Functional control/grip-enhanced sports glove for bowling

Abstract

The present invention is a modified glove with control/grip-enhancing and perspiration retention properties, offering the bowler a range of functions and options specific to the individual bowler's abilities, equipment selection (i.e. bowling ball), and the lane conditions faced. An elastomeric, control/grip-enhancing material circumferences the fingertips of at least one finger, providing a similar shape and feel to the commonly used, cylindrical inserts/grips; the glove designed to be used in lieu of finger inserts. The present glove invention can be interchangeable between right and left-handed bowlers of approximately the same hand size. The perspiration retentive fabric combined with the elastomeric, control/grip-enhancing material eliminates or significantly reduces perspiration from an otherwise naked inserted finger, which normally has contact with the hole(s) of a bowling ball. Consequently, the present glove invention results in more consistent control and release of the ball off the hand, increased ball energy, increased ball motion and revolution potential, a higher impact between ball and pins, leading to more lively pin scattering, all of which ultimately results in higher scoring potential. Functionality and performance characteristics of various embodiments of the glove invention provide the bowler a range of control/grip-enhanced, textured and non-textured surface materials at the fingertip area of the glove. Likewise, the control/grip enhanced material of the palm area of the glove works to grip the surface of the bowling ball. The ball position in the cupped and gloved hand is maintained even though the bowler moves his/her hand slightly either away from towards or laterally with respect to the bowling ball. Embodiments of the glove invention offer the bowlers a variety of options for the fingers, as well as for support around the wrist area.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES[0001]This case is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29 / 320,939, filed Jul. 8, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 373,809, filed Mar. 10, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,657, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 661,417, filed on Mar. 14, 2005, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to gloves worn on the hands, and more specifically, to gloves used in various activities, especially sporting activities such as bowling that are benefited by a grip-enhancing surface covering at least a portion of the palm and / or finger regions.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The fundamental process behind the activity and game of “bowling” is for the bowler to insert the thumb and at least two (2) fingers of the bowling hand, usually the ring and middle fingers, into their respective holes of a bowling ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0038]A glove embodiment of the present glove invention would afford a small child or adolescent the ability to grasp, hold onto and roll a bowling ball that would otherwise be difficult to hold due to the finger holes of a house ball being too large of a diameter or, due to a house ball being a bit too heavy for a child or adolescent to hold onto with any control without the aid of the present glove invention.

[0039]An additional feature according to one embodiment of the present glove invention is the significant reduction in wear and tear on the two glove-covered, inserted middle fingers. Cylindrical inserts oftentimes injures, inflames or puts extreme wear and tear on or around the finger nail area and/or sometimes “burn marks” on the pads of the naked, inserted two middle fingers at the fingertip and finger pad area through the direct, violent and frictional rubbing of the inserted fingers against the walls of the inserts as the inserted fingers attempt to apply maximum revolutional force to and through the ball at point of ball release off the hand and inserted fingers. However, in one embodiment, the present glove invention significantly reduces the chance of injury and wear and tear to the two middle fingers. The glove itself, specifically, the control/grip-enhanced surface, interiorly and, the exterior control/grip-enhanced surface surrounding the fingertips and finger pads of the two middle fingers has frictional contact against the interior walls of the finger holes of the bowling ball at point of release, and not the fingers themselves. The two middle fingers are substantially stabilized, immobile, protected and encased inside the finger sleeves, which provide the bowler a snug, soft and spongy control/grip-enhanced material at the fingertip area of the glove, very similar to the feeling offered by the less effective, injury-prone inserts/grips. Hence, as a result of minimal movement of the two middle fingers snugly secured inside the glove finger sleeve area and, more specifically, the control/grip-enhanced material of the glove surrounding the two middle fingertips, which are responsible for applying the direct, frictional revolutional energy and force to and through the

Problems solved by technology

The nemesis of perspiration, resulting in reduced ball control and inconsistent or ineffective ball revolution is usually blamed on the two middle fingers inserted into the bowling ball.

If inserts were a genuine solution to increased ball control and increased revolution potential, the need for perspi

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