BASEBALL GLOVE WITH INTEGRAL FLASK

Abstract

A baseball glove includes a primary layer of glove dorsal material and a secondary layer of dorsal material placed over the primary layer of glove dorsal material to form a pouch. A fluid container is disposed within the pouch, the fluid container including a drinking spout which protrudes from the pouch. The pouch can have a pouch opening which can be selectively opened and closed to allow the fluid container to be removed from, and placed within, the pouch.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/108,062, filed on Jan. 27, 2015, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Baseball gloves have been adapted to increase the support and ability to catch a baseball or softball over the years. They have also been adapted to meet the needs of many disabled persons to help with their ability to play catch. Gloves have also been developed to help stay warm or improve the strength of the athlete. Many people also use baseball gloves for excitement at a baseball game in hopes to catch a foul ball. However contemporary baseball or softball gloves do not have the means to carry liquids.

As one example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,062 shows different forms that can help contain a flask for convenience to the user. However, all embodiments require strapping the flask around parts of the body, such as hanging it around the user's neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a baseball glove according to the present disclosure, depicting an extra layer of material formed around the third through fifth digit receptacles of the glove, with a spout for an integral flask extending past the extra layer of material.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the glove of FIG. 1, depicting the extra layer of material in the back attached to the baseball glove behind the last three digit receptacles of the glove.

FIG. 3 is an isometric rear view of the glove of FIGS. 1 and 2, depicting the glove with the extra layer of material open, allowing room for the flask and spout with two straps going through materials to facilitate in containing the flask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described herein, a fun and easy way to carry liquid while watching or playing baseball or softball is to have a flask integral with the glove itself. There is thus no need to strap the flask around any part of the user's body, other than by wearing the glove itself (such as to catch a ball). The flask or container is thus available to drink out of the glove while the glove is being worn by the user, without being constrained in any way. Using the baseball glove flask, a user can drink refreshments out of a glove at the same time of play. Unlike convenience flasks, the baseball glove flask serves dual purposes that it is fully functional and can carry liquids inside the glove. The baseball glove flask can be fabricated with an extra layer of glove material (including but not limited to leather, synthetic leather, pigskin, mesh, and/or others materials) applied onto the area of the dorsal (rear) surface of the middle finger through little finger receptacles of the glove. The extra layer of glove material can be tied down to the rest of the glove using leather straps (or other strap material) that form the pocket of the baseball gloves, and can include an opening to allow the flask or container to be easily taken out of, and placed in, the glove for replacement. Alternately, the flask can be completely enclosed by the extra layer of material (such that the flask is not readily removable from the glove). The extra layer of material can also be sewed to the main structure of the glove. The opening for the flask (formed by the extra layer of material) can be provided with a strap to knot (or otherwise secure) to selectively place the opening in an open or closed position, in order to remove and install the flask. The flask (or fluid container) can be fabricated from a flexible material (such as a soft pliable plastic). The flask can also be a disposable flask. The extra layer of material (used to enclose the flask) can be of the same (or similar) material as the rest of the glove material, and/or of the same color as the rest of the glove, so that the extra layer of material is not easily discernible by virtue of the flask covering (i.e., the extra layer of material) visually blending into the glove itself. The flask can be provided with a spout which can remain outside of the pouch (formed by the extra layer of material), while the rest of the flask is contained within the extra layer of material, thus allowing easy access for the user to drink or pour liquid from the flask, while keeping the flask contained inside of the glove. Alternately the spout can reside within the pouch (formed by the extra layer of material), and the user can then pull the spout out of the pouch for use to access liquid within the flask, while leaving the rest of the flask within the pouch.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a baseball glove 100 according to the present disclosure is depicted in a rear view, showing the rear, dorsal, or back of the glove. The glove 100 is provided with an extra layer of material 1 that is tied down with straps 2, 4 and 5. The extra layer of material 1 can also be described as a second dorsal layer of material which overlays the primary dorsal layer of glove material. The primary dorsal layer of material forms an integral part of the baseball glove. The straps 2, 4 and 5 also go through and tie down the pocket of the glove 100 (not visible in FIG. 1) which forms the space for the user's hand inside of the glove 100. The extra layer of material 1 can also be attached to the rest of the glove 100 by means such as sewing and/or gluing. Preferably the extra layer of material 1 is of a similar size and shape as the back portion of the glove body (not visible in FIG. 1) so that the extra layer of material 1 mimics the backside of a traditional baseball glove, and does not overlap the glove body along the edges of the glove. The extra layer of material 1 can be of the same material as the underlying material which forms the rest of the glove body. Alternately, the extra layer of material 1 can be selected to match (in texture and/or color) the underlying material which forms the rest of the glove body. The extra layer of material 1 can also be selected to be of a different texture and/or color as the underlying material which forms the rest of the glove body. The material from which the extra layer of material 1 is fabricated can include leather, synthetic leather, pigskin, and/or mesh. Preferably the extra layer of material is flexible and pliable so that it can deform as the glove is used in play. The extra layer of material 1 is secured to the rest of the glove 100 in a manner so as to form a pouch having an opening, allowing a flask (not shown in FIG. 1) to be inserted into the pouch. The flask can be generally described as a fluid container. The opening can be configured to be selectively opened and closed. For example, the opening can be closed with straps 3 that can be tied in a knot to hold the flask in place within the pouch while playing. The straps 3 can then be untied to allow removal of the flask from the pouch. One alternative to using straps 3 to close the pouch is to provide the opening with hook-and-loop fastening material. In one variation the extra layer of material 1 encloses the flask in a non-removable manner—that is, there is no opening that can be selectively opened and closed to allow the flask to be easily removed from the glove 100.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the glove 100 of FIG. 1. As depicted in FIG. 2, the glove 100 contains middle layers of materials 6 and 11 to form the pocket for the user's hand, as well as middle layer of material 7 to absorb impact from a ball, and assist in trapping a ball within the glove 100. The middle layer of material 7 can be secured to the rest of the glove 100 with a strap 8, as is common practice in prior art baseball gloves. The middle layers of material 6, 7 and 11 can be alternately described as ventral, or front, layers of material.

FIG. 3 is an isometric rear view of the glove 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, depicting the glove with the extra layer of material 1 open at one end, allowing room for a flask 15 to be received within a pouch formed by the extra layer of material 1. In FIG. 3 the extra layer of material 1 is extended outwardly from the body of the glove 100, and straps 3 pass through separate holes 10 in both the outer layer (extra layer of material) 1 and the middle layer of material 6. The flask 15 is positioned between the outer additional layer of material 1 and the middle layer 6 after the straps 3 are removed from holes 10 in the extra layer of material layer 1. Once the flask is positioned within the pouch the straps 3 can then be put back through holes 10 and tied down in a knot to secure the flask 15 in place while the glove 100 is in use. The straps 3 can be part of a continuous strip of strap material which passes though primary dorsal layer of glove material, and is captured in place between the front (or ventral) layer of glove material and the primary dorsal layer of glove material. The flask can be provided with a spout 16 which can remain in between the knot (not shown) in straps 3 to allow access to a liquid within the flask 15 while the glove 100 is in use. Alternately, as described above, the flask 15 can be essentially fixed within the pouch formed between the extra layer of material 1 and the rest of the glove body by sewing, straps, gluing, etc., and in this instance the spout 16 is disposed outward of the closed pouch (via a small opening) to allow for the flow of liquids into and out of the flask. The spout 16 can be provided with a removable cap (not numbered) to prevent fluid within the flask 15 from exiting the flask then the cap is placed over the end of the spout. The cap be provided with a tether (not shown) to secure it to the glove 100 or the flask 15. Another strap 8 holds the middle layer of material 7 in place with middle layer of material 11. Middle layer of material can include a woven portion (as depicted in FIG. 2) to enhance flexibility and strength of the portion of the glove used primary for stopping and trapping a ball, thus reducing shock to the hand of the user. Further, strap 13 can enhance rigidity of the glove 100 at the superior end of the glove 100 (i.e., at the position where the user's hand enters the glove), and strap 12 will facilitate a ball being caught between the first and second digit receptacles (generally corresponding to thumb and index finger receptacles) into the middle layer of material 7.

The flask 15 is preferably made of a resilient, flexible material such that the flask can deform slightly as the rest of the glove deforms during use. The flask 15 can be fabricated from a material such as food-grade high density polyethylene (as one example only), which provides the desired level of flexibility and resistance to cracking or failing during impact (such as when a user may accidentally fall on the back portion of the glove 100). In another example the flask 15 can be fabricated from a plasticized foil material such the flask will tend to collapse as fluid is extracted from the flask. The flask 15 can be reusable (so that it can be refilled). Alternately the flask 15 can be a disposable flask so that it can be replaced. In one example the flask 15 can be provided as a filled disposable unit, allowing manufacturers of drinks (such as soft drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks, beverages containing alcohol, etc.) to provide filled, hermetically sealed flasks (or fluid containers) to the user. This has the advantage of removing the flask-filling exercise which can result in fluid being spilled onto the glove, and also allows for quick replacement of available fluids during use of the glove 100. (That is, the user does not need to take time out to fill the flask 15—the flask is merely replaced with an already-filled replacement flask.)

The glove 100 can be configured to be adjusted for size of the user's hand using belt 9 which can be tied down and adjusted with strap 14, or by using hook-and loop fastening material or the like.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides for a functional, playable, baseball glove with a built in layer of material (1, FIG. 1) to secure a flask (15, FIG. 3) or container filled with liquids as an integral component of the baseball glove. The flask can be removable or fixed with respect to the baseball glove, and can be inserted to the dorsal (back) side of the third, fourth and fifth digit part of the glove. The flask can be fabricated from a flexible plastic material to ensure flexibility of the glove while using the glove to play baseball (or catch) when liquid is contained within the flask.

It will be appreciated that the invention provided for herein can also be used with other sports gloves, such as ice hockey gloves, ski gloves, snowmobile gloves, etc., as well as work gloves, motorcycle gloves, and other gloves. In general the sports (or other) glove is provided with an extra layer (or secondary layer) of material on the dorsal side (back side) of the glove, and the extra layer of material (secondary dorsal layer of material) forms a pouch with a middle layer of material (i.e., the traditional back covering of the glove, or the primary dorsal layer). The pouch is provided with an opening (preferably located proximate the area where a user's hand is inserted into the glove), and a flask can be inserted into the pouch. The pouch opening can be sealed after the flask is inserted into the pouch such that the flask is essentially not removable from the pouch—i.e., the pouch is not capable of being easily opened in order to remove the flask. Alternately the pouch opening can be provided with a closing means (such as one or more straps, hook-and-loop fastening material, etc.) allowing the flask to be easily removed from the pouch for refilling or replacement. Preferably the shape of the extra layer of material (that assists in forming the pouch) is selected to mimic the dorsal (back) portion of the glove so that the pouch generally conforms in shape to the glove perimeter, and more specifically, to a least a portion of the perimeter shape defined by the primary dorsal layer of the glove. More preferably the extra layer of material does not extend beyond the perimeter of the primary glove body.

In one variation the primary layer of glove dorsal material and the secondary layer of dorsal material are fabricated from a fluid-impermeable material (such as plastic or plasticized foil, for example), and are joined together along a fluid-impermeable perimeter. A drinking spout can be inserted into the pouch to allow fluids to be inserted into, and extracted from, the pouch. In this way the glove does not require a separate fluid container to be inserted into the pouch. Further, the pouch can be fabricated from fluid-permeable materials, and then lined with a non-removable fluid impermeable lining.

The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe exemplary methods and apparatus of the present invention(s). It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A baseball glove comprising:

a secondary layer of dorsal material placed over a primary layer of glove dorsal material, the primary layer of glove dorsal material forming an integral part of the baseball glove, and wherein the secondary layer of dorsal material and the primary layer of glove dorsal material form a pouch; and

a fluid container disposed within the pouch, the fluid container including a drinking spout which protrudes from the pouch.

2. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein:

the primary layer of glove dorsal material is defined by a perimeter shape; and

the secondary layer of dorsal material mimics at least a portion of the perimeter shape of the primary layer of glove dorsal material.

3. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein the pouch is closed to capture the fluid container in the pouch in an essentially non-removable fashion.

4. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein the secondary layer of dorsal material and the primary layer of glove dorsal material form a pouch opening which can be selectively opened and closed using a pouch closing means to thus allow the fluid container to be selectively placed into, and removed from, the pouch.

5. The baseball glove of claim 4 and wherein the pouch closing means comprises one or more straps which pass through the secondary layer of dorsal material and the primary layer of glove dorsal material.

6. The baseball glove of claim 4 and wherein:

the pouch closing means comprises two straps which pass through the secondary layer of dorsal material and the primary layer of glove dorsal material; and

the drinking spout is disposed between the two straps.

7. The baseball glove of claim 4 and wherein the pouch opening is located proximate a location where a user's hand can be inserted into the baseball glove.

8. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein the fluid container is fabricated from a flexible material comprising at least one of high density polyethylene and plasticized foil.

9. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein the fluid container is a hermetically sealed manufactured unit containing a beverage.

10. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein the secondary layer of dorsal material and the primary layer of glove dorsal material are fabricated from the same material.

11. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein the secondary layer of dorsal material is a mesh material.

12. The baseball glove of claim 1 and wherein:

the baseball glove comprises finger receptacles for five digits corresponding from a thumb as the first digit to a little finger as the fifth digit; and

the pouch is located proximate the finger receptacles for third and fourth digits.

13. A glove comprising:

a primary layer of glove dorsal material;

a secondary layer of dorsal material placed over the primary layer of glove dorsal material, such that the secondary layer of dorsal material and the primary layer of glove dorsal material form a pouch; and

a fluid container disposed within the pouch, the fluid container including a drinking spout which protrudes from the pouch.

14. The glove of claim 13 and wherein:

the glove is a baseball glove; and

straps used to form the baseball glove are also used to secure the secondary layer of dorsal material over the primary layer of glove dorsal material.

15. The glove of claim 13 and wherein the pouch can be selectively opened and closed by a pouch closing means, thus allowing the fluid container to be selectively placed in, and removed from, the pouch.

16. The glove of claim 13 and further comprising a cap placed over an end of the drinking spout.

17. The glove of claim 13 and wherein the glove is designed for intended use as one of an ice hockey glove, a snowmobiling glove, a skiing glove, a motorcycle glove, and a work glove.

18. A glove comprising:

a primary layer of glove dorsal material;

a secondary layer of dorsal material placed over the primary layer of glove dorsal material, such that the secondary layer of dorsal material and the primary layer of glove dorsal material form a pouch; and

a drinking spout extending from the pouch; and wherein the pouch forms a fluid-tight receptacle for containing a fluid which can be removed from the pouch via the drinking spout.

19. The glove of claim 18 and wherein:

the primary layer of glove dorsal material is defined by a perimeter shape; and

the secondary layer of dorsal material mimics the perimeter shape of the primary layer of glove dorsal material.

20. The glove of claim 18 and wherein the pouch is lined with a non-removable fluid impermeable lining.