Abstract:
A pocketed device for housing cushioning located on the palm of a glove that has a gate which allows the padding material to be removed and replaced with the same or different material.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    1. Provisional patent application 61/456,861 dated Nov. 15, 2010: Glove pocket with access for exchanging padding material. 
         [0002]    2. Provisional patent application 61/460,455 dated Jan. 3, 2011: Glove pocket with access for exchanging padding material. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    My invention is a gated glove pocket for housing padding that opens to allow the exchange of the cushioning material. The gate in the pocket of a glove provides access for removing and replacing the padding material with the same or a different padding material. Glove wearers differ in their desired characteristics for glove padding. Many options exist in terms of the type of glove, the shape of the padding, the thickness of the padding, and the composition of the padding. Padding materials differ in hardness, surface contours, compressibility, shape, etc. Currently, a glove wearer must choose a glove containing a specific padding. Shape and cushioning characteristics can be varied with my invention which allows for the first time the ability to match preferred shape with the preferred cushioning characteristics. My invention would allow a wearer to change the padding in the glove to accommodate different riding, driving or working conditions. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed one or more pockets for a glove that has one or more openings or gates for the insertion and removal of cushioning material. Each pocket may have one or more compartments for housing padding. The gate may be folded material or mechanical fasteners, such as, snaps, clips, buttons, zipper, tension cords, and adhesive material. My gated pocket can be used for any type of glove, for example, work glove, exercise glove, weight lifting glove, driving glove, cycling glove, etc. My invention provides for the first time the means to choose a cushioning pad of the desired shape and cushioning characteristics to fit with the desired glove and to change the padding type to accommodate different cushioning needs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The drawings constitute a part of the specifications and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1 . Palm view of glove having an external pocket 
           [0009]      FIG. 2 . Top view of cycling glove showing zipper 
           [0010]      FIG. 3 . Side view of cycling glove showing side zipper 
           [0011]      FIG. 4 . Palm view of cycling glove showing wrist zipper 
           [0012]      FIG. 5 . Top view of cycling glove showing wrist zipper 
           [0013]      FIG. 6A . Palm view of glove showing pocket cavity 
           [0014]      FIG. 6B . Palm view of glove showing two compartments 
           [0015]      FIG. 7 . Palm view of glove showing snap fasteners 
           [0016]      FIG. 8 . Palm view showing open pocket gate 
           [0017]      FIG. 9 . Cross-sectional side view showing pocket and gate 
           [0018]      FIG. 10 . Palm view of glove showing ventilation ports 
           [0019]      FIG. 11 . Cross-sectional side view showing padding in pocket and ventilation ports 
           [0020]      FIG. 12 . Palm view of glove having an internal pocket 
           [0021]      FIG. 13 . Cross-sectional view showing internal pocket with padding 
           [0022]      FIG. 14 . Cut-away view showing padding and tension cord 
           [0023]      FIG. 15 . Cross-section view showing internal pocket, padding and cord 
           [0024]      FIG. 16 . Palm view of glove with folding pocket gate 
           [0025]      FIG. 17 . Cross-section of glove showing folding pocket gate 
           [0026]      FIG. 18 . Palm view of glove with folding gate of separate material 
           [0027]      FIG. 19 . Cross-sectional view of folding gate of separate material 
           [0028]      FIG. 20 . Cut-away view of glove showing pocket 
           [0029]      FIG. 21 . Cut-away view showing retracted palm material layer and folding gate 
           [0030]      FIG. 22 . Cut-away view showing padding within pocket 
           [0031]      FIG. 23 . Cut-away palm view showing padding 
           [0032]      FIG. 24 . Cut-away palm view showing access opening of folding gate 
           [0033]      FIG. 25 . Cut-away palm view showing top layer of the hand space 
           [0034]      FIG. 26 . Inverted glove view showing folding gate during padding insertion 
           [0035]      FIG. 27 . Palm view of glove with a folding pocket 
           [0036]      FIG. 28 . Cross-sectional view of  FIG. 27  showing folding pocket of glove  9   
           [0037]      FIG. 29 . Palm view of glove with separate material folding pocket 
           [0038]      FIG. 30 . Cross-sectional view of  FIG. 28  showing folding pocket of glove  10   
           [0039]      FIG. 31 . Cut-away view of the top of glove showing pocket and folding gate 
           [0040]      FIG. 32 . Cut-away view of the top of glove showing layers of the pocket 
           [0041]      FIG. 33 . Cut-away view of the top of glove showing layers of the pocket and padding 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0042]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed within are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detained system, structure or manner. The drawing picture short finger cycling gloves but the pocket applies to any type of glove. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 1  is glove  1  as viewed from the palm or bottom showing pocket  10  that is positioned on the external surface of the glove for holding padding. The pocket is held in place by stitches  11 . Zipper gate  12  can be opened and the padding within the cavity of pocket  10  may be remove and replaced with the same or different padding. In  FIG. 2  is glove  1  as seen from the top and shows zipper gate  12  and adjustable wrist band  15 . In  FIG. 3  is a side view of glove  1  and shows zipper gate  12  on the side. The zipper may be placed anywhere in the pocket and need not be limited to the side of the glove. For example in glove  2  of  FIGS. 4-6B , zipper gate  13  for accessing pocket  14  is located near the wrist. For illustration, zipper gate  13  in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  is open to exposes single cavity  14   a  in  FIG. 6A  and two cavities  14   b  and  14   c  in  FIG. 6B . When a glove has more than one cavity or pocket, more than one access point or gate can be installed. 
         [0044]    In  FIGS. 7-9  is glove  3  with pocket  16  positioned internal to the bottom material  30 . Access to cavity  19  of pocket  16  is through gate  17  which is bridged by snaps  18   a  and  18   b  that securely hold gate  17  closed when fastened. Buttons, clips, Velcro® or other fastening material may be used instead of snaps  18   a  and  18   b.  In  FIG. 8  snaps  18   a  and  18   b  are unfastened and gate  17  is gapping. The cross-sectional view of glove  3  in  FIG. 9  shows pocket cavity  19 , gate  17 , and pocket wall  27  that faces the palm surface of the hand. Cavity  19  of pocket  16  is empty and pocket wall  27  is bulging inward towards surface  20 , the top of the glove. Gate  17  is positioned so that clip  18   b  is not in direct line with wrist band  21  so as to prevent irritation to the wrist. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 10  pocket  22  is external to the bottom material  23  of glove  4  as can be seen in cross-sectional view of  FIG. 11 . Pocket cavity  26  in  FIG. 11  is filled with padding  29  made up of two interconnection cushions. Also seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11  are ventilation port  27  which provides for skin moisture to escape. 
         [0046]    Another embodiment is seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13  in glove  5  having pocket  41  interior to bottom material  42  and with pocket  41  attached by stitches  43 . Pocket gate  44  allows insertion of padding  47  from within hand cavity  48 . The size of gap  32  in stitches  43  is the length of pocket gate  44 . 
         [0047]    Yet another embodiment is glove  6  illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Glove  6  differs from glove  5  by cord  45  which attaches to material  46  at gate  44  and is anchored to material  42  at the finger and wrist areas. In  FIG. 14  the cut-away view shows the edge of padding  47 , gate  44  and cord  45 .  FIG. 15  in cross-sectional view shows cord  45  between padding  47  and the side of the glove. Cord  45  is made of monofilament nylon or other strong material that lends rigidity and integrity to gate  44  to keep padding  47  within pocket  41 . 
         [0048]    The preferred embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 16-22 . The key feature of glove  7  illustrated in  FIG. 17  is retaining flap  55  which is developed by folding surface material  54  internally to form retaining flap  55  that closes pocket  57  in order to prevent pad  59  from falling into cavity  51 . Flap  55  rests on material  56  that lines the palm surface of hand cavity  51 . Access to pocket cavity  57  is through the gate  58 , the potential space between flap  55  and material  56 . In  FIGS. 18 and 19  is glove  8  that differs from glove  7  by retaining flap  61  which is formed by arching material  61  over the padding within cavity  57 . Flap  61  of glove  8  is a separate piece of material and not a continuation of bottom material  54  as is flap  55  of glove  7 . Flap  61  is held in position by stitches  52   a,    52   b  and  52   c.  To access gate  58 , the glove is turned inside-out as illustrated in  FIG. 26 . When viewed from inside pocket  57 , flaps  55  and  61  are proximal to palm material  56 . 
         [0049]      FIGS. 20-22  show cut-away illustrations as viewed from the top surface of glove  7 .  FIG. 20  shows top material  70  and the cut-away reveals palm material  56  that lines the palm surface of hand cavity  51  illustrated in  FIG. 17 . Hand cavity  51  separates material  70  from material  56 . Using flap  61  as an example of the positioning of flaps  55  and  61 , cut-out views from top of glove  7  as seen in  FIGS. 20-22  illustrate flap  61  below palm material  56 . In  FIG. 22  glove  7  is shown with padding  59  and flap  61  is seen below palm material  56  and padding  59  is seen below flap  61 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 23-26  show cut-out illustrations as viewed from the bottom of glove  7 . In  FIG. 23 , bottom material  54  is cut-away and the layer immediately next is padding  59 .  FIG. 24  is without padding and the cut-away view exposes flap  61  and material  56  that lines the palm surface of hand cavity  51 .  FIG. 25  is without padding and by retracting flap  61  and palm layer  56  material  70  that forms the top layer of glove  7  is revealed. In  FIG. 26  is illustrated glove  7  turned inside-out and exposing palm surface material  56 , thumb opening  53 , and padding pocket opening  58 . Padding  59  is shown folded to allow passage through opening  58  and into pocket cavity  57 . 
         [0051]    In another embodiment illustrated by gloves  9  and  10  in  FIGS. 27-33 , flap  80  and flap  81  are located distal to palm material  56  as viewed from within pocket  57 . In cross-section view of  FIG. 29 , flap  80  is below palm material  56  and in cross-section view of  FIG. 30 , flap  81  is below palm layer  56 . Using flap  80  as an example of the positioning of flaps  80  and  81 , cut-out views from top of glove  9  as seen in  FIGS. 31-33  illustrate flap  80  above palm material  56 . In  FIG. 33  glove  9  is shown with padding  59  to illustrate the relationship of padding  59  to palm material  56  and flap  80 ; padding  59  is below palm material  56  and palm material  56  is below flap  80 .