US3598408A

US3598408A - Wristlet and web protector with athletic item engaging pad

Info

Publication number: US3598408A
Application number: US20818A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred P Klose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-18
Filing date: 1970-03-18
Publication date: 1971-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-10

Abstract

A wrist strap-type device which is an aid in sports comprising an elongated main body having a portion for wrapping around a wrist and a portion for covering the palm of a wearer, a thumb aperture at one end of the body, a tab portion extending from the body beyond the thumb aperture and a second opposed tab portion paralleling the main body intermediate its ends, securing means for holding the palm portion in position, separate securing means for holding the palm portion in position, and a selected pad secured to and within the area of the palm portion for engaging a bowling ball, golf club, and the like.

Description

United States Patent Alfred P. Kloee 2736 Sidney St., St. Louis, Mo. 63104 20,818

Mar. 18, 1970 Aug. 10, 1971 Continuation 01 application Ser. No. 554,067, May 31, 1966, now abandoned.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented WRISILET AND WEB PROTECTOR WITH ATHLETIC ITEM ENGAGING PAD Reierencm Cited Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Attorney-Kingsland, Rogers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins ABSTRACT: A wrist strap-type device which is an aid in sports comprising an elongated main body having a portion for wrapping around a wrist and a portion for covering the palm of a wearer, a thumb aperture at one end of the body, a tab portion.extending from the body beyond the thumb aperture and a second opposed tab portion paralleling the main body intermediate its ends, securing means for holding the palm portion in position, separate securing means for holding the palm portion in position, and a selected pad secured to and within the area of the palm portion for engaging a bowling ball, golf club, and the like.

PATENTED AUBIOISTI v 3,598,408

SHEEI 2 OF 2 /IV YEN TO R1 HLFRED P. KL 05E,

WRISTLET AND WEB PROTECTOR WITH ATHLETIC ITEM ENGAGING PAD The present application is a continuation of applicants copending application Ser. No. 554,067, filed May 31, 1966, and now abandoned. M

The present invention relates generally to devices for strengthening or supporting the wrist, protecting the web between the thumb and index finger, preventing or resisting slipping of a club shaft, etc. in sports, and more particularly to novel multiuse wristlet and web protector structures finding particular use in bowling and golf.

In bowling and in golf, a large percentage of participants find it essential or useful to employ wristlets, protection for the web between the thumb and index finger, some padding means in the palm of the hand for assisting in establishing a proper relationship between the palm and a bowling ball or club of some kind, a club nonslip means in the palm, etc. In general, the same situation exists in respect to other sports. Various items have been employed with more or less success. But there has long existed the need for improved hand and wrist devices of the type mentioned, particularly one which combines multiple functions in a simple, easy and highly effective manner.

Hence, a major object of the present invention is to provide structures which will fill the long need.

In brief, a unit incorporating principles of the present invention achieving multiple objectives includes a wrist strap having securing means in the area of the wrist and other securing means at the back of the hand. A protective portion is provided for the web between the thumb and index finger, and a pad or strip of some type and for some specific use is located for positioning in the palm of a hand.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a novel wristlet of the type indicated, which is highly effective for its intended purposes of strengthening, supporting, protecting, positioning, gripping, etc. which leaves the fingers free, which can be easily and readily applied to the wrist and hand and removed therefrom, which includes multiple functions, which is relatively inexpensive, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an outside or top plan view of a wristlet and web protector formed in accordance with teachings of the present invention, prior to stitching to form the thumbhole;

FIG. 2 is an inner or bottom view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the stitching applied forming the thumbhole;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are, respectively, vertical transverse crosssectional views taken on the lines 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view of the right hand and wrist of an individual with the unit of FIGS. l6 mounted thereon;

FIG. 8 is a view of the back of the hand and wrist of FIG. 7 with the device of FIGS. 1-6 mounted thereon;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a part of FIG. 2 with a bowling pad mounted thereon;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical, transverse cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an outer or top plan view of a modified wristlet incorporating principles of the present invention shown prior to stitching to form the thumbhole, particularly adapted for golf;

FIG. 12 is an inner or bottom plan view thereof:

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the thumbhole formed;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are vertical cross-sectional views taken on substantially the lines 12-12 and 1343. respectively, of FIG. 11;

FIG. [6 is a palm view of the left hand and wrist of an individual with the wristlet of FIGS. ll15 mounted thereon; and

FIG. 17 is a view of the back of the right hand of an individual with the device of FIGS. 11-15 mounted thereon,

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numeral, 20 indicates generally a wristlet and web protector device formed to include principles of the present invention. The device 20 includes a body 22 of the configuration clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in flat form prior to applying stitching 24, and in FIG. 3 with the stitching 24 applied through overlapping portions. The body 22 is elongated and includes an enlarged portion 23 at one end. The body 22 includes an outer layer 25 of leather, plastic, or other suitable material having some returnable stretch to aid application to the hand and wrist, and an inner layer or liner 26 of any suitable soft material. A thumbhole 27 is provided by the stitching 24, as are relatively

bulging areas

28 and 30, area 28 being wide enough to cover and protect the web between the thumb and index finger of a hand. Fastening means for holding the device on a hand include a first strip 32 of Velcro material stitched to the outer side of a tab portion 34 of the body 22 and its cooperating pad 36 stitched to the inner side of a tab 38, and a second strip 40 of Velcro material stitched to the outer side of the body 22 and its cooperating pad 42 stitched to the inner side thereof The device 20 of FIGS. 1-6 is for the right hand of an individual.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the device 29 is illustrated as operatively mounted upon the right hand and wrist of an individual. The sequence in mounting the device 20 upon the hand and wrist is not essential to the present invention, but usually the thumb 46 of a hand 48 is inserted through the thumbhole 27, the fastening strip of the tab portion 34 is disposed against the back of the hand with the Velcro strip 32 exposed, the tab 38 is brought around to the back of the hand and the pad 36 engaged with the Velcro strip 32 in secured relation, and the then depending portion of the body 22 is wrapped around the wrist and the pad 42 engaged in secure relation with the Velcro strip 40.

In FIG. 9 a pad 50 is trapped between a patch 52 stitched to the inner layer 26. The pad 50 is flat on the top and bottom, as shown, and is of any firm, resilient material. The pad 50 may be of the order of of an inch to /2 inch in thickness for the average bowler. The bad 50 is disposed against the inner layer 26 rather than the outer layer 25 to bring it into better relation with the palm of a hand. It may be of different configuration and thickness for a golfer.

In FIGS. 1117 is illustrated a modified wristlet 60 including principles of the present invention, with is particularly adapted for use in golf. The wristlet 60 includes a body 62 illustrated as fiat and unformed in FIGS. 11 and 12, and as formed through stitching 64 in FIG. 13. Application of the stitching 64 completes a thumbhole 66 and forms bulging

areas

68 and 70 adjacent thereto. The body 62 is formed like the body 22 of the wristlet 20, including an outer layer 72, of leather, plastic, or other suitable material having some returnable stretch to aid application to the hand and wrist, and an inner layer or liner 74 of any suitable soft material. Fastening means for holding the wristlet 60 on the hand includes a first strip 76 of Velcro material stitched to the outer side of a tab portion 78 of the body 62 and its cooperating pad 80 stitched to the inner side of a tab portion 82, and a second strip 84 of Velcro material stitched to the outer side of the body 62 and its cooperating pad 86 stitched to the inner side thereof. The device 60 of FIGS. 11-15 is for the left hand of an individual.

A strip 88 including parallel rows of slip-resistant loops 90 of rubber, or the like, is stitched to the outer layer 72 in the area 68 and extending from the thumbhole 66, as shown in FIGS. 11, 13 and 16. Other slip-resistant material may be used. It is desirable that the strip 88 be disposed in the palm of the hand so that the shaft of a golf club will engage it transversely to minimize slipping. It will be noted that the body 62 is cut to provide a palm portion of sufficient width to extend substantially to the bases of the fingers (FIG. 16).

In FIGS. 16 and 17, the device 60 is illustrated as operatively mounted upon the left hand and wrist of an individual. As with the wristlet 20, the sequence in mounting the device 60 upon the hand and wrist is not essential to the present invention, but usually the thumb 92 of a hand 94 is inserted through the thumbhole 66, the fastening strip of the tab portion 78 is disposed against the back of the hand with the Velcro strip 76 exposed, the tab 82 is brought around to the back of the hand and the pad 80 engaged with the Velcro strip 76 in secured relation, and the then depending portion of the body 62 is wrapped around the wrist and the pad 86 engaged in secured relation with the velcro strip 84.

It is apparent that there has been provided devices which fulfill the objects and advantages of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In combination, a strap-type device for a hand and wrist primarily for use in sports comprising a flexible elongated straplike body including a thumb-receiving opening at one end thereof, said body being of a configuration adapted to be wrapped consecutively across the palm and wound completely around the wrist of a wearer after disposing the opening about the thumb, said body including an enlarged portion adjacent and inwardly of the thumb receiving opening, a first tab portion extending outwardly from said one end of said body outwardly of said opening, a second tab portion extending from said enlarged portion in opposed relation to said first tab portion substantially inwardly of the other end of said body, said first and second tab portions being substantially parallel with said body and adapted to be disposed at the back of a hand of a wearer across the solid portion thereof below the knuckles, cooperating fastening means secured to said first and second tab portions adapted to be disposed at the back of a hand in securing relation when said device is in use, separate means for holding substantially the remaining portion of said body including said other end to and excluding said enlarged portion firmly positioned in wrapping supporting engagement around a wrist, said first and second tab portions being adapted to hold said enlarged portion of said body in position across the palm of a hand of a wearer, and a pad secured to and disposed within the enlarged portion of said body adapted for disposition across the palm and wholly below the fingers of a hand of a wearer, said pad being adapted to engage an athletic item in the use of said item.