Abstract:
A shape is formed and maintained in a shapeable object by a flexible wrap and a shaped device. The shaped device is placed in the shapeable object and wrapped by the flexible wrap. Adjustment of the wrap secures the shaped device in the shapeable object and compresses the flexible wrap around the shapeable object and the shaped device resulting in the shapeable object conforming to the shape of the shaped device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to the U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/597,070 filed Feb. 2, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the past, many methods have been used for breaking-in a new ball glove, such as a baseball or softball glove. When purchased, a new glove is generally stiff and when worn, the glove pocket is difficult to open and close by movement of the user&#39;s hand, which is inserted into the glove. One of the most well known ways to break-in a new glove is to generously lubricate the glove pocket, place a baseball or softball in the pocket, and wrap the glove tightly around the ball. As a result, the ball assists in forming the desired pocket and the lubrication of the pocket helps to break down the stiffness. 
     Although acceptable results may be achieved by the above-described method, the results may not be suitable for all gloves. For example, a fielder&#39;s glove, a first baseman&#39;s glove and a catcher&#39;s glove differ in construction, size and function and therefore the single break-in method descried above, while acceptable for one glove, may not be as effective for a glove used at a different position. 
     Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide for varying the glove conditioning so that the different gloves used at different positions may be conditioned and broken in, in a manner which enhances their usefulness and functioning. Also, it would be beneficial to provide a system and devices for maintaining and protecting the glove and maintaining the shape of the glove pocket. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment accordingly, includes apparatus for forming and maintaining a shape including a flexible wrap and a shaped device of a selected or glove-specific shape for insertion into a shapeable object such as the concave surface of a glove pocket. The glove or shapeable object is wrapped in the flexible wrap. Adjustment of the wrap is provided for securing the shapeable object or glove, along with the shaped device within the flexible wrap and for compressing the flexible wrap around the flexible object or glove including the shaped device. As a result, the concave surface of the pocket is conformed to the selected shape of the shaped device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-4  are perspective views illustrating embodiments of various pocket forms. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a fielder&#39;s glove. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the glove of  FIG. 5  including a form inserted in the glove pocket. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the glove of  FIG. 5  including another form inserted in the glove pocket. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a catcher&#39;s glove. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the glove of  FIG. 8  including a form inserted in the glove pocket. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a first baseman&#39;s glove. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the glove of  FIG. 10  including a form inserted in the glove pocket. 
         FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of first and second sides of a wrap used to secure a glove and an insert. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a wrap used to secure a glove and an insert. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a further embodiment of a wrap used to secure a glove and an insert. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A glove of the type used in baseball and softball is position specific with regard to shape and size. For example, a catcher&#39;s glove, a first baseman&#39;s glove an outfielder&#39;s glove and an infielder&#39;s glove, including a pitcher&#39;s glove, all differ in size and shape as well as pocket size and shape. 
     In order to break-in a specific glove, an insert or form is provided by a suitable synthetic material which has a shape and size appropriate to assist in forming a pocket size and shape desired for that glove. As such, multiple forms or inserts of a molded synthetic material are provided and are illustrated. 
     A first form  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and is generally of a triangular or teardrop shape. The form  10  includes a first bulbous or rounded ended  12 , which is substantially wide and thick. The form  10  tapers along elongated linear sides  14   a ,  14   b  to a second end  16 , opposite the first end  12 , which is substantially small and pointed relative to the first end  12 . 
     A second form  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  and is also of a generally triangular shape. The form  20  includes a first blunt end  22 , which is substantially wide and thick. The form  20  tapers along elongated curved sides  24   a ,  24   b  to a second blunt end  26 , opposite the first blunt end  22 , which is substantially smaller relative to the first end  22 . 
     A third form  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  and is generally of an elongated shape having a first blunt end  32 , a consistent width defined by opposite sides  34   a ,  34   b , and a narrow, extended second end  36 . The second end  36  has a substantially pot-handle shape. 
     A fourth form  40  is illustrated in  FIG. 4  and is generally elongated having opposite blunt ends  42 ,  46  separated by an enlarged mid-section  45  having curved sides  44   a ,  44   b  which midsection is substantially wider than the opposite ends  42 ,  46  and or substantially bulbous in appearance. 
     One glove type is a well known fielder&#39;s glove  50 ,  FIG. 5 . Fielder&#39;s gloves  50  can include an infielder&#39;s glove, a pitcher&#39;s glove and an outfielder&#39;s glove. Each of these gloves may vary slightly but are substantially similar; therefore, these gloves will be generally described as fielder&#39;s gloves  50  for purposes of this discussion. 
     For breaking-in a fielder&#39;s glove  50 ,  FIG. 5 , one of the first and second forms, i.e. forms  10  or  20  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , can be selectively used to form and maintain a pocket. The fielder&#39;s glove pocket, as is well known, is a concave area  52  of the glove positioned adjacent a web portion  54  and also positioned between a thumb receiving portion  56  and a plurality of finger receiving portions  58 . One of the first and second forms  10  or  20 , is selected by the user of the glove and is inserted into the pocket  52 , see  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     For breaking-in a well known catcher&#39;s glove  80 ,  FIG. 8 , the third form i.e. form  30 ,  FIG. 3 , can be used to form and maintain a pocket. The catcher&#39;s glove pocket, as is well known, is the concave area  82  of the glove  80  positioned adjacent a web portion  84  and also positioned between a thumb receiving portion  86  and a multiple finger receiving portion  88 . The third form  30  is inserted into the pocket  82 , see  FIG. 9 . 
     For breaking-in a well known first baseman&#39;s glove  100 ,  FIG. 10 , the fourth form, i.e.  40 ,  FIG. 4 , can be used to form and maintain a pocket. The first baseman&#39;s glove pocket, as is well known, is the concave area  102  of the glove  100  positioned adjacent a web portion  104  and also positioned between a thumb receiving portion  106  and a multiple finger receiving portion  108 . The fourth form  40  is inserted into the pocket  102 , see  FIG. 11 . 
     The foregoing has described the insertion of one of the forms  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  FIGS. 1-4 , into an appropriate one of the gloves  50 ,  80 ,  100 ,  FIG. 5 ,  8 , or  10 . The following will describe inserting a glove and a shaped form into a flexible wrap formed of a suitable fabric material. 
     A flexible wrap  120 ,  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  is provided to receive the glove  50  with the inserted form  20  and to secure and compress the glove around the form thus causing the glove pocket to be shaped around the form. The wrap also includes adjustable members, discussed below. Furthermore, the wrap can include a handle for convenient carrying and storing the glove containing the form. 
     Further describing a flexible wrap  120 ,  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b , it can be seen that the wrap  120  includes a void  122  formed therein. A pair of flaps  124   a ,  124   b , which may be a single flap not shown, provide a first adjustable means for securing a glove within the wrap. A pair of straps  126   a ,  126   b  provide a second adjustable means for compressing the wrap  120  around a glove and inserted form so that the glove pocket is conformed to the shape of the form being used. 
     For example, the fielder&#39;s glove  50 ,  FIG. 5 , and the form  20 ,  FIG. 2 , inserted into the pocket  52  of the glove, are inserted into the void  122 . The flaps  124   a ,  124   b  are adjustably closed to secure the glove  50  within the wrap  120 . The flaps  124   a ,  124   b  may be adjusted due to a hook  123  and loop  125  connector system as discussed below, or by another suitable adjustable connector system. Once the glove  50  is secured within the wrap  120 , the straps  126   a ,  126   b  are adjustably drawn together tightly by a pair of mating snaps  128   a ,  128   b  and a slide  121  for compressing the wrap  120  around the glove  50  and the pocket inserted form  20 . The hook  123  and loop  125  connector system may include a commercially available Velcro® hook and loop fastening device. The material used for the wrap  120  may be similar to material used for travel luggage or a backpack. 
     Returning again to  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b , the flaps  124   a ,  124   b  are cross-folded in directions F 1  and F 2  as indicated by a pair of directional arrows. The hooks  123  of the flaps  124   a ,  124   b  are engaged with the loops  125  on a first side  127  of the wrap  120 . This secures the glove  50  and form  20  in the void  122 . Subsequently, the straps  126   a ,  126   b  are simultaneously moved in directions  51  and S 2  so that the snaps  128   a ,  128   b  can be interlocked. Finally, the straps  126   a ,  126   b  are drawn tightly around the wrap  120  by advancing the strap  126   a  through the slide  121  thus urging the wrap  120  and glove  50  to be compressed about the form  20 . A handle  129 ,  FIG. 12   b  on a second side  130  of the wrap  120 , opposite the first side  127  can be used to hand-carry the wrap  120  containing the glove  50  and form  20 . 
     Another flexible wrap  220 ,  FIG. 13  may also be used in a manner similar to that described above. For the purpose of forming a pocket in fielder&#39;s glove  50  using the form  10 , forming a pocket in the catcher&#39;s glove  80  using the form  30 , or forming a pocket in the first baseman&#39;s glove  100  using the form  40 , the preferred wrap is the wrap  220  as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . If necessary, the size of the wrap  220  can be varied to accommodate the gloves  50 ,  80  and  100 . 
     In  FIG. 13 , any one of the gloves  50 ,  80  or  100  and their respective forms  10 ,  30  and  40  are inserted into the wrap  220 . Wrap  220  includes a void  222  formed therein. A drawstring  224  provides an adjustable means for securing a glove  50 ,  80  or  100  in the wrap  220 . The draw string  224  is drawn through a string holding and release member  226 , to reduce an end  220   a  of wrap  220  from a first position P 1  to a second position P 2  thus securing the glove in the wrap  220 . When the draw string  224  is drawn to an extended position E, a spring loaded plunger  228  holds the string  224  and when desired, the plunger  228  is manually depressed to a position D, to release the string  224  and re-open end  220   a  to position P 1 . 
     A flap  230  is adjustable in a direction F and includes a hook and loop connective system as discussed above. The flap  230  includes a hook connector  223 , which is engageable with a connector pad  232  attached to wrap  220  having a loop connector  225 . The flap  230  and connector pad  232  are adjustably drawn together and engaged for compressing the wrap  220  around a glove and pocket inserted form. A handle  229  can be used to hand-carry the wrap  220 . 
     A further flexible wrap  300 ,  FIG. 14 , may also be used in a manner similar to that described above. In  FIG. 14 , a glove and a respective form are inserted into a void  302  in the wrap  300 . A flap  304  is adjustable in a direction D and includes a hook connector  306  and the wrap  300  includes a loop connector  308 . The connector  306  of the flap  304  is adjustably drawn into engagement with the loop connector  308 . This accomplishes a closing of the void  302  securing the glove and the respective form within the void  302 , and also accomplishes compressing the wrap  300  around the glove and the form thus compressing the glove around the form. A handle  310  can be used to hand-carry the wrap  300 . 
     The wraps described above can be used to protect and store a glove and an insert at any and all times and for maintaining the pocket shape when the glove is not in use. A suitable leather conditioner and lubricant material can be used to coat and penetrate the pocket of a glove to enhance the breaking-in process. Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing, that the flaps, straps and drawstrings as illustrated, can contribute in any combination and on any one of the wraps, to both secure a glove in the wrap and compress the wrap around the glove and the form inserted into the glove pocket. 
     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.