Partial Fingered Gloves for Grip and Tactile Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Football quarterbacks face challenges with fumbles and grip issues due to the lack of suitable gloves that provide both grip enhancement and feel, while golfers struggle with inconsistent grip and control on their dominant hands, leading to performance inconsistencies and injuries.
Innovation Solution
A sports glove design that covers the thumb and forefinger while leaving the ring finger, pinkie finger, and middle finger uncovered, incorporating grip enhancers on the palm and thumb segments, and offering protective features on the dorsal segment to enhance grip and feel without compromising hand sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If full-fingered gloves are worn to enhance grip, then grip strength is improved, but tactile feel and sensitivity are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is segmented to cover only specific fingers (thumb and forefinger) while leaving other fingers (ring finger, pinkie finger, and middle finger) uncovered. This selective coverage provides grip enhancement where needed while preserving tactile sensitivity on uncovered areas, directly resolving the contradiction between grip strength and tactile feel.
Solution Approach 2:
The glove applies different coverage qualities to different body parts: the thumb and forefinger receive full coverage with grip-enhancing materials, while the ring finger, pinkie finger, and middle finger remain uncovered to maintain tactile sensitivity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each area for its specific function.
2Reliability
If grip enhancers are added to the throwing hand, then passing control is improved, but hand sensitivity and feel are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The grip enhancers are segmented to be applied only to specific fingers (thumb and forefinger) that require enhanced control for passing, while other fingers remain uncovered to maintain sensitivity. This selective application resolves the contradiction between passing control and hand sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different surface qualities are applied locally: grip-enhancing materials are concentrated on the thumb and forefinger where control is critical for passing, while the ring finger, pinkie finger, and middle finger maintain their natural sensitive skin. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing control where needed without sacrificing sensitivity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protective padding is added to the hand, then injury protection is improved, but grip sensitivity and feel are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Protective padding is segmented to cover only specific areas of the hand (primarily the dorsal segment and covered fingers) while leaving other areas (ring finger, pinkie finger, and middle finger) uncovered. This selective protection provides injury prevention where impacts are most likely while preserving grip sensitivity on uncovered areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different protective qualities are applied locally: padding and coverage are concentrated on areas requiring protection from impacts and injuries, while sensitive areas requiring grip feedback remain uncovered. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between injury protection and grip sensitivity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves and the use of said gloves, intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Because of its unique finger configurations, grip enhancers, and/or its hand protective properties, the present invention makes a glove now operable on a football quarterback's throwing hand and on golfers dominant hand, for example.