US20040025225A1

US20040025225A1 - Golf glove

Info

Publication number: US20040025225A1
Application number: US10/217,012
Authority: US
Inventors: Matt Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-12
Filing date: 2002-08-12
Publication date: 2004-02-12

Abstract

A pair of golf gloves is disclosed for training a user how to properly grip a golf club. A first glove may be worn on the left hand and a second glove may be worn on the right hand, each glove has a pattern region. When the golfer properly grips a club the patterns on the gloves cooperate to provide visual confirmation. A pair of golf gloves having alignment indicia is also disclosed. A first indicia on a first glove provides an aligning target for a second indicia on a second glove. The golfer uses the indicias to align the hands in a proper club grip. A golf glove is also disclosed having a thumb region secured to an index finger region to prevent a golfer from separating the incdex finger and the thumb when gripping a golf club.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf gloves and more particularly relates to golf gloves that aid a golfer in obtaining a proper grip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sport of golf has become increasingly popular over the years with over three million new players joining each year. These new golfer, and existing golfer, purchase expensive clubs and training aids and take lessons from golf professionals in an effort to reduce their score. One of the most important requirements in achieving a lower score is a proper grip. A golfer must properly position his/her hands on the handle of the golf club in a precisely desired orientation in order to attain the desired result when the golf club is swung correctly to hit the golf ball. It is well understood that a slight rotation of either or both hands in either direction around the axis of the golf club handle affects the direction of the ball when struck.

Many golfers wear gloves in order to more securely hold the golf club. Some prior art golf gloves have been made with features such as pockets or protrusions sewn onto the glove surface to assist golfers in properly positioning their hands. None of the prior art golf gloves have provided visual feedback to the golfer when both hands are properly positioned on the club.

What is needed is a golf glove that allows a golfer to quickly and easily determine when a proper grip is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of golf gloves is provided having first and second pattern regions wherein the pattern regions provide visual feedback to a user when a proper two-handed golf grip is obtained.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a pair of golf gloves is provided having a first glove with a first indicia located on a thumb portion and a second glove with a second indicia located on a palm portion, the first indicia providing a target for the second indicia to assist the user in obtaining a proper grip of a golf club.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a golf glove is provided having a palm portion and a plurality of elongated opening extending from the palm to receive the fingers and thumb of a golfer, one of the openings sized to allow both an index finger and the thumb to reside.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a golf glove is provided having a palm portion and a plurality of elongated opening extending from the palm to receive the fingers and thumb of a golfer, an opening for the index finger being secured to an opening for the thumb.

In accordance with even another aspect of the present invention, a golf glove is provided having a palm portion, a back portion, and a plurality of elongated opening extending from the palm and back portions to receive the fingers and thumb of a golfer, wherein independent movement of the thumb relative to the index finger is restricted

The above and other objects, feature, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a palm side view of a first embodiment golf glove consistent with the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 2 is a back side view of a first embodiment golf glove consistent with the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 3 is a palm side view of a second embodiment golf glove consistent with the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 4 is a back side view of a second embodiment golf glove consistent with the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 5 is a top view showing a proper golf grip; [0015]
FIG. 6A is a top view showing an improper golf grip; [0016]
FIG. 6B is a top view showing an improper golf grip; [0017]
FIG. 6C is a top view showing an improper golf grip; [0018]
FIG. 7 is a palm side view of a third embodiment golf glove consistent with the present invention; [0019]
FIG. 8 is a palm side view of a fourth embodiment golf glove consistent with the present invention; and [0020]
FIG. 9 is a tutorial on how to properly grasp a golf club.[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the palm side and backside of a [0022] golf glove 100 wearable on the right hand of a golfer and has a plurality of finger portions for the pinky, ring, middle and index fingers and a thumb portion coupled to a palm portion 102. The glove is preferably made of leather and available in a variety of sizes and colors. The golf glove is of general conventional construction. The glove 100 may have indicia 104 for indicating to the user the preferred location for the shaft of the golf club to obtain a proper grip. When glove is worn by the user, and the user's fingers are cupped in order to receive the shaft of the golf club, the indicia become substantially straight lines due to the curvature of the fingers. The indicia 104 may be died into the glove material, printed on the surface of the glove material, or may be an additional piece of material sewn into the glove.
The [0023] glove 100 may also have a first indicia 106 near the base of the thumb portion for aligning with a second indicia 206 on a thumb portion on a left glove 200 (see FIG. 4). The indicia 106 may be died into the glove material or printed on the surface of the glove material, or may be an additional piece of material sewn into or adhered to the glove. The additional piece of material may include, but is not limited, to a hook and loop fastener or a button. Preferably, the indicia 106 does not present a depression or a protuberance, as golf gloves with depressions or protuberances may not be used legally in some PGA sponsored tournaments.
The [0024] glove 100 may also have a first pattern region 108 that extends to the backside of the glove as shown in FIG. 2. The first pattern region 108 is described in more detail below in FIG. 5. The glove may be made of plurality of smaller pieces that are joined together at seams 110. The pattern region does not have to correspond to the seams, but may. The glove is shown with the pattern region as a darker color than the remaining portions of the glove (white), but the colors may be swapped and other colors are useable.
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the palm side and backside respectively of a golf glove [0025] 200 wearable on the left hand of a golfer. The glove has a plurality of finger portions for the pinky, ring, middle and index fingers and a thumb portion coupled to a palm portion 202. The glove 200 may have indicia 204 for indicating to the user the preferred location for the shaft of the golf club to obtain a proper grip. The indicia 204 may be died into the glove material, printed on the surface of the glove material, or may be an additional piece of material sewn into or adhered to the glove.
The glove may also have an [0026] indicia 206 on a thumb portion for aligning with the indicia 106 on the right glove 100 (see FIG. 1). The indicia 206 is shown between the first and second knuckle on the thumb. The indicia 206 may be died into the glove material or printed on the surface of the glove material, or may be an additional piece of material sewn into or adhered to the glove. Preferably, the indicia 206 does not present a depression or a protuberance. The precise location of the first indicia 106 and the second indicia 206 can be moved from the position shown, without departing from the present invention, as long as the indicia are aligned when a proper grip is achieved.
The glove [0027] 200 may also have a second pattern region 208 that extends to the backside of the glove.
To properly use the glove, the golfer first aligns the [0028] indicia 204 on the left glove with the shaft of the club and grasps the club. The golfer then aligns indicia 106 on the right glove with the indicia 206 on the left glove and grasps the club. The user then adjusts his grip until he can only see the first and second pattern regions.
FIG. 5 shows a top view of a proper golf club grip of a user wearing the gloves of the present invention. This is the view the golfer sees when his hands are properly positioned on the shaft of a golf club. Notice that the golfer only sees the first and second pattern regions (no white is showing) when the club is properly gripped. [0029]
FIGS. [0030] 6A-6C show an improper golf club grip of a user wearing the gloves of the present invention. Notice in FIG. 6A that the golfer's right hand is not properly positioned on the club and the golfer can see an area 602 (that is not part of the first or second pattern region) between the gloves and a region 604 (that is also not part of the first or second pattern region) along the side of the left glove.
Notice in FIG. 6B that the golfer's right hand is rotated too much counter-clockwise about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the golfer can see an area [0031] 606 (that is not part of the first or second pattern region).
Notice in FIG. 6C that the golfer's left hand is rotated too much clockwise about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the golfer can see an area [0032] 608 (that is not part of the first or second pattern region).
The precise location of the first and second pattern regions was determined by having a golf professional, with a known proper grip, wear a pair of gloves and then cover the area viewable from the golfer's perspective with an ink or paint. Once the pattern region is determined for a particular glove size, it can be duplicated and mass produced. Proper patterns for other size gloves can be determined with a similar process. [0033]
Although the gloves have been described for right-handed golfer, a mirror image design utilizing a similar process can be use for left-handed golfers. [0034]
The gloves can be used for at least the three most popular hand grips; 10-finger; overlap; and interlock. [0035]
FIGS. [0036] 7 shows a golf glove 700 wearable on the right hand of a golfer and FIG. 8 shows a golf glove 800 wearable on the left hand of a golfer. The gloves have a plurality of finger portions for the pinky, ring, middle, and index fingers and a thumb portion coupled to a palm portion 702/802. The thumb portions 704/804 are secured to the index finger portions 706/806 to restrict independent movement of the thumb relative to the index finger. The glove can be made with a single opening to house both the index finger and the thumb. Alternatively, the glove can be made with discrete openings for the index finger and the thumb and the two openings can be joined together. The discrete openings can be sewn or adhered together. The openings can be joined at a single point 710/810 near the end of the thumb portion or at a plurality of points along a line 714/814 from a point near the base 712/812 of the index finger and the thumb towards the end of the thumb. Preferably the openings can be joined at least from the first knuckle to the second knuckle.
Various feature disclosed may be combined without departing from the present invention. [0037]
It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. [0038]

Claims

I claim:

1. A pair of golf gloves comprising:

a first pattern region on a first glove; and

a second pattern region on a second glove, the first and second pattern region providing visual feedback to a user when a proper two-handed golf grip is obtained.

2. The golf gloves of claim 1, further comprising a first indicia located on a thumb portion of the first glove and a second indicia located on a palm portion of the second glove, the first indicia providing a target for the second indicia to aid a golfer in obtaining a proper grip.

3. The golf gloves of claim 2, wherein the indicia and the second indica are flush with their respective surfaces.

4. The golf gloves of claim 1, wherein the wherein a thumb portion is secured to a finger portion to restrict independent movement of the thumb relative to the index finger.

5. The golf gloves of claim 1, wherein the first pattern region and the second region comprise a solid color.

6. The golf gloves of claim 1, wherein the first pattern region and the second region comprise a dark color and the remainder of the glove is a lighter color.

7. The golf gloves of claim 1, wherein the golfer can only see the first and second pattern regions of the gloves when a proper two-handed golf grip is achieved.

8. A pair of golf gloves comprising:

a first glove having a first indicia located on a thumb portion; and

a second glove having a second indicia located on a palm portion, the first indicia providing a target for the second indicia to aid a golfer in obtaining a proper grip, the indicia being flush with its respective surface.

9. A golf glove comprising;

a palm portion; and

a plurality of elongated opening extending from the palm to receive the fingers and thumb of a golfer, one of the openings sized to allow both an index finger and the thumb to reside.

10. The golf gloves of claim 9, further comprising a first indicia located on a thumb portion of the first glove and a second indicia located on a palm portion of the second glove, the first indicia providing a target for the second indicia to aid a golfer in obtaining a proper grip.

11. The golf gloves of claim 10, wherein the indicia and the second indica are flush with their respective surfaces.

12. A golf glove comprising;

a palm portion;

a back portion;

a plurality of elongated opening extending from the palm and back portions to receive the fingers and thumb of a golfer, wherein independent movement of the thumb relative to the index finger is restricted

13. The golf gloves of claim 12, further comprising a first indicia located on a thumb portion of the first glove and a second indicia located on a palm portion of the second glove, the first indicia providing a target for the second indicia to aid a golfer in obtaining a proper grip.

14. The golf gloves of claim 13, wherein the indicia and the second indica are flush with their respective surfaces.

15. A golf glove comprising:

a palm portion; and

a plurality of elongated opening extending from the palm to receive the fingers and thumb of a golfer, an opening for the index finger being secured to an opening for the thumb.