Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gloves for shooters, and more particularly to gloves for handgun shooters. Specifically, the invention pertains to gloves for handgun shooters including grip enhancing materials/inserts structures not only on the inside palm surface of the shooting glove where they will be adjacent to a firearm being gripped, but on the outside surface of the shooting glove where they will assist in gripping the hand holding the firearm by the shooter's other hand, thereby assisting in the maintenance and stability of the two-handed grip being used in handgun shooting.
2. Relevant Prior Art
There have been a number of inventions relating to gloves for handgun shooters. Representative and/or exemplary patents in this field include:
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,093 for a “Shooting Glove” issued Sep. 28, 1971, to Edna M. Kirby.
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,667 for a “Grip Control Glove for a Handgun” issued Sep. 16, 1997, to Wilfred L. Hook, Jr.
(3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,884 for a “Handgun Support Glove” issued Feb. 2, 1999, to Michael Salvitti.
(4) U.S. Pat. No. 7,287,285 B2 for a “Glove Construction Wherein Palm Material Rolls Over the Fingertip” issued Oct. 30, 2007. to Eric M. Jaeger and Eduard A. Jaeger.
(5) U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,718 B2 for a “Firearm Safety Gloves and Wristbands” issued Dec. 11, 2007, to Ralph Avallone.
These prior inventions pertain to increasing grip through a variety of means, including removable sleeves for the trigger finger, grip enhancing materials on the palm side of the glove, a strap in the palm of the glove that extends over the handgun handle, and even a pocket in the glove to insert the handgun handle. However, all of these inventions apply to a single-handed grip. None of these inventions are directed to the two-handed grip now being used in handgun shooting. In contrast, the instant invention applies specifically to maintaining and stabilizing a two-handed grip. It achieves this end by providing for grip enhancing material on each glove, not only on the inside palm surface of the glove but also on the outside back surface of the glove, thereby enhancing the grip by the supporting hand overlying the gloved hand holding the handgun. Also, the preferred embodiment of the instant invention provides for an elastic hand composed of Spandex, Lycra or similar stretchable material on each glove that spans the knuckles and the space between the forefinger and thumb, and also at least mostly encircles the base of the thumb and at least partially the base of the forefinger. The elastic band provides greater flexibility and comfort by minimizing tightness in the glove, that is typically felt at the knuckles and around the thumb and forefinger when the hand is m a gripping position, and enables the shooting gloves to be more readily and snugly adaptable to various finger or hand sizes. The elastic band also provides enhanced grip to the firing hand and the supporting hand.
Further, a large percentage of the prior art arrangements use awkward and cumbersome designs for achieving grip enhancement that limit any comfortable use of the glove beyond the moment the handgun is being held in the firing hand. Hence, the glove has to be removed if the firing hand is needed to perform any task other task than holding the handgun. In contrast, the instant invention provides throughout a comfortable and thin material which does not severely limit or restrict varied use. Consequently, there is no need for immediate removal after firing in order to avoid undue limitation, restriction, or discomfort in the performance of any task beyond gripping the handgun. Also, because both left and right hand gloves in the instant invention have the same configuration of grip enhancing material on the palm and back surfaces, a single set of gloves may be used interchangeably for a two-handed grip that is left handed or right handed.
In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided grip enhancing materials/inserts structures consisting of elastomeric and frictional coating spaced strips deposited on the surface of the palm side of the glove where they are adjacent to a firearm being held, and on the surface of the back side of the glove where they assist in gripping the hand holding the firearm, thereby assisting in the maintenance and stability of the two-handed grip now being used in handgun shooting. In particular, as described and shown, the grip enhancing materials/inserts structures are present on the palm, including just below the fingers, the palm side of the fingers and thumb, on the back side of the fingers and on the knuckle. The primary object of the invention, stabilizing and maintaining the two-handed grip, is accomplished not only by grip enhancing materials on the palm, and inside surface of the fingers and thumb of the firing hand, adjacent the handgun, but also by the provision of the grip enhancing materials on the inside surface of the supporting hand and on the back side of the fingers and knuckle of the firing band for the purpose of enhancing the grip of the supporting hand. The upper portion at least beyond the last joint of the forefinger that grips the trigger is free from such grip enhancing material, thereby minimizing friction dud or the feel of the shooter relative to the trigger.
In another aspect of the instant invention, there is provided, in addition to the aforementioned grip enhancing material on the palm side and back side of the glove, an elastic band composed of Spandex, Lycra or similar stretchable material. The elastic band spans the knuckle and the space between the forefinger and thumb, and also mostly encircles the base of the thumb and at least partially the base of the forefinger. A particular object of the second embodiment, in addition to the stabilization of the two-handed grip, is to provide less restriction and greater comfort in the articulations of the digits of the hand. The elastic band also further enhances the gripping functions of the gloves.
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further object and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
With respect now to the drawings,
With respect to the firing hand 9, the horizontal bands of grip enhancing material structures 2 on the palm 2A and the smaller horizontal bands of grip enhancing material structures 2 on the palm just below the fingers and on the palm side of the fingers and thumb are in direct contact with and directly adjacent the grip of the handgun, thereby aiding in the stability and maintenance of grip on the handgun 11 (see, e.g.
A vertical orientation on the fingers of the shooting glove 1 of the spaced grip enhancing material structures 2 would not enhance the gripping motion of the hand which would require the structures to be folded over on themselves when the hand closes, whereas such is avoided by the horizontal orientation of these structures. Likewise, for this reason, the horizontal orientation of the structures serves to increase comfort and ease of usage for the shooting glove 1, because it prevents the grip enhancing material from opposing a normal gripping motion by the hand wearing the glove, as would be the case if the structures were in a vertical orientation.
The positioning of the elastic band 8 also provides enhanced grip for both the hand 9 holding the handgun and the supporting hand 10. The portion of the elastic band 8 that extends across the knuckles and substantially encircles the thumb on the back side of the hand enhances the grip of the supporting hand 10 on the firing hand 9. The portion of the elastic band 8 that spans the space between the thumb and at least partially around the base of the forefinger and encircles palm-ward the base of the thumb and forefinger enhances the firm grip for the supporting hand 10, as it engages the firing hand 9 and for the firing hand 9 as it grips the handgun 11.
In view of the foregoing, it should be clear that numerous changes and variations can be made without exceeding the scope of the inventive concept outlined. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiment(s) of the invention herein described, is/are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiment(s) is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which will recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.
This application claims an invention that was disclosed in part in U.S. Design Patent Application 29/441925, filed Jan. 10, 2013 entitled “Gloves for Handgun Shooter”.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 29441925 | Jan 2013 | US |
Child | 14256403 | US |