Form-Fitting Glove with Detachable Webbing for Ball Catching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional baseball gloves are bulky and cumbersome, limiting spectators' ability to handle objects while trying to catch foul or homerun balls, and there is a lack of devices that combine a flexible hand covering with a catching mechanism that allows for independent finger movement and easy stowage.
Innovation Solution
A form-fitting hand glove with a palm-covering body, thumb, and finger portions, featuring a web or netting between the thumb and forefinger for catching balls, while allowing independent finger movement and easy handling of objects, and incorporating padding for palm protection and a utility clip for securement and stowage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional baseball glove is used to catch foul balls, then the catching capability is improved, but the glove becomes bulky and limits the wearer's ability to handle objects
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is divided into separate functional components: a form-fitting hand covering portion and a detachable webbing catching portion. This segmentation allows the hand covering to provide protection and flexibility while the webbing can be attached or detached based on catching needs, resolving the contradiction between catching capability and ability to handle objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The webbing portion is designed to be detachable and reattachable, transforming the glove from a static bulky structure to a dynamic system that can adapt between catching mode (webbing attached) and handling mode (webbing detached). This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by allowing the glove to change its functional state based on the task at hand.
2Reliability
If a traditional baseball glove is used to catch balls, then the catching function is improved, but the glove is cumbersome and difficult to stow
Solution Approach 1:
The webbing catching portion is extracted as a separate detachable component from the hand covering. When not needed for catching, the webbing can be removed and stored separately, leaving only the compact hand covering to be worn or stored, thereby eliminating the bulk and stowage difficulties of traditional gloves.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable webbing allows the glove to transition between a compact form (webbing removed) and a functional catching form (webbing attached). This dynamic reconfiguration enables easy stowage when the catching function is not required, while still providing full catching capability when needed.
3Ease of operation
If a form-fitting hand glove is used to allow finger movement, then the ability to handle objects is improved, but the catching capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is segmented into a form-fitting hand covering that maintains finger freedom and a separate webbing structure that provides catching capability. The hand covering portion can be designed with minimal interference with finger movement, while the webbing attaches to provide the necessary catching function, thus resolving the contradiction between freedom of movement and catching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand covering portion serves multiple functions: it provides hand protection, maintains finger dexterity for handling objects, and serves as a base for attaching the webbing catching portion. This multi-functionality allows the glove to simultaneously support both handling and catching capabilities without compromise.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a form-fitting glove and catching device that provides sports fans with a ready means to catch a ball entering the spectator seating area while not reducing the wearer's ability to handle items will the glove is worn. The device comprises a glove having a body region covering the palm region and backside region of the wearer's hand, a thumb portion, a forefinger portion and a plurality of shortened finger portions. Spanning between the thumb and forefinger portions is a mitt web material for accepting a baseball or similar sports ball therein. The palm region includes a layer of protective padding, while the base of the body region comprises an opening having a strap securement means. The mitt web is a woven or netted material being secured along its periphery to the exterior portion of the thumb portion and forefinger, or alternatively to the thumb portion and middle finger.