Glove With Thermally Moldable Shaping Inserts

Abstract

An athletic glove capable of receiving a human hand is provided. The glove comprises an exterior glove shell and an interior glove liner connected together to form index, middle, ring, and pinky finger sheaths and a thumb sheath. A glove webbing is connected to and extends between the thumb sheath and the index finger sheath. At least one middle layer is located between the exterior shell and the interior liner. At least one thermally moldable shaping insert is embedded in a finger or thumb sheath between the exterior glove shell and the interior glove liner. When heated beyond a threshold temperature, the embedded insert becomes temporarily pliable such that the insert can be molded while the threshold temperature is exceeded and retains the molded shape after the insert cools below the threshold temperature, the molded insert providing the glove a desired shape.

1 . An athletic glove capable of receiving a human hand, the athletic glove comprising:
 an exterior glove shell made of a durable material;   an interior glove liner substantially inside and connected to the exterior glove shell to form index, middle, ring, and pinky finger sheaths, a thumb sheath, and an opening capable of receiving a human hand, the opening located opposite the four finger sheaths and corresponding approximately to the wrist of a user when the glove is worn by the user with fingers of the user extending within the four finger sheaths and the thumb of the user extending within the thumb sheath;   a glove webbing connected to and extending between the thumb sheath and the index finger sheath;   at least one middle layer between the exterior glove shell and the inner glove liner; and   at least one thermally moldable shaping insert embedded in a finger or thumb sheath between the exterior glove shell and the interior glove liner, the embedded insert becoming temporarily pliable when heated beyond a threshold temperature such that the insert can be molded while the threshold temperature is exceeded and retains the molded shape after the insert cools below the threshold temperature, the molded insert providing the glove a desired shape.   
     
     
         2 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein a thermally moldable shaping insert is embedded in the thumb sheath. 
     
     
         3 . The athletic glove of  claim 2 , wherein a thermally moldable shaping insert is embedded in the pinky finger sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The athletic glove of  claim 2 , wherein a thermally moldable shaping insert is embedded in each finger sheath. 
     
     
         5 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein at least one middle layer extends substantially along the length of each sheath in which a thermally moldable shaping insert is embedded, and wherein each thermally moldable shaping insert is attached to at least one middle layer. 
     
     
         6 . The athletic glove of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more thermally moldable shaping inserts are sewn onto at least one middle layer. 
     
     
         7 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein at least two middle layers extend substantially along the length of each sheath in which a thermally moldable shaping insert is embedded, and wherein each insert is embedded between two middle layers. 
     
     
         8 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more thermally moldable shaping inserts are made of plastic, and wherein the thickness of the inserts is selected according to a desired amount of rigidity or a desired temperature at which the inserts become moldable. 
     
     
         9 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more thermally moldable shaping inserts are removable by the user without disassembling the glove. 
     
     
         10 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein each thermally moldable shaping insert is substantially as long as the sheath in which it is embedded. 
     
     
         11 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove can be shaped by applying steam heat to the one or more thermally moldable shaping inserts in the glove. 
     
     
         12 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally moldable shaping inserts are designed to retain their shape under temperature conditions encountered in typical use and storage. 
     
     
         13 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the length of each insert is selected to enhance performance for a playing position for which the glove is designed. 
     
     
         14 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove is one of a baseball glove or a softball glove. 
     
     
         15 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove is a mitt, wherein the exterior glove shell has a palm-side portion and a back portion, the palm-side portion having a palm portion, four finger portions, and a thumb portion, and wherein the four finger portions of the palm-side portion of the exterior glove shell are connected together to form a continuous piece. 
     
     
         16 . An athletic glove capable of receiving a human hand, the athletic glove comprising:
 an exterior glove shell made of a durable material;   an interior glove liner substantially inside and connected to the exterior glove shell to form index, middle, ring, and pinky finger sheaths, a thumb sheath, and an opening capable of receiving a human hand, the opening located opposite the four finger sheaths and corresponding approximately to the wrist of a user when the glove is worn by the user with fingers of the user extending within the four finger sheaths and the thumb of the user extending within the thumb sheath;   a glove webbing connected to and extending between the thumb sheath and the index finger sheath;   a middle layer between the exterior glove shell and the inner glove liner extending substantially along the length of the thumb sheath and the pinky finger sheath; and   a thermally moldable shaping insert embedded in each of the thumb sheath and the pinky finger sheath between the exterior glove shell and the interior glove liner, the embedded inserts becoming temporarily pliable when heated beyond a threshold temperature such that the inserts can be molded while the threshold temperature is exceeded and retain the molded shape after the inserts cool below the threshold temperature, the molded inserts providing the glove a desired shape.   
     
     
         17 . The athletic glove of  claim 16 , further comprising an additional middle layer between the exterior glove shell and the inner glove liner extending substantially along the length of the thumb sheath and the pinky finger sheath, wherein each insert is embedded between the two middle layers. 
     
     
         18 . The athletic glove of  claim 16 , wherein the glove can be shaped by applying steam heat to the thermally moldable shaping inserts in the glove, and wherein the glove is designed to retain its shape under temperature conditions encountered in typical use and storage. 
     
     
         19 . A method for shaping an athletic glove capable of receiving a human hand, the method comprising:
 providing an athletic glove having at least one embedded thermally moldable shaping insert;   heating the at least one insert beyond a threshold temperature until the insert is temporarily pliable;   molding the at least one pliable insert to a first molded shape that provides a first desired shape to the glove; and   allowing the insert to cool to a temperature below the threshold temperature such that the cooled insert retains the first molded shape during normal use and storage conditions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 identifying a second desired shape;   heating at least one molded insert beyond the threshold temperature until the insert is temporarily pliable;   re-molding the pliable insert to a second molded shape that provides the second desired shape to the glove; and   allowing the insert to re-cool to a temperature below the threshold temperature such that the re-cooled insert retains the second molded shape during normal use and storage conditions.