US2877465A

US2877465A - Golf glove

Info

Publication number: US2877465A
Application number: US678559A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clark B Stroud
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-16
Filing date: 1957-08-16
Publication date: 1959-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-17

Description

March 17, 1959 c. B. STROUD 2,877,465

GOLF GLOVE Filed Aug. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CLARK B. STR OUD wgivum March 17, 1959 c. B. S'II'ROUD 2,877,465

GOLF GLOVE I Filed Aug. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLARK B. STROUD MX/M 2,877,465 Patented Mar. 17, 1959 2,877,465 GOLF GLOVE Clark B. Stroud, Zephyr Cove, Nev. Application August 16, 1957, Serial No. 678,559 7 Claims. (Cl. 2-20) This invention relates generally to golf gloves and more particularly to wrist-supporting means for supplementing the grip of the little finger.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a hook-like element supported by a wrist strap so that the element is located in the palm of the wearers hand very accurately with respect to its position relative to the cradle defined by the little finger when the golf club handle is being gripped by a player when addressing the ball, thus assuring correct initial positioning of the golf club handle and assuring that the relative weakness of the little finger will not result in loss of adequate swing tension at the top of the swing. It is recognized that beginners at golf, as well as a very high percentage of amateur golfers, have great difliculty in maintaining a secure, dependable grip at the top of the swing because of the inherent weakness of the little finger. This invention supplements the little finger grip.

Another object of this invention, ancillary to the proceding object is to provide a device which assures the proper placement of the golf club handle in the hand. The device dramatically assists teaching golf beginners. The proper placement of the hands is quite exacting and unnatural to beginners and rather diificult to teach. This device lends confidence and accelerates progress in securing the proper grip. It is obvious that the present device will ordinarily virtually assure proper placement of at least one of the hands and prevent the acquirement of certain gripping habits. The advanced player also appreciates the firm positive grip afforded by this device.

Another object of this invention is to provide wristsupported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger without the use of cumbersome parts in the palm of the hand that tend to grip and to hamper the necessary flexibility of the hand and wrist.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such adevice in a form which may be used to benefit the grip of the hand upon each and every club in a golf club set and, provided the player consistently employs an orthodox grip, the present device is equally beneficial for all types of golf shots.

Still another object of this invention wrist-supported'means for supplementing the grip of the little finger, which can be fabricated and sold as such or as incorporated in a golf glove of the full fingered or half fingered type. a I

'-And a final object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a device of the character mentioned which is economical to manufacture, simple and easy to use and which is completely safe to use since it cannot cause personal injury or damage to the golf club handle.

With these objects definitely in view together with other objects which will appear hereinafter as this description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in the specification, pointed is to provide a deaden the normal feel of the 1 out in the claims,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf glove with this invention incorporated therein, a portion of the inside of the wrist section being broken away to show portions of the outer section clarifying the buckle which is shown in dash line, the figure also including a fragmentary showing of a golf club handle being supported by the hooklike element of this device;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the hook-shaped plate itself;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the hook-like element with a fragmentary showing of the adjacent portion of the panel supporting the same, a section of the cover being broken away to illustrate how the plate portion is stitched to the pad and panel only;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantiallyv on the line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view in the form assumed when not incorporated with a golf glove; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified wrist strap construction.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a wrist strap, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is provided, this to as thepanel 16, and this panel extends into the palm of the wearers hand. Ordi-, narily the wrist strap and panel will be constructed from leather. v

A hook-like element, generally indicated by the numeral 18, is permanently secured to what may be considered the lower portion of the panel 16. This hook-like element opens toward that portion of the strap contacting the ball of the thumb and the wearers hand. The hook-like element constitutes a cradle corresponding accurately with the cradle defined by the little finger of the wearers hand. or more accurately, in terms 'of the article itself, with the cradle formed by the little finger24 of the glove when the latter is supported by the wearers finger. The hook-like element may be thought of as outcropping from the lower end of the panel and it should be particularlyv carefully noted that the hook-like element contacts only the underside of a golf club handle 26. Of course, it will be understood that the relationship mentioned is that assumed when the wearer is holding the golf club in an orthodox manner as when addressing the ball, although it should also be remembered that the hook-like element remains substantially fixed relative to the golf club handle during the complete swing. The mentioned relationship little finger especially at the top of the swing, since many players tend to relax the grip at the top of the backswin'g, allowing the club head to advance too far with the net" result that accuracy and power are both sacrificed on the downward or forward swing. 5

A pad 28, also ordinarily constructed of leather, is se cured i portion 30 of sheet material, integral hook end 32, is enclosed on one side by this pad 28. Another section of leather constitutes a cover 36 to complete the enclosure of both the plate portion 30 and the hook end 32. The plate portion, at least, is provided with marginal perforations 34 and this plate portion is stitched to the pad 28 and panel 16, as indicated at 38 in Figure 3. By marginally aperturing the plate portion 40'and stitching directly to the panel 16, optimum security against shifting of the plate relative to has two tongues 52 and the panel is achieved. In other words, the stitching 38 is concealed by the cover 36, leaving a smooth upper surface for contact with the golf club handle 26. The pad 28 and cover 36 are marginally stitched around the hook 'cnd32 as indicated at all. The pad is marginally stitched to the panel 16 indicated at 42 and the cover is marginally stitched to the pad as indicated at 44.

As indicated in Figure 5, the golf glove as such may be eliminated and the device sold as a wrist strap with an integral panel 16 and a hook-like element 18, although it is preferred that the device be incorporated with a golf glove.

In Figure 6, a modified embodiment is illustrated, the modification being limited to the structure of the wrist strap. In this form of the invention the wrist strap 50 54 with a corresponding number of keeper elements or

buckles

56 and 58, positioned to encircle the wrist of the player at slightly spaced positions. By providing a plurality of tongues, the wrist strap can be perfectly accommodated to a wrist of particular size and shape with a view toward comfort and, even more important from the viewpoint of most golfers, perfect positioning of the hook-like element relative to the little finger. This shifting or adjustment, though slight,

may be quite critical in assuring retention of the grip at the top of the backswing, and the shifting is, of course, accomplished by relative tightening and loosening of the two tongues. It will be understood that the two

tongues

52 and 54 will ordinarily be unitary with or directly connected to a single portion 60 of the wrist strap generally indicated by the numeral 50.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger of a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wrist strap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; a hook-like element secured to said panel and defining a cradle positionally corresponding with that defined by the little finger when gripping a golf club handle; said hook-like element outcropping from the panel, and said hook-like element open ing toward that portion of the wrist strap contacting the ball of the thumb of the wearers hand in substantial parallelism with the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle as the wearer addresses a golf ball.

2. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger of a wearer, compri 'ng: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wrist strap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-like element secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelism with the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle as the wearer addresses a golf ball.

3. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger of a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wrist strap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-like element secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelism with the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle as the wearer addresses a golf ball; said hook-like element comprising a section of inflexible sheet material terminating in a hook at one end, and having an integral, substantially flat plate portion secured to said panel.

4. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger of a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wrist strap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-like element secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelism with the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle as the wearer addresses a golf ball; said hook like element comprising a section of inflexible sheet material terminating in a hook at one end, and having an integral, substantially flat plate portion secured to said panel; said plate portion being marginally apertured and stitched to said panel for optimum security against shifting relative to the panel.

5. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger of a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wrist strap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-like element secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelism with the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle as the wearer addresses a golf ball; said panel having a pad secured thereto, and said plate being secured on said pad.

6. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger of a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wrist strap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-like element secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelism with the little finger of the wears hand when gripping a golf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle as the wearer addresses a golf ball; said wrist strap constituting the wrist portion of a golf glove.

7. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little finger of a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wrist strap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-like element secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelism with the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle as the wearer addresses a golf ball; said wrist strap having a plurality of tongues, with a corresponding number of keeper elements therefor, positioned to encircle the wrist of the wearer at slight- 1y spaced positions, whereby the wrist strap can be perfectly accommodated to a wrist of particular size and shape so that the complete wrist strap and hook-like element may be tilted slightly on the same wrist by relative tightening and loosening of said tongues.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,692,201 Denman et al Nov. 20, 1928 2,270,882 Link Jan. 27, 1942 2,302,875 Lykins Nov. 24, 1942 2,456,678 Cole .t-... Dec. 21, 1948