Patent Application
20160066665
1. Field
The present disclosure is generally directed towards a support for a glove and, in particular, to an adjustable support for a baseball, softball, or cricket glove.
2. Description of Related Art
One of the basic tools a baseball, softball, or cricket player relies upon is a fielding glove. Baseball, softball, or cricket players should be able to field a ball when it is hit to them, or they will quickly learn that they will not have much of an opportunity to play. For individuals who are fortunate enough to play baseball, softball, or cricket professionally, being a dependable fielder can mean the difference of potentially millions of dollars.
A new baseball, softball, or cricket glove is typically quite stiff because of the new leather used to construct the glove. The process for breaking in a new glove often involves many steps, and may include oiling it with a suitable oil, covering it with specially formulated “break in” products, or putting pressure on the glove so that it takes an appropriate shape. For example, some children that play baseball may put a ball in the new glove and place the glove under a mattress.
Players spend a great deal of time and effort to break in a new glove so that it almost becomes an extension of them. Ultimately, after continued use and hard work, the new glove may adapt from its original position to a relaxed position that more easily and comfortably fits on a hand of a player. In particular, a crease and pocket are usually formed in the glove. The crease may facilitate closing of the glove as a ball enters the glove and the pocket may help keep the ball in the glove. The broken in glove thus may help the player properly field and catch balls.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.
One embodiment of the present disclosure may relate to an adjustable support for a glove. The adjustable support may include a shape retaining member, a base, and a height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the shape retaining member and the base. The height-adjustment mechanism may allow a height between the shape retaining member and the base to be adjusted. The adjustable support may also include a locking member coupled to the height-adjustment mechanism that is movable between a locked position in which the height-adjustment mechanism is locked and an unlocked position in which the height adjustment mechanism is unlocked.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure may relate to an apparatus for carrying a glove. The apparatus may include a case and an adjustable support coupled to the case. The adjustable support may include a shape retaining member, a base, a height-adjustment mechanism, and a locking member.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure may relate to a method of utilizing an adjustable member. The method may include releasing a locking member that may be coupled to a height-adjustment mechanism. The method may also include lowering a shape retaining member that may be coupled to the height-adjustment mechanism to a given height. The given height may be measured between a base to which the shape retaining member is coupled and the shape retaining member. The method may also include engaging the locking member to maintain the shape retaining member at or above the given height.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, the drawings, the detailed description, and appended claims.
The appended drawings contain figures of embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages and features of the present disclosure. These drawings depict only some embodiments and are not intended to limits the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while the drawings may illustrate some sizes, scales, relationships and configurations, the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Example embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The present disclosure relates to an adjustable support for a glove such as a baseball, softball, or cricket glove. The principles of the present disclosure, however, are not limited to an adjustable support for a glove such as a baseball, softball, or cricket glove. Additionally or alternatively, the adjustable support for a glove disclosed herein may be successfully used in connection with other types of gloves and equipment. While the present disclosure may refer to an adjustable support or an adjustable support for a glove for ease and convenience, such reference also includes an adjustable support that may be used in connection with a baseball glove, softball glove, cricket glove, or other suitable type of glove or equipment.
As described above, once players have broken in their gloves according to their preferences, they may not want anything to alter the shape or configuration of the glove. Gloves are typically only used while playing and then are stored until another game. Frequently gloves are thrown in the bottom of a locker or a bag until the next game. Gloves may remain in storage for an extended period of time, such as a matter of days until the next game or months until the next season begins.
A glove can become wet or even saturated with moisture, such as rain or sweat, because baseball and softball are played primarily during the summer months. The wet glove may be thrown in a locker or bag after a game. In addition, players may travel to baseball and softball games so a player may finish one game, throw the wet glove into a bag such as a traditional bat bag, and head to the next game. In the meantime, the wet glove at the bottom of a locker or bag may easily deform and lose the crease and/or pocket the player worked so hard to develop.
It may be important for a baseball, softball, or cricket glove to maintain its broken in condition a player works so hard to achieve, including the natural crease and ball pocket that are formed from repeated use. Prior supports for gloves were often difficult to use and adjust. In addition, prior supports for gloves may not have been adjustable or only had a limited number of adjustments.
A need therefore exists for an adjustable support for a baseball, softball, or cricket glove which eliminates the above-described disadvantages and problems. For example, there is a need for an adjustable support for a baseball, softball, or cricket glove that can adapt to the size and position desired by a player. In particular, there is a need for an adjustable support for a baseball, softball, or cricket glove with greater customization and adjustability so that the player can be assured that their glove will be properly stored. There is also a need for an adjustable support that can be more easily manipulated to allow a player to select the ideal height for the natural crease and pocket that the player has developed in their glove. The adjustable support may be locked in a desired position and the adjustable support may be readily unlocked to allow the support to be adjusted.
The present disclosure may relate to an adjustable support for a baseball, softball, or cricket glove. The adjustable support may include a shape retaining member that may be shaped and/or configured to maintain the shape of a ball or other desired shape such that as a glove is rested, stored, or otherwise disposed on the shape retaining member, the shape retaining member may keep the glove in a desired shape. The shape retaining member may be readily adjustable between any number of heights relative to a base of the adjustable support by way of a height-adjustment mechanism. In some embodiments, the height-adjustment mechanism may be coupled to the base and the shape retaining member and may facilitate rapid and easy adjustments of the adjustable support.
In some embodiments, the carrying case 120 may include any of a variety of features. For example, the carrying case 120 may include feature that may be beneficial for transporting a glove, storing a glove, treating a glove, etc. By way of non-limiting examples, the carrying case 120 may include one or more of: vent holes to allow air and moisture flow and exchange, a handle (which may include reinforcement such as a rubber or plastic grip), a shoulder strap, external loops to clip attachments to (e.g. a shoulder strap or carabineer), an adjustable strap (e.g. elastic or with a clip) to hold a glove in place, one or more additional layers of material or padding, one or more internal pockets (e.g. a mesh pocket to hold keys or phone), etc. In some embodiments, the carrying case 120 may be made of a soft and/or rigid material. For example, the carrying case may be a soft shell casing that may be strongly biased to a storage shape, but with an ability to elastically deform. For example, the carrying case may be molded ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA or PEVA), neoprene, or any other polymer, foam, or combinations of any of the above.
In some embodiments, the shape retaining member 210 may have one or more dimensions that are at least similar to a baseball, softball, or cricket ball. The shape retaining member 210 may also have different shapes, sizes, configurations, and arrangements depending, for example, upon the intended use of the adjustable support 110. Additionally or alternatively, the shape retaining member 210 may be interchangeable to allow a user to select a desired size, shape, configuration, and/or arrangement. For example, the shape retaining member 210 may be interchangeable and may have the shape of a standard-sized baseball, softball, or cricket ball. The shape retaining member 210 may also have other shapes, sizes, configuration and arrangements depending, for example, upon the intended use of the adjustable support 110. In these and other embodiments, the different shapes, sizes, configurations, arrangements, adjustability, and interchangeability may provide the user with increased control and flexibility in positioning the shape retaining member 210 in the glove. For example, if the adjustable support 110 is used in combination with other tools or structures, such as a carrying case, the adjustable support 110 and case may help keep the glove in a desired shape and configuration.
In some embodiments, the locking member 240 may include a button, trigger, latch, control, or other means that allows the locking member 240 to be easily locked or unlocked. The locking member 240 may be biased into a locked position and a user may unlock the locking member 240 to allow the adjustable support 110 to be adjusted to the appropriate height. If desired, the locking member 240 may be configured to allow the shape retaining member 210 to be raised, even when in the locked position, but prevents the shape retaining member 210 from being lowered.
In some embodiments, the locking member 240 may be pivotally coupled to the height-adjusting member 230. In these and other embodiments, the locking member 240 may include an engagement portion 342 that engages one or more notches, holes, openings, gradations, steps, or receiving portions 336 to lock the height-adjustment member 230 in a desired location. For example, the locking member 240 may be coupled to the second portion 334 of the height-adjustment mechanism 230, and the locking member 240 may engage one or more receiving portions 336 in the first portion 332 of the height-adjustment mechanism 230. The locking member 240 may be pivotally coupled to the second portion 334 of the height-adjustment mechanism 230 by a pivot member 344 such as a bar or a rod. A biasing mechanism 346, such as a spring, may be used to bias the locking member 240 in the locked position. In these and other embodiments, other biasing mechanisms may also be used, and in some embodiments, the biasing mechanism 346 may be completely optional.
The shape retaining member 210 may be shown in more detail in
The lower portion 332 of the height-adjustment mechanism may have a generally circular configuration, such as a generally hollow tube, with a plurality of steps or receiving portions 336 disposed along one side. The lower portion 332 of the height-adjustment mechanism may also include one or more notches, grooves or tabs, which may be located at and/or proximate an upper end of the lower portion 332 of the height-adjustment mechanism. The upper and lower portions of the height-adjustment mechanism may be slidable or movable to allow the height to be adjusted. In particular, the upper portion of the height-adjustment mechanism may slide or move along a length of the lower portion 332 of the height-adjustment mechanism to allow the distance between the shape retaining member and the base to be changed.
In some embodiments a series of notches or receiving portions 336 may allow a user to lock the shape retaining member in different positions. The notches or receiving portions 336 may be sized and configured to allow a user to move the shape retaining member in a single direction, such as upwardly relative to the base 220, when the locking member is in the locked position, and in opposing directions when the locking member is in the unlocked position. Additionally, the upper end of the lower portion 332 of the height-adjustment mechanism may include one or more outwardly extending protrusions or flanges 632 (such as 632a and 632b) which may help prevent the upper portion of the height-adjustment mechanism and the shape retaining member from being unintentionally disconnected from the lower portion of the height-adjustment mechanism.
In some embodiments, the locking member 240 and height-adjustment mechanism 230 may be size and configured to prevent the shape retaining member 210 from being lowered while in the locked position but may not prevent the shape retaining member 210 from being raised while in the locked position. The locking member 240 may also prevent any movement of the shape retaining member 210 relative to the base 220. For example, the adjustable support 110 may be disposed at a plurality of different heights and/or the adjustable support may be set and locked at a predetermined and/or selected height within a range of heights. This may facilitate use of the adjustable support 110 in a wide variety of different circumstances and environments. For example, this may allow the user to set the adjustable support 110 at a height the user desires. Additionally, the locking member may allow the shape retaining member 210 to be locked in a desired position relative to the base 220.
In some embodiments, the locking member 240 may be implemented as a pin and receiving portions (such as the receiving portions 336 of
The adjustable support 110 may have a variety of suitable shapes, sizes, configurations, and arrangements depending upon the intended use of the support. Further, the shape retaining member 210, the base 220, the height-adjustment mechanism 230, the locking member 240, and a biasing mechanism (such as the biasing mechanism 346 of
Additionally, to assist in the description of an adjustable support for a glove, words such as top, bottom, front, rear, right and left may be used to describe the accompanying figures, however, the present disclosure may be located in a variety of positions, including various angles, sideways and even upside down.
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the present disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62045951 | Sep 2014 | US |
