Tapered Palm Padding for Baseball Glove Swing Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports gloves do not enhance swing velocity or performance when gripping hand-held sports equipment, such as baseball bats, despite providing padding for protection and grip.
Innovation Solution
A performance-enhancing glove with varying-thickness padding, featuring a tapered pad across the palm and a side pad to create a cone effect, improving grip and control, thereby increasing swing speed and ball velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional padding is used in sports gloves, then hand protection and grip are provided, but swing velocity and performance are not enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the thickness of the padding across different regions of the glove. The pad is thinnest at the first palmar crease and thickest below the fifth MCP joint, creating localized zones of different densities. This gradient structure optimizes the interaction between the glove and the sporting tool, enhancing swing velocity by improving grip and control at critical contact points without compromising hand protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of padding thickness from uniform to variable. By creating a cone effect with the pad thickness increasing from the proximal to distal aspect, the invention modifies the mechanical properties of the glove to better match the ergonomic requirements for swing velocity. This parameter change transforms the glove from a passive protective device to an active performance-enhancing tool.
2Ease of operation
If uniform thickness padding is used, then manufacturing is simple, but grip control and swing speed are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating distinct zones with different pad thicknesses. The tapered pad structure provides thinner material in the proximal region for flexibility and thicker material in the distal region for enhanced grip. This localized variation in material distribution improves grip control and swing speed while maintaining a relatively simple single-layer construction.
3Strength
If thicker padding is used across the entire palm, then hand protection is improved, but swing velocity and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality through variable thickness padding. The pad provides sufficient thickness in the distal region (below the fifth MCP joint) for hand protection while being thinnest at the proximal crease to maintain swing velocity. This spatial differentiation allows the glove to simultaneously protect the hand and enhance performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the padding into functional zones with different thickness characteristics. The tapered pad structure creates distinct regions: a thin proximal zone for flexibility and swing speed, and a thick distal zone for protection and grip. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Data Source
AI summary
A performance enhancing glove for use with sports tools, such as baseball and softball bats, golf clubs, and tennis racquets. The present invention includes a tapered pad located on the palm of the glove which, when gripping a sport tool, forms a cone-like feature around the tool, increasing grip and swing speed of the tool by correcting the grip of the athlete. The taper starts at its maximum thickness just under the fifth metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP) joint and ends at a minimal thickness just under the second MCP joint. The pad is also tapered from the palm starting at the distal palmar crease, with maximum thickness and tapering to minimum thickness at the top of the MCP joints. A second pad runs along the side of the glove against the pinky and acts to separate the athlete's hands when both hands grip the tool.