Catching tool for baseball

A catching tool for baseball according to the present invention includes an inner stall including an inner finger stall having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and an outer stall including an outer finger stall. The outer finger stall includes a projecting bonding portion projecting inwardly. The inner finger stall includes a lateral piece having a cutout formed from the proximal portion side toward the distal portion, and a back piece bonded to the lateral piece so as to cover the cutout. The inner finger stall has a step formed by the lateral piece and the back piece at a position facing the projecting bonding portion, and the step is engageable with the projecting bonding portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/085888, filed 2 Dec. 2016, which claims the benefit of Priority to Japanese Application No. 2015-236401, filed 3 Dec. 2015. The entire contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a catching tool for baseball, and particularly to a baseball glove.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional baseball gloves have a configuration in which an inner stall with inner finger stalls is inserted into an outer stall with outer finger stalls. The outer finger stall is generally formed of a plurality of leather members layered on and sewn to each other. The portion of the outer finger stall, in which the plurality of leather members are sewn together, is accordingly a bulge projecting inwardly of the outer finger stall.

The inner stall with the inner finger stalls generally includes a surface member including a palm portion and finger portions extending from the palm portion. Also, a back member is bonded to the front member so as to cover the back surface of the finger portion. Such a back member may be formed of a plurality of members sewn together (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 06-23317 (PTD 1)). In the baseball glove described in PTD 1, the back member of the inner finger stall of the inner stall is formed of a back piece and lateral pieces sewn to opposite sides of the back piece.

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In the formation of the back member of the inner finger stall using one member, the back member needs to be curved greatly. This leads to the formation of a portion with an increased height in the inner finger stall. Consequently, a bulge of the outer finger stall which projects inwardly presses the back member of the inner finger stall.

Additionally, the inner finger stall is not secured to the outer finger stall in the conventional baseball glove. This causes a relative positional shift between the inner finger stall and the outer finger stall during the use of the baseball glove. Thus, the shape of the inner finger stall is not stable due to the effect caused by the bulge of the outer finger stall, which projects inwardly, pressing the back member of the inner finger stall. For example, the inner finger stall is tilted laterally in the outer finger stall, or the inner finger stall deforms. For the conventional baseball glove, the user may accordingly have difficulty in slipping the fingers into the inner finger stalls.

In the conventional baseball glove, further, the bulge located on the inner side of the outer finger stall presses the back member of the inner finger stall. This allows the bulge to press the finger of the user of the baseball glove via the back member of the inner finger stall. Such pressing may cause discomfort or pain to the user during the use of the baseball glove.

In the baseball glove described in PTD 1, the back member of the inner finger stall is formed of a back piece and lateral pieces. The baseball glove described in PTD 1 can thus solve the problem of the formation of a portion with an increased height in the inner finger stall. The baseball glove described in PTD 1, however, has no measures taken to secure the inner finger stall to the outer finger stall. The baseball glove described in PTD 1 accordingly cannot solve another problem; the user has difficulty in slipping the fingers into the inner finger stalls. In addition, as to the problem of the discomfort or pain felt by the user due to the bulge located on the inner side of the outer finger stall, no measures are taken in the baseball glove described in PTD 1.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the conventional technology. Specifically, the present invention has an object to provide a catching tool for baseball that allows the user of the catching tool for baseball to slip the fingers thereinto easily and causes no discomfort or pain to the user during its use.

Solution to Problem

A catching tool for baseball according to the present invention includes an inner stall including an inner finger stall having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and an outer stall including an outer finger stall. The outer finger stall includes a projecting bonding portion projecting inwardly. The inner finger stall includes a lateral piece having a cutout formed from the proximal portion side toward the distal portion, and a back piece bonded to the lateral piece so as to cover the cutout. The inner finger stall has a step formed by the lateral piece and the back piece at a position facing the projecting bonding portion. The step is engageable with the projecting bonding portion.

In the catching tool for baseball according to the present invention, the step formed by the lateral piece and the back piece faces the projecting bonding portion located on the inner side of the outer finger stall, causing the projecting bonding portion of the outer finger stall which projects inwardly and the step to be engaged with each other. The projecting bonding portion accordingly does not deform the inner finger stall excessively. Thus, the catching tool for baseball according to the present invention is less likely to cause discomfort or pain to the user. In the catching tool for baseball according to the present invention, since the step formed by the lateral piece and the back piece in the inner finger stall is engaged with the projecting bonding portion, the positions of the inner finger stall and the outer finger stall are less likely to change with respect to each other. This can prevent or reduce a lateral collapse of the inner finger stall in the outer finger stall.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention provides a catching tool for baseball that allows the user to slip the fingers thereinto easily and causes no discomfort or pain during its use.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1 will now be described with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding portions will be denoted by the same reference signs in the drawings. At least some parts of the embodiments described below may be combined as appropriate.

Overall Structure of Baseball Glove According to Embodiment 1

First, the overall structure of a baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 will be described.FIG. 1shows an appearance of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1.FIG. 2shows an appearance of an inner stall of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 includes an outer stall1and an inner stall2. Outer stall1is preferably made of leather material. The leather material may be, for example, natural leather or synthetic leather. Outer stall through-holes (not shown) are formed in the catch surface of outer stall1.

As shown inFIG. 1, outer stall1includes outer finger stalls11. Outer finger stalls11are provided at the positions corresponding to the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of the user. Each outer finger stall11is formed of a plurality of leather materials bonded together. A projecting bonding portion12is formed at the portion at which the plurality of leather materials are bonded together. Projecting bonding portion12is preferably formed by layering a plurality of leather members on each other with a spacer therebetween and bonding the layers to each other by, for example, sewing. In Embodiment 1, projecting bonding portion12formed on the finger nail side of outer finger stall11is located at one location close to the center of outer finger stall11.

As shown inFIG. 2, inner stall2includes a front member21and a back member22. Front member21includes a palm portion21aand finger portions21bextending from the palm portion. Front member21has inner stall through-holes24. Back member22is bonded to finger portion21bof front member21by a method such as sewing. Thus, an inner finger stall23is formed. Inner finger stall23has a distal portion23aand a proximal portion23b. Back member22includes a lateral piece22ahaving a cutout22b, and a back piece22cbonded to lateral piece22aby, for example, sewing so as to cover cutout22b.

Every inner finger stall23does not need to be formed of lateral piece22aand back piece22c. For example, each of inner finger stalls23corresponding to the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger may be formed of lateral piece22aand back piece22c, and each of inner finger stalls23corresponding to the thumb and little finger may be formed of one back member.

As shown inFIG. 2, cutout22bis formed from proximal portion23bside of inner finger stall23toward distal portion23a. Cutout22bmay be provided up to the vicinity of distal portion23aof inner finger stall23. Alternatively, cutout22bmay be provided up to a position with a distance of 50 mm from proximal portion23bof inner finger stall23. Still alternatively, cutout22bmay be provided up to a position with a distance of 10 mm from proximal portion23bof inner finger stall23.

In the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, back piece22cis bonded to the inner side5of lateral piece22a. Consequently, a step22d(seeFIG. 3) that is recessed inwardly of inner finger stall23is formed between lateral piece22aand back piece22c.

Front member21and back member22are preferably made of leather material. Leather material may be, for example, natural leather or synthetic leather. Lateral piece22aand back piece22care preferably made of different materials. Further, the material for back piece22cis preferably softer than the material for lateral piece22a. The softness of lateral piece22aand the softness of back piece22care measured in accordance with the method described in ISO-17235. Additionally, back piece22cpreferably has a thickness smaller than the thickness of lateral piece22a.

Inner stall2is inserted into outer stall1by inserting inner finger stalls23into outer finger stalls11. With inner stall2inserted into outer stall1, a string-shaped member is caused to pass through inner stall through-holes24and outer stall through-holes and is subsequently tied, so that inner stall2is secured to outer stall1.

Structure of Finger Stall of Baseball Glove According to Embodiment 1

Next, the detailed structure of the finger stall of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 will be described.FIG. 3is a sectional view of a finger stall portion of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1. As shown inFIG. 3, projecting bonding portion12projects inwardly of outer finger stall11.

As shown inFIG. 3, the baseball glove has a catching side3opposite a finger nail side4. Inner finger stall23includes lateral piece22a, back piece22c, and finger portion21b. Step22dis formed at the bonding portion at which lateral piece22aand back piece22care bonded to each other. Step22dis arranged at a position facing projecting bonding portion12. Step22dis recessed inwardly of inner finger stall23. Step22dis thus engageable with projecting bonding portion12. Examples of the case in which step22dis engageable with projecting bonding portion12include the case in which a space is defined between step22dand projecting bonding portion12as shown inFIG. 3, as well as the case in which step22dand projecting bonding portion12are in intimate contact with and are fitted to each other.

A thickness t1of an intermediate member caught in the leather member of outer finger stall11in projecting bonding portion12may be, for example, 1.2 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less. The lower limit of thickness t1may be 1.6 mm. The upper limit of thickness t1may be 2.1 mm. A thickness t2of the leather member of outer finger stall11may be 1.2 mm or more and 2.3 mm or less. The lower limit of thickness t2may be 1.6 mm. The upper limit of thickness t2may be 1.9 mm.

A width W1of projecting bonding portion12may be, for example, 3.6 mm or more and 7.1 mm or less. The lower limit of width W1may be 4.8 mm. The upper limit of width W1may be 5.9 mm. In back piece22cinFIG. 3, bonding portions to be bonded with lateral piece22aare formed at opposite ends. Steps22dare thus formed at opposite ends of back piece22c. In the direction perpendicular to the direction in which outer finger stall11extends, an engagement width W2that is the distance between steps22dlocated at the opposite ends of back piece22cmay be, for example, 3.5 mm or more and 7.2 mm or less. The lower limit of engagement width W2may be 3.6 mm, 4.7 mm, or 4.8 mm. The upper limit of engagement width W2may be 7.1 mm, 6.0 mm, or 5.9 mm. Engagement width W2may be substantially equal to width W1of projecting bonding portion12or may be greater than width W1.

Effects of Baseball Glove According to Embodiment 1

The effects of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 will be described below by comparison with the comparative example.

Similarly to the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, a baseball glove according to the comparative example includes outer stall1having outer finger stalls11and inner stall2having inner finger stalls23, and inner stall2is inserted into outer stall1.FIG. 4shows the sectional structure of the finger stall of the baseball glove according to the comparative example. As shown inFIG. 4, outer finger stall11of the baseball glove according to the comparative example includes projecting bonding portion12projecting inwardly of outer finger stalls11, similarly to outer finger stall11of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1.

As shown inFIG. 4, inner finger stall23is formed of front member21and back member22. However, since back member22is formed of one member, back member22needs to be curved greatly to form inner finger stall23. This leads to an increased height of inner finger stall23. Upon insertion of inner stall2into outer stall1, inner finger stall23of the baseball glove according to the comparative example thus deforms by being pressed by projecting bonding portion12. Members for regulating the positional relationship between inner finger stall23and outer finger stall11are not provided in these stalls. The position of inner finger stall23with respect to outer finger stall11accordingly changes within the outer finger stall. Consequently, back member22of inner finger stall23is tilted due to the effect of projecting bonding portion12. As a result, in the baseball glove according to the comparative example, the user of the baseball glove has difficulty in slipping the fingers into inner finger stalls23.

In the baseball glove according to the comparative example, the deformation of inner finger stall23causes projecting bonding portion12to press the finger of the user of the baseball glove via inner finger stall23. This causes discomfort or pain to the user of the baseball glove according to the comparative example.

In the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, contrastingly, back member22of inner finger stall23is formed of a plurality of members, namely, lateral piece22aand back piece22c. In the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, thus, the height of inner finger stall23is unlikely to become large. Additionally, in the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, step22dis engageable with projecting bonding portion12. When inner stall2is inserted into outer stall1, accordingly, the position of inner finger stall23with respect to outer finger stall11is less likely to change. In the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, thus, inner finger stall23is less likely to be tilted due to the effect of projecting bonding portion12, unlike in the baseball glove according to the comparative example.

Moreover, in the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, inner finger stall23includes step22dthat is recessed inwardly at a position facing projecting bonding portion12. In the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, thus, inner finger stall23is less likely to deform in such a manner of being pressed by projecting bonding portion12and crushed, unlikely in the baseball glove according to the comparative example. Consequently, projecting bonding portion12is unlikely to press the finger of the user via inner finger stall23.

As described above, in the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1, the user can slip the fingers into inner finger stalls23easily and is less likely to feel pain or discomfort.

When cutout22bis provided up to the vicinity of the distal portion of inner finger stall23, the insertion of inner finger stall23into outer finger stall11is guided by step22dand projecting bonding portion12. In such a case, thus, inner stall2can be inserted into outer stall1easily. When cutout22bis provided up to a position with a distance of 50 mm from proximal portion23bof inner finger stall23, the user is less likely to feel discomfort or pain when slipping the fingers into inner finger stalls23. Further, when cutout22bis provided up to a position with a distance of 10 mm from proximal portion23bof inner finger stall23, proximal portion23bof inner finger stall23can be prevented from losing its shape due to bonding portion12.

Embodiment 2 will now be described with reference to the drawings. Differences from the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 will be mainly described.

Overall Structure of Baseball Glove According to Embodiment 2

First, the overall structure of a baseball glove according to Embodiment 2 will be described.FIG. 5shows an appearance of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2.FIG. 6shows an appearance of an inner stall of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2 is similar to the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 in that it includes outer stall1and inner stall2, outer stall1includes outer finger stalls11, and inner stall2includes inner finger stalls23.

The baseball glove according to Embodiment 2, however, differs from the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 in that projecting bonding portions12formed on the finger nail side of outer finger stall11are formed at two locations for one outer finger stall11. As shown inFIG. 7, the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2 also differs from the baseball glove according to Embodiment 1 in that back piece22cis bonded to the outer side of lateral piece22aand that step22dhas a sectional shape extending from the center toward the lateral side of inner finger stall23in the width direction on the finger nail side so as to be closer to finger portion21bat the lateral side.

Structure of Finger Stall of Baseball Glove According to Embodiment 2

Next, a detailed structure of the finger stall of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2 will be described.FIG. 7shows the sectional structure of the finger stall of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2. As shown inFIG. 7, projecting bonding portions12are formed at two locations on the finger nail side of outer finger stall11in Embodiment 2, unlike in Embodiment 1.

As shown inFIG. 7, steps22dare arranged at position facing projecting bonding portions12. In Embodiment 2, steps22dare raised so as to have an end surface facing the lateral surface of inner finger stall23, unlike in Embodiment 1. Also, steps22dare arranged between projecting bonding portions12at two locations. This allows inner finger stall23and outer finger stall11to be engaged with each other. A distance W3between two projecting bonding portions12ofFIG. 7may be substantially equal to a width W4of back piece22c(or, also referred to as the distance between steps22dlocated at opposite ends of back piece22c), or may be greater than width W4.

As shown inFIG. 8, back piece22cmay be bonded to the inner side of lateral piece22ato form steps22din such a manner of being recessed inwardly of inner finger stall23, and the width of back piece22cmay be made greater than the interval between projecting bonding portions12formed at two locations. From a different perspective, in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which outer finger stall11extends, engagement width W2that is the distance between steps22dlocated at opposite ends of back piece22cmay be substantially equal to a distance W5between the peripheral lateral surfaces of two projecting bonding portions12, or may be greater than width W5. This allows outer finger stall11and inner finger stall23to be engaged with each other so as to sandwich projecting bonding portion12between two steps22d.

Effects of Baseball Glove According to Embodiment 2

The effects of the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2 will be described below.

In the baseball glove according to Embodiment 2, inner finger stall23is formed of a plurality of members, namely, lateral piece22aand back piece22c, which does not increase the height of inner finger stall23. Also, since projecting bonding portion12of outer finger stall11is engageable with step22dof inner finger stall23, the positions of outer finger stall11and inner finger stall23are unlikely to change with respect to each other. Further, since projecting bonding portion12and step22dare located at positions facing each other, inner finger stall23is not pressed by projecting bonding portion12, and accordingly, is less likely to deform. Thus, projecting bonding portion12is less likely to press the finger of the user via inner finger stall23. Consequently, the user can slip the fingers into inner finger stalls23easily and is less likely to feel pain or discomfort also in Embodiment 2.

It should be construed that the embodiments disclosed herein are given by way of illustration in all respects, not by way of limitation. It is therefore intended that the scope of the present invention is defined by claims, not only by the embodiments described above, and encompasses all modifications and variations equivalent in meaning and scope to the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST