BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL GLOVE

This nonprovisional application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-117913 filed on Jun. 6, 2014 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a baseball or softball glove, and more particularly to a baseball or softball glove having a core material inside a leather member located on a catching surface side.

2. Description of the Background Art

Conventionally, in baseball or softball gloves, there is a request for adjusting slack of a leather member in a so-called pocket part of the leather member located on a catching surface side. Herein, the pocket part corresponds to a vicinity of a root of a finger part for inserting a forefinger of a user.

For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2012-192207 discloses that a core material may be installed so as to be sandwiched between a ball receiving surface member configuring a leather member located on a catching surface side, and a palm member.

The above core material is fixed to the leather member by a string material. It is considered that slack of the leather member of the pocket part is adjusted by adjustment of tension of the string material.

In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2012-192207, although not specified, it is considered that the core material is fixed to the leather member by the string material that passes through a hole formed in the core material, and a hole formed in the leather member located on the catching surface side. In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2012-192207, the string material fixes the core material to the leather member so as to extend in a direction intersecting with an extending direction of a finger part for inserting a forefinger of a user. Additionally, it is thought that the string material fixes the core material to the leather member so as to pass through a plurality of holes formed at, for example, a center of the core materials. In this case, even when tension with the string material is increased, it is difficult to pull the leather member of the pocket part from a forefinger side to a wrist side to adjust the slack. This is because since the core material is generally formed of a soft material such as felt, even when tension of the string material passing through the holes located at the center is increased, a deformation amount of the core material increases, and therefore it is difficult to pull the leather member.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a baseball or softball glove capable of easily adjusting slack of a leather member by utilizing tension of a string material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A baseball or softball glove according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a leather member formed with a first hole, and located on a catching surface side, a core material disposed inside the leather member, and formed with a second hole, and a leather string fixing the leather member and the core material. The leather string passes through the first and second holes, and goes around an end of the core material in a sectional direction, so that the leather member and the core material are fixed to each other. Hardness of the end of the core material is higher than hardness of a center of the core material. A deformation amount of at least one part of the core material located around the second hole is less than or equal to 90% of a deformation amount of the softest part located at the center of the core material.

In the present invention, the leather string goes around the end having higher hardness than the center of the core material, in the sectional direction, so that the leather member and the core material are fixed to each other. That is, a deformation amount of the core material by tension of the string material is further reduced. Therefore, the leather member can be sufficiently pulled by the tension of the leather string, and slack of the leather member can be suppressed.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a region including a catching surface leather disposed on a palm side of a user, in a glove of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a region including a catching surface leather disposed on a hand back side of the user, in the glove of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a core material of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating positional relation between a schematic sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3, and a forefinger bag of the core material.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a mode where a leather member is fixed to the core material by allowing a leather string to pass through a hole, in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating measurement points of deformation amounts of the core material in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mode of a jig used in measurement of the deformation amount of the core material.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mode where the jig used in the measurement of the deformation amount of the core material is viewed from a direction different from a direction of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a region including a catching surface leather disposed on a palm side of a user, in a glove of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a region including a catching surface leather disposed on a hand back side, in the glove of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a core material of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a region including catching surface leather disposed on a palm side of a user, in a glove of a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the glove illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of an insole member illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a schematic sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to drawings.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a glove 10 as a baseball or softball glove of this embodiment has a palm-side disposed leather 10p disposed on a palm side of a user that inserts his/her hand, and a hand back leather 10b disposed on a hand back side of the user. That is, the hand of the user is inserted between palm-side disposed leather 10p and hand back leather 10b.

Palm-side disposed leather 10p includes a catching surface leather 10p1 including a surface located on a side where the user catches a ball (catching surface in contact with the ball received by the user), and a palm leather 10p2 that is disposed to face catching surface leather 10p1, and is in contact with an inserted palm part of the user. In FIG. 2, palm leather 10p2 is mostly covered with hand back leather 10b, and an exposed part is small. However, an opening 11 capable of exposing a hand back part on a side slightly closer to fingers than a wrist of the user is formed in hand back leather 10b, and a part of palm leather 10p2 is exposed through opening 11 in FIG. 2. Palm-side disposed leather 10p (catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2) and hand back leather 10b each are formed from, for example, synthetic leather, natural leather, artificial leather, and other material having a similar property to synthetic leather, natural leather, or artificial leather. Most of members configuring glove 10 of this embodiment, described later, are basically formed from a material similar to the above materials.

Palm-side disposed leather 10p (catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2) and hand back leather 10b each configure finger bags capable of receiving the fingers of the user. More specifically, catching surface leather 10p1, palm leather 10p2, hand back leather 10b each configure a thumb bag f1 capable of receiving a thumb of the user, a forefinger bag f2 (finger part) capable of receiving a forefinger of the user, a middle finger bag f3 capable of receiving a middle finger of the user, a ring finger bag f4 capable of receiving a ring finger of the user, and a little finger bag f5 capable of receiving a little finger of the user. One part of each of outer peripheral parts of parts configuring respective finger bags f1 to f5 in palm-side disposed leather 10p, and one part of each of outer peripheral parts of parts configuring respective finger bags f1 to f5 in hand back leather 10b are sewn to each other by a publicly known method, so that regions where the respective fingers of the user can be inserted are formed between the parts configuring respective finger bags f1 to f5 in palm-side disposed leather 10p, and the parts configuring respective finger bags f1 to f5 in hand back leather 10b.

A web 5 is provided between thumb bag f1 and forefinger bag f2, and has a palm side web 5p and a hand back side web 5b. Palm side web 5p includes a surface on a side where the user catches a ball similarly to catching surface leather 10p1, and hand back side web 5b is disposed so as to be directed in the same direction as hand back leather 10b.

A leather string 6 is disposed in web 5, and connects palm side web 5p and hand back side web 5b to each other. Leather string 6 of web 5 is wound between palm side web 5p and hand back side web 5b in web connection part 1 (a part of an outer peripheral part of web 5) that is a part adjacent to a tip part of forefinger bag f2, namely a part covering a tip of the forefinger of the user. Additionally, leather string 6 is disposed so as to be intertwined with each other also in a large number of openings formed at a center of web 5.

As leather string 6, in addition to publicly known leather materials, an unstretchable sting-shaped material such as twisted yarn of a linen string can be used.

For example, finger bags f2 to f5 are joined with each other by leather string 6 similar to leather string 6 in web 5. Additionally, leather string 6 is wound on outer peripheral parts of peripheral parts 7 in wrist adjacent connecting parts 3 and 4 (connecting parts each extending in a direction having an angle with respect to a direction in which a hand insertion connecting part 2 extends) adjacent to hand insertion connecting part 2, in outer peripheral parts of palm-side disposed leather 10p and hand back leather 10b, so that palm-side disposed leather 10p (more specifically, catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2) and hand back leather 10b are connected.

Glove 10 has a hand insertion part 12, into which a hand of a user who puts on glove 10 is inserted. Hand insertion part 12 is a part that is opened such that the hand can be inserted into a region sandwiched between palm-side disposed leather 10p and hand back leather 10b. In other word, hand insertion part 12 corresponds to a doorway of a region for storing the hand of the user, formed by connection of respective outer peripheral edges of palm-side disposed leather 10p and hand back leather 10b. Hand insertion part 12 is formed by the outer peripheral edges of palm-side disposed leather 10p and hand back leather 10b. However, hand insertion part 12 forms an opening as the doorway, and therefore is not directly connected to palm-side disposed leather 10p and hand back leather 10b.

As described above, palm-side disposed leather 10p has catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2, and a ball is caught on a catching surface of catching surface leather 10p1. That is, palm-side disposed leather 10p is disposed as a leather member located on the catching surface side.

Catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2 are connected to each other at, for example, peripheral part 7, and formed as integral palm-side disposed leather 10p. Inside palm-side disposed leather 10p, a core material 20 is disposed. Core 20 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2.

Core 20 is a plate-like member formed of a raw material such as felt. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, core material 20 has a curved shape so as to pass through a region adjacent to wrist adjacent connecting parts 3 and 4 from thumb bag f1 of palm-side disposed leather 10p in a curved manner, to reach little finger bag f5. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in core material 20, a part curved so as to be directed to outside of the curved part (so as to protrude outward) is disposed on a side of hand insertion part 12, and a part curved so as to be directed to inside of the curved part (so as to be concaved inward) is disposed on a forefinger bag f2 side.

Core 20 is formed with a plurality of holes 21 (second holes). Holes 21 are formed so as to penetrate inside core material 20 from an upper plane to a lower plane in plan view of core material 20. Holes 21 each have, for example, a circular plane shape in plan view. However, the plane shape of each hole 21 is not limited to this, but is arbitrary.

A material of core material 20 is arbitrary, and is formed by at least a kind selected from the group consisting of white wool 4H, black wool 6S, needle 4H, black wool 8S, needle 7M, patton 7S, patton 5H, for example. Additionally, core material 20 may be formed by overlapping a plurality of sheet members to fix outer peripheral parts. In this case, core material 20 is formed by overlapping a plurality of plate-like members of different two kinds of materials among the above materials to fix the plate-like members. A fixing method is fusion or the like, and is arbitrary.

A plurality of holes 21 are preferably formed along an end of core material 20, more specifically, a curved part configuring outer peripheral edge 22 of core material 20 so as to be arranged at intervals. A pitch P (see FIG. 3) between a pair of holes 21 adjacent to each other, of a plurality of holes 21 is preferably greater than or equal to 7 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm, and is more preferably greater than or equal to 9 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm. A diameter of each of holes 21 is preferably greater than or equal to 2 mm and less than or equal to 12 mm, and is more preferably greater than or equal to 3.5 mm and less than or equal to 6 mm.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of holes 21 is particularly formed on the forefinger bag f2 side when core material 20 is disposed inside palm-side disposed leather 10p, with respect to a center C of core material 20 in outer peripheral edge 22 of core material 20. Herein, center C indicates a central part in a width direction in plan view of core material 20, namely, a central part related to a direction connecting forefinger bag f2 and hand insertion part 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, in palm-side disposed leather 10p, catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2 are each formed with pluralities of holes H1 and H2 (first holes). Holes H1 and holes H2 are each formed so as to penetrate palm-side disposed leather 10p from catching surface leather 10p1 to palm leather 10p2. Holes H1 and holes H2 are each preferably formed along the curved part configuring outer peripheral edge 22 (see FIG. 3) of core material 20 inside palm-side disposed leather 10p so as to be arranged at intervals.

Each hole H1 and each hole H2 are preferably formed so as to extend in such a direction that a segment formed by connecting a pair of holes H1 and H2 intersects with the curved part configuring outer peripheral edge 22 (see FIG. 3) of core material 20. In other word, each hole H1 and each hole H2 are preferably formed such that a segment formed by connecting these holes extends across outer peripheral edge 22 on the forefinger bag f2 side of core material 20 inside palm-side disposed leather 10p (so as to intersect with outer peripheral edge 22 on the forefinger bag f2 side).

Core 20 and palm-side disposed leather 10p are fixed to each other by leather string 6. More specifically, referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, respective holes H1 of catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2 planarly overlapped with catching surface leather 10p1, and holes 21 of core material 20 are planarly disposed at nearly overlapped positions. At this time, each hole 21 is disposed at such a position as to be sandwiched between corresponding hole H1 of catching surface leather 10p1 and corresponding hole H1 of palm leather 10p2. Similarly, respective holes H2 of catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2 are planarly nearly overlapped.

In this state, leather string 6 penetrates the respective holes so as to pass through hole 21 from hole H1 of catching surface leather 10p1 to reach hole H1 of palm leather 10p2. Leather string 6 penetrates respective holes H2 so as to pass through outside of palm leather 10p2 (i.e., surface, in contact with a palm of the user, of palm leather 10p2) to extend to the forefinger bag f2 side, for example, to reach hole H2 of catching surface leather 10p1 from hole H2 of palm leather 10p2 formed at a position deviated by one along outer peripheral edge 22 of core material 20. Then, leather string 6 passes through outside of catching surface leather 10p1 to extend to a side of hand insertion part 12 and to reach hole H1 formed at a position deviated from hole H1 of catching surface leather 10p1 by one along outer peripheral edge 22, thereby making a circuit.

Thus, leather string 6 goes around an end, particularly, on the forefinger bag f2 side of core material 20 in a sectional direction (direction connecting forefinger bag f2 and hand insertion part 12), so that the end of core material 20 is fixed. Consequently, core material 20 is fixed to both catching surface leather 10p1 and palm leather 10p2. Leather string 6 that goes outside holes H1 and H2 goes around the end of core material 20 (particularly, a vicinity of outer peripheral edge 22 on the forefinger bag f2 side) along the direction connecting forefinger bag f2 and hand insertion part 12, namely, so as to extend along an extending direction of forefinger bag f2.

The end of core material 20 has high hardness than center C of core material 20 in plan view. That is, referring to FIG. 4 again, hardness of core material 20 at a point A is higher than hardness of core material 20 at a point B. Examples of a method for increasing the hardness of core material 20 include a method for sewing or thermally fusing an end of core material 20 or at least one part of periphery of holes 21 to previously compress core material 20. Alternatively, the examples of the method for increasing the hardness of core material 20 include a method for performing resin impregnation or attaching a material increasing hardness to leather. By the above methods, a deformation amount related to a thickness direction of core material 20 can be made to be less than or equal to 90% of the same deformation amount of the softest part located at the center of core material 20, for example. With reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the deformation amount is now described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 6, a point P1 on center C of core material 20 of this embodiment, and points P2, P3, P4 and P5 that are located on a straight line nearly perpendicular to center C, and separated from outer peripheral edge 22 by 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm, respectively, so as to approach outer peripheral edge 22 located on the forefinger bag f2 side from center C are examined.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a jig 30 is a tool for measuring a deformation amount in the thickness direction of core material 20 (direction perpendicular to a paper surface of FIG. 6) by pressing against each of points P1 to P5, illustrated in FIG. 6, of core material 20. Tip part 31 of jig 30 has, for example, a circular plane shape having a diameter of 4.5 mm, and applies downward force of 300 N in the thickness direction of core material 20 to compress core material 20 in a state where tip part 31 is in contact with a surface of core material 20. At this time, jig 30 is moved downward in the thickness direction of core material 20 at a speed of 50 mm/min, and core material 20 is deformed so as to be compressed in the thickness direction. While a material of core material 20 is changed, measurement results of the deformation amounts (unit: mm) of core material 20 are illustrated in Table 1 as follows. The deformation amounts were measured while an initial load was set to 0.5 N, and a position of jig 30 was defined as an origin.

As illustrated in Table 1, a front side (catching surface leather 10p1 side) and a back side (palm leather 10p2 side) of core material 20 are formed by different materials, and may be bonded to each other by sewing, for example. A material on the catching surface leather 10p1 side of core material 20 is illustrated in an upper stage of a column of the material of a core material, and a material on the palm leather 10p2 side of core material 20 is illustrated in a lower stage of each item.

TABLE 1

P1
P2
P3
P4
P5

Black Wool 6S
6.8
6.7
6.5
6.0
4.5

White Wool 4H

Black Wool 6S
7.6
7.5
7.0
6.2
5.1

Needle 4H

Black Wool 8S
10.8
10.3
9.7
8.7
6.5

Needle 4H

Needle 7M
8.6
8.1
7.8
6.6
5.1

Needle 4H

Patton 7S
7.7
7.4
7.0
6.2
4.6

Patton 5H

Referring to Table 1, it is found that as a measurement position separates from point P1 on center C of core material 20 to approach outer peripheral edge 22 (toward point P5), the deformation amount of core material 20 by pressing decreases. From the above, it is found that as the measurement position approaches outer peripheral edge 22, namely, in the end of core material 20 with respect to center C, hardness of core material 20 increases.

In core material 20 of FIG. 6, measurement similar to the above measurement is performed at positions spaced apart from each of points P1 to P5 illustrated in FIG. 6 related to an extending direction of center C, and averages of measurement results of respective deformation amounts are illustrated in Table 2 as follows. In Table 2, a deformation amount at point P1 on center C is set to 100%, and average values (unit: %) of deformation amounts at points P2 to P5 are relatively illustrated.

TABLE 2

P1
P2
P3
P4
P5

Black Wool 6S
100
99
96
87
68

White Wool 4H

Black Wool 6S
100
98
93
84
68

Needle 4H

Black Wool 8S
100
98
91
83
63

Needle 4H

Needle 7M
100
96
92
78
61

Needle 4H

Patton 7S
100
100
92
82
65

Patton 5H

Referring to Table 2, when the average value exceeds 90% of point P1, and core material 20 is deformed, the deformation amount of core material 20 at this point is large, and it is difficult to fix core material 20 without deflection when leather string 6 passes. From this point of view, it can be said that the deformation amount can be reduced at a position of less than 15 mm from outer peripheral edge 22 regardless of the material of core material 20.

In this embodiment, in core material 20 around holes 21 for allowing leather string 6 to pass, at least one part of core material 20 around holes 21 is in a region whose deformation amount is less than or equal to 90% of the softest part located at center C of core material 20. Taking results of Table 2 into consideration, more specifically, at least one part of each of a plurality of holes 21 in FIG. 3 is preferably formed in a region separated from outer peripheral edge 22 of core material 20 by less than 15 mm, and is more preferably formed in a region separated by less than 13 mm.

In other word, a shortest distance D (see FIG. 3) between outer peripheral edge 22, particularly, located on the forefinger bag f2 (finger part) side with respect to center C of core material 20, and a part closest to the forefinger bag f2 side of hole 21 is preferably less than 13 mm Among the above, at least one part of each of a plurality of holes 21 in FIG. 3 is more preferably formed in a region separated from outer peripheral edge 22 of core material 20 by 10 mm or less.

Now, operation and effect of this embodiment are described.

In this embodiment, in order to fix core material 20 and palm-side disposed leather 10p, at least one part of holes 21 formed in core material 20 is formed so as to include a region on the forefinger bag f2 side with respect to center C, in which the deformation amount of core material 20 is less than or equal to 90% of the deformation amount of the softest part located at center C. More specifically, at least the one part of holes 21 is formed so as to include a region separated from outer peripheral edge 22 of core material 20 by 13 mm or less. Additionally, leather string 6 passes through holes 21 and holes H1 and H2, and goes around the end of core material 20 (including outer peripheral edge 22) in the sectional direction so as to extend along the extending direction of forefinger bag f2, so that core material 20 is fixed to palm-side disposed leather 10p.

That is, hardness of core material 20 in a vicinity of holes 21 is higher than, for example, hardness of center C of core material 20, and a deformation amount of core material 20 in a vicinity of holes 21 is small. The deformation amount of core material 20 due to tension of leather string 6 passing through holes 21, and holes H1 and H2 is small, and therefore palm-side disposed leather 10p can be sufficiently pulled by the tension of leather string 6, and slack of palm-side disposed leather 10p can be suppressed. The above effect can be further enhanced when pitch P (see FIG. 3) between holes 21 adjacent to each other is greater than or equal to 7 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm, and the end of core material 20 is the thermally fused part.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, a glove 10 of this embodiment basically has a similar configuration to glove 10 of the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, a core material 20 is separated into a first core material 20A and a second core material 20B. On this point, this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in which core material 20 is integrated.

Materials of first core materials 20A and 20B are basically similar to the material of core material 20 of the first embodiment. First core material 20A has a longer length in an extending direction than second core material 20B, and has a large overall surface area. In this case, first core material 20A is preferably disposed on a thumb bag f1 side of a palm-side disposed leather 10p, and second core material 20B is preferably disposed on a little finger bag f5 side of palm-side disposed leather 10p.

In this embodiment, each of first core material 20A and second core material 20B has a plurality of holes 21. Similarly to the first embodiment, holes 21 are formed at intervals along a curved part configuring an outer peripheral edge 22 in a region located on a forefinger bag f2 side, whose hardness is higher than hardness of a center C of core material 20.

Configurations other than the above in this embodiment is almost the same as the configurations of the first embodiment, and therefore the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of these components is not repeated.

Core material 20 may be an integrated type like the first embodiment, but may be a separate type like this embodiment. In either case, similar operation and effect exert in view of suppression of deflection to palm-side disposed leather 10p.

Third Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 12, a mitt 100 as a baseball or softball glove of this embodiment is applied to, for example, a softball catcher's mitt or a baseball catcher's mitt.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, mitt 100 includes an outer leather 102, and an insole member 103 illustrated in FIG. 13. Outer leather 102 includes a catching surface leather 104, a palm leather 105 sewn to catching surface leather 104, and a hand back leather 106 sewn to palm leather 105. Catching surface leather 104, palm leather 105, and hand back leather 106 are each formed from, for example, natural leather, synthetic leather, or the same material as the above materials. Catching surface leather 104 has a ball receiving surface 107 formed with a pocket part 108 (region surrounded by a circle dotted line in FIG. 12) illustrated in FIG. 12. Pocket part 108 is a relatively central region of catching surface leather 104 and palm leather 105, which is formed by being concaved such that a part of catching surface leather 104 is recessed by repeated catching of a ball by a user. Palm leather 105 and hand back leather 106 are sewn to each other, thereby forming a wrist insertion opening 109 into which a wrist of the user is inserted, a bag 110 for a thumb for receiving a thumb of the user, and a bag 111 for fingers for receiving a forefinger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 16, insole member 103 includes a base material 112 that is disposed so as to cover a back surface of catching surface leather 104 located on an opposite side to ball receiving surface 107, a first finger core 113 that is formed on base material 112 and serves as a core material, and a second finger core 114 that serves as the core material similarly to first finger core 113. Base material 112 is integrated with first finger core 113 and second finger core 114, but is excluded from the core material herein.

Base material 112 is formed in a flat surface shape. First finger core 113 and second finger core 114 are provided at an interval on a main surface, located on a ball receiving surface 107 side, in a surface of base material 112. Base material 112 is formed from felt or the like. First finger core 113 and second finger core 114 each are a plate-like member formed from a raw material such as felt, similarly to core material 20 of the first embodiment.

First finger core 113 extends along an outer peripheral edge of base material 112, and is formed so as to pass from wrist insertion opening 109 to bag 110 for a thumb. Second finger core 114 extends along the outer peripheral edge of base material 112, and is formed so as to pass from wrist insertion opening 109 to bag 111 for fingers. First finger core 113 is disposed on a side of bag 110 for a thumb, and therefore a thickness of first finger core 113 is thicker than a thickness of second finger core 114 disposed on a side of bag 111 for fingers. Additionally, the thickness of second finger core 114 may increase toward outside in a width direction of a hand of the user in stages. FIG. 16 merely illustrates an example in which the thickness of second finger core 114 increases in stages, and second finger core 114 may have a thickness that does not increase in stages like first finger core 113, for example.

First finger core 113 and second finger core 114 serving as the core material have a plurality of holes 98 (second holes). The holes 98 have the same mode as a plurality of holes 21 of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description is omitted. Additionally, similarly to a plurality of holes 21 of the first embodiment, in each of a plurality of holes 98, a pitch P (see FIG. 14) between a pair of holes 98 adjacent to each other, of a plurality of holes 98 is preferably greater than or equal to 7 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm, and more preferably greater than or equal to 9 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm.

Each of a plurality of holes 98 formed in first finger core 113 is disposed inside in a width direction (narrow direction) in plan view of first finger core 113 when first finger core 113 is disposed inside palm-side disposed leather, with respect to a central part (center C) in the width direction. Similarly, each of a plurality of holes 98 formed in second finger core 114 is disposed inside in a width direction (narrow direction) in plan view of second finger core 114 when second finger core 114 is disposed inside palm-side disposed leather, with respect to a central part (center C) in the width direction. That is, a plurality of holes 98 are formed on a pocket part 108 side with respect to centers of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 in first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 disposed around pocket part 108.

Base material 112 is formed with a plurality of holes 98 (second holes) located at positions, facing holes 98 of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114, of outer peripheral edges 99 located inside in a roughly width direction (narrow direction) in plan view of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114.

First finger core 113 and second finger core 114 have higher hardness than centers C in plan view. That is, referring to FIGS. 15 and 16 again, first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 at points A have higher hardness than first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 at points B.

Similarly to the first embodiment, examples of a method for increasing hardness of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 include a method for sewing or thermally fusing at least respective one parts of ends of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 to previously compress finger cores 113 and 114. Alternatively, the examples of the method for increasing the hardness of finger cores 113 and 114 include a method for performing resin impregnation or attaching a material increasing hardness to leather. By the above methods, a deformation amount related to a thickness direction of each of finger cores 113 and 114 can be made to be, for example, less than or equal to 90% of the same deformation amount of the softest part located at the center of each of finger cores 113 and 114.

That is, in this embodiment, in holes 98 for allowing leather string 115a in each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 to pass, at least respective one part of holes 98 are each formed in a region whose deformation amount is less than or equal to 90% of the softest part located at center C of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114. Taking results of Table 2 into consideration, more specifically, at least one part of each of a plurality of holes 98 in FIG. 14 is preferably formed in a region separated from outer peripheral edge 99 of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 by less than 15 mm, and is more preferably formed in a region separated by less than 13 mm. In other word, a shortest distance D (see FIG. 14) between outer peripheral edge 99, particularly, located inside with respect to center C of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 (side where first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 face each other), and a part, closest to each outer peripheral edge 99 located on the above inside, of hole 98 is preferably less than 13 mm Among the above, at least one part of each of the plurality of holes 98 in FIG. 14 is more preferably formed in a region separated from outer peripheral edge 99 located inside of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 by 10 mm or less.

Each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114, catching surface leather 104, and palm leather 105 are fixed to each other by a leather string 115a.

Herein, first finger core 113 is specifically described. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 17, holes H1 (first holes) of catching surface leather 104 and palm leather 105 planarly overlapped with catching surface leather 104, and holes 98 of first finger core 113 and base material 112 are planarly disposed at nearly overlapped positions. At this time, each hole 98 is disposed at such a position as to be sandwiched between corresponding hole H1 of catching surface leather 104 and corresponding hole H1 of palm leather 105. Similarly, respective holes H2 (first holes) of catching surface leather 104 and palm leather 105 are planarly overlapped with corresponding hole 98 of first finger core 113.

In this state, leather string 115a penetrates the respective holes so as to pass through hole 98 from hole H1 of catching surface leather 104 to reach hole H1 of palm leather 105. Leather string 115a penetrates respective holes H2 and corresponding hole 98 of base material 112 so as to pass through outside of palm leather 105 (i.e., surface, in contact with a palm of the user, of palm leather 105) to extend inside in the width direction of the hand of the user, for example, to reach hole H2 of catching surface leather 104 from hole H2 of palm leather 105 formed at a position deviated by one along outer peripheral edge 99 of first finger core 113. Then, leather string 115a passes through outside of catching surface leather 104 to extend to outside in the width direction of the hand of the user and to reach hole H1 formed at a position deviated from hole H1 of catching surface leather 104 by one along outer peripheral edge 99, thereby making a circuit.

Second finger core 114 is basically fixed in a similar manner to first finger core 113.

Thus, leather string 115a goes around, particularly inside, in the width direction of the hand of the user, of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114, so as to extend along a sectional direction (direction from first finger core 113 or second finger core 114 toward pocket part 108, namely the width direction of the hand of the user), so that the end of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 is fixed. Consequently, first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 are each fixed to both catching surface leather 104 and palm leather 105. Leather string 115a that goes outside holes H1 and H2 goes around each end of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 (particularly, a vicinity of outer peripheral edge 99 located inside in the width direction of the hand of the user), so as to extend along the width direction of the hand of the user.

Now, operation and effect of this embodiment are described.

Similarly to glove 10, in mitt 100 of this embodiment, in order to fix first finger core 113 and second finger core 114, catching surface leather 104, and the like, at least one part of holes 98 formed in first finger core 113 and second finger core 114, and base material 112 is formed so as to include a region on the pocket part 108 side with respect to center C, which is separated from outer peripheral edges 99 of each of finger cores 113 and 114 by 13 mm or less. Additionally, leather string 115a fixes each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 so as to go around outer peripheral edge 99. Consequently, hardness of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 in a vicinity of holes 98 is relatively higher than hardness of center C, and a deformation amount of each of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 is small, and therefore, catching surface leather 104 and the like can be sufficiently pulled by tension of leather string 115a, and slack of catching surface leather 104 and the like can be suppressed. The above effect can be further enhanced when pitch P (see FIG. 14) between holes 98 adjacent to each other is greater than or equal to 7 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm, and the ends of first finger core 113 and second finger core 114 are thermally fused parts.

Although partially overlapped with the above embodiments, characteristic configurations of the present invention are listed as follows.

(1) Baseball or softball glove 10 or 100 according to the present invention includes leather member 10p or 104 formed with first holes H1 and H2, and located on a catching surface side, core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 disposed inside leather member 10p or 104, and formed with second holes 21 or 98, and leather string 6 or 115a fixing leather member 10p or 104, and core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114. Leather string 6 or 115a passes through first and second holes H1 and H2, and 21 or 98, and goes around an end(s) of core material 20 or 113 and 114 in a sectional direction, so that leather member 10p or 104 and core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 are fixed to each other. Hardness of the end(s) of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 is higher than hardness of center(s) C of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114. A deformation amount of at least one part of the core material located around second holes 21 or 98 is less than or equal to 90% of a (each) deformation amount of the softest part(s) located at center(s) C of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114.

At least one part of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 located around second holes 21 or 98 is formed in a region whose hardness of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 is higher than the hardness of the softest part(s) of center(s) C of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114, and therefore it is possible to prevent excessive deformation of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 even when tension of leather string 6 or 115a is increased. Consequently, leather member 10p or 104 can be sufficiently pulled by tension of leather string 6 or 115a, and slack of leather member 10p or 104 can be suppressed.

(2) In baseball or softball glove 10 of the above (1), leather member 10p includes finger part f2 into which a forefinger of a user is inserted, core material 20 is disposed on a side of a wrist of the user with respect to finger part f2, and second holes 21 are formed on a side of finger part f2 with respect to center C of core material 20.

At least one part of second holes 21 is formed in a region whose hardness is higher than the hardness of the softest part located at center C of core material 20, and therefore leather member 10p in the region (pocket part) between finger part f2 and a part located at core material 20 can be sufficiently pulled by tension of leather string 6, and slack of leather member 10p can be suppressed.

(3) In baseball or softball glove 10 of the above (2), leather string 6 goes around the end of core material 20 so as to extend along an extending direction of finger part f2.

In this case, leather string 6 is disposed so as to extend in a direction from the pocket part toward a wrist part, and therefore tension of leather string 6 is increased, so that leather member 10p of the pocket part can be directly pulled.

(4) In baseball or softball glove 100 of the above (1), leather member 104 includes pocket part 108 provided on the catching surface side. Core materials 113 and 114 are disposed around pocket part 108. Second holes 98 are formed on a pocket part 108 side with respect to center C of each of core materials 113 and 114.

At least one part of second holes 98 is formed in a region whose hardness is higher than hardness of the softest part located at center C of each of core materials 113 and 114, and therefore leather member 104 located in the region (pocket part) inside leather member 104 can be sufficiently pulled by tension of leather string 115a, and slack of leather member 104 can be suppressed.

(5) In baseball or softball glove 100 of the above (4), leather string 115a goes around the end of each of core materials 113 and 114 so as to extend along a direction from each of core materials 113 and 114 toward pocket part 108.

In this case, leather string 115a is disposed so as to extend in a direction from the pocket part toward outer periphery of glove 100, and therefore tension of leather string 115a is increased, so that leather member 104 of the pocket part can be directly pulled.

(6) In baseball or softball glove 10 or 100 of the above (1) to (5), at least one part of second holes 21 or 98 is formed in a region separated from outer peripheral edge 22 or 99 of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 by 13 mm or less.

At least the one part of second holes 21 or 98 is formed in the region whose hardness is higher than hardness of center C of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114, and therefore leather member 10p or 104 can be sufficiently pulled by tension of leather string 6 or 115a, and slack of leather member 10p or 104 can be suppressed.

(7) In baseball or softball glove 10 or 100 of the above (1) to (6), second holes 21 or 98 are formed at a plurality of places along the end(s) of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114, and a pitch between a pair of second holes 21 or 98 adjacent to each other, of a plurality of second holes 21 or 98 is greater than or equal to 7 mm and less than or equal to 30 mm.

Thus, core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 can be fixed to leather member 10p or 104 with sufficient tension.

(8) In baseball or softball glove 10 or 100 of above (1) to (7), the end(s) of core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114, or at least one part of periphery of second holes 21 or 98 is a thermally fused part.

Consequently, core material(s) 20 or 113 and 114 can be fixed to leather member 10p or 104 with sufficient tension.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being interpreted by the terms of the appended claims.

BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL GLOVE

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