Abstract:
A glove assembly that is designed to diminish the usefulness of a person&#39;s dominant hand to a point below that of the non-dominant hand, but not so low as to render the dominant hand unusable. The glove assembly includes a glove with a palmward surface. A convex protrusion extends from the palmward surface of the glove and covers at least a majority of the palmward surface. The convex protrusion prevents the palm of the overall glove assembly from being configured into a concave configuration, regardless of the orientation of the hand within the glove. Since the palm of the glove assembly cannot become concave, the glove assembly decreases the ability of a person to grasp and manipulate the curved surface of a ball.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to devices that attach to a person&#39;s dominant hand in order to cause that person to favor their non-dominant hand when performing a specific task. More particularly, the present invention is related to devices that attach to a person&#39;s dominant hand that reduce a person&#39;s control of that hand when playing the game of basketball. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     By natural design, most people have a dominant hand, that is, they are either right handed or left handed. When performing most tasks, a person favors his/her dominant hand. As a result, the dominant hand and arm are used more often than are the opposite hand and arm. The dominant hand and arm, therefore, tend to be stronger than the non-dominant hand and arm. Furthermore, a person&#39;s hand-to-eye coordination tends to be greater with the dominant hand and arm, than with their non-dominant hand and arm. 
     There are many sports that require a person to use both of their hands at different times. In such sports, a person who is ambidextrous has a distinct advantage over his/her competitors. For example, in the game of basketball, a person who can dribble, shoot and pass with either hand has an advantage over a competitor who can only dribble, shoot and pass with their dominant hand. 
     One of the most effective ways to promote ambidexterity is to impede the performance of a person&#39;s dominant hand. In this manner, a person has no option but to use their non-dominant hand. Trainers for many different sports often cause athletes to train with their dominant hand restrained. This causes the athlete to use only their non-dominant hands. The continued use of the non-dominant hand increases the strength of the non-dominant hand and increases an athlete&#39;s hand-to-eye coordination with that hand. With repeated training, the performance of an athlete&#39;s non-dominant hand and arm can be brought into par with that of the athlete&#39;s dominant hand and arm. 
     A problem associated with the training technique of restraining the dominant hand is that technique can only be used in non-competitive situations. Obviously, a basketball player cannot play effectively against an opponent with one arm restrained. As a result, the restraining of the dominant hand is only an option during practice. However, many sports, such as basketball, are team sports where the players interact with one another during practice. In such team sports, it would be both dangerous to the player and counter productive to the team for one player to restrain one of his/her arms during practice. 
     A need therefore exists for a device and method that causes a person to favor their non-dominant hand when playing a sport without restraining the dominant hand or arm. This need is met by the present invention as is described and claimed below. 
     The present invention is a glove that fits onto the dominant hand and lowers the dexterity of that hand to a level below that of the non-dominant hand. 
     In the prior art record, there are many different types of devices that attach to a person&#39;s hand for the general purpose of sports training. However, these prior art devices are typically designed to improve a person&#39;s hand-to-eye coordination, or otherwise train the hand to maintain some theoretically correct position. Such prior art devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,447 to Brown, entitled, Basketball Player&#39;s Training Glove; U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,730 to Slider, entitled, Basketball Practice Glove; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,312 to Nickels, entitled Basketball Training Glove. The Applicant is unaware of any prior art glove that is designed to intentionally decrease a person&#39;s hand-to-eye coordination by preventing a hand from conforming to certain configurations. Accordingly, the present invention is believed to be useful, novel and an advancement in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a glove assembly that is designed to diminish the usefulness of a person&#39;s dominant hand to a point below that of the non-dominant hand, but not so low as to render the dominant hand unusable. The glove assembly includes a glove with a palmward surface that covers the palm of a hand and most of the palmward surface of the fingers. A convex protrusion extends from the palmward surface of the glove. The convex protrusion covers at least a majority of the palmward surface, wherein the convex protrusion covers a majority of the palm and the fingers. The convex protrusion prevents the palmward surface of the overall glove assembly from being configured into a concave configuration, regardless of the orientation of the hand within the glove. Since the palmward surface of the glove assembly cannot become concave, the glove assembly decreases the ability of a person to grasp and manipulate the curved surface of a ball. As a result, when a person wears the glove and plays a sport that requires the manipulation of a ball, the usefulness of the hand with the glove is diminished. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention device shown in use on a person&#39;s hand; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, viewed along section line  2 — 2 ; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the Present invention device; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention device; and 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although the present invention can be used to improve a person&#39;s coordination in their non-dominant hand for playing many different sports, such as football, volleyball, water polo and the like, the present invention is particularly advantageous for use in training for basketball. Consequently, by way of example, the present invention device and method will be described in conjunction with training for the sport of basketball. Such a description is merely exemplary of the best mode contemplated for the device and should not be regarded as a limitation as to the claimed uses of the device. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention glove device  10  is shown. The glove device  10  can be either a right handed glove or a left handed glove. In the shown embodiment, a left handed glove is shown. The glove device  10  should be worn on the dominant hand of the wearer. 
     The glove device  10  defines a central pocket through which a person&#39;s hand passes. That central pocket has a palm section  12  that covers the palm of the hand. The glove device  10  also has appendages  14  through which the fingers of the hand pass. The appendages  14  can cover the entire finger, if desired. However, in the shown embodiment, the finger appendages  14  are truncated so that each appendage  14  terminates in the area above the proximal phalange of each finger. The palm section  12  of the glove device  10  and the palmward side of the finger appendages  14  are collectively referred to at the palmward side  15  of the glove device  10 . 
     The glove device  10  can be made of most any material. However, since the glove device  10  is intended to be worn when playing a sport, it is desired that the glove device  10  be made of a material that has elastic properties. As such, the glove device  10  closely conforms to the contours of the hand and will not inadvertently fall away from the hand when a sport is being played. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, in conjunction with FIG. 2, it can be seen that a convex structure  16  is present on the palmward side  15  of the glove device  10 . When the glove device  10  is worn, the convex structure  16  extends from the base of the palm towards the tips of the fingers at the top of the glove device  10 , thereby extending the whole length of the palmward side  15  of the glove device  10 . Referring solely to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the convex structure  16  reaches its maximum thickness T at a point proximate the center of the palmward side  15  of the glove device  10 . The maximum thickness T preferably being between one half inch and three inches, however, larger values could also be used. 
     The convex structure  16  has an outer material skin that is preferably made of the same material as is the remainder of the glove device  10 . However, the body of the convex structure  16  is fabricated from an elastomeric material, such as foam rubber or silicon rubber. When the glove device  10  is worn, the convex structure  16  extends outwardly from the palmward surface  15  of the glove device  10  and therefore the palmward side of the hand. The hand within the glove device  10  is unrestricted in its ability to move. When the glove device  10  is worn each finger can move, as can the palm. However, the area in front of the palm is occupied by the convex structure  16 . The convex structure  16  is flexible so it does not restrict any movement of the hand. However, the presence of the convex structure  16  in the palm of the hand prevents the palmward surface  15  of the overall glove device  10  from being configured into a concave orientation, regardless of the manipulations of the hand. As a result, the convex structure  16  makes it difficult for the hand to engage and manipulate curved surfaces, such as the surface of a basketball. 
     When a person dribbles or shoots a basketball, a person conforms his/her hand to match the curvature of the basketball. By configuring the hand in such a manner, a person has better contact with the basketball and better control of the basketball. Utilizing the glove device  10 , a person cannot conform their dominant hand to match the curvature of the basketball. The convex structure  16  on the glove device  10  always remains in a convex configuration regardless of how the hand is manipulated. 
     Accordingly, when a person is wearing the glove device  10  on their dominant hand, the ability of that person to accurately dribble the basketball, pass the basketball or shoot the basketball with their dominant hand is greatly reduced. The decrease in hand dexterity created by the glove device  10  causes the performance of a person&#39;s dominant hand to fall below that of their non-dominant hand. As a result, a person&#39;s naturally non-dominant hand will become that person&#39;s temporary dominant hand. A person will then begin to rely upon their naturally non-dominant hand more and more, thereby increasing that person&#39;s coordination with their non-dominant hand. 
     The size of the glove device  10  can be altered to match the needs of a particular person. The larger the glove device  10  and the convex structure  16  that extends from the glove device  10 , the harder it is for a person to control a ball with the gloved hand. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the glove device  20  can cover the entire hand. Accordingly, the glove device  20  has a palm section  22  that covers the entire palm and appendages  24  that cover the entire length of each of the fingers. The convex structure  26  extends from the palm section  22  from the base of the palm to the tips of the fingers. Accordingly, a person bending his/her fingers forward would cause the convex structure  26  to buckle further outwardly. The result would be that the convex structure  26  would greatly increase the difficulty of manipulating a ball with the gloved hand. 
     Large glove devices, such as is shown in FIG. 3, greatly reduce the ability of a person to accurately control a ball. Such sized glove devices are therefore only needed for individuals that have great disparity between their dominant hand and their non-dominate hand. The large degree of difficulty added by the large glove device is needed to reduce the coordination of the dominant hand to a level below that of the non-dominant hand. 
     However, many people do not have a large disparity between their dominant hand and their non-dominant hand. With such people, large glove devices are not necessary. Rather, smaller glove devices, such as is shown in FIG. 4, can be used. Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the glove device  40  can be configured so that the appendage segments  42  of the glove extend only partially up the length of the fingers. Furthermore, the convex structure  44  is smaller and extends only from the base of the palm to the top of the palm. This smaller size of the glove device  40  disrupts a person&#39;s use of his/her dominant hand to a lesser degree. Accordingly, by varying the size of the glove device and the convex structure, the degree to which the glove device effects the performance of the dominant hand can be controlled. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the present invention glove device  50  is shown. In this embodiment, the glove device  50  is a two piece structure comprised of a glove  52  and a palm attachment  54 . The glove  52  can be any standard glove with the modification of at least one patch of a hook and loop fastener material  56  being attached to the palm of the glove  52 . The palm attachment  54  is a semispherical structure having a flat surface and a convex surface. At least one patch of hook and loop material  58  is attached to the flat surface of the palm attachment  54 . The hook and loop fastener material  58  on the palm attachment  54  engages the hook and loop fastener material  56  on the palm of the glove  52 , thereby selectively attaching the palm attachment  54  to the glove  42 . 
     When the palm attachment  54  is attached to the glove  52 , the convex surface of the palm attachment  44  extends from the palm of the glove  52 , thereby producing an assembly that performs in the sam e manner as the embodiment of FIG.  1 . However, by ma king the palm attachment  54  separable from the glove  52 , palm attachments  54  of different sizes can be selectively attached to the glove  52 . 
     The present invention glove device  50  is supposed to lower a person&#39;s dominant hand coordination to a point just below that of their non-dominant hand. With different people, the amount of coordination reduction will differ. As such, different people may require different degrees of obstruction on their dominant hands. By making the semispherical palm attachment  54  separate from the glove  52 , different sized palm attachments can be attached to the glove  52 . As a result, a person can use a palm attachment  54  of the size and configuration that meets that person&#39;s needs. 
     In the shown embodiment, the palm attachment  54  is only slightly larger than the palm of the hand. Accordingly, the palm attachment does not extend significantly over the fingers. Such a configuration would provide a player with more control over a basketball than was available from the embodiment of FIG.  1 . However, if the player&#39;s dexterity is similar between his/her dominant hand and non-dominant hand, the smaller palm attachment  54  may be all that is needed to reduce the dexterity of the dominant hand below that of the non-dominant hand. 
     It should be understood that the specifics of the present invention described above illustrates only exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A person skilled in the art can therefore make numerous alterations and modifications to the shown embodiments utilizing functionally equivalent components to those shown and described. All such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.