AU2014308541A1

AU2014308541A1 - System, apparatus and method for playing sport

Info

Publication number: AU2014308541A1
Application number: AU2014308541A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Perry HADDOCK; Greg MULLANE
Original assignee: EMPEROR SPORTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: EMPEROR SPORTS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-19
Filing date: 2014-08-18
Publication date: 2016-04-07
Also published as: WO2015024049A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein are an apparatus, system and method for playing sport. The apparatus comprises a glove (10) and a garment (112) to be worn by a player of the sport. The garment (112) comprises an attachment region (114) that is arranged at the garment such that, when the garment is worn by the player, the attachment region locates near to or at the player's sacrum. The apparatus also comprises an indicium (120) that is releasably attachable to the attachment region (114). Removal of the indicium (120) can indicate a predetermined outcome in the sport.

Description

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 System, Apparatus and Method for Playing Sport Technical Field Disclosed is an apparatus for playing sport, and a method and system for using 5 that apparatus in sport. The apparatus includes a glove, a garment and/or a releasably attachable indicium. Background Art EP1707246, US 20120266357 and US2009281470 each disclose reinforcing 10 elements for insertion into a soccer goal-keeper's glove. The reinforcing elements are intended to prevent hyperextension of the fingers of the goal-keeper's hand. US20050114982 discloses a glove for protecting the hand of a user against blunt force injury. The glove includes distal, middle and proximal phalangeal guards for protecting, respectively, the distal, middle, and proximal phalanx bones, of the hand. 15 AU 662655 discloses a device for use in a sport such as modified rugby league. The device comprises two tags that are removably mounted to respective and opposing sides of the trousers or belt of a player of that sport. The tags are located in the vicinity of a user's hips. That location, in a fast-moving game such as the modified rugby league disclosed in AU 662655, can lead to finger- and hand-related injuries when players 20 attempt to remove one or both tags. The above references to the background art do not constitute an admission that such art forms a part of the common and/or general knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. The above references are also not intended to limit the application of the apparatus and method as disclosed herein. 25 Summary of the Disclosure Disclosed herein is apparatus for playing sport. In one form, the apparatus can comprise a glove to be worn by a player of the sport. In another form, the apparatus can comprise a garment to be worn by a player of the sport. The garment can comprise an 30 attachment region that is arranged at the garment such that, when the garment is worn by the player, the attachment region locates near to or at the player's sacrum.

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -2 In a further form, the apparatus can comprise an indicium. The indicium can comprise a portion that is releasably attachable to the attachment region. In use in the sport, at least a part of the indicium is thus able to locate near to or at the player's sacrum. 5 The glove, garment, location of the attachment region, and the indicium can all work together to help facilitate the manual grasping and removal of the indicium, and to help prevent hand and finger injuries which may occur during attempts to grasp and remove the indicium (i.e. such as may otherwise occur in a fast moving sport). When it is stated herein that the attachment region or a part of the indicium 10 locates "near to" the player's sacrum, this is to be understood to include: in the vicinity of the player's sacrum; and adjacent to the player's sacrum. It is also to be understood to cover location of the attachment region at: the coccyx (which is adjacent to the sacrum); the lumbar vertebrae such as L4 and L5 (which are adjacent to the sacrum); locations that are vertically and/or laterally offset but still near to the player's sacrum 15 (i.e. including parts of the pelvis such as the pubis, the symphysis pubis, the pubis ischium, the sacroiliac joint), etc. As set forth above, the glove as disclosed herein, as well as the location of the indicium near to or at the player's sacrum, can help to prevent hand, and especially finger, injuries which may occur during attempts to grasp and remove the indicium. The 20 glove as disclosed herein can also help to facilitate such manual grasping of the indicium. This capability to help prevent hand and finger injuries is in part because each glove finger can comprise at least one reinforced region that is configured so as to locate around one or more finger joints of a wearer of the glove. Each reinforced region 25 can help to prevent finger injury such as may occur during playing of a game in which the glove is being used to remove the indicium. This capability to help prevent hand and finger injuries is also in part because the central location of the sacrum is near a player's buttocks, whereby the indicium can hang adjacent to the buttocks (i.e. a soft, fleshy region as opposed to a hard, bony (e.g. 30 hip) region). Also, when a player is moving (e.g. running) away from an opponent, the indicium location at the sacrum tends to "better present" the indicium (i.e. when it is centrally located it is more easily graspable).

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -3 The sport in which the apparatus is employed may, for example, comprise a ball game. The ball game may, for example, comprise a form of football. In this regard, the form of football may be a form of e.g.: rugby; rugby league; touch rugby; touch rugby league; American football; American flag football; Australian Rules football; touch 5 Australian Rules football; Gaelic football; soccer; etc. The indicium may take the form of a strip or tag which may be manually grasped. For example, in one embodiment the strip or tag may comprise a relatively flexible material. The material may be selected and/or configured for better grasping by a player's hand. 10 When playing the sport, the indicium (e.g. a tag or strip) may be manually grasped (e.g. by the glove as disclosed herein). This grasping may indicate a predetermined outcome in the game, such as for example a tackle. This outcome (e.g. tackle, bonus point, transfer of possession, etc) may comprise or result in, for example, a stoppage of the game. The stoppage may occur when one player of the game detaches 15 the indicium from the garment of another player of the game. For example, the indicium may be releasably attached to the other player of the game (e.g. other than the player that is using the glove to grasp the indicium). In this regard, the indicium may be releasably attached to a garment of the other player of the game, and the glove may be used to detach the indicium from the other player (e.g. by detaching it from the other 20 player's garment). The glove as disclosed herein can comprise a hollow body for location with respect to a palm and metacarpus of a hand of a wearer of the glove. In other words, the body of the glove enables the glove to be easily worn on a user's (e.g. player's) hand. The glove as disclosed herein can also comprise one or more hollow fingers 25 extending from the body (i.e. each for receiving therein a user's (e.g. player's) finger and/or thumb). Each reinforced region of the glove finger can be configured so as to locate around at least one of a distal inter-phalangeal joint and a proximal inter-phalangeal joint of a finger of a wearer of the glove (usually both). Each reinforced region can help 30 to prevent finger injury such as may occur during playing of a game in which the glove is being used to remove the indicium.

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -4 In contradistinction to the elongate elements and guards of the prior art, the glove can include discrete reinforced regions that extend around and in the vicinity of at least some of the phalangeal joints. This particularising of the location of each reinforced region in the glove has been observed to help to prevent finger injuries from 5 occurring at or in the vicinity of the phalangeal joints of a player's finger. For example, this can help to prevent injuries which may occur when reaching for and/or when detaching the aforementioned indicium from another player. Such injuries may occur when inadvertent or awkward hand/finger contact occurs with the other player, such as when the other player is moving, swerving, 10 turning, etc in the game, and especially when doing so quickly. When such inadvertent or awkward hand/finger contact occurs, the discrete reinforced region functions to support the phalangeal joint, holding it in position, and helping to receive and transfer resultant force vectors away from the joint. In addition, by providing reinforced regions in the vicinity of the phalangeal 15 joints, regions intermediate such reinforced regions may employ a relatively more flexible material, whereby the resultant glove can preserve good to excellent dexterity of the wearer's hands and fingers. In one glove embodiment each glove finger may comprise two reinforced regions. One such region may locate around the distal inter-phalangeal joint. One such 2 0 region may locate around the proximal inter-phalangeal joint. In one glove embodiment the glove may further comprise a reinforced region for locating in proximity of one or more of the metacarpal-phalangeal joints of the wearer's hand. Thus, further protection against hand injury may be provided by the glove in use in a sport. Further, the relatively more flexible material may extend between each such 25 reinforced region. In one glove embodiment each reinforced region may comprise a relatively dense and/or more rigid and/or more resilient material in comparison to the material forming at least some of a remainder of the glove (e.g. in comparison to regions located intermediate the reinforced regions). The material for each reinforced region can be 30 selected and fabricated to provide one or more of support, compression and/or impact resistance to the phalangeal joint adjacent to which it is arranged in use.

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -5 For example, the relatively dense/rigid/resilient material may be woven into the glove finger. In this regard, it may comprise a more rigid, fibrous filament affixed to the glove, or it may be woven more densely into the glove, or it may provide a restricted glove finger diameter. Alternatively, it may comprise an elastomeric or resilient 5 material, such as a closed cell polymeric foam, polymer fibre(s), etc. The material may comprise patches of such material that are sown, adhesively attached, or otherwise bound to the glove finger. In one glove embodiment, the material forming at least some of a remainder of the glove may comprise a relatively flexible material. For example, it may comprise a 10 woven natural or polymeric, relatively fine fibre that imparts considerable flexibility in the resultant glove. In this way, considerable hand and finger dexterity may be preserved. Further, the relatively flexible material may extend between the reinforced material (e.g. when the latter is present at the distal inter-phalangeal joints, the proximal inter-phalangeal joints, and the metacarpal-phalangeal joints of the wearer's hand). 15 In one glove embodiment, a distal end of each glove finger may be removed to enable a portion of the distal phalanx bone of each finger of the wearer's hand to protrude therebeyond (i.e. to enable a tip of each of the user's fingers to protrude). It has been found that this arrangement can further contribute to the preservation of hand and finger dexterity. 20 In one glove embodiment, a palm region of the body may be provided with a textured surface. Such a surface can be adapted to facilitate the manual grasping of the indicium. For example, the textured surface may comprise a material that is woven into or otherwise affixed with respect to the material that forms a remainder of the glove at the palm. 25 In one glove embodiment, when the indicium to be removed comprises an elongate strip of material, the texture of the surface may be selected to facilitate the grasping of the material of the indicium. For example, regions of the glove body and optionally of the glove fingers may be provided with one part of a hook and loop fastening system. This part may be 30 arranged and configured for engaging with a complementary part provided on the indicium.

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -6 In one glove embodiment, the glove may comprise five fingers extending from the body. In this regard, the five glove fingers can correspond to each of the four fingers and thumb of the wearer's hand. In an alternative embodiment, the glove may comprise four fingers extending from the body that correspond to each of the four fingers of the 5 wearer's hand, and a cut-out may be provided in the body for the wearer's thumb to extend therethrough. The garment and indicium as set forth above can be worn/employed by a player of the sport. As set forth above, the attachment region can be arranged such that, when the garment is worn by the player, the attachment region locates near to or at the 10 player's sacrum. The attachment region enables the indicium (e.g. a tag or strip) to be releasably attached thereto, with the result that the indicium is also able to locate near to or at the player's sacrum in use in the sport. In one garment embodiment the attachment region may comprise a first part of a releasable fastening mechanism. In this embodiment the portion of the indicium may 15 comprise a complementary second part of the releasable fastening mechanism. The first and second parts may be fastened to each other to provide for said releasable attachment. For example, the first part may comprise one part of a hook-and-loop fastening mechanism, and the second part may comprise the other part of the hook-and loop fastening mechanism (e.g. such as is marketed under the trade mark VelcroTM). 20 In one garment embodiment the indicium may be elongate. Thus, the indicium, when attached to the attachment region, may hang therefrom in use. Again, this can better present the indicium so that it tends to be centrally located and thus more easily graspable (e.g. in the region of a player's buttocks). In this embodiment, the portion of the indicium that is releasably attachable to the attachment region can be located at or 25 towards one end of the indicium. In one garment embodiment the garment may comprise one or more of a belt, shorts, pants, shirt, or jersey of the player. The indicium (e.g. tag or strip) can be of a length such that, in use, it is able to project at least partially away from a moving player that is wearing it. However, the 30 indicium can also be configured to have a length that does not interfere with a player's leg movement in use. For example, the length of the indicium may be such that an in 1 WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -7 use lower end of the indicium (i.e. opposite to its attached end) does not extend lower than a user's buttocks when the indicium is attached to the garment. By way of further example, usually the indicium is elongate and itself comprises an attachment portion that is located at or towards one end thereof. The attachment 5 portion forms the part that is then able to be releasably attached to the attachment region of a player's garment, whereby at least a part of (e.g. an upper half of) the indicium is able to locate near to or at a player's sacrum. Again, the indicium, when attached to the region of a player's garment, can be configured to better present itself, so that it tends to be centrally located and thus more 10 easily graspable. At the same time, it is configured not to be too long so as to interfere with a player's motion, or to promote injury by another player ("tag remover") such as by extending their hand between the first player's legs as they attempt to remove the indicium. 15 Also disclosed herein is a method for playing a sport. In one form of the method of playing sport, an indicium can be manually grasped using a glove as set forth above. This form of the method can comprise selecting and wearing the glove on at least one hand. The selection may involve ensuring that a glove is provided for a wearer so as to have a firm yet still sufficiently 20 dextrous fit in use. This form of the method also comprises using the glove to grasp the indicium (i.e. employing the glove in the playing of the sport). In this form of the method, each indicium may comprise an elongate length of material that is configured for grasping and detachment from the other player (e.g. in 25 one of the various forms of football as outlined above). In another form of the method of playing sport, the method can comprise selecting and wearing a garment as set forth above. The method can also comprise attaching to the garment an indicium as set forth above. In this other form of method, each player of the sport may select and wear a 30 respective garment and may attach to the garment a respective indicium, as set forth above.

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -8 In either form of the method of playing sport, detachment of the indicium from the other player can indicate a predetermined outcome in a game of the sport. For example, the predetermined outcome in the game may comprise a stoppage of the game (e.g. to indicate that a tackle has been made, a bonus point has been scored, a turnover 5 is to occur, etc, such as may occur in one of the various forms of football as outlined above). In either form of the method of playing sport, the sport may be a ball game that comprises two teams of players. For example, the ball game may comprise a form of football such as a form of: rugby; rugby league; touch rugby; touch rugby league; 10 American football; American flag football; Australian Rules football; touch Australian Rules football; Gaelic football; soccer. The may even be adapted to ball sports such as basketball or netball. In either form of the method of playing sport, each player of each team may wear at least one and usually two gloves. Further, at least one indicium may be 15 releasably attached to each player of each team. For example, each player of each team may employ one or two additional indicium. For example, each player may have elongate strips or tags of e.g. flexible material that are removably mounted to respective and opposing sides of the player's garment (e.g. adjacent to the player's hips, and in addition to the strip or tag at the sacrum location). Thus, each player of each team may 20 have up to three indicium releasably attached to their garment. However, the central (sacrum) indium may obviate the need for the other two. Brief Description of the Drawings 25 Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the apparatus and method as set forth in the Summary, specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a first embodiment of a glove as set 30 forth in the Summary; Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of a second embodiment of a glove as set forth in the Summary; WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 -9 Figure 3 shows the glove of Figure 1 in use, removing an elongate strip of material; Figure 4 shows schematic views of an embodiment of a garment system and apparatus as set forth in the Summary; 5 Figure 5 shows similar views of the embodiment of Figure 4, but with various tag apparatus attached thereto. Detailed Description of a Specific Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an apparatus for playing sport is shown in the form 10 of a glove. Figure 1 shows a first glove embodiment 10 whereas Figure 2 shows a second glove embodiment 10'. The glove 10, 10' comprises a hollow body 12 for location with respect to (i.e. for wearing on) a palm and metacarpus of a hand of a user of the glove. The body 12 is sized and configured to enable the glove to be snugly secured on the user's (e.g. a 15 player's) hand. The glove 10 comprises five hollow fingers 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 that extend from the body 12. Finger 14 is configured for receiving therein a user's thumb T, whereas fingers 15, 16, 17 and 18 are configured for respectively receiving therein the user's index I, middle M, ring R and small S fingers (see e.g. Figure 3). 20 A distal end of each glove finger (14 to 18) is removed as shown to enable a portion of the distal phalanx bone of each thumb and finger (T, I, M, R and S) of the wearer's hand to protrude therebeyond. This enables a tip of the user's finger to protrude, and thus further contributes to the preservation of hand and finger dexterity. Whilst the glove embodiments 10 and 10' as shown have five fingers 14 to 18 25 extending from the body 12, the glove may be modified to comprise e.g. just four fingers 15, 16, 17 and 18 extending from the body 12 (i.e. corresponding to each of the four fingers (I, M, R and S) of the wearer's hand. In this variation, a cut-out may be provided in the body 12 for the wearer's thumb T to extend therethrough, thereby providing maximum mobility to the thumb. 30 In accordance with the teachings herein, each glove finger 14 to 18 is provided with reinforced regions. In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 as shown, for the four fingers (I, M, R and S), a reinforced region is provided that locates around each of the WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 10 distal inter-phalangeal joint and the proximal inter-phalangeal joint of each of the fingers (I, M, R and S). For the thumb (T), a reinforced region is provided that locates around the distal inter-phalangeal joint, only, being the most susceptible part of the thumb. However, an optional reinforced region can be provided for the proximal inter 5 phalangeal joint of the thumb (see dotted line 20). In this regard, and as shown by the dotted lines 21, 22, 23 and 24, each glove 10, 10' can additionally (optionally) comprise a reinforced region that locates in proximity of the metacarpal-phalangeal joints for the fingers (I, M, R and S) of the wearer's hand. These regions can provide further protection against hand injury (such as when the 10 glove is used in sport) but can result in a stiffer and less flexible glove. Hence, the reinforcing of the regions that locate adjacent to the metacarpal-phalangeal joints can be employed for gloves that are to be used in sports where lesser glove flexibility is required. In any case, each reinforced region is formed so as to help prevent finger injury. 15 Such injury may occur during the playing of a game in which the glove is worn (e.g. a game in which the glove is used to remove an indicium, such as an elongate tag Ta as shown in Figure 3). The development and deployment of the various reinforced regions stands in stark contradistinction to the elongate elements and guards that are employed in the 20 prior art. In this regard, each glove 10, 10' includes reinforced regions in the vicinity of the phalangeal joints most susceptible to injury (i.e. the distal and, to a lesser extent, the proximal inter-phalangeal joints). Supporting each finger at these particular locations has been discovered to help ameliorate or prevent finger injuries from occurring. For example, such injuries may occur when e.g. a player is reaching, falling, tackling, 25 catching, throwing or attempting to detach the aforementioned indicium (e.g. tag) from another player. These injuries can occur as a result of inadvertent or awkward hand/finger contact with the other player (including with their garments and/or sporting equipment that is being worn), during player motion in the game. In addition, the development and deployment of discrete reinforced regions (i.e. 30 in the vicinity of the phalangeal joints), means that regions intermediate such reinforced regions can employ a flexible material. The resultant glove can provide good to excellent dexterity of the wearer's hands and fingers. Again, this stands in stark WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 11 contradistinction to the elongate elements and guards that are employed in the prior art, which are not configured to provide regions of flexible material between each discrete element or guard. The material for each reinforced region can be selected and fabricated to provide 5 one or more of support, compression and/or impact resistance to the phalangeal joint adjacent to and around which it is arranged in use. Thus, when inadvertent or awkward hand/finger contact occurs (e.g. in the sport), each discrete reinforced region functions to support the phalangeal joint, holding it in position, and helping to receive and transfer resultant force vectors away from the joint. 10 For example, as depicted in the glove embodiment of Figure 1, a relatively dense/rigid/resilient material may be woven into the glove finger. In this regard, each reinforced region takes the form of a band. In the glove 10, one band 30 is provided on the glove finger 14 to surround the distal inter-phalangeal joint of the thumb T. However, two bands (32, 33) are provided 15 on the glove finger 15, two bands (34, 35) are provided on the glove finger 16, two bands (36, 37) are provided on the glove finger 17, and two bands (38, 39) are provided on the glove finger 18, to respectively surround the distal inter-phalangeal joint and the proximal inter-phalangeal joint of the respective fingers I, M, R and S. Each band (30 to 39) comprises a more rigid, dense fibrous filament that is 20 either affixed to or, more preferably, woven into the glove. Each band can provide a slightly restricted glove finger diameter compared to the remainder of each glove finger. In an alternative configuration, and as depicted in the glove embodiment of Figure 2, each reinforced region takes the form of an elastomeric or resilient pad that is 25 formed from dense, closed cell polymeric foam. This material may also provide impact resistance at, in addition to force absorption from, each joint. The pads may comprise patches or strips of such material that are sown, adhesively attached, or otherwise incorporated into each glove finger. Again, the pad securement may be such as to provide a slightly restricted glove finger diameter 30 compared to the remainder of each glove finger. In the glove 10', one pad 40 is provided on the glove finger 14 to surround the distal inter-phalangeal joint of the thumb T. However, two pads (42, 43) are provided WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 12 on the glove finger 15, two pads (44, 45) are provided on the glove finger 16, two pads (46, 47) are provided on the glove finger 17, and two pads (48, 49) are provided on the glove finger 18, to respectively surround the distal inter-phalangeal joint and the proximal inter-phalangeal joint of the respective fingers I, M, R and S. 5 The material forming the remainder of each glove finger, and that extends between the bands (30 to 39) or the pads (40 to 49), comprises a flexible, woven material, such as a natural or polymeric, fine woven fibre. Such a material imparts considerable flexibility in and to the resultant glove. Such material can also be used for the body 12 of the glove 10, 10'. In this way, considerable hand and finger dexterity 10 may be preserved. In both glove embodiments 10 and 10', a palm region of the body 12 is provided with a textured surface 50. Such a surface is configured to facilitate the manual grasping/gripping of an indicium such as an elongate tag or strip of material Ta. The textured surface 50 as shown comprises a material that is woven into or affixed onto the 15 glove at the palm. The textured surface 50, and optionally other regions of the glove body and glove fingers, can take the form of one part of a hook and loop fastening system. the elongate tag/strip of material Ta can have the corresponding other part of the hook and loop fastening system provided thereat, and which is arranged and configured for 20 engaging with the part provided on the glove. This can enable more rapid and easier grasping of the tag/strip Ta in use, which may further reduce the likelihood of inadvertent finger injury. Figure 3 shows the glove 10 or 10' in use when removing the elongate tag/strip of material Ta from another wearer's garment (e.g. a belt or shorts). 25 Sports in which the glove 10 or 10' are employed are typically ball games, usually comprising two opposing teams of players. Such games include various forms of football (e.g.: rugby; rugby league; touch rugby; touch rugby league; American football; American flag football; Australian Rules football; touch Australian Rules football; Gaelic football; soccer; etc). 30 In a competitive game of such a ball sport, two or more tags/strips Ta are worn releasably (e.g. on a belt or shorts) by each player of the game, usually in the vicinity of each player's hip. During play, each such tag/strip Ta can be manually grasped by the 1 WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 13 glove 10 or 10'. This grasping and removal of a given tag/strip Ta from a player indicates a predetermined outcome in the game, usually that a tackle has been made. This outcome (i.e. tackle) results in a stoppage of the game. For example, the player with the stripped tag must "play", unload, pass, etc the ball that they are also holding. 5 In the sport each player usually selects and wears two gloves 10 or 10', one on each hand. The selection is such as to ensure that each glove has a firm yet still sufficiently dextrous fit in use in the game. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 a system 100 for playing a sport, such as a ball sport, is depicted. The system 100 comprises a garment in the form of shorts 112 to be 10 worn by a player P of the sport. As shown in Figure 4, the shorts 112 comprise an attachment region in the form of a centrally located patch 114. The patch 114 is arranged on the shorts 112 such that, when the shorts are worn by the player, the patch 114 locates near to or at the player's sacrum. Whilst shorts are shown in Figures 4 and 5, another garment can be suitably 15 adapted for locating the patch 114 near to or at the player's sacrum. Such garments can include a belt (e.g. a soft belt), pants, shirt, jersey, etc of the player. The benefits of this location are explained hereafter. The shorts 112 also comprise laterally located patches 116 and 117. When the shorts are worn by the player, the patches 116 and 118 locate adjacent to a player's 20 hips, as is disclosed in AU 662655. As shown in Figure 5, the system 100 also comprises an indicium in the form of a central tag (or elongate strip) 120. The tag 120 comprises a portion in the form of a patch 122 (shown in dotted outline in Figure 5B) that is located at or adjacent to one end of the tag and that is releasably attachable to the patch 114. This means that at least 25 a part of the tag 120 is able to locate near to or at the player's sacrum. This also means that the tag 120 is able to be generally centrally disposed at the rear of the player, adjacent to a user's buttocks B (as shown in Figure 5D). This central location of tag 120 presents the tag in an orientation such that it tends to be more easily graspable and detachable by another player's hands or gloves. 30 The system 100 can also employ lateral tags (or elongate strips) 124 and 126 which cooperate with the patches 116 and 118. As can be seen, the tags 124 and 126 are longer than the tag 120. The tags 124 and 126 are provided with this length so that their 1 WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 14 respective free ends are not located adjacent to a player's hips (i.e. adjacent to the bony region of the user's pelvis). This is to try and reduce hand and especially finger injuries. The tag 120 is selected and fabricated to be of a length such that, in use, it is able to project at least partially away from a moving player when wearing the same. 5 However, the tag 120 is also of a length so as not to interfere with a player's leg movement in use. In this regard, it can be seen that the length of tag 120 is such that its lower end does not extend lower than the player's buttocks when the patch 122 of tag 120 is attached to the patch 114 of the player's shorts 112 (i.e. such that it cannot flap back between a user's legs). This means that the tag 120 is not too long so as to 10 interfere with a player's motion, or to promote injury by another player ("tag remover") extending their hand e.g. between the first player's legs as they attempt to remove the indicium. By centrally locating the tag 120, and allowing it to hang from a location that is near to or at the player's sacrum, this has been observed to help prevent hand, and 15 especially finger, injuries which may occur during attempts to grasp and remove the tag. This is in part because the central location of the sacrum is near a player's buttocks (i.e. a soft, fleshy region). This means that a free end of the tag 120 can hang adjacent to the player's buttocks. Also, as a player is moving (e.g. running) away from an opponent, the tag 120 is better "presented" (i.e. it is centrally located and thus more 20 easily graspable, rather than being in the vicinity of that player's hip and adjacent arm). The tag 120 is fabricated from e.g. a strip of textured, woven and/or relatively flexible material which is optimised for manual grasping by a player's hand. The material may comprise a woven polymeric fibre (e.g. of nylon, acrylamide, polyester, etc) for durability. The tag 120 may taper out slightly from its attachment end to its 25 grasping end. The patch 114 can be fabricated from (or can incorporate) a first part of a releasable fastening mechanism. The patch 122 can be fabricated from (or can incorporate) a complementary second part of the releasable fastening mechanism. For example, the patch 114 comprises one part of a hook-and-loop fastening mechanism, 30 and the patch 122 comprises the other part of the hook-and-loop fastening mechanism (e.g. such as is marketed under the trade mark Velcro). Patches 116 and 118 and corresponding patches for the tags 124 and 126 can be similarly fabricated.

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 15 However, other releasable fastening mechanisms can be employed between the patches 114 and 122 (and 116, 118), including press- and snap-studs, releasable buttons, etc. The grasping and detachment of tag 120 (and tags 124 and 126) can indicate a 5 predetermined outcome in a game of the sport. For example, when a player removes the tag 120 of an opposing player, this may indicate that a "tackle" has been made in the game, resulting in a stoppage. By way of another example, when a player removes the tag 120 of an opposing player, this may result in a ball transfer, or the awarding of a bonus point to that player's (i.e. tag remover's) team, etc. 10 Examples Non-limiting examples of deploying the glove 10, 10' system 100 will now be given. In these examples, the sport may equally be a ball game such as American football, American flag football, Australian Rules football, touch Australian Rules 15 football, Gaelic football, soccer or netball. However, the sport described in Examples 1 and 2 is a form of football in which an oval-shaped ball is carried by a given player, and is passed (and sometimes kicked) to other players, being a sport such as rugby, rugby league, touch rugby or touch rugby league. In Examples 1 and 2, the sport will simply be referred to as "modified rugby". 20 The sport described in Example 3 is a form of basketball. Example 1 Two teams were to play each other in a game of modified rugby. Each of the players selected and dressed in a suitable pair of gloves 10 and shorts 112. Each player also attached to their shorts at least the tag 120 at patch 114 (i.e. via patch 122). In one 25 such game only the tag 120 located at its central location (patch 114) was employed. The tags 124 and 126 were not employed. The game of modified rugby commenced. In the game, instead of physically tackling or touching an opposing player carrying the ball, the players of one team attempted to grasp and remove tag 120 from the opposing ball-carrying player. When a 30 player of the one team was able to do so, a tackle was deemed to be made, and the game was stopped. The "tackled" ball-carrying player re-attached their removed tag, and was required to "play the ball" (i.e. transfer it to another player) and the game continued. 1 WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 16 The glove 10 and system 100 was thus seen to promote safer "tackling", in that the central rear tag 120 was incentivised to be removed, and inadvertent hand-to-player contact was protected. Example 2 5 Two teams of players of modified rugby selected and dressed in a suitable pair of gloves 10' and shorts 112, with each player also attaching to their shorts the tag 120 at patch 114 and the tags 124 and 126 at the patches 116 and 118. The game of modified rugby commenced. In the game, the players of one team attempted to grasp and remove one of the tags 120, 124 or 126 from a player of the 10 other team carrying the ball, to thereby make a tackle. If they were able to do so, the game was stopped. However, if tag 120 was the tag removed, this also resulted in the awarding of a bonus point to that one team (i.e. to the team comprising the tag remover player). In the event of a draw, the team with the most bonus points was deemed to be the winner. Over a season, those teams having the most bonus points could take 15 precedence over teams with a lesser number. Again, the glove 10' and system 100 was seen to promote safer "tackling", in that the central rear tag 120 was incentivised to be removed, and inadvertent hand-to player contact was protected. Example 3 20 Two teams were to play each other in a game of modified basketball. Each of the players selected and dressed in a suitable pair of gloves 10 and shorts 12, but these shorts only comprised the patch 114 (i.e. the shorts did not comprise patches 116 and 118). Each player attached to their shorts the tag 120 at patch 114 (via patch 122). The game of modified basketball commenced. In the game, the players of one 25 team attempted to grasp and remove the tag 120 from a player carrying the basketball. If they were able to do so, the game was stopped and the basketball was handed over to the player of the one team that removed the tag. In this way, possession of the basketball was able to be transferred other than by the usual means of "stealing", intercepting or after scoring. Further, the system 110 was seen to promote a safer 30 transfer of basketball possession, in that removal of the tag 120 can be safer and less productive of injury than, for example, ball stealing. Further, the glove 10 protected inadvertent hand-to-player contact.

WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 17 Whilst specific embodiments of apparatus and a system and method for playing sport have been described, it should be appreciated that these may be embodied in other forms. 5 For example, in some sports, each glove finger may only require one reinforced region around the distal inter-phalangeal joint, or may only require a reinforced region around the proximal inter-phalangeal joint. In another variation, each phalangeal joint, including the metacarpal phalangeal joint may be provided with a discrete reinforced region (pad, band, etc). Further, reinforcement can be provided at the location of the 10 thumb where it connects to the palm (head of thumb metacarpal joint). Further, in some sports, removal of tag 120 may result in that player having certain restrictions on their play in the game. It may mean that they have to leave the field of play for a time. Alternatively, it may mean that the player has to immediately unload the ball, or hand it over to the opposing side, etc. 15 In the claims which follow, and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence 20 or addition of further features in various embodiments of the glove and method as disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A glove for use in a sport, in which sport an indicium is to be manually grasped, the glove comprising: - a hollow body for location with respect to a palm and metacarpus of a hand of 5 a wearer of the glove; - one or more hollow fingers extending from the body, each finger comprising at least one reinforced region, each region being configured so as to locate around at least one of a distal inter-phalangeal joint and a proximal inter-phalangeal joint of a finger of a wearer of the glove. 10

2. A glove as claimed in claim 1 wherein each glove finger comprises two reinforced regions, one region for locating around the distal inter-phalangeal joint and one region for locating around the proximal inter-phalangeal joint.

3. A glove as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising a reinforced region for locating in proximity of one or more of the metacarpal-phalangeal joints of the wearer's 15 hand.

4. A glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each reinforced region comprises a relatively dense and/or more rigid and/or more resilient material in comparison to the material forming at least some of a remainder of the glove. 20

5. A glove as claimed in claim 4 wherein the relatively dense and/or more rigid and/or more resilient material is woven into or otherwise affixed with respect to the material that forms a remainder of the glove finger.

6. A glove as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the material forming at least some of a remainder of the glove comprises a relatively flexible material. 25

7. A glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a palm region of the body is provided with a textured surface adapted to facilitate the manual grasping of the indicium.

8. A glove as claimed in claim 7 wherein, when the indicium is an elongate strip of material, the texture of the surface is selected to facilitate the grasping of the material 30 of the indicium.

9. A method for playing a sport in which an indicium is to be manually grasped, the method comprising: WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 19 - selecting and wearing on at least one hand a glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; - using the glove to grasp the indicium.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the indicium comprises an elongate 5 length of material that is releasably attached to a garment of another player of the sport, being other than the player that is using the glove to grasp the indicium.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein detachment of the indicium from the other player indicates a predetermined outcome in a game of the sport, such as a stoppage of the game; and/or a bonus point in the game. 10

12. A system for playing sport, the system comprising: - a garment to be worn by a player of the sport, the garment comprising an attachment region which is arranged such that, when the garment is worn by the player, the attachment region locates near to or at the player's sacrum; - an indicium comprising a portion that is releasably attachable to the attachment 15 region, whereby at least a part of the indicium is able to locate near to or at the player's sacrum in use in the sport.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the attachment region comprises a first part of a releasable fastening mechanism, and the portion of the indicium comprises a complementary second part of the releasable fastening mechanism, with the 2 0 first and second parts able to fasten to each other to provide for said releasable attachment.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the indicium is elongate and is attachable to the attachment region at or towards an end thereof such that, when attached to the attachment region, the indicium is able to hang therefrom in use. 25

15. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the indicium comprises a strip or tag of a relatively flexible material.

16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, the system further comprising a glove as claimed in any one of claims I to 8.

17. A garment for use in sport, the garment able to be worn by a player of the 30 sport, the garment comprising an attachment region which is arranged such that, when the garment is worn by the player, the attachment region locates near to or at the player's sacrum, the attachment region being releasably attachable to a corresponding WO 2015/024049 PCT/AU2014/000818 - 20 portion of an indicium such that the indicium is able to locate near to or at the player's sacrum in use in the sport.

18. A garment as claimed in claim 17 wherein the garment comprises one or more of a belt, shorts, pants, shirt, or jersey of the player. 5

19. A garment as claimed in claim 17 or 18 wherein the attachment region comprises a first part of a releasable fastening mechanism, and the portion of the indicium comprises a complementary second part of the releasable fastening mechanism, with the first and second parts able to fasten to each other to provide for said releasable attachment. 10

20. An indicium for in use in sport, the indicium being elongate and comprising an attachment portion that is located at or towards one end thereof, the attachment portion being able to be releasably attached to a region of a player's garment whereby at least a part of the indicium is able to locate near to or at a player's sacrum, the indicium being of a length such that, in use, it is able to project at least partially away 15 from a moving player when wearing the same, but also of a length so as not to interfere with a player's leg movement in use.

21. An indicium as claimed in claim 20 wherein the length of the indicium is such that an in-use lower end of the indicium, being opposite to the one end, does not extend lower than a user's buttocks when the indicium is attached to a region of a user's 20 garment.

22. A method for playing a sport, the method comprising: - selecting and wearing a garment as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19; - attaching to the garment an indicium as claimed in claim 20 or 21.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein detachment of the indicium from a 25 player indicates a predetermined outcome in a game of the sport, such as a stoppage of the game; and/or a bonus point in the game.