Patent Publication Number: US-2019176015-A1

Title: Lightweight ball glove

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent application is a Continuation application of, and claims priority to, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/269,039, filed on Sep. 19, 2016, entitled “Lightweight Ball Glove” by Brian Dueck et al., with Attorney Docket No. BUCK-001, assigned to the assignee of the present application, which is incorporated in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Examples described herein relate to a lightweight ball glove often used for catching an object. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Ball gloves or mitts are used in numerous sports from kids&#39; backyard pick-up games to adult&#39;s professional athletic events. However, it takes an amount of preparation and pre-planning to have a mitt available at an event. The planning often includes the mitt being mentioned in the invite, a bag to transport the mitt to and from the event, etc. As such, when a spur of the moment event occurs, people often will attempt to use numerous different at hand objects to act as a mitt. Such objects can include a hat, a shoe, a bare hand, a drinking cup, a paper food tray, an oven mitt, and the like. In many cases, the at-hand object is not a very practical or even a semi-useful substitute. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments and, together with the Description of Embodiments, serve to explain principles discussed below. The drawings referred to in this brief description should not be understood as being drawn to scale unless specifically noted. 
         FIGS. 1A-1D  are perspective views of a lightweight ball glove shown from each of a back view, a thumb view, a palm view, and a pinky side view respectively, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the lightweight ball glove and its components, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  is an illustration of the shock cord tension system, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of the layers within the lightweight ball glove, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for folding the lightweight ball glove, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  are a plurality of diagrams illustrating the folding steps of the lightweight ball glove, in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the subject matter, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the subject matter discussed herein will be described in conjunction with various embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the subject matter to these embodiments. On the contrary, the presented embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the Description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present subject matter. However, embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the described embodiments. 
     Overview 
     When kids get together they often like to play games. Many times the games include some type of hitting and/or catching, such as whiffle ball, stick ball, snowball fights, and the like. One of the main aspects of a pick-up style ball game, or even a training practice, is the use of balls that are much lighter weight than a regulation baseball. For example, a major league baseball weighs about 5 ounces. In contrast a perforated, light-weight, resilient plastic ball, e.g., a whiffle ball, may be approximately the same size as a major league baseball but weigh in at approximately 20 grams. 
     Thus, the use of the plastic ball (or other light weight ball, rock, snowball, dirt clod, shuttle cock, or the like) can allow a game or practice to occur on much smaller fields and often without the safety gear that is necessary for an actual baseball game, e.g., batting helmet, catcher&#39;s gear, etc. Moreover, it is often helpful to train with the lightweight balls during batting practice. The reduced flight range and ballistics allow the batting practice to be performed at an increased cadence, in a smaller area, and with a significantly reduced need for safety gear as well as a significant reduction in the chance of an impact injury occurring. 
     However, because of the significant weight difference between the actual baseball gear and the lightweight ball, it is often difficult if not impossible to use baseball gear when playing with a lightweight ball. For example, an actual baseball bat will significantly damage a lightweight ball. Similarly, catching a lightweight ball in a baseball glove is very difficult. More often than not, the lightweight ball will simply bounce off or out of the baseball glove. That is, because the baseball glove is designed to catch a ball that is 7-8 times heavier than the lightweight ball. As such, the impact of the lightweight ball on the baseball glove is not enough to evoke the proper operational characteristics of the glove. In other words, there is almost no “feel” when a lightweight ball hits a real baseball glove. 
     In the following discussion, a number of different views of the parts and components are shown. Although a number of parts and components are discussed herein, it should be appreciated that different embodiments may include different parts, equivalent parts, replacement parts, different parts groupings, a combination of parts into a single part, dissemination of a single part into a plurality of parts, and the like. Moreover, although illustrative embodiments have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, variations to specific embodiments and details are encompassed by this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of embodiments described herein be defined by claims and their equivalents. 
     Operation 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1A-1D , a lightweight ball glove  100  is shown from each of a back view  110 , a thumb view  125 , a palm view  130 , and a pinky side view  140  respectively, in accordance with an embodiment. In general,  FIGS. 1A-1D  are provided to show the ready to use lightweight ball glove  100  to provide clarity prior to the broken down, layered and exploded views provided in  FIGS. 2-3 and 5 . For purposes of the discussion, lightweight ball glove is lightweight in comparison to a normal baseball glove, e.g., a leather baseball glove, or the like. That is, the lightweight glove is a light duty type of glove with respect to a regular baseball glove. for example, the lightweight glove is lighter in weight and construction with respect to a regular baseball glove in a similar manner that a plastic ball is lighter in weight and construction than a normal baseball. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of lightweight ball glove  100  is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In general, lightweight ball glove  100  consists of a back portion  205 , a palm portion  210 , a web portion  215 , and a cordage  275 . For structure, in one embodiment, lightweight ball glove  100  will include pipe seaming  293  between back portion  205  and palm portion  210  to add structure through the finger stalls. In one embodiment, as pointed out throughout the following discussion, the materials used to manufacture the lightweight ball glove may mimic the materials and look found on a baseball hat, trucker hat, or the like. 
     In one embodiment, lightweight ball glove  100  also includes a logo area  291  upon which a logo may be affixed. For example, the logo may be a favorite team&#39;s logo, a friend group personalized logo, and the like. The logo in logo area  291  may be user selectable, defined at time of manufacture, dependent upon the market within which the glove is being sold, or the like. In one embodiment, the logo may be stitched, glued, silk screened or the like onto logo area  291 . In another embodiment, logo area  291  may be a hook and pile tape area such that different logo devices may be affixed via the hook and pile tape connection to allow a user to change out, or switch between, logos as desired. Moreover, although a logo area  291  is shown, due to the materials utilized, there may be numerous logos, colors, images, quotes, sayings, or the like printed on different areas of the glove or the entire glove, in a similar manner such as how they can be placed on a baseball hat. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A  an exploded view of the layers within lightweight ball glove  100  is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In general, back portion  205  includes a plurality of lightweight layers. In one embodiment, the plurality of lightweight layers includes an inner lining layer  315 , an outer surface layer  305 , and a soft open-cell foam layer  310  sandwiched between inner lining layer  315  and outer surface layer  305 . In one embodiment, soft open-cell foam layer  310  is approximately 8 millimeters thick. In one embodiment, inner lining layer  315  and outer surface layer  305  are made from an elastic synthetic fiber lining layer material having elasticity. Examples of such a synthetic fiber material include Spandex, LYCRA™, Elastane, and the like. For example, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design that mimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes open-cell foam layer  310  that mimics, looks similar to, or is made from the same foam material as that found on a baseball hat. Similarly, in one embodiment, inner lining layer  315  and/or outer surface layer  305  may also mimic, looks similar to, or be made from the same material as that found about the foam on a baseball hat. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3B , an illustration of the shock cord tension system  350  is shown in accordance with an embodiment. In one embodiment, back portion  205  also includes shock cord tension system  350  located on a back surface of the soft open-cell foam layer  310  sandwiched between inner lining layer  315  and outer surface layer  305  (as shown in  FIG. 3A ). In general, shock cord tension system  350  includes a plurality of loops  355   a - d  located about a finger area of lightweight ball glove  100 . For example, the plurality of loops  355   a - d  may include one or more of a loop  355   d  located on an outside portion of a pointer finger-palm joint within the lightweight ball glove, and one or more loops  355   a - c  located at one or more finger webbing portions within lightweight ball glove  100 . 
     Shock cord tension system  350  also includes an opening  318  on an outside portion of a pinky-palm joint. A cord  358  is routed into opening  318 , through the plurality of loops  355   a - d  and back out opening  318 . A cordlock  357  is used on cord  358  outside of opening  318  to provide an adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on cord  358 . In one embodiment, cord  358  is an elastic cord. However, in another embodiment, cord  358  may be a non-elastic material. 
     In general, when the user&#39;s hand  333  is put in lightweight ball glove  100 , it rests between the back portion  205  and palm portion  210 . Shock cord tension system  350  is used to allow different hand sizes to fit within lightweight ball glove  100 . For example, after hand  333  is inserted into lightweight ball glove  100 , a user can grasp cord  358  and pull it to tighten the fit of lightweight ball glove  100 . When lightweight ball glove  100  is properly tightened, cordlock  357  is then used to keep the tension on cord  358  such that it does not come loose. When it is time to remove lightweight ball glove  100 , the user can simply release cordlock  357  at which time cord  358  will loosen and shock cord tension system  350  will no longer be providing tension between lightweight ball glove  100  and the user&#39;s hand  333 . 
     In one embodiment, shock cord tension system  350  also includes one or more loops  375   a - b  located about a web portion side of thumb side  379  within lightweight ball glove  100 . In addition, a second opening  381  is formed on an outside portion of the thumb area. A second cord  378  is routed into second opening  381 , through one or more loops  375   a - b  and back out of second opening  381 . A second cordlock  377  is used on cord  378  outside of second opening  381  to provide a second adjustable locking mechanism for holding tension on second cord  378 . 
     In general, when the user&#39;s hand is put in lightweight ball glove  100 , it rests between the back portion  205  and the front portion  210  as shown in  FIG. 3A . The second shock cord tension system is used to allow different hand sizes to fit within lightweight ball glove  100 . For example, after hand  333  is inserted into lightweight ball glove  100 , a user can grasp the second cord  378  and pull it to tighten the fit of lightweight ball glove  100  around the user&#39;s thumb. When lightweight ball glove  100  is properly tightened, second cordlock  377  is then used to keep the tension on second cord  378  such that it does not come loose. When it is time to remove lightweight ball glove  100 , the user can simply release second cordlock  377  at which time second cord  378  will loosen and shock cord tension system  350  will no longer be providing tension between lightweight ball glove  100  and the user&#39;s thumb. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 2 , back portion  205  also includes an adjustable opening  255 . In one embodiment, adjustable opening  255  consists of a wrist strap that includes a button portion  260  and a tongue portion  265 . In general, the wrist strap is designed to once again mimic the sizing strap on an adjustable baseball cap. 
     For example, in one embodiment the wrist strap components are hard plastic. In general, on the wrist strap, button portion  260  of a snapback size adjustment system is provided on a first side of opening  255 . Moreover, tongue portion  265  of the snapback size adjustment system is provided on a second side of opening  255 . Similar to a hat design, tongue portion  265  has a plurality of holes therein which can be removably coupled with a plurality of buttons located on button portion  260  to provide a size adjustment capability to opening  255 . 
     With reference still to  FIG. 2  and also to  FIG. 3A , palm portion  210  is also formed of the same plurality of lightweight layers as back portion  205 . E.g., inner lining layer  315 , soft open-cell foam layer  310 , and outer surface layer  305 . In one embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion  210  is fixedly coupled with an outer edge of back portion  205  to form lightweight ball glove  100 . In one embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion  210  is stitched to the outer edge of back portion  205  to form lightweight ball glove  100 . In another embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion  210  is glued to the outer edge of back portion  205  to form lightweight ball glove  100 . In yet another embodiment, the outer edge of palm portion  210  is both glued and stitched to the outer edge of back portion  205  to form lightweight ball glove  100 . 
     With reference still to  FIG. 2 , a web portion  215  is fixedly coupled between thumb side  379  and a pointer finger  285  of lightweight ball glove  100 . In one embodiment, web portion  215  is stitched to thumb side  379  and pointer finger  285  of lightweight ball glove  100 . In another embodiment, web portion  215  is glued to thumb side  379  and pointer finger  285  of lightweight ball glove  100 . In yet another embodiment, web portion  215  is both glued and stitched to thumb side  379  and pointer finger  285  of lightweight ball glove  100 . 
     In one embodiment, web portion  215  includes a monofilament mesh  218 . For example, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design that mimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes monofilament mesh  218  that mimics, looks similar to, or is made from the same mesh as that found on a baseball hat. In addition, a surrounding frame  217  consisting of the plurality of lightweight layers is fixedly coupled with a side and bottom portion of monofilament mesh  218 . In one embodiment, a bridge  216  is fixedly coupled with a top of monofilament mesh  218 . 
     With reference still to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment cordage  275  is used to lace together a top portion of each finger of lightweight ball glove  100  with an adjacent finger and bridge  216  to form lightweight ball glove  100 . In one embodiment, cordage  275  is a lightweight material. In one embodiment, the cordage  275  is an elastic material. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart  400  of a method for folding lightweight ball glove  100  is shown in accordance with an embodiment.  FIGS. 5A-5D  are diagrams illustrating the folding steps of lightweight ball glove  100  in accordance with an embodiment. In general, when lightweight ball glove  100  is folded as described herein, it will be about a quarter of its normal length and height. In so doing, lightweight ball glove  100  will be of an appropriate size to fit into a normal sized pocket, such as a front jeans pocket, a jacket pocket or the like. Thus, making lightweight ball glove  100  easy to transport, and convenient for taking to the park, on outings, or the like. 
     With reference now to  410  of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 2 , one embodiment provides a cord loop  231  on one of a pinky finger side or a thumb side of lightweight ball glove  100 . 
     Referring now to  420  of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 2 , one embodiment provides a cord loop retainer  232  on the other one of the pinky finger side or the thumb side of lightweight ball glove  100 . For example, in following along with a lightweight ball glove design that mimics a baseball hat; one embodiment utilizes a hat top cap button as cord loop retainer  232 . In other words, the same type of button design as usually found on the top center of a baseball hat is provided on lightweight ball glove  100  as the button around which cord loop  231  can be looped. 
     With reference now to  430  of  FIG. 4  and diagram  500  of  FIG. 5A , one embodiment provides a first folding axis  510  for the lightweight ball glove, first folding axis  510  causing a fold from a fingertip portion  506  of the lightweight ball glove to a palm heel portion  508  of the lightweight ball glove, wherein utilizing first folding axis  510  causes lightweight ball glove  100  to be folded approximately in half. 
     Referring now to  440  of  FIG. 4  and diagram  520  of  FIG. 5B , one embodiment provides a second folding axis  525  for the lightweight ball glove, second folding axis  525  causing a fold from the thumb side  379  of the lightweight ball glove to the pinky finger side  376  of the lightweight ball glove, second folding axis  525  to be utilized after the first fold has been performed utilizing first folding axis  510 , wherein utilizing the second folding axis  525  causes the lightweight ball glove to be folded approximately into a quarter folded state as shown in diagrams  530  and  540  of  FIG. 5C . 
     With reference now to  450  of  FIG. 4  and diagram  550   FIG. 5D , one embodiment couples cord loop  231  with cord loop retainer  232  to retain the lightweight ball glove in the quarter folded state. Although lightweight ball glove  100  is well suited to only a single cord loop  231  and cord loop retainer  232 ; in one embodiment a second cord loop  231  is provided on the other one of pinky finger side  376  or the thumb side  379  of the lightweight ball glove opposite of the originally discussed cord loop  231 . Moreover, a second cord loop retainer  232  may be provided on the other one of pinky finger side  376  or thumb side  379  of the lightweight ball glove opposite of the originally discussed cord loop retainer  232 . In so doing, a user may use one or both of the cord loops and cord loop retainers to keep the lightweight ball glove in the quarter folded state. 
     Because of the characteristics of the lightweight ball glove discussed herein, kids and adults alike will be able to utilize the lightweight ball glove when they get together to play games that include some type of hitting and/or catching, such as whiffle ball, stick ball, snowball fights, and the like, without having to bring heavier and more expensive “real” baseball gloves. Moreover, because of its portability, stow ability, and lightweight characteristics, it will be easier to transport the lightweight ball glove in a pocket or keep one or more in a vehicle, a sports bag, or the like. As such, the lightweight ball glove will be readily available for a pick-up style ball game, or even a training practice that uses balls that are much lighter in weight than the regulation baseball. 
     Moreover, when there is a game intending the use of a plastic ball (tennis ball, rubber ball, or other light weight ball, rock, snowball, dirt clod, shuttle cock, or the like) the lightweight ball glove can be utilized to increase catchability. In addition, the use of lightweight ball gloves can allow a game or practice to occur on much smaller fields and often without the safety gear necessary for an actual baseball game, e.g., batting helmet, catcher&#39;s gear, etc. 
     Moreover, because of the similar weight characteristics between the lightweight ball glove and the lightweight ball, catching a lightweight ball in the lightweight ball glove is very similar to catching a regular baseball in a regular glove. That is, instead of the lightweight ball bouncing off or out of the lightweight ball glove, the impact of the lightweight ball on the lightweight ball glove will be enough to evoke the proper operational characteristics of the glove. In other words, there will be good “feel” when a lightweight ball hits the lightweight ball glove. 
     The foregoing Description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form described. Instead, example embodiments in this Description have been presented in order to enable persons of skill in the art to make and use embodiments of the described subject matter. Moreover, various embodiments have been described in various combinations. However, any two or more embodiments may be combined. Although some embodiments have been described in a language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed by way of illustration and as example forms of implementing the claims and their equivalents.