Adjustable support for a glove such as a baseball, softball, or cricket glove

Abstract

The present disclosure may relate to an adjustable support for a glove. The adjustable support may include a shape retaining member, a base, and a height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the shape retaining member and the base. The height-adjustment mechanism may allow a height between the shape retaining member and the base to be adjusted. The adjustable support may also include a locking member coupled to the height-adjustment mechanism that is movable between a locked position in which the height-adjustment mechanism is locked and an unlocked position in which the height adjustment mechanism is unlocked. The present disclosure may also relate to associated apparatuses and methods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable support for a glove comprising:
 a shape retaining member;   a base;   a height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the shape retaining member and the base, the height-adjustment mechanism allowing a height between the shape retaining member and the base to be adjusted; and   a locking member coupled to the height-adjustment mechanism, the locking member movable between a locked position in which the height-adjustment mechanism is locked and an unlocked position in which the height adjustment mechanism is unlocked.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism allows the height to be adjusted among a plurality of preset levels and the locking member allows the height-adjustment mechanism to be locked at one or more of the plurality of preset levels. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism allows the height to be adjusted to any level within a range and the locking member allows the height-adjustment mechanism to be locked at one or more of the levels within the range. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member allows a height to be adjusted in a first direction without unlocking the locking member. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the locking member towards the locked position. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism to couple the base to a carrying case. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to the height adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member includes a pin to maintain the height adjustment mechanism at or above a given height. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable support of  claim 1 , wherein the shape retaining member is approximately a size of one of a baseball, a softball, or a cricket ball, and is removable such that a second shape retaining member of a second size is coupleable to the height adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for carrying a glove comprising:
 a case; and   an adjustable support coupled to the case, the adjustable support comprising:
 a shape retaining member; 
 a base; 
 a height-adjustment mechanism; and 
 a locking member. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member allows a height of the shape retaining member to be adjusted relative to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member allows a height to be adjusted in one direction without unlocking the locking member. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member is biased towards the locked position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the height-adjustment mechanism and an engaging portion of the locking member selectively engages a portion of a lower portion of the height-adjustment mechanism to selectively lock the adjustable support in a fixed position. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member includes a pin to maintain the height adjustment mechanism at or above a given height. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a second adjustable support connected to the case, the second adjustable support comprising:
 a second shape retaining member;   a second base;   a second height-adjustment mechanism; and   a second locking member.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable member is removably coupled to the case. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable member is removably coupled to the case via a hook and loop connection. 
     
     
         19 . A method of utilizing an adjustable member, the method comprising:
 releasing a locking member coupled to a height-adjustment mechanism;   lowering a shape retaining member coupled to the height-adjustment mechanism to a given height, the given height measured between a base to which the shape retaining member is coupled and the shape retaining member; and   engaging the locking member to maintain the shape retaining member at or above the given height;   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising raising the shape retaining member above the given height without releasing the locking member.