Ball glove with back-finger lace
The baseball glove design minimizes front surface strings to enhance retrieval speed and comfort by positioning connecting strings between or behind the finger stalls, addressing the interference issue of conventional gloves.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024225278
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-22
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-03
AI Technical Summary
Conventional baseball gloves have strings protruding into the ball-catching area, which can catch a player's hand or the ball, slowing down the retrieval process.
The baseball glove design features connecting strings that are positioned between or on the back side of the finger stalls, minimizing or eliminating strings on the front surface to prevent interference during ball retrieval.
The design allows for faster and more comfortable ball removal by reducing obstructions in the catching area, enhancing player performance.
Smart Images
Figure 2025100510000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Background Art
[0001]
[0001] Conventional baseball gloves include a string connecting finger stalls that are disposed on the front surface of the glove and protrude into the ball-catching area. Conventional baseball gloves may also include a palm string that protrudes into the ball-catching area on the palm portion of the glove. After catching a ball with the glove, the player often quickly reaches into the glove to retrieve the ball. At least partially due to the strings protruding into the ball-catching area, the player's hand may get caught on the strings or the ball may get caught on the strings, slowing down or preventing the player from retrieving the ball from the glove. Embodiments of the present technology address these and other problems associated with conventional baseball gloves.
Summary of the Invention
[0002]
[0002] Representative embodiments of the present technology include a baseball glove having a plurality of finger stalls and a thumb stall, wherein at least some of the connecting strings of the finger stalls are only between the finger stalls or only on the back side of the finger stalls, whereby the baseball glove has fewer (or no) strings protruding into the ball-catching area (front / palm side of the glove) where a player's hand or other object may get caught during play.
[0003]
[0003] Other features and advantages will become apparent hereinafter. The features described herein may be used separately or together, i.e., in various combinations of one or more of the features.
[0004]
[0004] In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same elements throughout the figures.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0005]
Figure 1
[0005] A perspective view of a prior art baseball glove is illustrated.
Figure 2
[0006] An example of a front view of a baseball glove configured according to an embodiment of the present technology is illustrated.
Figure 3
[0007] An example of a rear view of the baseball glove shown in FIG. 2 is illustrated.
Figure 4
[0008] An example of a rear view of a baseball glove configured according to a further embodiment of the present technology is illustrated.
Figure 5
[0009] An example of a rear view of a baseball glove configured according to a further embodiment of the present technology is illustrated.
Figure 6
[0010] An example of a rear view of a baseball glove configured according to a further embodiment of the present technology is illustrated.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0006]
[0011] The present technology is directed to baseball gloves having backfinger lacing, as well as related systems and methods. Various embodiments of the present technology will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a complete understanding and implementation of these embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be practiced without many of these details. Further, some well-known structures or functions, such as those common to baseball gloves (such as baseball or softball gloves), may not be illustrated or described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments. Accordingly, embodiments of the present technology may include additional elements or may exclude some of the elements described below with reference to FIGS. 1-6, which illustrate examples of the present technology.
[0007]
[0012] The terminology used in this description is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable sense, even if it is used in conjunction with a detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention. Even if certain terms are emphasized below, any technical terms intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner are clearly and specifically defined as such in this detailed description section.
[0008]
[0013] Where the context permits, terms in the singular or plural may each include the plural or singular terms, respectively. Further, unless the phrase "or" is explicitly limited to mean only a single item excluding the other items in a list of two or more items, the use of "or" in such a list should be interpreted to include (a) any single item in the list, (b) all items in the list, or (c) any combination of items in the list. Further, unless otherwise specified, terms such as "attached" or "connected" are intended to include both integral connections and connections between physically separate components.
[0009]
[0014] For the purposes of this disclosure, a first element disposed "near" an end of a second element is disposed closer to that end of the second element than to the central or intermediate position of the second element. Numerical adjectives including "first" and "second" as used in this disclosure do not convey a hierarchy or a particular characteristic or function. Rather, such numerical adjectives are intended to assist the reader in distinguishing elements that may have a similar nomenclature but different positions, orientations, or structures. Thus, such numerical adjectives may be used differently in the claims.
[0010]
[0015] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art ball glove 100. A conventional ball glove includes a string 110 that connects finger compartments 120 and is disposed on the front face 130 of the glove 100 and protrudes into the ball-catching area 140. A conventional ball glove may also include a palm string 150 that is also disposed on the palm portion 160 of the glove 100 and protrudes into the ball-catching area 140. After catching a ball with the glove 100, a player typically quickly reaches into the glove 100 to retrieve the ball. Due at least in part to the strings protruding into the ball-catching area 140, a player's hand may get caught on the strings 110, 150, or the ball may lodge in the strings 110, 150. Embodiments of the present technology address this and other problems associated with prior art gloves.
[0011]
[0016] For example, FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a ball glove 200 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the ball glove 200 shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, there may be little or no string on the front side 210 (including the ball-catching area 220) of the glove 200, which is at least partially achieved by threading a string through the finger compartments of the glove in accordance with the present technology. The ball glove 200 provides a smoother or less bumpy front side 210 and ball-catching area 220 with reduced (e.g., minimized or eliminated) strings that may catch when a user removes a ball from the glove 200.
[0012]
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments, the baseball glove 200 may include a front portion 225 that includes a palm section 230, a first thumb section 235, and a plurality of front finger sections 240 (e.g., four front finger sections 240, although fewer finger sections may be present if one section accommodates multiple fingers). The baseball glove 200 may further include a back portion 245 that includes a second thumb section 250 and a plurality of back finger sections 255 (e.g., four back finger sections 255, although fewer finger sections may be present if one section accommodates multiple fingers). The baseball glove 200 may further include a web portion 260 that connects one or both of the first thumb section 235 and the second thumb section 250 to a first front finger section 240a among the plurality of front finger sections 240 or a first back finger section 255a among the plurality of back finger sections 255.
[0013]
[0018] The front portion 225 may be connected to the back portion 245 using any suitable fastening system or device such as stitching, riveting, or adhesion, or the front portion 225 and the back portion 245 may be connected by being integrally formed with each other. The first thumb section 235 of the front portion 225 may be connected to the second thumb section 250 using any of the aforementioned suitable fastening systems or devices to form a thumb compartment 265 for receiving the user's thumb inside the glove 200, or they may be connected by being integrally formed with each other. Each front finger section 240 of the plurality of front finger sections 240 may be connected to a corresponding back finger section 255 of the plurality of back finger sections 255 to form a plurality of finger compartments 270 (e.g., four finger compartments 270) for receiving the user's fingers inside the glove 200.
[0014]
[0019] The ball glove 200 includes an opening 275 between a front portion 225 and a back portion 245 for receiving a user's hand. The opening 275 may be adjustable using a wrist strap 280 or another suitable adjustment device. Each finger compartment 270 of the plurality of finger compartments 270 may be connected to an adjacent finger compartment of the plurality of finger compartments by a string 282 disposed generally near the distal end of the glove away from the opening 275. In some embodiments, the string 282 may include a single continuous strand, a plurality of strands connected together, or a plurality of individual strands, and each individual strand connects at least two finger compartments 270 together.
[0015]
[0020] In some embodiments, for some or all of the finger compartments 270 (e.g., at least two, or at least three, or all four or more), the string 282 does not pass through the front surface 283 of the finger compartment 270 (e.g., the string 282 does not pass through the surface of the front portion 225 facing the catching region 220, which is on the opposite side of the back surface 284). Such an embodiment is shown generally in FIG. 2, for example.
[0016]
[0021] Each finger compartment 270 may have two opposing side portions 285, 286 adjacent to a front section 240 and a back section 255 or a front surface 283 and a back surface 284. The opposing side portions 285, 286 may connect the front section 240 to the back section 255. In some embodiments, one or more of the side portions 285, 286 may be part of the front section 240 or the back section 255. Each finger compartment 270 may have opposing side surfaces 285a, 286a of the corresponding side portions 285, 286 therebetween and adjacent thereto between the front surface 283 and the back surface 284.
[0017]
[0022] In some embodiments, for some or all of the finger compartments 270, the string 282 may pass between or extend through two opposing side portions 285, 286 and opposing side surfaces 285a, 286a. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the string 282 passing between two opposing side portions 285, 286 forms two or more lines of string 300 that do not cross each other (e.g., they may be parallel or substantially parallel). In some embodiments, the string 282 may cross over itself at the back surface 284 of one or more (two or more, three or more, or each, etc.) of the finger compartments 270 (e.g., the string 282 may pass through a plurality of openings 310 such as four openings 310 in the back surface 284).
[0018]
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, various embodiments of the present technology (including those disclosed below) may additionally or alternatively omit strings from the palm section 230 for an even smoother glove catching area or pocket. Generally, the string 282 is disposed behind the front of the glove and, for some or all of the finger compartments 270, passes not through the front surface 283 but rather sews between and through the inside and outside of the back surface 284 and between the finger compartments 270.
[0019]
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a rear perspective view of a baseball glove 400 constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present technology. Similar to the glove 200 described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, the glove shown in FIG. 4 may not have strings passing along the front surface of one or more (e.g., all) of the finger compartments 270. Accordingly, the front side of the glove 400 is not shown and may have the same overall configuration as the front side shown in the front view of the glove 200 in FIG. 2. The string 410 may pass between or extend through and sew between two opposing side portions 285, 286 and the back surface 284 of the finger compartments 270.
[0020]
[0025] In some embodiments, the string 410 extending between two opposing side portions 285, 286 crosses over itself between at least two (e.g., at least three or four) of the finger compartments 270 (i.e., forms an "x" pattern as in FIG. 4). The location where the string 410 crosses over itself is also between the front surface 283 and the back surface 284. Thus, for most of the glove 400, there is no string that a player can catch on the inside of the pocket or the ball-catching area of the glove 400. In some embodiments, the string 410 may form a line 420 that is substantially parallel along the back surface 284, or may cross over itself so as to cross at the back surface 284 shown in FIG. 3, or may have other patterns. Generally, the string 410 is disposed behind the front of the glove and, for some or all of the finger compartments 270, passes not through the front surface 283 but rather through the inside and outside of the back surface 284 and stitches between the finger compartments 270.
[0021]
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of a baseball glove 500 constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present technology. Similar to the gloves 200, 400 described above with respect to FIGS. 2 - 4, the glove shown in FIG. 5 may not have strings passing along the front surface of one or more (e.g., all) of the finger compartments 270. Thus, the front side of the glove 500 is not shown and may have the same overall configuration as shown in the front view of the glove 200 in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the string 510 may pass through the side portion 285 of the first finger compartment 270, pass between the first finger compartment 270 and an adjacent finger compartment 270, and stitch or extend into the back finger section 255 of the adjacent finger compartment 270. This pattern may be implemented between two, three, or four finger compartments 270. Generally, the string 510 is disposed behind the front of the glove and, for some or all of the finger compartments 270, passes not through the front surface 283 but rather through the inside and outside of the back surface 284 and stitches between the finger compartments 270.
[0022]
[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of a ball glove 600 constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present technique. Similar to the gloves 200, 400, 500 described above with respect to FIGS. 2-5, the glove shown in FIG. 6 may not have strings passing along the front surface of one or more (e.g., all) of the finger compartments 270 or passing within the palm region. Thus, the front side of the glove 600 is not shown and may have the same overall configuration as shown in the front view of the glove 200 in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the string 610 may be present only between the opposing side portions 285, 286 of adjacent finger compartments 270 and, optionally, may cross over itself to form an x-pattern or may not cross over itself (e.g., similar to the strings between the finger compartments 270 in FIG. 3). The string 610 may be disposed between the front surface 283 (see FIG. 2) and the back surface 284.
[0023]
[0028] A ball glove constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present technique may be made from genuine leather, synthetic leather, any suitable material including polymer materials, or other materials suitable for use in a ball glove. Some embodiments of the present technique may include other gloves, such as other sports gloves that may or may not have a web.
[0024]
[0029] A ball glove constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present technique provides several advantages. For example, since the strings in the catching area are reduced or absent, there may be few obstructions in the glove, whereby a player may be able to remove the ball from the glove faster than when using a conventional glove. Further, the player may experience more comfort since there are few obstructions for the hand to hit when removing the ball from the glove.
[0025]
[0030] From the foregoing, while specific embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the technology, elements of specific embodiments may be exchanged with elements of other embodiments, and in some embodiments, some elements may be omitted. For example, the strings can take any suitable pattern as long as they are arranged between finger compartments or on the back of a finger compartment outside the ball-catching area. Although the finger compartments have been described as having no front seam, in some embodiments, the thumb compartment may also omit the front seam and may be connected to the index finger compartment in the same manner as the connection between other finger compartments.
[0026]
[0031] Furthermore, while the advantages associated with specific embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need to exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the present disclosure and related technologies may encompass other embodiments not explicitly illustrated or described herein.
Claims
Claim 1 A front portion including a palm section, a first thumb section, and a plurality of front finger sections, A back portion including a second thumb section and a plurality of back finger sections, A web portion connecting the thumb section to a first front finger section among the plurality of front finger sections or a first back finger section among the plurality of back finger sections, A baseball glove comprising: The front portion is connected to the back portion with an opening for receiving a user's hand between the front portion and the back portion, The first thumb section is connected to the second thumb section so as to form a thumb compartment for receiving a user's thumb, Each front finger section of the plurality of front finger sections is connected to a back finger section among the plurality of back finger sections so as to form a plurality of finger compartments for receiving a user's fingers, Each finger compartment of the plurality of finger compartments is connected by a string to an adjacent finger compartment among the plurality of finger compartments, For at least three finger compartments of the plurality of finger compartments, the string does not pass through the front surface of the front finger section of each finger compartment of the at least three finger compartments, a baseball glove. Claim 2 Each finger compartment of the at least three finger compartments is disposed between the front finger section and the back finger section and has two opposing side portions connecting the front finger section to the back finger section, For each finger compartment of the at least three finger compartments, the string passes through the two opposing side portions, The baseball glove according to claim 1. Claim 3 The string passing through the two opposing side portions intersects itself between two finger compartments of the at least three finger compartments, the baseball glove according to claim 2. Claim 4 The string passing through the two opposing side portions forms two or more non-intersecting string lines between two finger compartments of the at least three finger compartments, the baseball glove according to claim 2. Claim 5 Regarding the string passing through at least one of the two opposing side portions of the first finger compartment among the at least three finger compartments, the string extends between the first finger compartment and an adjacent finger compartment among the at least three finger compartments, and the string enters into the back finger section of the adjacent finger compartment. The baseball glove according to claim 2.
6. For each finger compartment of the at least three finger compartments, the string passes through the back finger section at least once. The baseball glove according to claim 2.
7. For each finger compartment of the at least three finger compartments, the string passes through the back finger section at least twice. The baseball glove according to claim 6.
8. For each finger compartment of the at least three finger compartments, the string crosses over itself on the rear surface of the back finger section. The baseball glove according to claim 7.
9. For each of the at least three finger compartments among the plurality of finger compartments, the string extends into the back finger section. The baseball glove according to claim 1.
10. The at least three finger compartments among the plurality of finger compartments comprise four finger compartments. The baseball glove according to claim 1.
11. The string does not pass through the front surface of the palm section. The baseball glove according to claim 1.
12. A front portion including a palm section, a first thumb section, and a plurality of front finger sections, A back portion including a second thumb section and a plurality of back finger sections, A web portion connecting the thumb section to a first front finger section among the plurality of front finger sections or a first back finger section among the plurality of back finger sections, A baseball glove comprising: The front portion is connected to the back portion with an opening for receiving a user's hand between the front portion and the back portion, The first thumb section is connected to the second thumb section so as to form a thumb compartment for receiving a user's thumb. Each of the plurality of front finger sections is connected to a rear finger section among the plurality of rear finger sections so as to form a plurality of finger compartments for receiving a user's finger, and each of at least three finger compartments among the plurality of finger compartments includes a front surface of the front finger section, a back surface of the rear finger section, a first side surface adjacent to the front surface and the back surface, and a second side surface adjacent to the front surface and the back surface and opposite to the first side surface. Each of the plurality of finger compartments is connected by a string to an adjacent finger compartment among the plurality of finger compartments. For each of the at least three finger compartments, the string passes through the first side surface or the second side surface, and is a baseball glove.
13. The string according to claim 12, wherein the string crosses over itself at a position between two of the at least three finger compartments, and the position is also between the plurality of front finger sections and the plurality of rear finger sections. Baseball glove.
14. The string according to claim 12, wherein for each of at least two finger compartments among the plurality of finger compartments, the string passes through the rear finger section at least once. Baseball glove.
15. The string according to claim 12, wherein for each of the at least three finger compartments among the plurality of finger compartments, the string crosses over itself at a rear surface of the rear finger section. Baseball glove.
16. The string according to claim 12, wherein for a first finger compartment of the at least three finger compartments among the plurality of finger compartments, the string extends from the first side surface or the second side surface into the rear finger section of an adjacent finger compartment among the at least three finger compartments. Baseball glove.
17. A baseball glove, A palm section forming at least a part of a front surface of the baseball glove, A plurality of finger compartments, wherein each finger compartment has a first surface forming at least a part of the front surface, a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface and forming at least a part of a back surface of the baseball glove, and a side surface adjacent to the first surface and the second surface and disposed between the finger compartment and an adjacent finger compartment among the plurality of finger compartments. A thumb compartment, a web portion connecting the thumb section to a first finger section among the plurality of finger sections; an opening for receiving a user's hand, wherein the opening is disposed at a proximal end of the ball glove; a connecting string disposed away from the proximal end of the ball glove and closer to a distal end of the ball glove, wherein the connecting string passes through two or more of the finger sections; comprising; for each of the two or more of the finger sections, the connecting string passes through the back surface and the side surface, a ball glove.
18. The ball glove according to claim 17, wherein the two or more finger sections include three or more finger sections, and the connecting string enters into the side surface of a first finger section among the three or more finger sections and then enters into the back surface of an adjacent finger section among the three or more finger sections.
19. The ball glove according to claim 17, wherein the two or more finger sections among the finger sections include four of the finger sections.
20. The ball glove according to claim 17, wherein for each of the two or more of the finger sections, the connecting string crosses over itself on the back surface.
21. The ball glove according to claim 17, wherein for each of the two or more of the finger sections, the connecting string does not pass through the front surface.