Abstract:
A golf glove having improved fit and gripping features is disclosed herein. The golf glove of the present invention includes gripping features permanently disposed on one or more of the fingers, preferably the front surfaces of the ring and little fingers, and also includes an expandable slit that extends from an opening and that helps the golf glove expand to receive a golfer&#39;s hand and then retract so that the glove fits comfortably on the golfer&#39;s hand.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. r 13/585016, filed on Aug. 14, 2012, which is continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Patent Application Number 29/406,499, filed on November 15, 2011, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29/427,535, filed on Jul. 19, 2012, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to golf gloves, and more particularly to a tab-less golf glove with gripping features disposed on at least a portion of the fingers. 
         [0005]    2.Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    When swinging a golf club, golfers often wear a golf glove on at least one hand to protect the hand, provide a better grip on the golf club, and increase their comfort during the swing. Rule 14-3 and Appendix IV, Section 2 of the USGA Rules and Decisions regulate the features that may be included in golf gloves to be used during regulation play, and can be accessed at the USGA website www.usga.gov. Golf gloves are typically made from leather or synthetic materials, and traditionally include a back portion, a palm-side portion, finger and thumb portions, an opening at the wrist to receive the golfer&#39;s hand, a slit extending upwards from the opening, and a tab at the opening and next to the slit that is configured to allow the golfer to adjust the glove to his or her hand. 
         [0007]    Traditional golf gloves have certain drawbacks, however. The palm side portion of the gloves can become slippery if used during inclement weather, thus making it difficult for the golfer to adequately grasp the club. Furthermore, while the tab portion of the glove may be useful for adjustment purposes, it adds weight and bulk to the glove and can be uncomfortable. As such, there is a need for a lightweight golf glove having improved comfort, gripping, and adjustment features. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The golf glove of the present invention is directed to a tab-less golf glove with high-friction material on the palm side of the finger portions. 
         [0009]    One aspect of the present invention is a golf glove is a golf glove comprising a front section comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, and back section comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the front section connects with the back section to form a hand body section, a thumb section, an index finger section, a middle finger section, a ring finger section, a little finger section, and an opening, wherein the back section comprises a slit that connects with the opening, and wherein the front section comprises a plurality of raised gripping features disposed on at least the ring finger section and the little finger section. In one embodiment, the plurality of raised gripping features may be disposed on an upper portion of the ring finger section and an upper portion of the little finger section. In another embodiment, the plurality of raised gripping features may not be disposed on the entire front section of the ring finger section and the little finger section. In some embodiments, the plurality of raised gripping features may be composed of a silicon material. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the slit may extend from the opening toward the thumb section. Some embodiments may further comprise an expansion portion, which may extend across and covers the slit. In some of these embodiments, the expansion portion may be composed of an elastic material. In one embodiment, the expansion portion may be affixed to the inner surface of the back section. In some embodiments, the golf glove may further comprise a pull tab, which may be disposed on the outer surface of the front section. The pull tab may be disposed proximate the opening. In other embodiments, the golf glove may further comprise a sweat band, which may be disposed proximate the opening. In a further embodiment, the sweat band may be affixed to the inner surface of the front section and the back section. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention is a golf glove comprising a back section comprising a first material, a second material, and a third material, and a front section comprising a fourth material and a fifth material, wherein the front section connects with the back section to form a hand body section, a thumb section, an index finger section, a middle finger section, a ring finger section, a little finger section, and an opening, wherein a majority of the back section of the hand body section and the back sections of the index finger section, the middle finger section, and the ring finger section are composed of the first material, wherein the back section of the little finger section is composed of the second material, wherein the third material is disposed between the first material and the second material, wherein the front section of the hand body section and the front sections of the thumb section, the index finger section, and the middle finger section are composed of the fourth material, wherein the front sections of the ring finger section and the little finger section are composed of the fifth material, and wherein a plurality of raised gripping features are disposed on an external surface of the fifth material. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, each of the first material, second material, and third material may be an elastic material and each of the fourth material and the fifth material may be a leather material. The plurality of gripping features may be composed of a silicon material. Some embodiments of the golf glove may further comprise a slit and an expansion portion, wherein the slit may be disposed in the back section and extend from the opening towards the thumb section, wherein the expansion portion may cover the slit, and wherein the expansion portion may be composed of an elastic material. In some embodiments, this golf glove may further comprise a pull tab. 
         [0013]    Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf glove comprising a back section comprising a first elastic material, a second elastic material, and a third elastic material, a front section comprising a leather material and a suede material, and a pull tab, wherein the front section connects with the back section to form a hand body section, a thumb section, an index finger section, a middle finger section, a ring finger section, a little finger section, and an opening, wherein the back sections of the hand body section, the index finger section, the middle finger section, and the ring finger section are composed of the first elastic material, wherein the back section of the little finger section is composed of the second elastic material, wherein the third elastic material is disposed between the first material and the second material, wherein the front sections of the hand body section, the thumb section, the index finger section, and the middle finger section are composed of the leather material, wherein the front sections of the ring finger section and the little finger section are composed of the suede material, wherein a plurality of raised gripping features composed of a silicon material are disposed on an external surface of the suede material, wherein the first elastic material has a greater elasticity than the third elastic material and a lower elasticity than the second elastic material, and wherein the pull tab is disposed on the leather material proximate the opening. In some embodiments, the pull tab may be composed of a suede material. 
         [0014]    Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is rear perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a front, plan view of the circled portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  is a front, plan view of a second embodiment of the circled portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    A preferred embodiment of the golf glove of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . As shown in these Figures, the golf glove  10  comprises a front or palm-side section  20  and a back or dorsal section  30 , which combine to form a hand body section  41 , and which include extensions that combine to form a little finger section  42 , a ring finger section  44 , a middle finger section  46 , an index finger section  48 , and a thumb section  50 . The golf glove  10  further includes one or more fourchettes  25  disposed between the front and back sections  20 ,  30  on each of the finger sections  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  and the thumb section  50 . 
         [0020]    Though the golf glove  10  may be made from any material known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, the material of at least one of the front section  20 , back section  30 , and fourchettes  25  preferably has elastic properties that allow the golf glove  10  to fit securely around the hand of a golfer without uncomfortably constricting the hand. The material used to make the back section  30  preferably is a mesh or two-way knit fabric to provide breathability and elasticity, while the material of the front section  20  and the fourchettes  25  preferably is real or synthetic leather to provide friction between the gloved hand and the golf club head during play. 
         [0021]    In the preferred embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the back section  30  is formed from a plurality of materials that are stitched or otherwise connected to each other to cover most of the dorsal side of a golfer&#39;s hand. In this embodiment, the back section  30  of the hand body section  41 , the ring finger section  44 , the middle finger section  46 , and the index finger section  48  is composed of a honeycomb mesh fabric  33 , the back section  30  of the little finger section  42  is composed of a less elastic mesh fabric  35 , and a more elastic mesh fabric  34  extending connects the honeycomb mesh fabric  33  and the less elastic mesh fabric  35  and extends from the opening to a point between the little finger section  42  and the ring finger section  44 . The front and back sections  20 ,  30  of the thumb section  50  preferably are composed of a non-elastic material, and most preferably a leather or synthetic leather material. 
         [0022]    The front section  20  of the golf glove  10  of the present invention preferably is also composed of one or more non-elastic materials. In the preferred embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the front sections  20  of the hand body  41  (i.e., the palm covering), the thumb section  50 , the index finger section  48 , the middle finger section  46 , and at least half of the ring and little finger sections  44 ,  42  are composed of a leather material. The front sections  20  of the upper portions  42   a,    44   a  of the little and ring finger sections  42 ,  44  are preferably composed of a different, inelastic material, such as suede, to increase the friction created between these portions of the glove  10  and a golf club during use. The front sections  20  of these upper portions  42   a,    44   a  further comprise raised gripping features  100 , shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A, and  3 B, which increase the friction between the golf glove  10  and the golf club during use and provide added control for the golfer using the little and ring fingers. 
         [0023]    In the preferred embodiment, the raised gripping features  100  are composed of a silicon material, but may be made of any other high-friction material known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The gripping features  100  preferably are printed onto the material of the front section  20 , but in alternative embodiments may be affixed to the material in any way known in the art. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the gripping features  100  preferably are disposed on the front sections  20  of the upper portions  42   a,    44   a  of the little and ring finger sections  42 ,  44  in any pattern desired by the manufacturer or the golfer, which can add to the overall aesthetic appeal of the glove to consumers. In other embodiments, the gripping features  100  may be disposed on part or all of the front sections  20  of different finger or thumb sections  46 ,  48 ,  50 , or all finger and thumb sections  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  of the golf glove  10 . 
         [0024]    The golf glove  10  further comprises an opening  60  sized to receive a golfer&#39;s hand, and a slit  70  extending from the opening  60  into the back section  30  of the golf glove  10  that allows the opening  60  to expand sufficiently for a golfer to pull the golf glove  10  onto his or her hand. The slit  70  is preferably triangular in shape, but may be circular, elliptical, or any other shape desired by a golfer or manufacturer, as long as it effectively helps the opening  60  expand as needed. In alternative embodiments, this slit  70  may extend into the front section  20  of the glove or may be disposed at a point at which the front section  20  meets the back section  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the slit  70  preferably extends into the back section  30  proximate the thumb section  50 . The slit  70  preferably includes piping  75  along its edges to maintain its overall shape, and this piping  75  preferably extends around the opening  60  of the golf glove  10  for aesthetic purposes and also to prevent the material of the golf glove  10  from fraying during use. 
         [0025]    A sweat band  65  composed of absorbent material preferably is affixed to the interior surface of one or more of the front section  20  or the back section  30  of the glove  10  proximate the opening  60  to prevent sweat from accumulating within the glove  10  or dripping down the golfer&#39;s wrist or hand during play. The sweat band  65  preferably extends from one side of the slit  70 , around the circumference of the opening  60 , and terminates at the other side of the slit  70 , but in alternative embodiments may extend only part of the way around the opening  60 . The sweat band  65  also is preferably made of an elastic material that helps the opening expand and contract around a golfer&#39;s hand as the golfer pulls the golf glove  10  on. 
         [0026]    An expansion portion  80  made of elastic material is disposed within the opening  72  created by the slit  70  to allow the slit to open to receive a golfer&#39;s hand and then return to its original configuration. While the expansion portion  80  may be constructed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,944 and enclosed or encased within a sleeve portion (not shown), it is preferably attached directly to an interior surface of the front or back sections  20 ,  30  as close to the edge of the slit  70  as possible to reduce the overall weight of the golf glove  10 . The expansion portion  80  also preferably closes the entire opening  72  created by the slit  70  to prevent dirt and debris from entering the golf glove  10  during use. A pull tab  90  formed from highly graspable material such as silicon, ridged plastic, microfiber, or suede, is provided proximate the opening  60  on an exterior surface of the front or back sections  20 ,  30 , and preferably on the front section  20  of the golf glove  10 . This pull tab  90  provides a golfer with a surface to grip while pulling on the golf glove  10 . 
         [0027]    From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.