TRAINING ACCESSORY FOR A BASEBALL GLOVE

Abstract

This invention relates to an accessory for baseball catchers' mitts comprising removable pouches containing weights that can be removably coupled to the backside of the catcher's mitt for added weight during training.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a removable, variable weight-containing attachment for a baseball glove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In sports, the use of weights as a training tool to assist participants in developing and improving their capabilities in their chosen sport is ubiquitous. Baseball is no exception. For instance, the use of weighted bats is reputed to increase swing velocity. Similarly, the use of weighted gloves in training is thought to improve glove-hand movement when the weight is absent since muscle-memory would respond as if the weights were still present resulting in more rapid glove movement. This can be particularly important to catchers who are regularly confronted with catching a baseball thrown at 100 mph from just 60′ 6″ away and who must adjust glove position extremely quickly if the ball is not exactly on target. In addition, the ability to make small adjustments in mitt position when a ball has been caught and is in the mitt can make a difference as to whether the pitch is called a ball or a strike by the umpire. Thus, the use of weighted practice mitts is common, in particular among professional level catchers. Several manufacturers offer weighted catcher's mitts for practice but All Star is probably the most well-known. The problem with the All Star and all other current weighted mitt manufacturers is that the gloves are pre-loaded with a specific amount of weight and the weights and mitt comprise a unit; that is, weighted mitts are manufactured, sold and used as complete entities separate and apart from a catcher's own mitt that will be used in competition. This is not an ideal situation since catchers are accustomed to the properties of their own mitts and would prefer not to have to use a different weighted glove for training. Thus, what is needed is an accessory device that can be securely attached to and removed from a catcher's own mitt without any alteration to the mitt itself, which accessory device is capable of containing different amounts of weight for different training levels. The current invention provides such an accessory.

SUMMARY

Thus, one aspect of the invention comprises a training accessory for a baseball glove comprising a pouch having an aperture through which one or more weights are inserted into an interior of the pouch, the aperture is reversibly sealed shut and the pouch is reversibly coupled to the backside of the baseball glove.

In an aspect of this invention, the weights that are inserted into the pouch total approximately 0.25 pounds to 2.5 pounds.

In an aspect of this invention, the pouch is made of leather.

In an aspect of this invention, the pouch is reversibly coupled to the back of the baseball glove using dual carabiners and a D-ring or a hook and loop closure.

In an aspect of this invention, at least three dual carabiners are spaced apart around the periphery of the pouch.

In an aspect of this invention, one carabiner of each dual carabiner is removably coupled to a loop on the pouch and the other carabiner of each dual carabiner is removably coupled to stitching of the glove.

In an aspect of this invention, the baseball glove is a catcher's mitt.

In an aspect of this invention, two pouches are each reversibly coupled to the backside of the catcher's mitt, one pouch located behind the middle, ring and pinkie fingers of a catcher's hand when in the mitt and the other pouch located behind the thumb of that hand.

In an aspect of this invention, the pouch located behind the middle, ring and pinkie fingers of the catcher is coupled to the backside of the catcher's mitt by dual carabiners, one carabiner of each dual carabiner being coupled to a loop on the pouch and the other carabiner of the dual carabiner being coupled to stitching around the circumference of the mitt and by a D-ring through which can be passed a wrist strap extension of the mitt.

In an aspect of this invention, at least three spaced apart dual carabiners are used to couple the pouch to the backside of the catcher's mitt.

In an aspect of this invention, the pouch located behind the catcher's thumb comprises dual carabiners, one carabiner of each dual carabiner being coupled to stitching of the mitt and the other carabiner of each dual carabiner being coupled to a loop on the pouch and to a pouch extension that has two sides, one side comprising a hook element of a hook and loop closure and the other side comprising a loop element of the hook and loop closure.

In an aspect of this invention, at least three spaced apart dual carabiners are used to couple the pouch to the backside of the catcher's mitt located behind the catcher's thumb.

In an aspect of this invention, each pouch independently contains an approximately 0.25 to an approximately 1.5 lb weight.

In an aspect of this invention, each pouch contains an approximately one pound weight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Brief Description of the Figures

FIG. 1 illustrates the backside of a catcher's mitt.

FIG. 2 illustrates the backside of a catcher's mitt to which have been coupled two pouches of this invention.

FIG. 3 shows a pouch of this invention opened to reveal the interior of the pouch.

FIG. 4 shows a second pouch of this invention opened to reveal the interior of the second pouch.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic side views of the coupling arrangement of the wrist strap extension and the pouch extension of a pouch of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a dual carabiner.

DISCUSSION

It is understood that, with regard to this description and the appended claims, reference to any aspect of this invention made in the singular includes the plural and vice versa unless it is expressly stated or unambiguously clear from the context that such is not intended. For example, the use of the term “pouch” includes, and certainly does not preclude, two or more pouches.

As used herein, any term of approximation such as, without limitation, near, about, approximately, substantially, essentially and the like, mean that the word or phrase modified by the term of approximation need not be exactly that which is written but may vary from that written description to some extent. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and have one of ordinary skill in the art recognize the modified version as still having the properties, characteristics and capabilities of the word or phrase unmodified by the term of approximation. In general, but with the preceding discussion in mind, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation may vary from the stated value by ±10%, unless expressly stated otherwise.

As used herein, the use of “preferred,” “preferably,” “presently preferred,” and the like refers to preferences as they existed at the time of filing of this patent application.

When the same number is used in different figures to a identify a feature of this invention, it is understood that the feature being identified is the same feature in each figure.

As used herein, the term “hook and loop” closure refers to the type of closure commonly and universally known as a Velcro closure.

It is to be noted that the discussion that follows is directed to the use of the training accessory pouch(es) and weight(s) with catcher's mitts. It will, however, be obvious to those knowledgeable in the sport of baseball that the invention herein could be readily and without further inventive input modified for use with any baseball glove such as, without limitation, a fielder's glove, a first baseman's glove, a shortstop's glove or a pitcher's glove. Thus, the use of the invention herein with any type of baseball glove or mitt is within the scope of this invention.

It is also noted that the training accessory of this invention would find use in any sport in which hand strength and particularly hand speed is a component of a player's physical attributes and minor modifications of the invention herein to adapt the invention for secure but removable attachment of weights to a player's actual or practice equipment is well within the scope of this invention.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the backside of catcher's mitt 1. The mitt is referred to as such due to the fact that openings 2, 3 and 5 into which the catcher's fingers are inserted and opening 7 into which the catcher's thumb is inserted are all fully attached to and permanently part of the mitt construct giving the appearance of a common mitten; that is, there are no laterally separable “fingers.” Wrist strap 12 is a common attribute of a catcher's mitt. While various designs and means of closure of wrist straps are known, the most common approach is to have D-ring 9 through which a portion of wrist strap extension 11 is passed. The portion of wrist strap extension 11 that is passed through D-ring 9 is decorated with one element of a hook and loop closure feature. The portion of wrist strap extension 11 that has been passed through D-ring 9 is then folded back over itself and secured to the other element of the hook and loop closure which is a feature of the portion of wrist strap extension 11 that was not passed through D-ring 9. (See FIG. 5).

FIG. 2 illustrates pouches 15 and 16 coupled to the backside of catcher's mitt 1. While it is currently preferred to use both pouch 15, situated over the middle, ring and pinkie fingers of mitt 1 and pouch 16, situated over the thumb, it is entirely possible to use just one of the pouches. Pouches 15 and 16 can be made of any durable material but it is presently preferred that they be manufactured of leather, most preferably at present the same or very similar leather to that use in the construction of mitt 1. Pouches 15 and 16 are coupled to mitt 1 using loops 20, which are stitched to overhang portions 17 and 18 of pouches 15 and 16. The loops are generally made of the same material as the pouch and thus are usually leather. The loops are coupled to the stitching of mitt 1 to secure the pouches to the mitt. While any manner of coupling that will assure secure attachment of the pouches to the mitt, such as tying the loops and stitching together with, without limitation, string or leather cord, it is presently preferred to use a mechanical device known as a dual carabiner. Such dual carabiners are commercially available from manufactures such as Nite Ize, 5660 Central Avenue, Boulder, Colo. 80301, which refers to their dual carabiners as “S-biners.” The use of S-biners is only suggested in FIG. 2 but their manner of use will be evident to those employing them for the purpose of this invention. A schematic of an S-biner is shown in FIG. 6. S-biner 50 comprises body unit 51 which has hook indents 52 at both extremities. Linking elements 54 then hook over hook indents 52 to hold whatever is inside the enclosed space created by body 51 and linking elements 54 in place.

In addition to the use of leather loops 20 coupled to stitching with S-biners, pouch 15 also includes D-ring 22. Wrist strap extension 11 is passed through D-ring 22 after having been previously passed through D-ring 9 and then wrist strap extension 11 is secured to itself using a hook and loop closure as described in the discussion of FIG. 1, above.

With regard to pouch 16, in addition to the coupling achieved using leather loops 20 coupled to mitt 1 stitching with S-biners, includes pouch extension 25, which has a hook assembly on one side that is complementary to the loop assembly on one portion of wrist strap extension 11 and a loop assembly on the other side that is complementary to the hook assembly on the other portion of wrist strap extension 11. It is, of course, well within the scope of this invention that the complementary hook and loop combinations are reversed, that is, the hook assembly is on wrist strap extension 11 and the loop assembly is on extension 25.

Pouches 15 and 16 are, of course, intended for use with weights that are inserted into and secured therein. While there is no limit as to the amount of weight that could be placed in either pouch, in practical use it is presently preferred that the weights placed in each pouch go from about 0.5 pounds to about 2 pounds. For use by professional baseball catchers, it is presently preferred that no more than one pound be used in each pouch when two pouches are used together. While any manner of material that can provide the necessary weight in a form that readily fits into the pouches can be used, it is presently preferred to use flat lead weights.

FIG. 3 shows pouch 15 opened to reveal the interior of the pouch. Leather loops 20 are evident as is D-ring 22. Flap 28 has been opened along seam 29 The interior of pouch 15 shows elements 30 and 31, one of which is the hook element of a hook and loop closure and the other of which is the complementary element of the hook and loop closure, that is, here the loop. Weights are placed in the opened pouch and then the pouch is closed using the hook and loop closure, which secures the weights in the pouch and, since the hook and loop elements surround all or a portion of the weights, also secures the weights in place in the pouch so as to avoid disconcerting movement of the weights when the pouch is in use.

Similarly, FIG. 4 shows pouch 16 opened. Again, leather loops 20 are evident. Pouch extension 25, which was previously described has hooks on one side and loops on the other side, each side being complementary to a corresponding hook or loop assembly on wrist strap extension 11. Extension 25 is layered between the two portions of wrist strap extension 11, the portion that has been passed through D-rings 9 and 22 and the portion that has not been passed through those D-rings, to secure the lower portion of pouch 16 to mitt 1. Like pouch 15, pouch 16 has features 27 and 28, which are the complementary elements of a hook and loop closure. The hook portion of the system could be 27 or 28 in FIG. 4 or the system could be reversed with the hook portion of the system being 28 and the loop portion being 27. Either way, the hook and loop assembly permits secure closure of the pouch and maintaining the weights in place inside the pouch.

FIG. 5A shows a schematic side view of the closure of the wrist strap before pouch 16 is added to the mitt. As can be seen, wrist strap extension 11 has been passed through D-ring 9 and folded over itself such that hook element 40 on one portion of wrist strap extension 11 is coupled to loop element 42 on the portion of wrist strap extension 11 that was not passed through D-ring 11.

FIG. 5B shows a schematic side view of the closure of the wrist strap ager pouch extension has been put in place. As above wrist strap extension 11 has been passed through D-ring 9 and folded over itself. Hook element 40 is, however, now coupled to complementary loop element 44 of pouch extension 25 and loop element 42 is coupled to hook element 46 of pouch extension 25, the entire assembly securing pouch 16 in place and mitt in place on the catcher's hand.

Claims

1. A training accessory for a baseball catcher's mitt, comprising: a pouch having a plurality of loops located on an outside edge of the pouch, which loops are capable of being coupled to a stitching on a back of the catcher's mitt and a D-ring located on the outside edge of the pouch that is capable of being coupled to a wrist strap of the catcher's mitt when the loops are coupled to a stiching.

2. The training accessory of claim 1, further comprising a weight of approximately 0.25 to 2.5 pounds that is inserted into the pouch.

3. The training accessory of claim 1, wherein the pouch is made of leather.

4.-14. (canceled)

15. The training accessory of claim 3, wherein the loops are made of leather.

16. The training accessory of claim 1, comprising two pouches, one of which is positioned substantially over a finger opening of the mitt in to which a finger is inserted and the other is positioned substantially over a thumb opening of the mitt into which a thumb is inserted.

17. The training accessory of claim 16 wherein each pouch independently contains 0.25 to 1.5 pounds of weight.

18. The training accessory of claim 17 wherein each pouch contains approximately one pound of weight.