LIGHTWEIGHT BALL GLOVE

Abstract

The lightweight ball glove includes a back side, a front side and a shock cord tension system therebetween. The outer edge of the front side is fixedly coupled with the outer edge of the back side to form a lightweight glove. A web portion is fixedly coupled between a thumb and a pointer finger of the lightweight glove, the web portion having a bridge at the top. Cordage is used for lacing together a top portion of each finger with an adjacent finger and the bridge to form the lightweight ball glove.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a Continuation application of, and claims priority to, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/269,039, filed on Sep. 19, 2016, entitled “Lightweight Ball Glove” by Brian Dueck et al., with Attorney Docket No. BUCK-001, assigned to the assignee of the present application, which is incorporated in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples described herein relate to a lightweight ball glove often used for catching an object.

BACKGROUND

Ball gloves or mitts are used in numerous sports from kids' backyard pick-up games to adult's professional athletic events. However, it takes an amount of preparation and pre-planning to have a mitt available at an event. The planning often includes the mitt being mentioned in the invite, a bag to transport the mitt to and from the event, etc. As such, when a spur of the moment event occurs, people often will attempt to use numerous different at hand objects to act as a mitt. Such objects can include a hat, a shoe, a bare hand, a drinking cup, a paper food tray, an oven mitt, and the like. In many cases, the at-hand object is not a very practical or even a semi-useful substitute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments and, together with the Description of Embodiments, serve to explain principles discussed below. The drawings referred to in this brief description should not be understood as being drawn to scale unless specifically noted.

FIGS. 1A-1D are perspective views of a lightweight ball glove shown from each of a back view, a thumb view, a palm view, and a pinky side view respectively, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the lightweight ball glove and its components, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3A is an illustration of the shock cord tension system, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the layers within the lightweight ball glove, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for folding the lightweight ball glove, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIGS. 5A-5D are a plurality of diagrams illustrating the folding steps of the lightweight ball glove, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the subject matter, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the subject matter discussed herein will be described in conjunction with various embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the subject matter to these embodiments. On the contrary, the presented embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the Description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present subject matter. However, embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the described embodiments.

Overview

When kids get together they often like to play games. Many times the games include some type of hitting and/or catching, such as whiffle ball, stick ball, snowball fights, and the like. One of the main aspects of a pick-up style ball game, or even a training practice, is the use of balls that are much lighter weight than a regulation baseball. For example, a major league baseball weighs about 5 ounces. In contrast a perforated, light-weight, resilient plastic ball, e.g., a whiffle ball, may be approximately the same size as a major league baseball but weigh in at approximately 20 grams.

Thus, the use of the plastic ball (or other light weight ball, rock, snowball, dirt clod, shuttle cock, or the like) can allow a game or practice to occur on much smaller fields and often without the safety gear that is necessary for an actual baseball game, e.g., batting helmet, catcher's gear, etc. Moreover, it is often helpful to train with the lightweight balls during batting practice. The reduced flight range and ballistics allow the batting practice to be performed at an increased cadence, in a smaller area, and with a significantly reduced need for safety gear as well as a significant reduction in the chance of an impact injury occurring.

However, because of the significant weight difference between the actual baseball gear and the lightweight ball, it is often difficult if not impossible to use baseball gear when playing with a lightweight ball. For example, an actual baseball bat will significantly damage a lightweight ball. Similarly, catching a lightweight ball in a baseball glove is very difficult. More often than not, the lightweight ball will simply bounce off or out of the baseball glove. That is, because the baseball glove is designed to catch a ball that is 7-8 times heavier than the lightweight ball. As such, the impact of the lightweight ball on the baseball glove is not enough to evoke the proper operational characteristics of the glove. In other words, there is almost no “feel” when a lightweight ball hits a real baseball glove.

In the following discussion, a number of different views of the parts and components are shown. Although a number of parts and components are discussed herein, it should be appreciated that different embodiments may include different parts, equivalent parts, replacement parts, different parts groupings, a combination of parts into a single part, dissemination of a single part into a plurality of parts, and the like. Moreover, although illustrative embodiments have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, variations to specific embodiments and details are encompassed by this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of embodiments described herein be defined by claims and their equivalents.

Operation

With reference now to FIGS. 1A-1D, a lightweight ball glove 100 is shown from each of a back view 110, a thumb view 125, a palm view 130, and a pinky side view 140 respectively, in accordance with an embodiment. In general, FIGS. 1A-1D are provided to show the ready to use lightweight ball glove 100 to provide clarity prior to the broken down, layered and exploded views provided in FIGS. 2-3 and 5. For purposes of the discussion, lightweight ball glove is lightweight in comparison to a normal baseball glove, e.g., a leather baseball glove, or the like. That is, the lightweight glove is a light duty type of glove with respect to a regular baseball glove. for example, the lightweight glove is lighter in weight and construction with respect to a regular baseball glove in a similar manner that a plastic ball is lighter in weight and construction than a normal baseball.

With reference now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of lightweight ball glove 100 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In general, lightweight ball glove 100 consists of a back portion 205, a palm portion 210, a web portion 215, and a cordage 275. For structure, in one embodiment, lightweight ball glove 100 will include pipe seaming 293 between back portion 205 and palm portion 210 to add structure through the finger stalls. In one embodiment, as pointed out throughout the following discussion, the materials used to manufacture the lightweight ball glove may mimic the materials and look found on a baseball hat, trucker hat, or the like.

In one embodiment, lightweight ball glove 100 also includes a logo area 291 upon which a logo may be affixed. For example, the logo may be a favorite team's logo, a friend group personalized logo, and the like. The logo in logo area 291 may be user selectable, defined at time of manufacture, dependent upon the market within which the glove is being sold, or the like. In one embodiment, the logo may be stitched, glued, silk screened or the like onto logo area 291. In another embodiment, logo area 291 may be a hook and pile tape area such that different logo devices may be affixed via the hook and pile tape connection to allow a user to change out, or switch between, logos as desired. Moreover, although a logo area 291 is shown, due to the materials utilized, there may be numerous logos, colors, images, quotes, sayings, or the like printed on different areas of the glove or the entire glove, in a similar manner such as how they can be placed on a baseball hat.

Referring now to FIG. 3A an exploded view of the layers within lightweight ball glove 100 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In general, back portion 205 includes a plurality of lightweight layers. In one embodiment, the plurality of lightweight layers includes an inner lining layer 315, an outer surface layer 305, and a soft open-cell foam layer 310 sandwiched between inner lining layer 315 and outer surface layer 305. In one embodiment, soft open-cell foam layer 310 is approximately 8 millimeters thick. In one embodiment, inner lining layer 315 and outer surface layer 305 are made from an elastic synthetic fiber lining layer material having elasticity. Examples of such a synthetic fiber material include Spandex, LYCRA™, Elastane, and the like. For example, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design that mimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes open-cell foam layer 310 that mimics, looks similar to, or is made from the same foam material as that found on a baseball hat. Similarly, in one embodiment, inner lining layer 315 and/or outer surface layer 305 may also mimic, looks similar to, or be made from the same material as that found about the foam on a baseball hat.

With reference now to FIG. 3B, an illustration of the shock cord tension system 350 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In one embodiment, back portion 205 also includes shock cord tension system 350 located on a back surface of the soft open-cell foam layer 310 sandwiched between inner lining layer 315 and outer surface layer 305 (as shown in FIG. 3A). In general, shock cord tension system 350 includes a plurality of loops 355a-d located about a finger area of lightweight ball glove 100. For example, the plurality of loops 355a-d may include one or more of a loop 355d located on an outside portion of a pointer finger-palm joint within the lightweight ball glove, and one or more loops 355a-c located at one or more finger webbing portions within lightweight ball glove 100.

Shock cord tension system 350 also includes an opening 318 on an outside portion of a pinky-palm joint. A cord 358 is routed into opening 318, through the plurality of loops 355a-d and back out opening 318. A cordlock 357 is used on cord 358 outside of opening 318 to provide an adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on cord 358. In one embodiment, cord 358 is an elastic cord. However, in another embodiment, cord 358 may be a non-elastic material.

In general, when the user's hand 333 is put in lightweight ball glove 100, it rests between the back portion 205 and palm portion 210. Shock cord tension system 350 is used to allow different hand sizes to fit within lightweight ball glove 100. For example, after hand 333 is inserted into lightweight ball glove 100, a user can grasp cord 358 and pull it to tighten the fit of lightweight ball glove 100. When lightweight ball glove 100 is properly tightened, cordlock 357 is then used to keep the tension on cord 358 such that it does not come loose. When it is time to remove lightweight ball glove 100, the user can simply release cordlock 357 at which time cord 358 will loosen and shock cord tension system 350 will no longer be providing tension between lightweight ball glove 100 and the user's hand 333.

In one embodiment, shock cord tension system 350 also includes one or more loops 375a-b located about a web portion side of thumb side 379 within lightweight ball glove 100. In addition, a second opening 381 is formed on an outside portion of the thumb area. A second cord 378 is routed into second opening 381, through one or more loops 375a-b and back out of second opening 381. A second cordlock 377 is used on cord 378 outside of second opening 381 to provide a second adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on second cord 378.

In general, when the user's hand is put in lightweight ball glove 100, it rests between the back portion 205 and the front portion 210 as shown in FIG. 3A. The second shock cord tension system is used to allow different hand sizes to fit within lightweight ball glove 100. For example, after hand 333 is inserted into lightweight ball glove 100, a user can grasp the second cord 378 and pull it to tighten the fit of lightweight ball glove 100 around the user's thumb. When lightweight ball glove 100 is properly tightened, second cordlock 377 is then used to keep the tension on second cord 378 such that it does not come loose. When it is time to remove lightweight ball glove 100, the user can simply release second cordlock 377 at which time second cord 378 will loosen and shock cord tension system 350 will no longer be providing tension between lightweight ball glove 100 and the user's thumb.

With reference again to FIG. 2, back portion 205 also includes an adjustable opening 255. In one embodiment, adjustable opening 255 consists of a wrist strap that includes a button portion 260 and a tongue portion 265. In general, the wrist strap is designed to once again mimic the sizing strap on an adjustable baseball cap.

For example, in one embodiment the wrist strap components are hard plastic. In general, on the wrist strap, button portion 260 of a snapback size adjustment system is provided on a first side of opening 255. Moreover, tongue portion 265 of the snapback size adjustment system is provided on a second side of opening 255. Similar to a hat design, tongue portion 265 has a plurality of holes therein which can be removably coupled with a plurality of buttons located on button portion 260 to provide a size adjustment capability to opening 255.

With reference still to FIG. 2 and also to FIG. 3A, palm portion 210 is also formed of the same plurality of lightweight layers as back portion 205. E.g., inner lining layer 315, soft open-cell foam layer 310, and outer surface layer 305. In one embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion 210 is fixedly coupled with an outer edge of back portion 205 to form lightweight ball glove 100. In one embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion 210 is stitched to the outer edge of back portion 205 to form lightweight ball glove 100. In another embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion 210 is glued to the outer edge of back portion 205 to form lightweight ball glove 100. In yet another embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion 210 is both glued and stitched to the outer edge of back portion 205 to form lightweight ball glove 100.

With reference still to FIG. 2, a web portion 215 is fixedly coupled between thumb side 379 and a pointer finger 285 of lightweight ball glove 100. In one embodiment, web portion 215 is stitched to thumb side 379 and pointer finger 285 of lightweight ball glove 100. In another embodiment, web portion 215 is glued to thumb side 379 and pointer finger 285 of lightweight ball glove 100. In yet another embodiment, web portion 215 is both glued and stitched to thumb side 379 and pointer finger 285 of lightweight ball glove 100.

In one embodiment, web portion 215 includes a monofilament mesh 218. For example, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design that mimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes monofilament mesh 218 that mimics, looks similar to, or is made from the same mesh as that found on a baseball hat. In addition, a surrounding frame 217 consisting of the plurality of lightweight layers is fixedly coupled with a side and bottom portion of monofilament mesh 218. In one embodiment, a bridge 216 is fixedly coupled with a top of monofilament mesh 218.

With reference still to FIG. 2, in one embodiment cordage 275 is used to lace together a top portion of each finger of lightweight ball glove 100 with an adjacent finger and bridge 216 to form lightweight ball glove 100. In one embodiment, cordage 275 is a lightweight material. In one embodiment, the cordage 275 is an elastic material.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flowchart 400 of a method for folding lightweight ball glove 100 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 5A-5D are diagrams illustrating the folding steps of lightweight ball glove 100 in accordance with an embodiment. In general, when lightweight ball glove 100 is folded as described herein, it will be about a quarter of its normal length and height. In so doing, lightweight ball glove 100 will be of an appropriate size to fit into a normal sized pocket, such as a front jeans pocket, a jacket pocket or the like. Thus, making lightweight ball glove 100 easy to transport, and convenient for taking to the park, on outings, or the like.

With reference now to 410 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 2, one embodiment provides a cord loop 231 on one of a pinky finger side or a thumb side of lightweight ball glove 100.

Referring now to 420 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 2, one embodiment provides a cord loop retainer 232 on the other one of the pinky finger side or the thumb side of lightweight ball glove 100. For example, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design that mimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes a hat top cap button as cord loop retainer 232. In other words, the same type of button design as usually found on the top center of a baseball hat is provided on lightweight ball glove 100 as the button around which cord loop 231 can be looped.

With reference now to 430 of FIG. 4 and diagram 500 of FIG. 5A, one embodiment provides a first folding axis 510 for the lightweight ball glove, first folding axis 510 causing a fold from a fingertip portion 506 of the lightweight ball glove to a palm heel portion 508 of the lightweight ball glove, wherein utilizing first folding axis 510 causes lightweight ball glove 100 to be folded approximately in half.

Referring now to 440 of FIG. 4 and diagram 520 of FIG. 5B, one embodiment provides a second folding axis 525 for the lightweight ball glove, second folding axis 525 causing a fold from the thumb side 379 of the lightweight ball glove to the pinky finger side 376 of the lightweight ball glove, second folding axis 525 to be utilized after the first fold has been performed utilizing first folding axis 510, wherein utilizing the second folding axis 525 causes the lightweight ball glove to be folded approximately into a quarter folded state as shown in diagrams 530 and 540 of FIG. 5C.

With reference now to 450 of FIG. 4 and diagram 550 FIG. 5D, one embodiment couples cord loop 231 with cord loop retainer 232 to retain the lightweight ball glove in the quarter folded state. Although lightweight ball glove 100 is well suited to only a single cord loop 231 and cord loop retainer 232; in one embodiment a second cord loop 231 is provided on the other one of pinky finger side 376 or the thumb side 379 of the lightweight ball glove opposite of the originally discussed cord loop 231. Moreover, a second cord loop retainer 232 may be provided on the other one of pinky finger side 376 or thumb side 379 of the lightweight ball glove opposite of the originally discussed cord loop retainer 232. In so doing, a user may use one or both of the cord loops and cord loop retainers to keep the lightweight ball glove in the quarter folded state.

Because of the characteristics of the lightweight ball glove discussed herein, kids and adults alike will be able to utilize the lightweight ball glove when they get together to play games that include some type of hitting and/or catching, such as whiffle ball, stick ball, snowball fights, and the like, without having to bring heavier and more expensive “real” baseball gloves. Moreover, because of its portability, stow ability, and lightweight characteristics, it will be easier to transport the lightweight ball glove in a pocket or keep one or more in a vehicle, a sports bag, or the like. As such, the lightweight ball glove will be readily available for a pick-up style ball game, or even a training practice that uses balls that are much lighter in weight than the regulation baseball.

Moreover, when there is a game intending the use of a plastic ball (tennis ball, rubber ball, or other light weight ball, rock, snowball, dirt clod, shuttle cock, or the like) the lightweight ball glove can be utilized to increase catchability. In addition, the use of lightweight ball gloves can allow a game or practice to occur on much smaller fields and often without the safety gear necessary for an actual baseball game, e.g., batting helmet, catcher's gear, etc.

Moreover, because of the similar weight characteristics between the lightweight ball glove and the lightweight ball, catching a lightweight ball in the lightweight ball glove is very similar to catching a regular baseball in a regular glove. That is, instead of the lightweight ball bouncing off or out of the lightweight ball glove, the impact of the lightweight ball on the lightweight ball glove will be enough to evoke the proper operational characteristics of the glove. In other words, there will be good “feel” when a lightweight ball hits the lightweight ball glove.

The foregoing Description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form described. Instead, example embodiments in this Description have been presented in order to enable persons of skill in the art to make and use embodiments of the described subject matter. Moreover, various embodiments have been described in various combinations. However, any two or more embodiments may be combined. Although some embodiments have been described in a language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed by way of illustration and as example forms of implementing the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A lightweight glove comprising:

a front side;

a back side, wherein an outer edge of the back side is fixedly coupled with an outer edge of the front side to form a glove, the glove comprising: an opening to receive a user's hand; a plurality of finger wells to receive one or more of a plurality of fingers of the user's hand; and a thumb well to receive a thumb of the user's hand, each of the plurality of finger wells and the thumb well comprising an opening and a channel; and

a shock cord tension system, the shock cord tension system comprising: a first loop located on a thumb side of the opening of a pointer finger well of said plurality of finger wells within said glove; at least one additional loop located at a junction of at least two openings of the plurality of finger wells within said glove; an opening on an outside portion of a pinky side of said glove; a cord routed into said opening, through said first loop and said at least one additional loop, and back out of said opening; and a cordlock about said cord outside of said opening to provide an adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on said cord.

2. The lightweight glove of claim 1 wherein said cord is elastic.

3. The lightweight glove of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of additional loops, such that there are loops located at each junction of each opening of each of the plurality of finger wells within said glove; and

the cord is routed into said opening, through each loop, and back out of said opening.

4. The lightweight glove of claim 1 further comprising:

a second shock cord tension system, the second shock cord tension system comprising: a second set of one or more loops located on a pointer finger side of the opening of said thumb well within said glove; a second opening located on an outside portion of said thumb side of said lightweight glove; a second cord routed into said second opening, through said second set of one or more loops and back out said second opening; and a second cordlock about said second cord outside of said second opening to provide a second adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on said second cord.

5. The lightweight glove of claim 1 further comprising:

a web portion, said web portion fixedly coupled between an exterior of the thumb well and an exterior of the pointer finger well portions of said glove, said web portion comprising: a mesh of monofilament yarns; a surrounding frame fixedly coupled with a side and bottom portion of said mesh; and a bridge fixedly coupled with a top of said mesh.

6. The lightweight glove of claim 5 further comprising:

a cordage for lacing together a top portion of each adjacent finger well of said plurality of finger wells, said bridge, and a top portion of said thumb well.

7. The lightweight glove of claim 1 wherein said front side comprises:

an inner lining layer;

an outer lining layer; and

an open-cell foam layer sandwiched between said inner lining layer and said outer lining layer.

8. The lightweight glove of claim 1 wherein an overall thickness of said glove is approximately 8 millimeters.

9. The lightweight glove of claim 1 wherein an overall thickness of said glove is less than approximately 16 millimeters.

10. A ball glove comprising:

a first folding axis, the first folding axis comprising a vertical fold from a fingertip portion of said ball glove to a palm heel portion of said ball glove, wherein said first folding axis causes the ball glove to be folded approximately in half;

a second folding axis, the second folding axis comprising a horizontal fold from a thumb side of said ball glove to a pinky finger side of said ball glove, wherein said second folding axis causes the ball glove to be folded approximately in half,

a combination fold, the combination fold comprising both the vertical fold about the first folding axis and the horizontal fold about the second folding axis, wherein combination fold causes the ball glove to be folded approximately into a quarter folded state;

a cord loop on one of the pinky finger side or the thumb side of the ball glove; and

a cord loop retainer on the other one of said pinky finger side or said thumb side of said ball glove, wherein when the cord loop is coupled with the cord loop retainer the ball glove is retained in the quarter folded state.

11. The ball glove of claim 10 wherein a size of the ball glove in the quarter folded state will fit into a jacket pocket.

12. The ball glove of claim 10 wherein a size of the ball glove in the quarter folded state will fit into a pocket in a pair of pants.

13. The ball glove of claim 10 wherein a size of the ball glove in the quarter folded state will fit into a pocket in a pair of shorts.

14. The ball glove of claim 10 wherein the cord loop retainer is a hat top cap button.

15. The ball glove of claim 10 further comprising:

a second cord loop on the other one of the pinky finger side or the thumb side of said ball glove opposite of said cord loop; and

a second cord loop retainer on the other one of said pinky finger side or said thumb side of said ball glove opposite of said cord loop retainer, wherein when the second cord loop is coupled with the second cord loop retainer the ball glove is retained in the quarter folded state.

16. A lightweight glove comprising:

a front side;

a back side, wherein an outer edge of the back side is fixedly coupled with an outer edge of the front side to form a glove, the glove comprising: an opening to receive a user's hand; a plurality of finger wells, each of the plurality of finger wells having an opening and an enclosed channel to receive one or more of a plurality of fingers of the user's hand; and a thumb well, the thumb well having an opening and an enclosed channel to receive a thumb of the user's hand; and an adjustable wrist strap about said opening to receive the user's hand, said adjustable wrist strap comprising: a button portion of a snapback size adjustment system on a first side of said opening; and a tongue portion of the snapback size adjustment system on a second side of said opening, said tongue portion having a plurality of holes therein for removably coupling with said button portion to provide a size adjustment capability to said opening.

17. The lightweight glove of claim 16 further comprising:

a shock cord tension system, the shock cord tension system comprising: a first loop located on a thumb side of the opening of a pointer finger well of said plurality of finger wells within said glove; at least one additional loop located at a junction of at least two openings of the plurality of finger wells within said glove; an opening on an outside portion of a pinky side of said glove; a cord routed into said opening, through said first loop and said at least one additional loop, and back out of said opening; and a cordlock about said cord outside of said opening to provide an adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on said cord.

18. The lightweight glove of claim 16 further comprising:

a web portion, said web portion fixedly coupled between an exterior of the thumb well and an exterior of the pointer finger well portions of said glove, said web portion comprising: a mesh of monofilament yarns; a surrounding frame fixedly coupled with a side and bottom portion of said mesh; a bridge fixedly coupled with a top of said mesh; and a cordage for lacing together a top portion of each adjacent finger well of said plurality of finger wells, said bridge, and a top portion of said thumb well.

19. The lightweight glove of claim 16 wherein said front side comprises:

an inner lining layer;

an outer lining layer; and

an open-cell foam layer sandwiched between said inner lining layer and said outer lining layer.

20. The lightweight glove of claim 16 wherein an overall thickness of said glove is approximately 8 millimeters.