Diagonal Pad Glove Liner for Pocket Catching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional baseball gloves often lead fielders to catch balls on the heel or palm instead of the pocket or webbing, reducing the effectiveness of ball-catching efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A glove liner with a diagonal pad across the palm of the fielder's hand, which abuts the heel of the glove, making it more difficult to catch the ball on the heel and easier to catch in the pocket or webbing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional fielder's glove is used without a diagonal pad, then the fielder can catch the ball on the heel or palm of the glove, but the ball-catching efficiency is reduced and proper catching technique is not promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the glove system into two separate components: the conventional glove and a separate liner with diagonal pad. This segmentation allows the liner to be inserted into the glove, providing the diagonal pad function without permanently modifying the glove structure. The liner can be removed or replaced independently, maintaining flexibility while improving ball-catching efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner acts as an intermediary element between the fielder's hand and the glove. It introduces the diagonal pad structure that guides the ball to the proper catching location (pocket or webbing) without requiring changes to the glove itself. This mediator approach allows the conventional glove to function as intended while adding the corrective diagonal pad function.
2Reliability
If a glove liner with diagonal pad is added, then catching the ball in the pocket or webbing is promoted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is designed to nest within the glove, with the diagonal pad positioned inside the glove structure. The liner's palm section, thumb receiver, and finger receivers are contained within the glove's corresponding spaces. This nesting arrangement adds the diagonal pad function while minimizing external complexity and maintaining the glove's original appearance and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the diagonal pad to guide ball direction, acts as an additional layer of padding for hand protection, and can be made from materials that provide grip or tactile feedback. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by delivering multiple benefits from a single addition.
3Ease of operation
If the pad is positioned to abut the heel of the glove, then it becomes more difficult to catch the ball on the heel, but it requires precise positioning to achieve the desired effect
Solution Approach 1:
The diagonal pad is positioned specifically at the heel area of the glove where it is most needed to prevent heel-catching. The pad's diagonal orientation concentrates its guiding effect at the critical heel-to-pocket transition zone. This localized quality approach focuses the structural influence where it is most effective while leaving other areas of the glove unchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner is pre-positioned within the glove during assembly or pre-worn by the fielder before catching the ball. This preliminary positioning ensures that the diagonal pad is already in the correct location to guide the ball toward the pocket or webbing before the catching action occurs, eliminating the need for precise real-time adjustment during play.
Data Source
AI summary
A glove liner includes a pad running diagonally across the palm of the hand. When the glove liner is inserted into a baseball fielder's glove, the pad underlies a heel of the glove and/or a palm of the glove and promotes catching a baseball in the webbing or pocket of the fielder's glove.