WO2002024010A2

WO2002024010A2 - Golf gloves

Info

Publication number: WO2002024010A2
Application number: PCT/GB2001/004242
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Richard Wilkinson
Original assignee: Staygripped Limited
Priority date: 2000-09-22
Filing date: 2001-09-24
Publication date: 2002-03-28
Also published as: GB0122967D0; GB2366990B; WO2002024010A3; GB0023316D0; GB2366990A; AU2001290083A1

Abstract

A golf glove (1;61) has two holes (50, 51; 63, 64) defining an alignment-line across the front, palmar face of the glove for gripping the golf-club handle (3). As an alternative, the line may be defined on the front face (73) of the glove (71) by the space between two closely-spaced parallel rows of holes (72), and additional holes (75) on the back of the thumb (6) may define an arrow for alignment with the club-shaft (4). The line-defining holes (5, 51; 63, 64; 72) are backed by fabric within the glove to give visibility and distinctiveness. When used for training purposes, the glove (1), as one of a pair, includes fabric elements (33-36) for hook-to-loop adhesion with fabric (5) covering the golf-club handle (3) so as to give awareness of break of grip. A second glove (61; 71) for the same hand and with corresponding alignment holes but no adhesive-fabric elements, is used for games. A coloured fabric (78) on the back (79) of the glove (71) extends over knuckles of the first and second fingers (80, 81) to give guidance on grip orientation.

Description

Golf Gloves

This invention relates to golf gloves.

The invention is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with assisting a golfer to achieve optimum grip of a golf-club handle, towards improvement of his/her game.

The driving of a golf ball accurately, depends on factors such as the stance of the golfer, how the club is held and how the swing of the club is executed. The golfer's stance and grip of the club are adjusted in the preliminary addressing of the ball. Adjustment is made in particular to ensure that the golfer is able to execute the swing freely and that his/her hands are correctly oriented in relation both to one another and the club head, in the adopted grip of the handle of the golf club.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide golf gloves that may be used to assist a golfer in adopting appropriate grip of a golf-club handle.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf glove having a plurality of holes in the front, palmar face of the glove that together define a line of alignment for grip with that glove of the handle of a golf club.

The line of alignment may be defined by two holes, one located above the base of the first finger and the other below the base of the fourth finger. Alternatively, where four or more holes are provided, they may be arranged in two parallel rows that delineate the line by the space intervening. It often happens, however, that even when the golfer has adopted the correct grip of the golf-club handle, the desired strike is not in the event achieved because he/she relaxes or changes his/her grip on the club-handle during the swing. The relaxation or change of grip during the swing may easily occur unconsciously or certainly without intention on the part of the golfer. The glove of the present invention may with advantage in this respect incorporate one or more elements of fabric fastener for establishing selectively-releasable adhesion with fabric attached to the handle.

The selectively-releasable fastening may be of the kind that involves adhesion between two fabric elements through selectively-breakable engagement between hook- ended threads of one element and threads of the other. The fastening, which in this case may be of the kind sold under the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO, has advantage in that engagement is readily achieved upon contact, and disengagement requires the exertion of significant force and is normally accompanied by a distinct tearing sound; moreover, the process of engagement and disengagement can be repeated almost indefinitely without loss of effectiveness. •

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a golfing method wherein a user of the method wears a first glove for gripping the handle of a golf club during a training session and subsequently wears instead a second glove for gripping the handle of the same, or another, golf club, said first glove being different from said second glove at least in that it has the characteristic that relaxation or change of the user's grip of the handle is restrained by a selectively- releasable fastening that provides adhesion between the handle and the glove, and wherein both gloves have in their front, palmar faces a plurality of holes that together define a line of alignment for grip with that glove of the^' handle of the relevant golf club.

A golf-training method, and a golf club and two pairs of golf gloves for use in the method, together with a further golf glove, all in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates application of the golf club (shown only in part) and a first of the pairs of golf gloves, in the method of the present invention;

Figure 2 is illustrative of a removable cover for the handle of the golf club of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 show the front, palmar faces of the left and right gloves respectively, of the first pair of golf gloves according to the invention used in the method;

Figures 5 and 6 show the front, palmar faces of the left and right gloves respectively, of the second pair of golf gloves according to the invention used in the method;

Figures 7 and 8 show the front, palmar face and the back face, respectively, of a left-hand golf glove according to the invention that may be used on its own or as an alternative to the glove of Figure 5 in the method; and

Figure 9 is illustrative of the back of the thumb of the golf glove of Figures 7 and 8.

Referring to Figure 1, the golfer in the present example wears left and right golf gloves 1 and 2, and holds the frusto-conical handle 3 above the shaft 4 of the golf club, in a conventional right-handed grip. The handle 3 has a fabric covering provided by an element 5 that facilitates establishment and maintenance of this grip. The form of the element 5 as this is applied to the handle 3 is shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2 , the element 5 is of nylon fabric having upstanding hook-ended threads, being in this regard one of the two elements of a fabric fastening sold under the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO. The element 5 is wrapped helically and tightly butting onto itself, round the handle 3, and is secured in place at both ends using fabric fastening between its outer surface and wrap-over tabs 6 and 7 of loop-ended threads on its inner surface. As an alternative, the element 5 may be replaced by a tubular moulding which has the necessary fabric-fastener element as its outer, and which fits onto the shaft 4 in the way of a conventional replacement handle for golf clubs.

The second, cooperating element of the fabric fastening for the element 5 is of nylon fabric having upstanding loop- or eye-ended threads for engagement with the hook- ended threads of the element 5. More particularly, and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the loop-ended fabric for engagement with the element 5 is divided into six elements 33 and 35 to 39 which are attached by their adhesive backings to the front, palmar faces of the gloves 1 and 2; a further element 34 of hook-ended fabric is also involved.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the gloves 1 and 2 are of conventional form for golf apart from the attached fabric elements 33 to 39. The elements 33 and 34, as shown in Figure 3, are attached to the thumb 40 of the left glove 1, the element 33 covering the distal ball or tip of the thumb 40, whereas the element 34 covers the back of the thumb 40 onto its knuckle mid-way along the thumb 40. The element 35 extends part way up, and across the base of, the second to fourth fingers 41 to 43 of the glove 1, whereas the element 36 extends along the ulnar side of the palm 44 of that glove.

As shown in Figure 4, the element 37 is attached to the thumb 45 of the right glove 2, being attached to the distal ball or tip of the thumb 45. The element 38 extends slightly onto the palm 46 of the glove 2 and up to almost the tip of its first finger 47, but only slightly onto its second and third fingers 48 and 49, from across the base of the fingers 47 to 49, whereas the element 39 extends from the radial side of the palm 46 onto the base of the thumb 45.

As indicated above, the elements 33 and 35 to 39 have loop-end threads and their distribution on the two gloves 1 and 2 ensures that when the handle 3, covered (as described above with reference to Figure 2) with fabric 5 having hook-ended threads, is gripped appropriately, there is optimum retention of that grip throughout swing of the club. In taking up the conventional right-handed grip of the handle 3 , the handle 3 is placed across the palm of the left hand as that hand is closed round the handle 3, and the right hand is then closed onto the handle 3 with the base of its thumb overlying the back of the thumb of the left hand. Accordingly, as the grip is established wearing the gloves 1 and 2, the fabric elements 35 and 36 and then the element 33 of the left glove 1, adhere to the fabric-covered handle 3, followed by adhesion to the handle 3 of the fabric elements 37 and

38 of the right glove 2.

Accordingly, there is abutment, and consequently hook-to- loop adhesion, between the individual elements 33 and 35 to 38 and the element 5 when the handle 3 is gripped in this way. The adhesion acts to hold the gloved hands firmly to the handle 3 in the established grip. Any breaking of the adhesion with the element 5 at any of the elements 33 and 35 to 38, requires a conscious effort and is accompanied by a tearing sound. Thus, if during the swing of the golf club in driving the ball or making any other shot, there is change or relaxation of the established grip, this will be accompanied by a tearing sound readily audible to the golfer. Even if the golfer is not conscious of the effort required by his/her hands to make the change or relaxation, he/she will be aware of the sound made.

The adhesion between the individual elements 33 and 35 to 38 and the element 5 in resisting relaxation and change of grip, provides a restraint useful for training purposes. This, together with the tell-tale sound that accompanies any such relaxation and change of grip, is of considerable assistance to the golfer for improving his/her game. However, the gloves 1 and 2 incorporate further features that are of advantage for training.

In the latter respect, the fabric element 34 and 39 are of opposite thread types; in this example the element 34 has hook-ended threads whereas the threads of the element 39 are loop-ended. Accordingly, there is adhesion between the elements 34 and 39 where the right glove 2 overlies the left glove 1, so that with the gloves 1 and 2 there is the added advantage that relaxation of the right hand from the left hand is opposed as further restraint on change of the established grip.

Furthermore, holes 50 and 51 in the left glove 1, as shown in Figure 3 , provide in accordance with the invention a significant further advantage for training purposes. More particularly, the holes 50 and 51 define an optimum line of alignment for the handle 3, extending from the hole 51 just above the base of the first finger 52 of the glove 1 and across the palm 44 to the hole 50 just below the base of the fourth finger 43. Thus, in taking up the conventional right-handed grip, the handle 3 is first located in register with the holes 50 and 51 so that it has the correct positioning within the hands for achieving optimum grip.

It will be appreciated that it may be the elements 33 and 35 to 39 of the gloves 1 and 2 that have the hook-ended threads rather than the elements 5, and 34. In this case, the threads of the elements 5, and 34 will be loop- ended or of any other form suitable to be engaged adhesively by the hook-ended threads.

Use of the pair of gloves 1 and 2 to obtain the adhesion- restraint on grip can only be used legitimately, and desirably, for training purposes, and not for normal games. It is permissible nonetheless to continue to use guidance as to the correct positioning of the handle 3 in the hands, such as afforded by the holes 50 and 51. In recognition of this, there is provided in accordance with the present invention a second pair of gloves identical to the gloves 1 and 2 , but free of any attached fabric elements. The second pair of gloves are for normal use when the gloves 1 and 2, and possibly the handle-cover element 5 too, are set aside following a training session. The gloves of the second pair are shown in Figures 5 and 6 and will now be described.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the gloves 61 and 62 of the second pair are conventional golf gloves in all respects except that the left glove 61 includes holes 63 and 64 in its front, palmar face, corresponding exactly in location and size to the holes 50 and 51, respectively, of the glove 1. Thus, the advantage of the guidance provided by the holes 50 and 51 during training, is continued for the golfer in the holes 63 and 64 when training and the restraint of the gloves 1 and 2 is put aside. The holes 50 and 51, and 63 and 64 may be backed inside the respective gloves 1 and 61 by a coloured synthetic fabric (such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark LYCRA) to give them¹ good visibility and distinctiveness.

The optimum line of alignment for the golf-club handle 3 across the front, palmar face of the glove 1 is defined simply by the two holes 50 and 51, and, correspondingly, for the glove 61 by the two holes 63 and 64, but more holes may be used. Where four or more holes are used, they need not define the handle-alignment line by lying on it, but may be arranged in two closely-spaced parallel rows delineating the line by the intervening space. A left-handed glove in which the handle-alignment line is defined in this way, will now be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9.

Referring to Figure 7, the handle-alignment line of the left-handed glove 71 in this instance, is defined by two closely-spaced parallel rows of four holes 72 each, that extend across the front, palmar face 73 of the glove 71. The handle-alignment line is defined by the elongate space between the two rows of holes 72, and the holes 72 are backed inside the glove 71 by a coloured synthetic fabric (such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark LYCRA) to give them good visibility and distinctiveness. Further emphasis is given to the rows of holes 72 by parallel line-markings 74 that run across the front face of the glove 71 either side of the rows.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, additional holes 75 are provided along the back of the thumb 76 of the glove 71, to assist the golfer further. The holes 75, which may be backed inside the glove 71 by fabric like the holes 72, define an arrow directed lengthwise of the thumb 76 towards its tip 77. The arrow guides the golfer to align his/her thumb downwardly with the golf-club shaft 4 when gripping the handle 3.

Additional assistance to the golfer in gripping the golf club is provided as illustrated in Figure 8, by an element 78 of coloured fabric that is attached to the back 79 of the glove 71 to extend across the knuckles at the base of the first and second fingers 80 and 81 respectively, of the left-hand. These knuckles are often used as a guide for adoption of a recommended orientation of the left-hand in holding a golf club for a shot, and the emphasis given to them by the fabric-element 78 assists the golfer in ensuring that the recommended orientation is utilised.

The glove 71, which includes ventilation holes 82 and decorative markings 83 on the backs of the fingers, may be used alone whether for training and/or normal games, or may be used together with the glove 62 of Figure 6 in place of the glove 61 of Figure 5. Furthermore, the glove 1 of Figure 3 may be modified to include a double row of holes corresponding to the holes 72 of the glove 71, in place of the holes 50 and 51, and also to include lines, holes and a coloured-fabric element corresponding to the lines 74, holes 75 and element 78 of the glove 71.

It has been assumed above in connection with Figures 1, and 3 to 9 that the invention is used to assist a right- handed golfer using a conventional grip of the club- handle 3, but it will be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to circumstances where the golfer is left-handed and where any grip, conventional or unconventional, is used. The distribution and areas of the gloves 1 and 2 covered by fabric elements with relevant hook- or loop-ended threads, and the location of the holes to define alignment-lines for grip of the golf- club handle, and other features of the gloves of Figures 3, 5 and 7 to 9 , merely requires adaptation to the handedness of the golfer and the grip used.

Claims

Claims :

1. A golf glove having a plurality of holes in the front, palmar face of the glove that together define a line of alignment for grip with that glove of the handle of a golf club.

2. A golf glove according to Claim 1 wherein said line of alignment is defined by two holes, one located above the base of the first finger and the other below the base of the fourth finger.

3. A golf glove according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 incorporating one or more elements of fabric fastener for establishing selectively-releasable adhesion with the handle.

4. A golf glove according to Claim 3 wherein said one or more elements of fabric fastener are of a fabric having loop-ended threads.

5. A golf glove according to Claim 3 wherein said one or more elements of fabric fastener are of a fabric having hook-ended threads .

6. A golf glove according to Claim 1 wherein said line of alignment is defined by four or more holes arranged in two parallel rows that delineate the line by the intervening space.

7. A golf glove according to Claim 6 wherein parallel line-markings run across the front, palmar face of the glove either side of the rows of holes.

8. A golf glove according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein additional holes along the back of the thumb define an arrow for guiding alignment of the thumb with the shaft of the golf club.

9. A golf glove according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the holes in the front, palmar face are backed by fabric within the glove.

10. A golf glove according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein a distinctively-coloured element is attached to the back of the glove to extend across the knuckles at the base of the first and second fingers.

11. A golfing method wherein a user of the method wears a first glove for gripping the handle of a golf club during a training session and subsequently wears instead a second glove for gripping the handle of the same, or another, golf club, said first glove being different from said second glove at least in that it has the characteristic that relaxation or change of the user's grip of the handle is restrained by a selectively- releasable fastening that provides adhesion between the handle and the glove, and wherein both gloves have in their front, palmar faces a plurality of holes that together define a line of alignment for grip with that glove of the handle of the relevant golf club.

12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the selectively-releasable fastening involves adhesion between two fabric elements through selectively-breakable engagement between hook-ended threads of one element and threads of the other.

13. A method according to Claim 12 wherein a plurality of fabric elements are incorporated with said first glove, each of these elements establishing selectively- breakable engagement as aforesaid with a fabric element incorporated with the handle.

14. A method according to any one of Claims 11 to 13 wherein said line of alignment is defined in each glove by two holes.

15. A method according to Claim 14 wherein one of the two holes is located above the base of the first finger and the other is located below the base of the fourth finger.

16. A method according to any one of Claims 11 to 13 wherein said line of alignment is defined in each glove by four or more holes arranged in two parallel rows that delineate the line by the intervening space.

17. A method according to any one of Claims 14 to 16 wherein additional holes along the back of the thumb define an arrow for guiding alignment of the thumb with the shaft of the golf club.

18. A method according to any one of Claims 11 to 17 wherein the holes in the front, palmar face of each glove are backed by fabric within the glove.