US20080078010A1

US20080078010A1 - Bowling glove

Info

Publication number: US20080078010A1
Application number: US11/806,694
Authority: US
Inventors: Valter Micheloni
Original assignee: LEVEL SpA
Current assignee: LEVEL SpA
Priority date: 2006-10-02
Filing date: 2007-06-04
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: ITTV20060170A1

Abstract

A bowling glove with which at least one supporting spacer for a bowling ball is associated or associable at the region interposed between the little finger, the index finger and the wrist.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, in the game of bowling it is known to use appropriately provided gloves adapted to improve user grip and control of the ball.
These known types of glove generally cover part of the wrist, the palm and back of the hand, the index and little finger, and instead leave exposed the thumb, the middle finger and the ring finger, in order to facilitate their insertion in three appropriately provided holes formed in bowling balls.
Generally, these known types of glove have, at the fingers, silicone protrusions which are adapted to improve grip on the ball.
However, these known types of glove have a drawback: the grip on the ball is not ideal, since it also rests on other regions of the hand; moreover, said gloves do not protect the hand and the wrist against the intense flexural and torsional stresses to which they are subjected during ball throwing; these stresses can lead to rapid fatigue of the hand, wrist and forearm, with the risk of compromising the playing performance of the user and also of causing traumas thereto.
As a partial solution to this drawback, bowling gloves are known which have, at the wrist and at the back of the hand, a seat which is formed longitudinally with respect to the glove for a plate or lamina made of polycarbonate, which is adapted to protect the wrist against the flexural stresses that occur during ball throwing.
However, these known types of glove have the drawback that they do not provide adequate protection against torsional stresses, which, as mentioned earlier, can lead to rapid fatigue, particularly of the wrist, hand and forearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by providing a bowling glove which allows optimum ball control and allows to reduce fatigue in particular of the hand, wrist and forearm of the user during the practice of bowling.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a bowling glove which allows to support and stabilize in an optimum manner a bowling ball during its support and throwing.
Another object is to provide a bowling glove which can be used by people who have different hand shapes.
Another object is to provide a bowling glove which is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a bowling glove, characterized in that at least one supporting spacer for a bowling ball is associated or associable at the region interposed between the little finger, the index finger and the wrist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glove according to the invention, worn by a user;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the glove of FIG. 1 while gripping a bowling ball;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the glove of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spacer according to the preceding figures;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of some possible conditions in the arrangement of the spacer;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the spacer according to the preceding figures;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a glove according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cutout perspective view of a detail of a glove according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.
Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a bowling glove.
In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the glove 1 is shaped so as to cover partially, during use, the wrist 2 of the user and completely surround the palm 3 and the back 4 of the hand, the index finger 5 and the little finger 6; the glove 1 instead leaves exposed the thumb 7 and the two outermost phalanges of the middle finger 8 and of the ring finger 9, in order to facilitate the insertion of these last three fingers in appropriately provided holes, not shown in the accompanying figures, formed in a bowling ball 10.
As an alternative, the glove 1 can cover completely the thumb 7, the middle finger 8 and the ring finger 9 as well.
A spacer 12 for supporting the bowling ball 10 is associated or associable detachably with the glove 1 at a region, designated by the reference numeral 11, which is interposed between the little finger 6, the index finger 5 and the wrist 2.
Advantageously, the spacer 12 is made of an elastically deformable material, such as for example the material known by the trademark EVA.
The spacer can be made partially or entirely of elastically deformable material or of materials having different elasticity which affect chosen and distinct regions of said spacer, or of another material which is compatible with specific requirements.
Advantageously, the spacer 12 is preferably approximately crescent-shaped in plan view, its convex lateral surface, designated by the reference numeral 13, being directed toward the wrist 2.
Its shape and the material used can in any case be the most pertinent according to the hand of the user or the diameter of the bowling ball.
The spacer, in plan view, in the particular embodiment shown, is approximately crescent-shaped, with a first end which is adjacent to the base of the little finger 6 which tapers more than a second end which is directed toward the root of the thumb 7, with a larger radius of curvature.
Advantageously, the spacer 12 can have a chosen height, in order to adapt to the particular anatomical shape of the hand of the user.
Advantageously, the upper surface, designated by the reference numeral 14, of the spacer 12 is arc-shaped and shaped approximately complementarily with respect to the bowling ball 10, in order to better adhere to its surface.
Advantageously, the upper surface 14 of the spacer 12 has high friction characteristics, so as to be able to adhere in an optimum manner to the bowling ball 10.
Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the spacer 12 can be associated with the glove 1 detachably, by way of appropriately provided detachable fixing means, constituted for example by a first band 15 of the material known by the trademark Velcro, which is fixed to the lower surface 16 of the spacer 12 and can be associated detachably with an appropriately provided second band 17 of the hook and loop type fastener material known by the trademark Velcro, which is fixed for example by sewing to the glove 1 at the region 11.
Advantageously, the plan shape of the second band 17 is such as to allow to modify selectively the position for fixing the spacer 12 thereto in order to adapt the glove 1 to the particular anatomical shape of the hand of the user or to the shape of the ball.
In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the plan shape of the second band 17 is approximately crescent-like.
Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to FIG. 1, after putting on the glove 1, the user can choose a spacer 12 of the intended height or shape and can thus fix the spacer 12 to the second band 17 provided in the region 11 of the glove 1 in a chosen position.
By inserting the thumb 7, the middle finger 9 and the ring finger 8 in the three appropriately provided holes formed in a bowling ball 10, said ball is arranged so as to rest on the upper surface 14 of the spacer 12; the presence of such spacer avoids the need for the wrist and hand of the user to rotate during the throwing of the ball 10, thus avoiding the onset of torsional stresses and reducing in this manner the fatigue of the hand, wrist and forearm.
It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a bowling glove having been provided which, by way of the presence of the spacer, allows to achieve optimum ball control and at the same time allows the hand and the wrist to not rotate during throwing, thus avoiding the onset of torsional stresses and reducing the fatigue of the hand, wrist and forearm.
Further, the glove according to the invention, by way of the presence of the spacer, allows to support and stabilize in an optimum manner the bowling ball while throwing it.
Moreover, thanks to the possibility to modify the position of the spacer and choose a spacer of a chosen height, the glove according to the invention can be used by users who have different anatomical characteristics.
Further, the production costs of the glove according to the invention remain low, since it is provided exclusively with components which are easy to manufacture and/or assemble.
The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
Thus, for example, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, it is possible to provide a glove 101 in which the spacer 112 is associated permanently therewith.
As shown in FIG. 8, the spacer 112 can be constituted for example by an insert 118 which is approximately crescent-shaped in plan view and has an upper arc-like surface 119 which is partially shaped complementarily to a bowling ball.
The insert 118 is inserted, for example during the production of the glove 101, in an appropriately provided pocket 120 formed at the region 111, interposed between the little finger 106, the index finger 105 and the wrist 102; once the insert 118 has been inserted in the pocket 120, said pocket is closed permanently, for example by sewing or heat-sealing or thermoforming.
The insert 118 and therefore the pocket 120 which is shaped complementarily thereto can have the chosen dimensions.
As an alternative, the pocket 120 can have an opening which can be closed temporarily.
The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.
The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2006A000170 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling glove, comprising: cover regions that at least partially cover the little finger, the index finger and the wrist of a user; and at least one supporting spacer for a bowling ball that is associated or associable at a region of the glove interposed between the little finger, the index finger and the wrist cover regions.

2. The bowling glove of claim 1, comprising a palm covering region, said at least one spacer being arranged at said palm covering region.

3. The bowling glove of claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer is made of elastically deformable material.

4. The bowling glove of claim 3, wherein said at least one spacer is made of the material known as EVA.

5. The bowling glove of claim 2, wherein said at least one spacer has, in plan view, a substantially crescent shape, in which a convex lateral surface is directed toward the wrist cover region.

6. The bowling glove of claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer is provided with a shape that is selected to be the most pertinent according to an anatomical configuration of the hand of the user and/or a diameter or shape of a bowling ball.

7. The bowling glove of claim 6, wherein said at least one spacer has a height that is selectable to be constant or variable with respect to an underlying palm of the hand of the user.

8. The bowling glove of claim 5, wherein an upper surface of said at least one spacer is shaped as an arch, that is substantially complementary with respect to a bowling ball in order to better adhere to a surface thereof.

9. The bowling glove of claim 8, wherein said upper surface of said at least one spacer has high friction characteristics such as to adhere in an optimum manner to the bowling ball.

10. The bowling glove of claim 2, comprising removable fixing means for detachably fixing said at least one spacer with said glove.

11. The bowling glove of claim 10, wherein said removable fixing means are constituted by a first band made of a material known by the trademark Velcro, which is fixed to the lower surface of said at least one spacer and can be associated detachably with an appropriately provided second band of a hook and loop type fastener material, which is fixed to said glove at said region which is interposed between the little finger, the index finger and the wrist cover regions.

12. The bowling glove of claim 11, wherein said second band has a plan shape suitable to allow to modify selectively a position for fixing said at least one spacer thereto.

13. The bowling glove of claim 12, wherein the plan shape of said second band has a crescent configuration.

14. The bowling glove of claim 5, comprising said at least one spacer that is associated therewith detachably.

15. The bowling glove of claim 12, comprising a pocket formed at said region interposed between the little finger, the index finger and the wrist cover regions, said at least one spacer being constituted by an insert which has a crescent shape in plan view and has an arc-shaped upper surface which is partially shaped complementarily with respect to a bowling ball and is inserted in said pocket.

16. The bowling glove of claim 15, wherein said insert and said pocket, shaped complementarily thereto, have selected dimensions.

17. The bowling glove of claim 15, wherein said pocket is formed jointly with and upon production of the glove.

18. The bowling glove of claim 17, wherein said pocket is closed permanently, once said insert has been inserted therein, by closing means selected among sewing, heat-sealing and thermoforming.

19. The bowling glove of claim 17, wherein said pocket has an opening which is closable temporarily.

20. The bowling glove of claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer is arranged proximate to a lateral region of the palm of the hand of a user which is directed opposite with respect to a thumb of the user.

21. The bowling glove of claim 13, wherein said at least one spacer has, in plan view, a crescent shape, with a first end thereof which is adjacent to a base of the little finger of a user and tapers more than a second end thereof, which is directed toward a root of the thumb of the user, with a greater radius of curvature.

22. The bowling glove of claim 2, wherein said at least one spacer is made at least partially of elastically deformable material, and preferably of materials having a different elasticity located at selected and distinct regions of said at least one spacer.