Patent Publication Number: US-6212687-B1

Title: Golf gloves

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to golf gloves and, more particularly, to golf gloves for preventing an unstable grip when a swing is performed. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     As well known to those skilled in the art, golf clubs are typically classified into three types; “woods” having large and voluminous heads, “irons” having smaller and narrower heads, and “putters” having longer heads and shorter shafts. The “woods” are generally used for making longer-distance drive shots, the “irons” are generally used for making shorter-distance shots and the “putters” are generally used for making putts. Generally, golfers may perform swings using such golf clubs. 
     A golfer performs a swing with his both hands holding the grip portion of a golf club. A grip in golf, which is an act of holding fast the grip portion of a golf club with the golfer&#39;s both hands, serves to connect the golfer with the golf club and to transmit power from the golfer to the head of the golf club through a swing. 
     Therefore, the grip is very important in golf. That is, in case that the grip is not properly performed, the golfer may not transmit power to the golf club sufficiently and the swing posture may be deteriorated. For example, one possible insufficient grip may cause a horizontal side swing, thereby undesirably sending the golf ball to the left or to the right. On the other hand, another possible insufficiently may cause a vertical swing and prevent the golfer from performing a proper, pull back swing, thereby resulting a duff or a top. 
     In FIG. 1, an initial stage for achieving a right-handed golfer&#39;s proper grip is illustrated. As shown in the drawing, the grip portion  12  of a golf club  10  is firstly held by the left hand  14 , with the thumb  18  of the left hand  14  pressing the grip portion  12 , the thumb  18  being biased to the right and the wrist of the left hand  14  being over the grip portion  12 . Secondly, the grip portion  12  of the golf club  10  is held by the right hand  16 , with the right hand  16  covering the thumb  18  of the left hand  14  at its palm, the thumb  22  of the right hand  16  pressing the grip portion  12  and the thumb  22  of the right hand  16  being biased to the left. At this time, the index finger  28  of the left hand  14  and the third and little fingers  24  and  30  of the right hand  16  are interlaced together, while the little finger  30  of the right hand  16  and the index and third fingers  28  and  32  of the left hand  14  are interlaced. 
     That the grip portion  12  of the golf club  10  is properly gripped by both hands  14  and  16  is illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     On the other hand, when swinging the golf club, the golfer must press the golf club  10  with the heel pads  20  and  26  of the palms of the left and right hands  14  and  16  until the swing action is completed, so as to send a golf ball to the desired direction and transmit unimpaired power to the ball. The term “heel pad” refers to the swelled portion, adjacent to the thumb, of the palm of the hand in this entire specification. 
     However, a beginner may press the golf club  10  with the heel pads  20  and  26  of the palms of the left and right hands  14  and  16  in the initial stage of the address action, but may not keep this proper grip in later stages of the back-swing action, the down-swing action, the point of impact or the follow-through action, thus failing to perform a proper swing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide golf gloves, allowing the heel pads of the palms of a golfer&#39;s both hands to continuously press fast the grip portion of a golf club during a whole swing action. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide golf gloves, allowing a golfer to master a proper grip through practice using the gloves so as to be trained to make a proper grip even with the gloves being removed. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide golf gloves, improving the force of gripping while swinging a golf club. 
     In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides golf gloves worn by a golfer while swinging a golf club, comprising main fastening means consisting of first two opposite parts, the first two opposite parts respectively fixed on both palm sides of the gloves and being attachable to each other when pressed into contact with each other. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the golf gloves further comprise auxiliary fastening means consisting of second opposite parts, the second opposite parts respectively fixed on the side edges of the fingers of the gloves and being attachable to each other when pressed into contact with each other. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the main fastening means is fixed on the heel pad of the palm of each of said gloves. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary fastening means is fixed on the contacted side edges of the interlaced fingers of each of the gloves. 
     According to still further embodiment of the present invention, the main fastening means and the auxiliary fastening means are VELCRO hook and loop fastening tapes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an initial stage for achieving a proper grip; 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing that the grip portion  12  of the golf club  10  is properly gripped by both hands  14  and  16 ; 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the gloves  42  and  42 ′ are provided with a Velcro hook and loop fastening tape at their palm sides. In more detail, one fabric piece  44  of the tape with a dense nylon pile is fixed on the palm side of the thumb and the heel pad of the palm of the left hand glove  42 , while the other fabric piece  44 ′ of the tape with a dense arrangement of tiny nylon hooks is fixed on the heel pad of the palm of the right hand glove  42 ′, so that the fabric pieces  44  and  44 ′ interlock when pressed into contact with each other. 
     The gloves  42  and  42 ′ may be made of leather (such as roan, cowhide, etc.) or synthetic fiber (such as synthetic roan). In order to firmly grip a golf club, the palms of the gloves  42  and  42 ′ may be coated with a well-known special silicone. Additionally, the gloves  42  and  42 ′ may be manufactured of porous material so as to be well ventilated. 
     In the right hand glove, the thumb is free from the tape. Incidentally, the pieces  44  and  44 ′ may be fixed on opposite positions, respectively. 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the hook piece  46 ′ of the tape is fixed on the palm side of the thumb and the entire palm of the right hand glove  42 ′. The remaining construction of the second embodiment is the same as the corresponding construction of the first embodiment. 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the pile piece  46  of the tape is fixed on the palm side of the thumb and the entire palm of the right hand glove  42 . The remaining construction of the third embodiment is the same as the corresponding construction of the second embodiment. 
     According to the first, second and third embodiments, since the pile piece  44 ,  44  or  46  on the left hand glove  42  is interlocked together with the hook piece  44 ′,  46 ′ or  46 ′ on the right hand glove  42 ′ during a grip, the heel pads of the palms of a golfer&#39;s both hands press fast the grip portion of a golf club, thus allowing the golfer to make a proper grip. As a result, the golfer is trained in making a proper grip when both wearing the gloves and, thereafter, when not wearing the gloves. In addition, since the golfer may grip a golf club tightly by an interlocking action of the Velcro hook and loop pieces tape, the force of gripping is improved, so that the transmission of power to the ball through the golf club is well performed. 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in addition to the construction of the second embodiment, the pile pieces  48  are respectively fixed on the side edges  48   a  and  48   b  of the index finger of the left hand glove  42  and the side edge  48   c,  adjacent to the index finger  48 , of the middle finger of the left hand glove  42 , while the hook pieces  48 ′ are respectively fixed on the side edge  48 ′ a,  adjacent to the little finger, of the third finger of the left hand glove  42  and the side edges  48 ′ b  and  48 ′ c  of the little finger of the left hand glove  42 . 
     According to the fourth embodiment, since an auxiliary fastening means is fixed on the contacted side edges of the interlaced fingers of the gloves, the power of gripping is more improved and the grip becomes more correct. 
     FIG. 7 is a view showing the palm sides of golf gloves according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Two adhesive pieces  52  and  52 ′ coated with adhesive are respectively formed on the palm side of the thumb and the heel pad of the palm of the left hand glove  42  and the heel pad of the palm of the right hand glove  42 ′, so that the adhesive pieces  52  and  52 ′ may adhere to each other. 
     A fastening means is not limited to the Velcro hook and loop pieces tape and the adhesive pieces, but may be various. Additionally, the fastening means may be fixed around the entire exteriors of the gloves. 
     As described above, the present invention provides golf gloves allowing the heel pads of the palms of a golfer&#39;s both hands to continuously press fast the grip portion of a golf club during a whole swing action, thereby making and keeping a proper grip. 
     The present invention is to provide golf gloves allowing a golfer to master a proper grip through practice using the gloves so as to train a golfer to make a proper grip even with the gloves being removed. 
     The present invention is to provide golf gloves improving the force of gripping while swinging a golf club, thereby allowing a golfer to transmit power to a golf ball. 
     Further, the present invention is to provide golf gloves allowing a golfer to recognize when the proper grip is loosened through sound generated by the separation of fastening means. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.