Glove Compression Strap for Young Players
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional baseball and softball gloves are stiff, making it difficult for young or inexperienced players to close the glove around a ball due to lack of hand strength, and the process of breaking in a glove is time-consuming and can reduce its usable life.
Innovation Solution
A baseball or softball glove design featuring a compression strap system that applies a compressive force across the knuckles of the hand, combined with strategically sized and positioned finger stalls and a guide wall, to assist in closing the glove around a ball, enhancing the hand's ability to manipulate the glove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the glove is made from stiff leather material, then the glove provides durability and structural integrity, but the glove becomes difficult to close around a ball for young or inexperienced players
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is divided into multiple finger stalls (first, second, and third finger stalls) that can be independently positioned and manipulated. This segmentation allows players to close each finger section separately, making the overall closing action more manageable and easier to perform, especially for younger players with less hand strength.
Solution Approach 2:
A compression strap is introduced as an intermediary mechanical aid that applies compressive force to the hand and fingers during the closing motion. This mediator assists the player's hand in snapping the glove shut by providing the necessary compressive force, thereby facilitating easier glove closing without compromising the stiff leather material's structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the glove is mechanically deformed to break it in, then the glove becomes more flexible and easier to close, but the process takes considerable time and effort and may reduce the glove's usable life
Solution Approach 1:
The compression strap system is pre-configured in the glove before use. This preliminary setup allows the glove to be ready for immediate use without requiring extensive breaking-in time. The strap can be quickly adjusted and tightened to provide the necessary flexibility and comfort, eliminating the need for prolonged mechanical deformation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression strap allows for dynamic adjustment of mechanical parameters (tension, compression force) on demand. Instead of permanently deforming the leather through extended breaking-in periods, the strap provides temporary, adjustable compression that modifies the glove's effective stiffness and flexibility parameters, achieving ease of operation without time loss.
3Ease of operation
If the glove is saturated with leather oil and tied closed, then the glove deforms around the ball more effectively, but the process requires considerable time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional chemical breaking-in method (using leather oil) is replaced with a mechanical system (compression strap). The strap applies direct mechanical compressive force to the hand and glove, achieving effective deformation and shaping around the ball without requiring chemical saturation. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming oil application and drying processes while maintaining deformation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression strap serves as a mechanical intermediary that transfers compressive force directly to the glove and hand, replacing the need for leather oil as a chemical mediator. This intermediary mechanism achieves the same deformation effect more efficiently, reducing the time and effort required while maintaining effectiveness in shaping the glove around the ball.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compression strap system helps to prevent hand slippage and energy wastage, allowing for easier and more efficient closure of the glove, reducing fatigue and extending the glove's usable life by providing mechanical assistance in snapping the glove shut.
Implementation Method 1
a compression strap removably attachable to an outer surface of a rear face of the palm portion to provide a compressive force to at least one finger of a hand inserted into the glove
Data Source
AI summary
A baseball or softball glove includes a strap to provide a compressive force across the fingers of a hand inserted into the glove. The compressive force facilitates the snapping the glove to catch and secure a ball. Additionally, the ring finger and the pinky finger may be inserted into the same finger stall of the glove to compensate for the weakness of the ring finger in making the snapping motion. The glove is still given the appearance of providing a separate finger stall for each finger. A guide wall is placed across the entrance to the unused finger stall to maneuver the ring finger into the pinky stall.