Padded athletic glove

Abstract

The present invention provides an athletic glove. The athletic glove has an improved padding construction to allow for increased flexibility of the glove. The improved padding construction includes a crescent shaped pad aligned with the middle and index finger. The glove also provides improved palm constructions to improve moisture management and grip. The improved construction includes using moisture or temperature management fabric in strategic locations on the palm or an open palm construction to allow direct contact between a player's palm and the shaft of an athletic stick.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to padded athletic gloves and, more particularly, lacrosse and hockey gloves having padding with improved flexibility and improved palms. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Lacrosse and hockey are examples of two sports where the ability to handle a stick is essential for playing the game, both offensively and defensively. Offensively stick handling is essential for ball or puck control, and defensively the stick is frequently used to “check” the offensive player in an attempt to dislodge the ball or puck. Because the stick is sometimes used to “stick check,” the offensive player's hands are vulnerable to injury. [0003] In order to protect the hands from injury, lacrosse and hockey gloves are frequently made of wear resistant material and padded. The wear resistant material and pads allow for some protection, but greatly decrease the comfort and flexibility of the gloves. In particular, the wear resistant material causes th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention relates to an improved padded athletic glove. The gloves comprise a finger section having at least a middle finger and an index finger. The fingers are coupled to a backhand section and extend therefrom. At least one pad coupled to the backhand section is substantially aligned with the middle finger and the index finger of the finger section. The pad has at least one curved seam defining a shape of the pad.

[0008] The present invention also provides an improved athletic glove having a palm section comprising at least one piece of wear resistant mate

Problems solved by technology

Because the stick is sometimes used to “stick check,” the offensive player's hands are vulnerable to injury.

The wear resistant material and pads allow for some protection, but greatly decrease the comfort and flexibility of the gloves.

In particular, the wear resistant material causes the glove to become hot causing hands and palms to become slick with perspiration.

Perspiration can cause difficulties with stick handling.

The pads protect the hand from injury, but can cause the glove to be inflexible, which also makes stick handling more difficult.

Mesh fabric, while providing relatively good airflow, is not very durable, and other than allowing airflow does not provide any moisture management.

While the above improvements make the athletic gloves better, most currently available athletic gloves leave much to be desired regarding moisture management, durability, and flexibility.

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