Abstract:
A goalkeeper&#39;s glove is disclosed, wherein use of a specialized pattern for the element comprising the palmar surface achieves a design with improved ball control and durability characteristics. Improved ball control is gained through an absence of seams on areas that are critical for ball control, specifically the palmar and lateral surfaces of the first and second digit and the palmar and medial surfaces of the fifth digit. Furthermore, the general absence of seams that connect separate sections of material on the palmar surface improves durability by eliminating common failure areas.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a protective glove for receiving the hand of a wearer for use in athletics. More particularly, the invention relates to a soccer goalkeeper&#39;s glove. 
     2. Description of Background Art 
     The protective gloves used by soccer goalkeepers, otherwise known as goalies, typically include a dorsal element and a palmar element, both being fashioned from a latex foam, and an element for securing the glove to the goalkeeper&#39;s wrist. Although goalkeeper gloves are similar in these respects, there are various modes of goalkeeper glove design that vary with respect to durability, flexibility, and seam placement, thereby affecting the goalkeeper&#39;s ability to control the ball when catching, handling, or throwing. 
     Goalkeeper glove characteristics are most affected by the pattern from which the dorsal and palmar elements are cut. Unlike traditional gloves fashioned from leather, cloth, or a knitted yarn, latex foam is the material of choice among goalkeeper glove designers because of its flexible and protective qualities. The use of latex foam, although having desirable characteristics, affects glove design by necessitating a dorsal and palmar element with multiple seams that may interfere with ball control or reduce durability. 
     As noted, the pattern from which the dorsal and palmar elements are cut affects glove characteristics. The majority of goalkeeper gloves employ one of three patterns for the dorsal and palmar elements: the traditional cut, the gunn cut, or the rifle cut pattern. 
     In a traditional cut glove  10 , shown in FIGS. 1-2, a dorsal element  11  and a palmar element  12  are each fashioned from a single section of latex foam material, with only palmar element  12 , shown separately in FIG. 3, having an attached thumb region. Supplemental elements (not shown), formed from a flexible material, connect dorsal and palmar elements  11  and  12  in the second through fifth digit regions, thereby creating an interior space for each digit. In addition, the union of dorsal and palmar elements  11  and  12  with the supplemental elements creates a dorsal seam  13  and a palmar seam  14  on the periphery of dorsal and palmar elements  11  and  12 , respectively. The dorsal thumb region includes a separate, flexible supplemental element  15  sewn to the edge of the thumb area of palmar element  12  and to dorsal element  11 . This combination of elements gives traditional cut glove  10  a relatively flat, paddle-like configuration and palmar seam  14  limits the goalkeeper&#39;s control of the ball and reduces glove durability. 
     A gunn cut glove  20 , shown in FIGS. 4-5, includes a dorsal element  21  and a palmar element  22  that are each fashioned from a single section of latex foam material, with palmar element  22 , shown separately in FIG. 6, including regions for the first, second, and fifth digits and dorsal element  21  including regions for the second through fifth digits. The second and fifth digit regions of palmar element  22  have a greater width than corresponding regions of dorsal element  21 . To form the glove regions for the second and fifth digits, the wider palmar regions are flexed to meet the edges of the second and fifth digit regions of dorsal element  21  and then sewn, the flexed material defining a recess for the goalkeeper&#39;s digits. A single, separate section  23 , formed of latex foam material and shown separately in FIG. 7, is used to form the third and fourth digit regions of palmar element  22 . Section  23  is flexed and sewn to corresponding regions on dorsal element  21  and at the base of the third and fourth digits, the flexing again forming recesses for the goalkeeper&#39;s digits. The dorsal thumb region is formed from of a separate, flexible supplemental element  24  sewn to the edge of the thumb region of palmar element  22  and to dorsal element  21 . 
     Unlike traditional cut glove  10 , gunn cut glove  20  contains only one seam  25  joining dorsal and palmar elements  21  and  22  in the digit regions due to the lack of supplemental elements. The flexing of the second and fifth digit regions of palmar element  22  and the resulting smooth palmar surface embodies the primary advantage of the gunn cut pattern over the traditional cut pattern. The digit regions of gunn cut glove  20  are rounded and lack seams on the palmar surface that may interfere with ball control. However, the gunn cut glove is more complex and costly to manufacture. Moreover, seam  26  at the base of the third and fourth digits may be uncomfortable and lack durability. 
     In a rifle cut glove  30 , shown in, FIGS. 8-9, a dorsal element  31  and a palmar element  32  are each formed from a single section of foam material, with palmar element  32 , shown separately in FIG. 10, including only the first, second, fourth, and fifth digit regions and dorsal element  31  including the second through fifth digit regions. The second digit region of palmar element  32  has a greater width than the corresponding region of dorsal element  31 . A single, separate section  33  of latex foam material, also shown in FIG. 10, forms the third digit region of palmar element  31  and is sewn to palmar element  31  at the base of the third digit region. Supplemental elements (not shown), formed from a flexible material, connect edges of the dorsal and palmar elements in the third, fourth, and fifth digit regions, thereby creating an interior space for each digit. The union of dorsal and palmar elements  31  and  32  with the supplemental elements creates seams  34  and  35  on the periphery of the dorsal and palmar elements, respectively. To form the glove regions for the second digit, the wider palmar region is flexed to meet the edges of the second digit region of dorsal element  31  and then sewn, the flexed material thereby defining a recess for the goalkeeper&#39;s second digit. The dorsal thumb region includes a separate, flexible supplemental element  36  sewn to the edge of the thumb region of palmar element  32  and to dorsal element  31 . 
     The primary advantage of rifle cut glove  30  lies in the rounded palmar surface of the second digit. Like gunn cut glove  20 , rifle cut glove  30  is more complex and costly to manufacture than traditional cut glove  10 . In addition, seam  37  at the base of the third digit may cause discomfort and represent an area of low durability. 
     Although gloves fashioned on the traditional cut, gunn cut, and rifle cut patterns are common among goalkeeper&#39;s gloves, other variations have emerged in recent years, including the variations disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,896 to Hochmuth, U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,985 to Hochmuth, U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,842 to Hochmuth, U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,473 to Hochmuth, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,830 to Chen. 
     Based on the above discussion, soccer goalkeepers have a variety of glove designs to choose among. However, many of the existing designs include seams that interfere with ball control or generate regions of low durability. In addition, many of the designs that attempt to reduce seams often use multiple palmar elements that increase the difficulty, and thereby cost, of manufacturing. The present invention utilizes a unique goalkeeper&#39;s glove pattern that reduces the disadvantages of the prior art by removing seams that interfere with ball control, while providing a glove with high durability and low cost. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an athletic glove for protecting and receiving a hand of a wearer. The glove includes a base portion connected to a protective portion, the protective portion having a palmar element and a dorsal element. The palmar element is formed of a first shock-absorbing material and is located to substantially cover a palmar metacarpal area of the wearer&#39;s hand and a palmar side of a first digit, a second digit, a third digit, a fourth digit, and a fifth digit of the wearer&#39;s hand. The palmar element also has at least one additional section that wraps around a medial or a lateral side of at least one of the second through fifth digits to cover at least a portion of a dorsal side of the digit wrapped by said at least one additional section. The dorsal element is located opposite the palmar element and substantially covers a dorsal metacarpal area of the wearer&#39;s hand and the dorsal side of the second digit, the third digit, the fourth digit, and the fifth digit that are not covered by the at least one additional section of the palmar element. 
     The areas of the glove that are critical to ball control while catching, handling, or throwing include lateral sides of the first and second digit regions of the palmar element; the palmar sides of the third and fourth digits; and the medial side of the fifth digit region of the palmar element. In order to ensure that these sides and the areas connecting these sides remain free from seams that may inhibit ball control, the palmar element of the preferred embodiment contains additional sections on the first, second, and fifth digit regions. Each additional section extends from the palmar element and wraps around to the corresponding region to connect with the dorsal element, thereby creating a smooth, seamless surface. In further embodiments, the palmar element may contain at least one digit region with two additional sections that each wrap around one of the lateral or medial sides of an individual digit so as to create a greater seamless area. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the additional section of each of the second and fifth digit regions of the palmar element wraps around and abuts the corresponding digit region of the dorsal element. Attached to the abutting edges and lying on the interior of the glove is a length of flexible, connecting material. The flexible, connecting material may be comprised of either a separate element or sections of the base portion referenced above. This configuration provides a flexible joint on the dorsal surface that promotes ball control by facilitating bending of each of the second and fifth digits. 
     Prior art gloves succeed in creating smooth surfaces in the critical areas, but do so by sacrificing durability. Seams on the palmar surface that join two or more elements experience high levels of stress while the goalkeeper attempts to catch or otherwise gain control of the ball. As such, these seams tend to represent areas of low durability. The present invention alleviates the trade off between ball control and durability through a glove design that lacks seams in portions of the palmar surface that experience high levels of stress and are critical to ball control. In addition, the absence of seams decreases the difficulty of manufacture, thereby decreasing overall cost. 
     Together, the placement of additional regions and the absence of seams on portions of the palmar surface provide a goalkeeper&#39;s glove with an enhanced level of ball control without sacrificing durability or creating a complex, and thereby costly, glove to manufacture. 
    
    
     The features and objects of the present invention will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood, from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the dorsal side of a traditional cut glove. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the palmar side of the traditional cut glove. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration of the pattern from which the palmar element of the traditional cut glove is formed. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dorsal side of a gunn cut glove. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the palmar side of the gunn cut glove. 
     FIG. 6 is an illustration of a first portion of the pattern from which the palmar element of the gunn cut glove is formed. 
     FIG. 7 is an illustration of a second portion of the pattern from which the palmar element of the gunn cut glove is formed. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the dorsal side of the rifle cut glove. 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the palmar side of the rifle cut glove. 
     FIG. 10 is an illustration of the patterns from which the palmar element of the rifle cut glove is formed. 
     FIG. 11 is a plan view of the dorsal side of a glove according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 a  is an outline view of the dorsal side of a glove according to the present invention showing the relative location of the glove and the bones of a hand received by the glove. 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view of the palmar side of a glove according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 a  is an outline view of the palmar side of a glove according to the present invention showing the relative location of the glove and the bones of a hand received by the glove. 
     FIG. 13 is an illustration of the pattern from which the palmar element of a glove according to the present invention is formed. 
     FIG. 14 is an illustration of the pattern from which the palmar element of an alternate embodiment of the glove of the present invention may be formed. 
     FIGS. 15-20 depict alternate configurations for the first digit area of a glove according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 21-25 depict alternate configurations for the fifth digit area of a glove according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the top and medial side of a glove according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the accompanying figures, a goalkeeper&#39;s glove in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The figures illustrate only the glove intended for use on the right hand of a wearer. It should be understood that a left glove, such glove being the mirror image of the right, is included within the scope of the present invention. In distinguishing portions of the glove or the hand received by the glove, reference will be made to areas of the hand, including a dorsal, palmar, lateral, and medial side; the five digits; and an area corresponding to the metacarpal bones. Such references are not intended to demarcate precise areas. Rather, they are intended to delineate general areas to aid in discussion. 
     With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a goalkeeper&#39;s glove according to the present invention is illustrated, wherein the primary elements of a glove  100  include a dorsal element  200 , a palmar element  300 , and a plurality of elements forming a base portion  400 . Dorsal element  200  and palmar element  300  may be formed of any suitable material or combination of suitable materials, including a shock-absorbing, lightweight, foamed, natural latex rubber, ranging in thickness from two to five millimeters, bonded to a lightweight scrim of poly-based cells of approximately two to three millimeters. In addition, a textile layer may be bonded to the interior surface of palmar element  300  to provide enhanced comfort. Dorsal element  200  generally covers the dorsal side of the wearer&#39;s hand, but may cover portions of the medial or lateral sides of the fingers and palm, and includes a dorsal metacarpal area  202  and dorsal digital areas  204   b - 204   e . Dorsal metacarpal area  202  corresponds with the metacarpal bones and the joints between the metacarpals and phalanges of the second through fifth digits. Dorsal digital areas  204   b - 204   e  correspond respectively to the second through fifth digits, which are designated with letters a-e, respectively, in FIG.  11 . 
     The pattern of one preferred embodiment for palmar element  300  is depicted in FIG.  13 . Designed to cover a substantial portion of the palmar area of the wearer&#39;s hand, palmar element  300  includes a palmar metacarpal area  302  for covering the palmar metacarpal bones and the joints between the metacarpals and phalanges of the second through fifth digits and palmar digital areas  304   a - 304   e  for covering the palmar areas of the first through fifth digits, respectively. Extending from palmar digital areas  304   a ,  304   b , and  304   e  are additional sections  306   a ,  306   b , and  306   e , respectively. 
     The purpose of additional sections  306  are to wrap around digits, thereby creating a seamless surface that extends from the palmar area, around the sides of the digits, and to the dorsal area. A seamless surface on the medial side of the fifth digit and on lateral sides of the first and second digit create a configuration wherein the digital regions of the glove do not have seams that may interfere with ball control while catching, handling, and throwing. With respect to the first digit, additional section  306   a  wraps over line  310   a  so as to cover the lateral side of the first digit and at least a portion of the dorsal portions of the first digit. Additional section  306   a  is sewn to palmar digital area  304 a and first supplemental element  402  to create a cavity for the first digit. A V-shaped cut  308   a  in palmar element  300  forms a flex notch  321   a  generally at the junction of palmar metacarpal area  302  and first palmar digital area  304   a . In forming a cavity for receiving the second digit, additional section  306   b  wraps over line  310   b  so as to cover the lateral side of the second digit and dorsal portions of the second digit. Additional section  306   b  is sewn to palmar digital area  304   b  along the medial side and tip area, and abuts dorsal digital area  204   b  across the dorsal surface of the second digit. A straight cut  308   b  in palmar element  300  forms a flex notch  321   b  generally at the junction of palmar metacarpal area  302  and palmar digital area  304   b . Similarly, additional section  306   e  wraps over line  310   e  so as to cover the medial side of the fifth digit and dorsal portions of the fifth digit. Additional section  306   e  is sewn to palmar digital area  304   e  along the lateral side and tip area and abuts dorsal digital area  204   e  across the dorsal surface of the fifth digit. A straight cut  308   e  in palmar element  300  forms a flex notch  321   e  generally at the junction of palmar metacarpal area  302  and palmar digital area  304   e.    
     In one preferred embodiment, the union of additional section  306   b  with dorsal digital area  204   b  is accomplished by sewing additional section  306   b  and dorsal digital area  204   b  to a flexible connecting material, preferably intermediate layer  410  as shown in FIG. 26, such that the edge of additional section  306   b  abuts dorsal digital area  204   b . This configuration forms a flexible joint in the dorsal surface. The union of additional section  306   e  with dorsal digital area  204   e  is accomplished in a similar manner and creates a second flexible joint. As noted, the seamless surface created by the wrapping of additional sections  306  around digits enhances ball control. The joints in the dorsal surface of the second and fifth digits promote this goal through increased flexibility in these digits. In a first alternative embodiment, the flexible, connecting material may include intermediate layer  410 , as described below. As a second alternative embodiment, additional sections  306   b  and  306   e  could be sewn directly to dorsal digital areas  304   b  and  304   e , respectively, and optionally, the seams could be turned inward so as to create a uniform dorsal surface. 
     Alternative embodiments also exist with regard to the quantity of additional sections  306 . As depicted in FIG. 14, palmar digital area  304   a  could include two additional sections  306 , the additional sections being lateral additional section  306   a  and medial additional section  306   a ′. By altering the configuration of lateral additional section  306   a  and medial additional section  306   a ′, five alternative embodiments emerge wherein medial additional section  306   a ′ wraps around the medial side of the first digit and is joined with lateral additional section  306   a  on the dorsal surface. In the first alternate embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 15, lateral additional section  306   a  overlaps, and is joined with, medial additional section  306   a ′ on the dorsal side of the first digit. In the second alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16, medial additional section  306   a ′ overlaps lateral additional section  306   a . In the third alternate embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 17, lateral additional section  306   a  and medial additional section  306   a ′ are directly joined and the ridge produced by the seam is inverted so as to be hidden from view. In the fourth alternate embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 18, lateral additional section  306   a  and medial additional section  306   a ′ abut on the dorsal side of the first digit and are connected using a flexible, connecting material on the interior of glove  100 . As with the primary embodiment of the second and fifth digits, this arrangement provides a configuration wherein the dorsal side of the first digit includes a joint that facilitates bending. In the fifth alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 19, lateral additional section  306   a  and medial additional section  306   a ′ are connected to opposite sides of a flexible, connecting material. Unlike the fourth alternate embodiment, the edges of lateral additional section  306   a  and medial additional section  306   a ′ do not abut. Instead, a gap with the flexible, connecting material disposed therein separates the edges. With reference to both the fourth and fifth alternative embodiments, as described in this paragraph, the flexible, connecting material may be formed of first supplemental element  402 . Alternatively, the flexible, connecting material may be intermediate layer  410 , as described below. 
     The possibility of using two or more additional sections to wrap an individual digit is not limited to the first digit. As depicted in FIG. 14, palmar digital area  304   e  could include medial additional section  306   e  and lateral additional section  306   e ′ which provide alternate embodiments similar to that depicted in FIGS. 15-19. A configuration wherein medial additional element  306   e  overlaps lateral additional element  306   e ′ is depicted in FIG.  21 . The opposite configuration, wherein lateral additional element  306   e ′ overlaps medial additional element  306   e  is illustrated in FIG.  22 . With reference to FIG. 23, additional sections  306   e  and  306   e ′ are directly joined and the ridge produced by the seam is inverted so as to be hidden from view. Medial additional element  306   e  and lateral additional element  306   e ′ abut on the dorsal surface of the fifth digit and are joined to opposite sides of a flexible, connecting material, as depicted in FIG. 24, so as to form a flexible joint. FIG. 25 depicts a similar configuration wherein a gap having the flexible, connecting material disposed therein separates medial additional element  306   e  and lateral additional element  306   e ′. The flexible, connecting material referenced above may be formed of intermediate layer  410 , as described below. 
     Base portion  400  covers areas of the hand not covered by dorsal element  200  or palmar element  300 . In addition, base portion  400  may serve to connect portions of dorsal element  200  with palmar element  300 . As shown in FIG. 26, specific sections of base portion  400  may include first supplemental element  402 ; longitudinal supplemental elements  404 ; wrist element  406 ; strap  408 ; and intermediate layer  410 . 
     First supplemental element  402  covers portions of the dorsal area of the first digit that are not covered by additional section  306   a  and is attached to the medial edge of palmar digital area  304   a , additional section  306   a , and dorsal metacarpal area  202 . Although first supplemental element  402  is preferably formed of synthetic leather, other durable materials may be used. To abrogate the need for first supplemental element  402 , an alternate embodiment exists wherein a projection of dorsal element  200 , as depicted in FIG. 20, extends over the dorsal surface of the first digit and is joined with additional section  306   a.    
     Longitudinal supplemental elements  404 , as shown in FIG. 26, connect dorsal digital areas  204   c  and  204   d  with palmar digital areas  304   c  and  304   d , respectively, thereby creating a cavity for reception of the third and fourth digits. Following attachment of longitudinal supplemental elements  404 , the tip area of dorsal digital areas  204   c  and  204   d  may be sewn to palmar digital areas  304   c  and  304   d , respectively. 
     Wrist element  406 , which can be formed of an elastic material, connects dorsal metacarpal area  202  with palmar metacarpal area  302  in the area of the carpal bones and secures glove  100  to the hand. Strap  408  is attached to elastic wrist element  406  on the medial side. Through the action of hook and loop fasteners, strap  408  surrounds and releasably attaches to a substantial portion of the circumference of elastic wrist element  406 . 
     Intermediate layer  410  lies beneath dorsal element  200  and additional sections  306   b  and  306   e  and may be used as the flexible, connecting material to which the edges of dorsal digital areas  204   b  and  204   e  and additional sections  306   b  and  306   e  are sewn. 
     Supplemental element  402 , longitudinal supplemental elements  404 , and intermediate layer  410  are preferably formed of three separate elements. However, in alternate embodiments, a single element may be used for intermediate layer  410  and elements  402  and  404 . 
     This invention has been disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiments. These embodiments, however, are merely for example only and the invention is not restricted thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications can easily be made within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.