Abstract:
A glove comprising a hand portion having a palm portion and an opposing back side portion, the back side portion including a plurality of protective portions formed therein, the palm portion and opposing back side portion defining a cavity, a cuff portion, a band disposed on and outward of the cuff portion and having a first ventilation opening, said cuff portion having a second ventilation opening disposed coaxially with the first ventilation opening, and wherein air traverses through the first and second ventilation openings to the cavity.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/175,829 filed May 6, 2009; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to an athletic glove for protecting a player&#39;s hand and wrist. More particularly, the invention relates to an athletic glove that allows full mobility of the hand during play and ventilation within the glove. Specifically, the invention relates to a vented athletic glove with a flexible cuff having an integral vent to provide air flow. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Athletic gloves are well known and used in a variety of sports. In contact sports such as lacrosse and hockey, the glove must provide several functions. First, the glove must be padded throughout in order to prevent the player from being injured. Since sticks are used to control the ball or puck, there is a possibility that a player may be hit on the hands or wrists. To reduce the risk of injury, the gloves are heavily padded on the back of the hand and wrist areas. 
         [0006]    The glove must also allow complete movement of the wrist and hand. Hand movement is a key component in the usefulness of the glove since the player must be able to grasp a stick and the ball or puck as necessary. To accomplish this, the padded back side of the glove may be partitioned to allow flexibility, while the palm side is generally a thinner fabric so that the player can grip the stick. 
         [0007]    The glove must also provide proper ventilation for the player so that he or she does not sweat. In an attempt to provide ventilation, gloves include mesh areas on the back side of the glove to allow warm air to escape. The mesh areas may be located throughout the glove and are usually between padded areas. While mesh vents provide adequate ventilation, they also have several problems. Since the mesh area has to be close to the hand and cannot be covered, there is no padding at the vent. Without padding, the player could be injured by a stick or ball hitting the mesh vent and the player&#39;s hand through the mesh vent. Further, the player&#39;s hand is vulnerable to moisture entering the mesh vent. Since the vent is uncovered, moisture can enter the mesh vent and cause discomfort for the player. 
         [0008]    Thus, there is a long felt need for an athletic glove which provides appropriate protection from injury while still allowing adequate ventilation flow. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention broadly comprises a glove including a hand portion having a palm portion and an opposing back side portion, the back side portion including a plurality of protective portions formed therein, the palm portion and opposing back side portion defining a cavity, a cuff portion, a band disposed on and outward of the cuff portion and having a first ventilation opening, said cuff portion having a second ventilation opening disposed coaxially with the first ventilation opening, and wherein air traverses through the first and second ventilation openings to the cavity. 
         [0010]    The present invention also broadly comprises a method ventilating a glove comprising the steps of directing an ambient air through an air flow gap into a first chamber, directing the ambient air through the first chamber and into the second chamber, directing the ambient air through the second chamber and into the hand chamber, and directing the ambient air across a player hand and through a cuff opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant has contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a preferred embodiment athletic glove with a flexible cuff having a band and an integral vent; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a preferred embodiment athletic glove with a portion of the band removed to show an opening within the glove to provide air flow; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment athletic glove with a flexible cuff having an integral vent taken generally about line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1  and arrows indicating air flow there through; and, 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion of a preferred embodiment athletic glove with a flexible cuff having an integral vent and arrows indicating air flow there through. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. 
         [0017]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. 
         [0018]    The athletic glove of the present invention is indicated generally at  10 , as is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . As particularly shown in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment glove  10  includes a hand portion  12 , a finger portion  14 , and a cuff portion  16 . Hand portion  12  includes a palm portion  18  ( FIG. 3 ) and an opposing back side portion  20 . A plurality of protective portions  22  are formed in opposing back side portion  20  and separated by a plurality of valleys  24 . Finger portion  14  also includes a plurality of protective portions  26  separated by a plurality of valleys  28 . Cuff portion  16  includes an outer protective band  30  outward of cuff portion  16  and particularly located adjacent opposing back side portion  20 . 
         [0019]    Plurality of protective portions  22  are formed in opposing back side portion  20  and are preferably composed of a dense foam or other suitable substance which resists compression to protect the player from impact. Plurality of protective portions  26  are formed in finger portion  14  and are also preferably composed of a dense foam or other suitable material. Protective portions  22  are used to protect the back side of the player&#39;s hand, while protective portions  26  are used to protect the back side of the player&#39;s fingers. Valleys  24  between each protective portion  22  allow the glove to flex and enable the player to move his hand with reduced resistance. Similarly, valleys  28  between each protective portion  26  allow the player&#39;s fingers to move and bend individually. 
         [0020]    In accordance with one of the main features of the invention, cuff portion  16  defines an opening  31  which extends inward into a hand chamber  35  defined by palm portion  18  and opposing back side portion  20  for the player to locate his hand  37  during use. Band  30  includes a first ventilation opening  32  ( FIG. 3 ) formed in an outer layer  33  which is in turn protected by a cover  34 . Cover  34  includes an upper portion  36  and a mounting flange  38 . Cover  34  is secured to band  30  at mounting flange  38 . In particular, the mounting flange is sewn to the band with thread  40 , although any suitable method of attachment is within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment, cover  34  is generally triangular in shape and mounting flange  38  is disposed on two of the three sides. In this embodiment, mounting flange  38  is sewn to the band on two sides and leaves the third side unattached. Since upper portion  36  is generally domed shaped, an air flow gap  41  is formed between upper portion  36  and outer layer  33  of band  30 . Although the preferred embodiment cover is shown and described as generally triangular in shape and a single opening, any suitable size, shape, or arrangement may be incorporated and is within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 
         [0022]    Moving on to  FIG. 2 , glove  10  is illustrated with a portion of band  30  removed and cuff portion  16  further exposed. In accordance with another main feature of the invention, cuff portion  16  includes a second ventilation opening  42 . Outward of second ventilation opening  42  is a top layer  44  which is complimentary shaped to both the first and second ventilation openings and includes an intermediate opening  45  ( FIG. 3 ). Top layer  44  is secured to cuff portion  16  with thread  46  immediately around second ventilation opening  42  and also proximate a periphery  48  the second ventilation opening. Advantageously, top layer  44  is helpful to provide structural integrity to second ventilation opening  42  which is generally thin. 
         [0023]    Second ventilation opening  42  and top layer  44  are arranged concentric to one another and below first ventilation opening  32  such that all three openings are in communication with each other. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment glove  10  in greater detail. Palm portion  18  includes a palm layer  50  which is formed with a thinner layer of material and connects to finger portion  14  at an end  52 . While the preferred embodiment palm layer, finger portion, hand portion, and cuff portion are all composed of a generally continuous base layer  54 , it should be readily apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art that any combination of base layers may be connected to provide firm or flexible areas within the glove. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3 and 4  also provide cross-sectional and enlarged cross-sectional views of a preferred embodiment band  30  with first ventilation opening  32  and cuff portion  16  with second ventilation opening  42 . Cover  34  also includes a stabilizing wall  56  extending downward from mounting flange  38  into first ventilation opening  32 . Advantageously, stabilizing wall  56  allows placement of mounting flange  38  on less than the entire periphery of cover  34 . In particular, stabilizing wall  56  increases rigidity of upper portion  36  by acting as a rotational stop against an inner wall  58  of band  30 . Thus, when stabilizing wall  56  is utilized, the stabilizing wall defines at least a portion of the outer boundary of first ventilation opening  32 . 
         [0026]    Cover  34  also protects the user from injury since the cover prevents the entry of larger foreign objects. Similarly, upper portion  36  of cover  34  prevents entry of water, while still allowing adequate air flow. Since cover  34  is secured to band  30  at mounting flange  38 , the only remaining opening is air flow gap  41 . Air flow gap  41  is preferably small and only accessible from a horizontal orientation. The horizontal orientation is advantageous because air can still flow through the first and second ventilation openings and air flow gap  41 , but the potential for water entering the glove is greatly reduced. 
         [0027]    Further, band  30  includes a first chamber  60 . The first chamber is defined by upper portion  36  at the top, stabilizing wall  56  or inner wall  58  on one side, and an inner wall  62  on the opposite side. A second chamber  64  is located below band  30  and is defined by cuff portion  16  on one side, hand portion  12  and particularly opposing back side portion  20  on the opposite side, and top layer  44  defines at least a portion of the second chamber bottom. 
         [0028]    Having described the structure of the preferred embodiment, a preferred method of operation will now be described in detail and should be read in light of  FIGS. 1 through 4  and particularly  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a first preferred embodiment method of operation. Initially, a cooling air flow, indicated by arrows  66 , flows from the ambient air into first chamber  60 . Next, the cooling air flow passes from first chamber  60  into second chamber  64  as indicated by arrows  68 . The cooling air flow then passes from second chamber  64  into hand chamber  35  through second ventilation opening  42  as indicated by arrows  70 . Once the cooling air flow is within hand chamber  35 , the air can travel out opening  31  or continue to travel towards end  52  as indicated by arrows  72  and ultimately exiting hand chamber  35  proximate palm portion  18 . 
         [0030]    In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the method of operation may be reversed so that warm air exits the vent instead of cool air entering the vent. Specifically, warm air originally within hand chamber  35  passes into second chamber  64 , through first chamber  60 , and ultimately exits air flow gap  41  to the ambient air. 
         [0031]    Although the preferred embodiment glove has been illustrated and described with air flow gap  41  on only one side, it should be immediately apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that any number of air flow gaps may be located between cover  34  and band  30 . Further, while the preferred embedment incorporates a horizontal orientation for air flow gap  41 , a vertical orientation may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed. 
         [0032]    Thus, band  30  provides a ventilation system for an athletic glove which reduces the ability for moisture to enter the glove and protects the player from impact. The ventilation system includes first and second ventilation openings in communication with one another that direct air flow into or out of the hand compartment, thereby increasing player comfort. 
         [0033]    It will be evident to one skilled in the art that a variety of changes can be made that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, the ventilation system may be incorporated directly into the cuff portion if a band is not desired. 
         [0034]    Accordingly, the athletic glove is an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device that achieves all the enumerated objectives of the invention, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior art devices, systems, and methods, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art. 
         [0035]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0036]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
         [0037]    Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the athletic glove is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangement, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.