Ball glove with finger stalls having multiple weltings

Abstract

A ball glove including front and back glove portions, at least first and second weltings, and a webbing. The back glove portion is coupled to the front glove portion to define a hand cavity and to form first, second, third and fourth finger stalls and a thumb stall. Each finger stall includes a front stall portion and a back stall portion. Each back stall portion includes at least three stall segments. The first and second weltings extending along the back stall portion and each welting connects two of the stall segments. The webbing is coupled to, and positioned between, the first finger stall and the thumb stall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to a ball glove for baseball, softball and other sports. In particular, the present invention relates to a ball glove having a plurality of finger stalls with at least two weltings reinforcing the back portion of at least one of the finger stalls.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Ball gloves for use in baseball, softball and other sports are well known. Ball gloves typically include a front panel connected to a corresponding back panel to form a hand cavity. The front and back panels typically generally resemble the shape of a human hand and when assembled form five stalls for receiving the thumb and fingers of a user's hand. The front and back panels form a hand opening at the lower edge of the glove. A webbing is typically connected between the thumb stall and the index finger stall of the ball glove. Ball gloves also typically include a hand opening for enabling a user to insert his or her hand into the hand cavit...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]This invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings described herein below, and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Problems solved by technology

Many existing ball gloves have drawbacks.

First, the finger stalls of many ball gloves can become too flexible after repeated use, and, as a result, will have a tendency to bend backwards when impacted by a ball, particularly, when the ball impacts the forward (or distal) ends of the finger stalls.

This backward bending or flexing of the finger stalls can cause the ball, that otherwise would be retained by the glove, to drop.

Further, such backward bending can cause the player's fingers to overextend, or otherwise injure the player's fingers.

Such attempts have resulting in finger stalls of great complexity and multiple materials, increased weight, numerous outwardly extending projections, and / or inefficient positioning of support material.

Another drawback associated with many existing ball gloves is the difficulty in forming and contouring the shape of the glove, and in particular, the finger stalls, to the desired shape, contour or pattern.

Many existing glove configurations cannot be contoured to the optimum position or shape.

Images