GOLF GLOVE

The present application claims priority on Patent Application No. 2016-91134 filed in JAPAN on Apr. 28, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a glove worn on a golf player.

Description of the Related Art

Generally, a grip of a golf club is formed of rubber or an elastomer. A golf player grasps a grip with golf player's hands. Friction between the hand and the grip during a swing may cause corns in the hand. In order to suppress the corns, the golf player wears a glove. The glove suppresses slip between the hand and the grip. Furthermore, the glove prevents the suntan of the hand.

The player takes the hand in and out of the glove. From the viewpoint of the simplicity of taking the hand in and out of the glove, an opening of the glove is loosely formed. A slit is formed in aback part, and an inside part and an outside part are formed in the back part by the slit. This achieves a loose opening.

Meanwhile, the glove needs to fit the hand during a swing. A general golf glove includes one belt. The glove is referred to as a “single belt type”. The belt is attached to an outside part of a back part. The player pulls the belt, and fixes the belt to an inside part using a hook-and-loop fastener. A tightening feeling is achieved by the belt. The tightening feeling contributes to an accurate swing.

Since the belt provides local tightening in the single belt type, a sufficient fit feeling is less likely to be obtained. The lack of the fit feeling hinders the accurate swing.

A golf glove including two belts is also commercially available. The glove is referred to as a “double belt type”. In the glove, a first belt is wound toward an outside part from an inside part, and a second belt is wound toward the inside part from the outside part. The winding method is referred to as “cross winding”. An excellent fit feeling is achieved by the belt. However, motion for wearing the glove is time and effort. Particularly, motion for winding the belt toward the outside part from the inside part is troublesome.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-23413 discloses a golf glove including two belts. The glove is a “double belt type”. In the belt, an excellent fit feeling is achieved by the double belt. In the glove, a first belt is wound toward an inside part from an outside part, and a second belt is also wound toward the inside part from the outside part. The second belt is wound on the first belt. The winding method is referred to as “lap winding”. Motion for wearing the glove is easy.

In the glove disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-23413, the second belt is engaged with only the inside part. The second belt is not engaged with the first belt. Therefore, the second belt is apt to be separated from the inside part during a swing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf glove which is easily worn, provides an excellent fit feeling, and includes a belt being less likely to be separated during a swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A golf glove according to the present invention includes a finger part, a palm part, and a back part. The back part includes an inside part, an outside part, a slit located in a boundary between the inside part and the outside part, a first belt coupled to the outside part or the palm part, and a second belt coupled to the outside part. The inside part includes a first fastener piece provided on an obverse side surface of the inside part. The first belt includes a second fastener piece provided on a reverse side surface of the first belt and a third fastener piece provided on an obverse side of the first belt. The second belt includes a fourth fastener piece provided on a reverse side surface of the second belt. The first fastener piece and the second fastener piece can be engaged with each other. The third fastener piece and the fourth fastener piece can be engaged with each other. The fourth fastener piece and the first fastener piece can be engaged with each other.

Since the golf glove according to the present invention is a so-called double belt type, the golf glove provides an excellent fit feeling. Since the two belts are wound in the same direction in the glove, the glove is easily worn. In the glove, the separation of the belt during a swing is suppressed by the four fastener pieces.

Preferably, the first fastener piece is greater than the second fastener piece, the fourth fastener piece is greater than the third fastener piece. The fourth fastener piece can be engaged with both the first fastener piece and the third fastener piece in a state where the first fastener piece and the second fastener piece are engaged with each other.

Preferably, a position of the first belt is closer to a wrist than a position of the second belt.

Preferably, the first belt is coupled to a boundary between the outside part and the palm part.

The first belt may include a base joined to the second fastener piece and the third fastener piece. Preferably, the base is formed of a stretchable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a glove according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the glove of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing an inside part of the glove of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing a first belt of the glove of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing a second belt of the glove of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the wearing process of the glove of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state where the glove of FIG. 2 is worn; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing the glove of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to the preferred embodiments with appropriate references to the accompanying drawings.

A golf glove 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a finger part 4, a palm part 6, and a back part 8. The finger part 4 includes a thumb part 4a, an index finger part 4b, a middle finger part 4c, a medicinal finger part 4d, and a little finger part 4e. Examples of the main material of the glove 2 include synthetic leather, natural leather, artificial leather, and a synthetic fiber. The glove 2 locally includes knit (typically, tricot) regions 10 (also see FIG. 2 or the like as well). The glove 2 is worn on a left hand. A glove worn on a right hand has a shape obtained by mirror-reversing the shape of the glove 2 shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views showing the glove 2 of FIG. 1. A state where a first belt 12 (described in full detail later) is opened is shown in FIG. 3. In FIGS. 2 and 3, an inside of the glove 2 is located on a right side, and an outside of the glove 2 is located on a left side. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the back part 8 includes an inside part 14, an outside part 16 (also see FIG. 8 as well), a slit 18, a first belt 12, and a second belt 20. The slit 18 is located in a boundary between the inside part 14 and the outside part 16. The first belt 12 is coupled to a boundary 22 between the outside part 16 and the palm part 6. The boundary 22 is located closer to the outside than the slit 18. The first belt 12 may be coupled to the outside part 16. The first belt 12 may be coupled to the palm part 6 in portion closer to the outside than the slit 18. The second belt 20 is coupled to the outside part 16.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing the inside part 14 of the glove 2 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, an upper side is an obverse side, and a lower side is a reverse side. The inside part 14 includes a base 24 and a first fastener piece 26. The first fastener piece 26 is located on the obverse side of the base 24. The first fastener piece 26 is stacked on the base 24, and is joined to the base 24. A typical joining method is sewing. The first fastener piece 26 is a hook surface (male) of a hook-and-loop fastener.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing the first belt 12 of the glove 2 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 5, an upper side is an obverse side, and a lower side is a reverse side. The first belt 12 includes a base 28, a second fastener piece 30, and a third fastener piece 32. The second fastener piece 30 is located on the reverse side of the base 28. The second fastener piece 30 is stacked on the base 28, and is joined to the base 28. A typical joining method is sewing. The second fastener piece 30 is a loop surface (female) of a hook-and-loop fastener. The third fastener piece 32 is located on the obverse side of the base 28. The third fastener piece 32 is stacked on the base 28, and is joined to the base 28. A typical joining method is sewing. The third fastener piece 32 is a hook surface (male) of a hook-and-loop fastener.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing the second belt 20 of the glove 2 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 6, an upper side is an obverse side, and a lower side is a reverse side. The second belt 20 includes a base 34 and a fourth fastener piece 36. The fourth fastener piece 36 is located on the reverse side of the base 34. The fourth fastener piece 36 is stacked on the base 34, and is joined to the base 34. A typical joining method is sewing. The fourth fastener piece 36 is a loop surface (female) of a hook-and-loop fastener.

The following combination may be employed: the first fastener piece 26 is the loop surface; the second fastener piece 30 is the hook surface; the third fastener piece 32 is the loop surface; and the fourth fastener piece 36 is the hook surface.

When a player wears the glove 2, the state of the glove 2 is shown in FIG. 3. The player takes the hand in the glove 2 from an opening 38. Next, the player pulls the first belt 12 in an upper right direction or a right direction in FIG. 2, and presses this on the inside part 14. By the pressing, the first fastener piece 26 and the second fastener piece 30 are engaged with each other. The first belt 12 is fixed to the inside part 14 by the engaging. The first fastener piece 26 and the second fastener piece 30 constitute the hook-and-loop fastener. The glove 2 after pressing is shown in FIG. 7.

Next, the player pulls the second belt 20 in a right direction (or a lower right direction) in FIG. 7, and presses this on the inside part 14. By the pressing, the fourth fastener piece 36 is engaged with the first fastener piece 26, and is also engaged with the third fastener piece 32. The second belt 20 is fixed to the inside part 14 by these engagings. The first fastener piece 26 and the fourth fastener piece 36 constitute the hook-and-loop fastener. The third fastener piece 32 and the fourth fastener piece 36 also constitute the hook-and-loop fastener. The glove 2 after pressing is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8, the first belt 12 is covered with the second belt 20. A part of the first belt 12 may be exposed from the second belt 20.

In a state shown in FIG. 9, as described above, the fourth fastener piece 36 is engaged with not only the first fastener piece 26 but also the third fastener piece 32. In other words, the second belt 20 is directly fixed to the inside part 14, and fixed to the inside part 14 also via the first belt 12. Therefore, the second belt 20 and the inside part 14 are firmly fixed to each other. The second belt 20 is less likely to be separated from the inside part 14 during a swing.

As described above, when the player wears the glove 2, the first belt 12 is wound toward the inside from the outside, and the second belt 20 is also wound toward the inside from the outside. Since the winding directions of both the belts are the same, motion for wearing the glove 2 is easy.

As apparent from FIG. 3, the first fastener piece 26 is greater than the second fastener piece 30. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the whole surface of the first fastener piece 26 is not covered with the second fastener piece 30 also in a state where the second fastener piece 30 is engaged with the first fastener piece 26. A part of the first fastener piece 26 is exposed also in a state where the second fastener piece 30 is engaged with the first fastener piece 26. In other words, a portion which is not engaged with the second fastener piece 30 is present in the first fastener piece 26.

As apparent from FIG. 2, the fourth fastener piece 36 is greater than the third fastener piece 32. Therefore, the whole surface of the fourth fastener piece 36 is not covered with the third fastener piece 32 also in a state where the fourth fastener piece 36 is engaged with the third fastener piece 32. A portion which is not engaged with the third fastener piece 32 in the fourth fastener piece 36 can be engaged with the portion which is not engaged with the second fastener piece 30 in the first fastener piece 26.

From the viewpoint that the first fastener piece 26 and the fourth fastener piece 36 can be engaged with each other in a sufficient area, a ratio (S1/S2) of an area S1 of the first fastener piece 26 to an area S2 of the second fastener piece 30 is preferably equal to or greater than 2.0, more preferably equal to or greater than 3.0, and particularly preferably equal to or greater than 4.0. From the viewpoint that the first fastener piece 26 and the second fastener piece 30 can be engaged with each other in a sufficient area, the ratio (S1/S2) is preferably equal to or less than 10.0, more preferably equal to or less than 9.0, and particularly preferably equal to or less than 8.0.

From the viewpoint that the first fastener piece 26 and the fourth fastener piece 36 can be engaged with each other in a sufficient area, a ratio (S4/S3) of an area S4 of the fourth fastener piece 36 to an area S3 of the third fastener piece 32 is preferably equal to or greater than 2.0, more preferably equal to or greater than 3.0, and particularly preferably equal to or greater than 4.0. From the viewpoint that the third fastener piece 32 and the fourth fastener piece 36 can be engaged with each other in a sufficient area, the ratio (S4/S3) is preferably equal to or less than 10.0, more preferably equal to or less than 9.0, and particularly preferably equal to or less than 8.0.

As apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, in a direction toward a wrist from a finger (a direction toward a lower side from an upper side in the figures), the position of the first belt 12 and the position of the second belt 20 are different from each other. The position of the first belt 12 is generally closer to the wrist than the position of the second belt 20, and the position of the second belt 20 is generally closer to the finger than the position of the first belt 12. Both the positions partially overlap with each other.

A belt included in a conventional single belt type glove corresponds to the second belt 20 of the glove 2 of FIG. 2. Meanwhile, the glove 2 according to the present invention includes the first belt 12 located closer to the wrist in addition to the second belt 20. The first belt 12 is fixed to the inside part 14, and thereby a portion closer to the wrist in the player's hand is tightened. The fit feeling of the player (hold feeling) is achieved by the tightening. In addition, the direction of the tightening provided by the first belt 12 and the direction of the tightening provided by the second belt 20 can be made to be different from each other. In this case, the fit feeling is further improved. The glove 2 can contribute to an accurate shot.

A distance between an end of the first belt 12 closer to the wrist and an end of the second belt 20 closer to the wrist is shown by an arrow L in FIG. 2. The distance L is measured in the direction toward the wrist from the finger. From the viewpoint of the fit feeling, the distance L is preferably equal to or greater than 3 mm, more preferably equal to or greater than 5 mm, and particularly preferably equal to or greater than 8 mm. The distance L is preferably equal to or less than 25 mm.

The base 28 of the first belt 12 is formed of a stretchable material. When the first belt 12 is fixed to the inside part 14, the base 28 is elongated. A tension is applied to the base 28. A portion closer to the wrist in the hand is tightened by the base 28. The glove 2 provides an extremely excellent fit feeling.

Since the base 28 is formed of the stretchable material, and the area S2 of the second fastener piece 30 is smaller than the area S1 of the first fastener piece 26, the player can engage the second fastener piece 30 at an optional position of the first fastener piece 26. The tension of the base 28 can be adjusted by adjusting the engaging position. The adjustment of the tension suppresses excessive pressure to the hand by the first belt 12.

From the viewpoint of the fit feeling, the tensile load of the base 28 is preferably equal to or less than 15 N, more preferably equal to or less than 12 N, and particularly preferably equal to or less than 10 N. The tensile load is preferably equal to or greater than 0.2 N, more preferably equal to or greater than 0.3 N, and particularly preferably equal to or greater than 0.5 N. The tensile load can be measured by a tension tester. A specimen has a strip shape. The width of the specimen is 10 mm, and the length of the specimen is 100 mm. A tension speed is 300 mm/min. An elongation rate is 10%. The specimen is cut out from an original fabric of the base 28. A test is performed under an indoor environment of a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 65%. When the stretch properties of the original fabric have directivity, measurement is made in a direction where the tensile load is the smallest and a direction orthogonal to the direction. These measurement results are averaged to calculate the tensile load.

When the player removes the glove 2, the player first rips the second belt 20 from the inside part 14 in the state shown in FIG. 8. Next, the player rips the first belt 12 from the inside part 14 in the state shown in FIG. 7. These motions are not troublesome. If an engaging force between the third fastener piece 32 and the fourth fastener piece 36 is set to be greater than an engaging force between the first fastener piece 26 and the second fastener piece 30, the first belt 12 can also be simultaneously ripped from the inside part 14 by merely ripping the second belt 20 from the inside part 14.

In the present embodiment, the locking of the first belt 12 to the inside part 14 is achieved by the hook-and-loop fastener. The locking of the first belt 12 may be achieved by a fastener other than the hook-and-loop fastener. The locking of the second belt 20 to the inside part 14 is achieved by the hook-and-loop fastener. The locking of the second belt 20 may be achieved by a fastener other than the hook-and-loop fastener. Examples of the fastener other than the hook-and-loop fastener include a button, a zipper, a hook, and a buckle.

EXAMPLES
Example

A glove shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 was manufactured. The glove includes two belts. The winding directions of these belts are the same.

Comparative Example 1

A commercially available glove was prepared as Comparative Example 1. The number of belts of the glove is 1.

Comparative Example 2

A commercially available glove (part number “GGG-5009”) was prepared as Comparative Example 2. The glove includes two belts. The winding directions of these belts are different from each other.

Comparative Example 3

A commercially available glove (part number “5MJM1401”) was prepared as Comparative Example 3. The glove includes two belts. The winding directions of these belts are different from each other.

Comparative Example 4

A commercially available glove (part number “5MJML601”) was prepared as Comparative Example 4. The glove includes two belts. The winding directions of these belts are different from each other.

Comparative Example 5

A glove similar to a glove disclosed in FIGS. 10 to 15 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-23413 was manufactured. The glove includes two belts. The winding directions of these belts are the same.

[Sensory Evaluation]

Each of ten players wore each of the gloves, and hit a golf ball using a golf club. From these players, a fit feeling, easiness of wearing, and separating resistance were heard. The gloves were graded in accordance with the following standard based on the number of the players answering that the gloves were excellent.

A: equal to or greater than eight persons

B: four persons or greater but seven persons or less

C: equal to or less than three persons

The results are shown in the following Tables 1 and 2.

TABLE 1

Evaluation results

Comparative
Comparative

Example
Example 1
Example 2

Type
FIGS.
Commercialized
Commercialized

1 to 9
product
product

GGG-S009

Belt
Double
Single
Double

Winding
Same
—
Cross

direction

Fit feeling
A
C
B

Wearing
A
A
B

property

Separating
A
A
A

resistance

TABLE 2

Evaluation results

Comparative
Comparative
Comparative

Example 3
Example 4
Example 5

Type
Commercialized
Commercialized
—

product
product

5MJM1401
5MJML601

Belt
Double
Double
Double

Winding
Cross
Cross
Same

direction

Fit feeling
B
B
B

Wearing
C
B
A

property

Separating
A
A
C

resistance

As shown in Tables 1 and 2, the glove of Example is excellent in all the items. From the evaluation results, the advantages of the present invention are apparent.

The glove according to the present invention is suitable for play in a golf course. Furthermore, the glove is also suitable for practice in a driving range. The description hereinabove is merely for an illustrative example, and various modifications can be made in the scope not to depart from the principles of the present invention.

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)