Batter's finger-worn variable-density control-pad

Abstract

A baseball batter's improved grip enhancing Pow'rPad™ device providing therapeutic vibration sting-absorption, which in critically configured for use upon one's upper/batting-hand, while primarily employing the forefinger but optionally including the adjacent middle-finger for positioning stability. The user's two fingers are fully inserted (with or without a conventional batting-glove) through a pair of intimately fitting spaced apart holes provided into a resiliently flexile preferably frothed-neoprene roll-stock material, clad on both sides with reinforcing nylon/stretch-fabric. An integral bolster cushion portion is arranged distally opposite the finger-holes, formed via a circular-wrap of the pad material around an extruded-core of resilient material. This constitutes the primary performance enhancing feature, whereby both ‘advanced bat positioning’, and advantageous ‘rebound-effect’ is provided; —enabling the batter to hit a ball further with greater control. The insert-cushion can be selectively changed, thereby offering variable compliance characteristics according to individual user preference; thus encouraging a more aggressive bat-swing action by dispelling any subconscious trepidation over dreaded debilitating hand-injury shock-trauma.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of Invention[0002]This invention relates to hand worn grip assist means for athletes, and particularly relates to resilient pads specifically protective of a baseball batter's hand-web region; affording enhanced control of batting performance.[0003]2. Relevant Prior-Art[0004]Background research discovery provides some prior patent-art regarded as germane to this disclosure, chronologically for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,043 (filed: July 1982 by P. R. LoMedico) sets forth DirectProtect®, a popular light-weight cushioning-pad which is made of flexible molded-rubber. It is adapted to encircle a batter's thumb by provision of a single approximate ¾-inch diameter hole (surrounded by a larger wire reinforcement-ring formed integrally into the pad's foam material), and configured as a 1-piece structure in combination with a contiguous tongue like portion extending radially therefrom, as is said to thereby overlap and protect the ‘metacarpal phalan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Configured as either a 1-finger (forefinger) or 2-finger (forefinger & middle-finger) generic-variant embodiment models, the 1-finger version is favored by some for its ultimately light-weight quality, while the 2-finger version offers the advantage of always being positively self-aligned relative to the base of the forefinger and middle-finger; thereby remaining properly oriented toward the web spanning thumb and forefinger. While the finger-hole(s) vary in size according to the three incremental classifications of small/medium/large/X-lag., the diameters thus ranging from ⅜-inch (for beginning youngsters) to 1-inch (for a ‘pro’ wearing batting-gloves). Generally speaking, the longitudinal (with reference to the bat-handle axis) length of my insert-cushions can range from about 1½-inches long or less for some 1-finger models, to 2¾-inches long or more for some 2-finger models; although it should be understood that a short insert-cushion can be employed with the 2-finger model, and the longer insert-cushion with the 1-finger model according to user preference. Furthermore, owing this major reconstruction and resulting diminutive size, the bolster (formed via combination of receiver-sleeve and the insert-cushion) of my Mk-II Pow'rPad® advantageously no longer comes in contact with the lower two or three fingers nor the major palm area of the hand; thereby uniquely concentrat

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, a further object of this disclosure is to set forth an improved device aiding in absorption of dreaded bat-sting RSI-syndrome, which is known to cause even professional baseball players to unconsciously ‘flinch’

Images