Patent Publication Number: US-2021177074-A1

Title: Workout glove alternative with snaps and plam protection

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/948,398 (filed Dec 16, 2019). 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
     Reserved for a later date, if necessary. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The disclosed subject matter is in the field of clothing and exercise accessories. 
     Background of the Invention 
     Currently available workout gloves are used to protect the portion of the palm adjacent to fingers from getting calluses and to provide grip support. Existing workout gloves get dirty quickly and may be difficult or inconvenient to clean and keep clean. After a workout, gloves are typically placed in a gym bag, thereby contaminating the contents of the gym bag with the germ exposure from the workout session. Thus, a need exists for a workout glove that prevents calluses, provides grip support, all while being resistant to contamination. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Work out with snaps and palm protection or WOSPP is an alternative workout glove design that is compact in size, fitted around one or more fingers, machine washable and dryable, and can be attached to an article of clothing, such as workout shorts, or a workout towel. The WOSPP attaches to the various articles or other items through a variety of methods, such as snaps. When that article of clothing or another item is washed, the WOSPP may also be cleaned. A portion of the WOSPP design provides palm protection against calluses in addition to grip support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is the primary embodiment WOSPP design for the left and right hands using one finger per hole with a total of two finger holes per WOSPP in addition to a snap attachment mechanism. Also, workout shorts and a workout towel are shown with a snap attachment mechanism where the two WOSPPs may be attached; 
         FIG. 2  is a picture of a WOSPP prototype on a hand showing the top and palm views; 
         FIG. 3  is a picture of a WOSPP prototype attached to a pair of workout shorts and a workout towel. Also, there is a picture of a workout towel with a snap attachment mechanism with no WOSPP attached; 
         FIG. 4  shows additional WOSPP embodiments using one finger per hole with one or three total finger holes per WOSPP; 
         FIG. 5  is an additional WOSPP embodiment using more than one finger per hole with one finger hole total per WOSPP; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the WOSPP; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the WOSPP; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the WOSPP; 
         FIG. 9  is a right side view of the WOSPP; 
         FIG. 10  is a left side view of the WOSPP; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the WOSPP; 
         FIG. 12  is a back view of the WOSPP; and, 
         FIG. 13  is an environmental view of the WOSPP attached to a pair of workout shorts. 
     
    
    
     It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows the primary embodiment of the WOSPP design. WOSPPs are alternative gloves intended for a gym workout. Two WOSPPs are shown, one for the left hand  110  and one for the right hand  120 . In other embodiments, WOSPPs are designed to be identical and interchangeable between the left and right hands. Each WOSPP contains holes for fingers  112   113   122   123 , a snap  111   121  to attach to an article of clothing or some other item, and a palm protection area  115   125  to prevent calluses and provide grip support. 
     Before a workout session begins, the left (L)  110  and right (R)  120  WOSPPs are placed through the respective middle  113   123  and ring fingers  112   122  and the area labeled “Palm Protection”  115   125  is positioned to cover the portion of the palms adjacent to the fingers.  FIG. 2  shows top view  210  and palm view  220  photographs of a left hand WOSPP prototype.  211  highlights the WOSPP snap and material around the middle and ring fingers.  221  highlights the material that provides the palm protection and grip support. The WOSPPs  110   120  are worn for the duration of a workout. 
     Each WOSPP  110   120  has a snap  111   121  so that it may be attached to workout shorts  130  or a workout towel  140 . Once a workout session is completed, the WOSPPs are removed from the hands and the left  111  and right  121  WOSPP&#39;s snaps are attached to the corresponding left  131  and right  132  snaps on a pair of shorts  130  or the left  141  and right  142  snaps of a workout towel  140 . In some embodiments, the WOSPPs  110   120  may be designed to lay flat when attached to workout shorts  130  or a workout towel  140 .  FIG. 3  shows photographs of a WOSPP prototype  311  attached to a pair of workout shorts  310 , a snap attachment  321  that accommodates a WOSPP prototype on a workout towel  320 , and a WOSPP prototype  331  attached to a workout towel  330 . Because the WOSPPs are made of a machine washable/dryable material, the WOSPPs get cleaned every time the workout shorts or workout towels are laundered. This provides both convenience and good hygiene compared to existing glove systems. In other embodiments, the WOSPPs may attach to any article of clothing, including but not limited to shorts, pants, shirts, shoes, socks, belts, and hats, or any other item, including but not limited to towels, travel bags, workout bags and backpacks, that has the corresponding snap attachment mate. In other embodiments, the snaps are placed in any location on the article of clothing or other item. In other embodiments, the left and right WOSPPs are stacked when attached to an article of clothing or other item. In other embodiments, more than one snap is placed on the WOSPP to better secure the WOSPP to an article of clothing or other item. In other embodiments, the WOSPP uses an attachment mechanism different from a snap, including but not limited to clips, clasps, buttons or hook and loop fasteners. Because articles of clothing or other items do not have the attachment mechanisms to connect to the WOSPPs, existing articles of clothing or other items may be retrofitted to add the attachment mechanisms, or new articles of clothing or other items may be designed and manufactured to include the attachment mechanisms. 
     The rectangular portion of the WOSPP  115   125  as shown in  FIG. 1  accomplishes the palm protection. The rectangular portions act as a barrier and cushion to protect the palm from forming calluses. The implementation shown in  FIG. 1  provides basic grip support. In other embodiments, the WOSPP Palm Protection size may be enlarged and/or have a non-rectangular shape to provide additional grip support. In other embodiments, the Palm Protection area is enhanced with additional padding. 
     The primary embodiment WOSPP  110   120  uses one finger per hole with a total of two holes. Other embodiments may have a different total number of holes.  FIG. 4  shows WOSPP designs  410   420  with a total of one hole  412  (ring, middle or index finger) and a total of three holes  422   423   424  (ring, middle and index fingers). Other embodiments may have more than one finger per hole.  FIG. 5  shows a WOSPP design  510  with one hole  512  that can accommodate two fingers (for example, ring and middle fingers) or three fingers (for example, ring, middle and index fingers). The snaps  411   421   511  and palm protection area  415   425   515  perform the same respective functions as the primary embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the WOSPP  110 . As shown the WOSPP  110  is an ambidextrous glove which may feature a plurality of finger holes. In the embodiment shown by  FIG. 6 , a ring finger hole  112  and middle finger hole  113  are featured. The WOSPP  110  uses a snap  111  or other means of attachment to attach to a workout towel or a pair of workout shorts. 
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  are top and bottom views of the WOSPP  110 . As shown the WOSPP  110  features palm protection  115  under the two finger holes. The palm protection  115  is designed to be minimalistic like the WOSPP  110  itself such that glove material is only placed necessarily. Further, the lack of glove fingers keeps the glove from expelling odors after use. 
       FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are left and right side views of the WOSPP  110 . The WOSPP  110  is designed to be thin, noninvasive, light, and unencumbered. Further, the WOSPP  110  is machine wash and dryable. 
       FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  are front and back views of the WOSPP  110 . The WOSPP  110  may be attached to an article of clothing, such as workout shorts  130  or a workout towel  140 . The WOSPP  110  attaches to the various articles or other items through a variety of means of attachment, such as snaps, hook and loops fasteners, and the like. When that article of clothing or another item is washed, the WOSPP  110  may also be cleaned. A portion of the WOSPP  110  design provides palm protection  115  against calluses in addition to grip support. 
       FIG. 13  is an environmental view of the WOSPP  110  attached to a pair of workout shorts  130 . As shown the WOSPP  110  is attached to the workout shorts  130  by means of attachment. The workout shorts  130  and the WOSPP  110  may be washed simultaneously while attached. Further, there may be situations in which the user may need to attach the WOSPP  110  to their workout shorts  130  while working out. 
     In other embodiments, the WOSPP is used in settings other than a gym, including but not limited to other sports (such as golfing, bowling, hiking, or mountain biking), a household environment, a commercial environment, a medical environment, or an industrial environment. Any environment where protecting the palm from calluses and/or providing grip support applies, coupled with a convenient way to store and clean the WOSPP. For example, the WOSPP could assist with opening jars. Once the WOSPP is no longer needed, it could be attached to an apron that has the necessary snap attachment mechanism, or any article of clothing or any other items. In other embodiments, only one WOSSP may be worn on either the right or left hand. In all conceivable embodiments, the WOSPP may function as an accessory comprising: a piece of material featuring one or more finger-holes and a palm protection or grip-support region; and, at least one attachment mechanism. 
     Current glove systems, including workout gloves, do not include a mechanism to attach to an article of clothing or other item. In other embodiments, any currently available gloves are retrofitted to include an attachment mechanism, including but not limited to a snap, for convenience and/or hygienic purposes. In other embodiments, gloves for any application are designed and manufactured to include an attachment mechanism, including but not limited to a snap, for convenience and/or hygienic purposes. In other embodiments, in order to support current or new glove designs, existing articles of clothing or other items are retrofitted to add the attachment mechanisms, or new articles of clothing or other items are designed and manufactured to include the attachment mechanisms. 
     Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments. 
     Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like, the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like, and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future. 
     The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations. 
     Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration. 
     All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     PAPER “SEQUENCE LISTING” 
     Not applicable.