Abstract:
A ball glove has a hollow zone at a ball impact zone. The hollow zone accommodates a drop-in assembly to provide adequate protection to the wearer of the ball glove without imparting stiffness to the crotch area or the ball impact zone of the ball glove. The ball glove opens/closes easily so as to provide control which players are seeking and creates a game-day-ready pocket based on the individual player&#39;s ball catching habits in a short period of time.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a ball glove for baseball, softball and other sports. In particular, the present invention relates to a ball glove having a hollow zone at a ball impact zone, which allows the ball glove to open/close and break-in easily and creates a game-day ready pocket in a short time of period. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In sports such as baseball and softball, players wear a ball glove on the non-throwing hand for catching the ball. The ball glove is designed to be worn by placing fingers in a finger region of a hand cavity formed by a shell back comprising a back side skin and a shell palm comprising a palm side skin of the ball glove. The shell back and the shell palm of the ball glove are joined at the periphery, except at a hand insertion opening, by lacing, sewing or welting. 
         [0003]    One of important function of the ball glove is to provide a wearer protection from an impact of a ball being caught in the ball glove and the ball glove is typically made of material such as leather with layers of padding to dissipate the force exerted on the hand by a caught ball. As indicated in  FIG. 2 a   , a ball impact zone X of the ball glove is located at the base of the index finger section. Accordingly, in conventional ball gloves, the layers of padding are fixedly attached by a glue and sewing to a palm lining to cover the ball impact zone without any open room in between, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The ball&#39;s impact begins the molding and stretching process of the leather so that a pocket is formed in the impact zone. The pocket of the ball glove is where the wearer can catch the ball tightly. 
         [0004]      FIG. 4  illustrates a typical position of the layers of padding in conventional ball glove. It is necessary to provide layers of padding in the ball impact zone for an adequate protection from the impact of the ball being caught. However, the layers of padding fixedly attached to the palm lining increase stiffness of the palm side skin of the ball glove, on which the palm lining is secured and the ball is contacted. The stiffness of the palm side skin of the ball glove not only increases response time to close and open the ball glove but also causes a difficulty to form the pocket in the ball impact zone of the ball glove. 
         [0005]    A crotch area is another stiff area in the ball impact zone. The crotch area is the area of a palm shell that separates the index finger section and the thumb section of the ball glove. In the conventional ball glove, a webbing is provided between the thumb section and the index finger section of the ball glove and is coupled to the crotch area to assist a stable and sturdy ball catching. As the webbing, the shell palm, and the back shell are congregated at the crotch area, the crotch area of the conventional ball glove also exhibits stiffness. The stiffness in the crotch area also has a negative impact on the pocket forming process as the ball impact zone includes the crotch area and on the maneuverability of the ball glove to open and close. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, a break-in process is required to improve the maneuverability of the ball glove and to form the pocket in a desired spot. In the break-in process, stiff areas in the ball glove are softened by rubbing oils prior to forming the pocket. Ball glove manufacturers make a variety of oils to soften the leather. Shaving cream with lanolin, mink oil, saddle soap, etc. are also used. Wooden mallets or rubber mallets specifically made to pound the pocket are often used to form the pocket. Another practice for forming the pocket of the ball glove is to place a ball in the pocket and tie the glove shut with shoelaces or string for a day or two in an area where the temperature is not extreme. 
         [0007]    However these approaches do not create the pocket based on the individual player&#39;s ball catching habits. Playing catch with someone would be the best way to break-in as the ball&#39;s impact initiates the molding and stretching process of the palm side skin of the ball glove so it will conform to the wearer&#39;s hand and catching style. However, breaking-in the ball glove to form the pocket in this way with conventional ball gloves is lengthy and regular work out is needed every day for at least two weeks. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the above mentioned situation, various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a ball glove that can open/close easily so as to provide control which players are seeking and that create a game-day ready pocket based on the individual player&#39;s ball catching habits in a short period of time. 
         [0009]    According to the present invention, the glove comprises a shell palm comprising a palm side skin and a shell back comprising a back side skin. The palm side skin forms a front wall of the glove while the back side skin forms a back wall of the glove. The palm side skin comprises a crotch flap at the crotch area. In this description, the crotch area is referred to as an area of the palm shell that separates the index finger section and the thumb section of the ball glove. The crotch flap is a part of the palm side skin extending from the crotch area. The crotch flap may be formed into a tubular member. 
         [0010]    The shell back is coupled to the shell palm at the periphery, except at the crotch area and at a hand insertion opening, such that a drop-in cavity and a hand cavity are defined and a finger region comprising a plurality of finger sections including an index finger section and a thumb section configured to align with an index finger and a thumb, respectively, of wearer of the glove, is formed. The ball glove has distal and proximal ends. The hand cavity has an opening to insert wearer&#39;s hand in the proximal end of the ball glove, while the finger region is located on distal end of the ball glove. The drop-in cavity is a space extending from the crotch area toward the proximal end of the ball glove to accommodate a drop-in assembly, the detail of which is described below, and has an opening at the crotch area. 
         [0011]    The ball glove further comprises the drop-in assembly and a webbing coupled to the index finger section, the thumb section and the crotch flap. The drop-in assembly is disposed in the drop-in cavity defined between the shell palm and the shell back such that that a first hollow zone is formed between the shell back and the drop-in crotch and a second hollow zone is formed between the shell palm and the drop-in crotch, and is coupled to the crotch flap. Thus, the drop-in crotch assembly is suspended between the shell palm and the shell back and is not coupled to the shell back. 
         [0012]    The drop-in assembly comprises a pad cover layer having a shock absorb pad area surrounded by a pocket stabilizer area and a drop-in crotch to which the crotch flap is coupled and may further comprise a first shock absorb layer and a second shock absorb layer in the shock absorb pad area. The pad cover layer may further comprise a slit aperture in the pocket stabilizer area along a contour of the shock absorb pad area. The pocket stabilizer area of the drop-in assembly may be attached to the shell palm. 
         [0013]    The shock absorb pad area may further comprise a plurality of slits to impart flexibility and air permeability to the shock absorb pad area. An area of the shell back corresponding to the crotch area of the shell palm may be shifted toward a proximal end of the grove so that a part of the drop-in crotch is exposed from the shell back. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the ball glove may further comprise a palm lining and a back lining secured to the shell back on a side opposite to the back wall of the glove. The palm lining is coupled to the back lining to define the hand cavity and to form the finger region, and the shell back is coupled to the shell palm except at the crotch area to define the drop-in cavity. The drop-in assembly is disposed in the drop-in cavity defined between the shell palm and the palm lining such that the first hollow zone is formed between the drop-in assembly and the palm lining and the second hollow zone is formed between the drop-in assembly and the shell palm. 
         [0015]    The pocket stabilizer area of the drop-in crotch may be attached to the shell palm. The shock absorb pad area may further comprise a plurality of slits to impart flexibility and permeability to the shock absorb pad area and an area of the shell back corresponding to the crotch area of the shell palm may be shifted toward a proximal end of the grove so that a part of the drop-in crotch is exposed from the shell back. 
         [0016]    The foregoing and other objectives and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiment may be utilized and the structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention. Accordingly, the following detail description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, showing by way of illustration a particular embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment is merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1 a    is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1 b    is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1 c    is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2 a    is a front perspective view of the ball glove in an open position indicating a ball impact zone X in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2 b    is a back perspective view of the ball glove in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a palm pad attached to a palm lining of the conventional ball glove. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a specific position of the palm pad of the conventional ball glove. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an explosion view of a drop-in assembly in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the shell palm coupled to the shell back to define the drop-in cavity. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the shell palm coupled to the shell back having the drop-in assembly there between in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates a position of the drop-in assembly in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the drop-in assembly attached to the shell palm in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the crotch flap formed into a tubular member. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of one of embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Hereafter, the ball glove of the present invention will be described in detail by way of preferable embodiment shown in the attached drawings. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one skill in the art. In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a through understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and mechanism have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1 a   ,  FIG. 1 b   , and  FIG. 1 c    illustrate a ball glove  1  in accordance with some of embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 1 a    illustrates a mitt style,  FIG. 1 b    illustrates regular style, and  FIG. 1 c    illustrates a fast back style. The figures are shown in a left-handed glove. However, the present invention is not limited to the left-handed glove. A right-handed glove would be substantially identical to the left-handed glove. The ball glove  1  has distal and proximal ends. The hand cavity define by the shell back  4  and the shell palm  2  has an opening for a hand cavity  31  to insert wearer&#39;s hand in the proximal end of the ball glove and the finger region  18  is located on the distal end of the ball glove. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 a    and  FIG. 2 b   , the ball glove  1  comprises a shell palm  2  comprising a palm side skin  6  having a crotch flap  10  at a crotch area  12 , which is located between the index finger section  20  and a thumb section  28 , and a shell back  4  comprising a back side skin  8 . The shell palm  2  and the shell back  4  are coupled at the periphery, except at the crotch area  12  and at a hand insertion opening  31 , to define a drop-in cavity  33  and a hand cavity (not shown in the drawings), respectively and to form a finger region  18 . The shell palm  2  and the shell back  4  may be coupled by any suitable method such as stitching, gluing, lacing or welting. 
         [0035]    The finger region  18  comprising a plurality of finger sections  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 , including an index finger section  20  and a thumb section  28  configured to align with an index finger and a thumb, respectively, of wearer of the glove. The palm side skin  6  forms a front wall  3  of the glove and the back side skin  8  forms a back wall  5  of the glove. The ball glove  1  further comprises a drop-in assembly  32  and a webbing  30  which is coupled to the index finger section  20 , the thumb section  28 , and the crotch flap  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the crotch flap  10  is a part the palm side skin  6 , extending from the crotch area  12 , toward the distal end of the ball glove  1 , and may be formed into a tubular member. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the drop-in cavity  33  is a space between the shell palm  2  and the shell back  4 , to accommodate the drop-in assembly  32  extending from the crotch area  12  toward the proximal end of the ball glove  1  and has an opening at the crotch area  12 . Thus, the shell palm  2  and the shell back  4  are not joined at the crotch area  12 , while, in a conventional glove, the shell palm and the shell back are joined at the crotch area either by lacing, sewing or welting. Accordingly, stiffness at the crotch area  12  is significantly reduced compared with the conventional glove. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates the drop-in assembly  32 . The drop-in assembly  32  comprises a pad cover layer  38  having a shock absorb pad area  40  surrounded by a pocket stabilizer area  46  and a drop-in crotch  48  to which the crotch flap  10  is coupled. The drop-in assembly may further comprise a first shock absorb layer  42  and a second shock absorb layer  44  in the shock absorb pad area  40  to provide extra protection to the wearer. The palm side skin  6 , the back side skin  8 , the webbing  30 , and the drop-in assembly  32  can be made of any suitable material or materials known in the art, whether natural or synthetic, which include but are not limited to rubber, leather or synthetic leather, preferably cowhide leather. The first shock absorb layer  42  is preferably made of a dense material to lessen a hand impact and the second shock absorb layer  44  is a shock absorb foam that is soft and flexible, but tough on impact. 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the drop-in assembly  32  is disposed in the drop-in cavity  33  defined between the shell palm  2  and the shell back  4  and the drop-in crotch  48  is coupled to the crotch flap  10  such that a first hollow zone  34  is formed between the shell back  4  and the drop-in assembly  32  and a second hollow zone  36  is formed between the shell palm  2  and the drop-in assembly  32 . Thus, the drop-in assembly  32  is suspended between the shell palm  2  and the shell back  4  and is not coupled to either the shell back  4  or the shell palm  2 . Further as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the drop-in cavity  33  is substantially overlapping with the impact zone X. Accordingly, the first hollow zone  34  and the second hollow zone  36  allow the drop-in assembly  32  to move freely in the impact zone X, where it can expand creating the pocket, so that the pocket based on the individual player&#39;s ball catching habits can be created. Moreover, the drop-in assembly  32  provides a protection to the wearer without imparting stiffness to the crotch are  12  or the impact zone X in the shell palm  2 . 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 9 , the pad cover layer  38  may further comprises a slit aperture  50  in the pocket stabilizer area  46  along a contour of the shock absorb pad area  40  and the pocket stabilizer area  46  of the drop-in assembly  32  may be attached to the shell palm  2  so as to serve as pocket shape enhancer and help the shock absorb pad area  40  to stay in the impact zone X. The shock absorb pad area  40  may comprise a plurality of slits  52  to impart flexibility and air permeability to the shock absorb pad area  40 , to further enhance the break-in process. An area of the shell back corresponding to the crotch area  13  may be shifted toward a proximal side of the grove  1  so that the stiffness at the crotch area  12  is further reduced so that the maneuverability of the ball glove is improved. 
         [0040]      FIG. 11  illustrates one of the embodiments of the present invention. The ball glove  1  may further comprise a palm lining  7  and a back lining  9  which is secured to the shell back  4  on a side opposite to the back wall  5  of the glove  1 . The palm lining  7  is coupled to the back lining  9  to define the hand cavity at the periphery, except at the hand insertion opening  31 , such that the hand cavity is defined and the finger region  18  is formed, and the shell back  4  is coupled to the shell palm  2 , except at the crotch area, such that the drop-in cavity  33  to accommodate the drop-in assembly  32  is defined. 
         [0041]    In this embodiment, the drop-in assembly  32  is disposed in the drop-in cavity  33  defined between the shell palm  2  and the palm lining  7  such that the first hollow zone  34  is formed between the drop-in assembly  32  and the palm lining  7  and the second hollow zone  36  is formed between the drop-in assembly  32  and the shell palm  2 . Accordingly, addition of the palm lining  7  and the back lining  9  does not impart stiffness to the crotch are  12  or the impact zone X in the shell palm  2 , as the palm lining  7  and the back lining  9  are not coupled to either the crotch area  12  or an area corresponding to the impact zone X of the shell palm  2 . 
         [0042]    The back lining  9  and the palm lining  7  can be made of any suitable material or materials known in the art, whether natural or synthetic, which include but not limited to rubber, leather or synthetic leather, preferably cowhide or pigskin. More preferably, tacky or non-slip material is used for the palm lining  7  to provide traction or grip to the wearer&#39;s index finger. 
         [0043]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific examples of the embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.