Abstract:
A training glove or a strap comprising a rubberized fixture affixed to said palmar side of each of the said glove or strap to enable the player to securely grasp a ball thrown towards the palms of at said player, wherein the thumb is substantially not connected with any other finger of the player, either in the strap or glove embodiment, wherein the rubberized fixture is a protrusion to allow the fingers of each palm of the player to engage the ball to curl substantially to grasp the ball thrown at the player.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to the Provisional Application with Ser. No. 61/270,480 filed Jul. 9, 2009 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a glove or a strap used for training individuals participating in football or basketball to securely grasp a ball with controlled flexion of the fingers. 
         [0003]    There are many different types of gloves which are used in sports such as baseball, basketball, football, tennis, racquetball, etc. These gloves are used to either improve performance (e.g., enabling higher accuracy shots in basketball) and/or provide protection while playing a sport. Training gloves, for example in basketball, also make it easy to grasp a ball by expanding the periphery of the players hand. Other types of gloves are designed to improve performance by keeping moisture away from the ball while in contact with the players hand thereby allowing a stable grasp on the ball before a throw. 
         [0004]    However, these gloves are generally not designed to train the player securely grasp a ball that is thrown at the player. Furthermore, a trainer, such as a personal trainer, may wish to re-use the same glove over time with different players. In many instances re-using a glove over multiple people may lead to the transmission of skin bacteria between trainees using the same glove. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a training glove or a strap for training basketball and football players for catching the ball thrown towards them. Since the strap involves minimal contact area with the palm of the strap user, it permits substantially larger breathing area for the palm, thereby substantially reducing the transmission of skin bacteria and diseases between players. 
         [0006]    The strap circumnavigates the palm of each hand at least once and comprises a palmar side and a dorsal side. The palmar side of a strap on each palm is adjacent to the front of the palm of the hand, and the dorsal side is adjacent to the back of the corresponding palm. In the case of a glove, the glove fits snugly on the palm of the player and it could be a full-covering glove where the fingers are covered completely or a semi-covering glove where at least some of the fingers are exposed. Additionally, the glove may have breathing holes along the palmar and/or the dorsal side for reducing perspiration on the palm of the player. 
         [0007]    To the training glove/strap a fixture, which may be a protrusion or a rubberized ejector, or a substantially flexible attachment is affixed on the palmar side of each or either one of the gloves/straps to enable the player to securely grasp a ball thrown towards the palms of at said player. Specifically, when a football or a basketball is thrown at the player wearing the glove/strap, if both the palms and fingers are curved substantially and correctly, relative to the wrist of the hand, then the ball can be grasped and retained in the fingers, and substantially away from the palm, of the player in a secure manner. In contrast, if the palms and the fingers of the hand are incorrectly angulated relative to the wrist, the ball is deflected by the protrusion away from the palm of the player due to the flexibility of the protrusion. 
         [0008]    Specifically, the protrusion is made of a substantially flexible material to deflect the ball away from the palms of the player when the ball is grasped incorrectly. For example, the protrusion may be made from rubber, polymer, resin, neoprene, etc. Furthermore, the protrusion may be affixed to the strap by at least one of a Velcro, clasp/hook fastener, button fastener, snap fastener, or a high-adhesive glue. Alternatively, the protrusion may be integrally designed with the strap. The shape of the protrusion could be either substantially spherical, hemi-spherical, oblong, or any other polygonal shape. 
         [0009]    The protrusion works as an ejector of the ball. Specifically, when a football or a basketball is thrown at a player, the protrusion enables intrinsic training to a player to catch a ball efficiently without dropping the ball by using his/her extended fingers to catch the ball and not rely on the use of the palm to catch the football or basketball. Thus, if the player attempts to catch the ball with his/her palms the ball is ejected or bounced out by the rubberized/flexible ejector. It is well established by observation and analysis of some of the best football receivers, coaches and trainers, that they are able to catch balls efficiently and effectively with the use of their outstretched or extended fingers rather than their palms. Furthermore, using the fingers to catch the football through the use of extended fingers and not the palms actually increases the yardage on a football field by at least about six inches. For example, the following video on the Internet (dated Aug. 8, 2008) describes the effective catching ability of a well known football receiver Jerry Rice by using his fingers: http://newsports.com/2008/08/08/sports-science-chad-johnson-jerry-rice-video/. 
         [0010]    Thus, the most appropriate way, in terms of effectiveness and efficiency, to catch a football or basketball, is with the mid and upper fingers by completely avoiding contact with the palm of the hand. Catching with the palm introduces a ricochet for the ball, causing the ball to bounce out of the grasp of the catcher. Thus, by adding the rubberized, ‘bouncer’ in the palm of the hand introduces substantial increase in the ricochet effect, and trains the wearer to over compensate and exaggerate use of the fingers. Continual constant use will train the player to catch and secure with consistency by improving the dexterity and strength of the fingers. The forced over-use of the fingers also extends the catching range by at least about 6 inches. 
         [0011]    In the present invention all fingers are free and not affixed to the palm of the hand in order to allow full rotation. For example, the thumb is not strapped or connected to any part of the player&#39;s palm/hand thereby allowing full 360 degrees motion of the thumb. Free motion of the thumb is necessary for effective and efficient catching of the football or basketball. Thus if the thumb were to be unrestricted, as in the present invention, it allows for “abduction” (viz., the thumb to move away) and “adduction” (viz., the thumb to move towards) relative to the palm/hand. This then allows full flexion and extension of all fingers. By allowing free rotation (abduction/adduction and flexion/extension) this device (training glove or strap) can be used by Occupational and Physical Therapists in rehabilitating patients with brain injuries, strokes, hand injuries and nerve damage to the hand by increasing or improving manual dexterity of the hand and simultaneously increasing strength of fingers. 
         [0012]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 1-3  show various views of a palmar side of the training glove embodiment depicting the rubberized ejector-protrusion. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a depiction of a palmar side of the training glove having the rubberized ejector-protrusion in contact with the surface of a ball. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5-9  shows various views of the training strap embodiment depicting the rubberized ejector-protrusion. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  shows a view of a palmar side of the training strap embodiment depicting the rubberized ejector-protrusion in contact with a ball. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 11-13  shows another embodiment of the training glove having a sleeve, such as a net or a pocket, to accommodate the rubberized ejector of various dimensions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIGS. 1-3  are schematic views of a rubberized ejector protrusion  4  for use in a glove  2  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The protrusion  4  may include material may be made from rubber, polymer, resin, neoprene, etc. and may be manufactured in the shape that could be could be either substantially spherical, hemi-spherical, oblong, or any other polygonal shape. Furthermore, the protrusion  4  may be affixed to the glove  2  by at least one of a Velcro, clasp/hook fastener, button fastener, snap fastener, or a high-adhesive glue. Alternatively, the protrusion may be integrally designed with the glove  2 . 
         [0020]    In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the protrusion  4  is shown overlayed and in contact with the thumb sleeve  6  of the glove  2 . Also, shown are the relative spacing between the base of the remaining glove finger sleeves  8  and the projector  4 . In another aspect of the invention, the protrusion  4  is of a smaller dimension and is substantially spaced away from the thumb sleeve  6  of the glove  2 . 
         [0021]    In the present invention the finger-sleeves  8  of the glove  2  are free and not affixed to the palm of the hand or the ejectorized protrusion  4 . Furthermore, any of the finger-sleeves  8  are not attached to each other in order to allow full rotation of the thumb in thumb sleeve  6 . For example, the thumb sleeve  6  is not strapped or connected to any part of the player&#39;s palm/hand nor with any of the other finger-sleeves  8  thereby allowing full 360 degrees motion of the thumb placed in the thumb sleeve  6 . Free motion of the thumb is necessary for effective and efficient catching of the football or basketball. Thus if the thumb were to be unrestricted, as in the present invention, it allows for “abduction” (viz., the thumb to move away) and “adduction” (viz., the thumb to move towards) relative to the palm/hand. This then allows full flexion and extension of all fingers. By allowing free rotation (viz., abduction/adduction and flexion/extension) the training glove  2  can be used by Occupational and Physical Therapists in rehabilitating patients with brain injuries, strokes, hand injuries and nerve damage to the hand by increasing or improving manual dexterity of the hand and simultaneously increasing strength of fingers. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows the protrusion  4  on glove  2  in contact with a ball  10 . The operation of the protrusion  4  in relation to increasing the grasping efficiency for training a user to grasp the ball  10  will be explained. Specifically, the protrusion  4  is made of a substantially flexible material to deflect the ball  10  away from the palm of the player when the ball is grasped incorrectly in the glove  2 . The protrusion  4  works as an ejector of the ball  10 . Specifically, when a football or a basketball is thrown at a player, the protrusion  4  enables intrinsic training to a player to catch a ball  10  efficiently without dropping the ball  10  by using his/her extended fingers  8  to catch the ball  10  and not rely on the use of the palm to catch the football or basketball. Thus, if the player attempts to catch the ball  10  with his/her palms the ball  10  is ejected or bounced out by the rubberized/flexible ejector  4 . It is well established by observation and analysis of some of the best football receivers, coaches and trainers, that they are able to catch balls efficiently and effectively with the use of their outstretched or extended fingers rather than their palms. Furthermore, using the fingers to catch the football through the use of extended fingers and not the palms actually increases the yardage on a football field by at least about six inches. 
         [0023]    Specifically, when a football or a basketball is thrown at the player wearing the glove  2 , if the palms, the thumb and the fingers positioned in the corresponding sleeves,  6  and  8 , respectively, are curved substantially and correctly, relative to the wrist of the hand, then the ball  10  can be grasped and retained in the fingers  6 ,  8 , and substantially away from the palm, of the player in a secure manner. In contrast, if the palms and the fingers  6 ,  8  of the hand are incorrectly angulated relative to the wrist, the ball  10  is deflected by the protrusion away from the palm of the player due to the substantial flexibility of the protrusion  4 . 
         [0024]    Thus, the glove  10  has been designed to catch a football or basketball effectively and efficiently with the mid and upper fingers in the corresponding finger sleeves  8 , and by flexing the thumb located in the free thumb sleeve  6 , and by completely avoiding contact with the palm of the hand having the rubberized ejector  4 . Attempting to catch with the palm introduces a ricochet for the ball  10 , causing the ball  10  to bounce out of the grasp of the catcher. Thus, adding the rubberized ‘bouncer’  4  in the palm of the hand introduces substantial increase in the ricochet effect, and trains the wearer to over compensate and exaggerate use of the fingers  8  and the free thumb. Continual constant use will train the player to catch and secure with consistency by improving the dexterity and strength of the fingers. The forced over-use of the fingers also extends the catching range by at least about 6 inches. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 5-10  shows various views of the training strap embodiment  20  depicting the rubberized ejector-protrusion  22 . Similar in operation to the training glove embodiment, the rubberized projector  22  resides on a strap  20  which wraps around the palm  30  of a user, such that on one edge  32  it lies between the thumb  26  and forefinger  24  of the user, whereas on the other edge  34  the strap wraps below the little finger  28  of the palm  30 . The protrusion  22  may include material may be made from rubber, polymer, resin, neoprene, etc. and may be manufactured in the shape that could be could be either substantially spherical, hemi-spherical, oblong, or any other polygonal shape. Furthermore, the protrusion  22  may be affixed to the strap  20  by at least one of a Velcro, clasp/hook fastener, button fastener, snap fastener, or a high-adhesive glue. Alternatively, the protrusion may be integrally designed with the strap  20 . Additionally, a fastener (as depicted by a Velcro)  34  is used to fasten the strap  20  securely around the palm  30  of the user. Since the strap  20  involves minimal contact area with the palm of the user, it permits substantially larger breathing area for the palm, thereby substantially reducing the transmission of skin bacteria and diseases between players. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 11-13  depict another embodiment of the training glove having a sleeve, such as a net or a pocket  38 , to accommodate the rubberized ejector of various dimensions. The net or sleeve  38  is stretchable thereby allowing rubberized ejectors  39 , such as a small ball that operates as an ejector (and is not equivalent to a ball thrown at the user as stated below), of various dimensions to be inserted in said sleeve  38 . This design allows the training glove to be adapted for training in sports having balls of different sizes and dimensions such as a football, basketball, a rugby ball, etc. that are thrown at the user. The sleeve  38  can be designed to be an integral part of the glove or it can be affixed to the palm of the glove by fasteners such as Velcro, clips, hooks, zippers, or other substantially stable connection means. The rubberized ejectors of various dimensions may be inserted from the bottom opening  40  as shown in  FIG. 13   a  or from the top opening  42  as depicted in  FIG. 13   b . The application of this training glove and/or strap also covers golf where the ejector destabilizes the grip in such a manner that the player is forced to recruit the larger muscles of the shoulders, hips instead of relying on his wrists, arms and elbows. Thus, this technique enables proper form in order to make efficient contact with the golf-ball as recommended by golf instructors. 
         [0027]    The description of the exemplary and anticipated embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description purposes. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings herein.