Baseball glove protector and pocket shaper apparatus and method

Abstract

A protector having first end which is attached to a ball member, and an opening at an opposite second end. The protector may have an inner chamber extending from the second end to the first end; and a peripheral wall which surrounds the inner chamber, wherein the peripheral wall is made of a stretchable fabric. The ball member is configured to sit within a pocket of a padded glove; and the protector is configured to be turned inside out while the ball member is sitting with the pocket of the padded glove to thereby at least partially simultaneously cover a webbing section, a thumb section, and a four fingers section of the padded glove. A method including inserting the ball member into the pocket; turning the protector inside out starting at the second end of the protector; and covering at least a portion of the padded glove.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a ball member; and   a protector;   wherein the protector has a first end and a second end opposite the first end;   wherein the protector is connected to the ball member at the first end;   wherein the protector has an opening at the second end;   wherein the protector has an inner chamber extending from the second end to the first end; and   wherein the protector has a peripheral wall which surrounds the inner chamber;   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the peripheral wall of the protector is made of fabric. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein
 the peripheral wall of the protector is made of a stretchable fabric. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 a stitching band surrounds a portion of the inner chamber of the protector nearer the second end of the protector than the first end of the protector. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the ball member is configured to sit within a pocket of a padded glove which is configured to catch a ball; and 
 wherein the protector is configured to be turned inside out while the ball member is sitting with the pocket of the padded glove to thereby at least partially simultaneously cover a webbing section, a thumb section, and a four fingers section of the padded glove. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 the padded glove is a baseball glove. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 the padded glove is a softball glove. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the ball member is configured to sit within a pocket of a padded glove which is configured to catch a ball; and 
 wherein the protector is configured to be turned inside out while the ball member is sitting with the pocket of the padded glove to thereby at least partially simultaneously cover a webbing section, a thumb section, and a four fingers section of the padded glove, and to thereby pull the thumb section towards the four fingers section. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 the protector is configured to cover the entire padded glove, when the protector is turned inside out and the ball member is within the pocket of the padded glove. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 the protector is configured to cover the entire pocket in which the ball member sits, when the protector is turned inside out and the ball member is within the pocket of the padded glove. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 inserting a ball member into a pocket of a padded glove, wherein the ball member is attached to a first end of a protector;   turning the protector inside out starting at a second end of the protector which is opposite the first end of the protector; and   covering at least portions of a thumb section, a webbing section, and a four fingers section of the padded glove with the protector when the protector is at least partially inside out, and when the ball member is in the pocket of the padded glove.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11   wherein the protector has an inner chamber extending from the second end to the first end; and   wherein the protector has a peripheral wall which surrounds the inner chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the peripheral wall of the protector is made of fabric. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein
 the peripheral wall of the protector is made of a stretchable fabric. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 a stitching band surrounds a portion of the inner chamber of the protector nearer the second end of the protector than the first end of the protector. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the padded glove is a baseball glove. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the padded glove is a softball glove. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the protector is configured to cover the entire padded glove, when the protector is turned inside out and the ball member is within the pocket of the padded glove. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the protector is configured to cover the entire pocket in which the ball member sits, when the protector is turned inside out and the ball member is within the pocket of the padded glove.