhancing the grip by the supporting hand overlying the gloved hand holding the handgun. Also, the preferred embodiment of the instant invention provides for an elastic hand composed of Spandex, Lycra or similar stretchable material on each glove that spans the knuckles and the space between the forefinger and thumb, and also at least mostly encircles the base of the thumb and at least partially the base of the forefinger. The elastic band provides greater flexibility and comfort by minimizing tightness in the glove, that is typically felt at the knuckles and around the thumb and forefinger when the hand is m a gripping position, and enables the shooting gloves to be more readily and snugly adaptable to various finger or hand sizes. The elastic band also provides enhanced grip to the firing hand and the supporting hand.

Further, a large percentage of the prior art arrangements use awkward and cumbersome designs for achieving grip enhancement that limit any comfortable use of the glove beyond the moment the handgun is being held in the firing hand. Hence, the glove has to be removed if the firing hand is needed to perform any task other task than holding the handgun. In contrast, the instant invention provides throughout a comfortable and thin material which does not severely limit or restrict varied use. Consequently, there is no need for immediate removal after firing in order to avoid undue limitation, restriction, or discomfort in the performance of any task beyond gripping the handgun. Also, because both left and right hand gloves in the instant invention have the same configuration of grip enhancing material on the palm and back surfaces, a single set of gloves may be used interchangeably for a two-handed grip that is left handed or right handed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided grip enhancing materials/inserts structures consisting of elastomeric and frictional coating spaced strips deposited on the surface of the palm side of the glove where they are adjacent to a firearm being held, and on the surface of the back side of the glove where they assist in gripping the hand holding the firearm, thereby assisting in the maintenance and stability of the two-handed grip now being used in handgun shooting. In particular, as described and shown, the grip enhancing materials/inserts structures are present on the palm, including just below the fingers, the palm side of the fingers and thumb, on the back side of the fingers and on the knuckle. The primary object of the invention, stabilizing and maintaining the two-handed grip, is accomplished not only by grip enhancing materials on the palm, and inside surface of the fingers and thumb of the firing hand, adjacent the handgun, but also by the provision of the grip enhancing materials on the inside surface of the supporting hand and on the back side of the fingers and knuckle of the firing band for the purpose of enhancing the grip of the supporting hand. The upper portion at least beyond the last joint of the forefinger that grips the trigger is free from such grip enhancing material, thereby minimizing friction dud or the feel of the shooter relative to the trigger.

In another aspect of the instant invention, there is provided, in addition to the aforementioned grip enhancing material on the palm side and back side of the glove, an elastic band composed of Spandex, Lycra or similar stretchable material. The elastic band spans the knuckle and the space between the forefinger and thumb, and also mostly encircles the base of the thumb and at least partially the base of the forefinger. A particular object of the second embodiment, in addition to the stabilization of the two-handed grip, is to provide less restriction and greater comfort in the articulations of the digits of the hand. The elastic band also further enhances the gripping functions of the gloves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further object and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the gloves of the invention showing the palm side of a left hand glove, the right hand palm side perspective view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 2 an devotional view of the palm side illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the gloves of the invention showing the palm side of a left hand glove, the right hand palm side perspective view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the palm view illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a back elevational view thereof;

FIG. 11 is right side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 12 is a left side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of the another embodiment of the gloves of the invention in use by a shooter with a first type of two-handed handgun grip; and

FIG. 16 is a side perspective view of the another embodiment of the gloves of the invention in use in a different type of two-handed handgun grip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With respect now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 7 depict the first embodiment of the instant invention. FIGS. 1 through 4 depict the elevational views of the shooting glove 1, while FIGS. 6 and 7 depict the top and bottom views of the shooting glove 1 respectively. The shooting glove 1 for the firing hand 9 and the supporting hand 10 is composed of thin fabric or a similar material 3 and has grip enhancing material/inserts structures 2 consisting of an elastomeric and frictional coating deposited at various spaced locations or areas of the shooting glove 1. In particular, a illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the grip enhancing materials/inserts structures 2 are present in three spaced horizontal bands across the palm 2A, and in numerous small horizontal bands located on the palm just below the fingers, with the exception of the index finger, on the palm side of the fingers and thumb, on the back side of the fingers and across the knuckles. However, the upper portion of the forefinger 7, at least from adjacently below the far or outmost joint to the end of the forefinger, which will be adjacent and in contact with the trigger 11A (see, e.g., FIGS. 15 and 16 and accompanying text), is free from such grip enhancing material 2, thereby providing greater articulation and freedom of movement and feel for the trigger finger and preventing any increased friction relative to the trigger by such forefinger 7. It is important to also note that there are no grip enhancing materials/inserts structures 2 on the glove 1 adjacent the web of a user's hand, ie., the skin, that spans between the thumb and the index finger, so that the user may properly draw the handgun from the holster with the hand of the user being as high up on the back strap or the hand grip as high as possible to reduce muzzle flip when the user fires the handgun. This allows the user to readily and slidingly adjust the positioning of the hand with respect its proper position by the hand before closing the hand to grip the handgun before firing same.

With respect to the firing hand 9, the horizontal bands of grip enhancing material structures 2 on the palm 2A and the smaller horizontal bands of grip enhancing material structures 2 on the palm just below the fingers and on the palm side of the fingers and thumb are in direct contact with and directly adjacent the grip of the handgun, thereby aiding in the stability and maintenance of grip on the handgun 11 (see, e.g. FIGS. 15 and 16 as described herein below). On the supporting hand 10 the horizontal bands of grip enhancing material structures on the palm 2A, and the smaller horizontal bands of grip enhancing material structures 2 on the palm just below the fingers, and on the palm side of the fingers and thumb are all directly adjacent the firing hand 9, thereby assisting in the principal object of gripping, stabilizing and maintaining a two-handed grip. The principal object is also advanced by the smaller horizontal bands of grip enhancing materials on the knuckles and back of the fingers on the firing hand 9 that provide additional interlocking friction between the firing hand 9 and supporting hand 10 and thus a more stable grip for the supporting hand 10 that enhance the grip and stability of the handgun by both hands.

A vertical orientation on the fingers of the shooting glove 1 of the spaced grip enhancing material structures 2 would not enhance the gripping motion of the hand which would require the structures to be folded over on themselves when the hand closes, whereas such is avoided by the horizontal orientation of these structures. Likewise, for this reason, the horizontal orientation of the structures serves to increase comfort and ease of usage for the shooting glove 1, because it prevents the grip enhancing material from opposing a normal gripping motion by the hand wearing the glove, as would be the case if the structures were in a vertical orientation.

FIGS. 8 through 14 depict another embodiment of the instant invention. FIGS. 8 through 12 depict the elevational views of the shooting glove 1, while FIGS. 13 and 14 depict the top and bottom views of the shooting glove 1 respectively. The another of the shooting glove 1 is distinguished by the presence of an elastic stretchable band 8 composed of Spandex, Lycra or similar fabric material. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the elastic band 8 spans the knuckles and the space between the forefinger and thumb, and substantially encircles the base of the thumb and at least partially the base of the forefinger. By extending across these portions of the shooting glove 1, the elastic band 8 provides for superior articulation and flexibility at the points of the shooting glove 1 experiencing the greatest stretching forces and highest tension when the glove 1 is used to grip either the handgun or the gloved hand gripping the handgun. In particular, it provides greater comfort and reduced restriction or tension in the shouting glove 1 when the grip of the handgun 11 is held in a firing position (See, e.g. FIGS. 15 and 16 as described further herein below).

The positioning of the elastic band 8 also provides enhanced grip for both the hand 9 holding the handgun and the supporting hand 10. The portion of the elastic band 8 that extends across the knuckles and substantially encircles the thumb on the back side of the hand enhances the grip of the supporting hand 10 on the firing hand 9. The portion of the elastic band 8 that spans the space between the thumb and at least partially around the base of the forefinger and encircles palm-ward the base of the thumb and forefinger enhances the firm grip for the supporting hand 10, as it engages the firing hand 9 and for the firing hand 9 as it grips the handgun 11.

FIGS. 15 and 16 depict common two-handed grips using the second or preferred embodiment of the shooting gloves 1, although the hand positions are also applicable to the first embodiment of the instant invention. FIG. 15 depicts an overlapping grip where the supporting hand 10 is over and generally aligned with and facing the hand 9 holding the firearm 11. FIG. 16 depicts a grip where the supporting hand 10 is underneath and cupping the firing hand 9 at the base of the grip of the handgun 11.

PARTS AND FEATURES ILLUSTRATED IN DRAWING FIGURES

• • 1 shooting glove
  • 2 grip enhancing material/or structures
  • 2a horizontal grip enhancing strips on palm
  • 3 thin fabric or similar material
  • 4 Velcro strap
  • 5 palm side of shooting glove
  • 6 back side of shooting glove
  • 7 portion of forefinger adjacent trigger
  • 8 elastic Spandex or Lycra band
  • 9 firing hand
  • 10 supporting hand
  • 11 handgun
  • 11a handgun trigger

In view of the foregoing, it should be clear that numerous changes and variations can be made without exceeding the scope of the inventive concept outlined. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiment(s) of the invention herein described, is/are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiment(s) is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which will recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

1. A shooting glove, comprising:

a glove having inner and outer surfaces and formed in the shape of a human hand with a palm portion, a back portion, finger portions including an index finger portion, knuckle portions, a thumb and joints and spaced along the finger and thumb portions:

said finger portions having a palm facing side and a back facing side, and a plurality of spaced friction enhancing structures on at least the back facing sides of at least some of said finger portions.

2. The shooting glove of claim 1, further comprising spaced friction enhancing structures on at least one of: said palm facing sides of said finger portions, palm facing sides of said thumb, and said palm portion.

3. The shooting glove of claim 1, wherein at least one of: said friction enhancing structures are disposed in strips transverse to lengths of said finger portions, areas of friction enhancing structures extending laterally on said palm facing side of said finger portions and onto the palm portion, the palm facing side of said index finger portion at least from below the outmost joint being free of friction enhancing structures in an area remote from said palm.

4. The shooting glove of claim 2, wherein at least one of said friction enhancing structures being disposed in strips transverse to said finger portions, areas of friction enhancing structures on palm facing sides of said finger portions, except the index finger, extend onto the palm portion, the palm facing side of the index finger portion being free of friction enhancing structures adjacently below an outmost joint of the index finger portion in an area remote from the palm.

5. The shooting glove of claim wherein said glove further includes an elastic band extending at least one of across said knuckle portions, substantially around said thumb portion at a juncture between said thumb portion and said palm and back portions, across a juncture between said index finger and said palm, and across said knuckle portions and around said thumb portion at a juncture between said thumb portion and said palm and back portions so as to also extend across a juncture between said index finger and said palm.

6. The shooting glove of claim 2, wherein said glove further includes an elastic band extending at least one of across said knuckle portions, around said thumb portion at a juncture between said thumb portion and palm and back portions, across a juncture between said index finger and said palm, and across said knuckle portions and substantially around said thumb portion at a juncture between said thumb portion and said palm and said back portion so as to extend across a juncture between said index finger and said palm.

7. The shooting glove of claim 3, wherein said glove further includes an elastic, band extending at least one of: across said knuckle portions, substantially around said thumb portion at a juncture between said thumb portion and said palm and back portions, across a juncture between said index finger and said palm portion, and across said knuckle portions and around said thumb portion at a juncture between said thumb portion and said palm and back portions so as to also extend across a juncture between said index finger and said palm portion.

8. The shooting glove of claim 1, wherein said glove further includes a web portion between an index finger and a thumb of a user, said web portion being free of any friction enhancing structures so that the use can readily adjust the gloved hand with respect to the hand grip of the handgun before closing the grip of such gloved hand on the hand grip of the handgun.

9. A method for using a pair of shooting gloves, comprising:

providing right and left hand gloves having inner and outer surfaces and formed in the shape of a human hand with a palm portion, a back portion, finger portions including an index finger portion, knuckle portions intermediate the back and finger portions, and thumb portions, wherein the finger portions have a palm facing side and a back facing side, and a plurality of spaced friction enhancing structures on back facing sides and front facing sides of at least some of the finger portions; and

gripping a handgun with one of the gloves while embracing and gripping at least an outer and back portion of the one glove holding the handgun with a palm portion of another of the gloves.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one glove holding the handgun with the other of the gloves includes embracing and gripping friction enhancing structures on back facing side of finger portions of the one glove being embraced and gripped by the other glove.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the gloves further include spaced friction enhancing structures on the palm side and the palm facing side of the thumb portion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one glove holding the handgun with the other of the gloves includes embracing and gripping friction enhancing structures on back facing side of finger portions of the one glove being embraced and gripped by the friction enhancing structures on the fingers of the other glove.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of: the friction enhancing structures are disposed in strips transverse to lengths of the finger portions, areas of friction enhancing structures on palm facing sides of the finger portions extend onto the palm portion, the palm facing side of the index finger portion being free of friction enhancing structures in an area distant from the palm, and horizontal grip enhancing strips are spacedly located on the palm portion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the gloves further includes elastic bands extending at least one of: across the knuckle portions, substantially around the thumb portion at a juncture between the thumb portion and the palm and back portions, across a juncture between the index finger and the palm portion, and across the knuckle portions and substantially around the thumb portion at a juncture between the thumb portion and the palm and back portions so as to also extend across a juncture between the index finger and the palm portion.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of: the friction enhancing structures is disposed in spaced strips transverse to lengths of the finger portions, spaced strips on palm facing sides of the finger portions extend onto the adjacent palm portion, the palm facing side of the index finger portion being free from friction enhancing structures remote from the palm, and horizontal grip enhancing strips being located, on the palm portion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the glove further includes elastic bands extending at least one of: across the knuckle portions, substantially around the thumb portion at a juncture between the thumb portion and the palm and back portions, across as juncture between the index finger and the palm portion, and across the knuckle portions and substantially around the thumb portion at a juncture between the thumb portion and the palm and back portions so as to also extend across a juncture between the index finger and the palm portion.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein said glove further includes a web portion between an index finger and a thumb of a user, said web portion being free of any friction enhancing structures so that the user can readily adjust the gloved hand with respect to the hand grip of the handgun before closing the grip of such hand on the hand grip of the handgun

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the glove further includes elastic bands extending at least one of: across the knuckle portions, substantially around the thumb portion at a juncture between the thumb portion and the palm and back portions, across a juncture between the index finger and the palm portion, and across the knuckle portions and substantially around the thumb portion at a juncture between the thumb portion and the palm and back portions so as to also extend across a juncture between the index finger and the palm portion.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the one glove holding the handgun with the other of the gloves holding the one glove includes spaced embracing and gripping friction enhancing structures on back facing side of finger portions of the one glove being embraced and gripped by palm facing embracing and gripping structures of the other of the gloves.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the one glove holding the handgun with the other of the gloves includes embracing and gripping friction enhancing structures on back facing side of finger portions of the one glove being embraced and gripped by the palm facing side of the fingers having spaced finger enhancing structures on the other of the of the gloves.