Partial Fingered Glove

Abstract

According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves and the use of said gloves, intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Because of its unique finger configurations, grip enhancers, and/or its hand protective properties, the present invention makes a glove now operable on for football quarterback's throwing hand and golfers, for example.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A glove having dorsal (back) and palmar (front) portions for overlaying respective back and palm regions of a human hand, and dorsal and palmar portions having distal and proximal ends with a plurality of digital segments (or stalls) projecting from said distal ends;
 said glove including a glove body having a back portion covering the back of the hand, and a front portion covering substantially all of the palm of the hand;   said glove body including at least one finger stall (or finger digital segment) and a thumb stall (or thumb digital segment) each adapted to receive a finger or thumb, respectively, therein;   said glove body being configured such that the thumb and forefinger digital segments fully enclose said thumb and forefinger, including enclosing the fingertips;   said glove leaves essentially completely uncovered the ring finger; said glove leaves essentially completely uncovered the pinkie finger;   said glove leaves uncovered, fully enclosing or partially covering the middle finger;   said glove improvement comprising a grip enhancing means which is located on a portion or portions along any thumb and finger stalls, along any portion of any metacarpophalangeal joints, and/or between the thumb and forefinger area, generally defined by the metacarpal of the forefinger and extending up along the metacarpal of the thumb, and therebetween, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The glove as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the middle finger is essentially completely enclosed. 
     
     
         3 . The glove as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said grip enhancing means only overlays a portion or portions of any thumb and finger stalls, along any portion of any metacarpophalangeal joints, and/or between the thumb and forefinger area, generally defined by the metacarpal of the forefinger and extending up along the metacarpal of the thumb, and therebetween, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The glove as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a shock-absorbing member or members, including but not limited to a padded layer or layers, on at least a portion or portions of the dorsal area of said glove. 
     
     
         5 . A glove having dorsal (back) and palmar (front) portions for overlaying respective back and palm regions of a human hand, and dorsal and palmar portions having distal and proximal ends with a plurality of digital segments (or stalls) projecting from said distal ends;
 said glove including a glove body having a back portion covering the back of the hand, and a front portion covering substantially all of the palm of the hand;   said glove body including at least one finger stall (or finger digital segment) and a thumb stall (or thumb digital segment) each adapted to receive a finger or thumb, respectively, therein;   said glove body being configured such that the thumb and forefinger digital segments fully enclose said thumb and forefinger, including enclosing the fingertips, said glove leaves essentially completely uncovered the ring finger;   said glove leaves essentially completely uncovered the pinkie finger;   said glove leaves uncovered, fully enclosing or partially covering the middle finger;   said glove improvement comprising a grip enhancing means on at least a portion or portions of the surface area of the glove;   said glove improvement further comprising a shock-absorbing member or members on at least a portion or portions of the dorsal area of said glove.   
     
     
         6 . The glove as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of said middle finger's distal phalanx is uncovered. 
     
     
         7 . The glove as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a grip-enhancing means along any portion of the palmar surface of said glove, including but not limited to any portion overlaying any area on or between the thumb and forefinger area, generally defined by the metacarpal of the forefinger and extending up along the metacarpal of the thumb, and therebetween, and/or any portion of any existing finger stalls, and/or any portion overlaying any of the metacarpophalangeal joints, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The glove as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said dorsal segment has one or a plurality of discrete protrusions. 
     
     
         9 . The glove as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein any portion of the metacarpal of any of the four fingers and/or the thumb, and therebetween, and/or any portion of the thumb or any existing finger stalls further comprises a shock-absorbing member or members, in part or in their entirety. 
     
     
         10 . The glove as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a shock-absorbing member or members overlays any portion of the wrist area, including any of the carpometacarpal joints, extending up to as much as about five inches along the carpal bone of the wrist, in part or in its entirety. 
     
     
         11 . The glove as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising an expandable opening means at a wrist end adapted to receive the user's hand. 
     
     
         12 . The claim as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said shock-absorbing member or members are attached to the dorsal surface of said glove by standard methods of attachment. 
     
     
         13 . The claim as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said shock-absorbing member or members are integrally formed on the dorsal segment of said glove, said glove also comprising a liner. 
     
     
         14 . A method of gripping a football comprising the following steps: a. a glove having dorsal (back) and palmar (front) portions for overlaying respective back and palm regions of a human hand, and dorsal and palmar portions having distal and proximal ends with a plurality of digital segments (or stalls) projecting from said distal ends; said glove including a glove body having a back portion covering the back of the hand, and a front portion covering substantially all of the palm of the hand; said glove body including at least one finger stall (or finger digital segment) and a thumb stall (or thumb digital segment) each adapted to receive a finger or thumb, respectively, therein; said glove body being configured such that the thumb and forefinger digital segments fully enclose said thumb and forefinger, including enclosing the fingertips, said glove leaves completely uncovered the ring finger; said glove leaves completely uncovered the pinkie finger; said glove leaving uncovered, fully enclosing or partially covering the middle finger; said glove improvement comprising a grip enhancing means on at least a portion or portions of the surface area of the glove; said glove improvement further comprising a shock-absorbing member or members on at least a portion or portions of the dorsal area of said glove; b. Placing said glove on the dominant hand; c. Gripping a football with said dominant hand. 
     
     
         15 . A glove having dorsal (back) and palmar (front) portions for overlaying respective back and palm regions of a human hand, and dorsal and palmar portions having distal and proximal ends with a plurality of digital segments (or stalls) from said distal ends;
 said glove including a glove body having a back portion covering the back of the hand, and a front portion covering substantially all of the palm of the hand;   said glove body including at least one finger stall (or finger digital segment) and a thumb stall (or thumb digital segment) each adapted to receive a finger or thumb, respectively, therein;   said glove body being configured such that the thumb and forefinger digital segments fully enclose said thumb and forefinger, including enclosing the fingertips of said thumb and forefinger of a user, said glove leaves essentially completely uncovered the ring finger;   said glove leaves essentially completely uncovered the pinkie finger;   said glove leaving uncovered, fully enclosing or partially covering the middle finger;   said glove improvement further comprising a shock-absorbing member or members on at least a portion or portions of the dorsal area of said glove.   
     
     
         16 . The glove as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising of micro holes along any portions of the glove, generally used on golf gloves and football gloves for ventilation or moisture management purposes; said micro holes generally being about 0.120 millimeters or so in diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The glove as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said middle finger is completely enclosed. 
     
     
         18 . The glove as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the middle finger is essentially completely uncovered. 
     
     
         19 . The glove as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of said middle finger's distal phalanx is uncovered. 
     
     
         20 . The glove as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said dorsal segment has one or a plurality of discrete protrusions. 
     
     
         21 . The glove as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein any portion overlaying any portion of the metacarpal of any of the four fingers and/or the thumb, and therebetween, further comprises a shock-absorbing member or members, in part or in their entirety, wherein the shock-absorbing member overlays any portion of the thumb and/or on any existing fingers stalls, in part or in their entirety. 
     
     
         22 . The glove as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a shock-absorbing member or members overlays any portion of the wrist area, including any of the carpometacarpal joints, extending up to as much as about five inches along the carpal bone of the wrist, in part or in their entirety.