Athletic Glove

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an athletic glove having a glove body and a friction-enhancing material. The glove body includes a palmar portion and a plurality of digit sheaths extending outwardly from the palmar portion. Each digit sheath includes a proximal end coupled to the palmar portion and an opposing distal end. Furthermore, each digit sheath is operable to receive at least one finger of a hand. The friction-enhancing material is coupled to the volar side of the glove body. The friction-enhancing material includes a plurality of extensions that align with the digit sheaths of the glove body. The friction-enhancing material also includes an outcropping disposed on the distal end of at least one extension such that the outcropping extends around the medial and lateral sides of the digit sheath.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An athletic glove comprising:
 a glove body configured to cover a hand of a wearer, the glove body comprising:
 a palmar portion configured to cover a palm region and a back region of the hand, and 
 a plurality of digit sheaths extending from the palmar portion, each digit sheath including a proximal end coupled to the palmar portion and an opposing distal end, each digit sheath being operable to receive at least one of a finger of the hand; and 
   a friction-enhancing material disposed on a volar side of the glove body, the friction-enhancing layer comprising:
 a plurality of extensions that align with the digit sheaths of the glove body, and 
 an outcropping disposed on at least one extension such that the outcropping extends around a medial side and a lateral side of at least one of the plurality of digit sheaths that aligns with the at least one extension proximate to the distal end of the at least one digit sheath. 
   
     
     
         2 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the friction-enhancing material is a multilayer material including a base layer and a gripping layer. 
     
     
         3 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of digit sheaths of the glove body include:
 a first digit sheath corresponding to a thumb of the hand of the wearer;   a second digit sheath corresponding to an index finger of the hand of the wearer;   a third digit sheath corresponding to a middle finger of the hand of the wearer;   a fourth digit sheath corresponding to a ring finger of the hand of the wearer; and   a fifth digit sheath corresponding to a pinky finger of the hand of the wearer.   
     
     
         4 . The athletic glove of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of extensions of the friction-enhancing material include:
 a first extension that aligns with the first digit sheath;   a second extension that aligns with the second digit sheath;   a third extension that aligns with the third digit sheath;   a fourth extension that aligns with the fourth digit sheath; and   a fifth extension that aligns with the fifth digit sheath.   
     
     
         5 . The athletic glove of  claim 4 , wherein the second extension, third extension, and fourth extension of the friction-enhancing material each include the outcropping. 
     
     
         6 . The athletic glove of  claim 5 , wherein each of the outcroppings are a first type of outcropping, the friction-enhancing material further comprising:
 a second outcropping disposed on the fifth extension of the friction-enhancing material such that the second outcropping extends around a medial side of the fifth digit sheath proximate to a distal end of the fifth digit sheath.   
     
     
         7 . The athletic glove of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cuff portion coupled to the glove body and configured to cover a wrist of the wearer and secure the athletic glove on the hand of the wearer.   
     
     
         8 . A digit sheath of an athletic glove comprising:
 a proximal end coupled to a palm portion of the athletic glove;   a distal end opposite the proximal end;   a fabric material disposed on a dorsal side of the digit sheath and spanning from the proximal end to the distal end; and   a friction-enhancing material disposed on a volar side and spanning from the proximal end to the distal end, the friction-enhancing material further comprising:
 an outcropping extending from the volar side to the dorsal side over the distal end and on a medial side and a lateral side proximate to the distal end. 
   
     
     
         9 . The digit sheath of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first fourchette disposed on the medial side and coupled to the fabric material and the friction-enhancing material, the first fourchette spanning from the outcropping on the medial side to the proximal end.   
     
     
         10 . The digit sheath of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second fourchette disposed on the lateral side and coupled to the fabric material and the friction-enhancing material, the second fourchette spanning from the outcropping on the lateral side to the proximal end.   
     
     
         11 . The digit sheath of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second fourchettes are formed of a combination of nylon and elastane. 
     
     
         12 . The digit sheath of  claim 8 , wherein the friction-enhancing material is a multilayer material including a base layer and a gripping layer. 
     
     
         13 . The digit sheath of  claim 12 , wherein the gripping layer is silicone 
     
     
         14 . The digit sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the outcropping of the friction-enhancing material is directly coupled to the fabric material at the distal end. 
     
     
         15 . An athletic glove comprising:
 a body portion;   at least one digit sheath extending from the body portion, the at least one digit sheath comprising:
 a proximal end coupled to the body portion; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end; 
 a medial side spanning from the proximal end to the distal end; and 
 a lateral side spanning from the proximal end to the distal end opposite the medial side; and 
   a friction-enhancing material disposed on a volar side of the body portion and the at least one digit sheath, friction-enhancing material having an outcropping portion that extends over the distal end of the at least one digit sheath and around the medial and lateral sides of the at least one digit sheath proximate to the distal end.   
     
     
         16 . The athletic glove of  claim 15 , wherein a fabric layer is disposed on a dorsal side of the body portion and the at least one digit sheath, the outcropping portion of the friction-enhancing material being coupled to the fabric layer. 
     
     
         17 . The athletic glove of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one digit sheath further comprises:
 a medial side forchette spanning along the medial side of the at least one digit sheath from the outcropping portion on the medial side of the at least one digit sheath to the proximal end; and   a lateral side forchette spanning along the lateral side of the at least one digit sheath from the outcropping portion on the lateral side of the at least one digit sheath to the proximal end.   
     
     
         18 . The athletic glove of  claim 17 , wherein the medial side forchette and the lateral side forchette are constructed of a combination of nylon and spandex. 
     
     
         19 . The athletic glove of  claim 18 , wherein the friction-enhancing material is a multilayer material including a base layer and a silicon gripping layer. 
     
     
         20 . The athletic glove of  claim 19 , wherein the friction-enhancing material and the fabric material disposed on the dorsal side have a lower degree of resiliency than the medial side forchette and the lateral side forchette.