Abstract:
A cover for the thumb of an angler includes a first panel, a second panel and an elastic band. The second panel has an inner surface adapted to contact the pad of an angler&#39;s thumb and is coupled to the first panel to define a pocket adapted to receive an angler&#39;s thumb. The elastic band is coupled to one of the first and second panels and is positioned adjacent an outside surface of the first panel. The elastic band is adapted to reduce the size of the pocket at an axial location between the first and second knuckles of an angler&#39;s thumb. A method of making a cover for a thumb of an angler is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to equipment for fishing and, more particularly, to a cover for a fisherman&#39;s thumb.  
         [0002]     Bass fishermen often attempt to catch as many bass as possible during their time on the water. Some fishermen are successful at this task and catch many fish throughout the day. After a bass has been hooked by a lure, the fisherman typically reels in the fish to a location adjacent the boat. The fisherman may now place his thumb within the mouth of the bass and grasp the lower lip of the fish by pinching the lower lip between the thumb and the forefinger. This process is known as “lipping” the bass. While the bass is lipped with one of the fisherman&#39;s hands, the fisherman uses his free hand to remove the hook from the bass. Depending on the size of the hooked fish, an angler may lip the fish to lift it from the water into the boat. The hook may be removed while the fish is in the boat.  
         [0003]     Even though catching many bass in one day may provide enjoyment to the angler, the process of lipping the bass may cause irritation on the pad of the thumb of the fisherman due to repeatedly grasping the rasp-like cartilage structure of the fish&#39;s mouth. Furthermore, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a grip on the lower lip if the bass attempts to dislodge from the grip.  
         [0004]     Another concern exists when attempting to remove the lure from the fish. The angler risks puncturing his own thumb while attempting to maintain a grip on the fish&#39;s lower lip while removing the hook. Accordingly, a need exists for fishing equipment to improve the safety and enjoyment of a bass fishing experience.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     A cover for the thumb of an angler includes a first panel, a second panel and an elastic band. The second panel has an inner surface adapted to contact the pad of an angler&#39;s thumb and is coupled to the first panel to define a pocket adapted to receive an angler&#39;s thumb. The elastic band is coupled to one of the first and second panels and is positioned adjacent an outside surface of the first panel. The elastic band is adapted to reduce the size of the pocket at an axial location between the first and second knuckles of an angler&#39;s thumb.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a method of making a cover for a thumb of an angler. The cover includes a first panel, a second panel and an elastic band. The method includes sizing the second panel to be longer in length than the first panel, coupling edge portions of the first panel to edge portions of the second panel to define a pocket and coupling the elastic band to one of the first and second panels to locally constrict a portion of the pocket.  
         [0007]     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a thumb cover of the present disclosure;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view depicting an exemplary angler having a thumb cover of the present disclosure positioned on his thumb while lipping an exemplary bass. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a thumb cover  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. Thumb cover  10  includes a first panel  12 , a second panel  14  and a band  16  interconnected to one another. First panel  12  may be constructed from a neoprene material. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, first panel  12  has a thickness of approximately  2 mm. The neoprene material is flexible and durable. Furthermore, the neoprene material is constructed to undergo substantial elongation during use and return to its original undeformed state after a load has been removed from the material. Accordingly, first panel  12  stretches and conforms to the size and shape of an angler&#39;s thumb during use of thumb cover  10 .  
         [0014]     First panel  12  includes an outer surface  18 , an inner surface  20 , a first edge  22 , a second edge  24 , a third edge  26 , and a fourth edge  28 . First edge  22  is substantially linearly-shaped and positioned substantially parallel to linearly-shaped third edge  26 . Second edge  24  extends substantially linearly between a first end of first edge  22  and a first end of third edge  26 . Fourth edge  28  is arcuately shaped and interconnects the opposite ends of first edge  22  and third edge  26 . While described independently, the first edge  22 , second edge  24 , third edge  26 , and fourth edge  28  are continuous.  
         [0015]     Second panel  14  is constructed from a material that is resistant to puncturing and abrasion such as garment split suede and has an inner surface  40  and an outer surface  42 . Second panel  14  also includes a first edge  44 , a second edge  46 , a third edge  48 , and a fourth edge  50 . In similar fashion to first panel  12 , first edge  44  of second panel  14  is substantially linearly-shaped and extends substantially parallel to a linearly-shaped third edge  48 . Fourth edge  50  is arcuately shaped to interconnect ends of first edge  44  and third edge  48 . Second panel  14  includes a tab portion  52  defined by second edge  46 . Tab portion  52  axially extends beyond second edge  24  of first panel  12 . Second edge  46  arcuately extends from first edge  44  to third edge  48 .  
         [0016]     Band  16  is substantially rectangularly shaped having an outer surface  60  and an inner surface  62 . Band  16  also includes a first edge  64 , a second edge  66 , a third edge  68  and a fourth edge  70 . Band  16  is constructed from an elastic material. This material allows substantial elongation without rupture when under load. Furthermore, band  16  has a tendency to return to its original undeformed state once a load is removed from band  16 .  
         [0017]     To construct thumb cover  10  from the three components previously described, first edge  22  of first panel  12  is aligned and connected with first edge  44  of second panel  14  and first edge  64  of band  16 . Third edge  26 , third edge  48  and third edge  68  are also aligned and connected with one another. Fourth edge  28  of first panel  12  is aligned and connected with fourth edge  50  of second panel  14 . Fourth edge  70  of band  16  is axially offset from fourth edge  28  and fourth edge  50  a sufficient distance that band  16  applies a clamping load around an angler&#39;s thumb at a location between the first and second knuckles. Outer surface  18  of first panel  12  engages outer surface  42  of second panel  14  except where band  16  is present. Outer surface  42  of second panel  14  engages outer surface  60  of band  16  and inner surface  62  of band  16  engages outer surface  18  of first panel  12  where band  16  is present. To connect the components as previously presented, a continuous, uninterrupted stitch  74  extends through each of first panel  12 , second panel  14  and band  16  to define thumb cover  10 . More specifically, stitch  74  interconnects edge portions of first panel  12 , second panel  14  and band  16  that are located near first edge  22 , first edge  44 , first edge  64 , fourth edge  28 , fourth edge  50 , third edge  26 , third edge  48  and third edge  68 .  
         [0018]     A pocket  76  having a closed end  78  and an open end  80  is defined by inner surface  20  of first panel  12  and inner surface  40  of second panel  14 . Pocket  76  includes a longitudinal axis  82  extending from closed end  78  to open end  80 . Band  16  is positioned at a location axially offset more than halfway from closed end  78  to open end  80 . Tab portion  52  extends along axis  82  beyond the edge of pocket  76 . After the stitching operation has been completed, a fold  84  is formed in first panel  12  because first panel  12  is formed incrementally larger in width than second panel  14  where the width is defined as the distance between the first and third edges of the first and second panels  12  and  14 , respectively. Fold  84  is further defined due to the presence of band  16  exerting a load on first panel  12 . A load is present because the distance between first edge  64  and third edge  68  is less than the width of first panel  12 .  
         [0019]     In operation, an angler having an exemplary hand  100  inserts the tip of one of his thumbs  101  into pocket  76 . Thumb  101  includes a first knuckle  102  and a second knuckle  103 . To fully seat thumb  101  within pocket  76  and properly position thumb cover  10  on angler&#39;s hand  100 , the angler uses his opposite hand to grasp tab portion  52  and pull thumb cover  10  up thumb  101  to position a tip  104  of the thumb proximate closed end  78 . At this time, band  16  should be positioned between the first and second knuckles of thumb  101 . Due to the presence of fold  84 , sufficient material exists to allow thumb  101  to enter pocket  76 . Furthermore, first panel  12  is constructed from neoprene that allows additional elongation of the material if required.  
         [0020]     Once thumb cover  10  is positioned on the anger&#39;s thumb as previously described, band  16  functions to retain thumb cover  10  in this location by locally reducing the size of pocket  76  at the position between the first and second knuckles of the angler. It is contemplated that a fisherman may wear thumb cover  10  throughout the day without concern for the cover becoming inadvertently separated from the angler&#39;s thumb. To remove thumb cover  10  from one&#39;s thumb, closed end  78  may be firmly grasped with the angler&#39;s other hand. An axial force is applied with the angler&#39;s other hand to cause band  16  to elongate and axially pass by first knuckle  102  of thumb  101 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  depicts thumb cover  10  in use where outer surface  42  of second panel  14  is positioned within a mouth opening  105  of an exemplary bass  106 . A forefinger  108  of hand  100  is used to pinch a lower lip  110  of bass  106  against outer surface  42  of second panel  14 . A thumb pad  112  of thumb  101  is in contact with inner surface  40  to provide a reaction to the pinching force applied by forefinger  108 . The suede material provides an excellent grip within mouth opening  105  of bass  106  such that relative movement between thumb cover  10  and bass  106  is resisted. In addition, second panel  14  is sufficiently resistant to puncture from the abrasive surface in the mouth of the bass to minimize abrasion on thumb pad  112 .  
         [0022]     While the angler restrains bass  106  as previously mentioned, the free hand of the angler is used to remove a fishing lure (not shown) from bass  106 . The second panel  14  is constructed from a material resistant to puncture from inadvertent contact from the lure. Fishing enjoyment is enhanced by an increased confidence that bass  106  will not slip from the angler&#39;s grip nor will the angler&#39;s thumb be irritated by repeated contact with the abrasive surface of the bass&#39;s mouth.  
         [0023]     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations may be made therein without department from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.