Abstract:
Apparatus worn on the fingers similarly to gloves, to enhance grip, particularly suitable as an aid in catching sports balls. The apparatus comprises a sheath for each finger, which may bear a friction enhancing material on an external surface. Each sheath may be internally reinforced by members which are more resistant to bending than the constituent material of the sheath. Reinforcement members may comprise bands which extend circumferentially about sheaths or may extend axially along sheaths. Sheaths may be provided with internal elastic bands which may overlie other bands at acute angles thereto or which do not overlie other bands.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to performance enhancing apparel for the hands, and more particularly, to apparel for improving ability to catch or grasp moving objects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Athletes engaged in games having balls must periodically attempt to catch balls with their hands. In many sports, balls can be moving quite quickly. Consequently, considerable impact forces may be imposed on the hands. Also, a ball or other projectile may be spinning as well as moving along the ground quickly, which further complicates the action of catching the ball. 
         [0003]    In the game of football for example, a ball may be thrown a considerable distance at considerable speed. Players from each team may attempt to catch the ball while running, which further complicates the issue of catching a ball. 
         [0004]    Players have resorted to placing patches of tacky substances on their hands in an attempt to enhance their ability to catch a ball. However, tacky substances may objectionably transfer to the ball, may be difficult to remove after play is finished, and in some sports, may be banned. 
         [0005]    There exists a need in the art for a way of improving grip which will assist in catching balls in dynamic environments. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention addresses the above stated need by providing apparel worn on the hands which addresses those issues which pertain to activities such as catching balls. The apparel includes at a minimum a sleeve for each finger. The sleeve may comprise an exterior structural material which encircles and grips the finger. The sleeve may be complemented by internal structure for cushioning and reinforcing the finger, such as rubbery bands or somewhat stiff splints, by external structure improving frictional characteristics which assist in gripping a moving object such as a ball, or both. 
         [0007]    The sleeves may extend the full length of the finger, or only along a more limited extent of the finger. Finger tips may be either exposed or covered by the sleeves. 
         [0008]    The sleeves may be used in the absence of or with conventional gloves or other hand coverings, even including plaster casts which may be provided for medical purposes. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide practical, reusable devices for improving grasp of moving object such as sports balls. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide grasp improving apparatus which is compatible with conventional gloves. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0012]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an environmental front elevational view of grip enhancing apparatus according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an environmental front elevational view of grip enhancing apparatus according to at least one further aspect of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an environmental front elevational view of grip enhancing apparatus according to at least still another aspect of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic environmental plan view of components which may be incorporated into the grip enhancing apparatus of  FIGS. 4 and 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown grip enhancing apparatus  100  for the fingers  2 ,  4 ,  6 , and  8  and thumb  10  of a wearer. The grip enhancing apparatus  100  may comprise a group or set of sleeves  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 . Each sleeve  104 ,  106 ,  108 , or  110  may share characteristics of the sleeve  102 . Hence, description will refer to one sleeve such as the sleeve  102 , with the understanding that the remaining sleeves  104 ,  106 ,  108 , or  110  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be similar in structure and function. The same applies to all other sets of sleeves shown and described herein. 
         [0022]    The sleeve  102  is dimensioned and configured to be worn on the finger  2  of one hand  12  of the wearer. The sleeve  102  may comprise a mildly constricting tubular sheath  112  having an open proximal end  114  and an opposed distal end  116 , and an external surface comprising a grip zone  118  bearing a friction increasing material  120 . The grip zone  118  covers less than the full extent of the external surface, leaving a zone  122  which is devoid of the friction increasing material  120 . 
         [0023]    Description of the sheath as tubular is intended to convey that the sheath fully encircles any one finger along at least part of the length of the finger, but does not necessarily imply a circular cross section since the material is fairly pliable and will not maintain any one cross sectional configuration. 
         [0024]    The constituent material of the sheath of the sleeve  102  may be for example a woven or unwoven fabric of any suitable constituency and construction which is air permeable, thereby enabling the sheath to “breathe”, or to dissipate perspiration from the skin through the sheath to ambient air. This constituent material may comprise artificial fibers such as nylon, rayon, polyester, and others, or a natural fiber such as cotton, or still other types of natural and synthetic fibers, and blends or combinations of these fibers. The selected fibers will be resistant to deterioration by exposure to perspiration, or sweat resistant. 
         [0025]    The friction increasing material  120  may be of several types. For example, the constituent material may be a rubbery natural or synthetic material, and may bear a plain untextured surface, or may bear a textured surface. A textured surface is one in which outwardly facing projections such as ridges, bumps, and other structures are formed. Alternatively, a textured surface may comprise inwardly facing structures such as dimples. 
         [0026]    Another example of a friction increasing material  120  is a tacky substance such as Stickum RTM, which may take several forms, each of which is a product of Mueller Sports Medicine, Inc., One Quench Drive, Prairie du Sac, Wis. 53578, which is distributed nationally in various retail outlets. 
         [0027]    The grip zone  118  does not encircle the tubular sheath of the sleeve  102 , but rather extends along that side of the finger  2  which faces the same direction as the palm  14  of the hand  12 . Of course, because the sheath of the sleeve  102  is flexible, the sleeve may be donned so that the grip zone  118  faces another direction. Because most grasping is done by closing the fingers  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8  and the thumb  10  over the palm  14 , it is contemplated that in most cases, the grip zone  118  will be advantageously oriented as shown and described. Description of the grip zone  118  as being oriented as described is intended merely as a semantic convenience to distinguish the sleeve  102  from other sleeves presented herein. With this understanding in mind, the grip zone  118  extends along most of the axial length of the tubular sheath. The axial length is that dimension which would be parallel to the longitudinal axis  16  of the finger  2 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sleeves  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  appear visually as rather broad rings, which have axial length not significantly greater than the diameter of the sheaths. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown grip enhancing apparatus  200  for the fingers  2 ,  4 ,  6 , and  8  and thumb  10  of a wearer. The grip enhancing apparatus  200  may comprise a group or set of sleeves  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210  which are considerably greater in axial length than their respective counterparts  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  of  FIG. 1 . Also, the sleeves  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210  each have an internal supplementary or reinforcing member to be described hereinafter. The general character of the constituent materials of the sheaths and grip zone  218  of the sleeve  202 , which will be understood to be representative of the remaining sleeves  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210  may be the same as that of the sleeve  102 . 
         [0030]    The grip zone  218  of the sleeve  202  fully encircles the tubular sheath and extends along less than half of the axial length of the tubular sheath. 
         [0031]    The sleeve  202  also incorporates an internal reinforcing member  220  (see  FIG. 4 ) which is less pliable than the tubular sheath and is coupled to the tubular sheath. The internal reinforcing member  220  may comprise a thicker fabric, a different material such as natural or synthetic rubber or leather, or of still other constituency. The internal reinforcing member  220  may avoid encroaching upon the grip zone  218 , and thus would be shown mostly from the rear view of the hand  12 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The reinforcing member  220  may be internal either by being sandwiched between two plies or layers of the sheath of the sleeve  202 , where the sleeve  202  is so fabricated, may be worn inside the sheath of the sleeve  202  so as to contact the finger  2  directly, or may be incorporated into the sleeve  202  in other ways. Regardless of its constituency, it is seen that the reinforcing member  220  at least partially encircles the tubular sheath and extends along the axial length of the tubular sheath for a distance less than the full axial length of the tubular sheath. The reinforcing member  220  could if desired be arranged to fully encircle the tubular sheath, provided it does not cover or functionally interfere with the grip zone  218 . 
         [0032]    The axial length of a reinforcing member, such as the reinforcing member  222  of the sleeve  210  for the thumb  10 , may extend along the axial length of the tubular sheath for a distance greater than half of the full axial length of the associated sleeve  210 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a grip enhancing apparatus  300  for the fingers  2 ,  4 ,  6 , and  8  and thumb  10  of a wearer. The grip enhancing apparatus  300  may comprise a group or set of sleeves  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310  which are considerably greater in axial length than their respective counterparts  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  of  FIG. 1 . Notably, the sheath of each one of the sleeves  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310  extends the full length of its associated finger  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8  or thumb  10 . Moreover, the distal ends of each tubular sheath, such as the distal end  326  of the sleeve  302 , are closed and cover the tip of their associated fingers, such as the finger  2 . The general character of the constituent materials of the sheaths and grip zone  218  of the sleeve  202 , which will be understood to be representative of the remaining sleeves  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210  may be the same as that of the sleeve  102 . 
         [0034]    Also, the sleeves  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310  each may have an internal supplementary or reinforcing member such as a reinforcing member  320  (shown for the sleeve  304 , but which will be understood to be representative for the remaining sleeves  302 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ) which may comprise a bendable splint. The reinforcing member  320  may be formed from a mildly pliable or flexible material such as polyethylene for example. The reinforcing member  320  may have a width (indicated by opposed arrows  330 ) which does not exceed half the diameter  340  of the tubular sheath. The reinforcing member  320  may have a thickness (indicated by opposed arrows  350 ) which is no greater than half of the width. The reinforcing member  320  may extend in length  360  along the tubular sheath at least half of the length of the finger  4  of the wearer. 
         [0035]    The reinforcing member  320  may be incorporated into its associated sleeve  304  in any suitable way, such as by being enveloped between two plies, where the sleeve  304  is so constructed, by being adhered to the interior of the sheath of the sleeve  304 , or in other ways. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows a form of reinforcement which may be incorporated into the sleeves of any of the apparatuses of adequate length, such as the grip enhancing apparatuses  200  and  300 .  FIG. 7  is diagrammatic in that the subject matter will be incorporated into sheath structure which is omitted from  FIG. 7  to preserve clarity of the view. In practice, it is contemplated that the elements newly presented in  FIG. 7  will be fully contained within the interior of the sheath structure or alternatively, adhered to the interior surface of the sheath structure. Regardless of which option is practiced, the described elements will be disposed internally within the tubular sheath. 
         [0037]    Again using one finger  6  as representative of the remaining fingers  2 ,  4 ,  8 ,  10 , a reinforcement arrangement may comprise a first elastic band  402 , a second elastic band  404 , and a third elastic band  406 , all of which are arranged to overlie at least one of the remaining elastic bands  402 ,  404 ,  406 , to form an acute angle at their mutual intersections where they overlie one another, and to encircle the finger  6 . The first elastic band  402 , the second elastic band  404 , and the third elastic band  406  are located proximate the proximal ends of their associated tubular sheaths (such as the proximal ends  214  seen in  FIGS. 3 and 314  seen in  FIG. 5 ). The assembly comprising overlying elastic bands  402 ,  404 ,  406  extends less than half of the axial length of the tubular sheath of the associated sleeve, such as the sleeves  202  of  FIG. 3  or  304  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0038]    The assembly of overlying elastic bands  402 ,  404 ,  406  may be supplemented by a further elastic band  408  which is disposed to encircle the finger  6  and which is located away from and out of contact with the elastic bands  402 ,  404 ,  406 . 
         [0039]    The various reinforcing members presented herein may be combined in any one sleeve such as the sleeve  304  for example, where such combination is feasible. Illustratively, and continuing to refer to  FIG. 7 , the elastic bands  402 ,  404 ,  406 , and  408  may be used in conjunction with a reinforcement member  420  and an elastic fabric band  422 . The reinforcement member  420  may be the structural and functional equivalent of the reinforcement member  220  of  FIG. 4  for example, and may be located so as to protect a joint or knuckle of the finger  6 . The elastic fabric band  422  may be of a stretchable synthetic fiber, such as spandex for example, and may cover a part of the finger  6  between two joints or knuckles. It will be appreciated that the elastic bands  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408 , the reinforcement members  420 , and the elastic fabric band  422  do not conflict with one another and thus may all be incorporated into a sleeve such as the sleeve  304 . 
         [0040]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible