US3922724A

US3922724A - Golf glove

Info

Publication number: US3922724A
Application number: US529065A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Joseph Shockovsky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-12-03
Filing date: 1974-12-03
Publication date: 1975-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-02

Abstract

A golf glove consisting of a body portion having four finger stalls and a thumb portion extending outwardly from a palm portion thereof, and an elongated rectangularly shaped member manufactured of a soft and supple resilient flexible material affixed along the palmar side of the index finger stall and extending from a position at one end slightly over the first joint of an individual''s index finger to a position extending over the point of joining of the index finger to the palm such that the member cushions the first metacarpus and phalanges of a golfer''s hand when the golfer grips the hand portion of a golf club in that the resilient member fills in the natural gaps created between the golf club hand grip and the golfer''s hand to achieve a more positive fit between the golfer''s hand and the golf club hand grip.

Description

Unlted States Patent [111 3,922,724

Shockovsky Dec. 2, 1975 1 1 GOLF GLOVE Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin [76] Inventor: Michael Joseph Shockovsky, 3901 Agen Gold N. Ridge West, Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed Dec 3 1974 A golf glove consisting of a body portion having four Appl. No.: 529,065

finger stalls and a thumb portion extending outwardly from a palm portion thereof, and an elongated rectangularly shaped member manufactured of a soft and supple resilient flexible material affixed along'the palmar side of the index finger stall and extending from a position at one end slightly over the first joint of an individuals index finger to a position extending over the point of joining of the index finger to the palm such that the member cushions the first metacarpus and phalanges of a golfers hand when'the golfer grips the hand portion of a golf club in that the resilient member fills in the natural gaps created between the golf club hand grip and the golfers hand to achieve a more positive fit between the golfers hand and the golf club hand grip.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 3,922,724

GOLF GLOVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to gloves and more pa ticularly to a novel and improved golf glove for use by an individual to obtain amore positive and accurate grip about the hand grip portion of a golf club during the play of a game of golf, the grip achieved ensuring greater accuracy in the use of the golf club than when the golf club is gripped in the bare hand.

2. Description of the Prior Art Upon careful investigation of the game of golf and after a large investment of time and trial and error procedures, it was found that one of the reasons golf gloves presently available in the prior art do not and cannot serve to improve the grip of a golfers hand about the golf club hand grip is that such gloves closely follow the contour of the normal hand surfaces. While nonfriction gripping strips have been provided to prior art gloves to prevent slippage of the club in the individual s hand, such strips do not improve the actual grip of the individuals hand about the club. Further, while pads have been provided on the gloves, both by themselves and in combination with the non-slip strips, such pads have been provided to cushion the individuals hand to prevent calluses and excessive muscle fatigue, with such being successful for such purposes while not greatly improving the grip technique of the individual s hand about the club hand grip.

The prior art golf gloves fail to improve the gripping technique of an individual s hand in that upon gripping a golf club in a hand it is to be noticed that certain voids and other areas are present between the surface of the hand and the surface of the round golf club hand grip, these voids precluding a firm contact area between the individuals hand and the golf club hand grip to the extent that a definite and substantial amount of control is lost. These voids are created as a result of the contrasting soft fleshy parts of the fingers of an individuals hand and the hard ridges of the knuckle joints which provide natural gaps and voids when the golfers hand grips a smooth rounded surface such as the golf club hand grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention remedies and overcomes all of the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available golf gloves by providing a novel golf glove eliminating such natural gaps and voids between an individuals hand and the golf club hand grip to ensure greater accuracy in the use of the golf club when gripped by an individuals hand wearing the glove of the present invention.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a golf glove which has all of the advantages of the prior art type of golf gloves with the additional advantage of improving the grip of an individuals hand about the hand grip of a golf club.

A further feature of the present invention provides a golf glove which readily adapts the individuals hand wearing the glove more readily to the golf club hand grip and specifically fills in the voids and natural gaps existing between the individuals hand and the golf club hand grip when the hand grip is gripped by the gloved hand in order that the contact area between the gloved hand the club hand grip is increased so that control over the club as exercised by the individuals fingers and palm is substantially increased.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a golf glove which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods so that it can be retailed at a sufficiently low price to encourage widespread use thereof among the general golfing public.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a golf glove which is easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation while being aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf glove of the present invention with the hand grip of a golf club positioned across the palm thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but with the gloved hand gripping the club hand grip;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the palm side portion of the golf glove; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detailthere is illustrated a preferred form of a golf glove constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and which is designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and which is manufactured of any suitable flexible material permitting freedom of movement of an individuals hand inserted into the glove, such as cloth, soft pliable leather, and the like. The glove 10 consists of a body portion including palm portion 21, integrally formed

finger stalls

22, 23, 24 and 25 projecting outwardly from the palm portion, integrally formed thumb stall 26 projecting outwardly from the palm portion, and a pad member 30. The glove 10 is provided in a variety of sizes to individually and custom fit an individuals hand inserted into the glove.

It is known in the game of golf that to increase the control over a golf club and thus increase the distance and direction of a golf ball driven by such club, requires a precise grip of an individuals hand about the hand grip of the golf club, such as cylindrically shaped hand grip 40 of golf club shaft 41, the precise fit of the grip being required between the hand grip 40 and the thumb 26, palm 21 and the index or forefinger 25. However, when gripping the club grip 40 in an individual s hand it is noted that due to the fleshy parts of the fingers and the hard ridges of the knuckle joints that when the hand grips a smooth rounded surface such as the hand grip 40 there is formed a natural gap or void between such controlling portions of the individuals hand and the golf grip such that the area of contact between the individuals hand and the golf grip are minimized in these critical areas with the result being poor control of golf club usage.

Accordingly, pad is provided and consists of an elongated rectangular member 31 fabricated of a soft and supple resilient flexible compressable material and which is completely enclosed by a hollow rectangularly shaped cover 32 having a flat top surface 33, a flat bottom surface 34, opposed flat side edges 35 and 36, and opposed

flat end edges

37 and 38.

The cover 32 is fabricted of a fairly non-slip type of material. The bottom surface 34 of the pad 30 is adhered to the palmar side surface of the index finger stall 25 extending longitudinally therealong by means of a suitable adhesive coating 39 which permanently affixes the pad 30 to the glove.

The pad 30 extends along the palmar side of the index finger stall 25 with end edge 37 disposed on the index finger at a position approximately at which the first joint of the individuals index finger would fall when the individuals hand is placed into the glove 10, the pad extending downwardly therefrom along the index finger and overlapping the point of joining of the index finger to the individuals palm such that the pad will cushion the first metacarpus and phalanges of the golfers hand when inserted into the glove.

When hand grip 40 is gripped by an individuals hand wearing glove 10, the pad 30 conforms under pressure of the individuals grip to the round shape of the golf club hand grip 40 and fills in the natural gaps and voids which would otherwise be created between the golf grip and the golfers hand as a result of the contrasting soft fleshy parts of the fingers and the hard ridges of the knuckle joints, thus cushioning the first metacarpus and phalanges of the golfers hand and providing an increased area of contact between the controlling index finger, thumb, and palm portion of the individuals hand through the glove for increased control and greater accuracy in the use of a golf club than when gripped in an individuals bare hand.

it is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A golf club comprising, in combination: a body portion having four finger stalls formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, and having a thumb stall formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, said body portion including a palm portion; a rectangularly shaped elongated pad member fabricated of a soft and supple resilient flexible compressible material having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, opposed flat side edges, and opposed flat top and bottom end edges extending parallel to each other; cover member completely surrounding said pad member fabricated of a flexible material, said cover member having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, opposed flat parallel side edges, and opposed parallel flat top and bottom end edges; said pad member and its said cover member being permanently affixed along said bottom surface to the palmar side of said index finger stall with said top end edge of said pad member positioned on said index finger stall at the approximate point at which the first joint of an individuals index finger would fall when an individual was wearing said glove on his hand, said pad being of a length extending downwardly from said top edge and terminating at said bottom edge at a position adjacent the base of said index finger stall with said pad member overlapping a point of joining of an individuals index finger to an individuals palm when an individuals hand is inserted into the glove so that the pad member cushions the first metacarpus and phalanges of the individuals hand when the individual grips a hand grip portion of a golf club; said pad member and said cover member being permanently affixed to said index finger stall by adhesive; and said glove with said pad member providing a positive fit between an individuals gloved hand and the golf club hand grip with said pad member filling in the natural gaps which are otherwise created as a result of the contrasting soft fleshy parts of a golfers fingers and the hard ridges of the finger knuckle joints when a hand grips the smooth rounded surface of a golf club hand grip, thus providing a greater contact area between the critical elements of the golf club hand grip and the thumb, index finger and palm portions of an individuals hand. 2. A golf glove as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member is fabricated of a flexible cloth material. 3. A golf glove as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member is fabricated of a flexible soft pliable

Claims

1. A golf club comprising, in combination: a body portion having four finger stalls formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, and having a thumb stall formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, said body portion including a palm portion; a rectangularly shaped elongated pad member fabricated of a soft and supple resilient flexible compressible material having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, opposed flat side edges, and opposed flat top and bottom end edges extending parallel to each other; a cover member completely surrounding said pad member fabricated of a flexible material, said cover member having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, opposed flat parallel side edges, and opposed parallel flat top and bottom end edges; said pad member and its said cover member being permanently affixed along said bottom surface to the palmar side of said index finger stall with said top end edge of said pad member positioned on said index finger stall at the approximate point at which the first joint of an individual''s index finger would fall when an individual was wearing said glove on his hand, said pad being of a length extending downwardly from said top edge and terminating at said bottom edge at a position adjacent the base of said index finger stall with said pad member overlapping a point of joining of an individual''s index finger to an individual''s palm when an individual''s hand is inserted into the glove so that the pad member cushions the first metacarpus and phalanges of the individual''s hand whEn the individual grips a hand grip portion of a golf club; said pad member and said cover member being permanently affixed to said index finger stall by adhesive; and said glove with said pad member providing a positive fit between an individual''s gloved hand and the golf club hand grip with said pad member filling in the natural gaps which are otherwise created as a result of the contrasting soft fleshy parts of a golfer''s fingers and the hard ridges of the finger knuckle joints when a hand grips the smooth rounded surface of a golf club hand grip, thus providing a greater contact area between the critical elements of the golf club hand grip and the thumb, index finger and palm portions of an individual''s hand.

2. A golf glove as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member is fabricated of a flexible cloth material.

3. A golf glove as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member is fabricated of a flexible soft pliable leather material.