Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a new and improved baseball glove. The glove includes an outer shell that contains a finger portion, a thumb portion, and a palm portion. The finger portion comprises two or three finger holsters, the outermost holster accommodates two or three fingers, the remaining finger holster(s) accommodates one or two fingers. One or more finger separator(s) reside within the outermost finger holster to prevent discomfort of the fingers. A web portion is attached between the finger portion and the thumb portion. A protective padding strip is located within the surrounding area immediately adjacent to the web portion. The finger portion and thumb portion are spaced apart to minimize the impact of a caught ball with the user&#39;s hand. A web-reinforcement patch is located over a variable region surrounding the intersection of the lower region of the web portion and the outer shell.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of sports equipment. More specifically, this patent deals with a new and improved baseball glove designed to minimize the pain and discomfort caused by the impact of a baseball with the user&#39;s hand, and to provide the user with a stronger and more controlled closing action of the glove.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The game of baseball has become more advanced since its inception. In the last several decades alone, improvements in the design of the bats and baseballs combined with the more rigorous strength and conditioning programs undertaken by the players has significantly elevated the level of competition. Today&#39;s athletes from all levels of play—high school, college, semi-professional, and professional baseball—not only hit the ball harder and farther, but also throw the ball with more velocity than in years past. This evolution in the game can also be recognized in the changes that have manifested in the design of baseball gloves.  
         [0003]     Early baseball gloves were designed the same regardless of the fielding position played, generally resembling a mitten with a web portion loosely attached between the finger and thumb portions for receiving the ball. The finger portion was typically one large compartment that housed all of the user&#39;s fingers. As time progressed, gloves were designed with more than one finger portion that could accommodate one or more fingers of the user. This enabled the user to close the glove around the ball with a quicker, stronger motion than the glove with one finger compartment. With the realization that all of the positions in the field were not identical in either the frequency or velocity in which the baseball was caught, baseball gloves were later designed for use with specific positions on the field. Examples of the different types of gloves that now exist are the catcher&#39;s glove, the first basemen&#39;s glove, the infielder&#39;s glove, and the outfielder&#39;s glove. Additional improvements in the design of baseball gloves included affixing the web portion of the glove more tightly and securely to the rest of the glove to allow for the safe catching of baseballs traveling at higher velocities.  
         [0004]     Another more recent baseball glove feature to compensate for the catching of baseballs traveling at higher velocities was the addition of an opening in the back portion of the glove that could enable the wearer to remove the index finger from the inner portion of the glove. This feature was incorporated into the glove to provide the wearer with an extra layer of padding for the index finger region, an area that typically receives a substantial amount of contact with a baseball when the ball is received into the glove.  
         [0005]     Several gloves have been designed to relieve the wearer of the pain and discomfort in the index finger region caused by catching a baseball traveling at high velocities, while simultaneously allowing for a stronger and more controlled closing action. Whether or not successful, these attempts have fallen short of the mark in several aspects of glove design, as described herein.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,414,004 granted to A. J. Turner describes a baseball glove comprising a palm portion, a pair of adjacent finger stalls, and a thumb stall. The finger stalls are each designed to accommodate two adjacent fingers of the wearer. The spacing of the thumb stall from the nearer finger stall is greater than the diameter of a standard baseball and the angular relations and relative positions of the thumb and finger stalls are such that the wearer&#39;s thumb and is normally spread away from the rest of the hand.  
         [0007]     This patent describes a baseball glove designed to form a pocket for catching a ball without absorbing the impact of the ball flatly against a portion of the wearer&#39;s hand. Additionally, the glove attempts to provide a stronger gripping action by utilizing different finger placement within the glove. However, the separation of the ring and pinky fingers from the middle and index fingers, combined with the joining of the middle and index fingers, creates a glove closing angle that causes discomfort and awkwardness. Similarly, the wide separation of the finger stalls and the thumb stalls causes the wearer&#39;s thumb to be spread farther away from the rest of the hand than normal, resulting in further discomfort. Also, the location of where the fingers are separated and joined reduces the quickness and strength available to the wearer for closing the glove around the ball. Further, the lack of a finger separation device in each finger stall results in an uncomfortable cramping and stiffness of the wearer&#39;s fingers during use of the glove.  
         [0008]     Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide a flexible baseball glove that can be comfortably worn by intermediate and more advanced players, that significantly minimizes the pain, swelling, and discomfort caused by the impact of a caught ball with a user&#39;s hand, and allows for a stronger, quicker, and more natural glove closing action.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,436 to Robert B. Jones describes a center-webbed baseball glove which utilizes the natural fold of the human hand and folds into two equal halves increasing the utilizable surface area. The glove is comprised of a central pocket, a set of outer finger slots, and a set of inner finger slots. The glove is worn by placing the pinky and ring fingers into the left outer finger slot, the middle and index fingers into the left inner finger slot, and the thumb into either the outer or inner right finger slots. The glove can also be worn on the right hand by placing the thumb in the left inner or outer finger slots and placing the remaining fingers in the left finger slots of the glove.  
         [0010]     This patent describes a centered-webbed baseball glove that utilizes adjustable finger holds to enable a user to wear the glove on either hand. While the symmetrical nature of the glove allows for “reversibility”, it does not fully accommodate the needs of more advanced players in several respects. First, due to the centralized web design, the glove “cups” the ball in a “trapping” motion. This leaves the wearer with little room for error in fielding a ball. This symmetrical design similarly allows for the ball to easily slip out of either the top or the bottom of the glove, during infield or outfield use, due to the lack of palm barrier that is present in the typical non-symmetrical baseball glove designs. Furthermore, the centralized web design necessarily restricts the size of the webbing. This causes the fingers to be more closely located to the webbing, which increases the likelihood a user will feel pain and discomfort when catching a ball traveling at high velocity.  
         [0011]     Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide a flexible baseball glove that can be comfortably worn by intermediate and more advanced players, that significantly minimizes the pain, swelling, and discomfort caused by the impact of a caught ball with a user&#39;s hand, and allows for a stronger, quicker, and more natural glove closing action.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,515 granted to Robert M. Fous is directed to an ergonomic fielding glove with at least one finger portion, a thumb portion, and a web joining the thumb portion and the nearest finger portion. The glove also includes a mitten-shaped compartment that holds all four fingers of the wearer, and is fixed at an angle of 90 degrees from a thumb-shaped compartment that holds the wearer&#39;s thumb. An adjustable thumb strap is added within both the finger compartment and the thumb compartment for added leverage and comfort of a particular sized hand.  
         [0013]     This patent describes a still another baseball glove designed to reduce the surface area where a hit or thrown ball impacts the user&#39;s hand. However, this design causes awkwardness of the hand angle by locating all of the fingers on one extreme end of the glove and the thumb on the other extreme, resulting uncomfortable strain and stiffness. A similar result of this hand positioning makes for an uncomfortable and awkward angle of the hand when fielding a ground ball. The design puts a substantial amount of strain on the wrist and effectively teaches an improper way of fielding a ground ball in the process. Further, cramming all of the fingers into the mitten compartment, with no finger separation device, causes a continuous rubbing of the fingers, resulting in an uncomfortable fit.  
         [0014]     Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide a flexible baseball glove that can be comfortably worn by intermediate and more advanced players, that significantly minimizes the pain, swelling, and discomfort caused by the impact of a caught ball with a user&#39;s hand, and allows for a stronger, quicker, and more natural glove closing action.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,046 to Lawrence J. Gilligan describes a baseball glove with a front and back shells joined together to form a finger portion, a heel portion, a thumb portion. A web portion is disposed between the finger portion and the thumb portion. The finger portion comprises at least to finger stalls, with the first of the at least two finger stalls closed so that the fingers of the user cannot be received into that stall. The glove also comprises a first and second hinge assemblies located along the heel portion. One of the hinge assemblies is closer in proximity to the thumb portion of the glove, while the other hinge assembly is closer in proximity to the finger portion of the glove.  
         [0016]     This patent describes yet another baseball glove designed to facilitate better control and ease of use by the player using the glove. However, this glove design creates an unbalanced weight distribution between the thumb stall and the non-closed finger stall(s), which results in a stronger closing action for the thumb portion of the glove and a weaker closing action for the finger portion of the glove. Uneven closure of the glove can cause the ball to deflect out of the glove, resulting in a missed catch. Also, the addition of a “closed” finger stall to the glove unnecessarily increases the bulk of the glove, further delaying the quickness of the glove closing action. Moreover, this glove design does not incorporate substantial features to effectively minimize the pain and discomfort to the wearer&#39;s index finger region caused by the impact of a ball with the wearer&#39;s hand.  
         [0017]     Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide a flexible baseball glove that can be comfortably worn by intermediate and more advanced players, that significantly minimizes the pain, swelling, and discomfort caused by the impact of a caught ball with a user&#39;s hand, and allows for a stronger, quicker, and more natural glove closing action.  
         [0018]     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The principal advantage of this invention is to provide a baseball glove designed to minimize pain and discomfort caused by the impact of a caught ball with the user&#39;s hand.  
         [0020]     Another advantage of this invention is to provide a baseball glove that can be comfortably used by intermediate and more advanced players, such as high school, collegiate, semi-professional, and professional players.  
         [0021]     Another advantage of this invention is to provide a baseball glove that positions a user&#39;s hand in such a manner so as to enable a quicker, stronger, and more efficient closing action of the glove around the baseball.  
         [0022]     And still another advantage of this invention is to provide a baseball glove that can be effectively used at several fielding positions.  
         [0023]     And yet another advantage of this invention is to provide a new and unique catching apparatus that can be used in a variety of different sporting events to enhance the comfort in catching high-velocity projectiles.  
         [0024]     The present invention is directed to a new and improved baseball glove. The glove includes an outer shell that contains a finger portion, a thumb portion, and a palm portion. The finger portion comprises three finger holsters, the outermost holster proportioned to accommodate two fingers of the user, the remaining finger holsters proportioned to each accommodate one finger. A finger separator is located within the outermost finger holster to prevent discomfort of the fingers. A web portion is attached between the finger portion and the thumb portion. A protective padding strip is located within the surrounding area immediately adjacent to the web portion. The finger portion and thumb portion are spaced apart to minimize the impact of a caught ball with the user&#39;s hand. A web-reinforcement patch is located over a variable region surrounding the intersection of the lower region of the web portion and the outer shell.  
         [0025]     An alternative embodiment of the baseball glove is intended to be used by first basemen. This embodiment includes an outer shell that contains a finger portion, a thumb portion, and a palm portion. Two finger holsters are located within the finger portion, the outermost holster is proportioned to accommodate three fingers of the wearer, and the remaining finger holster is proportioned to accommodate one finger. Two or more finger separators are located within the outermost finger holster to prevent uncomfortable rubbing of the fingers. A thumb restraint is located within the thumb portion to enable a quicker, stronger, and more controlled closing action of the glove. A web portion is attached between the finger portion and the thumb portion. A protective padding strip is located within the surrounding area immediately adjacent to the web portion of the glove. The finger portion and thumb portion are spaced apart to minimize the impact of a caught ball with the user&#39;s hand. A web-reinforcement patch is located over a variable region surrounding the intersection of the lower region of the web portion and the outer shell.  
         [0026]     Another embodiment of the baseball glove is intended to be used by catchers. This embodiment includes an outer shell that contains a finger portion, a thumb portion, and a palm portion. Two finger holsters are located within the finger portion, the outermost holster is proportioned to accommodate three fingers of the wearer, and the remaining finger holster proportioned to accommodate one finger. Two or more finger separators are located within the outermost finger holster to prevent uncomfortable rubbing of the fingers. A thumb restraint is located within the thumb portion to enable a quicker, stronger, and more controlled closing action of the glove. A web portion is attached between the finger portion and the thumb portion. A protective padding strip is located within the surrounding area immediately adjacent to the web portion of the glove. The finger portion and thumb portion are spaced apart to minimize the impact of a caught ball with the user&#39;s hand. A web-reinforcement patch is located over a variable region surrounding the intersection of the lower region of the web portion and the outer shell.  
         [0027]     With respect to the above description it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0028]     These, together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principals of this invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  depicts a partially cut away front view of the preferred embodiment of the baseball glove, showing the web-reinforcement patch located thereon, the placement of the user&#39;s hand into the glove, as well as the finger separator located within the glove, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  depicts a top view of a horizontal cross-section of the finger portion of the baseball glove, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  depicts a front view of a planar cross-section of a prior art baseball glove, showing the padded regions of the glove;  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  depicts a front view of a planar cross-section of the preferred embodiment of the baseball glove, showing the padded regions of the glove, constructed in accordance with the present invention, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  depicts a front view of the preferred embodiment of the baseball glove, showing the placement of the hand into the glove as well as the web-reinforcement patch located thereon, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  depicts a top view of a horizontal cross-section of the baseball glove extending from the thumb portion to the innermost finger holster, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  depicts a side view of a vertical cross-section of the web region and the area beneath the web region of the preferred embodiment of the baseball glove, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  depicts a front view of an alternative embodiment of the baseball glove, showing in particular the web-reinforcement patch located thereon, the placement of the hand into the glove, the placement of the protective padded region, and the placement of the finger separators located therein, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  depicts a front view of another alternative embodiment of the baseball glove, showing in particular the web-reinforcement patch located thereon, the placement of the hand into the glove, the placement of the protective padded region, and the placement of the finger separators located therein, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in  FIG. 1 a  partially cut away front view of the preferred embodiment of fielder&#39;s glove  10 , in place on the hand of a user. As those familiar with gloves will recognize based on its size and shape, fielder&#39;s glove  10  is a standard fielder&#39;s glove. Fielder&#39;s glove  10  has an outer shell  20  composed of a front surface  22  and a back surface  24  (not shown). Outer shell  20  has an opening  25  at the lower portion of fielder&#39;s glove  10 . Front surface  22  and back surface  24  are joined together at various parts of opening  25  by lacing  26 , to form a glove opening  28 . Outer shell  20  is shaped to form a palm portion  30 , finger portion  40 , and thumb portion  50 . A web region  60  is located between finger portion  40  and thumb portion  50 . A web-reinforcement patch  62  is attached over the intersection of the lower portion of web region  60  and outer shell  20 . It should be recognized that web-reinforcement patch  62  is not limited in size and can be situated on fielder&#39;s glove  10  to cover a variable region immediately surrounding the intersection of the lower portion of web region  60  and outer shell  20 , including the areas directly above, below, and on both sides of the intersection.  
         [0040]     A user inserts his or her hand  70  into glove opening  28  to use fielder&#39;s glove  10 . Finger portion  40  is comprised of finger holster  41 , finger holster  42 , and finger holster  43 . Finger holster  43  is sized to accommodate two fingers of a user. To use fielder&#39;s glove  10  a user inserts thumb  72  into thumb portion  50 , index finger  74  into finger holster  41 , middle finger  76  into finger holster  42 , and ring finger  78  and pinky finger  79  into finger holster  43 . It is to be recognized that thumb portion  50  can also contain a thumb tab for the purpose of securing thumb  72  into thumb portion  50 . Thumb tabs are standard in many modern baseball gloves, and typically consist of a strip of leather formed in a loop within the thumb region, with the two ends of the strip of leather protruding from the outer shell of the glove and tied together into a knot. Standard thumb tabs can be adjusted by loosening the knot and either increasing or decreasing the amount of leather used to form the loop. Ring finger  78  and pinky finger  79  are separated in finger holster  43  by a finger separator  44 . Finger separator  44  can be comprised of a strip of conditioned leather, fabric, cloth, or other type of soft and flexible material that will not cause discomfort when contacting ring finger  78  and pinky finger  79 .  
         [0041]     It is to be recognized that fielder&#39;s glove  10  can embody both an infielders glove and an outfielder&#39;s glove. In the infielder&#39;s glove embodiment, web region  60 , finger portion  40 , and thumb portion  50 , will be shorter in height than in the outfielder&#39;s glove embodiment.  
         [0042]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , there is seen a top view of a horizontal cross-section of finger portion  40 , including finger holster  41  containing index finger  74 , finger holster  42  containing middle finger  76 , and finger holster  43  containing both ring finger  78  and pinky finger  79  separated by finger separator  44 . Finger separator  44  can be attached to the inside of the back surface  24  and to leather separator  80 . Such attachment can occur by any means, including, but not limited to stitching, sewing, and gluing. In an alternative embodiment, fielder&#39;s glove  10  can use a finger separator comprised of a strip of leather formed in a loop, whereby, depending on the positioning of the finger separator within finger holster  43 , a user inserts either ring finger  78  or pinky finger  79  through the loop. Leather separator  80  serves to provide a comfort barrier between hand  70  and finger and thumb padding  82 . Leather separator  80  is joined at various parts to outer shell  20  by lacing  26 .  
         [0043]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , there is seen a front view of a planar cross-section of a prior art baseball glove, showing the finger and thumb padding indicated by the cross-hatched region.  
         [0044]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , there is seen front view of a planar cross-section of fielder&#39;s glove  10 , showing the finger and thumb padding  82  as well as protective padding strip  90  located within outer shell  20  and substantially surrounding web region  60 . It should be recognized that protective padding strip  90  can be disposed within outer shell  20  to completely or partially surround web region  60 . Protective padding strip  90  can be comprised of various types of material, including but not limited to standard glove padding, cloth, fabric, sponge, leather, gel-like substances, or any other type of suitable padding material.  
         [0045]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , there is seen a front view of the preferred embodiment of fielder&#39;s glove  10  with web-reinforcement patch  62  located thereon and user&#39;s hand  70  shown in phantom, including thumb  72  and index finger  74 .  
         [0046]     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , there is seen a top view of a horizontal cross-section of fielder&#39;s glove  10  extending from thumb portion  50  to finger holster  41 , including web region  60 , web-reinforcement patch  62 , and protective padding strip  90 . Finger and thumb padding  82  is located within thumb portion  50  between thumb  72  and leather separator  80 , and within finger holster  41  between index finger  74  and leather separator  80 .  
         [0047]     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , there is depicted a side view of a vertical cross-section of web region  60  and the area beneath the web region  60 , including web-reinforcement patch  62 , hand  70  situated between front surface  22  of outer shell  20  and back surface  24  of outer shell  20 , and protective padding strip  90 .  
         [0048]     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , there is a front view of first baseman&#39;s glove  100 . First baseman&#39;s glove  100  embodies the same invention as fielder&#39;s glove  10 , but is different in size, shape, and padding configuration to specifically meet the needs of the first base position. First baseman&#39;s glove  100  has an outer shell  102  composed of a front surface  104  and a back surface  106  joined together at various parts by lacing  108 . Front surface  104  and back surface  106  are not joined together at the lower portion of first baseman&#39;s glove  100 , so as to form a glove opening  110 . Outer shell  102  is formed to include a palm portion  120 , finger portion  130 , and thumb portion  140 . A web region  150  is located between finger portion  130  and thumb portion  140 . A web-reinforcement patch  152  is attached over the intersection of the lower portion of web region  150  and outer shell  102 . It should be recognized that web-reinforcement patch  152  is not limited in size and can be situated on first baseman&#39;s glove  100  to cover a variable region immediately surrounding the intersection of the lower portion of web region  150  and outer shell  102 , including the areas directly above, below, and on both sides of the intersection.  
         [0049]     A user inserts his or her hand  170  into glove opening  110  to use first baseman&#39;s glove  100 . Finger portion  130  is comprised of finger holster  132  and finger holster  134 . Finger holster  132  and finger holster  134  are located within outer shell  102 . Finger holster  134  is sized to accommodate three fingers of a user. To use first baseman&#39;s glove  100  a user inserts thumb  172  into thumb portion  140 , index finger  174  into finger holster  132 , and middle finger  176 , ring finger  178  and pinky finger  179  into finger holster  134 . It is to be recognized that thumb portion  140  can also contain a thumb tab for the purpose of securing thumb  172  into thumb portion  140 . Thumb tabs are standard in many modern baseball gloves, and typically consist of a strip of leather formed in a loop within the thumb region, with the two ends of the strip of leather protruding from the outer shell of the glove and tied together into a knot. Standard thumb tabs can be adjusted by loosening the knot and either increasing or decreasing the amount of leather used to form the loop. Middle finger  176  and ring finger  178  are separated in finger holster  134  by finger separator  136 . Ring finger  178  and pinky finger  179  are separated in finger holster  134  by a finger separator  138 . Finger separator  136  and finger separator  138  can both be comprised of a strip of conditioned leather, fabric, cloth, or other type of soft and flexible material that will not cause discomfort when contacting middle finger  176 , ring finger  178 , and pinky finger  179 . Finger separator  136  and finger separator  138  can both be attached within first baseman&#39;s glove  100  in a similar manner as finger separator  44  is attached in fielder&#39;s glove  10 . In an alternative embodiment, first baseman&#39;s glove  100  can use finger separators each comprised of a strip of leather formed in a loop, whereby the positioning of the finger separators within finger holster  134  determines which fingers a user inserts through each loop.  
         [0050]     A protective padding strip  160  is located within outer shell  102  and surrounding web region  150 . It should be recognized that protective padding strip  160  can be disposed within outer shell  102  so as to completely or partially surround web region  150 . Protective padding strip  160  can be comprised of various types of material, including but not limited to standard glove padding, cloth, fabric, sponge, leather, gel-like substances, or any other type of suitable padding material.  
         [0051]     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , there is a front view of catcher&#39;s glove  200 . Catcher&#39;s glove  200  embodies the same invention as fielder&#39;s glove  10 , but is different in size, shape, and padding configuration to specifically meet the needs of the catcher&#39;s position. Catcher&#39;s glove  200  has an outer shell  202  composed of a front surface  204  and a back surface  206  joined together at various parts by lacing  208 . Front surface  204  and back surface  206  are not joined together at the lower portion of catcher&#39;s glove  200 , so as to form a glove opening  210 . Outer shell  202  is formed to include a palm portion  220 , thumb portion  230 , and finger portion  240 . A web region  250  is located between thumb portion  230  and finger portion  240 . A web-reinforcement patch  252  is attached over the intersection of the lower portion of web region  250  and outer shell  202 . It should be recognized that web-reinforcement patch  252  is not limited in size and can be situated on catcher&#39;s glove  200  to cover a variable region immediately surrounding the intersection of the lower portion of web region  250  and outer shell  202 , including the areas directly above, below, and on both sides of the intersection.  
         [0052]     A user inserts his or her hand  270  into glove opening  210  to use catcher&#39;s glove  200 . Finger portion  240  is comprised of finger holster  242  and finger holster  244 . Finger holster  242  and finger holster  244  are located within outer shell  202 . Finger holster  244  is sized to accommodate three fingers of a user. To use catcher&#39;s glove  200  a user inserts thumb  272  into thumb portion  230 , index finger  274  into finger holster  242 , and middle finger  276 , ring finger  278  and pinky finger  279  into finger holster  244 . Thumb  272  is disposed in thumb portion  230  by thumb tab  235 . Middle finger  276  is disposed in finger holster  244  by finger tab  246 . Ring finger  278  is disposed in finger holster  244  by finger tab  248 . Pinky finger  279  is disposed in finger holster  244  by finger tab  249 . Thumb tab  235 , finger tab  246 , finger tab  248 , and finger tab  209  can each be comprised of a strip of conditioned leather, fabric, cloth, or other type of soft and flexible material that will not cause discomfort when contacting thumb  272 , middle finger  276 , ring finger  278 , and pinky finger  279 . It is to be recognized that thumb tab  235 , finger tab  246 , finger tab  248 , and finger tab  209  can be attached using various techniques, including but not limited to sewing, stitching, and gluing. A protective padding strip  260  is disposed within outer shell  202  and surrounding web region  250 . It should be recognized that protective padding strip  260  can be disposed within outer shell  202  so as to completely or partially surround web region  250 . Protective padding strip  260  can be comprised of various types of material, including but not limited to standard glove padding, cloth, fabric, sponge, leather, gel-like substances, or any other type of suitable padding material.  
         [0053]     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.